Their Story

 
Cal Heritage Trout Logo

Brown Trout in McCloud River Redband Creek

A fisheries biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed it: Brown Trout exist in Trout Creek which is critical habitat for McCloud River Redband.

Michael Dege, a biologist with the Heritage and Wild Trout Program responsed to my query with on the issue. I've included his response in full below.

Thanks for your interest in the Heritage and Wild Trout Program and our native trout in California. To answer your questions:

"My question is CDFW aware of brown trout being present in Trout Creek?"

Yes. Even though we chemically treated this creek back in 1977, we discovered Brown Trout in Trout Creek more recently. Both the USFS and CDFW have been involved in physical removing Brown Trout to help reduce/control this localized population in Trout Creek. With our sampling efforts, it appears the Brown Trout are confined to the lower section of Trout Creek and if you fish above the campground, you will have a better change of catching a McCloud Redband Trout.

"And is there a healthy population of redbands I can target next season in any of the other nearby creeks (e.g., Edison)?"

Unfortunately most of the McCloud Redband streams are closed to fishing to protect this species, but Swamp Creek and Trout Creek remain open for anglers to catch a McCloud Redband. One of the better populations we have for McCloud Redband is in Swamp Creek. I would target that stream next season to catch a McCloud Redband (no other trout species exist in this stream besides McCloud Redband).

Thank you,
Michael Dege
Fisheries Biologist
Heritage and Wild Trout Program
 

-