A 11.5 pound Mackinaw trout through the ice at Caples Lake

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "It's pretty darn quiet up here, right now (Woodfords Station).

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that Dave Neisess of Minden caught a 11.5 pound Mackinaw trout on Sunday afternoon. He caught the big trout on a yellow Crappie jig.

It was the only bite that Neisess had for the day.

He reported about 1.5 feet of ice and that there were not too many ice fishermen that day.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Doug at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113): The bite is slow and the ice is beginning to form. If you venture out on the ice, use extreme caution.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Jim Quilici of Carson City reported that on Saturday, there was some thin ice by the dam.

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): I've been on a three-month vacation. We are back and open Tuesdays through Sundays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., until March 1, the start of the new fishing license year.

The reservoir is so full, it is unreal. It has almost 300,000 acre feet of water.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug at the Gilly, "The water level at the lake is still rising.

Pyramid has been both good and bad, dependent on the day.

The spincasters have using all kinds of colors of Sierra Special Spoons. Some of the colors being used are red/black dots, green/black dot and watermelon.

Fly fishermen are using a choice of brown or copper.

The further north you fish at Pyramid, the better the fishing.

Bring your fish in to be registered and photographed for a drawing at the end of the season for a fly fishing rod and reel combo worth more than $800."

SACRAMENTO RIVER: Hank Mautz of Professional Guide Services (800) 355-3113 reported that Jan. 15 was the last day of the King Salmon fishing season on the Sacramento River. That season will re-open on July 16.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Mona at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): With the weather that we have had lately, I do not recommend that anyone go out on the ice at this time.

SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Hank Mautz: Steelhead anglers looking for chrome bright Smith River Steelhead can expect lots of action on the entire river system, fishing from both a boat or from the bank.

Steelhead averaging 9-18 pounds can be caught side-drifting roe and a Quickie or yarn and a Quickie from a drift boat or from the bank.

Bank anglers fishing the South Fork Smith River can expect dirtier water conditions compared to the Middle Fork/North Fork Smith River and main stem Smith River.

Steelheading from a driftboat should be very good this coming week due to dropping and clearing water conditions.

Dennis Hobbs from Crescent City on Jan. 10, landed a Steelhead weighing almost 18 pounds. The fish was caught side-drifting a small piece of roe and a Quickie in high water conditions.

Bank and boat anglers can expect multiple hook-ups from both the bank and boats.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "I'm going to be gone at the end of the week for the Sacramento Sport Show, so I won't have a report next week.

The fishing has been good, when I can get out. We have been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning. Tagging and releasing the smaller ones. We have been catching lots of fish, but nothing big."

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): "We have been trolling for Macks with Herring Dodger flasher blades and minnows at 150-280 feet, along the edges of the drop-offs."

LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing has been running from poor to excellent, dependent on the day, at Ski Run Mound, Ski Run Shelf and Camp Richardson.

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550 reported: "On Jan. 14, Bruce Salisbury of Lodi caught a 3-pound, 11.25 ounce Cuttbow while trolling a black and gold Rapala lure. He was trolling in the south half of the middle of the lake at a depth of 10 feet.

On Jan. 15, Dave Landry Jr. of Auburn caught a 4-pound, 11.75 ounce rainbow and a 2-pound, 14-ounce Cuttbow while trolling a black and gold Rapala lure. He was trolling in the south half of the middle of the lake at a depth of about 10 feet.

Some shore fishermen caught their limits on the southwest side of the lake (the highway side).

They were using Chartreuse Power Bait. The largest was just barely 2 pounds.

TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Doug at the Gilly: The river is still high and fast. It has cleared up, but not very good fishing at this time.

WALKER LAKE, NEV: Gene Phelps of Carson City reported that his fishing group had limited success last week:

He caught three Cutthroat while the others in the group each caught one.

They were fishing in chest waders at the south end of the lake. Not many other shore or boat fishermen on that day.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "It is snowing right now (Tuesday morning).

The trout are in shallow water (2-10 feet) and the perch are down about 20-30 feet.

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."