GENERAL CONDITIONS
We continue to experience some very good to excellent summer fishing. Trout and striped bass are both active. The water level is just under 120,000 acre feet. The water level is still dropping albeit at a slower level.

With the cooler weather and some wind the water temperature remains at 70 degrees. Our water clarity continues to be good. There are a lot of fry in the lake and we are seeing an increase in boils, especially early in the morning and in the late afternoon.


TROUT
Fishing for trout has slowed a bit. Anglers are going deeper and casting further out from shore to catch trout. Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs. There was a 2000 pound Lassen plant on August 28th.

Garlic scented PowerBaits in rainbow or chartreuse, orange or white mice tails and nightcrawlers continue to be good choices. Garlic scent on any bait seems to help. It is important to use 3- 4 feet of leader. Using light line also helps; 4 to 6 lb test is plenty. There is no need for heavy weights. Vary your casting length. Throwing lures from shore is doing fair with anything from Kastmasters to Crocodiles, mostly in silver, silver-blue and gold patterns.

Boating anglers are doing better catching trout on bait and by casting lures in the major coves. Some trout are being caught in Cowboy and Peninsula coves. Use a bobber or very small weights. Nightcrawlers or power bait is the way to go. There is no need for line heavier than 6 lb test. We suggest moving every half hour or so until you find some feeding fish.

There were plenty of limits of regular sized fish seen from both shore and boats. Anglers are catching fish scattered along the shore with the South Cove reporting the most fish as many anglers are choosing that cove.


LARGEMOUTH BASS
Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout. Some angles have been working the shore around structure and several bass have been caught and released. Some largemouth have been seen and reported being caught from boats. A 5.1 pound bass was released in Cowboy Cove after being caught on a popper. Keep in mind that largemouth need to be 12 inches to be kept.

Please release any big largemouth bass you might catch. They are the future of largemouth bass fishing in the reservoir. The reservoir is now full of excellent habitat for the bass so we anticipate this fishery to improve over the coming years.


STRIPERS
Limits of stripers are still coming out of the lake. Some limits of 18-24 inch fish are being caught both off the shore and from boats with some very plump fish being seen. A few nice limits of 25+ inch fish were caught from boats in Cowboy Cove. Cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice. Stripers need to be 18 inches or more. We are continuing to see a significant number of under-size fish being caught and released with reports of 20-30 shakers not being uncommon. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our striped bass fishery.

Some employees went out on Sunday morning before their afternoon shift trolling with Rapalas and in a couple of hours caught and released 30+ fish. They were in about 30 feet of water with their lures about 12 feet down in Cowboy Cove along the peninsula.


CATFISH
Catfish are doing better with reports of fish being caught both from shore and from boats. There was a 1,030 pound plant of catfish on the 28th of August. Anchovies continues to be the best choice of bait. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (15 lbs plus).


GENERAL
We are still giving out Whopper mugs. It takes a 5 lb trout to earn a mug, 12 lb striper, 12 lb catfish or a released 5 lb largemouth bass.

Don't forget you need both your 2014 State of California Fishing License, on sale at the Marina, and a daily fishing access permit to fish at Los Vaqueros. Fish and Wildlife has been checking fishing licenses so make sure you have one for everyone 16 and over. We suggest taking advantage of the second rod stamp that is available.