LAKE CONDITIONS: Lake Camanche's current elevation is 211.8 feet above sea level, a drop of .6 feet this week. The lake will drop slowly this week.??There is currently no water flowing into Lake Camanche and water is flowing out of Lake Camanche at 355 c.f.s. The surface water temperature at the marina has warmed up to 77 degrees. The Sechi reading for water clarity down to 20 feet.

TROUT: Trout trollers fishing early and late in the day are still finding lots of trout down 35-50 feet deep. John Littau, from Carmichael, caught 5 big trout that weighed a total of 15 pounds this week. He was trolling up the river with a brown Rapala lure, and said the Rapala lure was the one that produced strikes more than any others he was using. His big fish weighed over 5 pounds.

Another group of trollers reported catching 8 nice trout, up to 4 pounds, while trolling with Vance's Slim Fin lures in Cop Car and also red/gold. They were using downriggers set at 44 feet, and were trolling the area from Hat Island to Little Hat Island. They started at first light in the morning, and caught all of their fish before 11 a.m.

Locals Bob and Terry Bacon report that the night fishing at Dike 3 continues to be red hot for them. They fished overnight on Friday night, and caught 3 limits of gorgeous trout up to 5 pounds, with many more in the 3 pound range. Bob said he was anchored in about 45 feet of water, and was using a combination of Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Camanche regulars Tim and Kathleen Medley, from Grass Valley, rented a boat from North Shore on Friday. They were out for a pleasure cruise, but decided to drop some Power Eggs down when they were out in front of the dam. In 45 minutes Tim caught 3 trout, including a 3 ?? pounder, all in about 35-40 feet of water. Tim decided that 3 trout were all he needed to keep, so then they headed up the river to have a picnic.

BASS: Bass fishermen continue to find lots of nice bass in 10-15 feet of water. Rocky points, submerged island tops, and flooded trees and brush are holding bass in all areas of the lake. John Littau, from Carmichael, was fishing for trout this week; and had a lot of luck fishing for bass also. He caught 7 bass, up to 3 ?? pounds, while fishing upriver. He was using Senko worms in purple, and also Yozuri Pins Minnows. He said all of his bass came in less than 15 feet of water.

The rocky points of China Gulch and the rock piles around Lancha Plana have been producing nice bass this week. 2 gentlemen from Elk Grove reported catching limits of bass early in the morning with top water baits, and later in the day they switched over to Senko worms in cinnamon brown, as well as natural shad. The top water baits they tossed to the shore line and twitched them back to the boat; the Senko, they just dragged along the bottom as the wind drifted them along.

CATFISH: Reports of campers and fishermen catching lots of catfish have been coming into both North Shore and South Shore marinas. Camanche Arm, Camper's Cove, the Causeway, and Rabbit Creek have all been good for anglers using mackerel, anchovies, chicken liver, and Berkeley's catfish bait. Night time is usually very good, but the fish are being caught during all parts of the day. Rocky areas in the bays are good areas to start.

We encourage all anglers to report their stories, comments, or concerns to either North Shore Store, South Shore Store, or to us by email at eporray@camancherecreation.com. Thanks again for choosing Lake Camanche for your recreation destination.