Trout Fishing Tips

Lake Amador has become a prime trout resort in Ione, California. For those not familiar with the area, Ione is located in North Central California (just South East of Sacramento). It's also just North of Lake Pardee and Lake Comanche (two other popular trout lakes in California).

This 425 acre lake has a maximum depth of 468 feet and approximately 14 miles of fishable shoreline. Lake levels have been down in previous years due to drought, but fishing is still good.

Like Lake Pardee and Comanche, Lake Amador offers large trout (2-6 lbs), commonly known as Donaldson trout (named after the man who created this strain). Donaldson trout are a hybrid cross of Steelhead, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. Lakes do this in an effort to give anglers a "trophy trout" experience.

Because these are hybrid trout raised in a hatchery, they will eat PowerBait. Other trout baits and techniques are effective as well.

One of our readers reported that he witnessed a man catch one the other night at Marina using a small treble hook with Berkeley Trout Power bait. His spinning rod was rigged with a small split shot about a foot above the hook and a red lighted flasher float about 2-3 feet above the split shot. This young man tossed his line out in the dark part of the water (not under the lights) and let the flashing float do the work of attracting trout for him.

Lake Amador also boasts other "trophy" size fish including bass, catfish and sunfish. So if you're looking for a unique angling experience, give Lake Amador a try.

For more information about fishing at Lake Amador, click here.

For more information about Donaldson trout, click here.

Labels: California, California Lakes, California trout fishing, donadlson trout, lake amador, trophy trout

Last Wednesday, California's senate passed a bill that will help protect wild trout populations in the state. The bill was introduced by Republican Senator Dave Cogdill.

This means it's now the policy of the state to establish and maintain wild trout stocks in suitable waters of the state and establish angling regulations designed to maintain the wild trout fishery in those waters by natural reproduction.

It's a well known fact that planting hatchery trout in waters with wild trout can result in hybridization and decrease wild trout populations. So the passing of this bill means that the California Department of Fish and Game will now have to be careful where they plant hatchery trout - so as not to threaten wild trout populations.

You can read more about California's Wild Trout on their web site.

Labels: California Heritage Trout, California trout fishing, California Trout Waters, California Wild Trout

Collins Lake is one of Northern California's premiere trophy trout waters. This 1600 acre lake is about an hour North East of Sacramento and is open year-round.

Over 40,000 trout are planted each season in Collins Lake, making it the largest private trout planting program. The plantings usually begin in January and continue through May (averaging two plants per week). Many of the trout planted are in the 3-8 lb range.

This year, Collins Lake started raising rainbow trout in pens, in an effort to increase the trout stockings even more!

While trout catches have slowed down for many during these summer months, anglers are Collins Lake are still reporting some great trout catches. This week .....

• A 7 lb rainbow trout was caught by one woman while trolling Sparkle Powerbait 30' down.
  
• 2 Trout over 4 pounds were caught by another woman who was trolling a Blue Fox lure near the dam.
  
• A 5 lb 8 oz rainbow trout was caught by a guy trolling a Rapala lure
  

There is a lot of good trout action at Collins Lake. Catch a tagged trout, and you'll earn a prize!

Labels: California trout fishing, Collins Lake, trophy trout

Lake Cuyamaca is well known to San Diego anglers. Recently, five Alpers trout were tagged and released into the lake. All but two have been caught. Catching a tagged trout will reward the angler with motor boat rental and 4 fishing permits for 1 one day!!!

Mt. Lassen will be stocking 1,200 lbs of the finest trout once again this week!! Last week 50lbs of trophy trout between 8lbs and 12 lbs were stocked.

In addition to its trophy trout, Lake Cuyamaca offers a fully interactive GPS fishing guide (to help you find the fishing hot spots at the lake).

Good luck catching those two tagged Alpers trout!

Labels: Alpers Trout, California trout fishing, Lake Cuyamaca, San Diego Lakes

Every good fisherman knowns that local anglers know all the secrets of fishing in their local waters. They know where to find fish and how to catch them. They know what works best and what doesn't. Locals anglers are always able to give you details you won't be able to find anywhere else.

The Fly Shop in Redding, California is such a place to find great information about local fishing. These are the fly fishing experts in the area. Not only will they know what artificial flies to use during each of the fishing seasons, they'll be able to tell you where to go to catch fish.

They have a really nice web site too which is full of great information, including detailed stream reports. They also offer guide services, fly fishing instruction, and even have a kids camp!

Folks at the Fly Shop have taken service to a whole new level. They've purchased private leases to property and offer a top quality fishing experience on these private waters! They're all catch-and-release fly fishing only waters, but anglers will have a fishing experience like no other on these prime fishing streams.

For more information, contact the folks at the Fly Shop at (530) 222-3555 or you can email them at info@theflyshop.com.

Labels: california fishing, California fly fishing, California trout fishing, fly fishing, The Fly Shop, Trout Fishing California

The 2nd Annual William Jessup University Trout Fishing Derby will be held on April 13th-14th at Collins Lake in Yuba County, California.

Sponsored by the William Jessup University (WJU), this trout derby is part of an effort to raise money for church missions. Donations are required to fish ($100 for boat fishing and $25 for bank fishing). Kids 15 and younger fish for free if accompanied by a registered adult.

You can register online for the derby or call Frank at (530) 308-6976.

All participants must check in at Picnic #3 at 7 a.m. Several prizes will be awarded including a $50 prize for the heaviest trout caught over the two day period.

