Guide for gear fishing?

[John Sv]

Hi,
Still trying to get my now 12 year old hooked on fishing. He fishes, and does quite well, but isn’t really excited or motivated. And I am not pushing it, because I think you need to find the love on your own. That said, most of the fishing we have done is well, probably boring for a 12 year old. Trolling, nymphing under an indi….
I think what could get him hooked is a lot of action watching bass or even breams, smash lures. Which got me thinking about a guided boat trip either in the delta, sac, feather. Does anyone have a favorite guide for tossing gear? Not looking for trophy or even big fish, looking for lots of action.
Thanks in advance.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Bob Sparre is the best for this because he has a lot of kids himself.

One of the top veteran gear and fly skiff guides in Nor Cal.

Andy and I have fished with him and have known him for decades.

https://bobsparre.com/

[John Sv]

Thanks Bill!
I reached out to him

[MThompson]

Oroville or Melones in the spring.

Joseph Orozco at Oroville @ bassunionfishing dot com
John Liechty at Melones @ xperiencefishing dot net

[TroutHunter10]

Shad is always a good option. plentiful, active, and fight well.

Bass fishing on the delta is far from a guarantee.

[John Sv]

Thanks for the recos!

[Tony Buzolich]

Last year, I booked Andy from Kiene's (now FFS) for my grandson who was 12 at the time. We did an afternoon shad trip and had a ball. Andy is the most personable guy with kids, and fishing shad was perfect for a newbie, and they fight hard.
After a couple hours of non-stop catching Andy showed Andrew (my grandson) how to net the fish. That was a whole new game and I think he enjoyed doing that as much as catching them.
Tony

[Spicytuna1]

I have a buddy who uses Robbie Dunham the Koke Machine for trout trolling at Amador or Pardee and they always have a good time.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Many years ago, 1960s, my dad and I trolled for Kokanee and they are 'dwarfed land-locked Sockeye salmon' and delicious.

Years ago Lake Tahoe had them up to 5 pounds but we never got there. Folsom Lake had them to about 18 inches.

Our favorite was Bullard's Bar Reservoir which is long and very deep on the Yuba River.

Kokanee there, back then, were about 13 inches and because of that the limit was 10.

We trolled with a lead-core line, marked with a different color section, at every 30 feet.

When you landed one and grabbed it out of the net they were very cold, like a pop cycle, coming up from the deep water.

[John Sv]

Thanks guys!
We have a 14' Klamath and troll for kokes regularly. Fun for sure but I am definitley looking for that top water electricity!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

You need to describe your dream day.

Top water guides are hard to find plus you need the right time of year and right location.

[MThompson]

Basing a trip on a topwater bite is far too narrow in focus and you'll be setting yourself up for disappointment. If it happens it will be a bonus. I bet a 12 year old kid these days would love watching fish on Forward Facing Sonar. Much like a video game. Most bass guides have it.