Note: The new Nevada fishing license year begins on March 1.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Linda of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "The weather is beautiful, right now (Monday morning) but it is really going to change by the middle of the week."
DAVE LAKE, CALIF: Last Sunday, the lake was mostly open water, except for thin ice in the sheltered bays and at the dam. The thickest ice was at the dam, but looked too thin to venture out on.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Some ice, here and there. Boat ramp open. Nice size rainbows are coming out. Nightcrawlers are best bait.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that Barbara Lehn of Carson City caught 3 large rainbows and 2 smaller ones. She was fishing from shore with Power Bait.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: On Feb. 12, John Melvin of Sacramento caught a 5.5 pound rainbow. He was fishing with a Panther/Martin lure from his float tube.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market (Closed on Mondays) at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): "Lots of water, out here. We are at 250,000 acre feet. The capacity is 295,000, so we are right there. We're gonna rename the reservoir to 'Lake Lotta Water.'
It's a bit early to be out here fishing, but some people are, however, they are not coming back in with any fishing reports.
Give it another couple weeks, and the fishing should really pick up."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store and Pyramid Lake Charters (775-476-0555) reported: "The fishing has been good, overall. George's boat (Pyramid Lake Charters) caught 5 fish one day and then 30 another day. The full moon has an impact on the fishing."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Paul Saucedo of Carson City caught a 13-pound, 9-ounce Cutthroat on Feb. 7. He was trolling 8-pound test line with a blue/white U-20 Flatfish lure, just north of Pelican Point. He, Wally Bennett of Carson City and Albert Bennett of Reno caught and released 15 trout (21-23 inches).
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448: Water flows are currently at 11,000 CFS.
Have been drifting the Redding to Anderson stretch for wild rainbows.
Practicing all "catch and release."
Fly fishing is fair to good, using No. 14 or No 16 Prince nymphs, No. 16 Micro Mayfly nymphs and Fox's Poopahs.
March and April are great months to catch huge wild rainbows on the lower Sacramento River. This one of the best areas in Northern California.
As spring approaches, so does warmer temperatures, meaning very productive trout fishing.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Mona at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): We're beginning to show some blue color in the ice on the cove with this warm weather.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: Still a little cold for any productive trout fishing or salmon. Picking up a few trout near the surface to 30 ft.
McCloud Arm is best bet, trolling, using bright colored lures on these overcast days.
Watch for fishing to improve as we move towards March and April, as temperatures will get a warmer and trout fishing productivity will increase.
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: "Fishing is good. Currently catching nice, chrome Steelhead on the Chetco River, Smith River is starting to pick up. Roe has been working well. Also using lures."
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Hank Mautz of Professional Guide Services (800) 355-3113 or www.davejocobsfishing.com: Steelhead anglers looking for chrome bright Smith River Steelhead can expect much lower and clearer fishing conditions from both a driftboat or from the bank.
Boat anglers have reported 2 to 3 fish per boat on average.
Chrome bright Steelhead from 8 to 11 pounds with the occasional 13 to 18 pound fish have been caught by side drifting a small piece of roe and a light pink "Quickie" or side drifting yarn and a Quickie.
Some yarn colors that have been good producers have been shrimp pink, apricot supreme, or champagne. Silver/black or gold Hot Shots in No. 30 or 40 sizes have also been producing some beautiful Steelhead under the right conditions.
Bank anglers can expect similar results side drifting roe or yarn and a Quickie for chrome bright Steelhead averaging 8 to 11 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been good.
We have been getting our Mackinaw trout early in the morning, and tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
We have been catching lots of fish, but nothing 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."
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): "Good fishing on every trip with the good weather. It's been the best fishing of the year. Everyone is catching limits. We have been trolling for Macks with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at depths of 120-280 feet, along the edges of the drop-offs. I've been fishing Rubicon Point, Agate Bay, Cal Neva Point, Dollar Point, Sugar Pine Point and the Tahoe City Shelf."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing has been slow to excellent. I've been trolling at Ski Run Mound, Ski Run Shelf and Camp Richardson. We have been trolling 180-300 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows."
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Shore fishing and toplining are producing an occasional rainbow (up to 6 pounds) and mostly Macks in the 2-15 pound range. The shore fishermen are catching an occasional rainbow or Mack at the Cave Rock Landing with live minnows.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550 reported: "There were a lot of people out fishing and there were a lot of limits caught, but nothing big.
There was a 4-pound, 9-ounce rainbow taken on a 4-inch Broken-Back Rapala lure at the south end of the lake.
Shore fishing has been generally slow with some limits.
The boats are picking up some limits at the south end of the lake.
The lake is within 6 feet of being completely full.
TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Andy at the Gilly: "This time of the year, fish the slow moving water and the deep pockets. Use Prince Nymph flies or bait fish with worms."
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Fishing from both shore and boats is reported to be generally slow.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Linda at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "It has really warmed up, from our -26 degrees a week ago. Last night (Sunday), it only got down to -2.
The ice is 2 feet thick.
We've got all kinds of people, either snowmobiling or ice fishing.
Perch fishing is good and trout fishing is fair.
The trout are about 6-8 feet below the ice and the perch are down about 20-30 feet, on the bottom.
Fish for the trout with lures like Kastmaster or with nightcrawler and slowly jig, up and down.
Fish for the perch with small, white-colored, lead-head jigs with a plastic tail, together with a mealworm or party-sized marshmallow on the hook. Drop that combination down to the bottom, bring it up about 1-2 turns on the reel handle and slowly jig, up and down."