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Hot-Bites Fishing Report By the Fish Sniffer Staff	July 11, 2008 Updated Regularly

BERRYESSA BASS & KING SALMON ... Lake Berryessa isn't producing any monsters, but the black bass bite is pretty darned good, as evidenced by guide Larry Hemphill's latest jaunt to the reservoir.

Leo Briones of Whittier, California and his 9-year-old and 13-year-old sons caught and released around 16 fish while using 4 inch Berkley Power Worms, observed Hemphill. The fish were a colorful mixture of spotted, largemouth and smallmouth bass.

"The two largest fish were a 17 inch and 2-1/4 lb. spotted bass caught by the 9-year-old and a 16-/18 inch spot nailed by the 13-year-old," said Hemphills. "The dad also bagged 4 largemouths in the 1-3/4 lb. class."

In addition to using green pumpkin Power Worms, the trio also split shotted with Robo Worms in red crawler and oxblood patterns at 20 feet deep. "We caught all of the fish in the Narrows," he noted. "That area had a better water color with all of the boating activity."

Trollers are catching a mixture of kokanee salmon, king salmon and rainbow trout on Berryessa. "I've been taking anywhere from 7 to 9 fish per trip," said Rene Villanueva of Steelie Dan's Guide Service in Elk Grove.

Rich and Rick Mitchell landed 2 kings to 19 inches, one 14 inch rainbow and a 5 kokanee to 17 inches while trolling with Villanueva on Sunday, July 6. "We fished with Uncle Larry's Mad Irishman and Pink Passion spinners at 55 to 65 feet deep in the main body near the Big Island," said Villanueva. "We trolled at 1.5 mph over 101 feet of water."

A trolling adventure by Villanueva on July 4 yielded 9 fish for Kyle Dawson and Missy Globermen of San Francisco. "They landed 8 kokanee in the 17 inch range and one 15 inch king," noted Villanueva.

Les Ehler of Vacaville ended up with a limit of kokanee on Villanueva's previous fishing trip. In addition, Villanueva bagged 2 rainbows to 18-12 inches.

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Area Fishing Maps Bodega Bay Indian Valley Reservoir

Lake Pillsbury Lake Sonoma

The Coastal Mountain Region offers "world class bass fishing at Clear Lake", California's largest natural lake. Clear Lake is also home to large catfish, carp, crappie and bluegill. You can find smallmouth bass in Cache Creek near Rumsey, the Russian River between Cloverdale and Healdsburg, and Lake Sonoma. The Russian also features shad and steelhead runs. Lake Berryessa is populated with large and smallmouth bass, as well as rainbow trout. Lake Sonoma is a good warm water fishery generally the best fishing is in the north end and during the work week when the skiers aren't so thick. Lake Mendocino, another warm water lake, is known for striped bass. About fifteen years ago, one was caught in excess of 40 lbs.! If you like to camp, don't overlook Lake Pillsbury. It is a beautiful high mountain lake about 1 1/2 hours northeast of Ukiah. The Eel River has salmon and steelhead runs, but be sure to check your reg. book because many locations are off limits.