Huge Trout Caught in SMUD Trout Derby at Rancho Seco
HERALD − The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Annual Trout Derby held on April 6 and 7 at the Rancho Seco Recreational Area in South Sacramento County produced lots of trophy-sized trout for the array of anglers fishing.
Anglers catching the heaviest rainbow trout won cash and prizes, including an adult and youth grand prize for the heaviest trout caught each day. The grand prizes — fishing kayaks — were provided by The Fish Sniffer magazine and Angler’s Press Outdoors. Approximately 600 people participated in the event.
Ka Her captured first place in the adult division with a 7.36 lb. rainbow, winning a fishing kayak. He was fishing with PowerBait when the lunker hit.
“This was the first derby I have ever entered,” said Her. “The fish fought hard — I thought it was going to break my four-pound test line. Despite having four other lines hooked on my line, we were able to net the fish.”
Howard Lee of El Dorado Hills placed second in the adult division with his 6.88 lb. trout. He won $155.
“I was fishing with a Power Worm from a fly rod on my kayak when I hooked the fish,” he stated. “It was the first time that I had ever entered the derby.”
The third through fifth adult division winners were: (3) Dylan Yager, 6.09, $75; (4) Richard Martinez, 5.88, $40, two day passes; and (5) Tim Dean, 5.83, $40, swag bag.
Nine-year-old Moses Andres won the grand prize in the kids division with a 5.79 lb. rainbow while fishing with his father. He won a fishing kayak.
Five-year-old Evan Alvarez placed second in the kids division with a 5.7 lb. trout, winning $30. He was fishing with 7-year-old Darren Alvarez, who placed fourth in the kids division with a 4.79 lb. rainbow, winning $20. He was also fishing with Deslynn Le, who placed fifth with a 4.47 lb. rainbow, winning a swag bag.
“They caught the fish while fishing PowerBait and Kastmasters off the dock,” said Henry Alvarez.
Four-year-old David Sauceda placed third in the kids division with his 5.1 lb. trout, winning $25.
Thirteen-year-old Mateo Pena took the grand prize in the youth division with his 6.16 lb. rainbow, winning a fishing kayak.
More: Rockfish and Lingcod Season Begins With Superb Fishing
The second through fifth place winners were (2) Carlos Eck, 5.24, $55; (3) Joey Hill, 5.2, $35; (4) Christian Moua, 4.57, $25; and (5) Evie Koblemcnutt, 2.13, $15, swag bag.
Patrick Mahone captured the grand prize in the adult division on the second day of the event by successfully battling a 7.94 lb. rainbow trout, winning a fishing kayak.
The second through third place winners were: (2) Joseph Roberts, 7.12, $155; (3) Michael Quesada, 6.35, $75; (4) Jordan Hall, 5.45, $40, two day passes; and (5) Jay Huey, 5.16, $30, swag bag.
Eight-year-old Elijah Song won first place in the kids division on Sunday with a 4.57 lb. trout, winning $35. Nine-year-old Grace Machorro placed second with a 2.42 lb. rainbow, winning $30.
Eleven-year-old Alex Masaki won first place in the youth division with his 4.57 lb. rainbow. He won a fishing kayak. Eleven-year-old Colton Boden placed second with his 1.66 lb. trout, winning $55.
In preparation for the derby, Rancho Seco Lake was recently stocked with thousands of rainbow trout, including the big fish that dominated the derby.
Anglers can fish the 160-acre lake from the shoreline or off one of six fishing piers. Small boats with electric motors are also allowed (no gas motors). In addition to trout, the freshwater lake is home to largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie and channel catfish.
The 400-acre Rancho Seco Recreational Area offers more than just fishing. The full-service facility offers picnic areas, RV and tent camping sites, a beach and swimming spots. Kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards and fishing boats are available to rent.
More: Bacher: Striped bass are hitting on Delta, San Francisco Bay
Rancho Seco is 25 miles south of Sacramento, approximately 15 minutes east of Highway 99 on Twin Cities Road. It is 24.9 miles from Lodi via Clay Station Road and 38.2 miles from Stockton via Highway 99 N. For more information about the derby, camping and safety at the park, visit smud.org/RanchoSeco or call (800) 416-6992.
Stockton benches and plaques will honor Jay Sorenson, Bill Jennings
The California Striped Bass Association (CSBA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the dedication of a bench and plaque in honor of Jay Sorensen of Stockton, founder of the group, at DeCarli Plaza on the Stockton waterfront at 2 p.m. on April 19.
Additionally, a bench and plaque will also be dedicated at the same time for the late Bill Jennings, former executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), who was instrumental in the restoration of the Mokelumne River and its fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead runs. Both Sorensen and Jennings were active in the fight to stop the Delta Tunnel and its previous incarnations.
Including Restore the Delta, the city of Stockton is the birthplace of three of the most important organizations advocating for the protection of the Delta and its fisheries. Information on CSBA can be located on their website at http://www.striper-csba.org/.
Ocean salmon fishing closed again this year
On April 10, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) voted unanimously for a complete closure of recreational and commercial salmon seasons on the California Coast for the second year in a row, based on a CDFW recommendation.
The closure is due to the collapse of Sacramento River fall-run Chinook and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon populations for the second year in a row.
“At its March 2024 meeting, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) voted on and approved public review of three alternatives for salmon fisheries along the California coast,” wrote Chuck Bonham, CDFW Director, in a letter to the PFMC. “The first two alternatives offered opportunities for limited commercial and recreational fishing while the third alternative calls for a complete closure of salmon fisheries off California.”
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommends the Council to close ocean salmon fisheries along the California coast and otherwise constrain salmon fishing in Council managed areas to minimize impacts to Sacramento and Klamath origin Chinook salmon stocks,” urged Bonham.
The state and federal governments blame the salmon collapse on the drought, while fishing groups, Tribes and environmentalists point to the government’s complicity in the collapse.
“At this point we can’t put the blame solely on drought when Governor Newsom’s water policies are devastating to thousands of families that rely on salmon to pay their rent and mortgages, put food on the table and keep their businesses going,” said Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA). “It’s simple: when the state’s water policies kill off all of the baby salmon, 2 to 3 years later you don’t get many returning adults in the rivers. This is Governor Newsom’s legacy.”
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Huge Trout Caught in SMUD Trout Derby at Rancho Seco
