Many anglers have the impression that the daily fishing access fee required at Lake Camanche goes to just to trout plants, but the $3.50 per day fee also supports the enhancement of the bass fishery through the stocking of Florida-strain largemouth bass.

Since 1991, the lake concessionaire has planted a total of 150,000 fish, including fingerlings, adults and "super bass" in the 4 to 5 inch range, according to Chris Cantwell of the Lake Camanche Recreation Company. The company purchases $15,000 of bass each year - allowing them to stock 12,000 fingerlings last year.

Due to flourishing of the Florida strain in the forage-rich waters of this popular Mother Lode Lake, anglers can expect to see increasingly larger bass in coming years. Robert Kelly set a new lake largemouth record when he bagged a 14.33 lb. largemouth on April 19, 2003, eclipsing the previous record of 12.87 pounds. The Woodland angler fooled the lunker with a 7 inch Blue Culprit plastic worm in the Camanche Arm of the lake.

These Florida-strain fish supplement the lake's abundant population of northern-strain largemouth, smallmouth bass and Alabama spotted bass. The Florida-strain are now hybridizing with the northern-strain largemouths, producing a larger strain of bass.

When approaching any of the bass species, fishing the lake's bountiful structure is the key. The lake is located at the low elevation of 236 feet at maximum pool in the gently rolling hills and bottomland in Amador County. When the EBMUD-owned lake filled in 1964, the waters inundated the old ruins of the historic gold rush town of Lancha Plana, creating some interesting structure for anglers to fish.

"Camanche is a classic structure lake," said Cantwell. "To fish for bass successfully at the lake year round, you need to be familiar with how to fish submerged islands, creek channels, breaks and humps."

Anglers use a variety of methods at Camanche, depending upon the time of year. Split shotting with plastics, drop shotting with worms, tossing out crankbaits. throwing rip baits and casting top water lures are all effective at times.

When fishing Camanche, whether for bass, trout or any other species, another key factor to success is adjusting to the lake's surprisingly clear water. Finesse fishing with light line on light gear becomes necessary here.

The clear water is the result of the large number of reservoirs, including lower and Upper Bear River reservoirs, Tiger Creek Forebay, Salt Springs and Pardee, that the water passes through on the way to Camanche. Most of the sediment settles in these lakes before the waters of the Mokelumne reach Camanche. The Mokelumne River, the drinking water source for the East Bay, is known for its cold, snow fed water.

When I visited the lake on March 12, the water had 30 feet of visibility, according to the Secchi disk that is lowered each at day at noon at the dam to record the clarity.

The spring bass bite was in full swing, with both bank anglers and boaters nailing bass. For example, eight-year-old John Kraynov of Sacramento tossed out a plastic worm to land a largemouth bass near the marina docks. Other anglers were sight fishing for bass off spawning beds in the coves.

Besides the bass stocking program, the $3.50 fishing access fee funds the planting of large numbers of rainbows in the recreation area. The total number of fish planted each year depends on the amount of fee money collected.

In 2004, the concessionaire planted 14,235 pounds of rainbows in the South Pond, 16,635 pounds in the South Shore Recreation Area and 16,635 pounds in the North Shore Recreation Area, a total of 53,670 pounds. Trout plants begin when the lake water becomes cool enough to stock in the fall to when it becomes too warm to plant in the spring.

Shore fishing can be good, but because of the clear water, it is necessary to fish early and late in the day for success. Power Bait, Crave Nitro Bait, nightcrawlers and Kastmasters will all work. The top areas are the north and south shore recreation areas and Camanche South Pond.

Trollers also need to adjust to the lake's clear water conditions. "Long lining and trolling with side planers makes a big difference at Camanche," said Cantwell.

I've experienced great fishing trolling on every trip that I've made to Camanche in the spring with Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing and Ron Wilson, outdoor writer. On one trip in 2003, I landed a 7 lb. rainbow as part of my five fish limit.

Hamby experiences his best success trolling with Excel spoons, R-Lures and Vance's spoons in the lake's main body in a triangle between Big Hat Island, Little hat Island and the Dam.

