Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

Got an early launch at lime saddle, right about 5:30 am, stopped fishing at 9:30 am as the heat began to warm up. Lake level seems to be about the same, not much change since last week, exact level?? website is down. Water still warm, 80-81 degrees in most locations. Bite was fair, better fish this week, only two dinks at 12", with one 16", one 15 1/2" one 14 1/2" and some weird fish, never seen one before, for a total of 21 fish. Does anyone know what the heck this fish is. My better fish came from about 30-35 foot range, where the water feels better then the surface temps.

I think those are squawfish, I'm sure there's information on this forum if you search pike minnow or squawfish. My PB is a 5 pounder on a swimbait from Oroville. Broke my heart seeing it and not a giant bass come to the boat!

It's definitely a squaw fish. Most lakes want you to kill everyone you catch. They are invasive and love to eat baby bass

the fish you caught is called a "Sacramento Pike Minnow " (formally known as squawfish before it was determined to be offensive to native Americans despite the fact it was native Americans themselves that they came up with the name )
It is one of the few warm water species native to California and is not invasive and basically a giant minnow .

Most baby bass get eaten by other bass. It's how the whole thing works. Killing a few Pike minnows won't make a bit of difference.

First pike minnow caught in 5 years or more of fishing Oroville. Don't think a large population exists. Released this one, probably release any future catches. Fun to catch, felt a little odd, not like any bass feel I've ever caught.