Activities

Fish Cage Rearing Program

The AFA's ongoing Fish Rearing Cage Program is now in its 18th year.  The picture below left shows one of our hardy volunteers feeding the fish.   The picture on the right shows the floating cages and their feeding hoppers at their anchor site at the Hamilton Branch.

DFG  will again deliver 50,000 Eagle Lake Trout to the Almanor Fishing Association for the fish cage program.  The fish will be transferred from the truck to a transfer cage and then to the holding cages where they will remain for the winter.  See picture below on right. AFA volunteers will then feed the fish on a daily basis throughout the winter. When the fish are delivered, they average 4-6 inches long. When they are released starting in May,  they are usually 11 to 14 inches long.   The cages are then cleaned and remain anchored in the Hamilton Branch to await next years' delivery.  

To date, over 1,000,000 Eagle Lake Trout have been released into Lake Almanor by the Almanor Fishing Association's Fish Cage Rearing Program.  The California Department of Fish and Game also plants an average of 225,000 German Brown, Eagle Lake Trout and King Salmon annually at different locations around Lake Almanor.

The Lake Almanor "Fish Pen Project", one of the largest and most successful pen projects in the State, appeared to be in danger of ending. After 24 years in the water, the cages needed repairs, the supporting timber and floats were water-logged and looked like one big storm away from breaking apart. The AFA Board of Directors and membership were very concerned and were working to keep this program moving forward.