The Fish Sniffer

(Rancho Cordova) The Nimbus Fish Hatchery is finished spawning steelhead for the season. The hatchery staff closed the ladder down during the last week of February.

“It was a fantastic season,” said Gary Novak, hatchery manager. “We trapped 3,409 steelhead total, including 38 half pounders. That compares to 2,497 fish last year, including 12 half pounders. We saw a lot of big steelhead this year.”

The hatchery staff has also finished releasing 430,000 steelhead yearlings into the lower American.

Anglers are still catching a mixture of bright and downrunner steelhead on the river, though the fishing pressure has dwindled as local anglers pursue stripers in the Delta and trout and bass on local lakes. 

Jerry Lampkin of TNG Motor Sports Guide Service reported success on his latest steelhead adventure on the American from Sailor Bar to Rossmoor Bar.

 “Phil Torres and his son in law Brandon Petitt talked me into a trip down the American and I'm glad they did. Brandon scored a beautiful 27 inch, 9 pound downrunner hen on a green Hot Shot,” said Lampkin. “Phil ripped the lips out of the half pounder that he had on a Cleo for a moment.”