4 July 7- 21, 2017 VOL. 36 • ISS. 15

junior division. We pulled up to the lake at 4:45 am, only to see a huge line of trailers waiting at the gate. Rigs were backed up all the way past the turnoff to the road to the dam! It was one of the biggest turnouts I have ever seen, and I knew we had our work cut out for us.

Once we got situated on the water, the kokanee started coming over the rails in grand fashion. At first light, we couldn’ t get the rods out fast enough. The kids got in on the action, landing several kokanee themselves. It was great until about 8:00 am, when the bite really slowed down. By 9:00 am, it had pretty much totally shut down.

Several hours into the slow period was when I nailed that rainbow trout. Not long afterwards, I was making a pass along an oak tree lined bank when the rod at 40 feet started pumping in the downrigger.“ Wait … it’ s a fish” I muttered, and quickly jumped to my feet. The fish made a hard run straight down, and didn’ t want to

sleeping bag is just not what is used to be. The idea of camping beneath the stars, next to the lake in your own RV, sounds pretty inviting, right? When considering your first RV, one can hardly top the Jayco Jay Series tent camper line for features, affordability, and a small footprint on the environment.

First, you’ ll have a small, lightweight unit that almost

come up. I momentarily thought it might be tangled in the downrigger wire, but it wasn’ t. After the fish made several additional line-stripping runs to the bottom, I told Gina“ This probably isn’ t a kokanee”.

In my mind, I was thinking smallmouth bass. When I saw its golden flash though the crystal clear waters of Lake Pardee, I knew what it was. A channel catfish had grabbed my fluorescent blue kokanee spinner. Another false alarm!

The kids thought it was really cool and wanted to keep it. It was a decent-sized fish, so I figured that Cajun fried catfish wasn’ t such a bad idea after all. I bled it out and put it in the cooler, which was starting to collect quite the variety of species. I was thinking what’ s next … carp?

The bite picked up again around noon, and we scratched out a few more kokanee before heading to the weigh-in at 2:00 pm. Just after noon, we had picked up yet another catfish,

RV Lifestyle

any minivan, SUV, or truck can tow. Inside you’ ll find wall to wall vinyl flooring, several large queen-sized sleeping areas with optional heating mats, a dinette, and a reversible couch that makes into an additional sleeping area. Depending upon the model, you’ ll be able to sleep up to eight people. Each Jay Series tent camper will have tinted vinyl windows and a roof vent to move the air. Each unit will have a stove, a sink, and a refrigerator for your food storage and cooking needs. Each Jay Series basically in the same location and depth as the first one. I guess if I ever want to target catfish at Pardee, I know where to start.

Back at the derby weigh-in, the usual festivities were underway. Kokanee Power is a well-run organization which promotes a fun, family-oriented atmosphere. Their derbies include a lunch, optional raffle, and fun for all.

While waiting in line to weigh in our fish, I overheard another entrant remark how he too had caught a catfish. Aside from the oddity of species being landed, the bite pattern was also out of the ordinary.

Usual years have us catching kokanee at Lake Pardee around 45 feet deep in beginning of June. However, with water roaring over the spillway, this year’ s pattern has been less predictable.

We caught almost half of our fish right on the surface, with other fish coming at 20 and 40 feet deep. It was an odd range of depths for early summer kokanee fishing. All in all, we landed ten fish while

by Cliff Woolard, RV’ s Of Sacramento

model is also pre-fitted for a TV and a stereo, and a furnace and A / C are available on many units as options.

Setting up camp is a piece of cake with the easy-to-use lifter system with wide lifter posts integrated into the tent. If you are an off-road enthusiast, the Baja package with 15-inch off-road mud tires( 12SC, 12UD) and 5-inch ground clearance makes getting off the grid a snap. In addition, some Jay Series models come with a front Black Diamond Plate Storage Box w / Side

losing an additional ten fish.

When all was said and done, my wife Gina and I finished in fourth place for the team event. We didn’ t get any fifteen inchers, but it was a great showing nonetheless.

What was more gratifying was that our daughter Grace took third, and our son Adam took first in the junior division. He was so proud that he actually slept with the trophy that night. Grace finished first back in 2014, so now they have equal bragging rights.

Kokanee Power has more derbies lined up this summer, and I recommend attending any of their future events if you can. Information is listed on their website at www. kokaneepower. org

Entry Doors for storing your fishing or hunting gear.

With the Jay Series tent camper lineup, now is the perfect time to make the leap into the RV lifestyle! For more go to: www. rvsofsac. com or www. jayco. com

Young Adam Naves took first place in the Youth Division with this big salmon during the 2017 Kokanee Power event at Lake Pardee.

Photo by JACK NAVES, Fish Sniffer Staff.

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