VOL . 41 • ISS . 7 |
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May 13 , 2022 |
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With better water conditions , the resort reopened the hatchery in 2017 . The hard fight that Amador ’ s own hatchery raised trout have historically provided anglers , along with their beautiful fins and colors , are due to the unique strains of fish grown here and the conditions they are raised in . First , the hatchery raises the fish in tanks 5 to 6 feet deep , rather than 18 inches deep like other hatcheries , making for better growing conditions . Second , when the fish reach the age of 8 months and are taken out of the raceways , they are raised in 7 octagonal tanks with a constant current running through them . Swimming in the current forces the fish to become strong and healthy . Third , the resort uses top quality “ EWOS ” food to raise their fish . Since it includes krill and sardines , |
it helped give the fish ’ s flesh their unique pinkish orange color . Fourth , the lake management keeps the amount of fish in the hatchery at a lower density than the state and other hatcheries , so the fish display squared , rather than rounded , tails . Fifth , the quality of the fish they raised also has to do the unique strains of fish they raise . While they first spawned fish from brood stock , they began buying eggs because it was less expensive . “ We raised kick-ass fish that fought like hell ,” said Lockhart . “ However , because costs to raise fish have tripled , we aren ’ t going to be able to raise 100,000 fish per year like we used to .” Trout provide the most popular fishery at Amador from October through May , but the lake also features excellent populations of |
Florida-strain largemouth bass , channel and blue catfish , black crappie , redear sunfish and bluegill . The largemouth found in Amador are Florida strain / northern hybrids . Northern strain bass were planted in the lake after it was filled in 1968 , followed by the introduction of Florida-strain largemouth by the CDFW in 1973 . Over the years , Amador has produced some huge fish . Juan Garcia caught the lake record Cutbow trout weighing 20.12 pounds on November 11 , 2020 . Jeremy Silvas landed the lake record rainbow trout weighing 19.39 pounds on November 18 , 1920 . The lake record largemouth bass , caught in 1986 by Tim Kamura , weighed 17.1 lbs . The record catfish , caught by Joel Issac , weighed 39.6 lbs . The record crappie weighed 4.1 lbs . |
Erin Baldanzi successfully battled this 4.2 lb . trout , placing fourth in the adult division of the NTAC event at Lake Amador on April 23 .
Photo by Dan Bacher
Amador is located only one hour from Sacramento and Stockton , and only two hours from anywhere in the Bay Area . The 1300-acre facility offers a heavily--stocked 400-acre lake , with an updated dual lane boat launch and a large fishing dock for shore anglers . The Lake Amador Clubhouse offers free Wi-Fi , a pool table , horse shoes , foosball and TV . The Clubhouse features a beer bar , as well as The Tackle Box Café , where you can eat a delicious breakfast and lunch ( when it is open ). For more information , contact : Lake Amador Resort at 209-274-4739 , www . lakeamador . com .
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