R3 Angler and Hunter Updateshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/R3/UpdatesWinter Species Watch: Trouthttps://wildlife.ca.gov/R3/Updates/winter-species-watch-troutSpecies WatchFri, 19 Nov 2021 09:57:03 GMTRead up on how best to catch trout this winter!<div><img alt="shiny brown, silver and black spotted fish being held slightly out of water" height="auto" src="/Portals/0/Images/OCEO/R3/R3 photo slider/trout.jpg" style="max-width: 300px; width: 30%; height: auto; float: right; margin: 20px;" width="30%" /></div> <p>By: CDFW Fisheries Staff</p> <p>The winter months can be a great time for both the individual and family to find trout fishing opportunities in the foothills, as well as in more urban environments found in lower elevations. California’s hatcheries work to provide many opportunities for the public to fish for catchable sized rainbow trout up and down the state. To first find where these fish are being released, check out the <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/" target="_blank">CDFW’s Fish Planting Schedule</a>. Secondly, to catch these fish, try several techniques that include casting spinners or spoons from shore and slowly retrieving them. Bait also works well for the shore angler, with dough bait or worms fished near the bottom – or salmon eggs fished under a bobber producing good numbers of fish. Boat anglers fishing our state’s larger lakes and reservoirs can have good days trolling flashers with spoons, or trolling stick baits 5-6 feet under the surface. And finally, the fly angler can have great days fishing with purple, orange or white streamers under the surface.</p> Fall Species Watch: Chinook Salmonhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/R3/Updates/fall-species-watch-chinook-salmonSpecies WatchMon, 20 Sep 2021 13:50:34 GMTTips for catching chinook salmon this fall!<p><strong>By CDFW Fisheries Branch Contributor</strong></p> <p><img alt="Man standing on boat on a body of water holding large silver and black chinook salmon." src="/Portals/0/Images/OCEO/R3/R3 photo slider/Picture1.jpg" style="float: right; width: 159px; height: 212px; margin-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px;" />Chinook salmon are the largest species of Pacific salmon. They exhibit an anadromous life history, which means that they hatch and grow in fresh water and then migrate to the ocean as juveniles. There they feed and grow to maturity for anywhere from two to four years, sometimes longer. Adult salmon will then migrate from the ocean to their natal freshwater stream to spawn, and the cycle continues.</p> <p>Hundreds of miles of coastline and rivers in California provide ample opportunities to fish for Chinook salmon. Fishing ports between Monterey and Crescent City allow excellent access to fishing grounds where anglers are successful trolling flashers with spoons, hoochies or anchovies. Fishing for salmon in the ocean is particularly hot in the San Francisco and Bodega bay regions.</p> <p>Inland salmon fishing provides greater opportunities for shore fishing, as well as hundreds of miles of rivers to fish from boats. Because stream flow, depths and access vary by location, inland fishing methods are diverse. Shore anglers generally drift fish using brightly colored spinners, beads and roe, while boat fishing methods include jigging, plug fishing, back trolling spinners, drifting roe and trolling with spinners and flatfish. Inland salmon fishing is hot on the Sacramento River between the city of Benicia and the confluence with Battle Creek near the city of Red Bluff. Shore anglers have a good chance to catch salmon on the Feather River at the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet, on the American River at Sailor Bar and on Suisun Bay at the First Street Peninsula in Benicia and on the bayside waterfront at Benicia State Recreation Area.</p> <p>Fishing seasons, bag limits and gear restrictions are geographically and temporally different, so be sure to consult your <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=193634&inline" target="_blank">supplemental sportfishing regulations (PDF)</a> prior to your fishing trip.</p> July Species Watch: The Kokaneehttps://wildlife.ca.gov/R3/Updates/july-species-watch-the-kokaneeSpecies WatchTue, 22 Jun 2021 14:28:06 GMTAnglers targeting Kokanee during the summer months are often very successful. Continue reading to find out tips and tricks to reeling in a kokanee this summer!<p><strong>By: CDFW Fisheries Branch Contributors</strong></p> <p>The kokanee salmon, also known as the kokanee trout, is the non-anadromous form of the sockeye salmon (meaning they don’t migrate to the sea, instead they live their entire lives in freshwater). Kokanee, which make excellent table-fare, are a cold-water reliant species found in some lakes and reservoirs in California. Anglers targeting Kokanee during the summer months are often successful slowly trolling lures (resembling small plastic squid), tipped with white shoepeg corn, behind dodgers through the deeper cold-water. Anglers looking to catch their limits can visit a fast-action fishery like New Bullards Bar Reservoir, while those looking for the challenge of catching trophy-sized Kokanee may want to try their luck at Lake Berryessa. More information about Kokanee, where to find them, management of the fisheries and how to fish for them can be found on the <a href="/Fishing/Inland/Kokanee">CDFW Fishing for Kokanee web page</a>.</p>