Edhat Staff
Source: County of Santa Barbara
In cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Santa Barbara County Parks was granted a Private Stocking Permit for up to 16,000 pounds of triploid rainbow trout for 2017-18; twice as much as was granted in 2016! Just in time for Veteran’s Day weekend (Nov. 10-12), the first of four planned releases of 4,000 pound loads will make its way to the water. The trout will range in size from half a pound “catchables,” to eight-pound “trophies.” Additional releases are tentatively planned for December 2017, and March and May 2018.
The triploid rainbow trout make their way from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, Inc., located in Paynes Creek, Calif. Because triploid trout are sterile, more energy is put into growth than reproduction, producing fish that are larger and muscular. Many who visit Cachuma Lake can experience the ultimate joy and rush when reeling in a beautiful rainbow trout, which also makes for a delicious meal and is a treasured tradition going back decades.
Cachuma Lake also supports populations of large and smallmouth bass, crappie and channel catfish. Cachuma Lake Marina and Boat Rentals offers pontoons, outboards, kayak rentals, along with full bait and tackle supplies, and one-day and annual fishing licenses. Year-round fishing from shore in the recreation area or from a boat is open with a valid fishing license. The Cachuma Lake Weekly Fishing Report can be found at www.countyofsb.org/parks/
For more information, contact the marina at (805) 688-4040. Please note that due to the 30-day Quagga restrictions at the lake, boats must be inspected and tagged by Cachuma Lake staff at least 30 days prior to your visit. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is a full-service campground offering cabin, yurt, RV and tent camping year-round, as well as many recreational activities, nature programs, and of course, rainbow trout fishing! For more information, go to www.sbparks.org.
Big aggressive trout? You make them sound like great whites or something. Catching and suffocating a hatchery fish that will bite on anything is not really a sport, as much as you try to make it one. But of course if we didn’t have the hatcheries breeding fish, there wouldn’t be any fish in the lakes to suffocate. We have too many people to maintain a natural fish population in our water bodies that provide drinking water.