If they really are not stocking trout In Some Cali lakes anymore 2024
Muddy reply :
Hey Fellas; I am curious if those big bass counts start to decline and how soon it will take. Ihave have much respect for those of the Big Bass Cali guys I know, this is not a knock on either them or thier grat ability to put big fish in the boat.It still takes way more knowledge than I have to do wht they do on a regular basis.
If there are big fish in a body of water, then they can be caught. If they are not there, then they can't be caught, Fellas fishing impoundments for Striped Bass will not catch the monsters caught of Montauk or up in New England, becuse they don't live there. I am very curious how this will effect thier searh for a new Worl Record.
Quinn reply :
So let me see if I have this right....Does Cali stock the trout to feed the bass?
Branuss04 reply :
Well muddy, it's definately going to take a toll on the big fish. Personally I don't think it's going to be right away, but eventually. As far as the world record chase goes, most of the big fish are from Southern California and it seems that they weren't hit as hard. The chase will still go on!!!
What sucks is that it's going to hurt the towns as well. A lot of these tiny mountain towns rely on the summertime anglers for business. Some mountain counties got hit pretty hard... No fish=no anglers. Our state is so messed up it's ridiculous.
The enviromentalists recently closed down a ton of our OHV riding areas as well, thus doubling the traffic to existing areas. It seems like they are doing the same thing with fishing, everyone is going to be crowding the same lakes and doubling the pressure.
Welcome to California... I'm glad our fishing licenses are still going up!!!! ;D
Branuss04 reply :
QuoteSo let me see if I have this right....Does Cali stock the trout to feed the bass?
lol... no, it's more for recreation. It's just the lakes that have bass in them seem to enjoy eating them. That's why cali has giant bass... thanks to DFG
Quinn reply :
I was just wondering. I noticed that forbizz was going to hang it up because of this. Here in MO they stock trout in certain areas, you have to have a special stamp catch trout but these areas aren't known for the larger bass caught out here, perhaps it is because we have abundant shad an other bait fish in our ponds and lakes and they get big without the govt. feeding them. :-/
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
QuoteI was just wondering. I noticed that forbizz was going to hang it up because of this. Here in MO they stock trout in certain areas, you have to have a special stamp catch trout but these areas aren't known for the larger bass caught out here, perhaps it is because we have abundant shad an other bait fish in our ponds and lakes and they get big without the govt. feeding them. :-/
If I am not mistaken it is because there are Florida strain bass in cali and those are the ones eating the high protein trout diet.
fourbizz reply :
It will devastate some lakes, have moderate effects on most, and completely unhinder a few IMO.
Some small lakes have populations of big fish so high, that without the protein supplements, many big fish will die. Most of these lakes have a prey base so otherwise low, that it is just impossible to sustain the number and gargantuan size of fish there without trout. I believe that in these lakes, the biggest fish only know how to kill trout, they havent tried to live off bluegill and craws for years. These are the lakes that will be crushed. Coincidentally, most of the lakes that I am referring to are the ones most likely to kick an 18+ in California.
The majority of the lakes that this effects, I believe, will survive ok. I dont think there will be as many obese fish, and the swimbait bite will go to shlt, but there wont be some giant fish kill. The lakes that I fish most, fall into this category. To me, that tells me that next year will be a year of jigs, giant worms, and sight fishing. This year the big fish were so keyed on trout, that I went all spring without bed fishing. Thats why I had 6 sacks over 34lbs in march. I dont see that happening this year. It goes without saying that the fish in the 5-9lb range that eat the majority of trout, are not going to grow as much this year as they should. Even if, by some miracle, trout planting resumes on these lakes, there will be a few years where there is gap in the year classes, all those fish that should have been 10-15 have had their growth retarded.
There are a few lakes that have been receiving trout for years, that I dont think will be affected, due to the availability of mass amounts of other large bait. Since I have decided to stick with bass fishing, these are the lakes that I will be directing the majority of my attentions to.
Like brannus said, for the most part, SoCal escaped unscathed. It stands to reason that their lakes, having avoided the axe, will be receiving the current trout that were alotted elsewhere, giving their bass even more protein bars. If we get good amounts of water this year, and those SD and LA region lakes get even more trout than usual, I foresee a banner spring for them.
I am just concerned for the well being of our 15+ fish that could have attained truly gigantic proportions, having their food base ripped out from under them. I do not know if they can adjust to scraping after bluegill and craws in our poorly managed, half drained reservoirs. Remember these are not big gorillas, they are incredibly old and fragile fish. If they reached their size on gills craws and shad, which they absolutely could have, I think they would be fine.
