'Wall to Wall Fins' at E. Carson River

BISHOP, CALIF. AREA: Sabrina Lake: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Fishing this week was a tad on the slow side with patience being the name of the game. We did se a few limits come in. The fishermen who did bring in fish from the Dingleberry Inlet were using Salmon Eggs and nightcrawler as were those fishing the Little George and George Inlets. The successful lead core trollers were going down about 5-7 colors and using a red dot frog pattern lure or a red-throated olive Matuka. Shore fishing with Power Bait in the cove across from the landing and the bay to the south of the landing brought in some fish. Patience was the name of the game this week. DF&G was not able to stock the lake this week due to the aftermath of the fires which are all out.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The Death Ride on Saturday scared off most fishermen. Pretty decent weekend for both Upper and Lower Blue. Fishermen did well, with some limits.

BRIDGEPORT CALIF. AREA: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707): Fishing is still excellent, from boats or float tubes. Nothing from shore. Mostly, still fishing with nightcrawlers or Power Bait floated off the bottom or flies such as Damsels or Blood Midges. The average size is 16 inches with some 20-24 inchers. They are fishing right in front of the Marina or in the middle between the Marina and Buckeye Bay.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: The Death Ride on Saturday scared off most fishermen.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported it was planted with 1-5 pound planters.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:

East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): The East Carson River is "Wall to Wall Fins" right now. The county planted 900 pounds last Friday and the state planted last Wednesday. On Friday, Dominique, age 11, and Isabella, 8, Aguilar of Sacramento caught a 5 pounder, a 3 pounder and a 12 incher with Panther/Martin lures and Salmon eggs.

On Saturday, Donald Pierce of Gilroy used a Panther/Martin lure to catch two 2 pounders and three pan-sized trout.

West Carson River: Dave Kirby: There was a large plant of fish on Friday, especially at the junction of S.R. 88 and S.R. 89. On Saturday, Julian Martin of Carson City caught a 7.5 pound planter on a small fly. On Sunday, Roger Benson of Gardnerville caught a 5 pound planter on worms.

Special Note: The West Carson River has Handicapped Access for fishermen at Pickett's Junction (the Intersection of S.R. 88 and S.R. 89 at the edge of Hope Valley).

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

Crowley Lake: The green stuff is finally starting to diminish and more areas are fishing. Hilton Bay and Crooked Creek have been productive. As always, Stevie's Wonder is getting lot's of takes. Try black/silver and gray/black.

Hot Creek: Water flow is 10 CFS. Time for 6x -7x leaders and small flies. Use a dry/dropper combination. Try a E/C caddis on top with a small (size 18-22) Pheasant Tail Nymph or WD-40 as the dropper. Still a good caddis grab in the afternoon.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113): Salmon fishing has slowed a bit despite better flows but warm water temps. Best fishing has been from Oroville to Gridley. Angler's casting large No. 6 Blue Fox spinners from the bank around the outlet have caught a few salmon to 30 pounds. Most fish have averaged 12-25 pounds. Professional guide service had another good week of fishing for salmon, back-bouncing small K-14 or K-16 Kwikfish with a sardine wrap for king salmon to 30 pounds.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): The water is warming up, so the fish are deep. Troll slow with nightcrawlers behind flashers. Bank fishing has been good at Turkey Point with Chartreuse Power Bait. Nice rainbows are also being caught off shore at Crystal Point with nightcrawlers. Catfish are plentiful all over.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: The Death Ride on Saturday scared off most fishermen.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Doug Busey reported The reservoir is like one big salad bowl. The water is pretty shallow at the ramp and you might not want to launch a boat at this time. Use caution. Lots of weeds everywhere.

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.

KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Jim Reid reported: A good report from a couple of fishermen this last week, who caught about a dozen Cutthroat trout (16-20 inches) on Woolly Bugger flies. No brookies were caught.

Note: This lake is about a 2 mile hike from the Sonora Pass Highway (S. R. 108).

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy and Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): A 10-pound, 5-ounce Walleye on Saturday, a 5-pound Walleye on Saturday at Beach No. 3, and some young kids with toy-like fishing poles caught 22 fish at Beach No. 7.

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Elmer Bull of Yerington reported he and his family had fairly good action on Saturday afternoon at Beach No. 6 with live minnows and worms, dragged slowly along the bottom. They caught some walleye, a 12-inch crappie (on a sinking Rapala lure) and lots of small white bass.

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.

MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, NEV: Elmer Bull reported: Both Hinkson Slough and Bass Pond have been fishing pretty darn good for bass with rubber worms from shore and then later in the afternoon with buzz baits.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:

Upper: Water flow about 107 CFS. Not much different than last week. Above the Benton Crossing Bridge, he 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.

Lower: Water flow is currently 432 CFS. Fishing is pretty tough now due to the high flows.

RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: The Death Ride on Saturday scared off most fishermen.

SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Fly fishing good. Water flow is currently 15,000 CFS. Drifting from Redding to Anderson. Evening best bet. Nice size trout, up to 5 pounds. Average day's catch, 12-25 trout. Flies that are working well: Fox's Poopahs, Prince Nymphs, Gidgets and Micro May flies.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):

Trout fishing near Redding was very good this past week for wild rainbow trout with many large rainbows to 4 pounds being caught. Multiple hook-ups were common with many double hook-ups side-drifting Glo Bugs. Side-drifting small hand tied Glo Bugs in various egg color patterns proved best early in the mornings. Natural cured roe tipped with a Quickie puffball also scored some great fishing for wild rainbows. Most trout averaged 1-3 pounds with the occasional large rainbow 4-5 pounds. 20 hook-ups are average with better scores of 30 plus hook-ups possible on good days. Redding to Red Bluff has been most productive water. Angler's back trolling small Hot Shot No. 50's in various color combos have also gotten into some nice rainbows. The 2007 Salmon season opened on July 16th. Salmon counts are up from last year to 1,899 salmon passing through the Red Bluff diversion dam. Daily limits are two salmon per angler per day. Professional guide service will be guiding salmon trips July through December 2007.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero: Fishing is awesome. Catching nice king salmon, salmon fishing is hot, hot, hot, limits! Big salmon already 2-8 pounds, catching some in the 20-24 inch range. Catching a few trout here and there. Trolling, shad pattern lures.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): We have been trolling 50-240 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. Macks are 2-7 pounds.

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): Not much going on, here. It's about the end of the season. With this hot weather, all we have is lots of jet skis and water skiers.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Virginia fished fair to good this week, those who know how to work the lake did well. Both Big Virginia and Trumbull did OK, but the fish are keeping in the cooler water as it's been hitting record highs at this elevation for some time. The fish are holding in 12-22 feet of water. DF&G stocked 400 pounds on the 11th and due again this week. Salmon eggs hit the top of the chart this week with rainbow glitter Power Bait and natural Power Worms. Trumbull is doing fair to good only because of the heat reflection from the mountain and same story, fish deeper, fish early am or late evening for the best bite. Backcountry is doing well on Elk Hair Caddis patterns, Gnats, and worms.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid:

East Walker: Running at 100 CFS. Fishing is still doing well with dry flies in the mornings, Nymphs during the day, and Caddis in the late afternoon.

West Walker: Good in the canyon near the Town of Walker. Also in the Pickle Meadows area, which must have been planted.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn, Mark, Rocket and Scott at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: The weather is beautiful right now (Monday morning), it is 68 degrees, cloudy and breezy. This is God's Country. Fishing is still excellent, both from shore or in boats. The perch, trout and bass are all hitting.