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Fishing Report 12-19-18
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Christmas is quickly approaching and once again I’m procrastinating. I’m your typical last-minute shopper. Even with Amazon.com, I seem to wait ‘til the last minute every year. To make matters worse, my kids’ Christmas wish lists seems to get longer every day. Lately I’ve been busy with work, coaching, my wedding anniversary, and trying to have my boat ready for my yearly trip to Arizona. Changing and repacking wheel bearings in the middle of December hasn’t been the highlight of my month to say the least. Especially, finding out that the auto parts store gave me the wrong bearings after having them packed and ready to install. My new bearings are set to arrive today, I’m looking forward to finishing the job. The last thing I want on my way to Arizona is a burnt-out bearing. I’ve personally never towed a boat that far but I’ve been told that the fishing was great in December and I’m looking forward to fishing the Colorado River.

 

Delta Report:

The striped bass bite is still good for anglers fishing with bait and for anglers trolling. It’s been difficult though for anglers to find a place to launch their boats while avoiding the hyacinth. Bass fishing is fair for anglers that are willing to slow down their presentations. Jigs and rip baits are the go to lures for many veterans. When fishing a rip bait it’s important to let it sit awhile before each twitch. Bluegills are still being caught in large numbers by anglers fishing around boat docks with worms.

 

New Melones Lake:

Anglers targeting trout are having a difficult time. Typically, this time of year the bite is good for trout which has a lot of locals scratching their heads. Most are waiting for the lake to turn over which often brings the trout up to the surface. Bass fishing remains good for spotted bass as they are being found in large numbers feeding around large schools of shad.

 

Lake Don Pedro:

Trout fishing is great right now for anglers trolling from the surface down to 20 feet deep. Anglers are catching them while trolling a variety of baits at varying depths. One of the most consistent baits right now seems to be a Speedy Shiner. Bass anglers are finding bass holding deep. Many are dragging drop shotted worms and other small plastics through groups of fish that they’re finding with their depth finders. For larger bass, anglers are tossing trout imitating swim baits for mixed results.

 

Lake Amador:

Trout fishing has taken over lately on the lake. Weekly plants of 1200 pounds of Mt. Lassen Trout continue to keep the lake stocked. There have also been plants of lightning trout that have been tagged for those anglers who enter into the lake’s annual trout derby. The bait of choice right now seems to be Power Bait that is tipped with a piece of night crawler and fished beneath a bobber. Anglers fishing off the bank are focusing on the Dam, Spillway, and Boat House dock areas.

 

Lake Camanche:

Trout fishing is good right now on the lake. Currently both the lake and the ponds are being stocked with 600 pounds of trout weekly. Anglers trolling are trolling from the surface down to 20 feet deep with shad imitators. Anglers fishing off the bank are fishing the North Shore area. Bass fishing has slowed down but anglers are still able to catch them while working jigs down to 40 feet deep and slow rolling umbrella rigs.

 

Tip of the Week:

As much as I enjoy being out on the water by myself, this time of year is one of the most dangerous to be on the water alone. There are numerous stories of anglers over the years falling and not being able to get out. There are also places in the Delta that are marked with crosses where someone lost their life due to a fall overboard in the winter. If you do insist on going out by yourself be careful.