Steve Martarano, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 654-5866

Julie Cunningham, DFG Staff Environmental Scientist, (530) 832-4069

The daily bag limit for trout has been doubled to 10 per day at Lake Davis in Plumas County through the end of the summer.

The increase, recently adopted by the Fish and Game Commission and approved by the Office of Administrative Law to take effect on Thursday, May 10, comes as the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) prepares to treat the reservoir with rotenone to eradicate the predatory, non-native northern pike. Lake Davis is the only body of water in California where northern pike are known to exist.

"Raising the daily bag limit will give anglers hoping to catch a good number of trout greater opportunities to do so before our pike eradication project begins," said Ed Pert, manager of the Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project. "The higher limit for trout will allow for maximum use of this resource, which would otherwise be lost during an eradication project."

While the daily take limit has been increased, the statewide possession limit of 10 trout remains in effect. No changes have been made to take or possession limits for any other species in Lake Davis or for trout in any other waters.

The new regulations also will require any angler catching a northern pike at Lake Davis or its tributaries to immediately kill the pike and return it to the water. Anyone caught moving a live northern pike to another body of water may be subject to a maximum $50,000 fine and/or up to one year in jail. A person convicted of a violation may also be liable for any damages. In addition, a reward of up to $50,000 could go to anyone providing information towards the arrest and conviction of a person moving a live pike.

In January, DFG Director Ryan Broddrick approved a project to eradicate pike from Lake Davis, which is on U.S. Forest Service land. Eradication will begin after Labor Day weekend using CFT Legumine, a new liquid formulation of rotenone. Targeted reservoir water levels for the eradication project will allow for optimal recreational opportunities throughout the months leading up to treatment. Public access to Lake Davis and its tributaries will be prohibited during treatment.