Trout Fishing at Lake Amador

Lake Amador has become a prime trout resort in Ione, California. For those not familiar with the area, Ione is located in North Central California (just South East of Sacramento). It's also just North of Lake Pardee and Lake Comanche (two other popular trout lakes in California).

This 425 acre lake has a maximum depth of 468 feet and approximately 14 miles of fishable shoreline. Lake levels have been down in previous years due to drought, but fishing is still good.

Like Lake Pardee and Comanche, Lake Amador offers large trout (2-6 lbs), commonly known as Donaldson trout (named after the man who created this strain). Donaldson trout are a hybrid cross of Steelhead, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. Lakes do this in an effort to give anglers a "trophy trout" experience.

Because these are hybrid trout raised in a hatchery, they will eat PowerBait. Other trout baits and techniques are effective as well.

One of our readers reported that he witnessed a man catch one the other night at Marina using a small treble hook with Berkeley Trout Power bait. His spinning rod was rigged with a small split shot about a foot above the hook and a red lighted flasher float about 2-3 feet above the split shot. This young man tossed his line out in the dark part of the water (not under the lights) and let the flashing float do the work of attracting trout for him.

Lake Amador also boasts other "trophy" size fish including bass, catfish and sunfish. So if you're looking for a unique angling experience, give Lake Amador a try.

For more information about fishing at Lake Amador, click here.

For more information about Donaldson trout, click here.