VOL. 44 • ISS. 4

Rancho Seco Lake has excellent bank fishing access for anglers in search of rainbow trout, largemouth bass, redear sunfish and crappie.

Photo by Dan Bacher

ERALD- The Sacramento

Municipal Utility District( SMUD) Annual Trout Derby, held on April 5 and 6 at the Rancho Seco Recreational Area in South Sacramento County, produced big numbers of trophy-sized rainbow trout for the 892 anglers participating in the event. But no fish was larger than 9.51 lb. trout that Daniel Cronin caught on the second day of the event while fishing a Rooster Tail spinner off the bank. He won a kayak and trophy for his effort, capturing first place on that day.“ I told my wife that I was going to come back home with a kayak,” Cronin said.“ I think she believed that more than me. It’ s all downhill from here.” Anglers catching the heaviest trout in the derby won cash and prizes, including an adult and youth grand prize for the heaviest trout caught, each day. The grand prizes – fishing kayaks- were provided by Angler’ s Press Outdoors. Ken Murakami placed first in the adult division on day one with an 8.3 lb. trout. He won a kayak, a trophy and a swag bag. Vincent Tran placed second with an 8.1 lb. trout, winning $ 155 and a swag bag. Simon Ramsubhag placed third with a 7.57 lb. trout, winning $ 75 and a swag bag. The fifth through tenth place winners were Brandon Vang,( 5) Xiong Yang, 6.81;( 6) Gonzalo Nazario, 5.91;( 7) Romel Gatus, 4.39;( 8) Ethan Tsang, 4.05,( 9) Ted Jocson, 3.91; and( 10) Craig Harmon, 3.86. Logan Cha won first in the Junior Division with a 3.63 lb. rainbow. He won a kayak and a trophy.

Mohammad Yousef placed second in the Junior Division with a 2.92 lb. fish. He won a medal. Collin Hocomb placed third in the Junior Division with a 2.78 lb. trout. He also won a medal. The fourth through tenth place winners were:( 4) Logan Parayo, 2.65;( 5) Logan Hangkubra, 2.47;( 6) Nova Elmer, 2.31;( 7) Tim Drozdt, 2.18;( 8) Deslynn Le, 2.1;( 9) Marian Aiden, 2.02; and( 10) Dallas Spellman, 1.89. Eight-year-old Darren Alvarez won first place in the Kid’ s Division on day 2 with a 3.05 lb. rainbow. He won $ 35 and a trophy. Evan Alvarez placed second with a 2.77 lb. rainbow, winning $ 35 and a trophy. Cameron Nadariosay placed third with a 2.65 lb. fish, winning $ 25 and a trophy. The fourth through ninth place winners were( 4) Kylar Pape, 2.31;( 5) Elijah Drozdt, 2.17;( 6) Grace Machrorro, 2.16;( 7) Hamtin Mackey, 1.74;( 8) Benjamin Sngsabang, 1.59; and( 9) Anthony Nadariosay, 1.5. Again, on day two, Daniel Cronin won first place in the adult division of the derby with his 9.51 lb. rainbow. He won a kayak and trophy. Ryan Rosano of Stockton placed second in the adult division with a rainbow weighing 6.65 pounds. He won $ 155 and a swag bag.“ I hooked the fish while using

Big rainbows like this one were the reward for young anglers fishing the SMUD Rancho Seco Trout Derby the weekend of April 5-6.

Photo by Dan Bacher corn PowerBait in the middle of the rockwall,” he stated. Jay Huey placed third with a 6.65 lb. rainbow, winning $ 75 and a swag bag. The fourth through tenth place winners were( 4) Marisol Ozuna; 4.05;( 5) Justin Vue, 3.84;( 6) Freddy Rosano, 3.81;( 7) Sid Cates, 3.48;( 8) Matt Ascosta, 3.40;( 9) Ivan Yarygin, 3.12; and( 10) Luis Garcia, 3.11. Fifteenyear-old Aiden Marion won first place in the Junior Division with his 6.23 lb. rainbow. He won a kayak and a trophy. Marion caught the big trout and four others while fishing a Trout Magnet jig from his kayak while anchored up.“ Last year when I fished this derby, I didn’ t have the patience to fish for trout,” he observed.“ I switched over to bass fishing and caught and released around 30 bass while drop shotting with Robo Worms. This year I was patient and focused on trout.” Michael Lindsay placed second with a 6.14 lb. trout, winning $ 55 and a medal. Logan Parayo placed third with a 3.33 lb. rainbow, winning $ 35 and a medal. The fourth through eighth place winners were( 4) Ayden Xiong, 2.53;( 5) Weston Ascosta, 2.34;( 6) Alex Masaki, 2.24;( 7) Rami Lazkani, 2.2; and Shadi Lazkani, 1.43. Ten-year-old Grace Machorro won first place in the Kids Division on day two with a 3.45 lb. trout. She won $ 35 and a trophy. Catherine Hall placed second with a 1.78 lb.. fish, winning $ 30 and a medal.

Jayce Xiong placed third with a 1.47 lb. trout, winning # 25 and a trophy. Violet Machorro finished fourth, with a 1.32 lb. fish, winning $ 20 and a swag bag. In preparation for the derby, Rancho Seco Lake was stocked with thousands of rainbow trout, including the big fish that dominated the derby.