The water level continues to drop on Lake Oroville, but the Department of Water Resources plans to maintain at least minimal boat launch facilities operational, regardless of how low the water gets. "All of Lake Oroville's paved concrete ramps have been closed since August 8", observed the DWR's Kevin Dossey. "Right now we have two single-lane launch ramps operating, one at Bidwell Canyon and one at the Spillway. These low-water gravel ramps are accessed separately from the regular ramps, and offer easy launching for four-wheel drive vehicles.

"As the water continues to recede, DWR will be laying out military-style landing mats that are essentially steel traction grates at both locations. We don't have a lake level number that we think will finally prevent launching. Old-timers tell us that in 1977 the lake was down below 650 feet, and we know that we can maintain access down to that level."

Dossey advised, "Be sure to call ahead for the latest conditions, but we have no plans to cut off access to the lake at any elevation. On weekends and especially the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the Thermalito Afterbay may be a better bet for general water sports activities. On weekdays, boat traffic on the lake is surprisingly light, and we have had as few as 15 trailers parked at the Spillway lately."

For up to the minute Lake Oroville launching information, call the Department of Parks at 534-2329. The lake level information is temporarily unavailable online, but the DWR information recording at 534-2307 is updated daily.

Afterbay steelhead

The popular and productive fishery for steelhead in the Thermalito Afterbay will be slowing to a halt next year, due to a lack of surplus steelhead eggs from the Feather River, according to Department of Water Resources biologist Eric See. "Some steelhead to 24 inches are still being caught in the Afterbay", reported See. "We won't have any steelhead for stocking in the Afterbay next year, as the Feather River Hatchery did not end up with a surplus this year.

"This has nothing to do with the maintenance activity at the hatchery. We will plant steelhead again just as soon as we have surplus fish in excess of the 450,000 that are allocated to the Feather River each year."

Target range closure

After more than 30 years in operation, the Table Mountain Trap and Skeet range in Oroville has closed, with the alternatives for local clay target shooters being quite a bit further away. "The future for our local range is bleak", commented Bob Post at Huntington's in Oroville. "We still have all of the good modern machinery and other assets, but need a suitable piece of property." Currently, the closest locations for North Valley clay target shooters are Thunder Hill Ranch in Willows [934-2146] and Clear Creek Sports Club in Corning [520-9464].

Giant striper

Yet another potential California state-record fish was caught last week, but this time the catch will not make it to the record books. A mammoth 70.06- pound striped bass was caught in the O'Neill Forebay of San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos that eclipsed the official state record of 67 pounds, 8 ounces, caught at the same location back in 1992.

The 1992 catch is also the official world record for landlocked striped bass. However, the angler either did not know or did not care about the fishes' record potential, and promptly took it home for dinner before any official documentation could be done.

Trout plants

The DFG planted catchable-size trout this week in the following area waters: Butte County- Thermalito Forebay; Plumas County- Hamilton Branch Creek, Little Grass Valley Reservoir, Feather River north fork Almanor, Warner Creek, Shasta County- Baum Lake, Kilarc Reservoir, lower-upper Burney Creek, lower Clark Creek, middle-upper Hat Creek, North Battle Creek Reservoir; Tehama County- Deer Creek, South Fork Battle Creek.
Send your outdoor news items to Steve Carson via e-mail at scarson@sunset.net