BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): We have 4 inches of snow and it is snowing very hard, right now (Tuesday morning). The temp is 36 degrees, which is perfect for snow. My wife just called from Maui, Hawaii to tell me what a great time she is having there!
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677): The lake has stabilized and the fishing has picked up significantly. Last weekend's fly fishing tournament seems to have been a success, especially for those that crept into the channels near the airport. Perch streamers were the ticket. Bait fishers are also hitting again on floating bait and inflated nightcrawlers in 12-15 feet off of Rainbow and Rocky Point areas. Trolling has been very good from the Marina to the Narrows. Leadcore with Rapalas, Kastmasters, Buoyants and Roostertails. Three to four colors, slow troll.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Fishing is "Iffy." the water is fairly low.
West Carson River: A 5.5 pound rainbow in the Trophy Section on Sunday. Fishing has been very slow but they have been catching a few fish.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Andy at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113): It is starting to get better. On a scale of 1-5, it is about a 2.5. Not good, not bad. The fly fishermen are moving all around the lake.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that fishing is pretty good. A 6-pound and a 3-pound rainbow, both caught near the dam with bait.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman reported: Some nice fish starting to show up in Grant Lake at the mouth of Rush Creek. Try Matukas, black or purple Woolly Buggers and Hale-Bopp Leeches. Flow in Rush Creek is 110 CFS, try Black Ants, Humpies and Royal Coachmen.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Fly rodders casting purple Woolly Buggers, G's Catch 'em All and cinnamon Leechs have been scoring well in all the lakes. Also try a Stevie's Wonder, under an indicator or hung in the film.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400 reported: The fishing has been awesome. The Pyramid Lake Search and Rescue Derby was held last weekend and a Steve Fish won that derby with a 7-pound, 11-ounce Cutt, caught from a boat. Also, last weekend, there was a 6-pounder, two 7-pounders and a 10-pound, 6-ounce Cutt (it was caught with a copper Flatfish). The most productive areas were Warrior Point and Pelican Point. The Fish Sniffer Newspaper will hold its annual derby this coming weekend.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Andy at the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks at 358-6113 reported: If you're a fly fisherman, find deep water. The Cutts have not moved into the shallows, yet. The fly fishermen need to find water 20 feet deep, 30-40 is even better. Use black or olive Woolly Buggers or Popcorn Beetles. Boats doing well over by Hell's Kitchen, the Pyramid and Anahoe Island, where there are deep drop-offs.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555 reported: The weekend was good. Everybody was catching fish, including the shore fishermen. Boats were trolling or jigging, colors did not seem to matter but green seemed to be best in general. The north end of the lake has been better but some boats were going south and others across the lake. No one spot seemed to better than anywhere else.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Water flows are 6,000 CFS. King Salmon: Fishing is good, limits of salmon being caught, but still some days are tough. Currently catching 8-10 fish days, fishing the Anderson area. Watch for the Kings to be better shape as November and December roll around, with the rain will come new, bright fish .We should see these months produce even bigger kings and awesome king salmon fishing. Salmon being caught using Flatfish lures, T-50's , Chrome, in color, with a sardine wrap.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): We have been getting our Mackinaw trout early in the morning. I'm tagging and releasing the smaller ones. We have been catching lots of fish, but nothing super 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): We are leaving today (Tuesday) for a 14-day backpack trip in the John Muir Wilderness Area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Wish us luck.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF: Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): Nightcrawlers the bait of choice for shore anglers. Fish of the week was a 5-pound, 4-ounce rainbow on Power Bait. Browns and Kokanee on the move to spawn.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Fishing has slowed probably due to the moon and the weather change, as the water temp is just under 50 degrees. Tubers that fished today were out there most of the day having a great time, just relaxing and looking at the scenery, with a lot of catching on streamers, rust and brown Woolly Buggers, Hornburgs, and Goddard Caddis for the dry addicts. Hot lures were red/gold Thomas Buoyant and Jake's Spin-A-Lure, gold with red dots and red/gold hot shot. Worms, Power Worms, Salmon eggs and marshmallows were still the best.
shot for putting dinner on the table. The browns are getting a Ph.D. in acrobatics and unnerving anglers for several weeks. It's hard to determine what they are eating, and when.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steven Osterman reported: East Walker River: The flow in the river is currently 134 CFS. Fishing is good. Soft hackle Hare's Ears, driftless Caddis, peeking Caddis and gray WD-40'S.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: It hasn't really been that cold up here, yet. It got down to 21 degrees last night (Sunday). The fishing is holding up, both in the river below the dam and in the reservoir. They are catching some nice Channel Catfish, Cuttbows and Rainbows. One shore fisherman caught a nice 4-pound (22-inch) rainbow on a silver spinner, down by the dam. We have had some nice bucks taken out of this area (about 20, so far, in the 26-inch range and a couple in the 30-inch class.