10-17-2012, 08:01 AM
The 2012 California trout forecast is very promising for all anglers
statewide. California Game & Fish Magazine has put together an
extensive outlook for the entire state, from north to south, so you can
pinpoint places to target.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
There is no so-called “season” for trout fishing in Southern California.
No official opener, no stream closures; just a few frozen bodies of
water to contend with in the winter months. However, there is something
that more or less qualifies for an “unofficial” opener. That is when the
weather cools down enough to get the water in most of the reservoirs,
lakes and streams cold enough to stock trout and have them survive.
These reservoirs, lakes and streams are stocked to provide fishing
for the local population. The California Department of Fish and Game is
one of the main suppliers of catchable-size trout. It stocks areas such
as the Santa Ana River in San Bernardino County, off of State Highway 38
at the South Fork Campground. The stocking starts to go in at that
point, and for the next 10-12 miles downstream the DFG stocks over 12
thousand pounds of catchable-size trout each year, offering the angler a
great fishery all year long. The projected outlook for this area is
very promising, with many stocked and native fish to be had. Upstream
provides more of the wild native fish, mostly brown trout.
However, this year has seen some cutbacks in not only the budget, but
the areas where trout are stocked. In Southern California, some
well-known reservoirs, lakes and streams are receiving no stockings from
the DFG or from private hatcheries. This is due to the current
litigation process that concerns many of the Environmental Impact
Reports on waters where trout are stocked.
For more information on this subject and to view a list of closures to stocking, you can log onto www.dfg.ca.gov/news or www.biologicaldiversity.org. to learn more.
For the many waters that do receive stockings during the cooler
months of the year, DFG stocks larger numbers in those waters. In places
like Lake Perris State Park in southwest Riverside County, the
stockings exceed 25 thousand pounds per year. According to Dwayne
Maxwell, with the California Department of Fish and Game, Fisheries
Division Region 5, many other areas are receiving the stocking
allotments that were scheduled for the now-closed areas, boosting the
numbers for these places.
The overall outlook for the Southern California stocking season is
very good, despite the cutbacks and closures. There remain strong
fishing venues that millions of anglers enjoy during the cooler months
of the year going after mainly stocked trout. The DFG posts all the
stocking schedules and they can be viewed by logging onto www.dfg.ca.gov
One private trout hatchery that is getting a very warm welcome here
in Southern California is Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch out of Bridgeport,
Nebraska. That’s right — Nebraska. They stock wonderful, wild-fighting
rainbow trout that have now become known as “tailwalkers.” Getting their
stocking business started here in California wasn’t easy. However, due
to professionalism, belief in their product and a fantastic customer
service attitude, Ron and Lisa Bright have made a name for Chaulk Mound
Trout Ranch.
Chaulk Mound fish are stocked in only a few well-known free lakes,
such as Lake Wohlford, Lake Dixon, Lake Poway and Lake Miramar, all in
San Diego County and all within 20 minutes of each other. They are also
in a few well-known “pay to play” lakes in the southland, like Santa Ana
River Lakes and Corona Lake. These tailwalkers have developed quite a
reputation. Even though they are stocked and not wild, they still hold
the fight of a strong, wild rainbow trout. For more information on them,
log onto www.cmtrout.com.
There are many other areas that hold wild trout in the southland and
that can be accessed any time of the year, weather permitting. Almost
all are listed as “Special Regulations” fishing areas and require
artificial lures and flies with only barbless hooks. Some allow the
standard catch limit of five fish per day per license. Others require a
two-fish limit of fish over 8-10 inches. Now that doesn’t seem like a
huge fish and they are not. However, considering the fact that these
fish live and thrive within a short, one-hour drive or less from over 20
million people, they are a rare find, indeed.
For more information on fishing in Southern California, log onto: www.socalfishn.com.
Central California options are on page two
Read more: http://www.gameandfishmag.com/2012/02/21...z29ZJ1Bhjr
statewide. California Game & Fish Magazine has put together an
extensive outlook for the entire state, from north to south, so you can
pinpoint places to target.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
There is no so-called “season” for trout fishing in Southern California.
