6 March 8 , 2024 VOL . 43 • ISS . 8

LAKE AMADOR

Anglers Battle Trout , Bass In Shallow Water

IONE -- Fishermen are bagging both trout and bass as the fish bite in shallow water , now that the lake is full from the recent storms . “ We loaded up 1000 lbs . of Cutbows , Golds , and a few Blues during our latest trout plant ,” reported Lee Lockhart at the Lake Amador Resort . “ We let a bunch go at the dam , but a good chunk went into the launch cove , which is completely full now that the lake is much higher . Expect to get bites in the top 5 ’ because conditions are perfect for them to run shallow ..” The previous trout plant of 1,000 pounds featured 100 tagged trout for the trout derby at Amador . “ I ’ m also hearing of a few nice bass being caught in the shallow , probably from the rise in temperature from the warmer rains , making perfect conditions for all types of fishing ,” advised Lockhart . “ I ’ d be looking for catfish and crappie as well , so try a variety of tactics while you ’ re out there - you may be surprised what ’ s biting .” The lake level is 4 ’ down , the surface water temperature is 59 degrees , the water clarity is 5 ’ and the oxygen level is 10.2mg / L . Anglers are reporting catching good numbers of trout . Brian Mackinnon and Ethan Dickson

from RB Bass caught 9 nice trout , including one gold , by drifting pink / white mouse tails in various coves at 5 ’ deep . Darryl and Terese Carter also caught 9 trout while fishing on their boat . Big trout honors go to Enrique Montoya of Stockton and his friend , who landed five trout , topped by an 8.30 pounder . Buddy Hamm also bagged an 8.06 lb . blue while fishing from the spillway with a silver lure . Finally , Ian Smylie from Ione hooked and released a quality largemouth bass near campsite 39 during a recent fishing adventure at the lake .

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN RIVER

Hatchery Finishes Spawning Steelhead for Season

RANCHO CORDOVA – Nimbus Fish Hatchery completed its last steelhead spawning session of the season on Feb . 27 . No number of the number of steelhead trapped by hatchery was available at press time , but a relatively large number of fish returned to the facility this season . On February 20 , 2024 , the Department of Fish and Wildlife released approximately 1,192,290 brood year 2023 Nimbus Fish

Hatchery fall-run Chinook Salmon into the Lower American River at Nimbus Fish Hatchery . This group is unmarked and untagged ( no external mark or coded wire tag ), but parental tissue samples have been collected on 100 % of the broodstock used in the production of these fish . Evaluations of adult contribution from this experimental release group will be completed using genetic

parentage analysis . “ In early February , one-yearold steelhead were loaded into tanker trucks and released into the American River to begin their outward migration to the ocean- -we ’ ll see some of these fish

CONTINUED ON PG 7

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