BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): A quiet weekend. Fishing OK at both lakes, but better at Upper. Some limits.
BUCK'S LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of July 31: A nice 16-pound Mack was taken, jigging on the back side of Rainbow Point. Other honorable mentions were 11 and 13 pounders for the week. Nice Kokanee Salmon to 12 inches are coming in at 45 feet on a Dodger and Wedding Ring or other Kokanee lures, but red is better here.
BRIDGEPORT CALIF. AREA: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707): It is still fishing pretty well for trollers with Fire Tiger Rapala lures, bait fishermen with nightcrawlers or Power Bait, and fly fishermen with Zebra Midges, Damsels or Blood Midges.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): Everyone is catching planter-size fish, on just about everything: Panther/Martin, Roostertail, Mepps, nightcrawlers and Salmon eggs. In the Trophy Section: Great action in the late evening on Caddis flies.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby: Extremely low water. Fishermen did pretty well drifting Salmon eggs through the deeper holes.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Launa Strickland at the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): The full moon gave way and the fishing got really good. We saw loads of Rainbows in the one and a half to two pound range with a dozen four pound and larger caught around the lake.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Lots of shore fishermen and a few boaters on Saturday but the lake was very white-capped from the wind.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of July 31: Fishing moves into high gear here, now as bite extends to evening hours as well. Fish are fat, thanks to the minnow hatch. Plenty of 4 pounders have been taken.
On the north side, fish Miner's Point and Bay. Along the east side, try the shoreline by the Ronald McDonald camp. On west side, Shrimp Island and along the shoreline down to Wild Cat Point were producing quicker limits.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Shore fishing continues to be good for those using worms or Power Bait. Float nightcrawlers or try rainbow glitter or Chartreuse Power Bait. Trollers are doing great, trolling deep through the Narrows toward Turkey Point with silver Dodgers and worms.
HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: Elmer Bull of Yerington reported that NDOW took a fly fishing class of about 12 individuals to the reservoir on Sunday. He caught one rainbow, one brook and one tiger trout, all on a Foam Ant fly.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported he was there Saturday, and the water level was the lowest he had seen in 20 years.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Current flow in Rush Creek is 16 CFS. Try Pheasant Tail Nymphs, flash back Hares Ears and black ants. The section of stream below U.S. 395 to Mono Lake providing some good dry fly opportunities with Royal Wullf's, Sierra Brite Dot's and Elk Hair Caddis. Silver Lake have been the best bet for float tubers. Black Mohair Leeches, olive Matukas and Zonkers. Fish along the ledge parallel to the main road on the west side.
KINNEY RESERVOIR, CALIF: Don and Elaine Quilici fished from shore last Thursday morning. They caught and released 11 small rainbow and brook trout. They were casting small red/white lures.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service):
Salmon: Fishing from Anderson Balls Ferry downstream has been spotty at best for many, and good for some, depending on where and how you fish. Some are reporting two to four salmon per day with others reporting one, two or zero per day.
Most salmon have been large and chrome bright from 20 up to 40 pounds being caught. Sardine wrapped K-15 and K-16 Kwikfish in various color combos has produced the most hook-ups this past week. Back bouncing roe or Kwikfish has been the No. 1 technique as well.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): I've been very busy. We have been trolling 100-280 feet deep. We locate the fish on the fish finder and then troll in a "Figure Eight" pattern, bouncing the bottom. I've been fishing at Cal-Neva, Dollar Point and Sugar Pine Points. Getting 2-9 fish per trip.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: Fishing 50-200 feet deep at Ski Run Shelf, Camp Richardson and the Tahoe Keys. Trolling with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and minnows. Bouncing off the bottom in a serpentine pattern. A report of an 18 pound Mack taken on a drifted minnow with 6 pound test line in 140 feet of water.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: The Kokanee salmon are showing up. They are in three sizes: 6, 10 or 15 inches. They are 40-80 feet deep in 200-400 feet of water. Use flashers with a Red Magic lure, tipped with a kernel of corn. The Kokanee go deeper as the sun comes up.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: A report of a river otter, gorging on the planted rainbows at the Cave Rock Landing, very early one morning last week.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): The top fish were a 6-pound rainbow taken on a black/red Woolly Bugger fly, a 4.5 pound rainbow on an orange Rapala lure and a 3.5 pound rainbow on a gold spinner.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid:
East Walker: Hanging tough. Fishing is getting more difficult. Best with Nymphs.
West Walker: Doing good, they planted some Alper's. It is really low (27 CFS) and clear. You need to search out deeper pockets.
Little Walker: Catching mostly small rainbows and an occasional small brook trout.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: East Walker: Steve Osterman: The flow in the river is up to 150 CFS. Prince Nymphs, WD-40's, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Sparkle Caddis Pupa, stimulators and E/C Caddis. Mid day water temp's are 70 +. Be sure to not over play fish and return them quickly.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: East Walker: Marty Martinez of Carson City reported an interesting encounter with a black bear in the dirt road leading to "The Elbow."