NORCAL FRESH REPORTS

NORCAL LAKES UPDATE: Collins Lake water level keeping trout action better than usual Lake Oroville bass action, Lake Tahoe review...more BY PAT YOUNG/WON Staff WriterPublished: Jul 29, 2010

Print This Article Email This Article Digg This Article

Northern CAL PAT YOUNG Lake Reports OREGON HOUSE  — Collins Lake has more water in it now than it’s had in at least four years and fishing for trout is better than it normally is for this time of year. This year the lake filled for the first time in years and the fishermen are the beneficiaries of the wet winter and spring. The lake is currently 9 feet from full and last year it never got any higher than 10 feet from full. “We’re seeing a surprisingly good showing of trout for this late in the year and it seems to be directly related to the high water conditions,” said Keri McCutcheon at Collins Lake Resort. “The trout especially have usually retreated to the deepest water in the lake by now, but shore anglers, bait drifters, and trollers are all bringing in rainbows. The docks, the dam, and the bridge area all give shore anglers easier access to deep water and there have been some limits showing up for bait fishermen. The trollers are picking up a few fish out under the powerlines pulling a Kastmaster. Drifting Power Bait and worms along the east side, the powerlines, the dam, and the bridge area is usually pretty consistent.” Trout are still being caught during the day, when by this time of year they are usually caught more easily at night. “The brush and trees that are still submerged by the higher water level have been producing some great action on bluegill and big redear sunfish on worms,” said McCutcheon. “Catfish are also hitting in good numbers with some fish in the 4- to 6-pound range showing up this past week. Most anglers do better on the catfish at night on chicken livers, nightcrawlers, and stink baits.” Bass fishing has been good, and Dave Callison and his friend, Kevin, both from Yuba City, caught limits of spotted bass on plastic worms up by the bridge. Kevin caught and released a 6 pounder. The higher water level has been a blessing for all species of fish in Collins Lake and fishing is good — come up and enjoy the great hospitality at this popular resort. Lake Oroville coho getting deeper, harder to catch, but bass action good BY PAT YOUNG/WON Staff Writer OROVILLE  — The triple-digit heat of the past week has taken its toll on the coho at Lake Oroville, and anglers are having to probe deeper to pick up fewer fish than just a couple of weeks ago. The bass action is still good, especially for “slot-fish”, and now the topwater bite is starting to turn on. “The coho bite has slowed way down since they’ve moved into deeper water, 60 to 80 feet, in the areas near the Green Bridge and the dam,” said Jim Spradlin at Feather River Outfitters. “The days of easy limits on anything you cared to throw are now a thing of the past and the salmon are getting much harder to catch. Sling Blades trailing nightcrawlers, spoons or hoochies are picking up some nice 17-inch fish, but you have to move around and meter schools of fish and work them to see if they’ll bite — if not, move on. Those boaters opting to mooch with anchovies at the buoy line by the dam are having to fish deeper for fewer coho, but they are nice, big fish.” “Bass fishing has been good for ‘slot-fish’, with very few fish over the slot being seen lately,” said Spradlin. “The best action is coming very early or very late when the sun is off the water, and the topwater bite is starting to kick in. The topwater bite generally produces bigger fish than plastic worms and is a lot more fun. After the sun hits the water, the bass are backing off into 25 to 40 feet of water and will hit worms and tubes on the main points.” If there is a lot of recreational traffic, move up the river arms into the ‘no-ski- areas or back into the coves. Caples Lake receives trophy plant from EID and Kirkwood Meadows BY PAT YOUNG/WON Staff Writer KIRKWOOD — The Eldorado Irrigation District (EID) and the Kirkwood Meadows Utility District sponsored a trout plant into Caples Lake this past week that included 1600 pounds of catchables running 1/2- to 1- pound each and 700 pounds of trophy rainbows weighing between 3 and 6 pounds apiece. Anglers almost immediately began catching some impressive stringers of fish. “EID and Kirkwood Meadows made a big trout plant at Caples Lake at the new launching facility on July 20,” said Kelly Keith at Caples Lake Resort. “By July 22, anglers were showing up with some amazing stringers of rainbows to be weighed and photographed.” Joe Rizzo of Daly City had a limit of rainbows that weighed over 20 pounds — they were all 4 to 5 pounders. Rizzo said he caught the big fish trolling a copper dodger/worm combo at Emigrants Cove. Two days later, Rizzo returned with his brother, Sal, and they came in with 7 more big rainbows — again, all 4 to 5 pounders — they caught those using worms. “There are a lot more fish that size still left out there,” Keith said. “Trollers and boaters drifting bait in deeper water have been doing better than shore anglers for the most part.” Lake Tahoe kicks out an 18-pound Mack for a local guide BY PAT YOUNG/WON Staff Writer SOUTH SHORE — Mackinaw fishing during the early part of this past week was very good, but the bite got tough by the end of the week except for one guide, Mike Neilsen at Tahoe Top Liners. He decided to go down to the marina to clean his boat one afternoon and headed out with a buddy to fish a little and ended up landing an 18-pound Mack. The kokanee bite is starting to develop and the anglers who concentrate on the kokes are doing well on 15- to 17-inch fish. “We did really well at the beginning of last week trolling 90 to 230 feet deep with kokanee imitation hard baits like the Storm Thunder Stick and the Rapala Husky Jerk in silver/black,” said Neilsen. “The Macks were running 3 to 6 pounds and we had no problem getting limits. By the end of the week, I was having to rely on vertical jigging and ran 30 miles just to pick up 7 fish on my last trip. The highlight of the week, though was a trip I took late in the afternoon in the middle of the week with a friend of mine. We had gone down to the marina to clean up the boat after several guide trips and decided to head out for a little trolling. I was pulling a Storm Thunder Stick at 90 feet deep over 160 feet of water when I hooked and landed a beautiful 31-inch, 18-pound Mack. It was 3 p.m. and the last thing I expected, with the best bite having been in the morning all week.” “I’ve been trying a little for the kokanee over at Emerald Bay, but I haven’t been putting in much time doing it,” said Neilsen. “There’s a guy in the same marina where I keep my boat and he’s just been slaying them. The fish are real nice this year, 15 to 17 inchers. The kokes are hitting the standard gear at 45 to 55 feet. The best colors here are pink and orange behind chrome flashers or dodgers.”