FRESHWATER REPORTS:

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NEW MELONES LAKE

New Melones website. New Melones is holding 2,003,005 acre feet of water, 83 percent of capacity and 134 percent of average.

- Dan Bacher

OROVILLE LAKE

Eagle Lake Rainbows Planted in Oroville

OROVILLE- In a coordinated effort with the California Department of Water Resources partners in the Oroville area, CDFW has stocked Eagle Lake rainbow trout into the popular Butte County fishery.“ Late last month, CDFW released 25,000 catchable size Eagle Lake rainbows at the Loafer Creek and Lime Saddle boat launch facilities,” according to a press release from the CDFW.“ The fish averaged 10 to 12 inches in length, and the hard-fighting, popular sport fish are expected to grow quickly given Lake Oroville’ s plentiful supply of forage fish species.”‘ The stocking of Eagle Lake rainbow trout is an alternative stocking to that of inland Chinook salmon this year. Disease eliminated most of the inland Chinook salmon production at the Feather River Fish Hatchery in 2024, forcing fishery managers to find other cold-water species

to support Lake Oroville fishing opportunities,” the CDFW noted.“ Eagle Lake rainbow trout are a hardy native species planted throughout California. Having evolved in the harsh, highly alkaline waters of Eagle Lake in Lassen County, the fish thrive and grow quickly in less harsh, food-rich environments like Lake Oroville,” the CDFW concluded. Meanwhile, king salmon fishing has been hit or miss.. Dave Koistinen reported tough fishing during his latest trip to the reservoir on the Lake Oroville Facebook Page.“ I experienced a slow bite today, with 2 fish for 4 hook ups,” he said.“ I trolled with a Tornado Flasher 8 inch green 360 with glowbug and rolling anchovies at 55 to 65 ft. The east wall Canyon Creek area was best. The water temperatures ranged from 59 to 62 degrees. On a previous fishing adventure, he reported a lot better action.” It was the first day fishing in the new boat and it was a good one,” he observed.“ I caught 5 fish for 9 hook-ups. The biggest was 26” and 7.6 lbs. I also caught a couple 18” and some dinks.’“ The Topcoat glow wonderbread with the glowbug was best and some fish hit on a 8” white 360 glow with a glow hoochie,” said Koistinen“ Both were tipped with anchovies. I trolled 40 to 55 ft. by the dam at 1.8 mph. The water temperature was 48 degrees.” Black bass fishing at Oroville is shifting into high gear also.“ I made it out again Saturday,” reported Kurt

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Kiese.“ The bass are definitely moving up. I caught even more small ones this trip than I did on my last trip. I managed to get a few decent ones, though. I used a micro Ned rig up shallow with

Tim Demartile shows off a beautiful smallmouth bass caught at Lake Almanor in April.

Photo courtesy of Lake Almanor Fishing Association

a 3-inch Bluegill flash and an ES Crappie with 1 / 8 oz Monkey Milk micro Ned Head.” FishKevinBrock. com reported solid salmon and trout fishing and hot bass action at Lake Oroville:“ The salmon bite is good( and planted Eagle Lake trout too). Try trolling at 45-55 feet using a green / silver flasher and white hoochie. Pro tip: cut anchovies into dime size pieces and put one on the hook with the white hoochie. Troll at 2.2 – 2.4 mph..”“ Lake Oroville bass are on fire! Try 3” green craw grubs on 1 / 8 dart heads, or drop shot 4” finesse worms in salt and pepper. Ned rigs in pink, morning dawn, and brown pumpkin have been just fantastic. Some guys reporting 60-plus fish days.” Lake Oroville is holding 3,424,753 acre feet of water, 91 percent of capacity and 119 percent of average. The lake level is 879,6 feet in elevation. The Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, Loafer Creek and Lime Saddle ramps are open to boat lunching.

Dan Bacher

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PARDEE LAKE

8 Lb. German Brown Leads Spring Catches

IONE – The big news at Pardee Lake is the 8 lb. brown that George caught while fishing from a rental boat.“ He caught the fish while using spinner bait,” reported Pardee Lake Recreation.“ This beauty proves there’ s still plenty of big fish action going on out here.” Shore anglers and rental boaters fishing a variety of offerings continue to catch rainbow and lighting trout at Lake Pardee. Private boats are prohibited at Pardee and other EBMUD reservoirs, due to concerns about the invasive golden mussel. Rental boats are available at the marina and camping is still available.

500 lbs. of rainbows and 500 lbs. of Lightning Trout, a total of 1,000 pounds, were planted in the lake during the most recent plant There are plenty of smallmouth and largemouth bass and channel catfish in Pardee, but fishing pressure has been very light lately. Expect to catch the bass while

4402 throwing out plastic worms, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, drop shot rigs and Ned rigs in water 25 feet and shallower as the fish continue on their spring prespawn bite. Meanwhile, due to the spread of the golden mussel recently discovered in Northern California, the

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