Who wants to go fishing? SLO County lake will be stocked with trout for first time in years
San Luis Obispo County anglers will soon have a fresh spot to hook a trout — on Friday, Atascadero Lake will be stocked with hundreds of new fish.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will plant 300 to 500 Triploid sterile trout in the lake at 10:30 a.m. off Lakeview Drive across from the paddle boat concession area, said Terrie Banish, deputy city manager.
The trout will measure 10 to 13 inches long and have been designated as “catch and eat,” not “catch and release,” Banish said.
Fish and Wildlife are releasing the fish as part of an effort to create more fishing opportunities in urban areas of the county, Banish said.
The agency will conduct a second, similar plant on March 23, she said.
Fish and Wildlife will also plant trout in Barney Schwartz Park Lake in Paso Robles and Lopez Lake in the South County around the same time, according to a fish planting schedule on the department’s website.
It’s been more than five years since the lake was stocked, Banish said in an email.
“This project collaboration has been four years in the making,” Banish said. “Now that Atascadero Lake is sustainable, it was chosen as an ideal place for the introduction of the fish.”
Fishers age 16 and older must purchase a license to catch fish in California. For more information, visit Fish and Wildlife’s inland sport fishing page at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland.
On May 16, Friends of Atascadero Lake will host the fifth annual LakeFest, featuring cardboard boat races and a fishing derby. For more information, visit friendsofatascaderolake.com.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 1:45 PM.
