18 March 16 - 30 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 07

Lake Pardee offers abundant rainbow trout , kokanee salmon , smallmouth bass , largemouth bass , channel catfish and sunfish for anglers to purse .

Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .

event , sponsored by Angler ’ s Press and the Fish Sniffer magazine , at Lake Pardee during a cold front that moved into the Mother Lode days before .

“ Although the forecast called for rain and even snow , the fishing was great , and a total field of 130 anglers participated in this event - which was double the amount from last year ,” said Vince Harris , President / CEO - Angler ’ s Press Outdoor Promotions .

Although it was cold throughout the day , it didn ’ t rain until just as the awards ceremony was wrapping up .

All of the fish that I saw landed during the event were rainbow trout except for one big bluegill ; there were no German browns landed like the one caught last year .

D . J . Woodring of Pleasanton won

Deputy Bob Hauck of the Sacramento Sheriff Sportsman ’ s Project brought a group of youth to fish at Pardee during the NorCal Trout Angler ’ s Challenge at Pardee on March 3 . Dylan Vang , shown here , landed the largest fish caught at the lake that day , a 4.30 lb . rainbow .

Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .

first place in the adult division of the event with a 2.93 lb . rainbow trout .

“ It was the first time that I ’ ve won the event ,” said Woodring . “ I was fishing PowerBait from the bank in the main recreation area with five other people . That was the one fish I hooked . All of the other anglers I fished with finished in the top 20 , hooking a total of 7 fish altogether , but my rainbow was the only one over 2 pounds .”

William Martinez won second place with a 2.64 lb . rainbow . Jay Huey , who took first place in the challenge at Pardee last year , won third place with a 2.61 lb . rainbow .

The fourth through tenth place winners were ( 4 ) Ashley Sannar , 2.52 ; ( 5 ) Justin Sannar , 2.52 ; ( 6 ) Dave Quick , 2.49 ; ( 7 ) Erica Flores , 2.44 ; ( 8 ) Joe Hill , 2.39 ; ( 9 ) Rick Fuentes , 2.24 ; and ( 10 ) Shawn Burrell , 2.24 .

Conner Perkins won first place in the youth division with a 2.6 lb . rainbow . Luke Wichard placed second with a 2.58 lb . rainbow , while Joey Hill placed third with a 2.47 lb . trout .

The fourth through tenth place winners were ( 4 ) Jack Sannar , 2.16 ;

( 5 ) Jacob White , 1.94 ; ( 6 ) Ricardo Diaz II , 1.81 ; ( 7 ) Ricky McCulloch , 1.68 ; ( 8 ) Adrian Juarez , 1.56 ; ( 9 ) Khloe Sannar , 1.55 ; and ( 10 ), Blane Ebojo , 1.41 . Timothy Roach won $ 100 and a tackle box filled with Rooster Tail lures for catching a trout while using a Rooster Tail . Deputy Bob Hauck of the Sacramento Sheriff Sportsman ’ s Project and another deputy brought a

The NTAC youth winners pose with Sheldon Bright of the Fish Sniffer and Vince Harris of Anglers Press at Lake Pardee .

Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff . group of youth to fish the event . Dylan Vang , one of the youth , landed the largest fish caught at the lake that day , a 4.30 lb . rainbow .

“ The purpose of our organization is to give inner city kids a unique experience by disconnecting from phones and connecting to the outdoors ,” said Hauck .

Sponsors included Dodge Ram , Lasher ’ s Elk Grove Dodge , Gone Fishing Marine , Fisherman ’ s Warehouse , Sea Eagle Boats , Atlas Mike ’ s , Berkley , Yo-Zuri , Yakima Bait , Silver Horde / Gold Star , Hot Spot Apex , Panther Martin , Tasmanian Devil , Mack ’ s Lures , Pro-Cure Scents , Dick Nite Spoons and Thomas Fishing Lures .

Rainbow trout are the most popular species pursued at Pardee – and grow big and fat in the rich waters of the reservoir . Ronny Shelton of Ione set the lake rainbow record on June 14 , 2002 when he landed an 18.65 lb . fish while bank fishing with Power Bait in the recreation area .

The fishing this season opened under new management , the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company , on February 16 . Shore anglers found exceptional fishing while using an array of offerings on the

Timothy Roach won $ 100 and a tackle box filled with RoosterTail lures for catching a trout while using a Rooster Tail at the NTAC Pardee event on March 3 .

Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .