LAKE CONDITIONS: Lake Camanche's current elevation is 204.8 feet above sea level, a drop of .4 feet this week. The lake should drop slowly this week.??There is currently no water flowing into Lake Camanche, and water is flowing out of Lake Camanche at 345 c.f.s.??The surface water temperature at the marina has cooled to 77 degrees.

TROUT: With the big holiday crowds, and high temperatures, there have been few reports from trout fishermen this week. Mr. Nelson Wong, from Sacramento area, did catch 8 kokanee this week, while trolling in the main lake. He said that all of his fish came between 80-85 feet deep, and were all beautiful and put up a nice fight. Most of his fish came on Ex-Cel lures in silver/blue.

Trout trollers continue to find a few fish when they get on the lake early in the morning, or late in the day. The area in front of the buoy line at the dam, and the triangle from Hat Island to Little Hat Island to the dam is the favorite trolling pattern. Needlefish, R-Lures, Ex-Cels, and Uncle Larry's spinners are some of the top lures to use. Trout are down between 35-45 feet deep.

10 year old Kiefer McAfee and his dad, from Sacramento, caught 2 beautiful trout while drifting worms all the way up the river. They were drifting in about 30 feet of water, when they hooked into a very nice 5 pound trout. They also caught another trout about 2 ?? pounds. Lake Pardee has been releasing some water into Camanche during the week, and this cold water inflow draws trout up into that area.

Another angler reported catching 3 trout while fishing under the highway bridge upriver. He was anchored in the shade under the bridge, and caught his fish on Power Bait in chartreuse color. Fish were about 30-35 feet deep.

E.B.M.U.D. has announced that the Hypolimnetic Oxygen System has now been turned on at the dam. This system (also known as the Speece Cone) adds oxygen to the water to raise the oxygen rate in Camanche in late summer. This raised oxygen level draws fish of all species to the area of the dam, making the dam and the buoy line a great area to fish.

BASS: No reports from bass anglers this week, but bass continue to hold the usual patterns for this time of the year. Top water baits work well in early morning, or late in the day. Plastic worms or Baby Brush Hogs in brown, purple, or green pumpkin work very well during the day; as well as spinner baits in chartreuse/white, or crankbaits in shad or crawdad colors. Fish in rocky areas, ledges, or drop-offs; or submerged island tops with trees or brush. Bass are holding between 15-20 feet deep.

CATFISH: Gary Wilson, from Ceres, caught a 10.2 pound catfish this week while fishing upriver. He was anchored in about 25 feet of water, and caught his big catfish on a nightcrawler. The fish gave Gary a mighty struggle, but Gary brought the fish into North Shore Marina, weighed it, and released it back into the water. A camper at North shore reported catching 10 catfish, up to 10 pounds, while he fished overnight. They caught their fish on nightcrawlers and mackerel, and were fishing the rocky shorelines in the main lake. Most of their fish came in about 15 feet of water.