Fish

Fish near the shore of Butte Lake.

 

2004 Fish and Amphibian Survey

A survey of lakes and streams was conducted in 2004 for fish and amphibians. This survey detected nine species of fish of which five are native to parts of California. Native species include rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), tui chub, speckled dace, Lahontan redside and Tahoe sucker. Brook trout, Brown trout (Salmo trutta), golden shiner, and fathead minnow are all species that are non-native to the park that were detected during this survey. It is suspected that the golden shiner and fathead minnow were introduced as bait that was used by fishermen and escaped.

Fish Stocking

Fish stocking ended completely in the park in the early 1990s. The gradual phasing out of artificial stocking in the national parks already had a long history dating back to the 1930s, when biologists first raised concerns about exotics. The majority of lakes that were stocked are now fishless due to lack of suitable spawning grounds.

Manzanita Lake Fishery Management Plan

Manzanita Lake is managed as a wild trout fishery in coordination with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) through its Heritage and Wild Trout Program. The fishery management plan identifies the requirements for biological and physical inventories and includes an assessment of the resource status, threats to the continued well-being of the fishery resource, the potential for fishery resource development, and recommendations including necessary changes in the allowed take of trout. View the Manzanita Lake Fishery Management Plan, 2015 on the CDFW website.

Fishing in the Park

Whether rod and reel fishing from shore or fly-fishing from a float-tube, Lassen Volcanic National Park has plenty of opportunities to land the big one.