In the late 1870s ,the California Fish & Game Commission began experimental fish plantings in Northeastern California. One of these so-called exotic species, or non-native, was catfish. They thrived. Below is account from the Reno Evening Gazette of January 10, 1883: “The Susanville correspondent relates the following regarding the catfish that were planted in Lassen County waters three years ago. M. Marstellar caught a fine string of catfish in the Susan River, the largest of which weighed 12 pounds. These fish, or their progenitors were planted in the Susan River by the State Fish Commission, four years ago. His deputy T.B. Sanders, has planted fish in the waters of Eagle Lake, Willow Creek, Honey Lake and Piute Creek, on several different occasions during the past three years. Sanders recently a caught a catfish which was stranded on a sand bar in Piute Creek, that weight 14 pounds.”
While the catfish thrived in Honey Lake, the fish would subjected to harsh conditions. Herewith is an account from the Lassen Weekly Mail of 3 January 1913 – It is said that thousands of catfish have died in Honey Lake recently, the dead fish in some places covering the shore to a depth of five and six inches. Some ascribe the mortality to the fact that the lake has been frozen over in several instances.”