Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3621 Sept 29- Oct 13 2017 | Page 21

MAP FEATURE I-80 So uth ern Pacific Yuba Gap Drive 20 I-80 l Crysta e R La k Crystal Lake o ad I-80 YUBA GAP Kelly Lake Cisco Butte NF-19 A m er ic an R iv er Lake V alley Re se rv oi Si x r al le y d FISHING NOTES been rainbow trout, brown bullhead catfish and green sunfish. I do wish the CDFW would resume planting the brook and German brown trout in the lake like it did for many years. On my first trip to Lake Valley in Oc- tober 2000, my late cousin Tom Mulder- rig and I each caught a bullhead over 1 pound while fishing inflated nightcrawl- ers near the dam. However, we never got another bite after picking up those fish. I was surprised we caught the fish, since the water and air temperatures were very chilly that day. My next short afternoon fishing adventure to Lake Valley in June 2008 produced great fishing for catfish, but no trout. I hooked catfish after catfish while fishing nightcrawlers near the boat ramp until swarms of hungry mosquitoes forced me to the refuge of my truck. On the next trip a couple of weeks later, Cal Kellogg Sr. and Jr. and I were ready for hot catfish action like that I found on the previous adventure, but the fish weren’t biting. We caught only a few small catfish. It wasn’t until July 30 of 2012 that I fished at Lake Valley again in the after- noon after a fishing trip to Donner Lake. This time I targeted catfish with night- crawlers on the bottom, but I couldn’t keep the trout off! After catching and releasing two scrappy holdover trout, I headed home to Sacramento Figuring out the mysteries of catch- ing Lake Valley’s trout and catfish is not easy, since the fishing varies wildly from trip to trip. For example, after hearing excel- lent reports on trout fishing by trollers and bank fishermen, I decided to head to Lake Valley in mid-December 2012 between storms. This was the most magic trip to the reservoir that I have ever made. After catching one trout and losing one other on the side of the dam Placer County Size and Description: Lake Valley Reservoir in Placer County is a component of Pacific Gas & Electric’s Drum Spaulding Hydropower Project. The lake, located at an elevation of 5840 ft. in a forested mountain setting, has a 300-acre surface area and is about 2 miles long. It holds 8,000 acre-feet of water when full. Tall lodgepole pine trees and granite rocks surround the reservoir. There is quick and easy access from I-80. The long, somewhat narrow shape is great for flatwater paddling. Fish Species: The DFG plants rainbow trout at Lake Valley during the spring and fall months. Over the decades, the DFG has also planted brook trout, brown trout and even king salmon. Brown bullheads are very abundant in the reservoir. Boat Ramp: A concrete boat ramp is located in the Silver Tip Picnic Area. There is no fee. The lake is drawn down severely by late summer. Day Use: Silver Tip Picnic Area is provided and maintained by the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company: 10 picnic sites. The season is May through October. Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 80 East and exit at the Yuba Gap exit. Continue until the intersection and turn right onto Lake Valley Road. Continue for about 1 mile to another intersection, where you will make a left onto Forest Road 19 (a dirt road). Continue and park at the Silver Tip Picnic Area and Boat Launch. Camping and Lodging: Lodgepole Campground is operated by the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company. There are 35 campsites with fees required. The facility is operated from late June through Labor Day. Lodging and restaurants are available in Colfax, while groceries are available at the Nyack Shell Convenience Store, 1 Nyack Rd, Emigrant Gap, CA. 95715-9998, phone (530) 389-8212. Lake Valley Reservoir Lake Valley Recreation Area Facts 19 Sept. 29 - Oct. 13, 2017 L VOL.36 • ISS. 21 Rainbow Trout – Excellent shore fishing is available around the lake. Bank anglers toss out PowerBait, Berkley Gulp! Bait, Pautzke Fire Bait, nightcrawlers and an array of spoons. Trolling with nightcrawlers behind dodgers with minnow imitation lures such as Needlefish, Cripplures, Apex lures and Ex-Cel spoons is productive. Brown Trout – trolling or casting Rapalas, Yo-Zuri Pins Minnows and frog pattern Kwikfish, and FlatFish is your best bet. Fish early and late in the day along shoreline structure. Brown Bullhead Catfish - Toss out nightcrawlers, prepared catfish baits, mackerel and chicken liver along the shoreline. near the ramp, I walked over to the other side of the dam. The fish were biting lightly – and I couldn’t