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California’s Exotic Fish Species

March 20, 2014 By JD 4 Comments

Chances are, your favorite California sportfish is probably a foreigner. An outsider. An import. Yep, the fact is the majority of the freshwater fish we enjoy chasing here aren’t native to the state.

Some exotics were experiments, others illegal introductions. People who had moved West and missed fishing for their favorite species brought in many varieties of gamefish from the East Coast or Great Lakes. Others still were moved into California to provide new fishing opportunities or to control baitfish populations.

It’s all pretty interesting stuff, so let’s take a look at some of our most beloved fish and trace their origins.

Largemouth Bass

Per capita, probably the most popular fish in California, largemouth bass didn’t swim in the state’s waters until 1891. According to California Department of Fish & Game records, the initial largemouth were Northern strain fish that originated from Quincy, Illinois and were released into Lake Cuyamaca in San Diego County.

The more popular and larger Florida strain largemouth made their first appearance in 1959 and the rest, as they say is history. Nobody could have imagined 50 years ago what an industry would spring up around those Floridas!Click here to read more…

Filed Under: Exotic Species, Features Tagged With: bluegill, brow trout, california, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, mackinaw, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass

Giant Lake Shasta Spotted Bass not far off World Record!

April 4, 2011 By JD 9 Comments

A new Lake Shasta record for spotts!


Our old friend Scott Green is one of the top bass anglers in all of California. If you ever see his name in a tournament you’re fishing at places like Clear Lake, Berryessa or Shasta, start thinking about second place! To prove my point, check out these massive spotted bass from Lake Shasta he just caught, including a new lake record 8.85 pounder, which is a pound and change off the World Record!

Nice work, dude!

Filed Under: Trophy Room Tagged With: lake shasta, record, scott green, spotted bass

How to catch Winter Bass

January 29, 2010 By JD 4 Comments

Now that the cold weather months have arrived, it’s time to give up bass fishing right? Well…not so fast!

While it is true that bass will get more lethargic as the water temperatures drop, you can still have some seriously good days of fishing in the winter…if you keep some basic principles in mind.
Click here to read more…

Filed Under: Bass Tagged With: bass fishing, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, winter

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