SLO County creeks were full of fish more than a century ago — including a 29-inch trout
Trout season was an event worthy of front-page coverage in San Luis Obispo County in the early 20th century.
My grandma Betty talked about going out as a kid to catch “a mess of fish” in the branch of the Corral de Piedra Creek that ran through her family’s ranch.
Grandma Mary’s brothers fished along the banks of Pismo Creek near their home.
These days, most of the fishing is at manmade lakes designed to hold back water from the creeks.
Aquifers are tapped and pumped in the dry years.
Reservoirs, levees, weirs and culverts all have changed the natural environment.
Additional damage to the habitat was wrought by careless chemical dumping — including oily runoff from roads, oil production, sewers slow to upgrade and other chemical byproducts.
While there have been many efforts to restore habitat, trout fishing has never returned to early 20th-century levels of excitement.
Even in 1916, it was known that the resource was finite. Anglers were limited to 10 fish.
Back then, SLO County creeks teemed with fish, as reported in this story from the Friday, May 5, 1916, weekly Tribune. The article was originally published in the Tuesday daily edition.
THE TROUT SEASON
Nearly Every Fisherman Was Lucky With the Rod
The trout season opened yesterday and it was quite noticeable that several of the business men and some others were absent from their accustomed places, having fared forth to find out what luck they would have angling for trout. Many of the fishermen returned to town during the afternoon and last evening, and all had managed to make a good catch and others had secured the limit. It was noted that many of the trout are much larger than usual at the opening of the season, and from reports fish abound in every stream.
Former Sheriff Younglove and Jas. Guthrie returned from Atascadero Creek where they caught some fine trout, many of the fish averaging over twelve inches in length. They say the Atascadero creek is full of fish this year.
Messrs. Moore and Hughston found similar conditions at Tassajera Creek in the Santa Margarita section, and brought home plenty of fish.
As usual Judge Mallagh and a party of friends were out and returned with full baskets.
Andrew Mitchell and Maurice Fitzgerald were fishing the Edna section where there were plenty of trout, several being of large size.
John Fitzgerald and Raymond Hearne put in the day at Atascadero Lake. There the limit is ten, and they secured the limit, one of which measured 29 inches in length and weighed four pounds.
It is expected that other parties who will return tonight will bring full baskets. It is reported that in the Cambria and San Simeon districts the streams are alive with trout and several good catches were made there yesterday.
