Temps at Lake Pardee currently in the high 80's, cooling over the weekend with rain forecast for early next week.

Lake level will continue to drop as preparations are made for the winter rains. Presently Lake level is approximately 6 feet below spill and continues to fall. Good visibility to 11 feet, water temperatures are currently 66 degrees at the 20 foot mark and 69 at the surface as recorded in the Marina.

The best area for trout continues to be along the eastern side of the Lake from the Sugar Bowl through the Narrows and a bit beyond Mel's Cove. Some others have done OK in the River Arm starting at the Mouth and trolling all the way to Twin Coves and beyond.

Small lures, needlefish, wobblers, Sep's and Uncle Larry's fire tiger all tipped with scented with corn or a bit of night crawler behind a dodger still the best combination. Some boaters have opted to tie off way up river at Columbia and beyond and have done well bait fishing.

Some bank fishermen have been working Rainbow Point and the Banks behind the EBMUD boathouse with some success during the week although its has slowed since the final plant. Power Bait is the best currently, most any color as long as it is garlic flavored.

Cat fishing has been very good lately they are very partial to chicken livers and are biting in the coves all along the eastern shore, (Mel's cove in particular) some have also been taken at Woodpile. Reports indicate the southern end of Lake is also productive.

Current success stories: The infamous "Dressels" of Salida got the nice stringer of Trout shown in the main photo in the Sugar Bowl using Power Bait and night crawlers. Congratulations well done!

Pardee Lake Recreation has planted 70,200 lbs in combination the California Dept of Fish and Game plants of 6,200 lbs for a grand total of 77,000 lbs of Rainbow Trout. There will be no further plants this season.