GENERAL CONDITIONS
We have good winter trout and striped bass fishing. With the recent rain, fishing from shore can be muddy and slippery. Be prepared.

The water level is currently at 82,500 acre feet, about 52 percent of capacity. The water level is dropping due to use. The water temperature is at 52-53 degrees. Our water clarity is fair with some creek run-off clouding up South Cove and Cowboy Cove. A fair number of trout and stripers continue to be caught both from shore and from boats.

The 2016 Annual Parking Permits are now available at the Marina, North Kiosk, and Watershed Office.

TROUT
Fishing for trout continues to be good with all the trout plants – 4,500 pounds so far this month -- and cooler water temperatures. They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as Howden and Peninsula coves. 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.

This month, we've seen several trout over eight pounds, the largest at 8.6 pounds.

Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty. There was a 1,000 pound Lassen plant on December 14th. There will be another 1,000 pound Lassen plant this week. With the continuing plants, trout fishing has been holding steady with more limits being caught from all around the reservoir.Trolling is popular with anglers using Rapalas and other lures in the coves. Limits are continuing to show up out of Peninsula Cove and Howden Cove.

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 are still coming out of South Cove and from around Oak Point. More action is being reported north of the Rock Wall.

LARGEMOUTH BASS
Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout although there have been many sighting near the boat dock and adjacent fishing pier. Senkos have been seen catching some nice fish in that area. 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 are still the main action with striped bass. We are still seeing many 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. Please continue releasing the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our striped bass fishery.

CATFISH
Catfish continue to be caught here and there, but with the cooler water they are becoming more difficult to catch. There are exceptions, on Jan. 20, two anglers caught eights good-sized catfish on night crawlers in the South Cove. The day before, another fisherman brought in seven. The largest was 8.8 pounds. He also used night crawlers. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (15 lbs plus).