All I know is that I have around $5,000 worth of trout imitating baits. Wonderful.
I hate this state with an indescribable passion right now. Bunch of wacko Stanford ****** bags have caused countless cities, counties, and businesses, to have their heads under the guillotine. Not to mention boning my only source of enjoyment, all in one fell swoop.
I need a beer....................and some cute little bluegill swimbaits I guess.
KYntucky Warmouth reply :
They stock trout in my local lake and it has a surplus of scrawny undersized bass....no lunkers to be found....has nothing to do with CA but I thought I would add it :
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
That is a more clear and understandable explanation of whats actually happening Bizz.Makes sense.
Micro reply :
I suspect your trout swimbaits will work well for many years to come.
Muddy reply :
QuoteSo let me see if I have this right....Does Cali stock the trout to feed the bass?
I really do not have a clue how to anwer this, try asking 4 bizz
Muddy reply :
QuoteWell muddy, it's definately going to take a toll on the big fish. Personally I don't think it's going to be right away, but eventually. As far as the world record chase goes, most of the big fish are from Southern California and it seems that they weren't hit as hard. The chase will still go on!!!What sucks is that it's going to hurt the towns as well. A lot of these tiny mountain towns rely on the summertime anglers for business. Some mountain counties got hit pretty hard... No fish=no anglers. Our state is so messed up it's ridiculous.
The enviromentalists recently closed down a ton of our OHV riding areas as well, thus doubling the traffic to existing areas. It seems like they are doing the same thing with fishing, everyone is going to be crowding the same lakes and doubling the pressure.
Welcome to California... I'm glad our fishing licenses are still going up!!!! ;D
I am sorry to hear that I really was hoping one of you guys would get a shot at the record
Muddy reply :
Hey 4bizz: Speedbead caught LMB on the Chunk with a trout imitation swimbait, and there are no trout in this lake.
bladeslinger reply :
The truth of the matter is big bass are on the decline in many CA lakes. There were plenty of big bass here prior to stocking trout, and the bass will adapt.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20081123-9999-1s23outdoors.html
fourbizz reply :
QuoteI suspect your trout swimbaits will work well for many years to come.
I have no doubt that they will still work.
I have caught many bass on them in waters that have no trout.
I am also acutely aware of the fact that in my lakes, when there are no trout, they dont work ANYWHERE near as well as they do after they start stocking.
fourbizz reply :
That was the crappiest article i have ever read btw.
The way it is is that SD has been producing gigantic bass more prolifically since the mid-90's, regardless of how many people are fishing for them.
Micro reply :
QuoteThe truth of the matter is big bass are on the decline in many CA lakes. There were plenty of big bass here prior to stocking trout, and the bass will adapt.http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20081123-9999-1s23outdoors.html
Oh, this is beautiful. Grebes? Here in Virginia, the Grebes don't give a rat's arse whether you are on the lake or not. I saw dozens of them this week and they have this weird ability - they swim out of your way when you come towards them, and back after you leave.
fourbizz reply :
QuoteQuoteThe truth of the matter is big bass are on the decline in many CA lakes. There were plenty of big bass here prior to stocking trout, and the bass will adapt.http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20081123-9999-1s23outdoors.html
Oh, this is beautiful. Grebes? Here in Virginia, the Grebes don't give a rat's arse whether you are on the lake or not. I saw dozens of them this week and they have this weird ability - they swim out of your way when you come towards them, and back after you leave.
No joke. There are hundreds of thousands of them on Clear Lake in the winter, pretty much 40 or 50 an acre, for 40,000 acres. I dont think the population is struggling, lol.
Commie vegan wackos. Only in this state.
bilgerat reply :
Sorry bizz, you aint the only state to have them commie vegan wackos. They're everywhere.
I've read all the related threads and posts, I must have missed something: exactly why are they discontinuing the stocking program? Budget reasons?
fourbizz reply :
The massively condensed version is:
Some students at stanford, backed by various wacko organizations, filed a suit against DFG demanding an EIR to determine the impacts of stocked trout on native amphibians like the yellow legged mountain frog. The court ruled that DFG must conduct the EIR, and DFG shut down their planting at "selected" lakes.
