Trout and catfish plants for Southern California and Eastern Sierra during the week beginning May 9

Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout or channel catfish throughout the week of May 9 by the Department of Fish and Game:

Trout:

VENTURA: None.

SANTA BARBARA: None.

ORANGE: None.

LOS ANGELES: Jackson Lake.

SAN DIEGO: None.

IMPERIAL: None.

RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Lake Gregory, Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park lake and Seccombe Park Lake.

INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Lone Pine Creek, lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws and Rock Creek Lake.

MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, lower Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek from French Camp to upper bridge at Rock Creek Lodge, Rock Creek from Paradise Lodge to Tuff Campground, Rush Creek, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport and West Walker River Section 2.

Catfish:

SAN DIEGO: Chollas Reservoir, Lindo Lake and Murray Reservoir.

Photo: Rainbow trout. Credit: Los Angeles Times

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Potential all-tackle world record redear sunfish caught

A redear sunfish pulled from Lake Havasu on Monday may break the standing International Game Fish
Assn. all-tackle world record for the species.

Robert Lawler of Lake Havasu City landed the huge redear, which weighed in at 5.55 pounds (digital), measured 16.75 inches long and had a 19-inch girth.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has confirmed the fish as the new species state record. If certified by the IGFA, the sunfish will also best the current IGFA all-tackle record of 5 pounds, 7 ounces, set in 1998 by Amos Gray in South Carolina.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Robert Lawler of Lake Havasu City with the 5.55-pound redear sunfish he caught. Credit: John Galbraith / BassTackleMaster.com

Fish and Game Q&A: What are the creepy leech-like things in lakes and rivers?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: My daughter and I love to swim and play in waters wherever we find them. While in French Gulch (Shasta County) last year, we decided to play around in Clear Creek. The creek was running pretty high, but when my daughter and I got out we had these black, worm-like things hanging off us. Our first thought was leeches, which got us out of the water quite quickly! Someone told me they were rock worms and wouldn’t hurt us. We haven’t returned there though because we’re still too scared they were leeches.

We also stopped at Eagle Lake (Lassen County) to go swimming and ended up with these tiny little round slime balls on us. When picking up these slimy things in question, they flattened out on our hands and started slithering like a leech across our hands. This was another trip where my daughter and I ran screaming out of the water to rinse off under the faucet! There were lots of people swimming in the lake who either didn’t seem to notice or else knew something we didn’t.

Clear Creek was a very cold creek, but Eagle Lake was very warm, so I could understand Eagle Lake possibly having leeches. Do these leeches suck human blood? Are they harmful to humans in any way? I love the outdoors and swimming, but too many encounters with creepy leech-like things are making me leery about the safety of it. (Kim B.)

Answer: Without pictures, it’s tough to say, but it sounds like you encountered two different invertebrates. According to Department of Fish and Game associate fish pathologist Garry Kelley, the organism at Clear Creek was likely a free-living caddisfly larvae (Genus Rhyacophila), commonly known as a rock worm. This type of caddisfly crawls around rock bottoms in search of food and is commonly eaten by trout. Caddisflies are not at all harmful to humans.

Irvine Lake crappie go on a tear as trout move deeper

Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson:

Crappie anglers have a lot to be happy about at Irvine Lake this week, noted Irvine Lake Pro Team leader Marlon Meade. "Drifting in 12 feet of water along the red clay cliffs has been easy limits on crappie in the 1 to 1.5 pound range," said Meade. "Best time is from about 1 to 3 p.m., and the best lures were pearl-white 2-inch Berkley Power Minnows rigged on a 1/16 ounce leadhead. The fish are in the spawn right now. We are really looking forward to the 'Crappie Classic' tournament on May 21, which will be the largest crappie tournament in the history of Southern California."

Meade added, "This week we saw two bald eagles trying to catch trout; it was a spectacular sight!"

General Manager Melanie Montoure announced that opening day of the summer catfish season will be June 10. Some 10,000 pounds of channel catfish in the 2- to 6-pound range will be stocked just before that date to supplement the substantial natural population of both channel cats and monstrous blue cats, with the lake record blue cat standing at 89 pounds.

