Local anglers are catching coho [silver] salmon in the Diversion Pool below Oroville Dam, and also in the Thermalito Forebay. Sources within the DFG believe these fish are there as a result of water going over the Oroville Dam Spillway this spring. It should be noted that the only place in California where coho salmon can legally be kept is in Lake Oroville itself.

At a recent Butte County Fish and Game Commission meeting, it was reported that a proposed change in the regulations has been initiated to allow these fish to be kept, but is not yet in effect. In general, regulatory changes to the Fish and Game Code may take 12 months or more to actually go into effect after the process has begun. Currently, anglers who keep cohos anywhere but Lake Oroville itself will be subject to possible citation.