Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3909 April 10-24 | Page 17
nch
so
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k
Stony Creek Rd
China
Gulch
Twin
Mine
Rd
Poorman
Gulch
Palom
a Rd
Thatchers Gulch
PALOMA
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Pa
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W
Elevation
568
Rd
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To
Hiway 49
& Jackson
ulc
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Rd
log
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Good
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Weatherbee
Gulch
Spillway
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Kirkwood
Gulch
Gale
Gulch
Lecchiro
Gulch
Copper
Mine Tule
Gulch Gulch
Dam
School
Camp
Gulch
Norton
Gulch
Pardee
Reservoir
Recreation
Area
Grapevine
Gulch
Cave
Gulch
Condon
Gulch
Stewart
Gulch
Black
Gulch
Plasse
Gulch
Dufresne
Gulch
Tagers
Gulch
To
Lake
Camanche
Middle
Bar Rd.
To
Jackson
Cr
Rd
ck
Bar
Ja
Gillam
Rd
Campo Seco Rd
To
Hwy 12
and
Lodi
Campo Seco
Watertown
Rd
Pardee Ln
To
Hwy 12
and Lodi
ad
nch
Ra
To
Hiway 12
& Valley
Springs
Bell
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Fishing Notes
kokanee.
Chris Harris of Sacramento set the
lake brown trout record in 2010 when he
landed a 15.36 lb. fish while trolling for
kokanee at 30 feet deep near the dam.
He was using a pink fire tiger Uncle
Larry’s spinner behind a Sep’s dodger.
Kokanee salmon offer another quality
salmonid fishery at Lake Pardee. The
fish are extremely abundant most years,
finding excellent spawning conditions
in the Mokelumne River, so the CDFW
no longer plants the reservoir with the
kokanee. T
The kokanee fishing was tough last
year, but was much better this season
with a good showing of smaller fish
in the 10 to 12 inch range before the
closure. Boaters were picking up limits
of kokanee salmon averaging 10 to
12 inches while trolling pink spinner
hoochies and other lures behind dodgers
down at 25 to 40 feet in front of the
dam, reported Mo Souza of the Rocky
• Smallmouth Bass are found throughout the season off the rocky points. Toss plastic grubs, Senkos and worms for the big bronzebacks. Good
numbers of Largemouth Bass are also taken at Pardee by experienced bass enthusiasts.
Double
• Kokanee Chile
fishing hits its prime from late March through September, depending upon weather
and water conditions. Troll Needlefish,
Springs
Camp
Cripplures,
Goldeneyes, Apexes, Uncle Larry's spinners and other small lures, tipped with white
Rd corn, in the main body near the dam.
Rd
• Rainbow Trout fishing can be good throughout the season, but the best bank fishing is in the spring. The Main Recreation Area is the hot
spot for big rainbows in February, March and April. Fish Power Bait, Power Eggs, Pautzke salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, spoons, spinners and
flies. Trollers find the hottest action during the late spring, summer and early fall, when the fish are concentrated in the thermocline. Troll
minnow imitation lures and nightcrawlers behind flashers.
• German Browns are occasionally taken, usually when heavy flows push the fish from the Mokelumne Rvier into the lake. Troll Rebels and
Rapalas early and late in the day in the spring.
• Other Species found at Lake Pardee include bluegill sunfish, crappie and channel catfish.
These are the top 10 adult winners of the NTAC event at Pardee, posing with Sheldon Bright
of the Fish Sniffer and Vince Harris of Angler’s Press.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
The CDFW also stocked 750 pounds of
catchable rainbows for the opener. Until
the closure, The bank fishing on opening
weekend was wide-open,” said Dave
Keyser of the Rocky Mountain Recre-
ation Company.
Until the recreation area closed, Mt.
Lassen was planting 1,000 pounds of
trout every week.
When the lake reopens, angers can
catch good numbers of holdover
rainbows while trolling spoons, spinners,
minnow imitation lures and night-
crawlers from the surface to 20 feet deep
from the Narrows to the dam.
Shore anglers can also pick up quality
rainbows in the 1 to 5 lb. class while
fishing nightcrawlers, Power Eggs and
PowerBait on sliding sinker rigs.
The lake also features a sleeper
population of wild German browns
that spawns in the Mokelumne River
and ventures into the lake in search of
forage, including the abundant trout and
Fre
Amador & Calaveras
Counties
Note: Lake Pardee closed temporarily to fishing on March 20, due to the
coronavirus pandemic “We have just received notice to close the park,
so unfortunately there will be no more fishing or boating until further
notice. We are so very sorry for the inconvenience; please keep watching
for updated posts on our Facebook page,” according to the Pardee Lake
Recreation Facebook page.
