The daily bag limit for trout has been doubled to 10 per day at
Lake Davis in Plumas County through the end of the summer.
The increase, recently adopted by the Fish and Game Commission
and approved by the Office of Administrative Law to take effect
on Thursday, May 10, comes as the Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
prepares to treat the reservoir with rotenone to eradicate the
predatory, non-native northern pike. Lake Davis is the only body
of water in California where northern pike are known to exist.
"Raising the daily bag limit will give anglers hoping to
catch a good number of trout greater opportunities to do so before
our pike eradication project begins," said Ed Pert, manager
of the Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project. "The higher limit
for trout will allow for maximum use of this resource, which would
otherwise be lost during an eradication project."
While the daily take limit has been increased, the statewide possession
limit of 10 trout remains in effect. No changes have been made
to take or possession limits for any other species in Lake Davis
or for trout in any other waters.
The new regulations also will require any angler catching a northern
pike at Lake Davis or its tributaries to immediately kill the pike
and return it to the water. Anyone caught moving a live northern
pike to another body of water may be subject to a maximum $50,000
fine and/or up to one year in jail. A person convicted of a violation
may also be liable for any damages. In addition, a reward of up
to $50,000 could go to anyone providing information towards the
arrest and conviction of a person moving a live pike.
In January, DFG Director Ryan Broddrick approved a project to
eradicate pike from Lake Davis, which is on U.S. Forest Service
land. Eradication will begin after Labor Day weekend using CFT
Legumine, a new liquid formulation of rotenone. Targeted reservoir
water levels for the eradication project will allow for optimal
recreational opportunities throughout the months leading up to
treatment. Public access to Lake Davis and its tributaries will
be prohibited during treatment.
For the latest information on DFG's Pike Eradication Project at
Lake Davis, go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov/northernpike/
Contacts:
Steve Martarano, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 654-5866
Julie Cunningham, DFG Staff Environmental Scientist, (530) 832-4069
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