Recreation
The winter holidays are a popular time for families and individuals to enjoy recreational trout fishing, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s trout hatcheries plan to provide plenty of opportunities for anglers of all ages over the next two weeks. Specific plants of catchable trout are scheduled at 53 waters in 25 counties.
Anglers planning trout fishing outings over the winter holidays should check CDFW’s Fish Planting Schedule to see the latest waters planted with trout.
CDFW stocking of hatchery trout in central and Southern California waters has been hampered by ongoing infrastructure upgrades at four of CDFW’s 13 trout hatcheries. However, CDFW has been working diligently to ensure that trout stocking will continue in these and other parts of the state.
“Our Moccasin Creek Hatchery flooded, and supersaturated well water impacted the Fillmore, Fish Springs and Mojave hatcheries” said Dr. Mark Clifford, an environmental program manager for CDFW’s hatcheries. “Seventy-eight-year-old infrastructure and acts of nature are problematic. Our dedicated staff, including engineers, are consistently addressing issues as they arise.
“Overall, state trout production has increased incrementally since 2015 when the drought severely impacted our operations,” Dr. Clifford said. “This year was projected to be the best year in the last five. We have experienced setbacks but will continue to strive to meet our production goals.”
The spring flooding of CDFW’s Moccasin Creek Hatchery in Tuolumne County required evacuation of both staff and fish. The hatchery suffered $3.2 million in damages. Repairs are ongoing, and the hatchery is expected to come back online in the spring of 2019 and then return to full production by 2020.
Historically, Moccasin Creek Hatchery produced more than 200,000 pounds of fish per year and was a major supplier of trout for the 12 counties in CDFW’s Central Region – Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne.
To mitigate the loss of trout production at the Moccasin Creek Hatchery, CDFW’s San Joaquin Hatchery in Fresno County has maximized production and is currently raising and stocking trout for waters in these counties.
To maximize angling opportunities with limited resources, Central Region fisheries biologists have 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. The region will also prioritize children’s fishing events.
In Southern California, the 78-year-old Fillmore Trout Hatchery in eastern Ventura County is closed for maintenance, upgrades and modernization. Prior to its closure, Fillmore Trout Hatchery fish were moved to the Mojave River Hatchery in San Bernardino County, which underwent renovations in 2017, and has been raising trout for much of Southern California.
CDFW is maximizing Mojave River Hatchery production with existing inventories along with trout brought in from other hatcheries and expects an improved Fillmore Trout Hatchery back online in coming months. Trout stocking in Southern California will be focused at urban parks, fishing derbies and Fishing in the City events.
The following list offers a county-by-county breakdown of stocking locations throughout the state that will receive winter holiday trout plants between now and Jan. 4, 2019:
Alameda County
Lakeshore Park Pond
Contra Costa County
Heather Farms Pond
Butte County
Desabla Reservoir
El Dorado County
Folsom Lake
Jenkinson Lake
Fresno County
Fresno City Woodward Park Lake
Kings River Below Pine Flat Dam
Inyo County
Diaz Lake
Owens River (Bishop to Big Pine)
Pleasant Valley Reservoir
Orbit Pond
Kern County
Ming Lake
Kern River (Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville)
Lake County
Blue Lake Upper
Los Angeles County
Reseda Park Lake
Kenneth Hahn Lake
El Dorado Park Lake
Castaic Lake
Madera County
Bass Lake
Marin County
Bon Tempe Lake
Mendocino County
Mill Creek Lake
Nevada County
Rollins Reservoir
Scotts Flat Reservoir
Orange County
Centennial Lake
Huntington Park Lake
Eisenhower Park Lake
Placer County
Halsey Forebay
Folsom Lake
Rollins Reservoir
Auburn Regional Park Pond
Plumas County
Lake Almanor
Riverside County
Little Lake
Rancho Jurupa Park Pond
Sacramento County
Elk Grove Park Pond
Hagen Park Pond
Folsom Lake (Granite Bay boat ramp)
Howe Community Park Pond
North Natomas Park Pond
Granite Park Pond
Rancho Seco Lake
Mather Lake
San Bernardino County
Glen Helen Park Lake
Prado Regional Park Lake
San Diego County
Cuyamaca Lake
Murray Lake
Shasta County
Baum Lake
Clover Creek Pond (weather and road conditions dependent)
Kapusta Pond (weather and road conditions dependent)
Stanislaus County
Woodward Reservoir
Tulare County
Mooney Grove Park Pond
Del Lago Park Lake
Ventura County
Rancho Simi Park Lake
Yuba County
Collins Lake
Anglers planning trout fishing outings over the winter holidays should check CDFW’s Fish Planting Schedule to see the latest waters planted with trout.
CDFW stocking of hatchery trout in central and Southern California waters has been hampered by ongoing infrastructure upgrades at four of CDFW’s 13 trout hatcheries. However, CDFW has been working diligently to ensure that trout stocking will continue in these and other parts of the state.
