BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF: Bishop Creek Resorts reported a low of -5 on March 10. They are getting their cabins ready for the Opener (April 29). Winter has been good with water totals in the 120% range. Calif. DF&G is expected to stock about the same as last year. South Lake is on line for more stockings by Alpers Hatchery, once the season starts.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "It was pretty quiet all weekend due to the weather. There was a guy going into Blue Lakes on his snowmobile on Saturday, but he did not come back to the store. That's about it for this area. Remind everyone that we sell Sno-Park permits here at the store."
FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Elmer Bull of NDOW reported a bass fisherman caught 8 bass (up to 18 inches) in four hours while casting a plastic Swim Bait, parallel to the shoreline.
HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Elmer Bull reported, "We haven't gotten any moisture out of this storm. We are in the banana belt compared to you guys (Tuesday morning). Fishing at the Slough has been slow. One guy told me he caught one fish on four hours. We (NDOW) just planted 1,000 rainbows.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market (Closed on Mondays) at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): "No one is fishing due to the miserable weather. It is cold and windy out here, with a threat of snow (Tuesday morning). The only thing exciting is that I have to work on my taxes today. If anyone does come out here fishing, remember to tell them that we are running a weekly contest for the biggest fish. Catch a nice fish, bring it in, tell us some fish stories, and we'll take your picture. If yours is the biggest fish of the week, it will win a nice prize."
NORTH POND (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Elmer Bull reported that the pond was recently planted with 2,000 rainbows.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store and Pyramid Lake Charters (775-476-0555): Overall, the fishing is still good. We've even got some guys going out this morning (Tuesday). It's snowing but there is no wind.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Penny Marsh at Model Dairy in Reno reported that their 11th annual Charity Fishing Derby was a huge success, despite the mixed weather over the weekend. They had a total of 881 fishermen in the derby with the largest cutthroat being a 13.35 pounder. The record for the most fishermen is the more than 900 who were entered last year.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448: Water flows are currently at 30,000 CFS.
We are fishing as the weather allows.
Have been drifting the Redding to Anderson stretch for wild rainbows.
Fishing is fair.
Practicing all "catch and release."
Fishing the slower water during these high flows are your best bet.
Fly fishing is fair to good, using No. 14 or No 16 Prince nymphs, No. 16 Micro Mayfly nymphs and Fox's Poopahs.
King Salmon opens July 16 on the Sacramento River.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: Still a little cold, but picking up a few trout near the surface to 30 ft. around the McCloud Arm.
Watch for fishing to improve as we move toward late March and April.
Houseboaters, take advantage of our boat to boat service. We'll pick you up right from your houseboat!
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: "Fishing is good on the Smith River and the Chetco River. Catching big Steelhead. Fishing from the Forks to Ruby on the Smith River. From ice Box to Social Security Bar on the Chetco River. We will be there until the first of April.
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Hank Mautz of Professional Guide Services (800) 355-3113: "Steelhead fishing on the Smith River has remained consistent for fresh chrome bright Steelhead averaging 7 to 11 pounds. Anglers can expect a much better bite this coming week as more rain and warmer temperatures return to the coast. Hard working anglers are reporting 1-3 fish per outing with about a 60/40 mix of 60% downstream, 40% fresh chrome bright Steelhead. Shrimp pink "Quickies" and a small piece of roe has remained the hot ticket. Anglers should note that the Smith River Steelhead season will close on March 31.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been good, when we can get out. This morning (Tuesday), I shoveled more than two feet of snow off my boat. I been booked every day, but have had a lot of cancellations due to the weather.
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, when the weather lets us get out. We have been trolling for Macks with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at depths of 140-250 feet, your best depths. I've been fishing Agate Bay, Carnelian Bay and Sugar Pine Point."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "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. We are getting 1-8 fish per trip."
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: "I plowed off the ramp on Saturday and again last night (Tuesday). You need four-wheel drive to launch your boat. The lake is up a good six inches and the water temperature this morning was 39 degrees. They are picking up some rainbows and a few Macks with minnows from shore at the Cave Rock Landing."
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550 reported: "It is snowing like mad, right now (Tuesday morning). The storms have kept everyone away from the lake. There have been no boats out on the water the last two days. Everyone is staying home
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Gene Phelps of Carson City reported he and his fishing party were in their chest waders at the south end last week. He said the fishing was pretty good, despite windy conditions. They all caught fish with the best lure being the usual rainbow-colored TOR-P-DO. He reported that there were no boats on the lake and a few shore fishermen at the north end.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "It's downright cold. It got down to -9 last night (Sunday) and it has been below zero, every night for a week.
By actual measurement, the ice is 2.5 feet thick.
Ray Frederick and his party from Carson City were here last week. Also some guys from Fernley.
The ice fishermen are catching lots of perch and some very nice trout (about 2-3 per week that go 4-5 pounds).
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 piece of worm, a mealworm, a cocktail shrimp or a party-sized marshmallow on the hook. Drop your combination down to the bottom, bring it up about 1-2 turns on the reel handle and slowly jig, up and down.
The best place is still near the island."