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Recreation
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
In the last three weeks, California Department of Fish and Wildlife trout hatcheries have stocked more than 170,000 trout weighing nearly 95,000 pounds.
Trout fishing is available and popular year-round in many waters across the state, but the general trout season unlocks many destination waters in the Eastern Sierra that will attract thousands of anglers, rekindle friendships and renew family traditions on opening weekend.
The communities of Bridgeport and Bishop are the epicenters of the opening weekend trout fishing activity, festivities and revelry - what many anglers refer to as "Fishmas."
Because of the popularity of this annual event with the angling public, CDFW released trout to accessible waters approved for stocking prior to the Eastern Sierra season opener. Because of heavy snow this winter, some popular high-elevation waters were inaccessible or covered in ice.
CDFW's Hot Creek, Black Rock and Fish Springs trout hatcheries stocked several waters with catchable trout, including Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Lake, Crowley Lake, June Lake and the West Walker River in Mono County; Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Owens River in Inyo County; and Markleeville Creek in Alpine County.
In the Central Valley and western Sierra, CDFW prioritized stocking waters adjacent to major highway corridors such as State Routes 108/120 in Tuolumne County, State Route 168 in Fresno County and State Route 178 in Kern County. After the 2018 flooding, evacuation and subsequent repair, CDFW's Moccasin Creek Hatchery in Tuolumne County is once again raising fish. The hatchery is expected to reach full production in 2020.
Check CDFW's Fish Planting Schedule for the latest waters stocked with trout.
Most lakes, river and streams have a limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However, regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and gear restrictions.
Anglers are advised to check specific area regulations and opening dates in the 2019-20 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations available online or in printed booklets at most local tackle and sporting goods retailers where fishing licenses are sold.
All anglers 16 and older must possess a valid California fishing license to fish within state boundaries.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Pursuant to the Public Resources Code, Section 6217.1, the 14 representatives of the PRC are appointed by the Director of CDFW to provide advice and oversight of, and recommend priorities for, grant funding under FRGP.
Seven of the PRC’s 14 representatives are recommended by the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout. Three representatives are County Supervisors from coastal counties recommended by California State Association of Counties.
The remaining four PRC seats represent the following interests: one representative from the agriculture industry, one representative from the timber industry, one representative of public water agency interests and one academic or research scientist with expertise in anadromous fisheries restoration.
The agriculture industry, timber industry and academic or research scientist seats are currently vacant, and CDFW is now accepting nominations from the general public for these seats through May 31, 2019. The appointed representatives serve four-year terms, and these appointments extend until January 2022, starting with the PRC meeting scheduled in the fall of 2019.
Representatives must reside in or represent interests in coastal and Central Valley counties in which native salmon and steelhead exist.
To nominate a representative for any of the above open seat, please email a nomination package to
Timothy Chorey, FRGP Coordinator
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Watershed Restoration Grants Branch
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
Nomination packages must include a cover letter detailing the candidate’s qualifications, a resume of the candidate and verification that they represent coastal or Central Valley counties in which salmon and steelhead exist. For more information or any questions, please contact Matt Wells at 916-445-1285 or
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
It was a scramble format and they had 38 golfers.
The winners were:
– First place: Tom Braun, John Miles and James Hornback;
– Second place: Bill Craig, Gary Farris, Bob Smart and Don Einarsson;
– Third place: Woody Frink, Jerry Clayton, Mike Higman and Tom Hughes;
– Fourth place: Paul Peterson, Bruce Woodcock and Jim Cary.
Closest to the pins were Bill Helt, 20 feet, 1 inch on hole 2; John Jones, 22 feet on hole 11; Tom Marshall, 3 feet, 2 inches on hole 7; and Tom Hughes, 5 feet, 4 inches on hole 16.
SIRs second tournament was played at the Colusa Golf Course on April 17. It was a four-man, two-best-ball format.
The weather was perfect and they had 27 golfers in attendance.
The winners were:
– First place: Bob Chesnut, Mike Higman, Bob Smart and Marlin Walker;
– Second place: Bill Craig, Bob Rumfelt, Jim Cary and Tom Hughes;
– Third place: Gary Farris, Jerry Clayton, Jeff Craig and Bob Schossler.
