We continue to experience some very good to excellent summer fishing. Trout and striped bass are both active.

The storage in the reservoir is around 126.962 acre feet. The water level is dropping slowly and will continue to drop throughout the summer.

With the warmer weather, the water temperature warmed slightly and is currently 68 degrees. Our water clarity continues to be good on most days. Last week, we planted both 1,000 pounds of trout.

TROUT: Fishing for trout has been continues to be very good for anglers fishing with bait and lures in the South cove and Cowboy coves. Trout average a pound and a half but range up to over 10 lbs. Limits have been common for skilled anglers. There was a 1000 pound Lassen plant on July 9th. We are hoping to plant again this month but with increasing water temperatures it may not be possible. Garlic scented power baits in rainbow or chartreuse, orange or white mice tails and nightcrawlers continue to be good choices. A 7.58 pound trout was caught on rainbow garlic in South Cove and a 5.62 pound fish was caught past the Rock Wall on a Kastmaster. Garlic scent on any bait seems to help. It is important to use 3- 4 feet of leader. Using light line also helps; 4 to 6 lb test is plenty. There is no need for heavy weights. Vary your casting length; most of the time shorter casts are better than longer ones. Throwing lures from shore is doing well with anything from Kastmasters to Crocodiles, mostly in silver, silver-blue and gold patterns.

Anglers trolling will catch trout on a variety of lures including Kastmasters, Luhr Jensen Kwikfish, Roostertails, Rapalas, and Thomas Buoyants. Smaller Rapalas dipped in scent seem to be doing the best. Boating anglers are doing better catching trout on bait and by casting lures in the major coves. Limits of trout are being caught in Howden, Cowboy and Peninsula coves. Use a bobber or very small weights. Nightcrawlers or power bait is the way to go. There is no need for line heavier than 6 lb test. We suggest moving every half hour or so until you find some feeding fish.

A number of 5+ pound fish still continue to be brought into the Marina along with plenty of limits of regular sized fish. Many anglers are catching fish all along the shore with the South Cove reporting the most fish as many anglers are choosing that cove. Oak Point as well as just past the Rock Wall are producing plenty of trout. We anticipate regular trout plants to continue as long as the water temperature cooperates.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout. Some angles have been working the shore around structure and several bass have been caught and released. 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. The reservoir is now full of excellent habitat for the bass so we anticipate this fishery to improve over the coming years.

STRIPERS: Once again this week continued to see more limits of stripers coming out of the lake. Limits of 18-24 inch fish are being caught both off the shore and from boats with some very plump fish being seen. Cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice. Stripers need to be 18 inches or more. We continue to see a number of under size fish being caught and released. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our striped bass fishery.

CATFISH With the plant of 1,250 pounds of catfish from Bundy's two weeks ago we continue to see a number of 2-5 lb catfish being caught, especially in South Cove. We will continue with more catfish plants through the summer. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (15 lbs plus).