Lake Oroville bass fishing going strong
Lake Oroville is the place to be for bass anglers this week, according to Fil Torres at Oroville Outdoors. "The bass fishing has been really good", reported Torres. "A pair of skilled anglers can easily catch and release 60 or 70 bass in a day. Right now is the time to take your kids out and teach them about bass fishing.

"The fish are holding at from one to 25 feet, with sandy structure in the South Fork and Middle Fork best. Another good location is the floating trash pockets that are warming quickly. Small plastics rigged split-shot style or on a shaky head are best, with no particular color being best. A few bass are also being caught on white spinnerbaits, and don't hesitate to try a topwater first thing in the morning.

"Getting 10 pounds [for five bass] has been pretty easy; the average size fish has been two pounds. The biggest of the past week was a five pound largemouth, and it will probably take something in the teens to win a tournament this weekend."

Flores added, "We are still hearing about lots of coho salmon in the 12 to 14-inch range. Trollers are getting them at 20 to 25 feet near Lime Saddle and the Highway 70 Bridge, and moochers are getting them on cut anchovies at 30 to 35 feet near the dam. Launching is going great at pretty much all the ramps."

Trout season opener
Tomorrow [Saturday April 24] marks what is historically considered to be "opening day" of trout season. The reality is that California manages most trout waters on an individual basis these days. Some waters are open all year, and others open and close on specific dates that are locally optimal.

Additionally, the DFG will be stocking trout in fewer waters this year than in the past, although the DFG says that stocking totals in many popular Eastern Sierra waters will be normal by the end of July.

In some waters the halt to stocking will be permanent, others may see resumed stocking after completion of the DFG's new "Pre-Stocking Evaluation Protocol". All told, the impact of "opening day" is far less than in years past.

The DFG planted catchable-size trout this week in the following area waters: Lassen County- Ash Creek; Trinity County- Stoney Creek; Shasta County- Lower-Middle Burney Creek, Iron Canyon Reservoir, Middle-Upper Hat Creek, McCloud Reservoir, Shasta Lake, Whiskeytown Lake.

According to the DFG, the following Butte County waters are the only county locations currently eligible to receive trout stocking in the future under the DFG's new PSEP, but were not stocked this week: DeSabla Reservoir [triploids only], Okizu Pond, Paradise Pond, Paradise Reservoir.

Lake Oroville Open
There's still time to enter the "Lake Oroville Open Spring Spectacular" bass tournament, which will take place tomorrow [Saturday April 24] at the Spillway Launch. Blast off will be at safe light, and late entries will be taken "on site" starting at 3:30 AM. A $1000 first-place purse is based on a full field of 100 two-person teams, with an additional payback to 20 places. Entry fee of $80 per two-person team includes barbecue dinner and Big Fish Option.

The event is a fundraiser for the Chico Bass Club, and supports activities like the Lake Oroville Florida-strain Bass Project, the Chico and Gridley "Hooked on Fishing" kid's fishing days, fishing line recycling at Paradise Lake and Horseshoe Lake, and other habitat and fishery enhancement projects.

Salmon seasons
California salmon anglers will be allowed to fish in the ocean until September 6, in accordance with regulations approved recently by the Federally-based Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

The California Fish and Game Commission ratified all of the Federal ocean regulations, and also set inland/river regulations for the Klamath and Trinity River systems. However, the CFGC delayed discussion of the Sacramento River, Feather River, and other Central Valley inland/river regulations until the group's next meeting that begins on May 5.

Paradise Kid's Fishing Day
The Paradise Recreation District will be holding its annual Children's Fishing Derby from 9:30 to 11:30 AM on May 1 at the Aquatic Park Pond in Paradise. All children, preschool through 15 years of age, are welcome to participate free of charge.

The pond will be stocked with hungry trout, and prizes will be awarded in several categories. This event is co-sponsored by the Butte County Fish and Game Commission, the Paradise Bass Club, and Paradise Lions Club. Hot dogs, soda, chips, and cookies will be offered for sale. For more information, contact Paradise Recreation and Parks Department at 872-6393.