By Don Quilici
BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said, "The snowmobilers are going in by way of Forestdale Creek but I've had no fishing reports from that area."
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that he was told that there are 8-10 inches of ice on the lake.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby reported, "On Sunday, I weighed in a beautiful, 9-pound rainbow that was taken by Richard Kligler of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
He caught it on 6-pound test line with a rainbow-colored, 1/4 ounce Krocodile lure.
He almost lost it when the wind began to blow the ice toward him."
In addition, Doug Busey reported that Steve Lightfoot of Douglas County got one bite in 3.5 hours of fishing.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) reported: "It has been real quiet out here. The afternoons have been perfect for fishing with the temps in the 60's.
There have been a few fishermen but no one has checked back in, after going fishing.
The water level is 80,000 acre feet and the reservoir is really low.
The shore fishing for Walleye should be good by the dam. Last, year, at this time, they caught an 8.5 pound Walleye over there."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette of the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported: "Fishing is OK but it has slowed down a little bit due to the cooler temperatures.
The trollers are trolling with Lyman, Apex, Flatfish and Kwikfish lures at Pelican Point, Spider Point and Warrior Point.
The jiggers are jigging with Gibb's minnows.
The fly fishermen are using black or purple Woolly Bugger, Woolly Worm or Pyramid Popcorn Beetle flies.
The best fly fishing has been in the last hours of the day on the north side of "The Nets."
The fly fishermen are catching about one fish per hour.
I was out Sunday and caught a lot of nice fish including a "Two-Footer." (24 inches in length)."
RED LAKE CALIF: Dave Kirby said that two ice fishermen reported that they limited out on Eastern brook trout.
They said that the lake had about one foot of solid ice with about 6-8 inches on slush on top of that. They also said the ice was weak along the edges and they fell through, up to their knees.
Kirby advises that fishermen not go out there, at the present time, due to the warm weather and thin ice.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) said:
Redding to Anderson: Water flow is 4,300 CFS.
Fly fishing for rainbow trout is on hold for now as winter weather approaches. Picking up a few fish spincasting.
Practicing catch and release.
Red Bluff: Fishing for Kings is still up and down.
Still catching a few nice King Salmon, 8-12 pounds. Occasional 30-40 pound Salmon.
Flatfish (T-50's & T-55's) and bouncing roe are best bet, both producing King Salmon.
Salmon season will remain open until January 14, 2005.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning and I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
I troll 250-550 feet deep in the deep-water area in front of Carnelian Bay and King's Beach.
We are using silver, Herring Dodger flasher blades with live minnows or large Apex lures."
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said: "The fishing is a little slow at Cal Neva Point and Dollar Point. The best trolling is at 120-250 feet with a short leader, silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
The larger Mackinaw are down deeper at a depth of 200-300 feet."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis reported that the bite has been steady at the Ski Run Shelf and the Ski Run Mound. He is trolling 160-240 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
Other fishermen are picking up Mackinaw while toplining between Camp Richardson and the Tahoe Keys.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported that he is trolling at a depth of 160-240 with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
Some small rainbows and an occasional small Mack are being caught by shore fishermen from the Cave Rock boat landing."
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Bud Higgins of Douglas County reported that his fishing party caught 14 cutthroat trout in 2.25 hours on Friday. They were trolling with Apex lures.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The weather is warm, for us. It has been down to about 15 degrees at night and the ice is still holding up OK.
We've got about 4-6 inches of ice on the reservoir and it is plenty thick enough for ice fishing.
Over the weekend, we had a couple dozen ice fishermen.
Ron Horchmann and his partner of Las Vegas caught a total of 10 trout and 30 Perch on Friday and Saturday.
They were jigging through the ice with white-colored, Crappie jigs with the hook tipped with a small piece of worm."