BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Both Blue Lakes are doing good. They have been strong for the last couple of weeks. Inflated nightcrawlers or Power Bait from shore have been producing lots of limits. Nothing big but lots of nice fish.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (at 11 a.m.): Has been doing pretty darn good. They are actually doing a little more trolling. Using blades and nightcrawlers with some action on small Rapala lures. Bait fishing has been good with nightcrawlers. The fly guys are using Midges.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Dave Kirby reported that fly fishermen from a club in Carson Valley did very well on Sunday in the Trophy Section with Caddis flies.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported the river was planted last Friday. Lots of limits. The plant produced a 5.5 pound rainbow at Pickett's Junction, and also a 7.25 pound and a 5.5 pound rainbow on Salmon eggs near Crystal Springs Campground for Ross McKenzie of Woodfords on Saturday.
CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Steven Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181 reported: Fishing has been on the slower side recently. Try Stevie's Wonder gray/black Matukas, Zonkers and small olive Leech patterns. The mouth of the Owens River has been the most productive area.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113) or (530-365-8140): 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. Driftboaters have also reported good fishing in the low flow section of the Feather. Salmon have been averaging 18-22 pounds, with the occasional big 30+ pound salmon.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Opens Sept. 1 on only Fridays-Saturdays-Sunday until Oct. 29.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman reported: Rush Creek flow is 62 CFS. Some good reports from anglers fishing the creek below U.S. 395 to Mono Lake. Para Adams, Stimulators, Humpies, Flashback Pheasant Tails and buckskin Nymphs. Silver Lake is good for float tubers, stripping black Woolly Buggers on full sink lines.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Jim Reid: Best report of the year, so far. One fly guy caught and released 7 brookies (up to 17 inches) and 2 cutthroat (up to 22 inches) on Nymphs. He had to really work for them. The water is fairly clear.
Note: This lake is about a 2 mile hike from the Sonora Pass Highway (S. R. 108).
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Shirley at Burke's Market (Closed on Mondays) at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): They are catching lots of small White Bass, Walleye and Perch at Beach Nos. 5 and 7. They are also catching catfish near Beach No. 3.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: Steven Osterman reported: George Lake has been the spot for larger fish. Brown or burnt orange Woolly Buggers, brown Leeches and olive Matukas.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Water flows are 11,000 CFS.
King Salmon: Fishing is fair ( Woodson Bridge Area). Catching a couple salmon a day, on a good day, with the bite being tough over the weekend. We are all waiting for the river to be overwhelmed with salmon as predicted. All salmon being caught using Worden's Flatfish lures, T-50's, Chrome in color, with a Sardine wrap. All King Salmon are 20 pounds average. Looks like big salmon this year, with the largest salmon brought in, 43.5 pounds. Limit on the Sacramento River is 2 salmon per angler.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550: It is dead quiet for fishing. The lake level is still dropping., but not very much. We still have a lot of water. Not much going on except for water skiing and jet skis.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF: Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): Browns are finally active! A 4.25 pounder on a red/gold Hot Shot lure and a 3.75 pounder on a Kastmaster lure. Nightcrawlers trolled or tossed from shore are bringing in limits of 1.5-3 pounders. Browns and rainbows, 3-8 pounds, put into lake from our private ponds.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Another spectacular week has brought some great fishing with a lot of the Susanville Browns being taken. Big fish were a 7-pound, 7-ounce rainbow on a Power Worm, a 7-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on a Cripple lure, a 6-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant lure, a 5-pound, 7-ounce brown on a lure, a 5-pound, 14-ounce rainbow on a fly, and a 5-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on an inflated nightcrawler by Lidia Landis of Escondido while on her honeymoon with new husband Tom. Hot Lures for the week were Phoebe's, red/gold Thomas Buoyants, gold/red Hot Shots, and the gold Cripple Lure. Worms and Salmon eggs have been doing a first class job for the week, using them in all types of combinations.
to tease the browns to the surface. Flies have been dark Emergers with Maribou (short tails), Virginia Lakes Special (red throated Matuka), Serendipity, RS2, WD40 in dark brown or dark olive.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid reported:
East Walker: Is fishing pretty well. The water flow is 345 CFS. The Caddis seem to be going away. Use May flies. Start using some streamers.
West Walker: Is excellent! Reports of 40-45 fish per day with small, shiny Rapala lures. Fly fishermen using small Nymphs in the early mornings and then Hoppers later.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: The big fires have been to the south of us. So far, we have been OK. The Independence Range is burned from Jack Creek to Taylor Canyon. The fishing is still excellent. This is the best year, I've ever seen. It has stayed superb all year both from shore and boats. Lots of rainbows and browns being caught. This year's trout planters are fat and running up to 12-14 inches. They are getting into the older Perch, now, up to about 11 inches.