BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The Blue Lakes Road is now closed for the winter. The weather was downright mean yesterday, with road closures, people stuck, icy conditions, etc. It's wintertime up here. No reports, because there were no human beings out there fishing, over the weekend.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that one angler told him that he tried to fish from shore on Saturday but the wind was too fierce.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported 6-8 inches of new snow on Monday with very windy conditions.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): It's been a busy week of fishing. There have been many good reports on the shore fishing at Snallygaster, Crystal Point and at the old boat ramp. On Nov. 24, a family caught 19 rainbows off the old boat ramp with worms. Most of the fish were in the 14-16 inch range. Many Christmas tree cutters are out and about, the roads are icy, so please use caution.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that Lew Souder of Gardnerville caught 2 rainbows, estimated at 5 pound each, last week.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400 reported: We had an awesome week of fishing.
Norm Oliphant of Reno caught a 12-pound, 14.4 ounce Cutthroat (29 inches long) on Nov. 25 at Hell's Kitchen.
Yesterday (Sunday), Chad Claggett of Reno caught a 10-pound, 4.8 ounce Cutt (29 inches) at Spider Point. He was spincasting with spoons from his float tube.
In addition, we also had three 9-pounders checked in.
Most of the fish have been caught from boats, with a lot of them being caught at Hell's Kitchen and a few right in front of the Marina.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Andy at the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks at 358-6113: Pyramid has slowed for the fly fishermen. I kind of think it has to do with the changing weather, but it will pick back up again.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555 reported: The weekend was really good.
We had a total of 65 fishermen in our derby. The first place fish was 8-pounds, 11-ounces. The biggest fish of the week was a 13-pounder (12-pounds, 14.4 ounces) caught by Norm Oliphant of Reno over at Hell's Kitchen. George (Pyramid Lake Charters) had a 9.5 pounder yesterday (Sunday).
The boat fishing has been excellent, but the shore fishing has slow down, especially on Saturday. There have been some medium sized fish (6-10 pounds) taken by the fly fishermen.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that as of Monday morning, there was a little ice forming along the edges of the lake.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Water flows are 5,500 CFS and water is low.
Rainbows: Drifting the Redding to Anderson stretch for wild rainbows, drifting in the late afternoons.
Fishing is fair. Most days producing 15 fish days, average size is 12-18 inches.
Fly fishing. Using Pheasant Tail (No. 16), Fox's Poophas (No. 16). Standard flies for this river .
King Salmon: Fishing for Kings is fair to good , still catching 2-8 fish a day. This is the late Fall run salmon, the salmon are beautiful and bright. Some heavy, heavy rain and high winds over the weekend put a damper on the fishing. All salmon being caught using Flatfish lures, T55's.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113) or (530-365-8140): Fishing Balls Ferry downstream through Los Molinos has been good for most anglers this past week. More and more Steelhead are showing from Battle Creek downstream to Los Molinos. Many fall run salmon have begun to spawn, which in turn has really lit up the trout bite! Look for best bite early in the mornings side-drifting small Glo Bugs in pink or flame color combos. Some light egg patterns have also been doing well. Trout have been averaging 1-3 pounds with the occasional big Steelhead up to 8 pounds.
King Salmon: Fishing for late fall run Kings has been good this past week with fewer and fewer fall run Kings being caught. Guides are reporting two fish per boat this past week with some big fish weighed in over forty pounds. Fishing around the Barge Hole has produced mostly dark fall fish with a few bright late fall Kings mixed in. Most salmon being caught downstream are the new late fall run Kings. These king salmon are big and bright with a few over 40 pounds. Most productive water has been from Anderson downstream past Chico, CA. Quiet water with very little boat traffic has been most productive. Best bets have been sardine wrapped K-15 or K-16 Kwikfish lures in silver or gold color combos. Pink and pearl color combos are also a good bet this time of year. Roe tipped with a flame colored Quickie puffball has produced a few fish in the Barge Hole area. Back- bouncing fresh sardine wrapped Kwikfish has been best bet for fishermen downstream. Recent rains over the holiday weekend has raised the river slightly which should bring more fish into the river system. Many clients have landed big bright late fall Kings this past week. Big fish of the week was a 45 pound late King caught on Friday and a 40 pound King caught on November 19. Late fall run salmon season closes mid-January.
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: The Smith River will produce nice winter Steelhead as we move into December and January .
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been good to excellent dependent on the day. We have been trolling at 180-380 feet with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows. I've been fishing at Cal-Neva Point, Dollar Point and Sugar Pine Point. We've been catching 3-9 fish per trip.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: I've been trolling at Ski Run Shelf and Camp Richardson. We have been trolling at 180-280 feet with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows. The jiggers are jigging in water 160-240 feet deep, with White Star jigs or Squid jigs (tipped with a live minnow) at Ski Run Mound and Camp Richardson Shelf.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: Toplining for rainbows has been slow to good dependent on the day at Eagle Point, Zephyr Cove, Deadman's Point and Sand Harbor.
TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Andy at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store: The river is surprisingly doing quite well right now. They have been fishing with small patterns like Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears and Prince Nymphs in the downtown Reno area.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Missa at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: It's snowy! We've got about 5 inches of snow on the ground and it is cold! You can't see the mountains this morning (Tuesday), we've got lots of fog. It is below freezing every night and ice is starting to form on the reservoir.