“Our Moccasin Creek Hatchery flooded, and supersaturated well water impacted the Fillmore, Fish Springs and Mojave hatcheries” said Dr. Mark Clifford, an environmental program manager for CDFW’s hatcheries. “Seventy-eight-year-old infrastructure and acts of nature are problematic. Our dedicated staff, including engineers, are consistently addressing issues as they arise.
“Overall, state trout production has increased incrementally since 2015 when the drought severely impacted our operations,” Dr. Clifford said. “This year was projected to be the best year in the last five. We have experienced setbacks but will continue to strive to meet our production goals.”
The spring flooding of CDFW’s Moccasin Creek Hatchery in Tuolumne County required evacuation of both staff and fish. The hatchery suffered $3.2 million in damages. Repairs are ongoing, and the hatchery is expected to come back online in the spring of 2019 and then return to full production by 2020.
Historically, Moccasin Creek Hatchery produced more than 200,000 pounds of fish per year and was a major supplier of trout for the 12 counties in CDFW’s Central Region – Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne.
To mitigate the loss of trout production at the Moccasin Creek Hatchery, CDFW’s San Joaquin Hatchery in Fresno County has maximized production and is currently raising and stocking trout for waters in these counties.
To maximize angling opportunities with limited resources, Central Region fisheries biologists have 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. The region will also prioritize children’s fishing events.
In Southern California, the 78-year-old Fillmore Trout Hatchery in eastern Ventura County is closed for maintenance, upgrades and modernization. Prior to its closure, Fillmore Trout Hatchery fish were moved to the Mojave River Hatchery in San Bernardino County, which underwent renovations in 2017, and has been raising trout for much of Southern California.
CDFW is maximizing Mojave River Hatchery production with existing inventories along with trout brought in from other hatcheries and expects an improved Fillmore Trout Hatchery back online in coming months. Trout stocking in Southern California will be focused at urban parks, fishing derbies and Fishing in the City events.
The following list offers a county-by-county breakdown of stocking locations throughout the state that will receive winter holiday trout plants between now and Jan. 4, 2019:
Alameda County
Lakeshore Park Pond
Contra Costa County
Heather Farms Pond
Butte County
Desabla Reservoir
El Dorado County
Folsom Lake
Jenkinson Lake
Fresno County
Fresno City Woodward Park Lake
Kings River Below Pine Flat Dam
Inyo County
Diaz Lake
Owens River (Bishop to Big Pine)
Pleasant Valley Reservoir
Orbit Pond
Kern County
Ming Lake
Kern River (Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville)
Lake County
Blue Lake Upper
Los Angeles County
Reseda Park Lake
Kenneth Hahn Lake
El Dorado Park Lake
Castaic Lake
Madera County
Bass Lake
Marin County
Bon Tempe Lake
Mendocino County
Mill Creek Lake
Nevada County
Rollins Reservoir
Scotts Flat Reservoir
Orange County
Centennial Lake
Huntington Park Lake
Eisenhower Park Lake
Placer County
Halsey Forebay
Folsom Lake
Rollins Reservoir
Auburn Regional Park Pond
Plumas County
Lake Almanor
Riverside County
Little Lake
Rancho Jurupa Park Pond
Sacramento County
Elk Grove Park Pond
Hagen Park Pond
Folsom Lake (Granite Bay boat ramp)
Howe Community Park Pond
North Natomas Park Pond
Granite Park Pond
Rancho Seco Lake
Mather Lake
San Bernardino County
Glen Helen Park Lake
Prado Regional Park Lake
San Diego County
Cuyamaca Lake
Murray Lake
Shasta County
Baum Lake
Clover Creek Pond (weather and road conditions dependent)
Kapusta Pond (weather and road conditions dependent)
Stanislaus County
Woodward Reservoir
Tulare County
Mooney Grove Park Pond
Del Lago Park Lake
Ventura County
Rancho Simi Park Lake
Yuba County
Collins Lake
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Can I use an electric bike to hunt on a wildlife area?
Question: I am a senior citizen. I find it harder every duck season to lug my decoys and gear out to the hunting zones on our state wildlife areas and federal refuges.
I know many of these areas allow hunters to take bicycles to and from the parking lots out to the field. Would I be able to use an electric bicycle? What if I put a motor on my decoy cart? Could I drive that out to the hunting area?
I just think as the hunting population gets older, there needs to be more accommodations for older hunters. (Ed)
Answer: Unfortunately, the simple answer is no. These types of motorized vehicles are not allowed on state and federal wildlife areas open to waterfowl hunting.
The California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, section 551, governs the use of state wildlife areas by visitors and addresses both bicycles and off-highway vehicles such as ATVs, golf carts, dirt bikes and other forms of mechanized transportation. Off-highway vehicles are prohibited with very few exceptions and electric bicycles – "e-bikes" – are not one of the exceptions.
Bicycles – the traditional, human-powered kind – are also generally prohibited on state wildlife areas with the exception – as you noted – "for their use on roads or levees for transportation between parking lots and hunting areas during the waterfowl season on Type A or B wildlife areas" (CCR Title 14, section 551(j)).
There are nine state wildlife areas that make some additional provisions for bicycles. These areas and regulations are specified in the code section and are typically listed in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) annual waterfowl and upland game hunting regulations booklet.
