Goodwin Lake Has Lunkers!
By Guide Bill Ferrero
Sunday, June 24, 2012 - After a great day of guiding Roy Gunter and Steve Rudzinski on the Lower Mokelumne, Roy invited me and my friend Carlo to join him at his home on Goodwin Lake located on the Stanislaus River where Tulloch Dam flows into Goodwin. The lake is about 1.5 miles long and is like fishing a large river as there is current flowing through the lake to Goodwin Dam. Roy gave us the go-to flies and even provided the right sinking line with a T14. He took Carlo and I on a tour of the lake showing us key spots to fish with stories of fish in the 20" to 27" range being caught and released in those areas.
When we finally hit the water to fish, Carlo and Roy each had a fish on within their first few casts. After I heard someone yell "Double" I knew we were in for a treat! I followed Roy over to the south shoreline where a raging waterfall from Tulloch Dam churned water into the lake. With my 5-weight rod in one hand and distracted with my digital camera in the other, a huge Goodwin Rainbow leaped out of the water where Roy and I were floating. As Roy exclaimed "Look at the size of that fish!", I calmly replied, "That's my fish." After a great fight, I realized my net was too small for this fish. For all intents and purposes, I should have lost that fish several times as it slipped in and out of what now was a "tiny" net. I finally got part of her in the net and on the casting apron of my float tube. She measured a solid 30" and according to Roy, is the new Goodwin record.
30" Rainbow Caught at Goodwin Lake
(Click on link above for picture)
Roy, Carlo, and I caught a few more fish up to 20" as the day developed into perfect weather. Roy kept a beautiful Kokanee for dinner and Carlo had something that broke him off so hard and fast it felt like a striper.