First trout plant of yearat Indian Creek Reservoir

By Don Quilici

LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: No report.

LAKE ALPINE, CALIF: No report.

BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open May 8.

BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF: Closed.

BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: No report.

BLUE LAKES, NEV: Will open June 12.

BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.

BOULDER RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: No report.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Closed.

BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF: No report.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) reported the action was quiet this last weekend, probably due to the great weather.

One angler said he caught several average size rainbow trout.

There were a number of snowshoers who hiked into Winnemucca Lake.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: Closed.

CARSON RIVERS, NEV: No report.

CATNIP RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Will open Sept. 1.

CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Closed.

CRATER LAKE, CALIF. (Near Kit Carson Pass): No report.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Closed.

DAVIS CREEK POND AT DAVIS CREEK PARK IN WASHOE VALLEY: No report.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Still iced over with some open water showing at several locations.

DONNER LAKE, CALIF: No report.

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: No report.

FEATHER RIVER AT ORVILLE, CALIF: Closed.

FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, NEV: No report.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post (530) 993-4683 or (530) 993-4721 at Chilcoot, Calif. sent in this report: "The nice springlike weather that we have been enjoying has made the ice fishing unsafe.

There is about 4-6 feet of open water near the shore.

We should have lots of open water for bank fishing in the next week or so.

The roads on the east side are pretty clear but very muddy so be careful not to get stuck."

FROG LAKE, CALIF. (On the hiking trail into Winnemucca Lake): No report.

GREEN LAKE, CALIF: Closed.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Closed.

HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): No report.

HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open May 1.

HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: Closed.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Is completely ice free.

Dave Kirby reported that it was fairly quiet during the entire weekend.

Doug Busey of Douglas County reported he counted more than 40 fishermen on Sunday.

One boat angler reportedly caught two rainbows.

The shore fishing was rated as slow, with a few fish being caught.

According to Kirby, the first trout plant of the year will be made this week. There will be a total of 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout from the American Trout and Salmon Hatchery at Susanville, Calif.

Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): No report.

JUNE LAKE LOOP AREA, CALIF: Closed.

KINNEY RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.

KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open June 12.

LOWER KINNEY LAKE: No report.

KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: Closed.

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) said, "The reservoir currently has over 160,000 acres feet of water and is rising.

We had a great weekend and the fishermen completely cleaned us out of minnows.

They were catching White Bass at Virginia Beach, 3-4 pound Wipers in the Narrows and the dam area was producing some Walleyes.

I can't believe the number of people who called to say that they saw me on the TV show (The Outdoor Recreation Show). That is a very popular outdoor show."

In addition, Norm Budden and Marty Martinez of Carson City trolled for Walleye on Friday and got "skunked."

LEAVITT LAKE, CALIF: Closed.

LIBERTY POND IN CHURCHILL COUNTY: No report.

LUNDY LAKE, CALIF: Closed.

MAMMOTH LAKES AREA, CALIF: Closed.

MARKLEEVILLE CREEK, CALIF: Closed.

MT. VIEW PARK POND IN YERINGTON: No report.

NORTH POND, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Has been drained almost dry and is unfishable.

ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open June 12.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Closed.

PARADISE PONDS ON NORTH EDGE OF RENO/SPARKS: No report.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: A representative of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) said, "Fishing was really good over the weekend with lots of fish, but nothing big, being caught by boaters, spincasters and fly fishermen.

The fishing was reported to be good everywhere and the weather was beautiful.

The fly fishermen, as usual, were doing very good at "The Nets."

George (George Molino of Pyramid Lake Charters) did great over the weekend but I don't know the exact number that they caught. He has been trolling with Apex lures.

The check station was busy all day yesterday (Sunday).

RAYMOND LAKE, CALIF: No report.

RANCHO SAN RAFAEL POND IN RENO: No report.

RED LAKE, CALIF: No report.

ROOSEVELT-LANE LAKES, CALIF: Closed.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing in Redding (800-670-4448) said: "The water release is 7,300 CFS. Water level is dropping and fishing for rainbow trout is starting to pick up again.

No. 16 PT's, No. 14 & 16 Mayfly Nymphs and egg patterns are working well in slower water. "

SCOTT'S LAKE: No report.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: No report.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Rainbows 1-3 pounds. Trolling with Shad pattern lures. Bass fishing is good with rubber worms or crank baits.

SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported, "We are hooking gorgeous chrome, trophy Steelhead trout with 2-6 fish days.

Bouncing roe, drifting from Hiouchi to Ruby, a 12-mile stretch with fantastic scenery and fishing."

SOUTH FORK RESERVOIR, NEV: No report.

SPARKS MARINA (in Sparks): No report.

SPOONER LAKE, NEV: No report.

SQUAW CREEK RESERVOIR (north of Gerlach in Washoe County): No report.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "Fishing has been up and down. One day it is good and the next day, it is slow.

We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning. I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones. Currently catching mostly average size fish, with nothing super big.

I'm trolling 250-550 feet deep in the 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, "I had Gary Ashby and Maurice "Mo" White of Carson City with me, last Friday.

It was a beautiful day, weather-wise, but the fish had lock-jaw and were not biting.

We trolled at depths of 200-400 feet at Cal-Neva Point and Agate Bay with Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.

For the entire day, between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., we had a number of strikes and finally ended up catching and keeping two 5-pound Macks."

I guess that is why it's called fishing and not catching."

LAKE TAHOE - South Shore:

Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said: "It's been good in front of Camp Richardson at 220 feet deep with a short leader and Dodgers and live minnows.

They are catching Macks, mostly in the 2-5 pound class, with several in the 6-9 pound range.

There is good Mack action on the Ski Run Mound if you like to jig.

Eagle Point has been very good for toplining in 20-25 feet of water with a No. 11, black/gold Rapala lure.

Watch out for the rocks when you're in that shallow water."

LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:

Gene St. Denis said, "Cave Rock Shelf has been producing Macks at 160-240 feet. They average 2-5 pounds.

Toplining has been good at places like Deadman Point, Sand Harbor, Skunk Harbor, Skyland Point and Zephyr Point.

Our toplining catches are 1/3 rainbows, 1/3 browns and 1/3 Mackinaws.

When toplining, I use a small Sepps flasher with either a live minnow or small Rapala lures.

We also use silver flasher blades and worms. Troll slow in 25 feet of water, so the flashers just barely flutter. For best results use a No. 11, black/silver Rapala lure and watch out for the rocks."

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550) said, "The fish were biting all last week and over the weekend, with lots of limits by boaters and shore fishermen.

The weather has been absolutely beautiful with no wind.

Most of the boaters were catching their limits, just about everywhere.

Their fish were being caught on Rapala or Needlefish lures, behind silver flasher blades.

The boaters were trolling in the top 10-20 feet of water, out toward the center of the lake.

The shore fishermen were using Power Bait on the north and southwest sides of the lake.

Cliff Goodson of Wellington caught a tagged fish worth $50.

Chris Gallup of Gardnerville caught the largest fish of the week: a 2-pound, 8-ounce (19 inch) rainbow. He was trolling flashers with a nightcrawler on the south end."

In addition, Andy Moore of Carson City reported that he caught two rainbows and his neighbors caught nine on Sunday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

They were trolling with broken back Rapala lures along the north shore at a depth of about 10-15 feet.

TRUCKEE RIVER:

Little Truckee River, Calif: Closed.

Truckee River, Calif: Closed.

Truckee River, Nev: No report.

Truckee Canal, Nev: No report.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Closed.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Closed.

VIRGINIA LAKE IN RENO: No report.

WALKER LAKE, NEV: See today's Outdoors column by Don Quilici.

In addition, Bob "Slick" McCulloch and Don Hettrick of Carson City trolled on the south end on Friday. They caught a total of three Cutthroat trout, with the largest being 21 inches.

Another report of a boat catching a total of nine fish over on the east side on Friday.

WALKER RIVERS:

East Walker (Calif.): Closed.

West Walker (Calif.): Closed.

East Walker (Nev.): No report.

West Walker (Nev.): No report.

Little Walker (Calif.): Closed.

WASHOE LAKE, NEV: No report.

WEBER RESERVOIR, NEV: No report.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 checked in and said, "The weather is beautiful, up here. It got up to 60 degrees on Sunday.

The snow is melting and the creeks are starting to run.

However, we still have over three feet of ice on the reservoir.

Our Ice Fishing Perch Derby was last weekend and the winning perch was 11 3/4 inches long.

The fishermen are jigging with lead-head jigs with plastic tails and the hooks tipped with a piece of worm, mealworm or cocktail shrimp.

Most of the fishermen are near the island in front of the State Park."