LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 14: Rainbow and brown trout fishing has been good with fish averaging 2 pounds, but the Salmon have been smaller and more sporadic. The Hamilton Branch and Big Springs area have been popular with downriggers going to 32 feet with Sep's dodgers and a nightcrawler with garlic scent. The bass fishing has been good on the east shore with fish coming off points on crank baits and Robo Worms.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Fishing this week was good for some and not so good for others. Fishing the Dingleberry Inlet (the main inlet in the back right) with worms or Power Bait along with flies were having a bit of luck. Trolling deep with a red dot frog pattern or using flashers and a worm had been producing quite a few limits. Shore anglers were also using worms and Power Bait. Those drifting were again using worms and Power Bait.
Allison Duckworth landed on nice 2-pounder on a worm and Dominic Primo of La Crescenta caught a 3.5 pounder also on a worm. Sunday afternoon brought in two fine Alper's specimens: Zbigniew Wojtalewicz of Long Beach snared a 4.75 pounder on a fly while Donna Kurctner of Corona hooked a 4 pound beauty on a worm.
The Department of Fish and Game stocked the lake Tuesday with pan-size fish and a few fish tipping the scales at 2-pounds.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Lower Blue Lake has picked up with some limits from shore.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676: The water temps are rising every day well into the 70 degree mark. The cooler nights we have been having should drop water temps a little, and maybe get this lake fishing a little more consistent. The fishing remains good for now. Fish outside Buckeye Bay in 8-15 feet of water or right off Rocky Point in 10-20 feet of water. Also try right outside the Marina along weed lines, good spot for tubers. The best baits have been Berkeley Gulp in Rainbow Candy or Orange Pulp, Power Bait in Salmon Peach and nightcrawlers. If you want to toss lures, try a CD-5 or CD-3 Rapala in orange back or Perch, 1/4 Oz. Kastmasters in silver/orange or silver with red tape and Cyclones in gold or Perch. Power Worms fished with a water bubble can be deadly here at times. Lots of Perch fry swimming around, throw lures that imitate small wounded fry, and Mr. Brown could come give you a pleasant surprise. The Marina has closed down for the summer.
BUCK'S LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 14: Kokanee trollers are going down 40 feet and finding fish everywhere. Planters are being taken in Mill and Buck Creeks on worms.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): The water is still holding good and they are still planting fish. Here are some youngster who caught fish: Clairie and Michael Hiebert of San Jose with a 1.2 pound rainbow and a couple of pan sized on Salmon eggs, Gabrielle and Destiny Miles of El Hambra with 3 pan sized rainbows on Salmon eggs and Don Ellwaner of Sacramento with some pan sized fish on a Panther/Martin lure.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby: Brandon Chin caught 3 rainbows on Salmon eggs on the 17th.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Launa Strickland at the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): Big rainbows of the week were: A 6-pound, 2-ounce on a nightcrawler, a 5-pound, 6-ounce on Sunrise/Green eggs from the north shore, a 4-pound-9-ounce on a Needlefish lure from the south shore and a 3-pound, 13-ounce on lemon twist Power Bait from the south shore.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Crowley Lake: Best fishing has been in the North Arm, McGee Bay and Crooked Creek. As always, Stevie's Wonder is getting lots of takes. Try black/silver and gray/black or Stevie's Z. Lot's of Perch minnows showing up. Use small Matukas or Zonkers on full sink lines.
Hot Creek: Water flow is 17 CFS. Time for 6x -7x leaders and small flies. Use a dry/dropper combination. PMD's and Caddis on the surface. Small WD-40's, Pheasant Tails and Brassies for the dropper.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 14: Fish from 2 to 3 pounds await the early risers from Miners Bay south, down to Gallatin Marina, in waters from 55 to 65 feet deep on the east side and from Shrimp Island to Wild Cat Point in waters from 45 to 55 feet deep with trolled baits set between 25 to 35 feet deep, on the west side. Sep's 2-inch grubs in amber color and the original brown (root beer) with orange and pearl white colors are producing fish. Bobber fishermen are anchoring in the same general areas and setting their nightcrawlers on a slip bobber, set up at 30 feet deep.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: 2007 season will open on Friday, Aug. 31.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: On the 18th, Tammy Kelly of Sacramento caught 3 nice rainbows from shore with nightcrawlers.
Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): No report.
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.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676: June and Grant has been fishing well. Excellent reports from Silver Lake have been coming in all week. Focus on dropoffs and deep bays. Berkeley Gulp Eggs in pink or Chartreuse and Berkeley Gulp Dough in American Pie or Chunky Chart. Try using a 3 inch pink or orange Berkeley Trout Worm with a split shot 2-3 feet above the worm and drag or wiggle the worm along the bottom. For lures , try 1/4 Oz. Cyclone in Rainbow Trout or silver/blue, CD-3 Rapalas in gold and Brook Trout, 1/4 Oz. Phoebe in silver or gold and 1/4 Oz. Panther/Martin in black/red dots.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Jim Reid reported: A good report from a fisherman who was there a couple of days ago. He caught 8 brookies, up to 19 inches, from a float tube. He was using an olive Bird's Nest fly.
Note: This lake is about a 2 mile hike from the Sonora Pass Highway (S. R. 108).
