BISHOP, CALIF. AREA: Gary Olson of the Bishop Creek Resorts (760-873-4484):
Intake No. 2: A 3-pound, 7-ounce rainbow on a nightcrawler. Fishing was great: Lime Power Bait.
North Lake: Some nice limits. Nightcrawlers did best.
South Lake: Still ice covered but lot of water showing along shoreline. Best with worms.
Bishop Creek: A 4-pound, 8-ounce rainbow with a jig and a 5-pound, 3-ounce rainbow.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The road to the lakes is still closed.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (at 11 a.m.): A report of good fishing from a couple of bait fishermen at Rainbow and Sandy Points. Trolling has been tough.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported Roland Smokey of Woodfords fished the open water by Woods Creek. He was throwing his lure on the ice, dragging it into the water and retrieving it slowly. He caught a brown and 2 rainbows.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): Josh Hughes of Napa caught a 5-pound, 7-ounce rainbow on orange Power Bait on Monday morning. Doug Tollis of Campbell caught a 3-pound, 9-ounce rainbow on green label Salmon eggs.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported: Doug Tollis caught a 4-pound rainbow.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Launa Strickland at the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): The biggest fish were: 8-pounds, 1-ounce from the jetty with a Thomas Buoyant lure, 7-pounds, 11-ounces at the inlet with a Thomas Buoyant lure, 7-pounds, 6-ounces from north shore with worm and marshmallow, 7-pounds, 4-ounces from north shore with yellow Power Bait and 6-pounds, 13-ounces from north shore with a Kastmaster lure.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Calif. DF&G estimated 10,000 fishermen on opening day and counted 519 boats at mid-morning.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Crowley Lake: Strong winds, rain and snow limited fishing opportunities last week. During the calmer periods, Sandy Point and McGee Bay produced some nice fish. Try Stevie's Wonder black/Silver and Stevie's "Z" in 12-15 feet of water.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Bank fishermen: Try nightcrawlers, garlic marshmallows or Power Bait. Trollers: Use nightcrawlers, flashers or frog-type lures.
HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Bass fishing has really turned on. Late last Friday afternoon, Mike Zahradka of Yerington caught and released 20 bass in 45 minutes with a Banjo Minnow.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported Doug Tollis caught 2 rainbows on inflated worms on Sunday.
JUNE LAKE LOOP. CALIF: According to Calif. DF&G. on opening day, a stringer of four fish from June Lake tipped the scales at 23.4 pounds with the biggest fish weighing 8.5 pounds.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: No report. The Sonora Pass Highway is now open.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): Fabulous fishing with the warmer weather. They are pulling out Walleye, right and left. You don't even need minnows, worms are also working. One fisherman got a 5-pound Walleye off Beach No. 5 on Tuesday.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Twin Lakes is ice free. The road to the upper lakes is still closed. Black or olive Doc's Twin Lake's Special.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Ice free. Doug Tollis caught a couple of brookies on worms.
There were 14 shore fishermen on Sunday afternoon. Very slow.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Ice free. Dave Kirby reported Doug Tollis caught a couple of browns on flies.
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 and Dollar Points. Nothing big, the biggest was 9 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: I've been fishing 25-160 feet deep at Ski Run Shelf and the Tahoe Keys Shelf. Trolling with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and large lures. The Macks have been running 2-5 pounds.
On Monday, we caught 3 Macks, up to 8 pounds, and a 7-pound rainbow, bouncing lures on the bottom in 30-70 feet of water at Ski Run.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: Fishing is slow to good, mostly slow. I'm toplining Rapala, Rebel or A/C lures for mostly rainbows, a few small Mackinaw and an occasional brown. Shore fishing is really slow.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): It was spitting snow and darn cold this last weekend. We had a group of 30 boat fishermen from Modesto and they were out there fishing and catching fish. Their biggest fish was 2-pounds, 8-ounces caught while trolling flasher blades and worms.
TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Andy at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store: Fishing has been on again and off again due to the weather. Not much happening. There is a late afternoon hatch.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): A 6-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on rainbow Power Bait, a 5-pound, 8-ounce rainbow on sherbet Power Bait and a 4-pound, 4-ounce rainbow on yellow Power Bait. Red/gold Thomas Buoyant lures continue to work for 3+ pounders.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Jim Reid reported that both Little and Big Virginia Lakes are already ice free and fishing good.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid reported:
East Walker: Fishing is awesome, mostly with Nymphs. Some great dry fly fishing for about an hour, late on Monday.
West Walker: Fishing is OK. Water is still chilly and they are picking up some fish.
East Walker: Steve Osterman reported: The flow is currently 96 CFS. Try getting away from the "Miracle Mile" section near the dam and fish the pocket water down river. Blood Midges, Prince Nymphs and soft hackle Hare's Ears.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn, Mark and Scott at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: Fishing has been excellent. It is just as good from shore as from a boat. The browns are cruising along the shorelines looking for little perch minnows. Lots of 16-18 inch rainbows and cuttbows. There was a 4-pound brown caught from shore on Sunday.