The 14th annual "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" free children's fishing event in Chico will take place tomorrow [Saturday June 2] from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park.

Some 10,000 pounds of catfish will be planted, to be sure that every child has the chance to catch a fish [limit one fish per child]. The will be a separate area for very young anglers age 1 to 5, and fish cleaning is also available.

Plenty of rods, reels and bait will be available to use for free, but all are encouraged to bring their own if they have it. Bring your favorite "secret" catfish bait, but please remember that lead sinkers are not allowed in Bidwell Park.

Event chairman Pete Giampaoli said, "The members of the organizing committee work on this event all year long, raising funds to make sure we can plant plenty of fish. Everybody is a volunteer, right down to the fish cleaners. Our goal is to make it simple for kids to catch their first fish."

Giampaoli tipped, "Last year the fish kept biting all day long because it was cloudy and overcast. This year it will probably be pretty sunny, so the fish will be biting best during the early morning hours up until about 10:00 AM. Experienced anglers are also invited to come down and give the kids a hand."

The "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" program was originated by the American Sportfishing Association as a means of giving children a positive activity that can be enjoyed at any age. In 1999, the Chico version of the event received a "Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition".

Oroville HOFNOD

Not to be outdone, Oroville will also be holding its' 11th annual "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" event tomorrow [Saturday June 2]. Taking place from 7:00 AM to noon at Bedrock Park, it will feature the lagoon stocked with catfish and steelhead.

Raffle prizes will be given out all day, and Smokey Bear, fire trucks, Sheriffs boat unit, DWR fishing simulator and Ident-A-Child will be in attendance.

A free pancake breakfast is available for kids age 14 and under [$2 for adults], and more than 1100 kids went fishing at last years' event.

Sacramento River

Shad anglers did well this week on the Sacramento River, according to Phil Peeples at The Tackle Box in Chico. "There are shad almost everywhere right now", reported Peeples. "One day one spot is good, the next day a different spot is good.

"Beer Can Beach was good for a couple of days this week, then the first gravel bar north of Ord Bend was producing. If it's not good where you are, go somewhere else!

"All of the shad we have heard of so far are the smaller males. Most of the time a red head/chartreuse tail jig has been best, but for some reason on Tuesday, the chartreuse head/red tail was definitely better.

"A few stripers are being caught by the shad anglers, but most of the schoolies have headed back down to the Delta. One group of bigger stripers over 15 pounds was spotted down by Butte City, and those fish may stay in the river all summer."

Peeples added, "There isn't much news about legal-size sturgeon, but the salmon counts t Red Bluff are almost three times what they were this same time last year."

Feather River

Salmon are still just trickling into the Feather, noted Rick Thompson at McGrath's in Oroville. "Most of the fish are being caught on blue or purple #6 Blue Fox Vibrax spinners, and rest on beads" Thompson said. They are still catching some good fish to over 30 pounds, but not every day. Last Saturday and again Tuesday were awesome days, but Wednesday was much slower. If we get the water flows it will improve, otherwise it could be terrible.

"With these flows, not shad or stripers will make it this far up. There are a lot of them being caught down at Shanghai Bend or at the mouth.

Alaska redux

One additional North Valley angler took part in the Alaskan adventure described in last weeks' column. Andy Zuwalt of Durham was also along on the journey that got plenty of "northern exposure".

Speaking of exotic fishing locales, Jim Clarkson of Raptor Rod Works in Chico just returned from a fishing trip to Belize [Central America]. He was primarily flyfishing for bonefish and permit, along with barracuda, jacks and sharks.

"Bonefish are like shad on steroids", quipped Clarkson. "Even the relatively small ones will put you into your backing at least once, even with a 10-pound tippet."

Trout plants

The DFG planted catchable-size trout this week in the following area waters: Butte County- DeSabla Reservoir; Plumas County- Feather River middle fork and north fork Belden; Tehama County- Deer Creek; Lassen County- Buckhorn Reservoir; Shasta County- Baum Lake, Grace Lake, lower-middle-upper Burney Creek, upper-middle Hat Creek, Hatchet Creek, Sacramento River, Whiskeytown Lake; Siskiyou County- Butte Creek, lower-upper Bear Creek, Greenhorn Reservoir, Juanita Lake, Kangaroo Lake, Lily Pad Lake, Orr Lake, Sacramento River south fork, Shastina Lake.