Shaver Lake Fishing Report and Catch of the Day – July 26, 2017

Pam Norton of Clovis, caught a nice kokanee 16 to 17 inches long while fishing with her dad, Stew Mullikan, on guide Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters boat on Shaver Lake. (Photo contributed by Dick’s Fishing Charters )

Pam Norton of Clovis, caught a nice kokanee 16 to 17 inches long while fishing with her dad, Stew Mullikan, on guide Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters boat on Shaver Lake. (Photo contributed by Dick’s Fishing Charters )


By Dick Nichols | Contributed
Dick’s Fishing Charters

Since my last report in the Roundup, fishing Shaver Lake has definitely been a roller coaster experience. We had great success the first week with four trophy trout and about 17 kokanee over 16 inches. Pam Norton and her dad Stew Mullikan, both of Clovis, picked up their limits of mostly kokanee during that period. Pam had four kokes between 16 and 17.5 inches along with other good fish. It was her Father’s Day gift for her dad, Stew. Other good limits of big fish came in that week then a slight drop in productivity, but still multiple limits followed the next week.

Finally, fishing came to a near halt with a few more than a limit the norm. I look forward to the Department of Fish & Wildlife plant about Aug. 1. Gosh knows we need it.   

Big kokanee and an occasional trophy trout were supplemented with an excellent trout bite. I still use Trout Busters, tipped with crawler and corn, behind a Mountain Flasher at 100 feet back for trout. The 100 feet equates to about 20 to 23 feet down with the aforementioned set up. Lately, we have been focusing on the water in front of Sierra Marina for kokanee. The trout bite from the plant is also in that area, but in a week from the plant they will move out to the Island and Point areas.

We have had great success with Koke Busters, tipped with shoepeg corn, behind a C.J. Dodger for kokanee. The depths have been varied between 27 and 42 feet deep. Perhaps lately, 35 feet could be the starting point for your quest of kokes. Although a down rigger will always get you to those depths, we have caught several nice kokes on the side poles at 20 feet deep.

The July 4 week, yes week, lasted so long. Power boats and personal watercraft beat the water and us fishermen to a pulp. I still rock back and forth in my sleep. I do not know why water ski boats have to come within 25 yards of a fisherman’s boat, but they do. There have been many complaints by fishermen of the lack of respect for boat fishermen. I think we are looking at a successful last part of July and most of August in our pursuit for fish. They should be there. I also think DF&W will make a brooder (large trout) plant near Labor Day, which is in addition of this recent plant of catchables.

The marinas have fishing boats and pontoon boats to rent, so no excuse not to get out on the lake and fish in the event you do not have a boat. Shore fishing after the plant is good at Roads 1 and 2 this week and probably will be for a few weeks. Powerbait or crawlers can do the job.

Shaver is known for smallmouth bass, but not in good size. That changed recently when Ray Fisher, of Clovis, bagged a three-pound “smallie” on a twin tail grub with a dart head near the rocks in Shaver.

Let’s hope that we continue with a positive report in the next issue of the Roundup, Clovis’ own fishing report paper. I enjoy reading and attempting to answer your text or email messages. You can reach me at dickchip@netptc.net or by text at 559-281-6948.

Until next time, best of luck on Shaver.

Dick Nichols: Dick Nichols has been with us since the beginning. With decades of experience, he writes and provide insights about the Shaver Lake fishing game.
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