Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3826 Dec 6-20 | Page 11

VOL.38 • ISS. 26
Dec 6 - 20, 2019
FRESHWATER
9
FRESHWATER REPORTS:
CONTINUED FROM PG 7
“It’s a really,
to 5 have been pretty common.
really good
Boat launching remains solid at
year at the
Gallatin. There has been some
hatchery,
surface
ice,
but
overall,
it’s
been
DEL VALLE LAKE cont.
although
a pretty mild fall in the Eagle
weighing 6.5 pounds while soaking
the fish are
Lake Basin so far.
PowerBait south of the marina.
later than
“We are doing really well
Since the water level is dropping,
normal,’ said
with flies. Much of the time we
the stripers have been pressured off
Ana Kastner,
troll them, but we are starting
the shallow bait balls and are now
hatchery
to get them from the shoreline
concentrated in Heron Bay. For the best
manager. “
on traditional fly gear too. Both
success, fish anchovies in the mornings
The facility
orange and natural colored flies
and evenings.
has trapped
are working well. We are seeing
Big fish honors go to Jesus Figueroa of
a total of
lots of hard fighting rainbows in
Clayton who landed a 6.5 lb. striper and
18,576 fall-run
the 3 and 4-pound range and it’s
two catfish weighing 5 pounds each while
Chinooks this
been pretty easy to round up a
using anchovies across from the jumping
year, including
limit,” said Bryan Roccucci of Big
rock in Swallow Bay.
8,635 males,
Daddy’s Guide Service.
Panfish are showing in good numbers.
4418 females
Fish Sniffer publisher Paul
Bluegill and crappie are hitting redworms,
and 5523 jacks
Kneeland just got back from
minicrawlers, panfish jigs and small
(two-year-old
visiting his cabin at Eagle Lake
Kastmasters in a variety of colors. Target
fish).
and experienced very good
the main lake trees and beaches for the
The facility
fishing.
top action.
also trapped a
“We caught fish on spoons and
The catfish have been becoming more
total of 3,095
Rapalas, but flies worked the
lethargic during the day, with the peak
spring run fish
best. Our top fish was upwards of
biting times in the mornings and evenings. 20 inches and of course they all
to date.
Due to the colder water the catfish are
The hatchery
fought really hard. The first day
going into even deeper water. The most
has taken
were at the lake there was some
effective baits are cut baits like anchovies, ice at the launch ramp, but my
13,000,000
sardines, mackerel, and chicken liver.
eggs to date.
boat broke right through it. The
The hatchery’s
next two days the temperature
Big trout are on the bite at Eagle Lake. This impressive rainbow was landed on
goal is to
came up and there was no ice
November 14.
produce 6
in evidence. For Eagle Lake in
Photo courtesy of BIG DADDY’S GUIDE SERVICE, Quincy.
million juvenile
November the weather was really
salmon this
comfortable, cold in the morning
season.
and
crisp
in
the
afternoon,”
said
DON PEDRO LAKE
A few steelhead are also starting to
Kneeland.
been chasing a group of stripers, and the
show, noted Kastner.
Black Bass Bite Still Tough
other day we lit them up in front of Big
The only section of river open to salmon
Break,
but
the
next
day,
they
were
gone.”
but Improving
fishing now is from 200 yards above
“For largemouth bass, I took out an
LA GRANGE - The bass bite remains
the Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth at
older couple, and we punched and flipped
tough at best at Lake Don Pedro but it is
Verona. The salmon fishing will remain
for 23 largemouth bass to 4 pounds with
showing some signs of life as the bass
EAST DELTA
open through December 16.
the 6-inch green pumpkin/red worm has
remain suspended at depths from 55 to 65
Anglers can continue to target
been working best,” he stated.
Striper
Fishing
Best
in
Back
feet with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot
- Dave Hurley steelhead, striped bass and other species,
or shakey head at depths from 30 to 60
Sloughs
but not salmon from the Highway 70
feet.
STOCKTON – Randy Pringle, the
bridge to the unimproved boat ramp
The shad are scattered out, and you
Fishing Instructor, stayed off of the main
above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall and
have to be willing to try a variety of
river channels during the recent windy
from the unimproved boat ramp above the
techniques to get bite. Finding the shad
weather, and he went to the back sloughs
Thermalito Afterbay Outfall to 200 yards
FEATHER RIVER
schools is essential as both the bass and
were the winds went over the top of the
above the Live Oak boat ramp,
the rainbows are holding near the shad.
Another Good Salmon Year on
levees and kept from creating whitecaps.
The river is difficult to navigate by boat
Wind, weather, and rain are needed
He said, “The water on the main river
now, due to low flows. Combined releases
Feather
to stabilize the lake as the water
was stirred up like an egg beater, but we
to the Feather River below the Thermalito
YUBA CITY – Large numbers of salmon
temperatures remain above 60 degrees.
were focusing on the sloughs. Everything
Afterbay Outlet continue to be 2,450 cfs.
are showing this fall at the Feather River
The lake is currently 79 percent of
is slow and methodical with the ima Flit
- Dan Bacher
Fish Hatchery in Oroville.
capacity.
in Olive Herring or Rock N’Vibe Suspend
CONTINUED ON PG 11
- Dave Hurley using a retrieve with a pause. The Berkley
Bottom Hopper on a Zappu head on 8-lb.
fluorocarbon is also working, but a slow
presentation is necessary on the outside
of the weed lines. There have been a few
striped bass on the Little Stick topwater
EAGLE LAKE
lure, and I have been using the Little Stick
instead of the Big Stick since the area we
Flies, Spoons & Plugs All
have been fishing aren’t holding the larger
Draw Strikes!
grade of striped bass.”
There are schools of striped bass taken
SPALDING - It’s trophy time at Eagle
on spoons along the shoals at depths
Lake. Limits are the rule. The average
from 19 to 30 feet with 1.75-oz. Blade
keeper rainbow goes 3 pounds and fish
Runner
or 3-oz.
P-Line Laser
Minnows. It
is a matter
of locating
the schools
of stripers,
and these
are normally
school-sized
stripers.
In the
San Joaquin
River, Dan
Mathisen
of Dan
Mathisen
Outdoors
Camp one LAKE CAMANCHE’S AMENITIES
said, “The
night at • Guaranteed Weekly Fish plants
wind played
Lake Camanche (OCT. - MAY)
havoc on the
and receive • Boat Rentals
river as it
your
second
night
free.
Offer
must be • Lodging Available
was muddy
redeemed
by
calling
(866)
763-5121
and • Stores, Cafe & Marina Grill
in the main
mentioning promo code FS14 at the time • Courtesy Launch Ramps on
channels.
of booking. offer not redeemeable online. both North & South Shores
The stripers
• RV Sites w/ Full Hookups
are here
Not valid on weekend, holidays, full hook-up RV sites
(LONG & SHORT TERM)
one day and
or for cottage stays. Supplemental fees may apply.
3805
gone
the
Mark Langridge used a crappie jig from the Lake Amador dock to foot these
next. I had
huge trout during a November 16 outing.
visit
LAKE
CAMANCHE
World-Class Trout & Bass Fishing,
year round!
2
for
1
CAMPING
Photo courtesy of the LAKE AMADOR CAFÉ, Lake Amador.
Mid Week Camping Special!
Your 2nd Night is FREE!
CALL 866.763.5121
www.CamancheRecreation.com