LAKE AMADOR

Limits of Trout In July !

IONE - Normally July is not a month when anglers catch limits of trout at Lake Amador . But this year is different . Despite the heat , one angler , Nik Cardenas w / F & B Bait , caught a limit of trout on a recent trip to the lake . Then two days later he went back to the lake to get another limit of Amabows and two blues as well , reported Lee Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort . On both trips he used FB Tails and corn PowerBait out on the spillway in 40-60 ’ of water . The reason for the trout bit is the cold Mokelumne River water that EBMUD is releasing into the Carson Creek arm of the reservoir . “ All of the trout that would normally hold over are heading up into the cooler water of the Carson Creek arm ,” said Lockhart . “ That water shoots straight at the spillway . There is oxygen down there . The colder water doesn ’ t mix with water of lake ; it goes under it .” For the trout , Lockhart recommended dropping Power Bait or spoons down to the bottom in 60 to 80 feet of water in the Carson Cove .

“ There are a lot of nice catfish showing throughout the lake ,” said Lockhart . “ Your best bet is to fish chicken liver , anchovies and blood baits in the back of coves in 15 feet of water in the Jackson Creek or Carson Arms .” Big fish honors go to Tyler Taylor and Dayton Taylor , who caught an 18.36 lb . catfish at their campsite in Carson Arm cove on a Speedy Shiner , of all things . Black bass fishing is also worth a try . Just ask Michael Mamola , who caught a beautiful 8 lb . largemouth bass on a

recent trip to the lake . The lake level is currently only 3 feet from full . The water clarity is 12 feet .

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN BASIN

Hell Hole Kokanee , Macks Are Hitting

AUBURN - Kokanee fishing is going strong for trollers at Hell Hole Reservoir , while mackinaws ,

browns and rainbows are also on the bite . “ On a recent solo trip to Hell Hole , I caught a limit of kokanee salmon in 1-1 / 2 hours of fishing ,” said Craig Newton of Willfish Bait and Tackle . “ The fish ranged from 14-1 / 2 to 15-1 / 2 inches long .. The fish hit hoochies , tipped with white corn , behind dodgers at 45 to 60 feet . The best depth was 50 to 55 feet .” He noted that boaters are also experiencing solid action for mackinaws , rainbows and some browns . “ The biggest mack I ’ ve heard of weighed 15 pounds ,” ‘ he tipped . “ Most guys are trolling Lyman plugs or Rapala for the macks , but some are also jigging at about 100 feet deep .” He said two friends went up to the lake after his trip and also reported catching limits of kokanee while trolling also . In the Crystal Basin , Loon Lake is hitting prime form . “ One customer reported catching rainbows in the 13 to 15 inch range and two nice browns in the 18 to 20 inch class ,” Newton noted . “ Your best bet for success sis troll worms behind dodgers and Rapalas .” The Sacramento

Municipal Utility District is stocking

This angler was fishing Lake Tahoe when he caught this beautiful 9 pound mackinaw while fishing Sierra Fin Addicts .

Photo Courtesy of Chris Ditter

Loon , Union Valley and Ice House Reservoirs with a total of 25,000 pounds of rainbow trout this summer . 7,000 pounds have been allocated to Loon , 10,000 pounds to Union Valley and 8,000 pounds to Ice House . For more information , go to : https :// www . smud . org / - / media / Documents / In-Our- Community / Recreational-Areas / Crystal-Basin-Trout-Plants . ashx

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN RIVER / SACRAMENTO AREA

Drift Boaters Target Shad , Stripers

SACRAMENTO – Fishing pressure has slowed down on the lower American River with the summer heat , but fly fishing guides are “ still doing well fishing for shad upstream from Sunrise ,” reported Kiene ’ s Fly Shop : “ There is relatively little wading access but if you have a boat and are willing to search for them you will possibly catch a lot of shad . The quality of striper fishing depends on your expectations . If catching five or six fish during a morning float sounds appeals to you then I would have to rate the fishing as very good . Most positive reports are coming from Howe Ave to just below Paradise .” Alan Fong at Fisherman ’ s Warehouse advised anglers in search of shad to try higher up in American above Sunrise . “ The fishing has got tougher ,” he noted . “ Anglers are doing best while throwing out 1 inch champagne and chartreuse plastic grubs ,” The CDFW ’ s Fishing in the City Program is now planting Sacramento Area park ponds with channel catfish . For more information , contact : r2fishinginthecity @ wildlife . ca . gov .