Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3810 April 26- May 10 2019 | Page 16
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Apr 26 - May 10, 2019
MAP FEATURE
VOL.38 • ISS. 10
Anglers enjoyed beautiful spring weather during the SMUD Rancho Seco Trout Derby on April 6-7.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
Anglers Battle Huge Rainbows During SMUD Rancho Seco Trout Derby
A
total of 606 anglers fished in
gorgeous spring weather at Rancho
Seco Reservoir during the annual Sacra-
mento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Trout Derby on April 6 and 7.
“The annual SMUD derby has always
been a ton of fun,” said Vince Harris,
president of Angler’s Press Outdoors, the
event’s hosting organization. “But this
year’s event - that enjoyed absolutely
beautiful weather, not only made it more
enjoyable, but also seemed to increase the
size of the winning weights! “
Harris noted that although big numbers
of trout weren’t weighed in, the size was
exceptional, with an average weight of
4 pounds each.
Hang Pao won first place in the
adult division on day one with a 9 lb.
trout. For his efforts, he won a boat
and a trophy.
Todd Clareboat placed second with a
7.9 lb. lb. rainbow, while David Phillips
placed third with a 7.8 lb.
rainbow.
The fourth
through eighth
place winners
were (4)
Rebecca
Roberts, 7.48; (5) Ryan Wagner, 7; (6)
John Treadway, 6.6; (7) Gary Krula, 6.5;
and (8) Lee Roger, 6.2.
Cameron Ringler won first place in the
youth division with a 4.9 lb. rainbow,
winning a kayak. He landed this fish
while using orange Power Eggs from
shore.
Adam Yang placed second with a 4.7 lb.
trout Bella Monier
placed third
with a 1.4
lb. rainbow.
Austin
Gropette
won fourth
place with a
0.9 lb. trout.
Two
anglers
entered fish
in the kids
division of the
event on day one.
Kayleen Conway
placed first with a
4.6 lb. trout. Conway
landed her fish
while
using
a fly
The adult winners of the SMUD Spring Trout Derby caught some huge trout from the clear
waters of Rancho Seco Lake.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
under a water bobber. Daniel Thao placed
second with a 4.4 lb. rainbow.
The beautiful weather – and the weigh
in of big, beautiful trophy rainbows -
continued on day two of the SMUD trout
derby.
Mike Ringler placed first on day two
with a 7.08-pound rainbow, winning a
boat and a trophy. “It was
the first derby that I’ve
ever won first place,”
said Ringler. “I’ve been
fishing this derby for
eight years. I placed
second place two
years ago. I had the
biggest fish, but during the last
20 minutes of the event another
angler brought in a larger fish. You
just have to stick it out.”
Amazingly, he caught the trout
while fishing orange Power Eggs from the
kayak that his son had won in the youth
division the day before.
Julie Kramer finished second with a 7.08
lb. trout, while Clint Morretto placed third
The smile on face of Gonzalo Nazario, who won
first place in the kids division on day two with
his 4.40 lb. rainbow, is what the SMUD derby
at Rancho Seco is all about.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
with a 7.04 rainbow
The fourth through eighth places were
(4) Remy Malabanany, 6.87; (5) Owen
Owens, 6.39; (6) Mike Hang, 6.26; (7)
Tong Thao, 5.78; and (8) Evan Owens,
5.63.
Zack Kuykendall, who caught a 5.29 lb.
rainbow, won a kayak courtesy of Lasher
Elk Grove Ram.
No fish were weighed in the youth
division, but two fish were weighed in
the kids division. Gonzalo Nazario won
first place in the division with his 4.40 lb.
rainbow, winning a kayak. Skyler Hayes
took second place with a 4.4 lb. trout.
Grand prizes were furnished courtesy of
Lasher Elk Grove Ram, the Fish Sniffer
magazine, and Anglers Press Outdoors.
1,000 pounds of larger trophy size trout
plant were planted on April 5 and another
500 pounds of trophy rainbows were
stocked on April 6, providing anglers with
many chances to hook huge trout. A total
of 6500 pounds of trout will have been
planted by the end of this year.
Trout plants will resume this fall
the week of October 28 when 500
pounds of trophy rainbows will be
stocked in Rancho Seco. To see the
plant schedule, go to: https://rocky-
mountainrec.com/lake-facilities/listing/