The lakes chosen are baffling to the users of logic and reason. They shut down lakes OUTSIDE of the native range of the little frog, and shut down MAN MADE RESERVOIRS to trout planting. Common sense would indicate that shutting down a man made lake is a direct contradiction to their aim of "protecting the frogs native range" if they were to shut down planting in natural lakes within the frogs range(which they did do in the late nineties) then im ok with that. But you cannot expect that net to encompass reservoirs that were not native environments for these frogs.
Its a big load of bulls$%t as far as im concerned.
32251 reply :
So what is wrong with catching 10 pounders instead of 18??
Branuss04 reply :
QuoteSo what is wrong with catching 10 pounders instead of 18??
Because 10<18.... DUH!!!!!
Thad reply :
Well I would think the swimbait bite would be ridiculous the next year or so. Seems like they would crush the thing since they won't get as many meals next year.
It's like spending a week from my girlfriend. 8-)
UrbanRedneck reply :
Just gonna play the devils advocate here for a second.
I briefly glanced at the list of NorCal lakes that would no longer receive DFG stockings. Many of the no stock lakes are "managed" by private concessionaires (for those not from or familar with CA, what exactly a private concessionaire is would be a good topic for another thread), and many of these lakes are those considered to be trophy NorCal fisheries. When you fish one of these concessionaire managed lakes you pay a fishing access fee. 100% of the fees are used to buy and stock trout and kokanee for that particular lake. These "private" stockings have nothing to do with DFG and they will continue no matter what. Many of these same lakes receive additional stockings from DFG which of course will cease. Who knows what fewer trout will mean to the trophy potential of these lakes.
This issue has been blown out of proportion but it is a great example of how screwed up natural resource managment practices in CA are. BTW, Im a very strong proponent of wise conservation of native species in CA, and the key word here is wise. I would have to look at historic natural ranges of native amphibians and trout and current presence data, then compare to those systems where stocking would cease prior to deciding if this is a good thing or a bunch of BS.
WRB reply :
California politics are beyond comprehension, even for those of us who call the state our home. This issue will be resolved, as it affects a wide range of people and businesses.
The thought process that planted rainbow trout are the main food source for giant bass in California lakes is off base. The original FLMB plants were stocked into some San Diego area city lakes that didn't have planted trout; lakes Lower Otay and lake Hodges are two examples, that have both produced giants over 18lbs (Otay) and 20lbs (Hodges). Clear lake is a northern natural lake that doesn't have planted rainbow trout and is a world class bass fishery.
Lake Castaic (main lake) is still plated with trout and that fishery hasn't produced a giant bass in over 10 years, due to the striped bass population, introduce in the late 90's..
It is true that planted trout can help FLMB grow fast, however they can and have grown to be giants without trout, if the lake has good forage.
WRB
PS; Rainbow trout were only native to the High Sierra mountain range; creeks, streams and rivers drainage. That means northern and central California had native rainbow trout. Southern California's trout where first stocked into Big Bear lake back around 1900, from the McCloud river in northern CA. Today you would be hard pressed to locate any native trout in Caifornia, other than the golden trout of the Cottonwood area in High Sierra's and Lassen strain of the McCloud river.
fourbizz reply :
WRB, I just wanted to clarify that I DO think they can attain record size without trout, i know they can. It is just my opinion that certain lakes are completely dependant on them, due to the very high concentrations of large bass and low availability of other food.
Dont Otay and Hodges have lots of large shiners? I have never seen a shiner in the lakes I fish normally. But I have in a few ponds, and the Delta.
As far as Native trout, dont forget the Lahontan Cutthroat, which is not hard to find, and the sea run cutts and stealhead. The Redband trout and the Paiute Cutthroat are markedly more difficult to catch.
Steve, you know how worthless those 4lb mud slugs are right 
Mattlures reply :
Otay and hodges have no shinners. Hodges has threadfin shad. I am not sure if Otay does but it probably does. The main forage of those lakes would be other small fish. Buluegill, Redear, green sunfish, crappie baby carp baby bass etc. Along with crawdads. Bizz I dont think any lakes would have dieoffs because of no trout but some might have a lower top end weight. Or at least fewer monsters
Micro reply :
QuoteSome students at stanford, backed by various wacko organizations, filed a suit against DFG demanding an EIR to determine the impacts of stocked trout on native amphibians like the yellow legged mountain frog.
Yep. I've heard about them frog-eating trout. Whenever I go out for brookies, I always take along my 7' MH/XF rod and a Spro Bronzeye. Nothing like a Bronzeye to bring in those 8 oz brookies.
