Bullards Bar Kokanee, New Melones Rainbows highlight early spring angling options

DOBBINS - Chinook salmon fishing will be closed in the Central Valley rivers and ocean this year, but anglers can still target kokanee and king salmon on foothill lakes in Northern and Central California.

The most consistent kokanee fishing in California is now available on Bullards Bar Reservoir, located on the North Fork of the Yuba River in Yuba Couty. After waiting for the weather to improve and the lake to settle, Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service went fishing with Ron Hufford of RB Tackle and found solid fishing and good weather on Friday. March 17.

The two anglers caught their 10 fish limits of kokanee salmon, along with three beautiful rainbow trout, while trolling in the main body of the lake off Garden Point, Schoolhouse Point and the Dark Day ramp.

“The water clarity is really good in the main body,” said Brady. “The water clarity isn’t as good in the North Fork. The fishing was surprisingly productive, considering the storms that we have just been through. The fish were scattered throughout the lake.”

“We landed several kokanee up to 13 inches, while the fish averaged 10 to 11-1/2 inches long,” noted Brady. “We caught all of the fish on RB Tackle dodgers and Crystal Bullet kokanee trolling flies, tipped with white corn, at 25 to 55 feet deep. The fish were hitting all day.”

“This is a great lake to catch fish, since there’s a ten fish kokanee limit and five trout limits. The key is to use your fish finder to find the fish and then troll your set-ups at 1.3 to 1.5 mph.” Information: (530) 263-4451.

Bullards Bar is holding 805,012 acre-feet of water, 83 percent of capacity and 113 percent of average.

Don Pedro Lake Rainbows – If you want to catch quality holdover rainbows with the chance of hooking a big landlocked Chinook salmon, Don Pedro Reservoir near La Grange is a great spot for anglers to head to, according to Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing.

The kings and kokanee aren’t biting yet at this reservoir, one of the best all-around fisheries in the state, but the trout are definitely hitting at this time.

“Today Tim Sellars and I went to Don Pedro to do a shake down trip and we just enjoyed the day,” said Smith after his latest trip on March 16.  “We experienced good trout action on a nearly-full lake. The reservoir is about 20 feet from full pool. We had no problem catching two limits of rainbows.”

“We caught rainbows averaging 16 inches long and going up to 17 inches while fishing in the main body,” said Smith. “We trolled with Excel lures and Rapalas in the top 10 feet of water while using leadcore line and downriggers. We also lost one large fish that jumped out of the water.”

He noted that anglers are bagging a few kings at the lake, but they need to fish deeper than for the rainbows. Information: 209 (581) 4734.

Don Pedro is holding 1,770,494-acre feet of water, 87 percent of capacity and 117 percent of average.

Trollers at New Melones Lake are also finding good numbers of rainbow trout while trolling Excel lures, Rapalas and other similar lures in the top 10 feet of water, according to Smith.

New Melones is holding 1,271,010 feet of water, 53 percent of capacity and 87 percent of average.

San Francisco Bay Halibut – Halibut fishing is starting to pick up in Francisco Bay. Anglers are trolling anchovies and herring in the south bay around Oyster Point. The Lovely Martha out of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco checked in with 11 halibut for 9 anglers on their latest trip on the bay on March 14.

“The fish averaged 7 pounds each and went up to 17 pounds,” stated Captain Frank Rescino. “The water has risen up to 52.5 degrees. As the water temperature continues to rise, the fishing will get even better.” Information: (650) 619-6629.

Lake Amador Trout – This Mother Lode reservoir continues to kick out trophy trout for shore anglers and boaters. Taper Taneo of Fresno caught a whopper 11.22-pound Amador Gold in the launch ramp cove on a spoon on Friday, March 17. It was the first trout she ever caught, according to Lee Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort.

Sergio Parra and Estevan Cruz from Sacramento used pink Mouse Tails out by Jackson Creek to catch a total of 10 trout, including two Golds and one Cutbow weighing in at 5 lbs. each. Their stinger weighed a total of 31.82 pounds.

“A 500 lb. plant of cutbows and rainbows all went in at the boat ramp cove on March 16 due to the spillway still going over,” reported Lockhart. “Once this rain stops and gives us a break, expect big trout plants to be happening. We still have a lot of fish from our fish hatchery slated to go into the lake.” Information: (209) 274-4739.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Early spring angling options include Bar Kokanee, Melones Rainbows