VOL . 37 • ISS . 09 |
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April 13 - 27 , 2018 |
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Rancho Seco Facts
Location : in the rolling hills of southeastern Sacramento County east of Herald . From Sacramento , take Highway 99 south to the Highway 104 exit . Go east on Highway 104 , 15 miles , to the Rancho Seco Park exit .
Fishing Season : The park is open year round to fishing and other activities from 7 a . m . to 6 p . m . The park entrance gate is locked nightly . Day Use : The day use fee is $ 12 per vehicle . Boat launching facilities : The park ’ s 160-acre lake is maintained at a constant level year round , so you will find no problem launching . You can launch an electric motor boat , rowboat or sailboat from either of the two boat ramps . The boat launch fee for a trailer and vehicle is $ 15 . The fee for car top launch kayak is $ 15 .
Tent Camping : There are 20 lakeside campsites where you can pitch a tent or sleep under the stars . Each campsite has a barbecue , picnic table and drinking water . A semi-private 1-1 / 4 acre grassy area is available for group campovers and special events . Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance .
RV Camping : The southwestern rim of the park features 18 RV campsites . Each site has a barbecue , fire pit , picnic table , drinking water and electrical outlets . A dump station is conveniently located . The maximum stay is 14 days .
Picnic Facilities : One hundred shady , grassy picnic areas adorn the lake ’ s southern shore . Picnic tables and barbecues are available on a first come basis . Picnic areas can be reserved for groups of 30 people or more .
Swimming : the lake is roped off along a 36,000 square foot sandy beach . Lifeguards are on duty during the summer . Children should always be supervised by a responsible adult .
Extras : General Store ( open May-September ), solar heated showers , fish cleaning station , 3 public restrooms , horseshoe pit , Rec . Room with washer and dryer ( for overnight campers only ), handicapped access .
Information : 24 hour informational recording , ( 209 ) 748-2318 ; RV , tent and group camping and picnic reservations , 800-416-6992 .
To Hiways 104 , 99 and I-5
Sacramento
Twin Cities Rd
Entrance
Area Map
Clay Station Road
Clay
Herald
Rancho Seco Recreational Area
Dam
Maintenance Office
B
C
Ramp Dock
Swimming Beach
A
Paved Road
Horseshoes
Rancho Seco Recreational Area
Sacramento County
Group Campsites Dump Station RV Camps Tent Camps Fish Cleaning Windsurf shop Parking Restrooms Picnic Areas General Store
Fishing Notes
• Rainbow Trout are planted from late fall through early spring in a cooperative program between the DFW and SMUD . Bank fishing is good for anglers tossing out Kastmasters , PowerBait , nightcrawlers and Pautzke salmon eggs . Float tubers and boaters find success with Wooly Buggers and flies as well as bait and lures .
• Largemouth Bass fishing is best during the spring , though the fish can be caught year round . During the winter , fish jigs , plastic worms and grubs slowly in the deeper areas of the lake . Some Florida-strain fish over 10 pounds are caught every year .
• Redear Sunfish action is most productive in the spring and summer . Fish worms and mini jigs at the edge of weedbeds . Fishing from a float tube or a boat is most effective . Crappie and bluegill are also found in the lake .
Supplied by the Folsom South Canal diverting water from the American River , Rancho Seco was built to serve as a source for emergency cooling water in the event of a nuclear accident . After the power plant was decommissioned in a ballot measure approved by the region ’ s voters in November 1990 , the lake became a year-round recreational facility .
Rancho Seco not only kicks out huge trout , but also is legendary for the big Florida-strain largemouth bass that thrive
Chris Martinez won first place in the adult division on day one with this beautiful 7.93 lb . trout , receiving a new boat , motor and trailer package for his efforts .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
in its fertile waters . The largest bass are taken in the spring during the pre-spawn , spawn and post spawn periods . Anglers nail them while using Huddleston and other rainbow trout swimbaits , Senkos , swimbaits , plastic worms , spinnerbaits and jigs . Rancho Seco is a lake with the potential for producing a state or world record largemouth bass . The lake has the three characteristics needed to produce record class fish : Florida-strain genes ; conditions that allow the fish to reach large size ; and a good food source , particularly planted rainbows .
The lake also features good populations of redear sunfish , black crappie and bluegill , along with channel catfish . Fishing for all four species is best for boaters , float tubers and shore anglers in the spring and summer .
The park sits in the middle of an oak woodland with oak trees dominating the horizon when looking away from the lake . Below the oaks , a variety of grasses and flowering plants grow especially near the vernal pool locations . The lake shore has a thick barrier of blackberry bushes everywhere except the dam and the picnic / camping areas .
Ducks and geese swim in the recreation areas where the shore is clear . Great blue heron eat the fish from the lake . Bald eagles and hawks nest in the trees surrounding the lake . Many insects are present including drag-
Al Ermst , SMUD Facilities and Maintenance Supervisor , Sheldon Bright of the Fish Sniffer and Gonzalo Roberts pose with the kayak that Roberts won on day one for placing first in the kids division .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff . onflies and grasshoppers . Raccoons are a notable mammal using the lake as a water source , with their droppings dispersed along the narrow animal trails cutting across the park .
On August 16 , 2015 , Brad McGarity of Galt set a new California state record for “ hybrid sunfish ” when he landed a fish weighing 1 pounds , 4 ounces and measuring 11 inches long and 11.25 inches in girth .
Rocky Mountain Recreation Company is the concessionaire at Rancho Seco . The lake ’ s amenities now feature boat rentals including aluminumfishing boats with electric motors , paddle boats , and kayaks .
Fishing at the family oriented facility , now operated by the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company in conjunction with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District , ( SMUD ), is available year-round .
For more information about the Rancho Seco Recreational Area , call 209-748-2318 or visit http ://
www . rockymountainrec . com / lakes / lake-rancho-seco . htm or https :// www . smud . org / en / aboutsmud / community / recreational-areas / rancho-seco-lake . htm
Carlos Nazario took first place in the adult division on day two of the SMUD derby with his 6.36 lb . trout .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .