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Salt Spring Valley Reservoir in Calaveras County is located near Copperopolis with an elevation of about 1076 feet above sea level. This lake is privately owned is renowned for its warmwater species that include largemouth bass that have been recorded of bass over 12-pounds. This lake is a catch-and-release for bass while other species such as crappie, bluegill, redear perch and catfish reside in this reservoir and can be harvested. The lake has shoreline areas with emergent vegetation where the bass and other fish can hide and feed. Salt Springs Valley Reservoir offers amenities such as campsites, a convenience store, boat launch facilities, restrooms and showers.
Joseph Silva combined length of 195.75” was enough for the win. His first day was 105.00” and his second day was 90.75”. He found fishing on the second day much more difficult to catch the longer fish compared to day one.
“I had never been to Salt Springs before and started along the dam area first thing in the morning.” stated Silva, “I checked the deeper water and found some big bass in about 20-feet of water.”
“I was able to catch a 20” and a 23” fish first thing in the morning.” exclaimed Silva, “This clued me in what do look for to catch more fish.” remarked Silva, “I was using a Neko Rig using a Big Bites bait with a 3/32- ounce weight. This light weight helped the fish zone in on the bait either while it was falling or on the bottom.”
“The lake is very shallow but there were a few creek channels that were a little deeper.” mentioned Silva, “I rotated creek channels on day one to catch 105” of bass.”
“On day two, I had found fishing was much more difficult to get the fish to bite.” articulated Silva, “The fish were not roaming the second day, and I had found them next to floating vegetation.”
“On day two all the fish bit on the bottom compared to day one.” said Silva, “I caught them all on day two on the Neko rigged worm.”
Silva thanked his girlfriend for helping him with his fishing and all her support every other weekend.
Yenhoua Yang finished in second with a two-day total of 184.00” He used a mag draft and big glide baits to catch his fish.
“Big baits equal big fish! I used a mag draft and a glide bait to catch my fish.” declared Yang, “On day one, the wind helped my catch my fish when it blew.”
“The pockets were holding fish compared to the points.” claimed Yang, “I was swimming the 6” mag draft above the vegetation. The bait was running about a foot above the grass.”
“I was slow dragging a Carolina rig once the sun got up higher and the water glassed out.” pronounced Yang, “I would feel the bait get heavy and then set the hook, that was the only trigger I would have when the fish would eat the bait.”
“On day two, the fishing was way tougher compared to day-one as you can see with the catches on day-two.” insisted Yang, “There was no wind so I Carolina rigged my bait and slowly dragged the bait. The bite was only some weight on the end of the line.”
“I was fishing in about 5-feet of water on the second day.” replied Yang, “The bite was really slow, and one had to dead stick or slowly drag the bait to get bit.”
Yang thanked Yak-a-Bass for hosting the Gamblers events, and the anglers that helped support each of these events.
Pua Thamada finished in third with a two-day total of 181.25”. His game plan was to use reaction baits to catch his fish during this event.
“I started on the main river area and caught two fish fairly quickly.” explained Thamada, “I then headed to the main river location and caught my third fish near the opening.” spoken Thamada, “I tossed my chatter bait up shallow and let it fall and the fish ate it on the fall.”
“I moved back out towards the main lake and caught my limit fish, again as the bait fell the fish ate my chatter bait.” reported Thamada, “The lake was a little choppy, so it was difficult to figure out the lake.”
“My fifth fish did help me with what stage of the spawn the fish were in because it was long and skinny and all spawned out.” recalled Thamada, “I knew then that I needed to fish areas that the post-spawn fish were located.”
“Day two- fishing was difficult and the lake was dead calm, I struggled to get a bite.” informed Thamada, “I headed up the river area and decided to start throwing a swim bait to get some bigger bites.”
“I got two bites but never hooked up on the swimbaits.” asserted Thamada, “The wind started to pick up, so I decided to throw the chatter bait and after 4 hours finally caught my first fish.”
“This is when everything changed for me, I saw some vine vegetation and tossed a drop shot near the vegetation and caught two nice fish in just a few casts.” communicated Thamada, “This is when I knew what I needed to do to catch fish.”
“I moved out to the main lake and found a few more isolated vegetation and caught my 21” fish.” noted Thamada, “I saw a clump of vegetation and casted my worm to the structure and caught my fifth fish with just a few minutes left of the event.”
Thamada thanked Yak-Bass for hosting these events. A big shout out to his homie Lumpy! You know who you are, without you, this top 3 wouldn't’ have been possible. Good luck Lumpy and be safe out there bud! Yang advanced chiropractor for all his help with fixing my back, my nephew Yang he helped get my back to be able to go fishing. My nephew Yang came out and stayed with me at Salt Springs just in case my back hurt. My cousin Yang for bring out his RV to camp in and hang out with the boys. My wife and kids for all their support while I am out fishing these events. Anglers come on out and compete in the Gamblers events, they will make you a better angler.
Top Ten:
1. Joseph Silva 195.75”
2. Yenhoua Yang 184.00”
3. PuaThamada 181.25”
4. Sean Beach 178.75”
5. Justin Dutcher 178.25”
6. Greg Blanchard 173.75”
7. Bill Hendrix 167.75”
8. Jarrod Herndon 142.75”
9. Terence Sullivan 122.50”
10. John Ellis 87.00”
Big Fish:
Joseph Silva 23.00”
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