04-19-2004, 03:20 AM
This year the Department of Fish and Game’s hatcheries will plant approximately 70,000 large catchable trout averaging one-half pound each, in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare and Tuolumne for the April 24, 2004 trout opener.
Anglers can expect most streams and rivers to be high and turbulent for the opener. Waters in higher elevations will be unavailable to all but the hardiest of anglers.
You should check with the U.S. Forest Service in the areas you are going to be fishing for up-to-date road conditions and availability of campgrounds. Kaiser Pass is not scheduled to be open before Memorial weekend.
The Department of Fish and Game stocking criteria requires that we check water temperatures and flows. Catchable trout will not be stocked in streams until temperatures attain 45 degrees or higher most afternoons or while a serious flood threat exists. During the season, we will discontinue stocking if flows become low and water conditions are unsuitable for trout. Further information is available from the Region 4 office (559) 243-4005, extension 183, for updates; more water may be added or deleted as the roads and conditions change.
The following waters are scheduled to be stocked prior to opening day, April 24, 2004, if water, weather, and road conditions permit.
FRESNO COUNTY: Big Creek (Huntington and Kings), Dinkey Creek, Hume Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, Shaver Lake, Tamarack Creek, Tenmile Creek-Upper, Wishon Reservoir
KERN COUNTY: Alder Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Brite Valley Reservoir, Cedar Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Kern River (Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar and Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach)
MADERA COUNTY: Big Creek, Chiquito Creek (Lower and West Fork), Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, Manzanita Lake, Nelder Creek, Rock Creek, Willow Creek-North Fork
MARIPOSA COUNTY: Merced River from Redbud Bridge downstream to South Fork
TULARE COUNTY: Balch Park Lake (Upper and Lower), Big Meadow Creek, Bone Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Deer Creek (CA Hot Springs), Dry Meadow Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Kaweah Reservoir, Kaweah River, Kaweah River-North Fork, Kern River-South Fork (Kennedy Meadows), Nobe Young Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Peppermint Creek, Poso Creek (Posey), Redwood Lake (Hedrick Pond), Success Reservoir, Tule River-North Fork of Middle Fork (Wishon Campground), Tule River-South Fork of Middle Fork (Camp Nelson and Cedar Slopes)
TUOLUMNE COUNTY: Beaver Creek, Cherry Valley Reservoir, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake (Strawberry Lake), Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River (North and South forks), Tuolumne River (Middle and South forks)
An annual resident fish license costs $32.80 at a local license agent ($31.25 at DFG offices) and a two-day fishing license is available for $16.55 ($15.75 at DFG offices). A stamp is available for $10 ($9.50 at DFG offices) that allows the use of two fishing rods in lakes and reservoirs. Only one fishing rod is allowed on streams and rivers.
Check local road conditions prior to heading off to your favorite fishing spot.
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Anglers can expect most streams and rivers to be high and turbulent for the opener. Waters in higher elevations will be unavailable to all but the hardiest of anglers.
You should check with the U.S. Forest Service in the areas you are going to be fishing for up-to-date road conditions and availability of campgrounds. Kaiser Pass is not scheduled to be open before Memorial weekend.
The Department of Fish and Game stocking criteria requires that we check water temperatures and flows. Catchable trout will not be stocked in streams until temperatures attain 45 degrees or higher most afternoons or while a serious flood threat exists. During the season, we will discontinue stocking if flows become low and water conditions are unsuitable for trout. Further information is available from the Region 4 office (559) 243-4005, extension 183, for updates; more water may be added or deleted as the roads and conditions change.
The following waters are scheduled to be stocked prior to opening day, April 24, 2004, if water, weather, and road conditions permit.
FRESNO COUNTY: Big Creek (Huntington and Kings), Dinkey Creek, Hume Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, Shaver Lake, Tamarack Creek, Tenmile Creek-Upper, Wishon Reservoir
KERN COUNTY: Alder Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Brite Valley Reservoir, Cedar Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Kern River (Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar and Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach)
MADERA COUNTY: Big Creek, Chiquito Creek (Lower and West Fork), Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, Manzanita Lake, Nelder Creek, Rock Creek, Willow Creek-North Fork
MARIPOSA COUNTY: Merced River from Redbud Bridge downstream to South Fork
TULARE COUNTY: Balch Park Lake (Upper and Lower), Big Meadow Creek, Bone Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Deer Creek (CA Hot Springs), Dry Meadow Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Kaweah Reservoir, Kaweah River, Kaweah River-North Fork, Kern River-South Fork (Kennedy Meadows), Nobe Young Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Peppermint Creek, Poso Creek (Posey), Redwood Lake (Hedrick Pond), Success Reservoir, Tule River-North Fork of Middle Fork (Wishon Campground), Tule River-South Fork of Middle Fork (Camp Nelson and Cedar Slopes)
TUOLUMNE COUNTY: Beaver Creek, Cherry Valley Reservoir, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake (Strawberry Lake), Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River (North and South forks), Tuolumne River (Middle and South forks)
An annual resident fish license costs $32.80 at a local license agent ($31.25 at DFG offices) and a two-day fishing license is available for $16.55 ($15.75 at DFG offices). A stamp is available for $10 ($9.50 at DFG offices) that allows the use of two fishing rods in lakes and reservoirs. Only one fishing rod is allowed on streams and rivers.
Check local road conditions prior to heading off to your favorite fishing spot.
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