Seriously, if the there were no trout, perhaps frogs would be on the bass' menu.
This is what happens you you manage wildlife with the heart instead of the head.
KevO reply :
That really sucks they are not stocking the trout anymore. However, I am looking at it from a different perspective. Since Cali is not stocking the trout anymore, you should have a better chance of catching those 18+ fish that are used to eating the trout. With less trout to feed off of your trout swimbaits should be more enticing to those big girls.
bladeslinger reply :
QuoteOtay and hodges have no shinners. Hodges has threadfin shad. I am not sure if Otay does but it probably does. The main forage of those lakes would be other small fish. Buluegill, Redear, green sunfish, crappie baby carp baby bass etc. Along with crawdads. Bizz I dont think any lakes would have dieoffs because of no trout but some might have a lower top end weight. Or at least fewer monsters
Yes, main forage at Otay appears to be threadfin shad, and as suggested I have seen them spit up bluegill and crappies. I have even seen them pop ducklings and snakes there.
Branuss04 reply :
QuoteThat really sucks they are not stocking the trout anymore. However, I am looking at it from a different perspective. Since Cali is not stocking the trout anymore, you should have a better chance of catching those 18+ fish that are used to eating the trout. With less trout to feed off of your trout swimbaits should be more enticing to those big girls.
They didn't STOP planting trout in cali.
UrbanRedneck reply :
[quote author=63474D5C415E5A4B5C5B5D2E0 link=1228084344/20#27 date=1228181826
Seriously, if the there were no trout, perhaps frogs would be on the bass' menu
WRB reply :
Fourbizz; don't know what happened to the other pages on this thread?
You asked about Lower Otay and Hodges having large baitfsih like shiners and the answer is they don't. Both lakes had bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, channel catfish and threadfin shad, for baitfish forage.
The reason FLMB were transplanted into San Diego city lakes was to improve the average size of the bass and the number per angler hour. The 1950's were a drought period for San Diego and the fishing had dropped off significantly. Threadfin shad were introduced in 1953 to help improve growth rates, then (1959) the FLMB were introduced to improve the average size from 1 1/2lbs to 2 1/2 lbs, the FLMB grew faster than NLMB. Trophy bass was fishing not planned. In fact the FLMB program was considered a failure in regards to better overall bass fishing. The FLMB proved to be harder for the average angler to catch and rates per hour dropped. The giant bass that started to be caught in the early 70's, changed California bass fishing.
Both Lower Otay and Hodges are old and small; 1897 Otay; 1,100 surface acres, 1917 Hodges; 1,234 surface acres. During the early 60's all the local lakes were down 50% and raised due to rain fall to full pool by 1968. The new flooded lake basins help the growth of the first generation FLMB. Lake Hodges was closed to public fishing during the 60's and opened in the early 70's. Lower Otay was open Wednesdays, Saturday and Sunday, closed the other days and closed to fishing in Sept, opened in March, each year. Ideal conditions for the FLMB to grow to giant size. Today, both lakes have good overall bass fishing, giants are rare.
WRB
* giant bass in CA is 15+ lbs.
WRB reply :
QuoteQuoteThat really sucks they are not stocking the trout anymore. However, I am looking at it from a different perspective. Since Cali is not stocking the trout anymore, you should have a better chance of catching those 18+ fish that are used to eating the trout. With less trout to feed off of your trout swimbaits should be more enticing to those big girls.They didn't STOP planting trout in cali.
The DFG did stop planting some lakes for about a month, most lakes are now recieving their DFG trout stocking, depending on location. The CalTrout people watchdog the DFG stocking program closely to insure locations with "native trout" do not get planted trout stocks and this has been ongoing for decades. The current issue was a law suit by college students and that is still being processed.
WRB
Branuss04 reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteThat really sucks they are not stocking the trout anymore. However, I am looking at it from a different perspective. Since Cali is not stocking the trout anymore, you should have a better chance of catching those 18+ fish that are used to eating the trout. With less trout to feed off of your trout swimbaits should be more enticing to those big girls.They didn't STOP planting trout in cali.
The DFG did stop planting some lakes for about a month, most lakes are now recieving their DFG trout stocking, depending on location. The CalTrout people watchdog the DFG stocking program closely to insure locations with "native trout" do not get planted trout stocks and this has been ongoing for decades. The current issue was a law suit by college students and that is still being processed.
WRB
I was being a smart@$$ 
.... He made it sound like they totally quit.... i'm aware of the situation ;D
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