Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3823 Oct 25-Nov 8 | Page 6

4 FRESHWATER Oct 25 - Nov 8, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 23 FRESHWATER REPORTS ALMANOR Trout Fishing Hits Fall Stride! CHESTER - Water temperatures are falling at Lake Almanor and the trout are moving toward the surface. With major bug hatches over at this point the lake’s rainbows and browns are feeding on pond smelt. To hook rainbows, some anglers are slow trolling while other are taking a fast approach. The slow crowd is pulling Gulp! Minnows, trolling flies and threaded ‘crawlers. Fast trollers are moving along at 2.5 to 3 mph with small Rapalas and Speedy Shiners. Regardless of which approach they choose, when anglers hook up the trout have been rainbows that range from 2 to 4 pounds. “The rainbow bite has been fantastic at Almanor and it’s only going to get better,” say Captain Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service. “The fish are fat and healthy. We’ve had some epic battles on light tackle in recent days.” Big Springs, the Peninsula and the A Frame have been solid spots for trolling. You’ll want to work from the surface to about 20 feet deep, but if you do mark some deeper fish don’t be afraid to drop down and give them a try. Bank anglers are landing some good rainbows while fishing near the mouth of the Hamilton Branch, Geritol Cove and Rocky Point. Inflated worms and salmon eggs have been the way to go. Bass anglers have seen some decent topwater action early and late in the day while working walking baits and rip baits. anglers at the lake each day, mostly fishing for black bass and channel catfish,” said Debbie Grayson at the Lake Amador Resort. “A few anglers are catching catfish in the 3 to 8 lb. range while fishing chicken liver, hot dogs, mackerel and other baits on the lake. My husband, Greg, landed a catfish over 36 inches long while fishing from his boat this week.” The on-site fish hatchery at the reservoir has lots of Lightning Trout, Donaldson rainbows and Amador cuttbows in the troughs. You can expect the trout plants to begin by the end of October, with the exact time depending upon when the surface water temperature becomes cool enough to safely plant trout. For light tackle action, try targeting bluegill with redworms, mealworms, mini- crawlers and waxworms off the docks and structure around the lake. The lake is in excellent shape for this time of year, being only 25 feet from maximum pool. The boat launching facilities are in full operation. - Dan Bacher Dan nailed this dandy king while fishing Lake Oroville this September with a blue Smile Blade spinner fly. Photo courtesy of DAN VALDEZ, Oroville. AMERICAN BASIN Mackinaw Are Biting at Union Valley AUBURN – Kokanee salmon fishing at Union Valley Reservoir this year was a bust, but mackinaw fishing has been productive. “Boaters are hooking mackinaw along the bottom while trolling with nightcrawlers behind dodgers or flashers,” reported Craig Newton at Willfish Bait and Tackle. “The mackinaw average 20 to 24 inches long, but bigger fish are available.” LAKE AMADOR There are still plenty of holdover rainbows in Union Valley, Ice House and Trout Plants to Begin Soon Loon from the SMUD trout plants that SACRAMENTO – Fishing pressure has went into the lake from June through been light at Lake Amador, but that will all August. Anglers can catch the fish from change soon when fall trout plants begin shore with PowerBait and nightcrawlers or at the lake. The weather is cooling down from a boat with trolled worms, spinners, each night and that will cool the water spoons and Rapalas. temperatures enough to allow trout plants Union Valley, the largest of the three soon. reservoirs, received 10,000 pounds; Ice “We’re seeing only about a dozen House, 8,750 pounds; and, Loon Lake, 6,250 pounds. The fish provided by SMUD come from Mount Lassen Trout With Pro Bass Fisherman Farms of Payne’s Creek. Trollers were Learn Progressive Techniques for Bass still catching some On The Delta, Clear Lake & Berryessa JC BASS FISHING GUIDE SERVICE Jason Cordiale ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME www.jcbassfishing.com [phone] [email protected] 3811 Bait & Tackle 3816 Visit The Mother Lode Region’s Official Fishing Tackle Headquarters Today For All Of your Inland Fishing Needs! WIDE SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • YOU SAVE! HOOKD4LIFE.COM RODS • REELS • LINE • FROGS • SWIMBAITS • JIGS BAIT • HOOKS • SPINNERS • TERMINAL TACKLE • HARDBAITS • SOFT PLASTICS • SPECIALS • CLOSEOUTS & MUCH MORE! kokanee in “decent shape” at Hell Hole Reservoir at press time, but season is expected to be over soon, said Newton. Fishing for browns and rainbows should improve for bank anglers and boaters at French Meadows as the fall proceeds, while fishing for mackinaw and browns should perk up at Hell Hole. - Dan Bacher AMERICAN RIVER Fall Chinooks Begin to Show AUBURN – The long-awaited king salmon are finally starting to show in the American River in the metropolitan area. Although fishing is still spotty, expect the action to improve as more fish move up the river on their annual spawning migration. “Anglers are finally starting to get some salmon from the dredger holes all of the way up to Sunrise,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman’s Warehouse. “The guys jigging from boats with Glow-in-the dark Gitzits and other lures at night are picking up increasing number of kings in the dredger holes of the lower river.” “The guys tossing out Mepps Flying C spinners in the river Join us for a unique experience up to Sunrise are also picking up some bright that will keep Chinooks,” revealed your family Fong. Expect the steelhead coming back year after year! 106 East Main Street, Ione, CA 95640 Docks and Boat Slips Available RV Sites • Cabins • Tent Sites Free WiFi • Rec Room • Grocery Store • Gas • Diesel • LPG • Laundry ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? www.EagleLakeandRV.com [email protected] SUPERSTITIOUSLURES.COM 3809 Corner of The Strand and Palmetto Way Spalding, California 3809 BERRYESSA LAKE Fall Spoon Bite Heats Up WINTERS – The fall spoon bite is in full swing at Lake Berryessa. Anglers targeting bass with spoons are hooking not only bass, but rainbow trout, crappie and catfish also, reported Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience. “Everything is biting at Berryessa now,” said Paganelli. “Fishermen are finding the top action in the main body while using Blade Runner spoons at around 30 feet deep. The Blade Runner morning dawn UV ¾ oz. spoon is producing the best action.” Before the bite turned on, Larry Hemphill, fishing guide, reported tough fishing at Berryessa. “It was an amazing day at Berryessa yesterday - and not in a good way,” said Larry Hemphill, fishing guide. “My client, who is an excellent bass fisherman, and I started out in areas near the dam with no Continued on Pg 7 Salmon • Striper • Trout • Kokanee Visit us on your way to: Camanche, Pardee, Amador, Rancho Seco, New Melones And More ! [phone] to show behind the salmon. Drift salmon roe and nightcrawlers in the riffles or toss out Little Cleos and other lures for the sea-run rainbows. Flows on the river below Nimbus Dam are now back up to 2,700 cfs, now that gravel work is complete. The resumption of higher flows is for “storage management,” according to J. Sandberg of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. - Dan Bacher • Stripers • Oroville Kings • Stampede Kokanee [phone] • [phone] www.fishbarebones.com 3807