California Heritage Trout Master Angler recognition by CA DFG

Submitted by Edward Morris on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:34

General and Miscellaneous

Hi Guys,

Got a call from one of the head Fisheries Biologists with CA Dept. of Fish and game today 2/8. I was told there is a "Special" award in the mail being I caught all 11 (12 if you count Steelhead) Native Trout in CA. It is called the CA Heritage Trout Master Angler. Award Anyways I think there are couple of you guys out there who will be getting the call soon or may have talked to DFG already (Dave B.? Fly Guy Dave?) He wouldn't tell me what it is but he said it's pretty cool. Should be interesting. On a separate note we had a nice conversation on a very special Lahontan Cutthroat fishery I stumbled upon over 10 years ago and keeping the Bull Trout Re-introduction on the McCloud alive and kicking. Curious if anyone out there got contacted by DFG on this subject. Will let you know what the "surprise" is when I get it.

Ned

Congratulations!I look

Submitted by WVBrookie on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 07:01.

Congratulations!

I look forward to seeing/hearing what the award is.

Chris

I still owe you some info

Submitted by Edward Morris on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 09:38.

Thanks Chris. I'm still putting your CHTC trip info together with USGS quad/Hwy info/stream info. Give me another week or so and should have it all ready for you.

Ned

Uh Oh

Submitted by Dave B on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 14:40.

It looks like I might have to go to Eagle Lake to complete the 12! Anyone up for a trip?

Dave,I plan to be in the

Submitted by WVBrookie on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 16:27.

Dave,

I plan to be in the Eagle Lake area the end of July.

Chris

We should coordinate

Submitted by Dave B on Wed, 02/10/2010 - 10:42.

I know Gary was thinking of coming down to Eagle lake sometime too. Perhaps we should all try to converge on the lake at the same time and maybe even see if we can get some others to join as well...a native trout gathering? It would be great to share stories with everyone around a campfire.

I'm curious to know what they're sending you as well.

Submitted by Fly Guy Dave on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 16:59.

DFG hasn't contacted me any time recently, but I still have two trout to go to be a "master." I'm planning on the O.c. clarki in June and perhaps the Eagle Lakes RB sometime in the summer, but probably fall. I think the lake fishes best in the fall, so that's when I was going to take a trip there with my 'toon. However, there is a small creek that feeds Eagle Lake and you can fish it for ELRB, but when I was there, all I caught were zillions of tiny brookies.

--Fly Guy Dave

Looks like more hats

Submitted by Edward Morris on Thu, 02/11/2010 - 20:54.

Darn it. I hate baseball hats, but I never sock a gifthorse in the mouth especially when it is free. Maybe I will bronze it? Anyways Eagle Lake- mid Oct./Early November is best two weeks of the year. Coastal Cutts-Best to try in late Sept. or March in waters of Del Norte County. Be in touch Dave.

I've heard that late October,

Submitted by Fly Guy Dave on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 16:06.

I've heard that late October, and through November are best on E.L., but I've never been there that time of the year. However, I think this is the year. As I mentioned before, I fished a feeder creek, at least looking for a small E.L. 'bow, but that stream was absolutely infested with brookies. I did read about another HTC guy (a Master as well, I believe) that caught one out of the creek, but he fished half a day before he got one.

As far as Del Norte, I'll in the the area in late June (actually in Oregon) for a week, but I'm going to hit a smaller creek that is known to have coastal cutts in it. I'm sure the times you mentioned are best, but I have to work it in when I can.

I did catch a coastal cutt before, but that was in Alaska, which obviously doesn't cut it for the CA HTC. Hat, no hat, the challenge is reward enough itself!

Cheers!

Fly Guy Dave

Hey Fly Guy Dave

Submitted by Frank.S on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 18:09.

If you like nice hikes, there is a lake that counts for HTC eagles, that is not Eagle Lake. I used it for my HTC cert. It is a beautiful lake and they are just as big as in Eagle. Give me a P.M. and I will give the details.

Yep - another new hat

Submitted by CB on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 09:51.

I did not get contacted by the DFG, but I did get a package from them just a few days ago, Inside was a nice letter of congratulations and a new hat with "Master Angler" stitched on the back.

Cheers to any DFG guys that are reading this - I think you guys are doing a lot with the little you are given finanacially. Keep up the good work!

Agreed and Congrats!

Submitted by Edward Morris on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:57.

Thanks to Roger, Jeff, Dave L. and everyone else at DFG for all of your hard work and keeping the Heritage Trout Program alive! You guys are the "REAL" keepers of the streams here. Congrats to you to Chris on the Master Angler accomplishment as well. (Did your son get it too?) Sorry you struck out on the Sea Runs. True Sea Run Cutts that have anadromous characteristics are out there in CA, however timing is key. Year round resident Coastal Cutts can be had anytime of year but are much smaller and don't even have the same fighting qualities of estuarine fish.

Nope

Submitted by CB on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 11:10.

Simon (my son) still has the Pauite to catch - hopefully the DFG etal get the go-ahead for Silver King this summer, and within a few years we can fish for them.

He also still has a Steelhead to catch - although he's caught plenty of coastal rainbows...

We're planning a trip to Wyoming this summer for the Cutt-slam.

Should be fun!