LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 28: Rainbow trout to 4 pounds were taken from 30 to 35 feet in areas from the dam to Rocky Point and from the dam up the east shore on silver or pearl white dodgers trailing a threaded nightcrawler behind it. Bass have been accepting offerings of crickets along the east shoreline.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Fishing this week was not much different than last week with eggs or worms working at the Dingleberry Inlet (the inlet on the back right). Trollers using leadcore line (down between 5 to 7 colors) with a frog-pattern lure or flashers were also doing well. Those drifting the lake were seen using worms and Power Bait and the shore anglers were using Power Bait. Steve Harner caught and released two 2-pound browns on a Royal Coachman Fly (buy them in town as we do not carry them).
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Your best bet for the holiday weekend is the upper lakes of this general area. The streams are really low. Lower Blue Lake has been pretty good with some limits.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jeffry Wenger of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677) or (760-932-7001): Just to let you know the report from the Troutfitter in Mammoth had a pretty big error in it. They stated that the Marina is closed. We are open and still renting boats. The water is low but not out. I had to pull the docks and no launching on our ramp, but can launch small boats right outside the marina. The larger boats go down to the Bathtub area near the Dam. Fishing is fairly consistent. Fish are in the middle and just to the East of Buckeye Bay in anywhere from 5 to 14 feet of water. They are deeper down by the Dam but those fish have a case of Lockjaw right now. Mostly still and bait fishing but the water is pretty clear so trolling is a very strong option. Still water Nymphing for the fly fisher man is the ticket as conditions are very similar to Crowley. In the late evening or early AM I would throw some streamers with a full sink line. The store here is open every day as well as the RV Park, through the end of October.
BUCK'S LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 28: Brooks, browns and rainbows are close to the bottom in areas like Mill and Bucks Creeks. Brown/olive trolling flies are working well for trout as are a variety of spoons in frog patterns of copper and red. Kokes are running 35 to 45 feet deep with the best set-ups being watermelon colored dodgers and a pink tiger Uncle Larry's spinner.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby: I had a report of a nice 3.5 pound rainbow.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): We got an 800 pound plant of rainbows last week from the state. This week, we are getting a 1,000 pound plant from Alpine County, which includes rainbows up to 10 pounds. Our biggest fish caught, so far this year, is 9.1 pounds. A couple of nights ago, I was casting Salmon eggs with my fly rod, and on 5 casts, I had 5 fish. We are staying open through the winter due to the year-round season on the section below Hangman's Bridge.
East Carson River: Dave Kirby: The East Carson will be your best bet for the weekend.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Launa Strickland at the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): Fishing slowed a bit, but we still saw a quite a few in the 1-2 pound range this week. A recent hatch has made the Woolly Bugger in black or dark green an excellent choice for catching your limit. Also try Nightcrawlers or Yellow Power Bait, starting at the Inlet in the morning and moving toward the Jetty late in the day.
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 5 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.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 28: Anglers have only this holiday weekend to fish the lake before all access roads are closed in preparation for the planned chemical treatment to kill off the Northern Pike. The lake will be closed for the winter and is expected to re-open, heavily stocked with large numbers of rainbows, sometime in late spring.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 28: Fish are still scattered as are the minnow schools, so finding them takes more time but limits from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds were taken. Best baits were 2-inch orange or brown grubs, trolled along the northern edge of Miners Bay, south to Gallatin Marina, in water from 40 to 80 feet deep. On the west side, troll from Shrimp Island to Wild Cat Point in water from 45 to 55 feet deep with trolled baits set between 25 to 35 feet.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Go across the dam and fish the cove area on the east side. Limits of 14-16 inch rainbows have also been caught in the early evenings at Spring Creek and at the boat ramp. Chartreuse Power Bait has been working well. Troll deep or cast off the bank to deep water for best results. Keep your bait off the bottom.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: 2007 season will open on Friday, Aug. 31.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Current flow in Rush Creek is 12 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: Dave Kirby: They have really been letting water out of Kinney, so Silver Creek is really looking good.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Jim Reid reported: Nice reports of brookies, up to 4 pounds, taken on white Woolly Bugger flies or white Trout Teasers.
