Nearly three years ago, about 12,000 yearling steelhead were planted experimentally in the Thermalito Afterbay as part of a co-operative program between the Department of Fish and Game and Department of Water Resources. The fish were a spectacular success, growing to over five pounds, and biting eagerly in what was a poorly-kept "local secret".

Unfortunately, the program depended on surplus steelhead eggs from the Feather River Hatchery in Oroville. The previous two seasons have not seen the FRH meet their collection goal of 450,000 eggs for the Feather River itself, so no surplus was available for the Afterbay program.

This season, the FRH has about 500,000 fingerling steelhead being reared at the FRH, reported the DFG's Ana Kastner. This will leave a surplus of up to 50,000 that may be eligible for stocking in the Afterbay, although some losses are to be expected.

"There should still be enough fish to stock the Afterbay", said DWR biologist Eric See. "The fingerlings will be grown out to 'yearling' size [about a half-pound], and will remain in the FRH until winter. Stocking usually takes place in January. I would imagine the number stocked may be about 12,000, but that will be up to the DFG."