6 Jan 18 - Feb 2 , 2018

VOL . 37 • ISS . 03

So pack up the tackle box , load up the rod and reel and head out to SMUD ’ s Rancho Seco Recreational Area on March 17 and 18 , 2018 . You can win a prize for hooking the heaviest trout , and so can your kids .

Cast your line from the shore or one of six fishing piers . Fish from your small boat [ electric motor only ] or rent a fishing boat at the lake — or a kayak , rowboat , or paddleboat . If you want to stay overnight , you ’ ll find eighteen RV sites with barbecues , fire pits , picnic tables , drinking water and electrical outlets , plus an additional 25 camping sites for those who like to sleep under the stars .

For family members not lured by fishing , the 400-acre park offers much more . You ’ ll find covered picnic facilities , 36,000 square feet of sandy beach , and excellent bird-watching . The park is a winter refuge for ducks , geese , hawks , bald eagles , blue heron and migratory birds . Hikers may enjoy the seven-mile Howard Ranch Trail , which begins at the lake and wraps across the beautiful grassland . In winter and early spring hikers can

Rancho Seco Recreational Area

Win cash prizes plus an aluminum boat , trailer and electric motor package , a fishing kayak , fishing equipment and much more !

• Entry Fee : $ 5 ( plus daily park fee )

• Gates open at 6 a . m . ( rain or shine )

• RV and tent camping , as well as boat rentals are available

• Thousands of catchable trout planted in the lake

For more information about the derby , camping or directions , visit smud . org / RanchoSeco or call 1-209-748-2318 .

In partnership with

meander through blue oak woodlands dotted with vernal pools , while later in the year , fields of wildflowers can provide a colorful view .

Gates open at 5 a . m . and close at 5 p . m ., rain or shine . You can buy your $ 5 derby ticket ( good for both days ) at the park gate when you pay the park fee .

Daily Park entry fees

( annual passes also available )

Daily Senior / Disabled

Car / Day Use $ 10 $ 8 Boat Launch / Trailer $ 15 $ 10 Motorcycle $ 5 -

Participants 16 years or older must possess a valid California State Fishing License . The heaviest trout wins . Eligible trout must be weighed in at the official weigh in station between the hours of 2-4 p . m . on the

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1-5 day of the catch . All fishing-related prizes will be awarded following the conclusion of the weigh-in process on both days . Checks will be mailed to the winners of monetary prizes after the event .

A Grand Prize will be awarded each day of the Trout Derby . Grand prizes were furnished courtesy of Elk Grove Ram , The Fish Sniffer magazine , and Anglers Press Outdoors .

Located just 25 miles south of Sacramento at 14960 Twin Cities Road in Herald , CA , you can vacation without leaving town . From Sacramento , take Highway 99 south to the Highway 104 exit . Go east on Highway 104 about 15 miles to the park entrance .

For more information about the Trout Derby or camping , visit smud . org / ranchoseco or call 1-209-748- 2318 .

* For safety reasons , youth and kids grand prize will only be released into custody of the winning participant ’ s parent or legal guardian .

Sacramento

99

Twin Cities Rd .

Vicinity Map

Clay

Herald

104

From Sacramento , take Highway 99 South to the Highway 104 exit . Go East on Highway 104 , 15 miles , to the Rancho Seco Park exit .

Rancho Seco is located 25 miles south of Sacramento at 14960 Twin Cities Road , Herald , CA .

Clay Station Rd .

Park Entrance

Rancho Seco Recreational Area

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

AMERICAN RIVER cont . season started off a little slow , but it wasn ’ t for the lack of effort by every driftboat in the county ,”

quipped Jerry Lampkin of TNG Motor Sports Guide Service . ” The hatchery has just started spawning this season ’ s fish , so they might be a little late this year .”

The Bureau of Reclamation dropped releases on the American below Nimbus Dam from 3,500 cfs to 2,000 cfs on January 1 through January 3 for “ storage management ,” said Reclamation spokesman Jeffrey Sandberg .

- Dan Bacher

BERRYESSA LAKE

The Trout Bite Remains Hot !

WINTERS – The bite of big , bold rainbow trout at Lake Berryessa shows no sign of slowing down .

“ My five-year-old grandson , a friend and I experienced great top-lining on my latest trip to Berryessa ,” said Alan Fong of Fishermen ’ s Warehouse . “ We caught 25 fish by noon , keeping 15 of them . The fish ranged from 1-1 / 2 to 4-1 / 2 pounds and averaged 2 to 2-1 / 2 pounds each .”

“ We hooked the fish while trolling Shad Raps and Lucky Craft LV500s at 5 to 10 feet deep ,” said Fong . “ We found most of the action up north by the little island after launching out of Markley Cove . Everybody I ‘ ve talked to is getting lots of trout at Berryessa .”

For bass , there is a “ little bit of a spoon bite ” at Berryessa said Don Paganelli of Paganelli ’ s Bass Fishing Experience .

“ Boaters are fishing 1 / 3 / 4 Blade Runner spoons at 35 to 40 feet deep in the main body ,” he tipped . “ Look for areas with concentrations of shad . The fish are a mixture of spotted , largemouth and spotted bass .”

Paganelli also confirmed the top-notch trout bite – and recommended trolling in the top 20 feet of water with Rapalas or other lures that imitate shad in the 1-1 / 2 inch size . He said the Putah and Pope Creek arms are among the more productive areas to fish .

CAMANCHE RESERVOIR

Rainbows to 8.5 Lbs . Reward Trollers

BURSON - There are lots of big , bold rainbows to catch on Lake Camanche now .

“ What better way to welcome in the New Year than another 4,800 lbs . of Mt . Lassen trout ,” reported Terry Willard at the Lake Camanche Recreation Company . “ 1,200 lbs . went into the pond , 2,400 lbs . in at the south ramp and 1,200 lbs . in at the north ramp as well . That makes for 32,400 total lbs . planted so far this season .”

During the previous week , the Mount Lassen truck also dropped a total of 4,800 lbs that was split between 1,200 lbs . to the south pond , 1,200 lbs . to the south ramp and 2,400 lbs . to the north ramp . Big fish honors go to lifelong Camanche angler Beau Courtroul , who reeled in an 8.5 lb . trout at the trout pond .

Nathan Lenard was on a family fishing outing with wife , Cynthia , and son , Nate , when he reported good trout action .

“ The gold lures shut down right after the sun hit the water with all the sunlight and lack of clouds ,” said Lenard . “ We went 8 for 12 on Kastmasters and Speedy Shiners while fishing from the surface to 4 ′ on the downrigger with two doubles . Natey got the largest fish at 5.1 pounds . It was a cool , crisp day with the silver blue Kastmasters and rainbow Speedy Shiner the best .”

Mike Clark also reported on Facebook : “ I took my oldest boys Jacob and Aiden to Camanche today and they had a blast !! It took about 3.5 hours to scratch out two

Park Operator

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

These anglers headed out to the West Delta this fall and landed several striped bass , including this dandy fish while fishing with Don Paganelli . Photo courtesy of PAGANELLI ’ S BASS FISHING EXPERIENCE , Sacramento .