Winter can be a challenging time for anglers, but there are still opportunities to catch fish if you know where to look.
The best chance for Stockton-area anglers to catch fish during cold weather is by targeting trout from the bank or boat at three Mother Lode reservoirs - Pardee, Camanche, and Amador.
At Pardee Lake on the Mokelumne River, trout fishing has been really good for bank anglers and boaters since the EBMUD recreation area opened to fishing on Feb. 17. Anglers reported catching a combined total of 500 trout on opening day, with some weighing in at over 9 pounds. The addition of fish that were trucked to the area in mid-February has boosted the trout action. Bank anglers should fish PowerBait, Power Eggs, nightcrawlers, Kastmasters, and other offerings in the main recreation area, including Tom Sawyer Island and near the launch ramp. Trollers should use spinners, spoons, hoochies, and nightcrawlers behind dodgers or flashers in the main body and up the Mokelumne River Arm.
At Lake Camanche, Mary McQueen-Dunham and Chris Dunham of Sacramento found solid action on some chunky rainbow trout. All lures were tipped with white Power Maggots trolled in the top 15 feet of water and 150 feet setbacks at a speed of 1.7 to 2.2 mph. Nate Kelsch of Big Nate's Guide Service also reported trout success at Camanche on his most recent trolling adventure. The latest addition of 1,800 pounds from Mt. Lassen Fish Farm at Camanche on Feb. 23 included 900 pounds of rainbows at the South Shore Ramp and 900 pounds of rainbows at the North Shore Ramp. The lake is 69% of capacity.
At Lake Amador, trout weighing in the double digits continue to come out of this trophy trout producer. Big fish honors go to a Stockton resident who hooked a monster 14.14-pound Cutbow while fishing a crappie jig from the dam. Bruce Odenweller bagged a 16.72-pound Cutbow while using worms and marshmallows floated off the bottom of the launch cove. Lucinda Witte caught an 11.48-pound Cutbow on a red Rapala near the mouth of Jackson Creek on Feb. 23. The lake clarity has greatly improved, and fishing has been excellent. Trollers are starting to do a lot better with fast-running lures, and bank fisherfolks are picking up lots of trout on PowerBait, crawlers, and Kastmasters. Some black bass and crappie are showing now.
If you're an angler in the Stockton area looking to catch some fish during cold weather, the Mother Lode reservoirs of Pardee, Camanche, and Amador offer some great opportunities for trout fishing. For more on this check out The Record.
