The lake stocked 2,000 pounds of big fish and the DFG planted 1,000 pounds of catchables for a kids derby on April 21, the weekend before the stream trout opener and the opening of the lake to boating, according to Dobbs.

For example, Bruce Griggs of Paradise, the six-year old boy who landed the top fish in this year's derby, could barely contain himself after catching a 4.6 pound rainbow. "He told me that he wants to become a professional fisherman when he grows up," said Dobbs.

Since only approximately 5 percent of the trophy fish were caught during the derby, Dobbs figures that these fish will provide good action throughout the season as they hold over in the lake. "Three creeks empty into the lake, including Little Butte Creek, and we have already seen holdover rainbows that have spawned, as indicated worn bottom tails," he noted.

The recycling program makes approximately $1,000, while the Butte County Fish and Game Commission kicks in $1500 per year to buy trout. Dobbs is assisted in his efforts to maintain and improve the trout and other fish in the lake by the Paradise Lake Enhancement Committee.

Paradise Lake, managed by the Paradise Irrigation District, is the drinking water supply for the town of Paradise, so it is strictly regulated. The reservoir, built in 1954, was not opened to recreation until 1967. The lake covers 244 acres and is surrounded by heavily wooded land typical of the 3,000 feet elevation. It has a shoreline of 7.5 miles and holds 11,500 acre foot of water when full.

The boat use season on the lake is only from the last Saturday in April through November 15. During the off season, anglers are only allowed to bank fish in the main picnic area on the south shore; the entire north shore is closed to recreation. Wading, bathing and swimming are prohibited at all times. In addition, only electric motors are allowed on the lake.

I made my first trip ever to Paradise Lake on May 5, the weekend after the lake opened to boating, to fish with Ron Stover of Swamp Creek Guide Service. Stover and his partner, Mike, are very memorable characters, since they specialize in doing camp outs and going to black powder rendezvous in the garb and gear typical of mountain men in the 1830's. Some may know them from the San Mateo International Sportsmen's Exposition where they set up a "camp" with authentic period clothes, bedding, cooking utensils, guns and teepees.

I had a great time fishing with Stover during the Shasta-Cascade Wonderland Association Writers Appreciation weekend, held in Butte County this year. The fishing was relatively tough in the morning, but we managed to catch two trout in the 12 inch class while trolling. I caught my fish on a red/gold Cripplure, while Stover landed his fish on a nightcrawler behind a Ford Fender.

However, the bite picked up when we met up about 1 p.m. with Pete Otteson of the Stockton Record, fresh from catching lots of trout in a remote creek. While drifting Power Bait, Otteson landed three more rainbows, boosting the day's total to five trout, while I lost the biggest fish of the day while drifting Predator Bait.

Everybody we saw caught fish, with an overall average of 2 to 3 fish per rod. This is definitely a lake to bring kids and families, and it is apt that the biggest fish this day were caught by children fishing from the bank. Robin Card of Chico, her sister, Sadie, and grandfather, Earl Coulbourne, had already landed six trout, including a beautiful 3 pound holdover, tossing Power Bait from the bank by 10 a.m.

"When the bite is on, it's really on at Paradise Lake," explained Stover. "This is my favorite lake to bring kids, especially for bluegill. Since the water is so clear, the kids can see the fish when they hit and get really excited. The fishing for bass and catfish is also good here when the water warms up."

The DFG stocks 5,000 pounds of catchable trout in Paradise Lake from February through May, according to Ron Hunerlach at the American River Fish Hatchery in Rancho Cordova.

German browns provide a sleeper trophy fishery at Paradise. "The browns come into the lake through the creeks and flumes," said Rick Dunkel at the Golden Eagle's Nest in Paradise.

"The DFG and BLM also transports browns into Paradise Lake when they shut down the flumes."

The lake brown trout record stands at 15 pounds, caught by the 5-year-old daughter of Randy Smith in 1985. She landed the big fish while fishing a 1/12 ounce Kastmaster on a Zebco Snoopy Rod.

The lake has a unique largemouth fishery. "You're not going to catch the numbers of bass that you catch at Oroville nor the size of the fish you take at Clear Lake, but you have a good chance of catching several fish in the 6 to 8 pound range if you fish the lake regularly," said Dobbs.

The lake largemouth record, set 12 years ago, stands at 15 pounds, 3 ounces. Dobbs caught the lake's second largest bass, weighing 13 pounds, 9 ounces, on March 3, 1993 using a plastic worm. "Worms in clear and opaque colors, such as a light root beer with chartreuse tail, work the best," noted Dobbs. Bluegill are the primary forage, so baits that imitate them, as well as crawdads, will produce the most bass.

Dobbs holds the lake record for channel catfish, a 26 pounder caught on chicken liver in September 1990. "Fall, when the water is low and warm, is the best time to catch the catfish."

In addition to catching the lake's catfish record, Dobbs also holds the lake's bluegill record, a 2.9 pound beauty.

Paradise Lake is open from 1 hour before sunrise until 9 p.m. and is closed every Wednesday. For more information, contact (530) 873-1040 or www.paradiseirrigation.com. For fishing information, contact Ron Stover of Swamp Creek Guide Service, (530) 873-4397, or Golden Eagle's Nest, Paradise, (530) 872-2323.