LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Oct. 9: Bank anglers using baits like crickets, mealworms and roe found trout by the dam, in Big Springs and the Hamilton Branch area, as did a few trollers. The Fall fishing is taking off with cooler nights and mornings. Look to areas with springs for action and cast/retrieve baits.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): No other way to describe fishing this week, but GREAT. Lots of limits were seen leaving the lake, but have no fear there are still lots of fish left not much color left around the lake, but plenty of fish in the lake. Tales of great amounts of fish being caught and released were heard. Once again the fishing advice reads pretty much the same as it has all season. Fishing the inlets with worms, trolling with flashers and a worm or frog-pattern lure, fishing off-shore with worms or Power Bait and drifting with the same Ð worms and Power Bait. We do have something new in the advice column Ð jigs have started working Ð pearl-color jigs in particular. Fishing season is open in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range until November 15th. Lake Sabrina Boat Landing stocked the lake with a load of Browns for your fishing pleasure. DF&G apparently stocked the lake last week for the last time this season with pan-size fish and a few fish tipping the scales at 2-pounds.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The Blue Lakes road is still open but no fishing reports.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jeffry Wenger of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677) or (760-932-7001): The reservoir is in pretty good shape. The algae is gone and the fish are starting to bite. Boats are using large red spoons down the center from the "blue house" to the dam. Shore fishermen are using nightcrawlers from the west shore and fly fishermen are using streamers down by the dam.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): Fishing is still doing good. The water is the same as it has been for the last two months. They are catching 9-14 inch rainbows. Saturday, a lady fishing the "Catch and Release" section caught 10 rainbows, up to 20 inches, on a red bodied Copper John. Gene Longoria of Stockton caught a 3.5 pound (18 inch) rainbow on Salmon eggs, right across from the resort. We are staying open through the winter due to the year-round season on the section below Hangman's Bridge.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby: The river is super low and clear. It is virtually a trickle.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Launa Strickland at the Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): Fishing at Convict Lake continues to be outstanding! We saw lots of rainbows in the 4-7 pound range this week. James Wiley of Encino caught the Big Fish of The Week, bringing in a 7 lb. 13 oz. Rainbow trout using the Dark Olive Matuka on the South Shore. Everything is working all over the lake, but the South Shore is the hot spot for the big ones.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676): As of Oct. 11: The hot spots have been the north side of the Marina and the southwest corner. A few browns are showing but nothing consistent. Berkeley Gulp in Orange Pulp or Rainbow Candy and Power Bait in corn yellow. For lures, try 1/4 oz. Kastmasters in silver or silver/blue, 1/4 oz. Thomas Buoyant in white or silver/blue and Little Cleo in silver.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Crowley Lake: The lake level continues to lower and fishing conditions seem to change by the day. McGee Bay and Hilton Bay have been the most consistent areas. Streamer fishing with full sink lines. Try black/red Zebra Midges, Stevie's Wonder black/gray for Midging and streamer fishing with full sink lines with olive Matukas, Zonkers and purple Woolly Buggers.
Hot Creek: Water flow is 6 CFS. Same old small flies and fine tippet. Low water and lots of weeds. Try small black Caddis, E/C Caddis, Hoppers and foam Beetles.
CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676): As of Oct. 11: Water level is extremely low, forcing the fish to spread out all over the lake. McGee, Green Banks and Sandy Point in 6-10 ft of water. For lures, try Thomas Buoyant in gold or gold/red, Jake's Spin-A-Lure in gold and CD-3 Rapalas in Fire Tiger or Perch. Trollers have picking up some nice fish by Alligator Point or Chalk Bluffs. You want to be fishing 2-4 colors with Needle Fish in pink or gold and Tasmanian Devils in pink or orange.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: The lake, its shorelines, all its tributaries, all land upslope of these water bodies to the ridge tops of the Freeman Creek watershed, and all campgrounds, boat launches, and day use sites in the Davis Lake Recreation Area are now closed for the eradication of Northern Pike. This closure will remain in effect until the tributaries and Davis Lake are found to be free of rotenone constituents.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Oct. 9: Now that the lake has had its first snow, the action should be steady until the lake closes for 2007. Orange or brown 2-inch grubs found the best action, 2 feet off the bottom in 10-14 feet of water.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): This past Saturday, Tom Blackstock of Reno brought in a beautiful 3-pound rainbow that he caught at Lunker Point on a nightcrawler. We've had several other reports of good fishing off shore at Lunker using nightcrawlers and white marshmallows.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: The fishing is not great. I don't know what is wrong up there. A guy from Dallas got two strikes in three days of fishing.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the water is not in the best shape but it is fishable. The algae around the edges is going away.
Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): No report.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Same as Mammoth Lakes Basin. Try Silver Lake or Grant Lake at the Rush Creek inlet.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676: As of Oct. 11: The Browns are on the move in a big way. Grant and Silver has been the hot spots if you're tying to hook into one of these monsters. June Lake has turned on since the last dusting of snow. For bait, try Berkeley Gulp in Chunky Cheese or Chartreuse or worms. For lures, try Thunder Bolts in gold, Panther/Martin in black/yellow and Kastmasters in Cutthroat or silver/red tape. Berkeley Power Trout Worms in orange or red with a drop shot rig. Fly and bubble with a Woolly Bugger or Parachute Adams is also very deadly in the fall.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain and Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): Same as before: We advise you not to launch a boat, and encourage you to fish from shore. The water is so low, the reservoir looks more like a stream. The fishing is phenomenal and going like "Gang Busters."
MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Some nicer weather has improved fishing the last few days. Crowds are gone and the lakes are full of hungry fish. Lake Mary and Upper Twin are fishing well with streamer patterns like Zonkers, Woolly Buggers and Leeches.
MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: The Trout Fitter in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (760) 924-3676: As of Oct. 11: The Browns are popping up in Mary and all the Twins over the last couple of weeks. Mary and George has been the best for the numbers game. Near Barretts Landing in Mary and George in the Southwest corner. Sierra Gold in gold and Berkeley Gulp in Chunky Cheese or American Pie. For lures, try 1/6 oz. Panther/Martin In black/red dots, 1/4 oz. Thomas Buoyant in gold/red or silver/blue and CD-3 Rapala in Rainbow Trout or gold.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper Owens: Water flow 84 CFS. Fishing is good. Most standard Nymph patterns are working well. Some dry fly action with small Adams or BWO's. The crowds on the river have been overwhelming and the fish are getting smarter.
Lower Owens: Water flow is 178 CFS. Fishing should be great. A wide variety of Nymphs such as Caddis Larva, cased Caddis Pheasant Tails and Hares Ears should be productive.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie, Linda and Patsy at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400: It's still pretty slow out here. It's been very quiet. The biggest fish of the week was 7-pounds, 8-ounces (28.5 inches) caught by George Goodspeed of Gardnerville at the Pyramid from a boat with a white fly. We also had a 7-pounder and a 6-pounder checked in. That's all.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: The fishing is up and down. It is definitely slow for October. About 20 percent of the fishermen are doing good, the other 80 percent are struggling. It would be interesting to know how many fish are being hooked and then caught with the new barbless hook requirement. George (Cutthroat Charters) did very well on Saturday and then Sunday was slow.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Tim Wilson of the Pyramid Lake Marina and RV Park at (775) 476-1156: About the same as last week. Fly fishermen dragging a black Leech on the bottom are catching some smaller fish (2.5-3 pounds). They are picking up some big ones fishing deep from boats (80-100 feet). The watermelon Apex lure is knocking them dead. Shore fishermen are catching fish but it is slow. They are using watermelon, Fire Tiger and frog-colored lures.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Chris and Jeri Grellman of Sparks of Hog Charters (358-5199): Fishing has been slow and not really sure why as October should be one of the better months.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Jim Hartfiel of Just Rite Fishing at Pyramid Lake at (775) 575-7850 (home) or (775) 813-3411 (Cell): Just like Chris said: Fish is slow and no one really knows why.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448):
Salmon: Fishing slow. Hoping a good rain or two will bring more salmon up river for November. Using Flatfish lures. Fishing the Anderson area.
