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SALMON ACTION ON PEDRO
By: Ron Wilson
April 6, 2006....
Salmon season in the ocean opened last Saturday with
mixed results. The good old boys had limits while the so-so fishermen
averaged about a fish per rod!
DFG was present, but it seems they weren't
sure where you could or couldn't fish! Guess they didn't read
there own press releases. Glad I did my salmon fishing locally.
Last Saturday I met Guide Bruce Hamby of Ripon
at the Safeway parking lot in Oakdale. We were heading up to Lake Don
Pedro to locate Salmon for clients he would be guiding later in the
week. What a beautiful morning, clear skies with a bright sun beginning
to come over the horizon. Bruce and I faced the sun most of the way up
to Blue Oaks where we would launch.
We started at the dam and I dropped a white
grub down 50 feet while Bruce thawed out the bait. Pretty soon I saw a
tap on the rod, but like a dummy I picked up the rod and was slow to set
the hook and the fish spit the grub.
The bait finally thawed, but it was slow as we
picked up a salmon here and there as we worked our way around the area
looking for fish.
Next stop was Jenkins Hill where we found
nothing on the depth finder or the rods as we trolled around the area.
We then moved up into Middle Bay and then back toward the Dam again.
The bite was slow and the salmon were
scattered, but Bruce could usually get them to bite one of our baits by
zigzagging the boat a little or by having his baits rolling at the
perfect speed.
By rolling perfectly the shad head will roll
like a dog chasing his tail. I have seen and done it a hundred times but
still I have a hard time getting it just right. The just right is the
key that the fish really hone in on and when its done right you can
usually catch the fish.
 We
started catching fish in the morning at 50 feet, but by 2 p.m. the fish
were down to 90 feet. We found 3 areas where the salmon were holding.
That should keep his clients happy for a week or two.
Catching fish is no accident. Its execution
and the right equipment no matter what species you're after. Bruce used
downriggers with cowbells attached. The line had swivels ahead and
behind a clear keel to keep the bait tracking true and then a number 8
red hook that slid down to the number 6 treble that would end up in the
fishes mouth.
I could write for a week but like they say a
picture is worth a thousand words and to get a good clear picture of how
to slow roll shad go out with a guide that knows his stuff. Guide Bruce
Hamby is an old hand at this and has been guiding for years and is one
of the best if not the best in the valley!
I ended the day with 5 fish on a stringer that
went from around 2 pounds up to 4. Happy, well yes we had a nice picture
stringer but a 6 pounder would of made it look better!
To hire Bruce for a day of exciting fishing
call Sierra
Sportfishing at (209) 599-2023. |