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): This is an excellent time to fish from a float tube due to the low water levels. Nieves Reyes of Yerington caught a 9.75 pound Channel Catfish while casting a red/black Panther/Martin lure from his float tube at the cove at Beach No. 3. Madison, 10, and Gabrielle, 8, Richards of Silver Springs caught a 5 pound Walleye on nightcrawlers at Beach No. 3, toward the day use area.
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.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper: 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 439 CFS. Fishing is pretty tough now due to the high flows.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448):
Salmon: Fishing is up and down at the moment, one or two salmon per boat, but they are BIG salmon. The salmon being caught now are 30 plus, a few Kings over 30 pounds already. Lots of Salmon in the water. Numbers of salmon passing over the dam increasing daily. Using Flatfish lures
Rainbow: Fly fishing fair to good. Drifting from Redding to Anderson. Evenings best bet. Nice size trout, up to 5 pounds. Average day's catch: 12-25 trout. Flies that are working well are Fox's Poopahs, Prince Nymphs, Gidgets and Micro May flies.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):
Salmon: Fishing has been fair to good this past week with anglers reporting 1-4 fish per boat. Back bouncing sardine wrapped Kwikfish lures in the morning and switching over to roe and a Quickie puff ball in the mid morning and afternoon have been the best producers. Best fishing has been from Balls Ferry down stream towards Chico. Side drifting roe and a Quickie puff ball has also produced nice salmon. More and more salmon are showing every day and salmon fishing should only improve in the coming weeks. Professional guide service will be guiding salmon trips through December.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Aug. 28: Troll the buoy line in front of the dam this week and slay the rainbows on silver/blue Humdingers behind a blue Sling Blade, as well as Flea Bittys and Paddle Tails. For bass from the shoreline, use worms, crawdads or minnows with either a split shot about 3 feet above the hook and let the line float freely or use a sliding bobber and adjust it according to the depths.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: Fishing is awesome. Catching nice king salmon and rainbow trout. Fishing is hot, limits! Trolling, shad pattern lures in the main body of the lake.
Stampede Reservoir, CALIF: "Father" Dick Murphy of Sun Valley (888) 852-2680 reported: Best area is from the boat ramp to the springs area east of the island. Stay in 80-100 feet of water, fish at 54-65 feet deep. Best lures: Murph's DC Super Bug and Glow Baby Super Bug. Fish are getting ready to spawn. Fish are 14-17 inches.
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.
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.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: The Kokanee salmon are showing up 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.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF: Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): With the warm top waters, the fish are fairly deep. An AC plug landed a 4-pound, 13-ounce rainbow at a depth of 70 feet. Tom Yeager of Fernley netted a 4-pound rainbow on yellow Power Bait.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Fish are hanging in about 5 to 10 feet of water so try an intermediate sink with either brown or olive Woolly Bugger, Adams dry, or a Partridge soft hackle in peacock with a tinge of yellow. Fishing in the Canyon has been slow, and this is due to the excessive warm daytime temperatures. Fish are deeper than normal and you really have to work for them. Salmon eggs, worms, and a handful of lures have done fairly well, a lot of artificial "stuff" has not been doing the job, these fish are hungry for the real McCoy and won't settle for anything less. Trumbull has been slow with only a few anglers having success on a variety of things including marshmallows with salmon eggs, and a few lures. Rainbow Power Bait and rainbow glitter to salmon peach have taken a few, but nothing significant or of any size. Big Virginia has done fair to good with tubers doing the best on the southeast corner as always with small Midges, and some dragonfly imitations. Worms and Salmon eggs on the east shore early morning, and starting again around 4 p.m. Backcountry lakes are doing well, and the streams are full of little brook trout, no size, but a heck of a lot of fun on a fly rod or salmon egg.
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. We recommend you fish the Nevada section as the water is a little cooler.
West Walker: It came up about 8-10 CFS due to the thunderstorms. 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 90 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.