At Lake Camanche, soft plastics rule for rainbows. Cal Kellogg's top bait is a white Trix Minnow rigged naked with a Trigger Disc, slow trolled 1.5 to 2 mph in the top 10 feet. Orange Trix Worms and grubs also produce. When fish want to chase, run a red or gold Trigger Spoon clean, no dodgers. Best in clear water at 53 to 55 degrees with overcast and a little chop. Fish the Narrows and the main body.
What is the best bait for Lake Camanche trout?
Soft plastics, especially a white Trix Minnow rigged naked with a Trigger Disc. White has been the top color for several trips even though the lake is full of shad. When in doubt, a white minnow or an orange worm catches fish.
How fast and how deep should I troll at Camanche?
Slow, 1.5 to 2 mph, in the top 10 feet. The most active fish sit 4 to 8 feet down and feed up to the bait. Cool, clear 53 to 55 degree water keeps them near the surface, so there is no reason to go deep.
What colors work at Lake Camanche?
White first, then orange in worms and minnows, and a hammered gold spoon. Cal caught fish on white Trix Minnows, orange Trix Worms, and a gold junior trigger spoon on the same day.
Do spoons work at Lake Camanche?
Yes, when the fish want to chase. Run a bright red or hammered gold Trigger Spoon clean, with no dodgers or flashers, 2.3 to 2.7 mph, about 5 to 10 feet down on leadcore. A Junior Trigger Spoon in gold is a good small option.
Where should I fish on Lake Camanche?
Launch at the South Shore ramp. The Narrows and the river arm hold fish, and the main body produces too. If you are already marking fish and seeing them jump near the ramp, start there before pedaling off to search.
How do I rig a soft plastic at Camanche?
Naked, with an action disc about three eighths of an inch ahead of a straight bait and the hook worked back near the tail, on a leadcore rod. Two bobber stops lock the disc so the slow troll generates the action that draws the strike.
What conditions are best at Lake Camanche?
Clear water, 53 to 55 degrees on top, with overcast and a little chop and a front moving in. In that low light the fish feel safer from predators and feed up in the water column.
Watch the technique
Trolling lake camanche for rainbow trout FAQ
Yes. Clear water, plenty of fish, Mount Lassen strain rainbows to about 3.5 pounds, and light boat traffic with plenty of elbow room.
Threadfin shad, yet white soft plastics have out fished shad colored ones for Cal on recent trips. Let the fish pick the color.
1.5 to 2 mph for soft plastics, and up to about 2.7 mph for spoons when the fish are in a chasing mood.
In the top 10 feet, with the active fish usually 4 to 8 feet down and willing to feed up to the bait.
The South Shore ramp, then work around the corner into the Narrows and river arm, and out into the main body.
Sometimes. A light, shad colored Metal Head fly can produce, and it fishes at any speed, but soft plastics have been the stronger option lately.
Cool 53 to 55 degrees. That keeps the fish feisty and holding near the surface where they are easy to reach.
Yes. Overcast with a little chop and an incoming front is close to optimum, since the trout feel safer and feed up in the column.
