BISHOP, CALIF. AREA: Gary Olson of the Bishop Creek Resorts (760-873-4484):
Intake No. 2: A 9-pound, 9-ounce rainbow on a Rapala lure.
North Lake: Road is open and fishing has been super.
Sabrina Lake: Is totally ice free.
South Lake: Is now ice free. Fishing has been phenomenal with nightcrawlers bringing in the bulk of the fish.
Bishop Creek: Eggs have been great with worms doing very well.
BISHOP, CALIF. Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): We received 74 Alper's ranging 4 Ð 8 pounds, courtesy of Southern California Edison on Wednesday and a DF&G stocking on Thursday. Fishing has been most productive in the back part of the lake. Trolling the shoreline with lures with a bit of red on them brought in quite a few limits. Examples of lures are the Thomas Buoyant, Super Duper, Mepps and Panther Martin. And no surprise, the inlet is doing well with worms, salmon eggs and orange Power Bait.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The road to the lakes should be open for the Memorial Day weekend, probably by late Friday.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (www.kenssport.com): Not too bad in the mornings but the afternoons have bbeen toguh due to the wind. Yesterday (Monday), bait fishing with worms or Power Bait from shore was best. Trolling has been tough. The fly guys are fishing with streamers off the Marina.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jeffry Wenger of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677) or (760-932-7001): We have a north wind today (Monday). All my boats are out, right now, and they are catching a few fish. Fishing is rated as good with some definite slow periods. The fish are all over the place and are staying deep except for a couple of hours every day.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Launa Strickland at the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): The biggest rainbows were: 5-pounds, 4-ounces on a nightcrawler from the south shore, 5-pounds, 2-ounces on a Trout Teaser at the inlet, 4-pounds, 7-ounces on a nightcrawler from the north shore and 4-pounds, 4-ounces on a Kastmaster lure from the south shore.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Crowley Lake: Fishing is great when you can locate the fish. Until the weeds develop, the fish seem to roam freely and don't always stay in one area for any length of time. McGee Bay and Hilton Bay producing some nice fish. Try Stevie's Wonder (gray/black) and Stevie's "Z" in 1215 feet of water. Olive or black Woolly Buggers fished on full sink lines also working well.
Hot Creek: Water flow is 23 CFS. The creek is fishing very well and fly selection remains the same. Try small Brassies, Scud's, Baetis Nymphs and Pheasant Tails. Also a larger dry fly like a Stimulator with a Zebra Midge or Emerger trailer is a good choice. Some yellow Sallies beginning to show.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Ed Dillard (Dillard Guided Fishing) (530-832-6394) reported: I fished Saturday and we hooked 14 fish but could only land 8. The fish were 17-19 inches. We caught all of the fish on Dick Nite copper redheads. We trolling 8 feet down, 175 feet back from the boat. For most fishermen, fishing was on the slow side.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113): Fishing for spring salmon has gotten a bit tougher due to low flows this past week. Angler's casting large No. 6 Blue Fox 6 spinners from the bank around the outlet have caught some nice springers to 35 pounds. Most fish have averaged 12-25 pounds. Feather River daily limits for salmon are one per person.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Bank fishing has been good at Lunker Point and at the Boat Ramp. Try using Nightcrawlers (float them off the bottom) or rainbow glitter Power Bait. Troll nightcrawlers and flashers, 3 colors out, for nice rainbows to 18 inches.
HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Largemouth Bass fishing is still very good. They are using plastic or rubber worms, both from shore and float tubes. One angler was even catching them with a rubber frog.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Current flow in Rush Creek is 101 CFS. Try Pheasant Tail Nymphs, flash back Hares Ears and black ants. Silver Lake and Grant Lake have been the best bet for float tubers. Black Mohair Leeches, olive Matukas and Zonkers.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): We are estimating 25,000 to 40,000 people will be out here over the holiday weekend.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Twin Lakes is ice free. The road to the upper lakes is now open. Fishing is pretty slow as the water temps are in the 40's. Stevie's Wonder black/silver mimics the current Midge hatch. If you fish streamers, use a very slow retrieve.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper: Water flow about 111 CFS. San Juan worms, Glo-Bugs, Pheasant Tails and Hares Ears. Some surface action with BWO'S mid-day. Caddis in the afternoon.
Lower: Water flow is 204 CFS. Fishing remains good and crowds are light. Nymphing with Barr's Emerger, WD-40 , olive Hares Ears and micro May Flies. Some good dry fly action in the late afternoons with Elk Hair Caddis.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: It is very windy today ((Monday). Fishing has been fair. Evenings have been prime for the fly fishermen. The lure fishermen are fishing the deeper drop off areas like Spider Point. The boats are scattered all over the lake with some good fishing and some not so good. George (Pyramid Lake Charters) has had some 30 fish days, but nothing big.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Tim Wilson of the Pyramid Lake Marina and RV Park at (775) 476-1156: It is very windy, this is not a fishing day (Monday). Fishing has been slow, but the fish are still hitting on Cooper Johns and Woolly Bugger flies at The Nets and off some of the south beaches. The boaters are doing fair, down at 70 feet, with Apex lures.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):
Rainbows: This past week offered some very good wild rainbow fishing for angler's from either a drift boat or jet boat. 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 wild rainbows. Most trout averaged 1-3 pounds with the occasional large rainbow 4-6 pounds. 25 hook-ups are average with better scores of 40 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 has also been a good bet.
Shad: Fishing is starting to begin in the upper reaches of the Sacramento River near Chico. Side drifting small jigs with small curly tailed grubs is best. Shad fishing will continue to build now through June.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported two anglers limited out on rainbows, nothing big, with worms from shore.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): We caught some very nice fish this last week: Norman Barlow of Carson City had a 12-pound (33 inch) Mack, Mark Jeremy had a 15 pound Mack and Dwayne Culp had a 10-pound Mack. 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.
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. A 10--pound, 7-ounce (31 inches) brown in 80 feet of water at the Tahoe Keys Shelf on a Dodger and minnow. Lots of jiggers at Ski Run Mound.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): On Sunday, Ricky Howard of Coleville caught a 6-pound, 6-ounce Largemouth Bass from shore on the south end with a Rapala lure. On Friday, Joe Buffo of Minden caught a 3-pound, 14-ounce rainbow while trolling at the south end with flashers and a nightcrawler. Sunday, two other boat anglers reported limits of average size rainbows.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF: Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): A 3-pound, 15-ounce rainbow on Power Bait and a 3-pound, 3-ounce rainbow on an olive green Woolly Bugger fly. Worms apparently working well for stringers of pan-sized rainbows.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Jim Reid reported fishing has been awesome. Float tubes have been best. Power Bait from shore has been very good. Not so hot for lures.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid reported:
East Walker: Fishing is still excellent. Mostly with Caddis or Mayfly patterns.
West Walker: Fishing has picked up. A 6.5 pound rainbow on a nightcrawler.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
East Walker: Steve Osterman reported: The flow is currently 127 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: Bass fishing in Saturday's tournament was lousy. The perch were hitting any lure thrown out. Trout are good on nightcrawlers, floated with Power Bait.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AREA, CALIF: The Tioga Pass Highway is now open.