By Dick Nichols, Contributed
Dicks Fishing Charters
Trophy sized trout have been active at Shaver this past month. That was all good but now the Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project has planted our first round of 3 to 7 pound rainbows this past week. Bob Bernier, the SLTTP planting chairman, said there was only one casualty in a load of high bred rainbows from eastern Oregon, resulting in an Osprey having a nice breakfast.
The next day, Bernier walked the shore line near where he and other members of the SLTTP had released the fish. He encountered Ray Kisling , of Auberry, fishing from the shore. As Bernier approached Kisling’s location, Kisling hooked a big fish and after a good fight he brought in a beautiful 5 pounder. Bernier said Kisling was super excited about his catch exclaiming, “I have never caught a fish anywhere near the size of this one.” Yep, people are very happy up here lately with all the action of the trophy sized trout. Many are holdovers from last year which I feel had a carry over of about 750 3 to 7 pound rainbows from last years two plants.
Clovis resident Craig Conte and his buddy Terry Babb of San Miguel picked up a limit of trophies to 5 pounds on a trip before the SLTTP plant. They were trolling with Apex lures tipped with eggs or crawlers near the Point. Trollers have also had good success. Several have been caught this past month near the Point. For these big fish, I recommend my Trout Busters tipped with crawler behind a weighted Mountain Flasher. That’s what you will find on my side poles all season. Shaver is a blade/crawler lake for the most part. The Mountain Flashers allow you to use monofilament line and can reach depths of 21 feet. Wedding Ring spinners are also a good source. Yes, spoons and other lures take their share, but I have found that planted rainbows as well as browns love that crawler attached to a colorful spinner.
The trophies should be found near the Point and island areas this week. Trolling at probably 6-10 feet deep should provide best results, but the water coming in from Stevenson Creek is very cold therefore they may be a tad higher.
Kokanee are on a good bite for experienced trollers. The triangle of Black Rock, in front of Boy Scout Cove and back to the island is a good consideration at 8-15 feet deep. Colorful spinners or Apex in pink or orange tipped with Shoepeg corn is a good bet to entice an 18-inch koke. But, if you wanted to fish both for trophies and kokes, the Point to the island also may be a good move.
Within a couple weeks the trophy sized rainbows should be scattered about the lake, so be prepared for a hit of your life at any given moment. The lake level should be on a rise shortly after May 1 from a level of about 35 percent capacity. The auxiliary ramp is usable now and the main Sierra ramp should be back to use by the second week of May. Sheldon Sandstrom, an owner of the Sierra Marina, moved his marina to shore at the Sierra ramp and is open for business. The marina has rental boats and supplies for your trip. Call the marina to reserve a rental before coming to Shaver.
The DF&W should be making its first catchable sized trout plant very soon. I have been told by DF&W that the fish are a little larger than the normal half pound per fish. So, Shaver Lake should be your go to lake this season with a variety of kokanee, trophy and catchable sized trout. I begin my charter season May 15 and will run into the early all, weather permitting. Please contact me at dickchip@netptc.net by email or text me at 559-281-6948 with any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing you on the lake this year.