We continue to experience some very good to excellent winter fishing. Trout and striped bass are both active, through stripers are slowing down. The water level is at 108,000 acre feet. The water level is dropping slowly. The water temperature remains at 55 degrees. Our water clarity continues to be good. A good number of trout and stripers continue to be caught both from shore and from boats.

Some notable trout last week were a 10.8 pounder caught on a Rapala in Howden, a 10.43 fish on PowerBait in South Cove, a pair of 8.47 and 6.87 pounders in Cowboy Cove on a Kastmaster, an 8+ and a 6.7 pounder on PowerBait in Penn Cove and Oak Point giving up a 6.6 on PowerBait. There were plenty of limits of regular-sized fish seen from both shore and boats


TROUT
Fishing for trout continues to be good with the cooler weather and regular trout plants. They are being caught in South Cove, Oak Point as well as around the lake. Peninsula and Cox coves both have reported trout. The baits of choice for shore anglers are garlic scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters. Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs. Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty. There will be another Lassen plant sometime this week. Last week 1000 pounds of trout from Lassen went in on Tuesday. Limits and large fish are coming out of the lake all over.

This week continued to have anglers catching significant numbers of fish. More large fish were caught all around the lake. A lot of nice stringers were seen this past week with a number 5-8 pound fish being caught as well. Trolling is doing well. Boating anglers are catching trout trolling Rapalas and other lures in the major coves. Some trout are being caught in Cowboy, Howden and Peninsula coves. Bait fishing and casting lures like Kastmasters is doing well. 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.

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 anglers have been working the shore around structure and several bass have been caught and released. 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
Striper fishing has slowed with the cooling water but fish continue to be caught. Limits of 18-24 inch fish are being caught both off the shore and from boats with the fishing pier by the Marina being a popular location with a lot of shakers and keepers being caught. This week a 6.2 pound fish showed up off of the pier on an anchovy. Trolling lures using everything from Rat-l-traps to bombers to super spooks seems to be working. From shore, 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. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our striped bass fishery.


CATFISH
With the cooler water there have been few reports of catfish this week. For those wishing to target catfish, anchovy continues to be the best choice of bait. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (15 lbs plus).


GENERAL
The 2015 State of California Fishing Licenses are now available for purchase at the Marina. They are good beginning January 1st 2015. Don't get caught without one.


Have a comment or suggestion? Give us a call at (925) 688-8175, or send us an e-mail.