BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Both Upper and Lower Blue were fishing strong with a number of limits. Shore fishermen using inflated nightcrawlers or Power Bait.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677): The fish have moved out of Buckeye Bay into the Rocky Point and Rainbow Point areas of the lake. Bait fishing is still best with nightcrawlers and cheese baits. Vary leader length or fish the top down. Fly fishers: Midges, Damsel larvae, Callibatis or mosquitos are now starting to appear. Trolling is still very good from the Marina north to the dam. Try silver/black Rapalas or red/gold Buoyants. Three to six foot depth, slow troll.
CARSON RIVERS AND NEARBY WATERS, CALIF: There will be two fish plants before Labor Day by Alpine County, in addition to the normal plants by DF&G.
East Carson River: Brad Davis of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): DF&G planted last Friday, so there were a lot of limits of planters. Nothing super big.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported it is doing extremely well with lots of limits. Especially for those with patience around the bridges (where the river is planted). Fly fishermen doing very well in the meadows at Pickett's Junction.
CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Steven Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181 reported: The fish have been keying in on the abundant perch fry so stripping streamers like Matukas, Hale-Bopp Leeches and Hornburgs has been the best technique recently. Hilton Bay and McGee Bay the most productive areas.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113): Anglers can expect best bite early in the mornings, back-bouncing sardine wrapped K-15 or K-16 Kwikfish lures in silver or gold color combos. Look to switch over to roe tipped with a Quickie in hot pink or flame colors, back-bounced or mooched in deeper holes as the sun gets on the water. Most productive water has been from the outlet downstream above Gridley with some good bank fishing opportunities upstream in the low flow section near Oroville. All salmon have been averaging 18 to 22 pounds with the occasional big 30 pound plus salmon being caught.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Fishing has been a little slow but almost everyone is catching one or two. Troll deep or cast off the bank to the deep water for best results. Keep bait off the bottom.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported shore fishing was difficult. Best from a float tube or small boat in the deeper water for rainbows, up to 2 pounds, on Woolly Bugger flies.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman reported:
Grant Lake: Is good at the east end near the flume and at the mouth of Rush Creek with Stevie's Wonder black/silver under a strike indicator.
Silver Lake: Good for float tuber with olive Matukas, black Leeches and Woolly Buggers.
Rush Creek: Flow is 88 CFS. Try Prince Nymphs, Hares Ears, Black Ants and Stimulators.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Shirley at Burke's Market (Closed on Mondays) at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): They are catching a lot of small White Bass and a few Walleye. I would recommend fishing at Beach No. 3 or at Fisherman's Point.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF:
George Lake: Productive in the afternoons with brown Leeches and Woolly Buggers.
Twin Lakes: Try hanging a Stevie's Wonder black/silver under an Adams or stripping an olive Leech with a Prince Nymph trailer on a slow sinking line at Twin Lakes near the falls.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Water flows are 13,000 CFS. King Salmon: Salmon fishing for kings is fair. Catching one to four fish a day, some days more. All salmon being caught using Flatfish lures, T-50's , Chrome, in color, with a sardine wrap. All King Salmon are 15-20 pounds average. Limit is 2 salmon per angler.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: Fishing for the beautiful King Salmon and Rainbow trout is fantastic now. Hot! Limits! Nice, big fish. Trolling the Sac Arm, 60-100 feet deep, using shad pattern lures to entice these nice fish. Trolling on top for rainbow trout.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "We have been getting our Mackinaw trout early in the morning. I'm tagging and releasing the smaller ones. We have been catching lots of nice fish, but nothing super big.
I've been trolling the deep-water area in front of Carnelian Bay and King's Beach with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades with live minnows or large Apex lures. I've even been trolling the shallow water at a fast rate of speed in the Carnelian Bay area, hoping to pick up a big fish."
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550: Dead quiet for fishing. Water is warm and the lake level is dropping. It has dropped about 6 feet. Not much going on except for water skiing and jet skis.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF: Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): Biggest fish in the derby was an 8-pound, 12-ounce rainbow on Sierra Gold. A 5-pound, 5-ounce brown on a red/gold Thomas Buoyant lure. Nightcrawlers bringing in 2-3 pound rainbows from shore.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: The week started off with a bang and has continued to explode with the exception of Thursday. The warming trend has been great, but the evenings are dipping into the mid to high 40's. Brrr, it's a bit chilly. Worms are still taking the lead, with Power Bait (yellow regular and lemon twist) a close second, and of course lures are coming in 3rd only due to the amount of work involved. The proof is from Aaron Rustin of Salinas who caught a 6-pound, 12-ounce and the largest fish of the summer a 7-pound, 7-ounce on worms. Ron Anderson of Reno caught a nice 4-pound, 4-ounce on salmon eggs. Hot lures have been large Jake's Gold with red dots, red/gold Hot Shot, red/gold Thomas Buoyants, and red/white Daredevil (medium). Of course Rapalas are always good if you are willing to cast your arm off. Flies for the week ranged from olive/black Woolly Buggers, black or dark olive Leeches, WD40 olive, Serendipity olive, crystal Midges, Callibatis cripple, Mosquitoes, Griffith's Gnat, yellow or peacock Gray Hackle, and my PD (Phyllis Diller) in light green.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Sue at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: The shore fishermen are using Crickets or Power Bait. The boats are trolling with spoons.