By: The Fish Sniffer Staff June 21, 2007 Last Issue A TRUE FISHING TALE April 24, 2007 While on my annual fishing trip to Lake Shasta with my wife, we were trolling for trout in the McCloud Arm. I saw a flopping/flapping commotion on top of the water. When I went over to investigate, I saw what is shown in the attached photos. Believe it or not, the coupled bass were still alive. When I got the fish in the boat, I was unable to pull them apart. So, we took these photos. Back at the campground, all were amazed. My conclusion: use bigger lures! Phil Samuel Pioneer, California

Shasta
“Bass fishing is excellent for fish averaging a little over a pound,” reported Tony Messer at Phil’s Propellers. “Several different lures are working well. Anglers are using Senkos, zara spooks and Rebel Pop R’s and Mothers Finest Worms in the No. 16 color rigged on a darter head.”  

Trinity
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are showing in abundance for anglers fishing the north end of the Trinity Lake, but don’t expect to catch trophy fish now that the summer pattern has set in.

“On my last trip, I caught and released smallmouth and largemouth bass all day,” said Tim Brady at Dragonfly Outfitters. “However, after catching a 3 pounder on a swim bait first thing in the morning, all of the other fish were in the 10 to 14 inch range.”

Brady experienced the best action fishing green pumpkin Senkos in 6 to 7 feet of water around weeds in the north end dredger piles.  

Oroville
Bass offer great action throughout Oroville. “Most of the fish are in the slot size from 12 to 15 inches, but anglers are also getting a lot of fish in the 2 to 2-1/2 pound class over 15 inches,” said Chuck Rice at Oroville Outdoors.

“Brown, shad and pond smelt pattern plastic worms, either fished on dart heads or on drop shot rigs, offer the top action,” said Rice. “The fish are showing at a variety of depths; I landed all of my bass in a recent local turkey shoot at about 5 feet deep. Wayne Cheney and Bob Bill won first place in that local morning event with five bass weighing a total of 10 pounds.”

The water level is 860 feet of water feet above sea level, 40 feet from maximum pool, and the lake is holding 2,948,200 acre feet of water. The water temperature is 68 degrees.  

Folsom
Summer conditions have arrived in the Sacramento Valley and legions of recreational watercraft enthusiasts are flocking to Folsom Lake. Despite this solid fishing opportunities exist for those willing to brave the crowds.

“My sources tell me that top water action is good early in the morning,” related Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience. “Good fishing can be found all over the lake at this time. Areas that feature submerged willows can be real hot spots. The area along the peninsula is a great place to find bass this time of the year.”

Clear Lake
The largemouth bass fishing at Clear Lake has been amazing this year, with both large numbers of fish and big bass landed. The bass fishing continues to be superb into the summer, as evidenced by the latest fishing adventure by Larry Hemphill, fishing guide.

In spite of windy conditions, Hemphill and Rosco Fertick of Tillamook, Oregon were able to catch and release 31 bass on Hemphill’s latest venture. “We had to launch at Lakeport and fish the north end since it was so windy on the south end,” Hemphill sated.

“Our big fish was an 8 lb. 11 oz. largemouth caught on a Deadringer worm by Fertick,” said Hemphill. “It was his first trip to Clear Lake. Our five fish limit went 27 pounds.”

They caught most of the fish on 7-1/2 inch Robo Worms and Deadringer Worms in green pumpkin. “Eight of our bass were over 4 pounds,” added Hemphill. “We fished the north end in 6 to 10 feet of water.”

On his previous trip, the mom-son team of Nancy and nine-year-old Ben Wherthan of Berkeley and Hemphill caught and released 25 largemouths while fishing the lake’s south end in 10 to 22 feet of water.

“The water was 75 degrees, but cooled down to 71 degrees with the cold wind of the past week,” noted Hemphill. “Ben’s top two fish weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces and 4 pounds, 10 ounces, while mom’s top fish went 5 pounds, 2 ounces. We caught the fish on Berkley Power Worms and Brush Hogs.”  

Amador
The unusually cool weather that hit the Mother Lode over the past two weeks has produced up and down black bass action at Lake Amador, but the overall fishing has been “excellent,” rated Larry Hemphill, fishing guide.

“George Broekma and I caught and released 19 bass while fishing from 6 am to 2 pm on Thursday,” said Hemphill. “The fish weren’t big, with the largest one going 2-1/2 pounds. The fog rolled in during the morning, the fog lifted and then it got windy.”

The pair caught two fish on Snagproof Frogs and the rest on Berkley Power Worms. After Broekma left, Hemphill ate dinner, had a nap and then went out again at 7 pm.

“I landed five largemouths by using Chug Bugs before dark,” he noted. “It was a full moon and after dark I caught 15 bass, with the largest just under 5 pounder while using dark colored 10 inch Power Worm. My top five fish totaled out at over 20 pounds.”

During the following morning, Hemphill caught and released 10 more bass, topped by a 3-1/2 lb. largemouth taken on a Snagproof Frog.  

McClure
 “Bass action is still very good,” tipped Chuck Powell at A1 Bait and Tackle in Snelling. “Forty fish days are very doable. Work water 25 feet deep with crank baits early in the day and transitioning to worms in the afternoon. Margarita Mutilator colors – chartreuse with a dark bloodline – is the best right now. Cottonwood Creek, Temperance Creek and Horseshoe Bend being the best for bass.”  

Eastman/Hensley Lakes
“Fishing uphill with seven inch carolina-rigged Yamamoto lizards in Green Pumpkin has been the ticket to the best bass bite at Eastman,” said Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun. “The better fish have been on main body humps in twenty to thirty feet of water.”

If you are struggling, the best bite is with Robo Worms in shad colors from the bank to twenty feet deep. Most of the fish are done spawning and fishing should pick up once they have recuperated and are ready to start feeding again.  

Millerton Lake
“The stripers have moved into the running water in the river but it is unclear how long they will be there because the lake is dropping a foot a day right now,” said Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun.

Bass have been decent, with a two pound average being the rule. You have to move a lot to find the better fish, but targeting the flooded trees will be a good start. Yamamoto Senkos fished weightless near the trees will be your best bet for numbers of fish, but throwing Zara Spooks first thing in the morning is definitely the best way to catch your better quality.

“The gates have opened up and Millerton is coming down a foot a day.” Merritt said.