The California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted its largest rescue of Eagle Lake rainbow trout in more than a decade this spring, saving approximately 5,800 adult fish that were at risk of becoming stranded in Pine Creek, Eagle Lake’s main tributary.
The emergency operation took place over four days in March and April, bringing together a team of more than 25 CDFW biologists, hatchery staff and local community volunteers.
“These fish are long-lived so there’s a very good chance that fish returned to the lake could return in subsequent years to spawn again,” said Paul Divine, CDFW’s District Fisheries Biologist for Lassen and Modoc counties.
“And it’s also putting adult-sized fish back in the lake that could be enjoyed by anglers to catch as well.”
The rescue comes just ahead of the highly anticipated opening of Eagle Lake’s trout fishing season tomorrow, May 23rd. Anglers will face a two-fish daily limit and a four-fish possession limit.
Because Eagle Lake rainbow trout are endemic to the lake and Pine Creek, catching one qualifies anglers toward CDFW’s Heritage Trout Challenge. CDFW also encourages anglers to report their experiences using the California Inland Recreational Angler Survey.
Beyond their importance to local anglers, Eagle Lake rainbow trout play a critical role in statewide hatchery operations. They are stocked for recreational fishing in waters spanning the entire state, from Lake Annie in Modoc County all the way down to Cuyamaca Lake in San Diego County.
Fortunately, before the emergency rescue was initiated, CDFW successfully met its annual spawning goals. Crews collected 1.3 million fertilized eggs from 320 pairs of Eagle Lake rainbow trout. Approximately 170,000 of the resulting offspring will eventually be returned to Eagle Lake to continue supporting the local fishery.
Fish strandings are an ongoing challenge at Pine Creek, with CDFW records documenting periodic rescue operations dating back to 1959. The lower 25 miles of the creek is seasonal, relying entirely on snowmelt to maintain its flows.
This year, unseasonably warm weather in February and March accelerated the runoff and triggered an early spawning run. However, overall low snowpack levels diminished rapidly in the heat, creating a high risk of trapping thousands of trout within Pine Creek’s deeper, isolated pools.
To save the fish, crews mobilized with backpack electrofishing units, block nets, and dip nets. The rescued trout ranged in size from 9 to 24 inches, with some weighing as much as 4 to 5 pounds.
“Pine Creek has always been unpredictable, but we’re seeing more extremes over the last 10 years,” noted Divine, who has managed the Eagle Lake fishery and overseen spawning operations for nearly two decades.
In fact, Pine Creek’s flows have completely dried up three times over the last decade, entirely blocking the trout from accessing their primary spawning and rearing grounds. Driven by these changing conditions, CDFW’s spawning operations this past March were the earliest recorded in 40 years.
