We continue to experience some very good to excellent winter fishing. Trout and striped bass are both active. The water level has continued to rise and is currently at 112,800 acre feet. The water level will keep rising at least until the end of March. The water temperature has risen as well, and is now at 59 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.

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 is 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 Thursday. We will be planting once a week for the foreseeable future. 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. Trollers are doing well. Boating anglers are catching trout trolling Rapalas and other lures in the major coves. Some trout are being caught in Cowboy and Howden coves.

Bait fishing and casting lures like Kastmasters or a Rapala are 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. This week saw a couple of 8 pounders out of Peninsula and East coves and a 10.53 pound fish out of South Cove. The baits were varied and included PowerBait, a Rapala and an anchovy. Howden Cove saw a 5.48 pound trout caught on a Rapala. 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. 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 warming 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. Employee saw a boat with two beautiful 24" stripers on a stinger caught near the pier in Penn Cove. Trolling lures using everything from Rat-l-traps to Bombers to Super Spooks to Rapala 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

Even with the warmer water, there have been few reports of catfish this week. A nice 8.87 pound cat was caught on the fishing pier by the Marina on an anchovy. 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 Fishing Access Fee increased to $5.

Beginning in 2015 there are new Whopper Mug rules. Trout now must be 8 pounds to receive a mug, Striped Bass need to be at least 10 pounds and Catfish remains at 12 pounds or more. Largemouth Bass remains at 5 pound and must be released. ONLY a photo with a scale or a measuring tape showing the fish being 18" will count.