Lots of tagged rainbows caught at Topaz Lake

LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Dec. 28: Stick to the shoreline this week with a bobber and a worm or some Power Bait. Focus on incoming water from runoffs and streams where fish will be targeting new food sources.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The Blue Lakes Road is now closed for the winter to vehicles. Be sure to tell your readers that I have California Sno-Park permits. No reports this week. Christmas week is always quiet.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that the ice was about 12 inches thick last week.

CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:

Hot Creek: Water flow is 4 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.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Dec. 18: Lake has been planted with 24,000 pounds of hatchery rainbows. The lake is just about covered with a thin sheet of ice now and remains closed to the public until water tests clear of the Rotenone chemical compound used to eradicate northern pike in the lake. Anglers can check on lake opening by calling the DFG Pike Eradication Project Information Line at (530)832-4754.

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Say good bye, as this lake is now closed until next spring.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Dec. 28: Flows were very low, down to a little over 1,300 CFS below the outlet, and Steelhead fishing was relatively slow. The best action was just above and below the outlet and the best bait was nightcrawlers. Most of the fish being caught were half-pounders with just a few adults being reported.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Most of Frenchman is now frozen. We've had reports that the ice is 6-8 inches thick at the dam. There are people ice fishing there. There is some open water at Crystal Point and on the west side of the dam near the Narrows.

INDIAN CREEK, RESERVOIR, CALIF: Nate Johnston of Douglas County reported:

Friday: Ice is beautiful! Clear and 3+ inches thick everywhere. Kofi (his dog) and I fished a couple hours yesterday and I only got one hit. Punched nine holes from the dam to the bay. We're going back Saturday and will try some new spots on the west and central east sides. 25-30 snow geese sitting on the ice to the south end. Road in from back side 95 percent snow free.

Saturday: Another beautiful day but no bites in 4 hours.

OROVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Dec. 28: The Lake is really low now and Bidwell Canyon launch ramp is the only facility open to the public. The lake surface temperature was 47 degrees last week and the lake surface elevation was 697 feet. Call DWR at (530) 534-2303 before planning a trip to see if launch ramps are open.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:

Upper Owens: Water flow 88 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 99 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. On the surface, try Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams and E/C Caddis.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie, Linda and Patsy at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400: Lots of guys were out there fishing but no one weighed anything in.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: Fishing is still good. The fish are scattered all over the lake. A couple of nice fish are being caught every day. The biggest fish on our board is a 9-pound, 12-ounce keeper that was caught on the 28th by Larry Weis of Reno. He was fishing from shore, south of Blockhouse, with a lure. George (Cutthroat Charters) has been out every couple of days and they have caught and released an average of 15 fish each time with the biggest being about 6 pounds. Yesterday was warm and windy and he stayed at Pelican Point.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Tim Wilson of the Pyramid Lake Marina and RV Park at (775) 476-1156: Pretty much the same as last week: The fish are scattered and are being caught anywhere from 5 to 90 feet deep. The south end continues to be the best fishing. The fly fishermen are starting to catch a few, now.

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 Friday and Sunday, when most people in their right minds would have stayed on shore. The wind was terrible and the fishing was slow. We are still trolling 12 feet deep in 20 feet of water.

RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the ice was about 12 inches thick last week.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Dec. 28: Brown trout are "best bets" in the McCloud arm. Try by the tributaries as they begin to migrate back into the lake after spawning. Minnow type lures such as the Matrix's Kazi-Minnows trolled from the surface down to 25 feet were producing fish up to 4 pounds. Bass fishing was good for anglers using "slower" baits like jigs, hula grubs and drop-shot worms in earth tone colors.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been good to excellent. We have been trolling 100-200 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. 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: They are trolling for Mackinaw with flashers and worms or minnows at the Cave Rock Shelf. Shore fishermen are catching small rainbow (up to 2 pounds) and small Mackinaw trout (up to 3 pounds) from the Cave Rock Landing. Topliners are trolling with flashers and either a Rapala lure or a Dodger with a live minnow at Logan Shoals, Zephyr Cove Buoy and Deadman's Point.

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): We had 35 fishermen in our Marina Derby, which was won by Tom Garcia of Topaz Lake. He caught a 4-pound rainbow while trolling a Needlefish lure.

It was a nice opener with lots of people and good weather. You can launch a boat from the county campground. A lot of 3-pounder were caught by boats trolling with Cowbell flashers and nightcrawlers. One group of 3 teenagers and a dad had a stringer of rainbows that weighed 11 pounds.

TOPAZ LAKE: Diane at the Topaz Lake General Store: We had a record breaking crowd of anglers waiting for sunrise. Anglers came from as far away as

California, Texas and Washington, along with lots of locals. One angler said he counted 78 vehicles parked along Topaz Lake Road.

We had 19 tagged fish from $50 to $1000 caught, and gave away over $4000.00 on opening day.

John Curry caught the first tagged fish worth $500.00.

Jim Seaman from Gardnerville caught a $1000.00 fish weighing 2.7 lbs.

Debbie McElhaney from Topaz Lake caught a $1000.00 fish weighing 2 lbs.

Zac Sayed on the North side caught a $250.00 fish weighing 2.7 lbs.

Judy Baxter on the East Shore caught a $250.00 fish weighing 3.4 lbs.

Other anglers who caught tagged fish on opening day were: Jeff Boylan from Wellington, Matt Mavai from Sparks, Mark Kizer from Gardnerville, Dick Horvath from Coleville, Wayne Eichhorst from Gardnerville, Wally Farnham from Wellington, Tim Sullivan Gardenrville, Matthews from Canyon Country California, Augie Esenarro from Carson City, Gene Couste from Carson City and Alan Alltizer from Minden.

WALKER LAKE, NEV: Don Hettrick of Carson City caught a 3-pound, 5-ounce Cutthroat (20 inches) from shore with a Chartreuse/black dot lure on Jan. 1.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steve Osterman:

East Walker River (From Bridgeport Dam to the Nevada Stateline): The water flow is 30 CFS. Fishing is tough as ice is forming in the channel. Prince Nymphs, WD-40's, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Sparkle Caddis Pupa, Stimulators and E/C Caddis.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn, Jerry, Fred, Ron and Debbie at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: There are 10 inches of snow at the Resort. The reservoir ice is 10-13 inches thick and extra hard. Ice fishing is good but you have to locate the deep channels between the island and the west bank. Across from the state park is very productive for both trout and perch.