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain and Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): I can't believe how far the water has dropped, but they are still fishing out there. I have never sold this much tackle in my whole life. There are little White Bass and Walleye, up to 3 pounds, everywhere.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Plenty of large Alpers tout have been planted in all the lakes. Try a Stevie's Wonder gray/black under an indicator, about 18" below the surface. For streamers try the Clown Berg available at Rick's Sports Center.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676: Mamie and George has been the two hot spots for the last week. Lake Mary has been producing a good number of big Alper's Trout, go deep for these guys. Try Berkeley Gulp Eggs in pink or orange, Berkeley Power Trout Worms in orange or pink with a couple split shot 2-3 feet above and Berkeley Gulp in Orange Pulp or Rainbow Candy. For lures try 1/4 Oz. Thomas Buoyant in Frog or silver/blue, 1/8 Oz Roostertail in yellow or green, Thunderbolt in gold and CD-3 Rapala in gold or Fire Tiger. Don't forget banana/silver or pearl Trout Traps. Trollers getting down 5 to 6 colors with Flatfish and Tasmanian Devils are pulling up good numbers of big brown and rainbow trout. Try Trolling at 5-8 colors.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper: Water flow about 92 CFS. Not much different than last week. Above the Benton Crossing Bridge, the fish have become much more selective and you better get a real good drift. Basic Nymph patterns like Hares Ears and Pheasant tails will do. Try a Stimulator or Elk Hair Caddis on the surface with a bead head zebra midge as a dropper.
Lower: Water flow is currently 453 CFS. Fishing is pretty tough now due to the high flows.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113): Salmon fishing from Balls Ferry downstream to Chico has improved this week with signs of more salmon showing up everyday. Some are reporting two to four salmon per day with others reporting one or zero per day. Most salmon have been large and chrome bright from 20 up to 40 pounds being caught. Mike Scriven and Dave Leonard of Stockton, Ca. caught limits of salmon to 29 pounds on August 20th while fishing with guide Dave Jacobs. Sardine wrapped K-15 and K-16 Kwikfish in various color combos has produced a few nice salmon this past week but back bounced or side drifted roe by far was the best technique this past week. Salmon counts are up from last year to 2951 salmon passing through the Red Bluff diversion dam. Daily limits are two salmon per day per angler.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 14: Trout continues to be good as trout and Salmon feed on the abundant Shad population for the winter months. With the warm weather and waters, both bait and fish have settled down into the cooler waters of the Thermocline, so targeting them is not difficult either. Find trout limits from 50 to 100 feet, with the Salmon going a little deeper from 75 to 150 feet down. The hot baits are of course, in Shad patterns and Pro-Cure's Shad gel is a must. The bass action holds steady, on drop-shot baits in Shad patterns worked consistently, and jigs from 3/8 ounces, fished from the shallows out to 40 feet.
Stampede Reservoir, CALIF: "Father" Dick Murphy of Sun Valley (888) 852-2680 reported: Best area is the boat ramp to the springs area (west of the island). Use pink/green or lollipop Murph's Super Bugs, 8-10 inches behind a small Dodger flasher at a depth of 45-75 feet. Evenings is best at this time.
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: I've been 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. Macks are 2-7 pounds.
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: Trolling for Mackinaw 60-150 feet deep with flashers and minnows.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): Same report as last week: Not much going on. The water is low and warm (in the 70 degrees) and the fish have gone real deep. Lots of jet skis and water skiers.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF: Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): A 5-pound, 7-ounce and a 4-pound, 4-ounce rainbow, both on a brown Woolly Bugger fly, a 5-pound, 2-ounce rainbow on a nightcrawler and a 5 pounder on an orange Rapala lure.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Mike Ardouin of Santa Barbara took a 7-pound, 2-ounce Alper's on Power Bait, a combination of Salmon Peach and some other rainbow flavor of the day.
Other nice trout in the 1 pound-plus range hit the stringers to put smiles on some faces using baby nightcrawlers and inflated nightcrawlers, grubs, meal worms (again) and the odd Power Worm.
Lures for the week were still the Panther/Martin, and some Phoebe's also did a good number.
The Virginia Lakes special red throated Matuka did well, as did some soft hackles, and a few moth patterns. Damsels are hitting near the weeds, as well as the Rickard's Stillwater nymph.
Big Virginia did fair with some nice fish on small dries at the inlet and outlet and also with Power Bait as a chaser.
Salmon eggs continue to take the lead spot with salmon peach or yellow Zeke's bait.
Lures used were mainly top floaters like the old frog pattern Heddon Flatfish and diving Rapalas in rainbow and brown patterns.
Trumbull has also done fair but it's hard to keep those baby browns off your flies and lures, so fish deep where the "big fish" hang, and use about 20 inches of leader off a sliding egg sinker. Brookies are near the meadow with small dries, and some bug eyed Damsels.
The backcountry has been doing well on small silver/red Super Dupers, Kastmasters in perch patterns, and the tiny Red Devil.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid:
East Walker: The water has become very warm. We are recommending not to fish this water as the fish are very stressed. It would be tough to catch and release them alive.
West Walker: Doing OK. It is extrememly low (18 CFS) and clear. You need to search out and fish the 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 down to 82 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.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn, Mark, Rocket and Scott at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: The weather is great and it is cool at night. The fishing is still good, both from shore or in boats. The perch, trout, bass, wipers and catfish are all hitting. There was a 17 pound Channel Catfish on a worm over by Hendrick's Creek.