ROSEBURG, Ore. – Starting May 1, anglers can keep more trout from Diamond Lake for the 2011 season. An ODFW temporary rule May 1 – Oct. 27 lets anglers keep eight legal-sized trout per day instead of five. The rule still allows just one trout over 20 inches.

“This is going to be a great year to fish Diamond Lake,” said Laura Jackson, district fish biologist. “We’re starting the season with over 400,000 holdover trout – more than half of those are 16-plus inches, and the rest are in the 10 to 12-inch range. But with the lake’s productivity, even those smaller trout will be over 14 inches soon.”

The temporary harvest increase will help ODFW manage the Diamond Lake fishery to meet its ecological goals.

According to Jackson, forest fires and high gas prices interrupted the fishery in 2008 and 2009, leaving more trout in the lake. In response, ODFW reduced fingerling stocking in 2010 and is reducing it again this year. And although fishing was excellent in 2010, anglers released more than 76,000 fish.

“We’re working hard to meet the fishing and ecological needs of the lake – people keeping more fish this year will be a great help,” Jackson said. “We don’t want more fish left in the lake at the end of this season than what’s called for in our management plan. With gas prices rising again, we hope people make the most of their trip to Diamond Lake and keep the trout they catch.”

ODFW, the Forest Service, Portland State University and MaxDepth Aquatics are still actively monitoring Diamond Lake through creel surveys, benthic and water quality sampling. Jackson said factors, such as dissolved oxygen, benthics, zooplankton, fish growth and fish condition all met or exceeded desired levels in 2010.

“We’re hopeful the daily limit increase encourages people to keep more fish this year,” said Jackson.

Anglers are reminded that the Diamond Lake trout fishery opens this Saturday, April 23 with a limit of five fish per day until May 1 when it jumps to eight fish. Most of the lake is still under snow, ice and slush. Check with the Diamond Lake Resort for current conditions.

The mission of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. The agency consists of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, a commission-appointed director and a statewide staff of approximately 950 permanent employees. Headquartered in Salem, ODFW has regional offices in Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend, and La Grande with ten district offices located throughout the state. For additional information, please visit www.dfw.state.or.us.