(Sacramento) Black bass are available for anglers willing to use winter tactics in the rising waters of Folsom Lake. The lake has risen from a record low of 14 percent of capacity to 26 percent over the past month.
Fish Sniffer Staffer Wes Ward and Greg Phelan recently fished Folsom Lake for bass targeting deep rock piles with spoons.
The lake is currently holding 255,225 acre feet of water, up from a record low of 135,000 acre feet. The lake level is 378.86 feet in elevation, 87.14 feet below maximum pool.
“Expect to find the spotted bass from 12 to 15 feet deep,” advised Craig Kamikawa at Fisherman’s Warehouse. “They were holding at 3 to 5 feet deep, but have stayed where they were as the water rose.”
“If I was going to fish there,” said Kamikawa, “I would drop shot with 4 inch leeches or MM3 Robo Worms or Pro Gold/Delta Red Pro Worms. Most of the fish are spotted bass in the 1-1/2 to 3 lb. range, with some largemouths mixed in.”
No trout or king salmon reports were available at press time. However, bank anglers interested in hooking rainbows and kings should fish minnows or nightcrawlers under bobbers or on sliding sinker rigs in the Five Percent, Granite Bay and Browns Ravine areas.
The Low Water Ramp at Granite Bay is now in operation. The Hobie Cove Ramp at Brown’s Ravine will operate at elevation 380, according to the Folsom Lake Marina.