Trout plants for Southern California and Eastern Sierra during the week beginning May 2

Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout throughout the week of May 2 by the Department of Fish and Game:

VENTURA: Reyes Creek.

SANTA BARBARA: None.

ORANGE: Trabuco Creek.

LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lake, Cuddy Creek Pond, Elizabeth Lake and Pyramid Lake.

SAN DIEGO: None.

IMPERIAL: None.

RIVERSIDE: Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Fulmore, Perris Reservoir and Strawberry Creek.

SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake, Jenks Lake, Santa Ana River, Silverwood Lake and South Fork of the Santa Ana River.

INYO: Lone Pine Creek and lower Bishop Creek.

MONO: None.

Photo: Trout jump out of the water after bits of feed in a holding pond. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use a camera on my bow to film my hunts?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I have heard it is illegal in California to use a camera (such as the Roscoby Riser camera) that mounts onto your bow to film your hunts. Is this true? If so, why? (Shane S.)

Answer: Mounting a camera (with no spotlight) onto your bow is legal. It would only be a problem if it was an electronic device with lights to assist in the taking of game (California Fish and Game Code, section 2005).

Q: We want to go abalone diving and scuba diving on the same day. I know we have to free dive for abalone, but we also want to scuba dive on the same trip. We live away from the coast but can only do a one-day trip, so which one should we do first? How can we do this without getting in trouble with a game warden who might think that we used the scuba for the abalone? (Matthew P.)

Irvine Lake trout and crappie active; 12-0 rainbow largest of week

Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson:

Both trout and crappie aficionados had plenty to smile about at Irvine Lake this week, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The trout fishing perked back up this week, probably due to the cooler-than-average temperatures," observed Getty. "The trolling picked up along the west shore and near the dam, and the bait fishing stayed good at Woody’s Cove and the flats."

Irvine Lake Pro Team leader Marlon Meade has been hammering on the lake’s crappie population this week. "The crappie spawn is happening right now, and it’s pretty much limit-style action," Meade said. "The fish are in 10 to 14 feet of water, back up in Santiago Flats. Results are much better when the sun is shining, and drifting after 1 p.m. is the hot ticket right now.  Hottest lure has been a 2-inch pearl white Gulp! Minnow, rigged on a 1/16 ounce jighead."

Trout trollers did well with firetiger-color Rapala CD05s, brook-trout-color Jointed Rapala J05s, and chartreuse/red head Rapala XR04 X-Raps, and some anglers are dragging them on two or three colors of leadcore line. Bait dunkers scored with Berkley Mice Tails, Gulp! Pinched Crawlers and Power Bait. Most trout on the stringers ranged from 2 to 5 pounds, with a few larger specimens to 12 pounds keeping things interesting.   

As trout season nears, fishing licenses will be on sale in Bishop beginning Thursday

The highly anticipated trout fishing season opens Saturday in the eastern Sierra, and the California Department of Fish and Game wants to make sure anglers are prepared -- at least when it comes to being properly licensed prior to the popular opening day.

So DFG personnel will be on hand at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce beginning Thursday, selling fishing licenses via the newly launched Automated License Data System.

"We are encouraging everyone who plans to fish the opener to go to the DFG website and get their 2011 California fishing license before they head into the Sierra," DFG Director John McCamman said. "For those who can't make the purchase online, we will be in Bishop for opening weekend. But to avoid lines and get out ahead of the crowd, early purchase is your best bet."

The DFG will sell licenses Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. An annual fishing license costs $43.46 for California residents and $116.90 for nonresidents. For those looking for a shorter commitment, one-day licenses are available for $14.04 and a two-day license sells for $21.86.

The Bishop Chamber of Commerce is at 690 N. Main St.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: With the Sierra Nevada range providing a dramatic background, a young angler tries his luck in Convict Lake. Credit: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

 

Kansas City catfish angler lands giant goldfish

Olivia Riley thought she had hooked a traffic cone when fishing for catfish in Troost Lake in Kansas City, Mo. She instead got the surprise of a lifetime when she pulled in a goldfish of enormous proportions.

"I don't know, it's beautiful," Riley shouted, smiling and displaying her catch to a friend's camera.

