The Fish Sniffer

(Smith River) Collins Lake received their 1st trophy trout plan of 2013 on Valentine’s Day, February 14 at 3:30 in the afternoon, boosting fishing success at the reservoir.

“This year we will be getting tagged trout as well, but the tagging program doesn’t start until March,” said Kathy Hess of the Collins Lake Resort. “Some of the fish will have tags valued between a free ice cream or a $100 bill.”

“The bigger trout plants will come every other week through March, then increase to weekly as we start releasing the net pens of fish we are raising here already,” she noted.

Collins Lake is having it’s own spring fishing contest as an added incentive. Starting in March for the month of March, April and May the three people who catches the biggest trout, bass and catfish of the week will get into a drawing. 

At the end of each month a name will be drawn as the winner for that month.  The winner will receive a free day on their Patio Party boat (to be used before June).  

 Rick Cox landed a 5 lb. 8 oz. trout off the beach on PowerBait. Kevin and Rich Moore trolled close to the surface with Rapalas for a beautiful stringer of trout, including a 6 lb. 8 oz. rainbow. Gabriel Jaramillo brought his Dad fishing and was pretty pumped when he hooked his 5 lb. 4 oz. rainbow on PowerBait.

“A nice group of neighbors from Plumas Lake came camping this week and had no problem catching trout while they hung out at their campsites,” Hess stated. “Sherri Howell, Diane and Fiona all caught lots of trout on PowerBait.  Their friends Hal and Sue (Hot Lips) Swartzlander also landed many trout.”