20 January 14 , 2022 MAP FEATURE VOL . 41 • ISS . 1
Thr Bidwell Bar Bridge on Highway 160 is an iconic landmark on Lake Oroville . Photo by Dan Bacher .
Angler catches gigantic rainbow trout in Thermalito Diversion Pool below Oroville Dam
O n December 7 , Josh Giordano of Bangor was fishing a slip bobber with a small swim bait in the Thermalito Diversion Pool on the Feather River in the Oroville State Recreation Area below Oroville Dam when he hooked and released a huge rainbow trout that he estimated to be 38.2 pounds , based on the fish ’ s measurements of 41 inches in length and 27 inches in girth . By contrast , the current inland rainbow state trout record recognized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife of 27 pounds , caught by Frank Palmer in Lake Natoma in 2005 , measured 37.5 inches long and 26 inches in girth . Giordano caught his giant trout while using a 10 ’ 6 ” Okuma rod with a Pflueger President spinning reel , spooled with 20-pound test PowerPro Braid and topped by a15-pound test
Sunline FC leader . But this fish will not be certified as a record fish because Giordano chose to release the fish back into the water so it could swim another day . Certification of a state record requires that the fish be weighed on a certified scale and examined by a CDFW biologist . On his first cast that day , Giordano reported a “ very good bite ” but missed it . “ I could see the teeth marks on the lure , so I put a fresh swimbait back and started ripping it about 50 feet out . That ’ s when the bobber went down aggressively ,” explained Giordano . “ When I hooked this fish , I knew immediately how giant it was when it peeled off 150 yards of line in about 20 seconds . I have never seen the power of a fish like It . The fish continued to jump , tail walk and do things I ’ ve never seen fish do on the surface ,” he said .
“ The battle went on for about 15 minutes when it settled into a consistent hard steady pull . I would get some line and he would take some line getting into the 45-minute mark ,” he noted . “ I was starting to get nervous as the fish got closer but it never got tired ,” he recalled . “ I was about to land him when he decided to do another hundred-yard run and the battle was on again . In an hour and 10 heart-stopping minutes , I was able to get my two hands on his tail .” After Giordano took the fish ’ s measurements , some photos and a video of the release , the fish swam back into the cold , clear water . Giordano said he could have killed this fish for a potential state record , but he let the fish go “ because of the respect I have for them , but also in hopes that one of our young upcoming anglers has a shot at becoming a legend or even record holder .” Giordano has caught numerous other trophy and record-class rainbows in the pool , including a 25.25-pound rainbow in May 2020 , followed later by a 28.9l-pound fish that he opted
Joshua Giordano ’ s massive rainbow trout measured 41 inches in length and 27 inches in girth .
Photo courtesy of Joshua Giordano .
Joshua Giordano of Bangor hooked and released this rainbow trout estimated to weigh 38.2 pounds in the Thermalito Diversion Pool in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area on December 7 , 2021 .
Photo courtesy of Joshua Giordano
not to submit for a record . “ I ’ m not after records in a book ,” said Giordano . “ I do it for the pure passion I have for catching these magnificent fish . I do always look for a record for my personal best , as it challenges me to become a better angler .” California has three separate records for rainbow trout , depending upon the fish ’ s origin and location . The huge rainbow caught by Josh Giordano would have been eligible for submission for state inland rainbow trout record if he had weighed it on a