Took out my new Renegade for a maiden voyage yesterday on Natoma for a shakeout and lake check. Although I continued my streak of getting skunked there, I did hook one nice fish about 30' down.
The good news is I graphed a LOT of fish. The bad news is they were all 30'-40' down and in the channel. They were holding fairly tight to structure and I assume they were bass. The surface WT was 65 deg and I don't think the lake has turned over yet so I'm not sure why they were so deep. Some guy reported catching some under the dock at Willow Creek and I guess I'll believe him, but I saw no evidence of any fish in the flats or any water less than 25' deep.
Late afternoon there was the usual minor Trico hatch, but no evidence of feeding. No shad boils either. I suspect there are few trout left after DFG stopped stocking five or six years ago except for the big guys up near Folsom. I am going to try dredging again for them but am not holding my breath. I've never caught fish above Rainbow, but have taken dozens just below it when they were there.
I don't know how to get bass at that depth. I've taken Kokanee at 35' but that was on a slow troll with Type IV line. I did a countdown with Type II but aside from the one hit, nothing. Maybe someone has some good ideas. I'm a pretty good fly basser but this has me stumped. I'm temped to drop some live bait down to see what I can dredge up and pump a stomach.
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