Local trout fishermen have an additional opportunity to fish for rainbow trout this week as the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) stocks Lake Mendocino for the first time in the history of the lake. According to DFG Environmental Scientist Scott Harris, the trout stocking will open up new opportunities for fishermen.
“There are very few trout fishing opportunities in Mendocino County,” said Harris. “We are pleased that we can add Lake Mendocino to the annual allotment list as a winter trout fishery.”
Whereas this is the first time that Lake Mendocino has been stocked with trout by DFG, the lake has been stocked in the past with striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie and sunfish. Historically, only the Mill Creek ponds east of Talmage have been stocked with trout during the early winter months in Mendocino County. Upper Blue Lake in Lake County is also stocked with trout on a regular basis.
Harris said that approximately 15,000 pounds of trout will be put into the lake throughout the winter and early spring months, giving anglers an opportunity to enjoy one of the state”s most popular activities. In addition to this week”s stocking, the DFG will stock the lake again in March and April. The trout will range in length from 10-14 inches. This week the DFG will stock the lake with 4,500 trout. Harris said the fish will be released at the south ramp near the dam because the water is deeper and clearer there. The stocking will take place Thursday. The trout come from the Darrah Springs Hatchery in Paynes Creek, located near Redding.
Lake Mendocino has long been popular with striped bass fishermen. At one time there was even an organization named “Lake Mendocino Striped Bass Association.” Over the years the organization stocked the lake with thousands of stripers. But the lake hasn”t been stocked with stripers for several years. Harris said several fishermen voiced a concern that the stripers would devour the trout, but he said he doesn”t think that will happen.
“The striped bass fishery has been in a steady decline and I don”t see the few stripers left in the lake having any major impact on the trout,” Harris said.
Harris said the stocking is strictly a “put-and-take” operation, meaning that the trout are being put out into the lake strictly to be caught and it”s highly unlikely that any will reproduce. He also said the water gets too warm during the summer months to support a trout fishery, so the stocking is for winter and spring recreational fishing.
Most of the trout will be caught by trollers working near the dam. There lake has limited bank fishing opportunities with the exception of the north and south boat ramps. It will take a couple of weeks for the trout to spread out around the lake. You can bet the lake will be loaded with fishermen this weekend and most of the fishermen will be concentrated near the dam.
Lake Mendocino has an excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishery, especially the smallmouths. At one time it held some very large redeared sunfish and there is also a decent crappie fishery.
The DFG also regularly stocks the East Branch of the Russian River, which flows into the lake at the north end, with trout during the spring and summer stream trout season, which opens in April. In the past an occasional trout would migrate downstream into the lake but wouldn”t survived very long. They were either eaten by the bass or just perished.
The 1,800-surface-acre lake is owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There is a campground and boat ramp at the north end just off Highway 20 and another boat ramp at the south end.
There is a small fee to launch a boat.
