DFG Offers Urban Fishing Program For Trout And Catfish   By: Dan Bacher February 11, 2008 More Articles by Dan

When I was a kid, there were no organized fishing programs introducing anglers to recreational fishing. We had to learn about fishing from our parents, other relatives, siblings or our peers. If you didn't have a relative or neighbor that fished, you learned about fishing on your own by reading and going out to water to get advice on fishing techniques, hoping that somebody would be nice enough to clue you in to what was going on.

That all changed with the introduction of the "Fishing in the City" program by the Department of Fish and Game in 1993 to improve angling opportunities to California's growing urban population. I was at the ceremony and press conference that started the Sacramento area program at Southside Park in 1993. Since that time, I have regularly attended the organization's seminars and events and I've been impressed how "Fishing in the City" has continued in a time of budget constraints.

In a time of increasing recreational fishing regulations and closures of formerly accessible waters, the "Fishing in the City" program and regional programs similar to it is a bright, shining beacon of fishing opportunities. "Fishing in the City" is offered in four metropolitan areas besides the Sacramento area: the San Francisco Bay area, San Jose area and Los Angeles and Orange counties.

I consider the "Fishing in the City program" to be the DFG's best and most worthwhile program, one that should be expanded. One of the reasons for the program's consistent level of success in the Sacramento and Stockton areas is due to the dedication of its staff, including program coordinator Joe Ferreira and seasonal aides Don Paganelli and Norm Dorris.

The Department of Fish and Game's portion of Fishing in the City is entirely funded from Federal Aid through the Sport Fish Restoration Fund. This Federal excise tax on fishing equipment and motor boat fuels is returned back to the states to support sport fishing restoration and education programs.

The Department will be stocking four ponds in the Sacramento area every week with 1200 pounds of trout from now through the end of February, according to Joe Ferreira, program coordinator.

William Land, Howe Park in Sacramento, Hagen Park in Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove Park will be stocked every Friday. Other parks, such as Florin Creek and North Laguna parks, are planted for special events, according to Ferreira. The American River Fish Hatchery also stocks rainbow trout in Mather and Gibson Ranch parks.

In spite of intermittent cold rain, some 70 anglers including many families with children showed up at William Land Park in Sacramento on Saturday, January 5. Interestingly enough, this pond was one of the first that I ever fished as a child, after fishing Folsom Lake and the North Fork of the American. I used to catch little green sunfish with nightcrawlers in this pond many years before trout plants started.

Ferreira, Paganelli and a cadre of dedicated volunteers began renting out rods and reels, and tackle as people moved into the park to fish that morning. The day before was the biggest storm of the season so far, with over 2.5 inches of rain recorded in Sacramento and wind gusts approaching hurricane force.

"The main thing we are trying to do with this program is to give those who don't normally have the ability to fish the opportunity to do so," said Paganelli. "This program is especially important for introducing kids to fishing. We get a lot of first time anglers at these events, including single moms and dads with their children."

The parks in the Sacramento area have another advantage to other fishing locations almost all are handicapped accessible, making it possible for those who would find access to fishing spots difficult a chance to experience the fun and excitement of fishing.

Paganelli has been with the program as a volunteer for six years and as a DFG seasonal aide for three years. "To see the big smiles on the faces of children who have never caught a fish before gives you feeling that you can't describe," said Paganelli.

The Calaveras Fish Farm had planted 300 pounds of rainbow trout the day before, in spite of the howling winds and heavy rain. When people began arriving at the park, the fish were acclimated and fishing was good for those that braved the weather.

When I arrived at William Land that morning, Xiong Pao and his fishing partners were walking out with several hard fighting rainbows to 2 pounds. As I walked around the lake, the reports of success were mixed, with some anglers reporting fish and others not.

Eight-year-old Justen Terrell of Sacramento caught his first-ever fish, a big, bold rainbow, while fishing Power Bait with Wanda, his mother, and Leonna, his sister. Chris Vue was one of the most successful anglers, bagging 4 rainbows while soaking Power Bait.