Bring the whole family - and don't forget your fishing license. PowerBait is recommended for catching trout - or if you prefer fishing with lures, you might consider bringing a 3/8 oz. Kastmaster's (in blue and silver) or Orange 4-5 inch broken-back Rapala lures. Downriggers are also recommended for boat fishers (especially if the weather is hot).

Collins Lake is famous for it's beautiful scenery and trophy trout fishing! So this a great fishing event for the whole family!

Labels: California trout fishing, Collins Lake, Trout Fishing Derbies, William Jessup UniversityTrout Fishing Derby

On March 1st sections of the Truckee River, Little Truckee River, and East Walker River along with several other moving waters in California be open year round for fishing.

In the past, these waters have been closed to anglers from November 16th through the last Saturday in April.

For more information on trout fishing in Truckee, visit the Reno Fly Shop.

Labels: California trout fishing, Reno Fly Shop, truckee trout fishing

Trout fishing season will officially open on March 3rd in Lone Pine, California. It will kick off with the Early Opener Trout Derby.

Lone Pine usually opens its trout fishing season earlier than anywhere else in the Eastern Sierra. Their lakes are stocked with Rainbow and Brown trout. You can also find Golden trout at the Golden Trout Wilderness Area, which isn't too far away.

For more information about the Line Pine Trout Derby, call (760) 876-9205.

Labels: California trout fishing, eastern sierra trout fishing, lone pine fishing, lone pine trout fishing, trout derby

Folks in northern California are very familiar with the trophy size trout that the Alpers family provides to local lakes and rivers. But now anglers Laguna Niguel Lake are enjoying these exclusive trout too!

Laguna Niguel Lake has recently begun importing Alpers trout from the Eastern Sierra region for their new stocking program. From Mid-November through April, these trophy size rainbow trout are being stocked in Laguna Niguel Lake.

Alpers trout average 2-5 pounds when they are planted into a lake. So these trout can get pretty big by the time anglers catch one!

Little 5 year old David Alexander caught his first fish ever - and it was a 3 lb. whopper! David was using PowerBait and fishing from shore. Likewise 11 year old Matthew Williams also caught a 3 pounder using a green power worm from a boat! There are plenty more stories like these!

By the way, if you've ever wanted to try your hand at fly fishing, here's your chance to get some expert instruction at a very low price! Every Saturday, Laguna Niguel Lake offers beginning fly fishing classes from 7 - 9 a.m. Admission is $30 and the class is limited to 10 anglers. This opportunity is too good to pass up if you've ever considered learning fly fishing. Even experienced fly fishers can learn a thing or two about fly fishing on stillwater lakes!

Lugana Niguel is getting high marks from local angers for their quality fishing experience (and they have a great web site too!).

Labels: Alpers Trout, California trout fishing, Laguna Niguel Lake, trophy size trout

This Saturday (February 3, 2007) is the 4th Annual Bob McMillen Memorial Fishing Tournament. The fishing tournament will be held at Oak Grove Park in San Joaquin County and will begin at 6:15 a.m.

The tournament will be open for all ages and feature three competitions: Youth (ages 10 and under), Teens (age 11-17) and Adult (ages 18 and older). Prizes will be awarded for each category.

Kids 15 and under fish free. Everybody over 15 years of age will need a valid California fishing license and pay a $3 fishing fee.

About 2,000 rainbow trout weighing 1 - 2 pounds have been planted in the lake in preparation for Saturday's derby.

This is a great event for the whole family to enjoy. For more information, call (209) 331-2050.

Labels: Bob McMillen Memorial Fishing Tournament, California trout fishing, Fishing Derby, Oak Grove Park, trout fishing derby, trout fishing tournament

Folks who don't live in California, might never have heard of Eagle Lake trout. Named for the lake in which they reside Eagle Lake - the second largest natural lake in California), these trout are Rainbows. Originally they were only found in Eagle Lake and Pine Creek (which flows into Eagle Lake). These waters have a high alkaline concentration and Eagle Lake trout are the only species that is able to survive in them.

Over the years less water has flowed into Pine Creek, thereby eliminating the natural spawning grounds. For years, Eagle Lake trout were thought to be extinct. But in the 1950's, a handful of these trout were discovered in Pine Creek. To protect the fish, the California Fish and Game Department decided to capture, spawn and raise Eagle Lake trout.

The Crystal Lake hatchery primarily handles this project for the State of California. Each year during spawning season, Eagle Lake trout are trapped in Pine Creek and their eggs are taken for development at the fish hatcheries.

Thanks to this hatchery, over 200,000 of these trout are raised each year and released into Eagle Lake and other Northern California waters.

Eagle Lake trout must weigh a half pound before they are released into the lake. So as you can imagine, those caught by anglers are quite a bit bigger (3 - 5 pounds being the average size). The largest record Eagle Lake trout caught weighed about 15 pounds.

The most successful fishing areas in the lake during the Spring months appear to be in the rocky shoal areas along the north and south shores.

Trolling is very popular and successful on Eagle Lake (especially in summer months when water temperatures rise). But anglers also have success when shore fishing with nightcrawlers. Medium weight spinning rods, using wobblers and plugs, and heavy fly rods, offering large wet flies, all do well on Eagle Lake.

Fishing at Eagle Lake opens each year on Memorial Day weekend (in May) and closes on December 31st. For more information about Eagle Lake, click here.

Labels: California trout fishing, Eagle Lake, Eagle Lake Trout