GENERAL CONDITIONS

We continue to experience some very good to excellent spring fishing. Trout and striped bass are both active. The water level is currently at 114,500 acre feet. The water level is dropping slowly. The water temperature is holding at 62 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 the last few days 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 was a 1000 pound plant a week ago Monday from Lassen. We will be planting later this week and will be planting once a week for the foreseeable future. Limits and large fish are coming out of the lake all over. We continue to have anglers catching significant numbers of fish.

Trolling remains a popular choice for boaters. Boating anglers are catching trout trolling Rapalas, Rooster Tails, and other lures in the major coves. Some trout are being caught in Peninsula 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. There were a number of large trout caught this week including the 11.19 pound derby winner and the 13.06 non-winner due to lack of entry. Both were caught on Rapalas, one in Howden Cove and the other in Peninsula Cove. Other large fish include a 10.25 on a PowerBait in South Cove, a 9.14 pounder from Cowboy Cove on PowerBait, several 8+ fish from South Cove on spinners, Mice Tails and chicken liver.

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, 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 and past the Rock Wall being popular locations with a lot of shakers and keepers being caught. Employees 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 undersize 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

There have been very 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). This summer, once the water temperature increases, we plan on planting more catfish.

GENERAL

There are new Whopper Mug rules this year. 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.