Lightweight & Versatile : Jayco Tent Campers !
4 July 7 - 21 , 2017 VOL . 36 • ISS . 15
junior division . We pulled up to the lake at 4:45 am , only to see a huge line of trailers waiting at the gate . Rigs were backed up all the way past the turnoff to the road to the dam ! It was one of the biggest turnouts I have ever seen , and I knew we had our work cut out for us .
Once we got situated on the water , the kokanee started coming over the rails in grand fashion . At first light , we couldn ’ t get the rods out fast enough . The kids got in on the action , landing several kokanee themselves . It was great until about 8:00 am , when the bite really slowed down . By 9:00 am , it had pretty much totally shut down .
Several hours into the slow period was when I nailed that rainbow trout . Not long afterwards , I was making a pass along an oak tree lined bank when the rod at 40 feet started pumping in the downrigger . “ Wait … it ’ s a fish ” I muttered , and quickly jumped to my feet . The fish made a hard run straight down , and didn ’ t want to
So , you ’ ve decided that sleeping in a tent or a
sleeping bag is just not what is used to be . The idea of camping beneath the stars , next to the lake in your own RV , sounds pretty inviting , right ? When considering your first RV , one can hardly top the Jayco Jay Series tent camper line for features , affordability , and a small footprint on the environment .
First , you ’ ll have a small , lightweight unit that almost
WHAT ’ S HOT Continued from Pg 1
come up . I momentarily thought it might be tangled in the downrigger wire , but it wasn ’ t . After the fish made several additional line-stripping runs to the bottom , I told Gina “ This probably isn ’ t a kokanee ”.
In my mind , I was thinking smallmouth bass . When I saw its golden flash though the crystal clear waters of Lake Pardee , I knew what it was . A channel catfish had grabbed my fluorescent blue kokanee spinner . Another false alarm !
The kids thought it was really cool and wanted to keep it . It was a decent-sized fish , so I figured that Cajun fried catfish wasn ’ t such a bad idea after all . I bled it out and put it in the cooler , which was starting to collect quite the variety of species . I was thinking what ’ s next … carp ?
The bite picked up again around noon , and we scratched out a few more kokanee before heading to the weigh-in at 2:00 pm . Just after noon , we had picked up yet another catfish ,
RV Lifestyle
any minivan , SUV , or truck can tow . Inside you ’ ll find wall to wall vinyl flooring , several large queen-sized sleeping areas with optional heating mats , a dinette , and a reversible couch that makes into an additional sleeping area . Depending upon the model , you ’ ll be able to sleep up to eight people . Each Jay Series tent camper will have tinted vinyl windows and a roof vent to move the air . Each unit will have a stove , a sink , and a refrigerator for your food storage and cooking needs . Each Jay Series basically in the same location and depth as the first one . I guess if I ever want to target catfish at Pardee , I know where to start .
Back at the derby weigh-in , the usual festivities were underway . Kokanee Power is a well-run organization which promotes a fun , family-oriented atmosphere . Their derbies include a lunch , optional raffle , and fun for all .
While waiting in line to weigh in our fish , I overheard another entrant remark how he too had caught a catfish . Aside from the oddity of species being landed , the bite pattern was also out of the ordinary .
Usual years have us catching kokanee at Lake Pardee around 45 feet deep in beginning of June . However , with water roaring over the spillway , this year ’ s pattern has been less predictable .
We caught almost half of our fish right on the surface , with other fish coming at 20 and 40 feet deep . It was an odd range of depths for early summer kokanee fishing . All in all , we landed ten fish while
by Cliff Woolard , RV ’ s Of Sacramento
Lightweight & Versatile : Jayco Tent Campers !
model is also pre-fitted for a TV and a stereo , and a furnace and A / C are available on many units as options .
Setting up camp is a piece of cake with the easy-to-use lifter system with wide lifter posts integrated into the tent . If you are an off-road enthusiast , the Baja package with 15-inch off-road mud tires ( 12SC , 12UD ) and 5-inch ground clearance makes getting off the grid a snap . In addition , some Jay Series models come with a front Black Diamond Plate Storage Box w / Side
losing an additional ten fish .
When all was said and done , my wife Gina and I finished in fourth place for the team event . We didn ’ t get any fifteen inchers , but it was a great showing nonetheless .
What was more gratifying was that our daughter Grace took third , and our son Adam took first in the junior division . He was so proud that he actually slept with the trophy that night . Grace finished first back in 2014 , so now they have equal bragging rights .
Kokanee Power has more derbies lined up this summer , and I recommend attending any of their future events if you can . Information is listed on their website at www . kokaneepower . org
Entry Doors for storing your fishing or hunting gear .
With the Jay Series tent camper lineup , now is the perfect time to make the leap into the RV lifestyle ! For more go to : www . rvsofsac . com or www . jayco . com
Young Adam Naves took first place in the Youth Division with this big salmon during the 2017 Kokanee Power event at Lake Pardee .
Photo by JACK NAVES , Fish Sniffer Staff .
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• Pitch a tent
Visit smud . org / RanchoSeco or call 1-800-416-6992 .
• Launch a boat
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Rancho Seco Recreational Area is located 25 miles south of Sacramento at 14960 Twin Cities Road in Herald , CA .
80
N
1-5
From Sacramento , take Highway 99 South to the Highway 104 exit . Go East on Highway 104 , 15 miles , to the Rancho Seco Park exit .
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99
Twin Cities Rd .
104
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Herald
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Clay Station Rd .
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Rancho Seco Recreational Area
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