"I was really amazed," Riley told ABC affiliate KMBC-TV. "It was a beautiful fish, something to see up close."

Riley said she has several ideas on how the fish got into the lake.

"There's a lot of theories. One that he went down the old toilet bowl and ended up in the right place," Riley said. "And the one of someone not able to take care of a baby goldfish and threw him in, and he survived."

In the end, Riley decided to return the uninjured fish to the lake.

"It's a pretty high bar for the rest of the fish," she said. "I don't think I'm going to top it anytime soon. It's still out there, but maybe the next time I catch and bring him in, maybe it'll be his time to be done."

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Video credit: YouTube

 

Trout plants for Southern California and Eastern Sierra during the week beginning April 25

Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following is a list of Southern California and Eastern Sierra waters, listed by county, that will be stocked with rainbow trout throughout the week of April 25 by the Department of Fish and Game:

VENTURA: None.

SANTA BARBARA: None.

ORANGE: Carr Park lake, Eisenhower Park lake, Greer Park lake, Huntington Central Park lake, Laguna Lake and Ralph Clark Regional Park lake.

LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park lake, Belvedere Park lake, Cerritos Park lake, Downey Wilderness Park Lake, El Dorado Park lakes, Jackson Lake, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, La Mirada Lake, lake in Hollenbeck Park, Lincoln Park lake and MacArthur Park Lake.

SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Reservoir.

IMPERIAL: None.

RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake.

SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake, El Prado Regional Park lake, Lake Gregory and Miller Canyon Creek.

INYO: Big Pine Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, George Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Shepherd Creek, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek.

MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, lower Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek from French Camp to upper bridge at Rock Creek Lodge, Rock Creek from Paradise Lodge to Tuff Campground, Rush Creek, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Virginia Creek, Walker River Little, West Walker River Section 2 and West Walker River Section 3.

Photo: Rainbow trout. Credit: Los Angeles Times

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Fish and Game Q&A: Are bang sticks legal to use in self-defense against sharks?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: We are spearfish divers and are wondering if bang sticks or powerheads are legal to use in self-defense against sharks approaching us. They are like a fold-out stick with a bullet at the end. You press the stick against a shark if it comes in too short, and it fires. There are many companies that will ship them to California but I heard they are a firearm and must be registered. I’ve also heard that because of what they are used for, they are legal and don’t need to be registered. I’ve called a few local police departments to ask but they have no idea. (Christopher)

Answer: California Fish and Game law does not prohibit possession of these devices. However, according to retired Department of Fish and Game Capt. Phil Nelms, bang sticks and/or powerheads that use an explosive cartridge are firearms. Firearms are not a legal method of take for sharks and can’t be used to take or land sharks, or any other species of fish.

Q: I have a disability in my right eye which prevents me from being able to view through the peep sights on my bow. However, I’ve learned to use my left eye for shooting my rifle, and have practiced with a crossbow. I would like to be able to hunt during the archery season with my crossbow. How can I legally do this? (Erik, Laytonville)

Irvine Lake crappie going wild; 13-14 rainbow tops trouting

Here's this week's Irvine Lake fishing report, written by veteran angler Steve Carson:

The annual late April crappie explosion at Irvine Lake is going off right on time, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "The crappie bite has busted wide open," gushed Getty. "There were lots of nice fish being caught, especially at Santiago Flats, Sierra Cove, and along the west shore. Best lures are white or yellow Atomic Tubes. The little 1/32-ounce jigs were best because the fish are mostly shallow, and there are even some sight fish available."

Trout anglers found their best results fishing early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Good numbers of 2- to 4-pound rainbows were supplemented by a few of the larger specimens, ranging from 6 to 13 pounds. The trout are more focused on trolling lures right now, with firetiger-color CD5 Rapalas the top producer. Bait dunkers scored best with Mice Tails and Gulp! Pinched Crawlers.

Bass anglers found last week's torrid action had subsided slightly, but plenty of 1- to 5-pound largemouth are still available. The lake's bass population is spread out all over, with fish in pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn modes. A few fortunate anglers also found marauding schools of 4- to 8-pound wipers chasing shad at Santiago Flats.