Fishing Report: New regulations opens Topaz Lake year-round, other bodies of water to open March 1

Hello fellow anglers! I have a lot of new information regarding the California fishing season that will benefit all anglers. In this report, I will give you new, specific changes.

To start off, a new regulation in the CDFW regulation Section 5.85, Title 14, CCR, is amended to read:

(1) All inland lakes and reservoirs; and ponds entirely on private lands, except those listed in Section 7.50 title 14. (b), are open to fishing all year with a five-trout daily bag limit.

(2) All inland streams, rivers, and canals, except those listed in Section 7.50(b), are open to fishing from the last Sat. in Apr. through Nov. 15, with a five trout daily bag limit, and 10 ten trout possession limit, with no gear restrictions. From Nov. 16 through the Fri. preceding the last Sat in April, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Trout must be released unharmed, and should not be removed from the water.

(3) Exceptions:
(A) All waters in Section 7.50(b), Alphabetical List of Trout Waters with Special Fishing Regulations, are those having regulations different from the General Statewide Regulations for trout.
(B) Brook Trout bag and possession limits may be taken in addition to the statewide trout daily bag and possession limits. See Section 5.84.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 219, 265 and 275, Fish and Game Code. Reference:Sections 200, 205, 255, 265, 270 and 275, Fish and Game Code.

In section 7.50 title 14, are a list of waters too vast to put in this report. To give you an idea of the changes in this section.

All lakes in Inyo and Mono counties would be open to fish all year, with the exception the following lakes:

1. Bridgeport Res and it tributaries,
2. Convict Lake,
3. Crowley Lake,
4. George lake,
5. Grant lake,
6. Gull Lake,
7. Horseshoe lake,
8. June Lake,
9. Lundy,
10. Mamie Lake,
11. Mary Lake,
12. Rock Creek Lake,
13. Sabrina lake,
14. Silver Lake,
15. South lake,
16. Twin lakes (Mammoth),
17. Twin lakes upper and lower(Bridgeport),
18. Virginia Lakes Upper and Lower.

These are mainly located in the June Lake loop and will retain the traditional opening of the last Saturday in April to November 15th, which leaves an interesting area many have had questions about. This would be Topaz lake.

As of today, Topaz lake will now be open all year long for fishing on the Nevada and California side.

Now for the new regulation of the rivers and streams in California.

Section 5.85, Title 14, CCR, is amended to read:

As used in this section, daily bag and possession limits, unless otherwise noted, mean the total number of trout in combination, including but not limited to rainbow, golden, brown, and cutthroat.
(a) General Statewide Regulations:

(1) All inland lakes and reservoirs; and ponds entirely on private lands, except those listed in Section 7.50(b), are open to fishing all year with a five-trout daily bag limit,and 10 trout possession limit.

(2) All inland streams, rivers, and canals, except those listed in Section 7.50(b), are open to fishing from the last Sat. in Apr. through Nov. 15, with a five trout daily bag limit, with no gear restrictions. From Nov. 16 through the Fri. preceding the last Sat. in April, and only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Trout must be released unharmed, and should not be removed from the water.

(3) Exceptions:
(A) All waters in Section 7.50(b), Alphabetical List of Trout Waters with Special Fishing Regulations, are those having regulations different from the General Statewide Regulations for trout.
(B) Brook Trout bag and possession limits may be taken in addition to the statewide trout daily bag and possession limits. See Section 5.84.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 219, 265 and 275, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 205, 255, 265, 270 and 275, Fish and Game Code.

A bonus on this regulation is that many of our rivers and streams will open on March 1st of this year. I would check the regulations in Section 7.50 title 14 to see which waters will open on March 1st and which will open on the last Saturday in April.

In my report you will be elated to see where you will be able to fish in our local areas.

Special note:
(A) Tahoe Lake tributaries upstream to the first lake: Sept. 30 Sat. preceding Memorial Day through Sep. 30. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. 0 trout limit.

Please check your regulations to fully understand where and which bodies of waters will open on what days. The new California fishing regulations will be available only by online or you can download the regulations by going to https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/sportfishingregs

Booklets will not be available at your local outfitters.

For those of you interested in the Lohanton Cutthroat trout, Her is some information I received form the CDFW.The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Coordinating Committee invites you to join the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery Virtual Meeting on February 24 or February 25, 2021 The meetings will include several presentations, each followed by a live Q&A portion.

Presentations will include a brief overview of LCT biology, the Updated Goals and Objectives, and next steps for collaborative conservation in northern Nevada.

This virtual session is open to the public and we encourage all who are interested in or affected by Lahontan cutthroat trout conservation and management in northern Nevada to attend.

While these sessions will focus on the north and eastern portion of the Lahontan Basin, future webinars will address the western portion of the range; however, the broad themes presented in this meeting are applicable range wide.

Over the last few years, the Coordinating Committee has initiated discussions around collaboratively achieving conservation of Lahontan cutthroat trout with many of you, and although we are unable to meet in person at this time, we want to continue building on this momentum.

The goal of these virtual sessions is to share information and discuss next steps to move towards collaborative conservation actions that will benefit communities and our state's wildlife.

In 2019, Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery partners finalized a new set of Updated Goals and Objectives to help guide the recovery for Lahontan cutthroat trout. We hope to work with all interested stakeholders to implement these goals and objectives through building collaborative conservation plans, tailored to each community, that help maintain and establish healthy riparian habitat to sustain livelihoods and support Lahontan cutthroat trout populations.

These virtual sessions will also allow time for questions throughout the two-hour session. Registration in advance will be required. Use the links provided here to log into ONE of the TWO sessions (the material presented at bother sessions is the SAME!)

Day 1 (Session 1) Link - https://blm.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_O9JN-3aoR_Wlg5QRpSAttQ

Day 2 (Session 2) Link - https://blm.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_erC9TxBZS1SDDgsM6j-TVQ.

I hope this gives you some good information for your next fishing adventure. There is a lot happening in California this year, fishing wise. To give you a little help: Yes, the East and West fork Carson Rivers in Alpine County will be opening on March 1st for artificial lures and flies only with catch and release until the last Saturday in April.

This will then convert to no gear restrictions until November 16th. Many more information to come this year.

I hope to see you on the waters. If you get a picture of your catch, send it to kelsey@carsonnow.org

Good Fishin' and tight lines.