Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3815 July 5-19 2019 | Page 7

5
July 5 - 19, 2019
VOL.38 • ISS. 15
Spotlight On Kayak Fishing...
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in Citrus Heights, CA
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High Country Trout Adventure To
French Meadows Reservoir
By Cal Kellogg
French Meadows is one of my favorite local trout lakes and I try to
hit it several times per year.
Since French Meadows is situated near the Sierra summit, the lake
was late to open this spring after the intense winter of 2018/19 and
I wasn’t able to make it in to the lake until May 30. I was expecting
big results and while I definitely had some excitement I think the best
spring action is yet to come.
Lucy and I arrived a few minutes after sunrise on the 30th and after
about 20
minutes
of rigging Cal Kellogg fooled this early morning French Meadows rainbow with a gold Speedy Shiner
trolled at 2.7 miles per hour.
time, I
Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff.
dropped
the big
tried everything in my gear kit that usually works at French Meadows without
Hobie Pro Angler
results.
into the water at
I was actually on my way back to the ramp when I marked some nice arches
the south launch
on the Lowrance holding right on the bottom. I grabbed a black Mag Lip 2.5,
ramp.
started peddling at 2 mph and spooled the lure out until it was occasionally
I don’t think
ticking the bottom.
I’ve ever seen the
Five minutes later I hooked up. I suspected that the fish was a brown based
lake higher and I
on the bulldog battle it put up, but it was no match for my Vance’s trolling
noticed right away
rod.
that there was a
When the fish
lot of wood on the
boiled to the top I
surface ranging
was pumped to see
from small pieces
that it was a 17-inch
of
bark
and
twigs
For the kayaker looking for great trout fishing and inspiring
brown. What a way
to huge stumps and
scenery, French Meadows Reservoir is a great destination.
Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff. massive ponderosa
to end the day!
While my first trip
pines.
of 2019 to French
Paddling away
Meadows wasn’t
from the ramp I noted that the water was clear and colder than I expected at
super productive, I
47 degrees.
did catch a couple
My plan was to troll fast with a gold Speedy Shiner on one rod and a
jointed J-9 rainbow pattern Rapala on the other. Once I had the Speedy Shiner dandy trout and
I’m itching to hit
working at 15 feet off a leadcore rig, I’d just started to deploy the Rapala
the lake again
when the Speedy got slammed…FISH ON!
very soon. I have
The trout put up a vigorous fight and jumped several times. When I got it
a feeling the bite
to the net it turned out to be a thick 16-inch chrome bright rainbow. It was a
good ‘bow for French Meadows and I was pleased. With the rainbow released is going to be very
good once the water French Meadows is an outstanding trout fishing location
I quickly got the spoon back into the water expecting more action.
climbs into the 50’s. situated near the Sierra crest in Placer County.
Save for a couple short strikes, I had no more action for the next 4 hours. I
Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff.
NEW
FOR
2019
TACTICAL
LIGHTWEIGHT COOLERS
ELEVATING THE STANDARD
IN COOLER PERFORMANCE.
When Cal marked several fish holding along the bottom in 21 feet of water he
started bouncing the bottom with a black Mag Lip and caught this dandy French
Meadows brown in short order!
Photo by CAL KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff.
72 HOURS
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