Lake Amador

Lake Amador

A Fisherman’s Dream

And A Family’s Fun

If you were to ask the average trout fisherman where to go for a chance at catching a really big trout the answer would probably be some lake or stream in the Sierra or Cascade Mountains. Save yourself some long distance driving and head for Lake Amador just a few miles out of Ione, CA. The morning I visited Lake Amador, to get information for this article, I left my home in Galt, CA. and headed east on State Rt. 104. It was very foggy that morning which added to my driving time but I was still at the lake in much less than an hour.

Upon my arrival I met with Laurie Lockhart who not only graciously answered all my questions but gave me a free run of the facilities. She said this would allow me see for myself just all this great destination has to offer. They have 73 RV sites that are full service and over 100 sites for camping. The camp sites have restroom and shower facilities available and a dump station is located on the premises. These camping sites are located near a good size pond, with a water slide, that is filled for swimming during the warmer time of the year. Swimming is also permitted in the main lake but the water is usually colder than the pond’s water.

                                           One of the Lakes many quiet coves

The main area known as the Lodge has tackle, bait, propane, gas, cold beverages and snacks. They also have boats with motors available for either a full or half day rental. There is a café that is open Friday, Saturday and Sundays. They have two full size Pool tables so you can show off your skill with a pool cue. The ladies who work here are a wealth of information on fishing conditions and are more than willing to share this with you. The staff, at Lake Amador, wants your visit to be everything you hoped it would be and go out of their way to see that it is

Check in counter and store

                                           The very helpful Laurie & her daughter Chloe

Lake Amador has its own trout rearing facilities and they plant up to 200,000 pounds of their special Cut-Bow Trout each year. These are a cross between a Rainbow and a Cutthroat Trout. If you like to eat trout, these are some of the best eating you will ever sink a fork into. On top of this, they will give you the fight of your life when you hook one. While I was talking to Laurie she had a number of fishermen come in for their fishing permits and she told each of them that they had better be sure that their rods were secure while fishing because over and above the normal one and two pounders that they had planted that day they had put in ten trout that had a combined weight of just over one hundred and fifty pounds. There was also a photograph on the counter of a trout that had been caught a few days earlier that weighed in excess of sixteen pounds. I have fished in a lot of places including Alaska but have never come close to catching a trout that big.

Good fishing can be had right off this dock

 Besides trout, Lake Amador offers outstanding fishing for Bass, Catfish, Crappie and Bluegill. The lake record for Bass is a brute of just over seventeen pounds and each year Catfish are landed that register high on the double digit mark. A lot of these big fish are caught at night which is fine because the lake is open to fishing 24 hours a day the year around. For whatever reason, they do not sell minnows to use as bait but you can bring your own if that is what you want to use.  If you have youngsters that are showing an interest in learning to fish I highly suggest that you take them to this lake.  They can fish right off of the shore and with a juicy red worm presented about four feet under a bobber, they will find many Bluegills more than ready to grab that worm. These won’t be really big fish but to the novice fisherman this won’t matter and I can almost guarantee that they will be hooked for life. This will really be the case if one of those Cut-Bows decides to chow down on the worm.    

Do you need a boat to successfully fish this lake? A lot of the trout that are caught are taken by those fishing right off the bank. For whatever reason, the trout that they plant spend a lot of time swimming in the top four feet of water within twenty five feet of the shore line. If you have your own boat a launch ramp is available but it certainly isn’t necessary to be successful. With over 13 miles of shore line and 400 acres of lake surface area, and you do bring your own boat or rent one, there are a number of coves, arms and creek inlets to explore and fish quietly. When you do catch fish you want to enjoy for dinner there is a fish cleaning station available which will save you from making a really big mess in your own kitchen. Your significant other should greatly appreciate this. 

The boat launch ramps next to the Lodge

                                      

 There are some restrictions that apply when you visit Lake Amador:

No Water Skiing – No Jet Skis – No Motor Cycles - No Racing around in High Speed Boats. This is a location where you can bring your family and enjoy all of its amenities without finding a rowdy atmosphere. The people who run this concession absolutely go out of their way to make sure that you enjoy your visit and will want to come back again. I recommend that you pay it a visit. For complete information as to costs and any other questions you may have they can be reached at (209) 274-4739.     

Your check in point

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