No official opener, no stream closures; just a few frozen bodies of
water to contend with in the winter months. However, there is something
that more or less qualifies for an “unofficial” opener. That is when the
weather cools down enough to get the water in most of the reservoirs,
lakes and streams cold enough to stock trout and have them survive.
These reservoirs, lakes and streams are stocked to provide fishing
for the local population. The California Department of Fish and Game is
one of the main suppliers of catchable-size trout. It stocks areas such
as the Santa Ana River in San Bernardino County, off of State Highway 38
at the South Fork Campground. The stocking starts to go in at that
point, and for the next 10-12 miles downstream the DFG stocks over 12
thousand pounds of catchable-size trout each year, offering the angler a
great fishery all year long. The projected outlook for this area is
very promising, with many stocked and native fish to be had. Upstream
provides more of the wild native fish, mostly brown trout.
However, this year has seen some cutbacks in not only the budget, but
the areas where trout are stocked. In Southern California, some
well-known reservoirs, lakes and streams are receiving no stockings from
the DFG or from private hatcheries. This is due to the current
litigation process that concerns many of the Environmental Impact
Reports on waters where trout are stocked.
For more information on this subject and to view a list of closures to stocking, you can log onto www.dfg.ca.gov/news or www.biologicaldiversity.org. to learn more.
For the many waters that do receive stockings during the cooler
months of the year, DFG stocks larger numbers in those waters. In places
like Lake Perris State Park in southwest Riverside County, the
stockings exceed 25 thousand pounds per year. According to Dwayne
Maxwell, with the California Department of Fish and Game, Fisheries
Division Region 5, many other areas are receiving the stocking
allotments that were scheduled for the now-closed areas, boosting the
numbers for these places.
The overall outlook for the Southern California stocking season is
very good, despite the cutbacks and closures. There remain strong
fishing venues that millions of anglers enjoy during the cooler months
of the year going after mainly stocked trout. The DFG posts all the
stocking schedules and they can be viewed by logging onto www.dfg.ca.gov
One private trout hatchery that is getting a very warm welcome here
in Southern California is Chaulk Mound Trout Ranch out of Bridgeport,
Nebraska. That’s right — Nebraska. They stock wonderful, wild-fighting
rainbow trout that have now become known as “tailwalkers.” Getting their
stocking business started here in California wasn’t easy. However, due
to professionalism, belief in their product and a fantastic customer
service attitude, Ron and Lisa Bright have made a name for Chaulk Mound
Trout Ranch.
Chaulk Mound fish are stocked in only a few well-known free lakes,
such as Lake Wohlford, Lake Dixon, Lake Poway and Lake Miramar, all in
San Diego County and all within 20 minutes of each other. They are also
in a few well-known “pay to play” lakes in the southland, like Santa Ana
River Lakes and Corona Lake. These tailwalkers have developed quite a
reputation. Even though they are stocked and not wild, they still hold
the fight of a strong, wild rainbow trout. For more information on them,
log onto www.cmtrout.com.
There are many other areas that hold wild trout in the southland and
that can be accessed any time of the year, weather permitting. Almost
all are listed as “Special Regulations” fishing areas and require
artificial lures and flies with only barbless hooks. Some allow the
standard catch limit of five fish per day per license. Others require a
two-fish limit of fish over 8-10 inches. Now that doesn’t seem like a
huge fish and they are not. However, considering the fact that these
fish live and thrive within a short, one-hour drive or less from over 20
million people, they are a rare find, indeed.
For more information on fishing in Southern California, log onto: www.socalfishn.com.
Central California options are on page two
Read more: http://www.gameandfishmag.com/2012/02/21...z29ZJ1Bhjr
Let God lead the way!
Give a man a fish he eats for one day, teach him to fish he eats forever!
Give a man a fish he eats for one day, teach him to fish he eats forever!