With regard to federal wildlife refuges in California that allow waterfowl hunting, CCR Title 14, section 552 details the public use regulations. Traditional bicycles are permitted on some federal refuges but not others. "Other conveyances" – beyond bicycles and foot travel – are prohibited though some refuge managers will make accommodations for mobility-impaired hunters.
It's always a good idea to check the individual webpages for each federal refuge to find additional, specific regulations for each one. You can also call the state and federal areas you plan to hunt directly with questions. We wish you a safe and successful waterfowl season ahead.
Is it legal to sell that fish?
Question: I was in a grocery store last week that had live well fish tanks holding abalone and sturgeon. They had some live snails that didn't look like they were native to California.
Does CDFW do surprise inspections of such stores to monitor what's for sale and to ensure that live species were legally caught or obtained? (Ralph)
Answer: California has a thriving legal aquaculture industry that includes abalone, sturgeon and other species – and it can be difficult to determine the origins of an animal just by sight.
Therefore, wildlife officers conduct Fish Business Inspections, which are inspections of the species on the premises. Officers review the paperwork that documents the origin of the species in question, to ensure they are legal to sell commercially.
If you are ever concerned that something is amiss at a public fish market or some other business, we encourage you to make a report through CalTIP at 888-334-2258.
Is an illegal shot still illegal, if it's a miss?
Question: I saw a guy shoot at a cormorant while hunting waterfowl. He missed it. I think he may have figured out it was an illegal bird to shoot because later I saw more cormorants fly over him and he didn't shoot at them.
I'm curious – could a game warden have cited the man for shooting at the cormorant, even though he didn't hit it? (Chris)
Answer: Yes, he could have been cited for "take" of the cormorant, even though he missed. "Take" is defined in the California Fish and Game Code, section 86, as the act of hunting, pursuing, catching, capturing or killing, or the attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . While they cannot answer every question, they will answer a few in each column.
Question: I am a senior citizen. I find it harder every duck season to lug my decoys and gear out to the hunting zones on our state wildlife areas and federal refuges.
I know many of these areas allow hunters to take bicycles to and from the parking lots out to the field. Would I be able to use an electric bicycle? What if I put a motor on my decoy cart? Could I drive that out to the hunting area?
I just think as the hunting population gets older, there needs to be more accommodations for older hunters. (Ed)
Answer: Unfortunately, the simple answer is no. These types of motorized vehicles are not allowed on state and federal wildlife areas open to waterfowl hunting.
The California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, section 551, governs the use of state wildlife areas by visitors and addresses both bicycles and off-highway vehicles such as ATVs, golf carts, dirt bikes and other forms of mechanized transportation. Off-highway vehicles are prohibited with very few exceptions and electric bicycles – "e-bikes" – are not one of the exceptions.
Bicycles – the traditional, human-powered kind – are also generally prohibited on state wildlife areas with the exception – as you noted – "for their use on roads or levees for transportation between parking lots and hunting areas during the waterfowl season on Type A or B wildlife areas" (CCR Title 14, section 551(j)).
There are nine state wildlife areas that make some additional provisions for bicycles. These areas and regulations are specified in the code section and are typically listed in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) annual waterfowl and upland game hunting regulations booklet.
With regard to federal wildlife refuges in California that allow waterfowl hunting, CCR Title 14, section 552 details the public use regulations. Traditional bicycles are permitted on some federal refuges but not others. "Other conveyances" – beyond bicycles and foot travel – are prohibited though some refuge managers will make accommodations for mobility-impaired hunters.
It's always a good idea to check the individual webpages for each federal refuge to find additional, specific regulations for each one. You can also call the state and federal areas you plan to hunt directly with questions. We wish you a safe and successful waterfowl season ahead.
Is it legal to sell that fish?
Question: I was in a grocery store last week that had live well fish tanks holding abalone and sturgeon. They had some live snails that didn't look like they were native to California.
Does CDFW do surprise inspections of such stores to monitor what's for sale and to ensure that live species were legally caught or obtained? (Ralph)
Answer: California has a thriving legal aquaculture industry that includes abalone, sturgeon and other species – and it can be difficult to determine the origins of an animal just by sight.
Therefore, wildlife officers conduct Fish Business Inspections, which are inspections of the species on the premises. Officers review the paperwork that documents the origin of the species in question, to ensure they are legal to sell commercially.
If you are ever concerned that something is amiss at a public fish market or some other business, we encourage you to make a report through CalTIP at 888-334-2258.
Is an illegal shot still illegal, if it's a miss?
Question: I saw a guy shoot at a cormorant while hunting waterfowl. He missed it. I think he may have figured out it was an illegal bird to shoot because later I saw more cormorants fly over him and he didn't shoot at them.
I'm curious – could a game warden have cited the man for shooting at the cormorant, even though he didn't hit it? (Chris)
Answer: Yes, he could have been cited for "take" of the cormorant, even though he missed. "Take" is defined in the California Fish and Game Code, section 86, as the act of hunting, pursuing, catching, capturing or killing, or the attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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