LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Nov. 20: Use mealworms, crickets (when you find them) and other baits for numbers in deep crevasses and underwater streambeds for a mix of fish. Troll Rainbow Runners in orange or red on the west shore, though fish are being taken everywhere. This is high season for trout now, many of which are trophies by anyone's standards.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The road is still open as long as the weather is still nice.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that both dams produced plenty of fish over the weekend. One fisherman on Sunday caught and released 15 fish, mostly rainbows, in 3 hours with worms. A report of a 5-6 pound brown feeding on the surface by one of the dams.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: East Carson River Trophy Section: The Trophy Section of the East Carson River, from Hangman's Bridge downstream to the Nevada stateline, is now open, year round, with special restrictions. Dave Kirby reported that the fishing has been on the slow side with some ice forming along the edges of the river.
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 still good and fly selection has not changed. Small black Caddis and Midges on the surface. Brassies, WD-40's and Pheasant Tails under the surface. Fish size 18 and smaller flies for best results.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Nov. 20: Trout are spread basically from one end to the other in all three basins. Watermelon, orange or brown colored 2 or 3-inch grubs have been very effective. Bobber action has picked up with the increased shoreline activity. Float a worm under a bobber and you're set. Please remember to come prepared with more layers of clothes, chains for launching and an eye on the sky.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Bank fishing has been very good in the shallow areas. Try Crystal Point or Snallygaster. Use nightcrawlers and rainbow glitter Power Bait and keep your bait off the bottom. Lunker Point has also been good. Trollers continue to do well from Spring Creek through the Narrows up to the north end.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported fishing has been good. Low water levels. Some limits being caught.
ORVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Nov. 20: Bass fishing was rated fairly decent with lake levels stabilizing somewhat, along with the water temperatures pointing to the lake's turnover occurring soon. The bass were hitting jigs and drop-shotted or dart-headed plastic worms at 10 to 40 feet. A few salmon anglers are working hard to find decent sized silvers from 2 to 4 pounds off the main body points and in the river arms, mooching anchovy fillets or live shiners. Lots of fingerling coho biting after spreading out from the October plant by DWR. The lake surface temperature was 58 degrees last Sunday.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper Owens: Water flow 84 CFS. Fly fishing is great. Most standard Nymph patterns are working well. Some dry fly action with small Adams or BWO's. The crowds on the river continue to be huge and fishing space is limited.
Lower Owens: Water flow is currently 08 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: The fishing is picking up. Last week, the biggest Cutthroat was 11-pounds, 12.8 ounces (31 3/4 inches). It was caught by Steve Barbato of Sparks with a green/black lure at Popcorn. There was also a 10, a 9, two 6's and two 5's turned in. The boats are using frog-colored Lyman and Flatfish lures.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: The fishing has been pretty good from Indian Head down to Popcorn. We had good weather over the weekend and lots of people. Most of the fish are in the throw-back size but there are also some nice ones being caught.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Tim Wilson of the Pyramid Lake Marina and RV Park at (775) 476-1156: Fishing has really picked up with the colder weather. The south end of the lake has been real good the last few days. They are catching some nice fish. Go deep for the bigger ones but don't go over 40 feet deep. Fly fishing is picking up, mostly at the South Nets, with black Woolly Buggers or black Leaches. One of the residents in the trailer park caught a 8-pounder and a 10-pounder. The shore fishermen are catching 5-6-7 pounders with Chartreuse/red dot or green/black dot Sierra Spoons or silver Kastmaster lures.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Chris and Jeri Grellman of Sparks of Hog Charters (358-5199): We went to Idaho for the holiday and both came back with a bad cold. We are just saying inside and nursing our colds.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Jim Hartfiel of Just Rite Fishing at Pyramid Lake at (775) 575-7850 (home) or (775) 813-3411 (Cell): Friday we went north, boated 10 fish and kept 2 keepers. Saturday, we went south, boated over 10 fish and lost several due to the barbless hooks. Sunday, I stayed home and goofed off. I've been trolling 40 feet deep in 50 feet of water.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):
Salmon: Quite a few late Fall salmon are being caught with good fishing from Balls Ferry downstream towards Chico. A few late Fall salmon have been landed in the 30-40 pound class this past week with reports of salmon being caught on sardine wrapped K-15 & K-16 Kwikfish lures in various color combos. Backbouncing has been best bet with good fishing most of the day. All salmon being caught are new chrome bright king salmon averaging 12-20 pounds. Salmon in the 40-50 plus pound class are a real possibility this time of year on this river. Salmon season will continue through mid January.
Trout: Fishing from Redding downstream towards Red Bluff has slowed a bit this week for wild rainbow trout 1 to 2 pounds with larger wild rainbows to 3 pounds occasionally boated. Multiple hook-ups are common with 25-30 rainbows boated per outing being the average for anglers at the right places on the river at the right time. Best bets have been side drifted small hand tied Glo Bugs in various egg color patterns.
Steelhead: Some hatchery and wild Steelhead have been caught with most averaging 2-4 pounds with larger Steelhead 5 pounds or better. Redding to Anderson has been good for trout and Anderson downstream has been better for trout and Steelhead. More and more Steelhead should show everyday through November.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Nov. 20: Trout are up but shad are down. Flee Bitty's and Hum Dingers are being worked over points but keep moving as fish are scattered. Rapalas and Kazi Minnows have also been producing, all in the top 20 feet. Head to the cooler water in the arms for fish to 20 inches, but 17 inches has been the average. Trolling picked up to 3 mph. Salmon are deeper by the dam from 70 to 150 feet. Sling Blades and Paddle-Tails produced fish from 15 to 16 inches. Pro Cure Shad gel is a must. The bass bite held on "confidence baits" around trees, such as Hula grubs and dart-headed worms worked out to 45 feet and spinnerbaits or topwater tackle closer in. The reaction bite is also returning. Plenty of bass are being taken including a few larger.
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 very good to excellent. Everyone is catching limits. We have been trolling 80-200 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: Not much fishing. When I fish there, I've been fishing 50-200 feet deep at Ski Run Shelf and Camp Richardson. Trolling with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and minnows. Bouncing off the bottom in a serpentine pattern. Macks are small, 2-7 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: Trolling shallow for Mackinaw with flashers and worms or minnows at Logan Shoals and the Cave Rock Shelf. Some fishermen are catching small rainbows from the Cave Rock Landing.
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Norm Budden and Marty Martinez of Carson City fished in their chest waders on Tuesday 9-10:30 a.m., until a strong wind began to blow. Budden caught 3 cutthroat trout (2 were tagged) and Martinez got skunked.
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 down to 21 CFS. Fishing is tough. 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: The temperatures are now down to 1-6 degrees at night. The reservoir now has a thin skim of ice from the state boat ramp toward the resort. Shore fishermen have been catching some nice rainbows (15-19 inches and super fat) and perch with no weights and inflated worms. They are also catching quite a few trout on the river, below the dam.