Trout Season Opener begins on April 24, the last Saturday in April through November 15 in the Eastern Sierra to accommodate local business owners’ regional marketing plan.
While California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife haven’t set the new schedule in stone as yet, it has, tentatively, given “Fishmas,” the Eastern Sierra’s chambers of commerce business marketing plan, back to businesses in the Eastern Sierra.
It’s a little more complicated than that though. As reported to the Mono County Board of Supervisors last week by Jeff Simpson, economic development manager. Year-round trout fishing, with a 5/10 bag/possession limit, starts Monday, March 1 in the rest of the state. But, to accommodate the Fishmas tradition on the East Side, that holiday will be celebrated at the traditional waters April 24, the last Saturday in April through November 15, just like we’ve always done.
Those waterways include: Bridgeport Reservoir and tributaries and Convict Lake, Crowley Lake, George Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, Horseshow Lake, June Lake, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Mary Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Sabrina Lake, Silver Lake, South Lake, Twin Lakes in Mammoth, Twin Lakes in Bridgeport and upper and lower Virginia Lake.
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You hate it because “Fishmas” sounds like Festivus. And yes, it is a stupid, inorganic, phony, derivative of an antiquated useless term. It desn’t even denote Eastern Sierra, which has magic in and of itself.
I quit fishing in California with the exception of public piers where a fishing license isn’t required.
You know what is more irritating than the name? the price of the Fishing license. Does anyone know the Price this year. It cost quite a bit to catch Planters.
CA. resident fishing license is $52.66 this year.
May be pricey compared to other states but is well worth a years worth of entertainment.
Earl Duran
About $52 and change for freshwater-one pole.
IMO,money well spent if to fish a lot or even just some (about $1 a week if you hit year-around waters)..
Money well spent if the license fees help the hatcheries,education and enforcement..
With that “early opener” they have,with the “catch and release” and barbless-hooks at some waters,many are going to fish these waters meant to open the last week in April,keep the fish they do catch,and if caught,play stupid,saying they didn’t understand the rules.
And,the “catch and release” rules,many fish will die from that alone,IF people actually do it.
Do you REALLY think many visiting SoCalers will “release” what they catch if they happen to catch a lunker unless there’s a DFW Officer watching and standing next to them ?
Smart people , even us “So Caler’s” know one thing…NO fish is worth a 500.00 fine AND you never know when a warden is watching you. That’s their job , to be stealth . I’ve heard of a warden that actually wore a gilley suit in his quest for violators .
Rick O’Brien
Maybe I shouldn’t say this,and maybe with this “early opener” this year,there’ll be more enforcement and checking on things,but in my 21 years living in the Owens Valley,and many more years before fishing in Inyo and Mono Counties when I was living (surviving) in Lancaster,I was checked for a valid fishing license a grand total of TWO times…in 2019 and 2020 on opening day.
This year,like I said above,with the regulations and open waters so confusing,if checked some will play stupid,saying they “thought or heard” the water they were fishing was open and lawful to keep…probably avoiding a citation and getting a warning.
For others,having lived up here for 21 years now,maybe apples and oranges,but I hear how some feel about their speeding on HWY 395,and if they get a ticket,not a big deal for them and a small dent in their money and deep pockets driving north up here if caught doing so.
I know a CHP Officer that said he issued a speeding ticket to a driver for going 95 MPH on a Friday heading north up here,and two days later,the same driver heading back south,again issued another 95 MPH speeding ticket…same first south to north driver on Friday,then north to south driver on Sunday….same vehicle.
Sure,a possible $500 DFW citation is a deterrent for some,but not for all…
Speaking for myself,if I were fishing,C&R or legal to catch and keep,either way,if I caught a really big one,I’d cut line and let him go,simply because I’d feel bad and guilty if I didn’t…I’d cut line,he’d never be out of the water,not for “selfies” or weighing,then letting him go hoping he survives the ordeal.
Something tells me I’m in the minority thinking and doing that way,don’t you think ?
Your remark about letting the big one go, I concur ,100% . The guy caught doing 95 in both directions, NOT because he can afford it . Because he’s an idiot . The fine will be minimal compared to what his insurance company is gonna hit him with.
Let’s keep it “Eastern Sierra Trout Opener OR , just OPENER . That other term is like fingernails on a chalkboard . just sayin’ …
Well said Mr O’Brien 100% agree. I can’t really put my finger on why that term is irritating, it just is.