GENERAL CONDITIONS
Anglers continue to have good luck catching trout and striped bass. Anglers are also catching some largemouth bass and catfish. The water level is now 115,000 acre feet and dropping slowly. Our water temperature is in the 64 to 65 degree range.

Rattlesnakes are out and active so caution is advised. Watch where you are walking, stay out of high grass and stay out of rocky areas. Remember they just want to stay away from you so never try to pick one up or kill one. Eagles are nesting so some trail closures are in effect. Information on trails is available at the gates, marina or on the CCWD web site.

This is the time of year when we have the most wind. We have had many very windy days recently. It is a good idea to call before you come out if you are planning to rent a boat.

The North entrance to the reservoir is open with a few limitations. Access to the reservoir for fishing at the north entrance is open but requires a strenuous 2 mile hike up and over a major hill. Caution is advised. The fishing platform can not open until the reservoir rises another 10 feet. See the CCWD web site for details. The Interpretive Center is open from 9 to 4 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Check out some of the special events that are coming up this summer. Information is available on the CCWD web site.

The trout we tagged for the April 20 derby will continue to be valid for prizes through May. We have some nice rods and reels, storage boxes and boat rentals to give away.

PLEASE NOTE:
We are still giving out Whopper mugs. Our program has changed some so check with us at the marina. It takes a 5 lb trout to earn a mug, 12 lb striper, 12 lb catfish or a released 5 lb largemouth bass.

We have 2013 State of California Fishing Licenses for sale at the marina. Fish and Game has been checking fishing licenses so make such you have one for everyone 16 and over. We suggest taking advantage of the second rod stamp that is available.

TROUT
1000 lbs of Trout from the Mt. Lassen Fish Hatchery were planted on Tuesday 4-30 and Fish and Wildlife planted 2000 lbs of trout on May 3rd. We planted another 1000 lbs of trout from Mt. Lassen on Monday 5-13. Water conditions permitting we plan to plant trout again the week of May 20.

Fishing for trout has been fair to excellent depending on anglers skill level and luck. We see many limits of trout caught every day. Fishing from shore in the South Cove continues to be a good choice for trout but anglers are catching trout all along the open shoreline. Many of the points past the rock wall have been very good lately. The best way to catch trout from shore this time of year is with garlic power bait, chartreuse and orange mice tails, rainbow power bait and nightcrawlers. Garlic scent on any bait seems to help. It is important to use 2- 3 feet of leader. Using light line also helps; 4 to 6 lb test is plenty. Some anglers use Fluorocarbon leaders. There is no need for heavy weights. Short casts are often more productive than long casts. Some anglers float their baits under slip bobbers. Anglers catch trout throwing kastmasters, blue fox lures and a variety of other trout lures. Don't be afraid to move locations and change your baits if you are not catching fish. If you are not getting bites we do not recommend staying in one place all day using the same bait.

Trolling for trout continues an up and down affair. Very good one day then fair the next. Even on the same day we often get totally different reports from anglers. The best reports we are receiving are from anglers trolling a variety of Rapala's in Howden cove, off of points all over the lake, in cowboy cove or in the East cove. Mix it up until you start catching fish. The fish are holding between 10 and 15 feet in 20 to 30 feet of water. Try different colors and sizes of lures until you start catching fish. Rapala countdowns seem to be effective on big trout. Steel green, a rainbow pattern and black and silver have been good color choices lately. A few anglers are trolling dodgers and nightcrawlers and catching nice trout. Fishing from boats with bait in the very back of the major coves has also been very good. The back of Howden cove has been especially good for anglers working bait. Bait anglers seem to do best in 10 to 15 feet of water.

We did not see any really large trout this week but lots of fish in the 3 and 4 lb range. Limits usually weight between 8 and 10 lbs.

As the weather warms fishing will be better early and late in the day. The mid day heat makes it tough fishing as well as catching.

LARGEMOUTH BASS
There is still no major news on Bass fishing. Some anglers continue to catch bass on senko's but overall it is just fair. The reservoir is full off excellent bass habitat so throwing a senko around trees and brush should produce some largemouth bass action. Please release any big largemouth bass you might catch. They are the future of largemouth bass fishing in the reservoir.

STRIPER
Trolling for school size stripers is fair to good. We see 75-100 school size stripers caught by anglers trolling every week. Some are caught on Rapala's by anglers fishing for trout. Rattle traps have also been catching stripers. One angler reported catching and releasing a dozen school stripers, he was trolling a silver and black shad rap. Many of the fish are being caught in "open" water. Most of these stripers are caught in the top ten feet of water.

Fishing for stripers from the shore is good with some anglers catching limits almost every time out. Anchovies, sardines or shad should do the trick when bait fishing. Stripers need to be 18 inches or more. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our fishery. We have not seen any large striped bass caught recently as all the stripers are in the 18 to 24 inch range.

CATFISH
Fishing for catfish is improving. Anchovies, liver, mackerel and nightcrawlers all will catch catfish. We suggest fishing with as little weight as possible and watch for very soft bites. The back of cowboy cove and the south cove are good bets. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (20 lbs plus).

HOURS OF OPERATION
Open seven days a week 6:00am - 8:00pm
Boats are due in by 6:30pm.
These hours remain in effect through August.