23 replies to this topic

[MSgt]

Has anyone on myfolsom ever caught a fish at Lake Natoma?
What time of Year?
What kind of fish?
Where were you at?
What were you using?

[Steve Heard]

Robert Giacometti is our resident fishing expert.

[Dave Burrell]

I wanna go fishing!

[Bill Z]

Has anyone on myfolsom ever caught a fish at Lake Natoma?
What time of Year?
What kind of fish?
Where were you at?
What were you using?

My experience is limited (as I've only fished it a few times).

Years ago, I remember getting a few nibbles when I tried upstream of Rainbow Bridge, but the few times I've tried over the last couple of years, I only accomplished getting my line wet.

I rarely fish down here in the flat lands, and I have to say, I do much much better working small streams and lakes when out backpacking.

[Robert Giacometti]

Robert Giacometti is our resident fishing expert.

I haven't been motivated to go fishing in a while, ever since I started buying my brownies from the HS bake sale.

I've caught a smallmouth bass on a silver shad rap along the bike trail south of Negro Bar, many years ago. I've caught a few trout trolling flashers with a night crawler near the Power House discharge and I've caught some bass on night crawlers in the Willow Creek area where the creek feeds into the slough.

I've heard that people do catch LARGE trout with night crawlers fishing near Rainbow Bridge, when there isn't much current. I'd probably just hook the worm once through the head and fish it weightless on about 8 lb line. ( except for I'm terrified of snakes so I don't walk anywhere near the rocks around Rainbow Bridge).

The easiest way to catch a couple of fish in Lake Natoma area would be to go to the Willow Creek area and fish with worms hooked once in the head, no weights and cast them into the area where the creek flows into the slough. There are generally some smaller bass that feed there on a regular basis and can be caught using this method.

Another method to try would be to use live minnows rigged under a sliding bobber fished in deeper water, like under the bridge or along the bike trail below Negro Bar. You might get both Trout & bass using this method. You will need to keep adjusting the depth of the bobber to find the fish.

[bunny]

I can tell you that there are some serious crawfish in lake natoma. I've gone diving there a few times and the shelf about 8-12' down on both edges is crawling with them. Big enough that I wouldnt want to try to pick one up without a glove.

A snorkel and mask, a pair of gloves and a catch bag, in about 10 minutes you could easily pick up dinner.

I wonder if there are any rules for harvesting crawfish. Are you allowed to just take them? Need a license of some kind?

[Robert Giacometti]

I can tell you that there are some serious crawfish in lake natoma. I've gone diving there a few times and the shelf about 8-12' down on both edges is crawling with them. Big enough that I wouldnt want to try to pick one up without a glove.

A snorkel and mask, a pair of gloves and a catch bag, in about 10 minutes you could easily pick up dinner.

I wonder if there are any rules for harvesting crawfish. Are you allowed to just take them? Need a license of some kind?

I believe you just need a fishing license. I've heard of people using crawdad traps to catch them.

[ducky]

I believe you just need a fishing license. I've heard of people using crawdad traps to catch them.

Sounds like fun. Where would one obtain a crawdad trap? Or could you just make one yourself? What do you use for bait? How much does a fishing license cost?

[mylo]

Never gone diving in Lake Natoma, but the American River Parkway is full of them, too. I wondered about snagging some dinner. Will have to bring some gloves next time!

[B&G]

Sounds like fun. Where would one obtain a crawdad trap? Or could you just make one yourself? What do you use for bait? How much does a fishing license cost?

For crawdads use canned dog food, chicken bones, bacon, hot dogs, or corn. The traps are easy to build or you can pick one up for about $25 online. Don't forget your license. Walmart is where I normally get mine. Be sure to have an idea of what areas you fish and type of fish you go for as you may need to get additional stamps for your license.
BTW...Lake Natoma holds the California State record for a rainbow trout. I believe it was a 20+lber caught around 2000.

[Robert Giacometti]

Sounds like fun. Where would one obtain a crawdad trap? Or could you just make one yourself? What do you use for bait? How much does a fishing license cost?

I think you can get a trap at Wild Sports or order one through Bass Pro Shops. They are relatively simply.

I'd confirm with the Department oF Fish & Game about the regulatins BEFORE buying the trap & license. The fishing license costs about $41.00 per year.

I'd use chicken in the trap. Let the chicken sit out for a day and get real smelley. I suspect you'll need to let the trap sit for maybe an hour before pulling it in . I put 2 traps out many years ago overnight and caught about 15 crawdads in the morning. I used my boat and eletric motor to put the traps in place where they wouldn't be found overnight. They were fantastic!

[mylo]

From: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21209

Fishing
General Regulations

Licenses
Anyone 16 years and older must have a valid California fishing license in their immediate possession while fishing. Only fish and crustaceans (crayfish or crawdads) may be taken from the park. All reptiles (lizards, snakes, etc.) and amphibians (frogs, salamanders, etc.) are protected.

Method of Take
Fish may be taken by hook and line only. The line must be closely attended. Not more than 3 hooks and no more than 3 artificial lures (each may have 3 hooks attached) may be attached to one line.

Multiple hooks with a shank longer than 2-inches or with a distance between its points of more than 1 1/4-inches may not be used. A multiple hook may not be attached closer than 18-inches to any weight over 1/2-ounce.

Crayfish may be taken by hand, hook and line, dip net or trap (not over 3-feet in greatest dimension) only.

Species Regulations (Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma)
Species - Season - Size - Bag Limit
Bass all year 12-inch minimum 5
Trout
(includes Kokanee Salmon) all year no minimum 5
Catfish all year no minimum no limit
Bullhead all year no minimum no limit
Sunfish (Crappies, Bluegill) all year no minimum no limit
Crayfish all year no minimum no limit

Special Regulations (Nimbus Shoals)
On the American River from Nimbus Dam to the Hazel Avenue Bridge, fishing is allowed during daylight hours only (1-hour before sunrise to 1-hour after sunset).
October 1st through March 31
No multiple hook with a distance greater than 1/4-inch from the hook point to the shank, or any single hook larger than 1/2-inch from hook point to shank may be used. The weight must not be attached directly or indirectly, closer than 18-inches to the hook.

Species - Season - Size - Bag Limit
Salmon all year no minimum 2
Trout all year 12-inch minimum 1

[ngilbert]

Has anyone on myfolsom ever caught a fish at Lake Natoma?
What time of Year?
What kind of fish?
Where were you at?
What were you using?

The only thing I've ever caught at LN was another fishing pole. Actually the original owner had caught something since it had a fish on the hook, but it had been dead may be a day.

So not a total loss - the reel was in pretty good shape.

[john]

I can tell you that there are some serious crawfish in lake natoma. I've gone diving there a few times and the shelf about 8-12' down on both edges is crawling with them. Big enough that I wouldnt want to try to pick one up without a glove.

A snorkel and mask, a pair of gloves and a catch bag, in about 10 minutes you could easily pick up dinner.

I wonder if there are any rules for harvesting crawfish. Are you allowed to just take them? Need a license of some kind?

I've been scuba diving there and seen them the size of lobsters. They are huge! But that's a cold lake - remember - the water is from the bottom of Folsom Lake.

Good place to go is Hinkle Creek (off Oak, behind the fire department). There's an old road that used to connect to Oak - follow that about 100 yards and hang a right. Lots of crawdads in there, and a couple native american grinding stones too.

[Darth Lefty]

Someone (maybe here) told me they don't stock Lake Natoma to keep fish diseases out of the hatchery. Is this so?