Orland -- Dick Cardoza, Camp Host at Black Butte is now residing at the Big Horn entrance, however, the only open boat launch ramp is at Eagle Pass, just west of Orland. The Stoney Creek end of the lake in the trees is now just mud. The lake is the lowest he's seen it in seven years.

Cardoza has not been fishing a lot but when he did a few days ago he caught several bass, one of which weighed five pounds. He also caught several catfish to seven pounds. These fish all hit on a small Rapala trolled deep.

Cardoza told me that he can see thousands of fish on his meter at times, presumably crappies or bluegills, but they are not biting. Cardoza went fishing recently just to catch bass for testing for mercury. In past years the fish in Black Butte have proven to be very safe to eat. Not much else is going on there. A few hunters showed up to hunt turkey, pheasant and dove at Burris Creek and Grizzly Flat but Cardoza did not hear how they did.