Four-year-old Raul Lopez and his uncle, David Sanchez, caught a heavy stringer of trout also. And Blong Vang of Fresno successfully battled 2 trout while soaking Power Bait.

The fishing clinic at William Land Park, co-sponsored by the City of Sacramento, was followed with a clinic on January 18 from 8:30 at noon at Hagan Park.

The upcoming clinics follow:
January 26: 8:30 a.m. Noon Elk Grove Park. Cosponsor: Community Services District (next to Elk Grove High School on Elk Grove Florin Road).

February 2: 6:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Oak Grove Park in Stockton. Sponsors: San Joaquin County Parks and Delta Flyfishers call: 209-331-2050 (At I5 and Eight Mile Road, north of Stockton).

February 9: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Florin Creek Park. Sponsors: Parkway Neighborhood Assn. and Southgate R&P District (on Persimmon Drive in the Parkway Neighborhood).

February 16: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Howe Park Derby (registration fees required). Sponsor: Fulton El Camino Recreation & Park District (on Cottage Way at Howe Avenue in Sacramento) call: (916) 927-3802.

According to the DFG website, "Fishing in the City" has four simple objectives: provide fishing opportunities close to home; teach a new generation the joys of fishing; build support for aquatic resource stewardship; and develop fishing programs by communities for communities.

How are lakes selected for the program? Here are the basic criteria: Is the lake within an urban area accessible by public transportation, bicycle, etc? Can the lake biologically sustain a year round fishery? Are there water quality problems that would make the fish unsafe to eat? Does the lake manager support fishing and are they wiling to maintain the site for fishing? Is there community support for a fishing program volunteers, businesses, schools?

After the trout planting program ends, the program will begin stocking channel catfish from the free fishing day in through the free fishing day in September in the generally same ponds as the trout are stocked in during the winter.

The schedule of clinics for the summer program will be released this spring. The Department plans to stock 20,000 pounds of fish during this time, according to Ferreira.

For more information about planting times and fishing clinics, call Joe Ferreira at 916-358-2877 or 916-358-1644.

Bay Area Fishing in the City

San Francisco Bay Area: Contact Ethan Rotman: erotman@dfg.ca.gov (415) 892-0460

Community Fishing and Watershed Education programs provide opportunities to enjoy aquatic resources while helping community members understand the role they play in maintaining clean and healthy waterways. This is achieved through the cooperation of community institutions including schools, service clubs, local government, park agencies, water districts, storm water pollution prevention programs, tackle retailers, California Department of Fish and Game and anyone else that is interested in kids, fishing and clean water.

The ultimate goal is to create repeatable fishing experiences, improve recreational opportunities for residents of your community, and to create stewards of our waterways.

List of 2008 events: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishinginthecity/sf/events.html

South Bay Fishing in the City (SBFIC): Contact Ethan Rotman: erotman@dfg.ca.gov (415) 892-0460

SBFIC began in 1995. This community-based program teaches children and their families how to fish while integrating watershed education into the fun. The focus is on teaching skills in an effort to create repeatable fishing experiences.

SBFIC sponsors eleven events every year, and each event is run almost entirely by volunteers! In 2006, more than 1,500 inner city, school age children learned how to become responsible anglers and respect the environment.

SBFIC is a partnership between the Department of Fish & Game, The City of San Jose, Bay Area Sport Fishers, Rotary Clubs of District 5170, and Santa Clara County Parks. Local Rotary clubs sponsor each event and work with a specific elementary school as well as a high school Interact club to teach the participants how to fish both in the classroom and on site.

SBFIC provides recreational experience for the families and children participating. It fosters human development by working with high school youth to help instruct the younger participants. SBFIC increases cultural unity through the selection of schools served and use of bi-lingual translators. SBFIC encourages the protection of natural resources by discussing watershed pollution and teaches participants how to prevent this. The program also fosters and strengthens community image and sense of place by uniting the local Rotary clubs with the local schools and community.

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