LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 15: Stick to the shoreline this week with an inflated worm and a slide sinker about 2 feet off the bottom or troll the top 10-15 feet early in the morning before the sun hits the water with a nightcrawler on a swivel, trolled as slowly as possible. After the sun hits the water, switch to a Needlefish and increase your trolling speed to 1.5 mph.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Be sure to tell your readers that I have California Sno-Park permits. It's been quiet with not much happening last weekend with the cold and the snow.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that there was 3 feet of ice with about 2 feet of snow and a bunch of ice fishermen over the weekend.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Hot Creek: Water flow is 9 CFS. Fishing here is a little tougher due to recent winter storms. Access is limited due to snow. Fish small Nymphs like Disco Midges, Brassies and Pheasant Tails. Some larger spawning fish have been showing up in the creek lately.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 11: Lake opening still awaiting latest results from tests on lake water for detectable levels of any residue from chemical treatment to kill northern pike.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 15: Steelhead fishing was slow in the Low Flow Section of the river, but success was a bit better downstream of the Outlet. Anglers were catching small, but bright Steelhead on nightcrawlers and Nymph patterns under indicators. A few bright salmon were being reported being caught downstream near the mouth, in spite of virtually no one targeting them. Remember, though, the Sacramento River is off-limits to the take of salmon.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 15: Road to lake plowed, but that's as far as anyone, other than snowmobilers can go. Some anglers had been ice fishing at the dam. With improving weather conditions, more ice fishers are likely to be giving it a try. Nighttime temperatures have been dropping to 2 degrees below zero, so the ice will be around for a while.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the reservoir is still frozen with about 2 inches of ice. He strongly advises not to walk out on the ice, as it is too dangerous. On Sunday, the back road was muddy and snowy.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the paved road is still not plowed to the reservoir.
OROVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 15: Bass fishing has fallen into a slump this past week with falling lake levels and changing water temperatures. The fish will hit jigs and plastic worms at 10-40 feet and can be caught with plastic worms, tube baits and jigs. The lake surface temperature is 45 degrees and the surface elevation was 701 feet.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper Owens: Water flow 89 CFS. Fly fishing is a bit more challenging with cold water and air temperatures. Expect to make many drifts for few fish. Work hard and you will be rewarded. Same fly's as Hot Creek. Best fishing during mid day hours. Some larger, spawning fish showing up of late.
Lower Owens: Water flow is currently 92 CFS. Fly fishing is very good. The fish are not too picky about the fly but still demand a good presentation. For Nymphing, try Pheasant Tails, Cased Caddis, green rock worms, WD-40's, Prince Nymphs, Hares Ears, Fox's Caddis Poopa and Brassies. Midday May Fly hatch but not much surface activity. Best results with Nymphs.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie and Linda at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400: Our biggest fish last week was a 8-pound, 13-ounce Cutt caught by Mark Pacheco of Reno who caught it from shore at Wino Beach with a frog colored lure.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: Fishing, over all, for the past month has been pretty good, but the last three days have been slow. Jeff Graham of Reno caught a 6-pound, 6-ounce with a lure from shore, and Albert Broline of Reno caught a 5-pound, 5-ounce from a boat.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Chris and Jeri Grellman of Sparks of Hog Charters (358-5199): We went out Saturday, north of Warrior Point, and caught and released 18 fish. We used downriggers with Tui Chub colored Apex lures at a depth of 40 feet in 80 feet of water.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Jim Hartfiel of Just Rite Fishing at Pyramid Lake at (775) 575-7850 (home) or (775) 813-3411 (Cell): We went out Saturday, over at Anderson Bay, and caught and released 12 fish. We lost a 28-incher right at the boat. We were trolling Tui Chub colored Apex and white Flatfish lures at 20 feet deep in 40 feet of water.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported the lake has 3 feet of ice and about 1 foot of hard snow. On Saturday, there were about 45 ice fishermen. Fishing, overall, was not that productive but they were catching fish. He caught and released a small brook trout and kept a 2-pound cutthroat.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Scott Mattheus of Carson City reported that he caught a 19.5 inch cutthroat on Jan. 17 while jigging a Kastmaster lure.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Jan. 15: Grubs, dart-headed worms, jigs and Senkos fished very slowly, should be productive this week for bass to 3 pounds. The trout are so hungry they were hitting reaction baits for bass. Troll in coves where the wind drives bait and toss Kastmasters or Rapalas that imitate the shad for fish to 3 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): The fishing has been slow to good. The spawning is done and the Mackinaw are scattered. You have to be patient. We have been trolling 60-180 feet deep. We locate the fish on the fish finder and then troll Dodgers and a live minnow in a "Figure Eight" pattern, bouncing the bottom. Also using rainbow-pattern, broken-back lures. I've been fishing at Cal-Nevada Point, Dollar Point and Sugar Pine Point.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: When I fish there, I've been 80-200 feet deep at Ski Run Shelf and Camp Richardson. Trolling with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and minnows, and bouncing off the bottom in a serpentine pattern. Macks are small, 2-7 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: The shore fishermen have been catching some fish from the Cave Rock Landing. Toplining has been dead to good, depending on the day.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): It has been pretty slow, cold and a few fishermen have been out. The water level is coming up, but very slow, it is creeping. We got lots of snow, yesterday (Sunday, for about an hour.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steve Osterman:
East Walker River (From Bridgeport Dam to the Nevada Stateline): The West Walker River, from the Bridgeport Dam downstream to the Nevada stateline, is now open, year round, with special restrictions. The water flow is 30 CFS. Fishing is very tough as ice is forming in the channel. Prince Nymphs, WD-40's, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Sparkle Caddis Pupa, Stimulators and E/C Caddis. Some decent reports from anglers fishing on the Nevada side.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn, Jerry, Fred, Ron and Debbie at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: It's been down to -1 degrees which is much better than that -27 degrees we had awhile back. There are more than 18 inches of ice under about 1 foot of snow. Fishing has been kind of slow. We had a couple of fishermen with a waterproof camera, who could see layers of fish stationary in the water, but they were not biting, no matter what the fishermen tried.