Location and size: Situated on the Mokelumne River in the Mother Lode
foothills west of Ione, Lake Pardee has 2257 surface acres and 37 miles of
shoreline when full.
Management: The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) oversees
the operation and maintenance of facilities, determines recreation fees
and establishes rules and regulations. The recreation facilities are
operated by the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.
Camping: Lake Pardee features a total of 141 beautiful, oak studded
campsites located within two separate campgrounds within its bound-
aries. Campsites offer plenty of shade, are clean and each contain a
picnic table and a fire ring. Clean, portable toilets are within a short walk.
In each campground, running water is close to or right next to a site. Two
ADA designed handicap sites are also available. Lakeview Campground is
within walking distance of most facilities. The Oaks Campground is a little
more secluded. For reservations and fee information, call (209) 772-1472.
RV Sites: Nightly and weekly RV sites, known as “C” units, are located
in the Oaks Campground and feature full hook-ups, including electricity,
water, and sewer connections. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.
Boat ramp: The ten-lane boat launch ramp is a real convenience for
easy launching and exiting. The extra-long trailer parking area is also a
plus to boaters at Pardee. Note: EBMUD rangers will be inspecting boats
for the presence of Quagga and Zebra mussels.
Marina: Pardee’s full service marina features boat rentals, boat
supplies, fuel, ice, propane, oil, bait, tackle, beverages, sandwiches and
snacks, lake maps and fishing licenses.
Boat rentals: are available out of Lake Pardee Marina for hourly, half
day, full day and weekly rates. Deluxe and pontoon boat rentals are also
available.
Fishing fees: Permits are $7.00 each day for each individual 16 years
and older. A valid California fishing license is also required for all persons
fishing who are age 16 and older.
Fish cleaning facilities: The state-of-the-art fishing cleaning station is
an automated system where you simply approach the station and the
grinder turns on automatically. Also, it is ADA designed for the disabled.
It’s open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
For more information, contact Rocky Mountain Recreation Company,
4900 Stony Creek Road, Ione, CA 95640-9439, Office: (209) 772-1472,
1-800-416-6992, https://rockymountainrec.com/lake-facilities/listing/
pardee-lake-recreation-area.
Pardee Reservoir
Lake Pardee Facts
15
April 10-24, 2020
MAP FEATURE
VOL.39 • ISS. 9
Mountain Recreation Company.
Sierra Nevada of Northern California
While most anglers fish the lake for
and is just twelve miles southwest of
salmonids, the lake is home of record-
Jackson.
class smallmouth bass. Harold Hardin
As the center of EBMUD’s drinking
of Stockton set a new state smallmouth
supply, to comply with state law,
bass record in July 2007 by landing
personal water crafts, water skiing, and
a 9.83 lb. bronzeback, shattering the
lake swimming are not permitted.
previous state record of 9.1 pounds
For more information about Pardee
caught by Tom Brady of Weaverville
Lake, contact the Rocky Mountain
in 1976 at Trinity Lake. He fooled the
Recreation Company, 4900 Stony Creek
fish with a 6 inch long charcoal colored
Road, Ione, CA 95640-9439, Office:
Castaic swimbait in his aluminum boat.
(209) 772-1472, 1-800-416-6992, https://
Then during a Lake Pardee Media
rockymountainrec.com/lake-facilities/
Day in 2008, two anglers bagged two
listing/pardee-lake-recreation-area.
monster smallmouths over 9
pounds in one day. Allen Fong
of Fisherman’s Warehouse in
Sacramento caught and released
a 9 lb. 5 oz. smallmouth while
fishing with a green Yamamoto
jig outside of the recreation area
cove in 20 feet of water. Bass
pro Dean McDaniel also nailed
a 9 lb. 2 oz. largemouth while
fishing a grub in the same area.
While known for its huge
smallmouth, Pardee also has
a good population of northern
strain largemouth bass. Jack
Billington from Ione captured
the Pardee Lake record when he
caught and released a 13.4 lb.
largemouth using Blade Runner
chartreuse and white craw jig on
March 22, 2007.
Other species found in the
reservoir include channel catfish,
bluegill and crappie.
Located on the Mokelumne
River, Pardee Recreation Area
provides stunning views and
diverse activities for all visitors, Aponi Taylor won second place in the kids division of
the Pardee NTAC with this 2.09 lb. rainbow. Aponi and
old and young. The park is
her dad, Anthony Taylor show off their outstanding
nestled in the foothills of the
stringer of trout.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.