Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3711 May 11-25 2018 | Page 24
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May 11 - 22, 2018
FRESHWATER
VOL.37 • ISS. 11
Lower Bear River Reservoir Offers
Rainbows, Mackinaws and Browns
Annual derby set for June 9-10
by Dan Bacher
L
along the Bear River, a tributary of the
North Fork of the Mokelumne River,
south of Highway 88.
Immediately above—and in high water
separated only by the upper dam—is the
smaller Bear River Reservoir that is often
referred to as Upper Bear River Reservoir.
Slightly over a mile long, Upper Bear
contains 166 surface acres and about 2.5
miles of shoreline surrounded by private,
water management lands. The only boat-
ing access is for hardy anglers willing to
portage small craft around and to the top
of its dam.
Trolling can be very good for rainbows
at Lower Bear River. For example, Fred
Solari of Lodi and I hooked and released
20 rainbows while trolling threaded
nightcrawlers
on lead core line
along the face of
the dam the first
time I ever fished
the reservoir.
The lake also
hosts a healthy
brown trout pop-
ulation. Donna
Schlageter set
the lake German
brown record of
15-1/2 pounds
while trolling on
June 30,1991.
The CDFW
Bear River Reservoir features rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. has historically
ower Bear River Reservoir, located
off Highway 88 in the Carson Pass
Corridor, is known for offering an array of
fishing options, ranging from trolling for
big mackinaw and brown trout with plugs,
spoons and nightcrawlers to shore fishing
for planted and holdover rainbows.
The Bear River Resort opened this year
on May 1. The resort’s annual trout derby
is held on the second weekend of June
every year. This year it will be held June
9 and 10. Both shore and boat anglers will
vie for $1000 in cash, plus other prizes.
The reservoir, located at an elevation of
5,850 feet in El Dorado National Forest,
features 727 surface acres and a shoreline
of about 9 miles when full. It is located
stocked the
lake with
around
8,000
pounds of
catchable
rainbows
.The agency
stocked
17,400
pounds of
trout in one
year, 2010.
Bear River
Resort fea-
tures: 130
developed
campsites.
Richard Spears, Jr., shows off a beautiful 6 lb. rainbow caught while kayaking
with a silver and blue Kastmaster last June.
Amenities
Photo courtesy of STEPHANIE SPEARS, Bear River Lake Resort.
include
power, wa-
ter picnic tables, fire pits, flushable toilets
utensils and service setting for four.
in the bathrooms, showers dump station
Boat Rentals & Marina Facilities: Bear
on site (for RV’s to dump waste), ice ma-
River Lake Resort rents fishing boats
chine, laundromat, video arcade, gas sold
with gas motors, canoes, paddle boats and
on site, playground, telephones, full store
kayaks. Marina slips are available. Marina
and a full bar and restaurant.
gas hours are from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
Cabin Rentals: Bear River Campground
For more information, contact the Bear
has seven lodging units, each having
River Resort, 40800 Highway 88, Pioneer,
accommodations for four occupants. Each Cal, 95666, bearriver@suredial.net, www.
unit has a separate bedroom. All units
bearrivercampground.com, phone 209-
have a day bed in the living room. Linens
295-4868 or fax 209-295-4585.
and blankets for four occupants are pro-
Directions: From Jackson go 40 miles
vided. All the units have full baths – tow-
east on Highway 88 and turn right onto
els are provided. Kitchens contain stoves,
Bear River Reservoir Road for 2 miles.
microwave ovens, refrigerators, cooking
Buck’s Outboard
Open House &
C.S.B.A Swap Meet
May 12
W
BUY -- TRADE -- SELL -- Fishing Tackle, Boat Accessories and More!
OPEN HOUSE and C.S.B.A. SWAP MEET!
SATURDAY, MAY 12TH - 9am to 1pm
SEMINARS by Alan Fong, Dale Daneman, JD Richey, James Netzel, and Aimee Russell
N E W 2 0 ! M U S TA N G
21' ARIMA HARDTOP
Call for more information!
BUCK’S OUTBOARD
REPAIR, INC.
2750 47th AVE. • SACRAMENTO, CA
(916) 428-3917
Free parking
at our store!
hen you need a boat, motor,
service or accessories, Buck’s
Outboard is a great resource for anglers and
boaters in the Sacramento area.
Buck’s dealership has been a family
owned and operated business since 1957.
They service what they sell and offer a
full line service shop and with an extensive
parts inventory.
Buck’s specialties include Sales, Parts,
Accessories, Boats, Outboards, and Trailers.
They offer products from companies
such as Yamaha, Honda, Mercury, Gregor,
Arima, Pacific and the California Trailer
Works.
On Saturday May 12 Buck’s is holding an
exciting open house and as part of the event
the California Striped Bass Association has
arranged a swap meet.
Open house festivities will kick off at 9 in
the morning and will run through 1 o’clock.
In addition to great savings there will also
be a full roster of fishing seminars that will
make you even more deadly on the water!
To learn more check out the Buck’s ad in
this issue of the Fish Sniffer!
Buck’s is located at 2750 47th Ave.
Sacramento, Ca. You can give them a call
at (916) 428-3917 or visit them online at
www.bucksoutboard.com.