VOL . 40 • ISS . 21 November 26 , 2021

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FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PG 8

FEATHER RIVER cont .

Resources ( DWR ), which funds hatchery operations . The California Department of Fish and Wildlife ( CDFW ) operates the hatchery , including fish spawning , rearing , and stocking activities .

FOLSOM LAKE

Black Bass Lead Fall Angling Parade

FOLSOM – Largemouth , spotted and smallmouth bass are providing the top action at Folsom Lake at this time , since king salmon and rainbow trout catches have been scarce lately . On the Folsom Fishing Report Facebook page , Brent Steele reported black bass success on his latest fishing adventure on the lake . “ I was able to fish for only a couple hours today , so I stayed close to the boat ramp since I got lost in the fog the last time I went out ,” wrote Steele . “ I landed 5 fish including a 2.5 lb . smallmouth . All of the fish were in shallow water 5 ’ -10 ’ along the flats and coves .” On a previous afternoon trip , Steele reported , “ I went out this afternoon and caught 12 , all on the flats in about 7 ’ -15 ’ of water . I also went out with my awesome cop friend Marc on Wednesday . We started out very slow , but in the end we ended up with a little over 10 fish .” “ I haven ’ t heard any word on kings or rainbows caught lately ,” said Craig Newton at Willlfish Bait and Tackle in Auburn . “ A couple guys reported catching bass on their trolling gear , but no trout or salmon .” Both the Hobie Cove ramp at Brown ’ s Ravine and Granite Bay ’ s low water ramp are now in operation . The 5 miles per hour speed limit for the entire lake will remain in effect until the lake reaches elevation 400 ’, according to the Folsom Lake Marina . The reservoir is holding 339,318 acre feet of water , 35 percent of capacity and 84 percent of average . Folsom ’ s water level is 394 feet in elevation , 72 feet from full .

- Dan Bacher

KLAMATH RIVER

CDFW Begins Releasing Juvenile Fall Chinooks into River as Conditions Improve

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife ( CDFW ) has begun releasing juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon into the Klamath River now that river conditions have improved with cooler temperatures and increased flows that give the young salmon their best chance at survival and reaching the Pacific Ocean . More than 2 million baby Chinook salmon that were hatched in early 2021 at CDFW ’ s Iron Gate Fish Hatchery in Siskiyou County were held over the summer at three different CDFW facilities , including

1 million fish trucked to the Trinity River Hatchery through Redding in triple-digit heat . All three groups of fish did exceptionally well over the summer and thrived despite challenging circumstances . Drought conditions impacting the Klamath River – including a disease outbreak – would have killed about 90 percent of the young fish according to scientific projections , had those fish been released this past spring as is the standard practice . CDFW so far has released into the Klamath River the 1.1 million juvenile Chinook salmon held over the summer at the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery and at a nearby satellite facility at Fall Creek . Those releases provide room and sufficient water quality for the 1 million fish relocated to the Trinity River Hatchery to return to Iron Gate . This group has spent several weeks at Iron Gate to reacclimate to the Klamath River and will be released later this month . “ Dozens of CDFW staff worked diligently over several months at the three locations in a united effort to save these fish that would have otherwise perished ,” said Dr . Mark Clifford , hatchery senior environmental scientist for CDFW ’ s Northern Region . “ Over 2 million healthy Chinook salmon are on their way to the Pacific Ocean that will ultimately benefit commercial , tribal and recreational fisheries and will retain the intrinsic value of these fish and their genetics for the Klamath River population .” Four Klamath River dams are slated for removal in coming years , the largest dam removal undertaking in U . S . history . The removal is expected to restore fish access to historic salmon habitat in several rivers and tributaries connected to the upper Klamath River above the dams . The juvenile fish being released this year could be the first salmon to return to a new Klamath River after their life in the ocean and find miles of additional spawning habitat and contribute to future generations of wild fish . CDFW thanks its partners for their time and expertise in working through this difficult and unprecedented situation . These partners include the Karuk Tribe , the Yurok Tribe , the Hoopa Valley Tribe , the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service , the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife , the Klamath Tribes , the U . S . Bureau of Reclamation and NOAA Fisheries .

- CDFW

LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR

Big Trout Plants Boost Catches

BYRON - Mt Lassen Trout are back at Los Vaqueros Reservoir . The lake management and CDFW have planted a total of 10,000 pounds of trout since October 29 . The lake will be planted every week except for Thanksgiving Week , according to the Los Vaqueros Marina . The trout plants include 2,000 pounds on October 29 from Mt .

Stripers are on the chew and this happy angler shows off one that he caught while tossing lures with Vince Borges Outdoors .

Photo Courtesy of Vince Borges Outdoors

Lassen , 1,000 pounds from Mt . Lassen on November 2 , 2,500 pounds from CDFW on November 5 , 2,500 pounds from the CDFW on November 8 and 2,000 pounds from Mt . Lassen on November 11 . The plants have given a big boost to the trout angling at Los Vaqueros . For example , Jimmy Valenzuela and his fishing partner landed their limits of rainbow trout while fishing corn PowerBait on November 15 . Ehsan Zaman also landed four big trout at the lake on the same day . The trout can be caught while bait fishing with PowerBait and nightcrawlers or trolling with nightcrawlers behind flashers and minnow imitation spoons and other lures . Some of the better spots to target include Peninsula Cove , Cowboy Cove , and Howden Cove . Anglers continue to hook catfish while fishing chicken livers , anchovies and worms in the South Cove and off the pier . One of the most successful anglers , Yekam Al Nazar , has been landing lots of big channel catfish and carp lately while bait fishing from shore . The stripers are hitting best on anchovies and chicken livers , although some anglers pick them up while casting rainbow trout swimbaits or Rapalas . Most keeper stripers being caught now are in the 18 to 22 inch range .

Continued on Pg 13 visit

Camp one night at

Lake Camanche and receive your second night free . Offer must be redeemed by calling ( 866 ) 763-5121 and mentioning promo code FS14 at the time of booking . offer not redeemeable online .

Not valid on weekend , holidays , full hook-up RV sites or for cottage stays . Supplemental fees may apply .

LAKE CAMANCHE ’ S AMENITIES

• Guaranteed Weekly Fish plants

( OCT . - MAY )

• Boat Rentals

• Lodging Available

• Stores , Cafe & Marina Grill

• Courtesy Launch Ramps on both North & South Shores

• RV Sites w / Full Hookups

( LONG & SHORT TERM )

3805