For those of you who still want to join, we extended our club enrollment for one more month.  If you want to join, please contact me at your earliest convenience. There were a few interested persons who wanted to join next month so we extended it.

History: Folsom Lake is formed by Folsom Dam, constructed in 1955 to control the American River. The dam and lake are part of the Folsom Project, which also includes the Nimbus after bay reservoir and dam facilities. The Folsom Project, operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, is part of the Central Valley Project, a multipurpose project that provides flood control, hydroelectricity, drinking water, and water for irrigation.  The once important town of Mormon Island is almost forgotten and is now buried under Folsom Lake. Mormon Island was situated where the North and South Forks of the American River join on the route from Sutter's Fort to his sawmill at Coloma. It was one of the earliest mining camps set up after the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. The Mormons first arrived in California on the ship Brooklyn which was chartered by Sam Brannan (a member of the Mormon Church at that time) and carried 238 members of the church relocating to California under the direction of Brigham Young. This is the same Sam Brannan that founded San Francisco and also Sacramento.

By summer of 1848, Mormon Island had over a hundred men. Samuel Brannan, the "Spiritual Guide and director for the Mormon population of New Helvetia and other districts of California" opened a store there. For quite some time, Brannan required the miners to tithe. That is, give one tenth of their earnings, to the Mormon Church. The camp was called Mormon Island because the early miners cut a channel across one edge of the gravel bar there, forming a small island. The town quickly outgrew the small gravel bar. The completion of the Sacramento Valley Railroad in 1856 to what was then Granite City and the subsequent establishment of the town of Folsom marked the beginning of a long decline for the once important town. Mormon Island is almost forgotten and is now buried under Folsom Lake.

So, every time you cross the peninsula in front of Folsom Dam you cross some major history of California.  You might be catching a bass from some old cement bridge or building that once was Mormon Island. I also had heard many stories about the underwater city i.e. that there are cat fish over 100 lbs swimming among the ruins.

 On a cold dreary day at Folsom Lake, moisture covered the windows of the boats. Most members were there by 5:30 am waiting for Fish and Game to open the gates.  Many members had prefished Folsom and bantered reasons about as to why the fish were not biting. With teeth clenched and enough clothing to fight off a hurricane, 10 boats and twenty members blasted off at safe light. There is always a tingling on your back, a loss of breath, an adrenalin rush, and tears slipping under your goggles, when you get to your favorite spot first and no other boats are parked on it. “Yes, we have it all to ourselves.”  Our bite and many others were almost non-existent. In fact if it hadn’t been for Garrett and a kamikaze fish, we would have blanked. Many members caught trout and salmon and were disappointed but their stomachs won’t be that night. The sunlight that showed through the day was as cold as a midwinter’s kiss and though it illuminated the foggy haze with damp conditions, silence filled the air.

For a few members who made the appropriate adjustment, they found the evasive black bass and limited. Joel and Bev Dal Porto won the tournament with 11.79lbs using drop shot and sinkos in the rocks. Ken Hicks, defending champion fishing by himself  because his son was sick, caught a limit dropping shoting rocks and grass, and took 2^nd place with 10.77lbs. “Get well soon Kyle” George Hogue and Lloyd Sparke took third place with four fish 7.96lbs using Carolina rigs with worms covering the banks around the entire lake. Brian Ferris and John Airozo took 4^th place (6.90lbs) and a 4.44pound spot for big fish on a smoke purple Hula grub. Brian caught the fish up the South Fork within the first 5 minutes of the day and thought it was going to be an excellent day but got only two more bites the rest of the day. Fifth place Dough Shockley and Kevin Hochstrasser 5.73 pounds, 6^th place Stephen and Garrett Gatewood (2.50lbs), 7^th place Isaac Johnsonand Dave Mercado  (1.91lbs ) Matt and Chris Dal Porto 8^th place with 1.25lbs and 9 and 10^th place Blanked.

Cassie, from Fish and Game department was there to watch the weigh-in and all of the single members watched her. Cassie is a Del Campo and CSUS graduate. Cassie stated that everything was OK ; she commented that a few times not enough water was in the weigh bags as we put them in the designated transfer boat.  Special thanks should be given to Joe Zentner for teaching all of us the process a few years ago.  Thanks Joe.

Stephen Gatewood, President Elk Grove Bass