Ione, CA Fishing: Be Captivated by the Castle City

Ione is nestled in the central point of California countryside, making it the best destination for exploring this section of the state. The city is located in the far west of Amador County, surrounded by cattle ranches, rolling hills, and farmlands. Its ambiance may be old-fashioned and straightforward, but the quality of local life stays remarkable. The community delights itself in Ione's scenic sights, beautiful foothills, fantastic trails, and peaceful open spaces. Many recreational activities are available in the city, including biking, swimming, playing baseball or soccer, and horseback riding. It always feels homey in Ione, as the locals are charming, accommodating, and welcoming. Dubbed as the "Castle City," remnants of the past prevail in the city through historic landmarks, places, and shops.

The Sierra Miwok community, an indigenous group in California, is Ione's historical inhabitants. In the California Gold Rush days, Ione was known by the names of "Bedbug" and "Freezeout," especially to miners. The city was also a supply center, an agricultural hub, and a stage and rail stop. It continued to prosper after opening the first post office in 1852 and the first school in 1853. In 1953, Ione was incorporated as a General Law City. Until today, its community leaders show dedication to sustaining and nurturing a pleasant business environment to grow the city's economic affairs.

Ione is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, making it a great destination for relaxed and scenic freshwater fishing. The city is perfect for anglers who love to go to the countryside and cast their lines in the fish-filled lakes.

Ione Fishing

Coming to Ione for countryside fishing means going after good freshwater fishing. This is proven by the number of lakes that surround the city. Outside the city are two large nearby lakes that offer rich and abundant freshwater fishing. 

Pardee Reservoir is a perfect place for family outings because of its recreational activities, such as camping, picnicking, boating, and wildlife viewing. The stunning natural ecosystem houses ducks and geese, eagles, hawks, ospreys, squirrels, rabbits, owls, wild turkeys, and deer. Even elusive wildlife like coyotes, rattlesnakes, bobcats, or mountain lions can sometimes be spotted here. A one-lane road on top of the reservoir has many attractive features. Pardee Reservoir is annually stocked with fish and is certainly a great place to bring family and friends when fishing. It even supports and encourages kids to fish with their parents or guardians. It is important to note that children under 16 years old are not required to possess a fishing license, only their adult companions. Anglers who come here most often go after trout species, but the water offers more than that. Fish species found in the reservoir include rainbow trout, brown trout, crappie, flathead catfish, blue catfish, channel catfish, bluegill, sunfish, Kokanee salmon, pikeminnow, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. Drift fishing is perfect in the 300-foot-deep Pardee Reservoir. There is a launching access facility in the reservoir for boats like motorboats and pontoon boats. All boats are inspected before launching. Fly fishing is also prevalent, as there is a fishing dock in the reservoir’s huge open perimeter area. Anglers will also enjoy short hikes to access small coves. Another reservoir feature is the fish cleaning station on top of the marina.

For anglers who love excellent bass fishing action, Lake Camanche is perfect. It is also extremely popular for trout fishing, as the lake receives 60,000 pounds worth of stocked trout each year. The lake is a healthy ecosystem that allows trout to grow up to 8 pounds. The bottom of Lake Camanche is littered with boulders and mine tailings, providing ideal habitat for fish that prefer cover. Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, flathead catfish, blue catfish, channel catfish, Kokanee salmon, crappie, bluegill, and sunfish are species that can be caught here. There is a boat launching access in the lake, and the clear waters allow a good trolling experience. Some of the best spots in the lake include boat ramps, inlets, and spillways. Bass are usually found in rocky areas covered in boulders, and catfish are commonly on the south shores by the cliffs. There is good access to its 54 miles of shoreline, available for fly fishing, and there is a large trout pond area at South Shore that is great for kids. The lake is a perfect place to fish alongside friends and family or even a fish club. Other watersports activities are swimming, boating, waterskiing, and jet skiing.

Top 10 Fish Species in Ione, CA

The top 10 fish species to catch in Ione, CA are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, redear sunfish, bluegill, and black crappie.

Seasonal Fishing

Due to the increase in California fishing activity, the state strictly regulates fishing across all of its waters to ensure an all-year sustainable recreational fishing. It is crucial to Ione and the whole state to protect and conserve its natural resources and maintain its abundance by avoiding irresponsible fishing. With this, all anglers are advised to familiarize themselves with state regulations regarding fishing.

The state implements a five trout daily bag limit and a ten trout possession limit in lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. Lakes are stocked with these species anytime between October to June.

All anglers must have a report card that updates their catches of sturgeon, steelhead, spiny lobster, and salmon in California. These cards must be turned over yearly in January by mailing them or submitting them online to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

A Second Rod Validation must be acquired by anglers who use two rods or lines while fishing in the state’s inland waters. This does not apply to waters that only require barbless hooks and artificial lures.

Please expect the boat to be inspected before launching when fishing with a boat. There is a growing presence of Zebra and Quagga mussels in California. These two mussel species are considered invasive.

Walk the Journey to the Past

1. Book a Fishing Guide

Traveling to a place to go on a fishing adventure is quite inconvenient when the location is new. Book a fishing guide to enjoy your next fishing trip without the hassle of worrying about the new destination. Guides can also help in identifying the best spots for your fishing style.

2. Learn What Preston Castle is All About

Famous to locals as the “Castle,” Preston Castle is the most impressive display of Romanesque Revival architecture in Mother Lode. Come to Ione to see the beautiful structure of the castle and discover what the place is about. It is home to the Preston School of Industry, where juvenile offenders can be proactively rehabilitated instead of being imprisoned. The castle was established by the State Legislature and constructed in 1894. Preston Castle got a place on the National Register of Historic Places list in 1975. Ione is proud of its history, and the castle is proof of its distinguished history and architecture.

3. Witness the Locomotive Iron Ivan

Visit Ione and see the Old No. 7 in its vintage form. The last steam locomotive worked on the Amador Central Railroad between Amador and Martell. Running for twelve miles long, the railroad is one of the shortest in the United States. Also called Iron Ivan, this locomotive was finely manufactured in 1901 by the Baldwin locomotive works, a producer of the earliest locomotives. Its last trip was between Ione and Martell in 1956.