Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3807 Mar 15-29 2019 | Page 21

nch so n k Stony Creek Rd nn G ma lo Pa Gillam Rd Campo Seco Rd To Hwy 12 and Lodi Campo Seco Watertown Rd Pardee Ln To Hwy 12 and Lodi eid W Rd To Hiway 49 & Jackson a em PALOMA h ulc China Gulch Twin Mine Rd Poorman Gulch a Rd Elevation 568 Riv Twin Mine Rd log Boom Thatchers Gulch k Mo e n elum al R Good School Camp Gulch Palom Spillway Weatherbee Gulch Copper Mine Tule Gulch Gulch Dam Gale Gulch Lecchiro Gulch To Lake Camanche Kirkwood Gulch Cave Gulch Condon Gulch Norton Gulch Pardee Reservoir Recreation Area Grapevine Gulch Dufresne Gulch Tagers Gulch Stewart Gulch Black Gulch Plasse Gulch Middle Bar Rd. To Jackson Cr Rd ck Bar Ja ad h anc R To Hiway 12 & Valley Springs Bell Ro Haupe Crk Fishing Notes Mokelumne River and ventures into the lake in search of forage, including the abundant trout and kokanee. Chris Harris of Sacramento set the lake brown trout record in 2010 when he landed a 15.36 lb. fish while trolling for kokanee at 30 feet deep near the dam. He was using a pink fire tiger Uncle Larry’s spinner behind a Sep’s dodger. Kokanee salmon offer another quality salmonid fishery at Lake Pardee. The fish are extremely abundant most years, finding excellent spawning conditions in the Mokelumne River, so the CDFW no longer plants the reservoir with the kokanee. The kokanee fishing was tough last year, but hopefully will be better this season. While most anglers fish the lake for salmonids, the lake is home of record- class smallmouth bass. Harold Hardin • Smallmouth Bass are found throughout the season off the rocky points. Toss plastic grubs, Senkos and worms for the big bronzebacks. Good numbers of Largemouth Bass are also taken at Pardee by experienced bass enthusiasts. Double • Kokanee Chile fishing hits its prime from late March through September, depending upon weather and water conditions. Troll Needlefish, Springs Camp Cripplures, Goldeneyes, Apexes, Uncle Larry's spinners and other small lures, tipped with white Rd corn, in the main body near the dam. Rd • Rainbow Trout fishing can be good throughout the season, but the best bank fishing is in the spring. The Main Recreation Area is the hot spot for big rainbows in February, March and April. Fish Power Bait, Power Eggs, Pautzke salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, spoons, spinners and flies. Trollers find the hottest action during the late spring, summer and early fall, when the fish are concentrated in the thermocline. Troll minnow imitation lures and nightcrawlers behind flashers. • German Browns are occasionally taken, usually when heavy flows push the fish from the Mokelumne Rvier into the lake. Troll Rebels and Rapalas early and late in the day in the spring. • Other Species found at Lake Pardee include bluegill sunfish, crappie and channel catfish. Wet weather didn’t stop the winners in the Adult Division from getting checks during the Pardee Lake NTAC tournament on March 2. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. “We used various colors of Power Bait in the main recreation area. Everybody around us was catching fish also. We both had second rod stamps, but the fishing was so good we couldn’t get our second rods in the water. “ The Rocky Mountain Recreation Company stocked 10,000 pounds of trout for the opening weekend and has stocked trout weekly since then. Trollers can catch good numbers of holdover rainbows while trolling spoons, spinners, minnow imitation lures and nightcrawlers from the surface to 20 feet deep from the Narrows to the dam. Shore anglers can also pick up quality rainbows in the 1 to 5 lb. class while fishing nightcrawlers, Power Eggs and PowerBait on sliding sinker rigs. The lake also a sleeper population of wild German browns that spawns in the Fre Amador & Calaveras Counties Location and size: Situated on the Mokelumne River in the Mother Lode foothills west of Ione, Lake Pardee has 2257 surface acres and 37 miles of shoreline when full. Management: The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) oversees the operation and maintenance of facilities, determines recreation fees and establishes rules and regulations. The recre- ation facilities are operated by the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company. Camping: Lake Pardee features a total of 141 beautiful, oak studded campsites located within two separate campgrounds within its boundaries. Campsites offer plenty of shade, are clean and each contain a picnic table and a fire ring. Clean, portable toilets are within a short walk. In each campground, running water is close to or right next to a site. Two ADA designed handicap sites are also available. Lakeview Campground is within walking distance of most facilities. The Oaks Campground is a little more secluded. For reservations and fee information, call (209) 772-1472. RV Sites: Nightly and weekly RV sites, known as “C” units, are located in the Oaks Campground and feature full hook-ups, including electricity, water, and sewer connections. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Boat ramp: The ten-lane boat launch ramp is a real convenience for easy launching and exiting. The extra long trailer parking area is also a plus to boaters at Pardee. Note: EBMUD rangers will be inspecting boats for the presence of Quagga and Zebra mussels. Marina: Pardee’s full service marina features boat rentals, boat supplies, fuel, ice, propane, oil, bait, tackle, beverages, sand- wiches and snacks, lake maps and fishing licenses. Boat rentals: are available out of Lake Pardee Marina for hourly, half day, full day and weekly rates. Deluxe and pontoon boat rentals are also available. Fishing fees: Permits are $6.50 each day for each individual 16 years and older. A valid California fishing license is also required for all persons fishing who are age 16 and older. Fish cleaning facilities: The state-of-the-art fishing cleaning station is an automated system where you simply approach the station and the grinder turns on automatically. Also, it is ADA designed for the disabled. It’s open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. For more information, contact Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, 4900 Stony Creek Road, Ione, CA 95640-9439, Office: (209) 772-1472, 1-800-416-6992, https://rockymountainrec.com/ lake-facilities/listing/pardee-lake-recreation-area. Pardee Reservoir Lake Pardee Facts 19 March 15 - 29, 2019 MAP FEATURE VOL.38 • ISS. 6 of Stockton set a new state smallmouth Northern California and is just twelve bass record in July 2007 by landing miles southwest of Jackson. a 9.83 lb. bronzeback, shattering the As the center of EBMUD’s drinking previous state record of 9.1 pounds supply, to comply with state law, caught by Tom Brady of Weaverville personal water crafts, water skiing, and in 1976 at Trinity Lake. He fooled the lake swimming are not permitted. fish with a 6 inch long charcoal colored For more information about the Castaic swimbait in his aluminum boat. NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, call Then during a Lake Pardee Media Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938 or go to: Day in 2008, two anglers bagged two http://www.anglerspress.com. monster smallmouths over 9 pounds in For more information about Pardee one day. Lake, contact the Rocky Mountain Allen Fong of Fisherman’s Warehouse Recreation Company, 4900 Stony in Sacramento caught and released a 9 Creek Road, Ione, CA 95640-9439, lb. 5 oz. smallmouth while fishing with Office: (209) 772-1472, 1-800- a green Yamamoto jig outside of the 416-6992, https://rockymoun- recreation area cove in 20 feet of water. tainrec.com/lake-facilities/listing/ Bass pro Dean McDaniel also nailed a 9 pardee-lake-recreation-area. lb. 2 oz. largemouth while fishing a grub in the same area. While known for its huge smallmouth, Pardee also has a good population of northern strain largemouth bass. Jack Billington from Ione captured the Pardee Lake record when he caught and released a 13.4 lb. largemouth using Blade Runner chartreuse and white craw jig on March 22, 2007. Other species found in the reservoir include channel catfish, bluegill and crappie. Located on the Mokelumne River, Pardee Recreation Area provides stunning views and diverse activities for all visitors, old and young. The park Joey Hill Jr. landed this 1.76 lb. rainbow, winning the youth is nestled in the foothills division of the NTAC event at Pardee, while bait fishing from shore. of the Sierra Nevada of Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.