California's "License Free Fishing Day" is tomorrow

Tomorrow [Saturday June 7] is the first of California's two "License Free Fishing Days", when the Department of Fish and Game will waive the license requirement for citizens age 16 and older. All other bag, seasonal and area closure restrictions still apply. Also still required will be the need for special report cards for salmon on the Klamath-Trinity, and also for sturgeon, steelhead or abalone if chasing those species. The other License Free Day will be September 27, and these special days allow people to give fishing a try without the expense of purchasing a license.

HOFNOD Chico
The sixteenth annual "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" children's event in Chico saw an estimated 4,100 kids converge on Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park, making it easily the largest such single-day event in the United States.

Fish were caught in both record numbers and sizes. One of the largest fish was caught by seven-year old Leia Tyner of Chico, who bested a 10-plus pound channel cat using one of the loaner rods. Another monstrous double-digit catfish was caught by 10-year old Kelly Liou of Chico, and it was her first fish ever to boot.

Other great fish stories included Zach Johnson of Magalia, who caught and released a huge seven-pound largemouth bass, earning himself a brand new fishing rod courtesy of the Chico Bass Club.
Perhaps most amazing was the experience of 10-year old Adrianna Garcia of Chico. Early in the day, a large catfish had literally dragged one of the loaner rods out into the depths of the lake. More than an hour later, Adrianna accidentally snagged that rod with her own hook, pulling in the submerged rod with a five pound whiskerfish still attached to the line! A diverse group of Chico-area individuals, businesses and civic groups come together to make this event happen. An eight-person "Hooked on Fishing" committee headed by Pete Giampaoli works literally year-round raising funds, arranging fish deliveries, ordering the special non-lead "Enviro-Quest" steel sinkers and other logistics.
Rigging and repair of the 600 loaner rods is accomplished by the Chico Bass Club, with the use of the clubhouse at Horseshoe Lake given by the Chico Rod and Gun Club. The Chico Bass Club also supplied many of the skilled "fishing coaches" at the water's edge during the event.

Perhaps the most difficult task is handled by the Chico Sunrise Rotary, who performed the yeoman duty of cleaning several thousand catfish. The Chico Area Flyfishers set up the terrific aquarium display showing the many species of fish that inhabit Horseshoe Lake, as well as doing a fly-tying demonstration.
This year marked the debut of the DFG's "Fishing Passport" program, with kids getting a stamp in their "Passport" for each new species of fish they catch. As always, "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" is a program of the American Sportfishing Association.

Purchase of the catfish stocked in Horseshoe Lake cost $28,000 this year, so financial contributions are vital. Among the leading sponsors are the Butte County Fish and Game Commission, Chico Sunrise Rotary, Chico Noon Rotary, Friends of Rollo, Franklin Construction, Foothill Associates, Tony Symmes and the California Inland Fisheries Foundation.

HOFNOD Oroville
Equally successful was the HOFNOD event held on the same day at Bedrock Park in Oroville. The eleventh annual event played host to a record 1,340 registered fisherkids. This number exceeded the Oroville event's previous high by nearly 250 children.

Trout plants
The DFG planted catchable-size trout this week in the following area waters: Butte County- DeSabla Reservoir; Plumas County- Feather River North Fork Almanor; Tehama County- North-South Fork Battle Creek, Deer Creek, Digger Creek, Gurnsey Creek; Shasta County- Baum Lake, Brandy Creek, Clear Creek above Whiskeytown, Grace Lake, Hatchet Creek, Keswick Canal, Kilarc Reservoir, lower-middle-upper Burney Creek, McCumber Reservoir, middle-upper Hat Creek, Montgomery Creek, Nora Lake, Whiskeytown Reservoir.
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