Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3909 April 10-24 | Page 9

April 10-24, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 9 Silhouette, Vibration And Erratic Action Keys To Triggering Strikes From Trout And Salmon W hat are the characteristics of the most consistently productive trolling lures for trout and landlocked salmon? I’ve spent thousands of hours trolling for trout and salmon over the course of my fishing career and I’ve had the privilege of fishing with some of the best guides and anglers on the West Coast. Based on what I’ve seen the best lures offer vibration, erratic, unpre- dictable or “skip beat” action and a baitfish like silhouette… The Apex Trolling Lure meets all these criteria and as a result it is one of my go to trolling baits. Apex Lures are manufactured by the HotShot Company. HotShot is a top manufacturer of ocean salmon fishing gear and the original generation of Apex Lures were designed for ocean kings. These large Apex Lures ranging up to 6 ¼ inches remain a favorite of ocean salmon trollers from California to Alaska and throughout the Great Lakes. With large Apex Lures slaying ocean salmon, it’s not surprising that a member of the HotShot brain trust came up with the idea of offering smaller Apex Lures designed for trout and landlocked salmon. ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? The end result of this thinking is the Apex Trout Killer Series and the Apex Kokanee Special Series. I run Apex Trout Killers more often then I run the kokanee version even when I’m chasing kokanee. The Apex Trout Killer comes in 1 and 1½ inch sizes and is offered in a bunch of different color patterns. Instead of double hooks like the kokanee version sports, the trout version has a single J-hook attached via a swivel and the hook eye also sports a small willow leaf “kicker” blade. Sometimes I leave the J-hook in place, but as often as not I swap it out for a pair of red Gamakatsu octopus hooks snelled on 12 pound fluorocarbon. Colors For trout and kings I like to stick with standard baitfish colors to start with and then I’ll go brighter if the fish don’t respond. If I had to run only one color Apex it would be watermelon. When kokanee are on the menu I break out the pink and orange models in addition to my beloved watermelon. For more about Apex Lures, check them out on the web at www.hotspotlures.com. [email protected] SUPERSTITIOUSLURES.COM 3809 UNCLE LARRY’S LURES Time after Time, the most successful Trout & Kokanee Spinners! Use the best, catch the best and the biggest! www.unclelarryslures.com [phone] 3813 LAKE AMADOR hat are Superstitious Lures? That easy, they are a thin-bladed fishing spoon that has been producing great fishing expe- riences for anglers targeting trout and a variety of other species. Used for trolling, bank casting, stream fishing, ladder- fishing at Pyramid Lake, dock fishing or even vertical by Cal Kellogg When I’m slinging baits like Berkley PowerBait or inflated worms off the bank I really like to expand the selection of scents I utilize. I still play with the baitfish scents, but I really like sweet scents like anise, predator, kokanee special, trout and kokanee magic and carp spit. My all-time favorite scent when I’m bank fishing is anise krill. All fish seem drawn to the scent of anise and most trout and landlocked salmon have a real taste for krill. I’ve found anise krill Super Gel to be particularly effective when confronted with cold water and sluggish finicky trout. For more information about Pro-Cure trout scents and their full line or outstanding products visit Pro-Cure online at www.pro-cure.com. Fish Pyramid Lake? Check Out Superstitious Lures W • Cafe • RV Park • Waterslide • Campground • Disc Golf • General Store Cafe Open Seasonally On Friday, Saturday & Sundays E jigging! Superstitious Lures are one of a kind and unique spoons, so you know that you will be getting a high quality product. You can count the Superstitious Team to get you the best quality fishing lures available. They use the highest quality components and materials. Best of all the lures are handcrafted right here in the great state of Nevada in the U.S.A.! For more information go to www. superstitiouslures.com. MADE IN THE USA Trout Planted Seasonally! Get The Edge For Trout With Pro-Cure Scents very angler out there is looking for an edge, something that will tilt the odds in their favor and spring trouters are no exception. One of the things that I rely on to generate extra strikes throughout the year is Pro-Cure fish scents. Sometimes the bite is wide open and you can catch trout without adding scent. Other times when the fish are totally inactive they are tough to catch no matter how much scent you slather on your baits and lures. The rest of the time when fish aren’t really active, but aren’t really turned off either is when adding a bit of Pro-Cure Super Gel can really pay dividends in terms of generating those extra strikes that can mean the difference between a fair day and a great outing. So, what scents do I use when targeting spring and early summer trout? Most of the time spring trout will be feeding on either threadfin shad or pond smelt. Being a match the hatch sort of angler, I go with threadfin shad and smelt Pro-Cure Super Gels when trolling, but I’ll often mix in sardine, anchovy or tui chub. 7 209-274 -4739 7500 Lake Amador Dr., Ione, CA 95640 WWW.LAKEAMADOR.COM Kokanee Power presents . . . 17th Annual Shasta Lake Classic Trout & Salmon Team Derby Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3, 2020 $2000 1st PRIZE - $3000 2nd Place Place $2000 $1500 2nd 3rd Place Place $1000 $1000 3rd (based on 200 anglers) Over $12,000 in Cash & Prizes • Cash Prizes (Top 25 Teams) • Maximum 300 Adult Anglers • 4 Fish Weigh In Per Team Per Day –– Brown & Rainbow Trout and Salmon Only Only ONE Brown Trout and ONE King Salmon per Team per Day • $150 Entry Fee per Person Includes Dinner, No Host Bar, Special Gift and Entry into all Bonus Pot Options! Sponsored by: Shasta Lake Business Owners Association www.shastalake.org [phone] Pacific Gas and Electric Company FISHERMAN’S WAREHOUSE DAVEY TREE SERVICE 3909 For more information, contact: Harold Jones, Sugarloaf Cottages [phone] Gary Coe, Derby Chairman [phone] www.kokaneepower.org