SPORTS

Rainbows, kings and kokanee are available for the catching on a trip to Don Pedro Lake

The Record
Don Barkley landed this 4-1/4-pound king salmon at Don Pedro Lake while trolling a Sting King lure with Captain Monte Smith on April 22, 2022.

LA GRANGE – Anglers are catching three hard-fighting fish species – rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and landlocked king salmon – while trolling the plankton-rich waters of the Mother Lode’s Don Pedro Lake, located on the Tuolumne River near La Grange.

On a Sunday, May 15, trolling adventure at Don Pedro by Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing, D.J. Greco and his 11-year-old son Rafter landed 10 rainbows, 5 kokanee and 2 kings weighing 2 and 3 pounds.

“We had to let some trout go, as we had two limits of rainbows and needed just salmon to fill the limits,” said Smith. “We also missed and lost a few fish, including a big king.”

The latest trip was the typical fare for the past month. On the previous trolling adventure on May 12, the two fishermen aboard his boat landed 10 rainbows, 6 kokanee and a king salmon, as well as losing a few kokanee and missing some.

“Every trip we have been catching limits of rainbows anywhere from 13 to 20 inches long, kokanee averaging 14 to 16 inches, and quality kings while using kokanee gear,” he stated. “We have been using Mack’s dodgers and Pro Troll Kokanee Killer lures in purple, orange and U.V. colors at 30 to 60 feet deep. The kokanee are fat and healthy.”

He is also catching the kings and kokanee on Apex, J-Pex and Trout Killer lures in silver/blue, as well as on hoochies.

“The kokanee are holding at 45-to 65-feet,” he explained. “The kings are showing at the same depth, coming up from deeper water to feed on small kokanee.”

On any trip you make trolling on Don Pedro, you have the chance to hook a giant king salmon. One lucky fisherman recently caught a 12.5 lb. king while trolling on the reservoir. The biggest king that Smith has netted lately was a beautiful 4-1/4-pound beauty caught by Don Barkley on a Sting King lure on April 22.

My personal best king salmon at Don Pedro was a 9-pound beauty I caught while rolling shad in 2008. I also landed a 5-pound king during a trip with Smith several years ago.

Smith has been fishing out of the Fleming Meadows launch ramp. He starts trolling outside of the buoys and keeps going on the main body up to Middle Bay until he locates fish.

“The kokanee are extremely scattered,” he noted. “The lake hasn’t settled down yet, due to the rising water and wind. The biggest kokanee we’ve boated to date weighed 1 pound ,11 ounces. We’ve caught four big ones already, which is excellent for this time of year. “

“Both the kokanee and trout are full of plankton, since there are large plankton blooms taking place. We are also finding multiple threadfin shad in bellies of the trout and kings,” explained Smith.

Smith hasn’t brought in any black bass on recent trips, but a customer did land a 2-pound channel catfish that hit an orange hoochie. Information: (209) 581-4734.

Don Pedro features naturally spawning king salmon and kokanee populations, but the CDFW plants juveniles of both species in the lake to supplement the wild populations. The CDFW stocked 20,034 kokanee and 89,634 kings in Don Pedro in 2021.

Delta Stripers: Anglers continue to catch good numbers of stripers on the San Joaquin River near Prisoners Point and on the West Bank of the Sacramento River. On May 14, the four anglers fishing with James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service bagged limits of keeper stripers, in addition to releasing numerous keepers, while trolling with bone-colored deep diving Yo-Zuris,, tipped with white worms.. Information: (888) 975-0990.

Lake Alpine Trout: Ebbetts Pass is open and anglers are now able to fish Lake Alpine. There is still snow scattered around the lake. The Lake Alpine Lodge is not open yet; they will try to open by Memorial Day, according to Bill Reynolds at Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods in Arnold.

Spicer Reservoir is still closed and scheduled to open – hopefully – by Memorial Day weekend. Fishing for the lake’s feisty rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout should be excellent for boaters and shore anglers when it opens. Information: 209-795-1686.

Contact Stockton Record Correspondent Dan Bacher at danielbacher53@gmail.com.