Closest to the pins were Bob Schossler, 23 feet on hole 2; Bob Chesnut, 24 feet, 3 inches on hole 11; Gary Farris, 22 feet, 2 inches; and Bob Schossler (again), 23 feet, 3 inches.
The group’s next three tournaments will be Wild Wings (two man scramble/pick your own partner if you want) on May 1; Hidden Valley Lake (medal play) on May 15; and Foxtail (played as a state team qualifier/pick your own foursome with an A, B, C, D handicap) on May 29.
Please note that all tournaments start at 9 a.m. except for Carson City and Monterey.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Question: I have 4-year-old twin daughters and am looking forward to taking them fishing. I am a bit apprehensive about keeping my eye on both girls, plus the two to three rods, tackle and bait. What if I bring mommy or grandpa along to help? I am a licensed angler but neither mommy or grandpa have fishing licenses, nor would they even want to fish aside from helping my daughters. If I am assisting one of my daughters with her rod, and while doing so the other daughter suddenly needs help with her rod, would my wife or father-in-law be allowed to step in to help my other daughter even if they are without fishing licenses?
And while on this subject, if I am holding two rods at once and assisting the girls, could a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officer cite me for not having an extra rod permit? (Jason D.)
Answer: First of all, we are happy to hear you are taking your kids fishing! We hope it impresses upon them a lifetime passion for fishing and the outdoors. You'll probably agree that fishing is a great way to spend family time together.
Since you already have a fishing license, you can always assume control over one of the rods. Purchasing a second-rod validation for $15.12 may help with your situation in the event you need to assume control over another rod. But to answer your question, your daughters should be doing the fishing by closely attending their rods and no one should be controlling their rods or reeling their fish in for them unless licensed. Mom or grandpa may help the girls with things like untangling lines and baiting hooks but when it comes to attending the rod with a line in the water and then reeling lines in, especially if a fish is hooked, that must be all them.
To specifically answer your question about a second rod validation, you should not be cited for fishing with two rods as long as your daughters are doing their own fishing as described above. One of the biggest problems in this scenario is if one of your daughters must leave to use the restroom or they get tired of fishing and want to go do something else. At that point they must reel their lines in and stop fishing. You cannot hold onto their rods and continue to fish for them if they step away.
One last FYI - juveniles who are 15 years old or younger are allowed to fish with two rods each in most inland waters, but that is of course after they have mastered the use of one rod!
Do California hunting licenses cover archery and crossbows, too?
Question: I have a hunting license. Can I legally hunt with a bow under this license or does it only cover firearm hunting? I am asking because I have had my hunting license for about three years now and have recently purchased a compound bow. What about crossbows? (Tomas C.)
Answer: Yes! Your California hunting license covers hunting with firearms, muzzleloaders, archery equipment and crossbows. In some states, a crossbow is considered archery equipment, but in California it is not. A crossbow may only be used during general seasons.
Fishing 9-mile bank?
Question: In Southern California, the depth restrictions are being extended down to 75 fathoms (fm). For decades, the 9-mile bank off San Diego has been closed. There are portions of the 9-mile bank shallower than 450 feet, so it seems that those portions would now be open. However, when I read the wording, it refers to Code of Federal Regulations Title 50, Part 66 subpart C for definition of the 75 fm line. The most recent copy I could find was 2014 and it seemed like there were four zones for the 75 fm curve; coastal, Northern Channel islands, San Clemente and Catalina. The coordinates are all connect-the-dots. I did not connect the dots, but if the line is continuous, I would assume offshore banks are excluded, meaning the 9-mile bank will still be closed. Can you please clarify? (William H.)
Answer: Unfortunately, just as in the past, even the pinnacles or banks that occur offshore with high points that are shallow enough to fall within the maximum depth allowance are not legal to be fished. Therefore, the 14-mile bank, 9-mile bank, 60-mile bank, and all similar banks or shallow points beyond the federal waypoints boundary are still closed.
Recreational Dungeness fishery still open?
Question: I heard about the recent proposed closure of the Dungeness crab fishery. Is that only the commercial fishery, or recreational too? Are other trap fisheries closing? (Jim)
Answer: This closure only applies to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Recreational (including commercial passenger fishing vessels) Dungeness crab, recreational and commercial rock crab, and other trap fisheries are not affected by the closure.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email