Rainbow: Fly fishing is fair to good. Drifting from Redding to Anderson, late afternoons, evenings best bet. Nice size trout, average day's catch 8-18 trout. Flies that are working well Fox's Poopahs, Prince Nymphs and Pheasant Tails. Trout fishing open all year on this river.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):
Salmon: Fishing has been spotty at best with some days better salmon scores than others. Most reports from Balls Ferry downstream towards Chico have been 1-3 salmon with quite a few anglers reporting zero to one salmon per boat. Many salmon are older and darker compared to earlier in the season but the newer fresher salmon are in great shape and scattered throughout the system. Back bouncing Sardine wrapped Kwikfish lures in the morning and switching over to roe and a Quickie puff ball in the mid morning and afternoon have been the best bets. Salmon have been averaging 18-26 lbs. with larger fish weighing in at 30-40 lbs.
Trout: Fishing from Redding downstream towards Red Bluff has been good this week for wild rainbow trout 1-2 pounds with larger wild rainbows to 3 pounds occasionally boated. Best bets have been side drifted small hand tied Glo Bugs in various egg color patterns. Some hatchery and wild Steelhead have begun to show in the Lower River with most Steelhead 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 with very clear water conditions being experienced up in the Redding area with slightly more colored up water the further angler's move downstream. More and more Steelhead should show everyday through November.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): As of Oct. 9: Trout are now returning to the surface but many are still scattered down to 100 feet. The 50-100-foot range has been best while the lake transitions. As the fish do move up, go no more than 20 feet down and try the Paddle Tails or Hum Dingers in Shad patterns for both salmon and trout in the usual spots like Jones, No Name or Toupee islands, Dry Creek and the dam.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): The fishing is the best it has been for a long time. The fishing is very good to excellent. We are getting lots of limits with fish running 2-15 pounds. 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 the Tahoe City Shelf.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: 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 for Mackinaw 60-150 feet deep with flashers and minnows at the Cave Rock Shelf. Some fishermen are toplining along the shore.
UPPER TWIN LAKE, CALIF: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): A 6-pound, 6-ounce rainbow on a Kastmaster lure, a 5-pound, 3-ounce rainbow on a Power Worm and a 5 pound rainbow also on a Power Worm. Good stringers caught on yellow Power Bait and nightcrawlers.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Todd & Bev Tanaka of La Habra hit the right combination of flies to bring in 4 trophy fish ranging from 4 3/4 lbs to 5 3/4 lbs on Olive Matukas, and Olive and Black Woolly Buggers from tubes on Little Virginia. Also, Dave Poor of Riverside took a nice 5 lb. 2 oz rainbow on a nightcrawler dipped in trout "stuff", and he was elated with his catch. Everyone else on the water caught fish up to 2 lbs. Big Virginia did well on nightcrawlers, lures and Salmon eggs, but nothing really big, just your average 1-pound fish from DFG. The lakes have not been stocked since the end of September, but it didn't seem to affect the catching today. It had been slow, but whatever was in the air spurred the bite to excitement.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steve Osterman:
East Walker River: The water flow is back up a bit to 57 CFS. The slight increase in flow has not improved fishing much. Prince Nymphs, WD-40's, flashback Pheasant Tails, sparkle Caddis Pupa, Stimulators and E/C Caddis. Water temps are cooling and the fish are a little more active.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn, Mark, Rocket and Scott at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: Not many fishermen but the fishing is fair to good. A lot of 2-4 pound trout have been coming in. There are lots of nice perch. Remember that the fall is the hot period for fishing. NDOW has been stocking heavily.