"Trout trolling at Camanche is best in the months of March, April, May and June," advised Hamby. "After that, the water heats up and water skiing takes over at the lake."

Because of Camanche's clear water, he long line trolls with 200 feet of line out from the boat or the downrigger. On his latest trolling adventure, two anglers fishing with him landed 10 rainbows in the 16 to 18 inch range, along with releasing other fish.

If you want to shatter the lake trout record, your work is cut out for you. Mark and Mike Seaters of Lodi caught the lake record rainbow of 19.42 lbs. while fishing a brown plastic worm near the dam on August 4, 1998. Ray Miles of Woodbridge set the South Pond record of 19.37 lbs. while fishing a Kastmaster in on March 28, 1998.

Kokanee salmon are a sleeper fishery, usually caught by anglers fishing for rainbows or other species. 2001 and 2004 were relatively good years for kokanee, but there isn't a huge population of these fish like is found at Pardee. Cantwell believes that most of the fish spill over from Pardee, since the DFG doesn't stock Camanche with kokanee.

Black crappie are another cyclical fish at Camanche. This has been a good year for crappie so far, with a lot of fish in the 1-1/2 to 2 pound range caught by anglers fishing mini jigs and minnows around docks and rock piles.

Greg Williams of Kingsburg caught the lake record crappie of 2.49 lbs. on August 8, 1991 while fishing a nightcrawler near the dam.

One fishery that Cantwell and many anglers would like to see the return of is king salmon. The fishing for kings was very good in 2000 and 2001, but the lake hasn't been planted recently. Hopefully, the concessionaire will be able to work out an agreement with the DFG and EBMUD to obtain king salmon from the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery to be stocked in the lake.

For more information about fishing at Lake Camanche, call the North Shore Marina, (209) 763-5166, or the South Shore Marina, (209) 763-5915, www.camancherecreation.com. For guided trout trips, call Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing, (209) 599-2023.

Lake Camanche Facts

Location and size: Camanche is located at an elevation of in the low, rolling hills of the Mother Lode east of Lodi. The reservoir covers 12 square miles, is 150 feet deep, and has 53 miles of shoreline when full.

Management: The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) oversees the operation and maintenance of facilities, determines recreation fees and establishes rules and regulations. The recreation facilities are operated by the Lake Camanche Recreation Company of Urban Park Concessionaires.

Recreation Areas: The North and South Shore Recreation Areas are open daily year round. There are electronic gates at North and South Shore. The gates open at 5 a.m. and close at 11:00 p.m. year round. The store and marinas on both shores are open weekends year round and daily from Easter through October 1. The coffee shop is open weekends year round on the North Shore and from Friday through Monday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The South Shore Snack Bar is open on weekends during the summer.

Camping: Lake Camanche has tent and RV camping available year round. Campgrounds feature hot showers, restrooms and laundry facilities at both North and South Shores. RV campgrounds are self-contained at North Shore and full hook-ups are available at South Shore.

Cottage and motel rentals: Those who enjoy the outdoors but do not necessarily like to "rough it" can rent a cottage or motel unit at Lake Camanche. The quaintly decorated cottages, many with lake view, have kitchens, barbecues, A/C, TV and are available at both North and South shores. South Shore units are available as single rooms only, while North Shore units can be single or adjoining rooms. For more information, contact: www.camancherecreation.com.

Boat ramp: Six lane launch ramps are available on the North and South Shore. The boat launching fee at both ramps is $6.50 and the vehicle fee is $8.00.

Boat rentals: Motor boats, deluxe motor boats, eight passenger pontoon patio boats and 12-passenger pontoon boats are available. Reservations are recommended. A pre-payment will required for all weekend boat reservations year round. Rental rates start at $35.00 for a full day (5+ hours) on a motor boat.

Fishing fees: Permits are $3.50 each day for each individual 16 years and older. A valid California fishing license is also required for all persons fishing who are age 16 and older.

Guide and fishing information: For more information about fishing at Lake Camanche, call the North Shore Marina, (209) 763-5166, or the South Shore Marina, (209) 763-5915, www.camancherecreation.com. For guided trout trips, call Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing, (209) 599-2023.