We have openings for both of our popular scout programs at the John Muir Interpretive Center this month. You need to make reservations, so please call (925) 688-8010.

With naturalist Cat Taylor as your guide on Saturday, March 4, Junior Girls Scouts can explore the world of wild creatures as we investigate their habits and habitat in the field and then create a backyard habitat home. Activities are geared towards fulfillment of several requirements for Animal Habitats Badge for Junior Girl Scouts. Bring binoculars if you have them. It starts at 10 and continues until about 12:30

Also at 10 the next Saturday, March 11, bring your Webelos out for an adventure. Naturalist John Mottashed will lead your scouts on a nature hike to complete six of the nine "Into the Wild" requirements, including: watch for birds, learn about flyways, watch four wild creatures, identify an insect, learn about aquatic ecosystems, and visit a nature center.

Trout are fair at Los Vaqueros.  Catfish are picking up while stripers are slowing.   

Cowboy Cove gave us a 24.85 pound catfish on power eggs and South Cove gave up a number of fish including a 21-pound catfish, a 13.3 pounder and a 10.45 pound cat caught on anchovies and chicken liver.
 
Our boat rental discount is now 30 percent off on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  A three to five hour 16-foot rental is $35 and a full day rental is $50. Our pontoon boats were both damaged during storms in February, and are out of service right now.  We still have our fleet of 16-foot boats.
 
The water temperature has increased to 60 degrees. Water clarity is murky now, but clearing,

TROUT
Fishing for trout continues to be good even with the increased water temperature.  They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as Peninsula Cove.  The baits of choice for shore anglers is garlic scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers and Kastmaster lures.  Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs. There was a 1000 pound Lassen plant on February 22^nd.  There will be a plant next week. 

Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty.  Trout fishing is fair, mostly in the morning, with fish being caught from around the reservoir.  This past weekend Cowboy Cove produced some nice trout on a variety of baits.  With boats we are getting reports of fish being caught in Howden and Peninsula coves.  There is no need for line heavier than 6 lb test.

LARGEMOUTH BASS
Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout.  Keep in mind that largemouth need to be 12 inches to be kept.  Please release any big largemouth bass you might catch.  They are the future of largemouth bass fishing in the reservoir.  If you catch any of undersized fish please release them gently and allow them to grow up.

STRIPERS
Striper fishing has slowed due to the murkier waters from the rain.  Shakers are the main action with striped bass.  We are still seeing many undersized fish being caught for every keeper.  From shore, cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice.  Just a reminder, stripers need to be 18 inches or more to be legal.  Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible.  They are the future of our striped bass fishery.

CATFISH
Catfish were productive last week with fish being reported out of Cowboy and South Coves.  As the water warms we look to see more fish being caught.  For those wishing to target catfish, nightcrawlers and chicken liver are the best choices of bait.  Cowboy Cove gave us a 24.85 pound fish on power eggs and South Cove gave up and number of fish including a 21 pound catfish, a 13.3 pounder and a 10.45 pound fish caught on anchovies and chicken liver.