BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The fishing has been good. Upper Blue Lake is better than Lower Blue Lake. Using mostly inflated nightcrawlers from shore. The rainbows are running 1-2 pounds.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Kirk Caraway of Carson City reported that he got skunked from shore at both lakes.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (at 11 a.m.): Fishing is still excellent from boats. Nightcrawlers for the bait fishermen and Midges for the fly guys.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677): "Fishing has been very good to excellent for most anglers, with bait fishers and fly fishers doing equally well. Trolling is still fabulous from the Marina north to the dam.
For the bait fishers the old standards can't miss. Work the edges of the floating weed in Buckeye or the flow of the East Walker inlets. Rainbow Point and Sandy Point/Cove were very productive last weekend.
Fly fishers: The fish coming into the cleaning trough from the bait fishers are loaded with midges, snails, mussels, Callibatis, and damsel larvae and emergers as well as leeches of all colors and perch fry.
BRIDGEPORT, RESERVOIR, CALIF: On July 30, Steve Baxter and Joe Hawley of Carson City caught 15 trout (1-3 pounds) and took 10 home. They were trolling with flasher blades and worms.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported the lake was recently planted with: 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout, averaging 1.9 pounds each. 1,650 pounds of brown trout, averaging 3.1 pounds, each. 2,500 pounds of brook trout, averaging 2 pounds, each.
The shore fishermen are doing better than the boaters, with lots of limits and the best action is mainly by the spillway.
They are using various colors of Power Bait or nightcrawlers.
CARSON RIVERS AND NEARBY WATERS, CALIF: The East and West Carson Rivers were planted last Friday by Alpine County with 2,000 pounds of 3-6 pound rainbow trout.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported that Dennis Williams of Carson City caught a 5-pound rainbow on rainbow Power Bait on July 30.
A number of other fishermen with limits of smaller fish.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Michelle West of the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): Top fish were a 7.05 pound rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant lure from the south shore, a 7.04 pound rainbow on Power Bait from the South Shore, a 6.30 pound rainbow on a nightcrawler from the south shore and a 6.16 pounder on a fly at the outlet.
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. Salmon have been averaging 18 to 22 pounds, with the occasional big 30+ pound salmon being caught.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the fishing is only fair. You need to fish the deeper water. Shore fishing is a struggle.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): Jerome Craig of Silver Springs caught 2 Walleye (3 pounds and 2 pounds) using a rainbow spoon and a white Roostertail lure. Bill Werner of Silver Springs caught his limit of Wipers with a yellow Roostertail lure and Dominic Scurti of Silver Springs caught 8 Wipers and a 1.5 pound Walleye on minnows.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Last Thursday, Don and Tracee Hettrick of Carson City caught and released an estimated 120 White Bass, while trolling with yellow Roostertail lures.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the fishing has slowed down and you need to work for your limits.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Water flows are 14,500 CFS.
King Salmon: Clients catching a couple salmon a day, some days are better than others. All salmon caught on chrome, sardine-wrapped T-50 Flatfish lures. The bite is early.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550: Fishing is starting to pick up with the flow from the river slowing down. The best fishing is from boats, stillfishing with Power Bait or nightcrawlers, at the far south end, where the river comes into the lake. They are getting limits. Last week, there was a 5.2 pound and a 33 pound rainbow caught.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): $250 for the biggest fish taken in Upper Twin Lake from Aug. 4 to Aug. 11. Float tubers catching and releasing 2-3 pound browns, casting red-tail and green Mosquitoes in the shallows in the evenings. A 6.75 pound rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant lure for a 12-year old, a 6-pound, 11-ounce rainbow on Power Bait from shore and a 5-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on a Kastmaster lure.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: One of the warmest weeks for July on record has brought fishermen to the high country seeking relief from the heat, but has provided them with a bountiful creel of fish. Worms were the number one hit on the chart, and Power Worms with a Salmon egg chaser took 2nd place. Lures for the week were black Panther Martins with dots, and gold Kastmasters and Jake's Spin-A-Lure. The ever popular red/gold Thomas Buoyant did a great job, but just behind the Chartreuse Roostertail. Flies for the week were black, purple and dark brown Woolly Buggers. Doc's Twin Lakes Special in olive, and olive/black, and a few Czech nymphs. 350 pounds of browns were stocked two weeks ago and only a handful have seen daylight.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid reported:
East Walker: Fishing is excellent! It is running at 360 CFS. Lots of fish 13-16 inches, with some 18-20 inch fish. Lots of different patterns are working well.
West Walker: Starting to shape up, very nicely. It is running at 350 CFS. Hoppers are the best.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: The weather is beautiful and the fishing is excellent. This is the best fishing hole in the entire Western United States. The fish are really hammering. The trout are running 2-5 to 5 pounds and the Perch are going nuts on the north end of the reservoir. The boats are trolling with flashers and nightcrawlers.