Thursday May 21, 2026
CDFW —
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) this spring conducted the largest rescue of Eagle Lake rainbow trout in more than a decade, returning approximately 5,800 adult fish to Eagle Lake that were at risk of becoming stranded in the lake’s main tributary, Pine Creek.
The emergency efforts occurred over four days in March and April and involved more than 25 CDFW biologists, hatchery staff and several community volunteers.
“These fish are long-lived so there’s a very good chance that fish returned to the lake could return in subsequent years to spawn again,” said Paul Divine, CDFW’s District Fisheries Biologist for Lassen and Modoc counties. “And it’s also putting adult-sized fish back in the lake that could be enjoyed by anglers to catch as well.”
Eagle Lake opens to trout fishing on Saturday, May 23 with a two-fish daily limit and a four-fish possession limit. Eagle Lake rainbow trout are endemic to Eagle Lake and its main tributary, Pine Creek. Catching an Eagle Lake rainbow trout within Eagle Lake qualifies toward CDFW’s Heritage Trout Challenge. Anglers can report their angling experience at CDFW’s California Inland Recreational Angler Survey (CIRAS).