Nature Bowl Winners to Help Plant Fish in Jenkinson Lake May 30

Media Contacts:
Bruce Forman, DFG Region 2, (916) 358-2353 or (916) 591-1161
Kyle Orr, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8958

Students from six northern California elementary schools will get a hands-on nature experience next week – their reward for a job well done in the 28th annual Nature Bowl competition. The winners of the competition, students from Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento and Yolo counties, will assist the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) with stocking trout at Jenkinson Lake on May 30.

What: DFG Trout Plant

Who:  Elementary school students from the following schools:
Third and Fourth Grade Winning Teams

• First place: EurekaElementary School,GraniteBay
• Second place: Lake ForestElementary School, El Dorado Hills
• Third place: LatrobeElementary School, Shingle Springs

Fifth and Sixth Grade Winning Teams

• First place: Lake ForestElementary School, El Dorado Hills
• Second place: LatrobeElementary School, Shingle Springs
• Third place (three-way tie): MaryDeterding Elementary School, Carmichael Fred T. KorematsuElementary School, Davis Jackson Elementary School, El Dorado Hills

When: Wednesday, May 30
Meet at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery (20001 Nimbus Road, Gold River)
at 8:30 a.m. Arrive at the lake to stock approximately 10:30 a.m.

Where: Jenkinson Lake (a.k.a. Sly Park Lake), Pollock Pines

Click here for a map

The Nature Bowl is a regional, cooperative team competition focusing on activities and questions regarding environmental science and natural resource conservation topics that correlate to the California Education Standards for Science.  This year’s event was held in March and April, with the winning teams earning honors on May 5.

“Nature Bowl participants have spent months building a scientific foundation and learning about valuation of the natural world and how our actions can help reduce threats to the environment,” said Bruce Forman, DFG Nature Bowl Coordinator. “The competition is designed to prepare youth for real-world issues, so letting them help with an actual trout plant is a fitting reward for their hard work.”

More than 500 youths participate in the Nature Bowl each year. Students forming 82 teams from seven counties competed in Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter and Yolo counties.

Annual General Trout Opener Coming Soon in the Eastern Sierra

 

The general trout opener in many counties throughout California will commence on April 28, one hour before sunrise. In Inyo and Mono counties, all waters are open to fishing on this date.  

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Because of the popularity of this annual event with the angling public, DFG is making every effort to stock trout in all accessible waters approved for planting prior to the season opener. Lingering winter conditions could play a major role in how many rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs can be stocked before April 28.

Most lakes, rivers and streams have a limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However, regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits and gear restrictions. Anglers are advised to check the 2012-13 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulation booklet, found online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations, for regulations specific to each body of water.

This year DFG regional staff created the Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide to provide anglers with a quick, informative and accurate account of the distribution of fisheries in back country high elevation lakes. This guide does not address front country waters, defined as lakes and streams that are accessible by vehicle. Most of the lakes lie within U.S. Forest Service lands managed as Wilderness and usually require back country permits for overnight use. Most back country fisheries are based on self-sustaining populations of trout and do not need regular trout stocking to maintain fish populations. The guide can be found at http://dfg.ca.gov/regions/6/.

Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierra is expected to be one of the most popular opening day destinations for anglers from around the state. In past years, an estimated 10,000 anglers have turned out for the opener, and approximately 50,000 trout are caught during the first week of the season. Typically Crowley is planted with hundreds of thousands of small and medium sized trout, and because of excellent food sources in the 5,280-acre lake, these trout grow to catchable sizes and weigh at least three-quarters of a pound by the opener. About 10 percent of the trout caught at Crowley during opening weekend weigh over a pound and a half. These fish are from stocks planted in previous years or are wild fish produced in Crowley’s tributary waters.

Anglers are asked to be particularly vigilant when cleaning fish and fishing gear at Crowley Lake and in the upper and lower Owens River Drainage. The New Zealand Mud Snail was discovered several years ago in the Owens River Drainage and DFG is trying to keep the snail from spreading into other waters. To avoid spreading New Zealand Mud Snails to other waters, anglers are advised to clean and dispose of their fish guts in trash cans, rather than throw them back into the water. Wading gear should be properly cleaned before using in new waters.

All persons age 16 and older must possess a valid California fishing license to fish within the state’s borders. Freshwater fishing license can be purchased online at www.dfg.ca.gov/OnlineSales or at regional DFG offices or other authorized dealers. Anglers no longer have to display their license visibly above the waist but they must have it in their possession while fishing.

Media Contacts:
Andrew Hughan, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8944
James Erdman, DFG Region 6, (760) 873-6071

DFG Expands Annual Trout Fest to Three Central Valley Hatcheries

Media Contacts: 
Jana Leiran, DFG Hatchery Interpretive Services, (916) 539-6644
Greg Kollenborn, DFG Central Region Hatchery Supervisor, (559) 243-4017 ext. 257

The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Trout Fest is expanding in 2012. Trout Fest is a free educational event that introduces people to the sport of fishing and responsible angling. In 2012, Trout Fest will expand to the following locations:

• Saturday, April 28 –Kern River Hatchery in Kernville (Kern County)
• Saturday, May 12 –San Joaquin Hatchery in Friant (Fresno County)
• Saturday, May 26 – Moccasin Creek Hatchery in Moccasin (Tuolumne County)

Hours for all three events are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with parking, admission and activities at no cost to the public.

“Over the years, Trout Fest has been a huge success in Kernville with tremendous community support,” said DFG Regional Manager Jeff Single. “We are very excited to add two new festivals this year that extend its presence in the Central Valley, bringing activities that are geared toward introducing both children and adults to hatcheries, conservation and fishing.” 

As in previous years, Trout Fest activities will introduce attendees to proper fishing techniques, how to clean and cook a fish, and the role of the hatchery system.

Pan-frying and grilling demonstrations featuring free recipes and samples will be offered, as well as fly-fishing clinics for varying skill levels and all-ages basic fishing clinics. Art activities will run continuously, including gyotaku, the traditional Japanese art of fish printing. Event-goers can also watch a Fresno State graduate art student paint steel panels of trout predators such as the raccoon and heron.

“This is a great opportunity to highlight the native trout programs under way at our hatcheries,” said DFG Hatchery Supervisor Greg Kollenborn. “Some of the programs we’re especially thrilled to share include the Kern River Rainbow trout at our Kernville hatchery, the popular California Golden trout at San Joaquin and the Lahontan cutthroat trout at Moccasin Creek.”

Additional information and updates will be posted throughout the month on DFG’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDFG.