Fall is beginning with good trout, catfish and striped bass fishing. Trout and striped bass are both active. The water level is currently at 91,800 acre feet. The water level is dropping due to use, though it’s now dropping more slowly than it was during the summer. The water temperature is hovering around 68-69 degrees. Our water clarity is good. A fair number of trout, catfish and stripers continue to be caught both from shore and from boats.

TROUT

Fishing for trout continues to be fair with the warm weather we have been enjoying. They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as around the lake. 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 was a 1000 pound fish plant on Thursday, October 1st from Lassen. We are planning to plant again this week as long as the water stays cooler. With the plants, trout fishing has picked up with more limits being caught and a general up tick in trout.

Trolling is popular with anglers using Rapalas and other lures in the coves. From the shore the most popular bait has been nightcrawlers followed by garlic scented PowerBaits and Kastmasters. There is no need for line heavier than 6 lb test. Fish have been seen coming out of South Cove and from around Oak Point. With boats, we have been seeing a number of fish coming in from all of the major coves, especially in the mornings.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout. 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. If you catch any of undersized fish please release them gently and allow them to grow up.

STRIPERS

Shakers continue to be the main action with striped bass. We are still seeing 15-20 undersized fish being caught for every keeper. From shore, cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice. Just a reminder, stripers need to be 18 inches or more to be legal. We continue to see a number of anglers, especially on the fishing pier, yanking hooks out of the mouths of undersized fish and then hurling them back into the lake. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our striped bass fishery. A 30” 8.46 pound striper came out of Howden Cove this week caught on a Rat-l-Trap.

CATFISH

Catfish continue to be caught in decent numbers. For those wishing to target catfish, anchovy continues to be the best choice of bait with chicken liver being your second best bet. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (15 lbs plus). A couple of nice cats were caught this week. A 9.22 out of Cox Cove on anchovy and an 11.21 pounder near the Marina on anchovy.

GENERAL

Don’t forget you need both your 2015 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.