DROP A LINE: TROUT REOPENER JANUARY 15-16 AT SANTEE LAKES 1.8K
Total Views: 30 East County News Service Photo: Creative Commons image of rainbow trout via Bing January 10, 2022 (Santee) – Santee Lakes invites you to Trout Reopening Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, January 15 and 16 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lakes 2, 3 and 4 will be stocked with a whopping 2,500 pounds of rainbow trout including large fish up to eight pounds. Find details and directions at https://www.santeelakes.com/. Printer-friendly version
1.8K viewsFISH STORIES FROM LAKE JENNINGS 10
Total Views: 83 Photo: Kayla Douglas of Spring Valley landed this 5 lb. 4 oz Channel Catfish at Hermits Cove July 1, 2015 (Lakeside) – The Lake Jennings Fish Report for July is out-with plenty of tips and news for fishing enthusiasts. The lake is open every day in July. Here are a few highlights: · The lake is adding 1,000 pounds of trophy-sized catfish this week weighing up to 10 pounds. · Trout have been biting from the T-dock and in deep waters at Halfmoon Cove, Shadow Cove and Sentry Cove. · Bluegill are reported biting in Halfmoon Cove. · Stable weather on the way is expected to improve bass fishing. · You can rent boats or launch your own during night-fishing season (just bring a lantern). · Soaking mackerel and chicken livers at night is working to catch catfish. · Best trout lures are nightcrawlers, PowerBait, PowerWorms and Mini Jigs. · Best bass lures are creature baits, drop-shot, crawdads and swim baits. · Panfish love mealworms and nightcrawlers; you can catch them in the coves. · A horseshow tournament will be held at the campground for registered campers; reserve space by July 11th at www.lakejennings.org. Below are details on hours, camping, and contact information. Campground Reservations can be made online at www.lakejennings.org. If you are new to camping, please contact at (619) 390-1623. (619) 390-1623 Campground (619) 443-2510 Bait and Tackle Shop kira.haley@helixwater.org Lake Open Everyday in July Lake [Fri & Sat] Gates Open: 6:00 a.m. –10:00 p.m. Lake [Sunday to Thursday] Gates Open: 6:00 a.m. –7:30 p.m. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/ LakeJenningsRecreation www.lakejennings.org/fishing/ Printer-friendly version
10 viewsLAKE JENNINGS TO STOCK “TROPHY” TROUT STARTING NOV. 1 6
Total Views: 33 October 22, 2013 (Lake Jennings) – Ten-year-old Doug Utz stood with a smile beaming across his face and his arms spread the length of a nine-pound Rainbow trout. The young fisherman was presenting his catch for a photo to commit the moment to history. That was many years ago, however, and such catches have since been impossible at Lake Jennings in San Diego’s East County. Rangers instead have been stocking higher numbers of smaller trout to help anglers bag their limits of five each. According to Head Ranger David Acevedo, that philosophy and practice are coming to an end. For this trout season, beginning Nov. 1, Acevedo said up to 3,000 pounds of trout will be stocked just before opening day with weekly 1,000-pound plantings thereafter. Average trout size in the deliveries will rise from a-pound-and-a-quarter to two pounds. The big change, however, is that 10 percent of the plants will be “trophy” trout, up to 12 pounds each. “We’re trying to give the anglers what many of them have been asking for,” Acevedo said. “Lately, when people have called on the phone and I’ve told them we’re getting ready to stock bigger fish, they’ve gotten very excited.” Acknowledging that not all fishermen are dedicated to trout but that nearly all anglers enjoy battling larger fish, Acevedo had some tips to help the uninitiated. “A lot of trout fishing is done with light gear, Acevedo said. “To catch an eight-pound trout on light gear, you really have to finesse the fish or you’re going to lose him. They’ll snap four- or six-pound-test line likes it’s nothing. “If someone asks me ‘what’s the best way to catch a trout?’ I would tell him to get into a boat and troll. If you do that, you’re probably going to be catching fish in the first 30 minutes.” Acevedo said that fishing from the lake’s banks should get pretty good, too, when the recently stocked Wipers (a hybrid of White and Striped Bass) gain control of the deep. “The Wipers will narrow down the areas where the trout will go,” Acevedo said. “The Wipers will be chasing shad out in the open water and taking over that territory. We think the trout will move from there and concentrate on working the shorelines, getting closer in, and becoming more accessible to shore anglers.” Suggesting bait for beginners, Acevedo noted that many experienced anglers use a “trout cocktail” that includes putting a night crawler worm on the hook, adding a dough ball on the head tip, and injecting some air into the worm so it will be forced to float up from the bottom a few feet above a sinker weight on the line. For trolling, Acevedo said a rubber Power Worm would be the best bet. Not only will there be larger fish to reward patient anglers this season, lake officials will offer prizes for catching “tagged” trout. Acevedo said actually tagging fish will be unnecessary since additionally stocked Emerald trout’s colorful appearance will be a suitable marking. Prizes have yet to be determined. Lake Jennings gets its fish, “Sierra Bows,” from Mt. Lassen Trout Farm in Red Bluff, a town in Northern California. “Those are pretty aggressive fish,” Acevedo said. “They have a reputation for being a good fighting fish. And our changing to larger fish—even the average trout at a half-pound bigger—is going to make a significant difference.” In a testimonial published on the trout farm’s website, Timothy Ports of Ports Seafood in San Francisco said that Mt. Lassen trout are as close to wild trout as you can find. “The flavor is clean and the freshness is always impeccable,” he said. “This is truly a handcrafted, artisan fish that changed my perception of farm-raised trout.” Some widely told tales insist that hooking the fish yourself can enhance the taste significantly. “If you fought it and caught it, that fish will be a feast,” Acevedo said. “You’ll enjoy every bit of it.” Utz, now 23, said he still remembers hooking his nine-pounder. “We were trolling,” he said. “It was my second or third time trout fishing. Suddenly there was tension on my line and I freaked out a bit. I didn’t see how big it was until we got him into the boat. “It was pretty exciting. That catch probably made a lot of other guys jealous. I still talk about that trout whenever anyone mentions fishing.” Utz said he is eager to take another shot at a hefty trout in Lake Jennings. “Opening day I plan to be out there trying to get another big one.” Printer-friendly version
6 viewsSAVING WILD RAINBOW TROUT: CRITICAL BOULDER CREEK ACQUISITION COMPLETED TO LAUNCH PROJECT 5K
Total Views: 61 November 3, 2012 (San Diego) – It is a surprise to many that wild rainbow trout still exist in San Diego County. One place they do is on Boulder Creek, at the foot of the towering Cuyamaca Peak in East County. The San Diego River Park Foundation, in partnership with San Diego Fly Fishers and other organizations supporting wild trout conservation, has launched a project to ensure the survival of the wild trout on Boulder Creek, one of two known creeks in the San Diego River Watershed which support the trout. The San Diego River Park Foundation announced today that it has successfully completed a critical acquisition along the creek that has three pools where the trout were found. “This fragile population is at risk of being lost. It is a tragedy as wild trout used to thrive in these areas and there are few places remaining where stream conditions allow for the trout to survive year round. These land locked trout are part of our heritage, and it is incredible to be part of an effort to stabilize the population and restore parts of the creek. This small 2.35 acre property is a key piece,” said Rob Hutsel, Executive Director of the San Diego River Park Foundation. The conservation project is part of the River Park Foundation’s Save the Source Program, a larger effort to conserve critical lands at the headwaters, or source, of the San Diego River. More than 100 donors came together to purchase the property from the owner who has been very supportive of this effort. Donations ranged from $2 to $5000. More than $30,000 was raised in just a few days and with the support of a $85,000 bridge loan the acquisition was completed. The San Diego River Park Foundation has three years to pay of this loan which was made possible with the support of Mesa Rim Climbing and Fitness Center. With the success of this acquisition, the San Diego River Park Foundation has reached agreement with the owner of an adjacent 11 acre property to purchase that property if $50,000 can be raised before January 2013. Printer-friendly version
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