Brand New CIFFI Berryessa Pens Have Been deployed!

Trophy fishing at Lake Berryessa is getting a long-anticipated boost. With the deployment of four - heavy gauge aluminum trout pens, Berryessa will enjoy a heavy plant of trout that will grow and adapt to the Berryessa waters.  Going into the pens small and released well adapted and beyond mere catchable size, these fish will be the annual seed stock to ensure Berryessa maintains its trophy trout prowess.  Located at Markley Cove, these pens are ready to accept the first round of fish in over four years. This was a long term capital investment that the California Inland Fisheries Foundation (CIFFI - Project Kokanee) Board of Directors committed to three years ago, when the existing pens were at the end of their useful life.  CIFFI looked to the pens utilized at Lake Almanor (Almanor Fishing Association) for a design that would be robust and secure enough to prevent fish loss from otter predation.  

Special thanks to Board Member Alan Grossman for leading this effort and to other volunteers for getting the docking system prepped and pens installed.

The food storage shed has been landed and food has been purchased so we are ready for the January/February plant of Eagle Lake strain rainbow trout.

A big thank you to Markley Cove for stepping up and volunteering to feed the fish twice a day, starting in January and through the spring when the trout will be released.

This effort could not have happened without volunteer hours and generous donations to fund the pens and ongoing food needs.

If you are interested in making donations to assist in the ongoing food costs of this pen, please reach out; donations are tax deductible and your donations will go directly to support the trophy angling opportunities at Lake Berryessa.