Fishing Report for Aug. 14

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Pond smelt appear to be having another great year as the trout and salmon are chasing them all over the lake, according to Almanor Fishing Adventure. Bait fish are boiling on the topwater as hungry fish slash through the bait balls. Gulls above make it easy to find them.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Well, it was OK this last weekend. The fishing is getting tougher due to the warm weather. The fish are going deeper. Some guys trolling with worms caught a few fish.

BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dick Murphy of "Fishing with Father Murphy" (775-674-2270) (775-240-9163): Best area: The White Cliffs to the dam in the middle of the lake. Depth: 40-45 feet. Best lures: Murphy's Bugs: Lollipop or Fire Tiger. Small spoons in green or Chartreuse. Fishing is best very early in the morning.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton (760-932-7001): Despite low water levels in the Marina its self, boat rentals are still available and private launching is easy at the "Bath Tub".

Fishing remains consistent, very good to excellent for fish up to 2 1/2 pounds. Crawlers and or floating bait remains the ticket.

Trolling is good between the narrows and the dam with Rapalas, Buoyant, and crawlers behind small flashers.

Fly fishers are doing well with Midge, Damsel and bait fish imitations as well as Scuds, Leach patterns, and San Juan worms.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: The water is being drawn down at the present time to replace two water gates in the dam.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:

East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): Fishing was great. The county planted on Friday and the fishermen caught a "ton" of fish. We have pictures of about 20 fish that are 3-4 pounds. They were being caught mostly on Salmon eggs, worms or Panther Martin lures. The water is perfect for catching fish: Nice and clear.

West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported: The water is very low and very clear. It was planted by both the state and county last week. One guy caught a 4-pounder, a 5-pounder and a 6-pounder.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Trollers are doing well, but summer means "slow" for shore anglers here except early morning or late evening. Trolling is still quite productive on quality fish up top; troll a topwater and one down about 15 feet early, then drop both down to about 15 and 25 feet for the best action. Shore anglers are pretty much done when the sun hits the water. Fly guys will still find a morning Midge hatch and a later Blood Midge hatch.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Most of the Steelies being caught have been 14 to 18 inches long, but a few more adults showed up last week, including a 29 incher taken on a Pheasant Tail Nymph under an indicator. Fish and get off the water early because the water temperature climbs several degrees during the day. Some striped bass to 10 pounds were caught in Shanghai Rapids on Swimbaits.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Like catfish? The catfish bite is hot over here, just like the weather! Trout fishing is slow, but if you're going to try, bring the boat and troll the north shore, beginning at the Narrows and troll north staying down about 5 colors of leadcore. Even the dam is slow for shore bound anglers.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The water is low. Fishing was fair. I saw a couple of float tuber fly fishing between the dam and the boat ramp, and one of them caught a limit of small fish.

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain and Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): It is almost a puddle right now. But, the fishing is great due to the lack of water. There are some diehards float tubing. The water is great for float tubes and canoes, but it is not recommended for boats and jet skis.

NORTH POND (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Elmer Bull: The fishing is still good for bass. Use top water lures early in the mornings before the sun hits the water.

RYE PATCH RESERVOIR, NEV: Norm Budden and Bob McCulloch of Carson City trolled last week on Tuesday morning. They caught a total of 4 fish.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The Upper Sacramento is fishing well from Box Canyon down to the lake. The best fishing is in the morning and evening, with some mid-afternoon lulls. There are tons of Midges (blacks and olives) all over the rocks, and some good Caddis hatches and tiny May Flies after 7:30 am. The most productive fishing has been Nymphing from daybreak to about 2:00 p.m., more Nymphing from 5:00 to 7:30, and some dry fly action after that. There are lots of fish rising right before dark, but they're being particular, so matching the hatch is important. Most fish seem to be keying in on small dark Caddis. For Nymphs, brown micro May Flies, Prince Nymphs, and big bird's nests.

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

Rainbow Trout: Fishing for wild rainbow trout from Redding downstream below Anderson has remained good for trout guides both on conventional spin and fly gear. River releases from Keswick Dam near Redding have dropped to 10,500 CFS. Trout guides are reporting good fishing for wild rainbow trout 1-3 pounds with the occasional big trout of 4 plus pounds from Redding downstream near Red Bluff. Depending on which section of river you fish will determine which baits are best. Many trout have been over 16 inches with some in the twenty plus inch class. 15 to 20 plus trout hook-ups a day a real possibility this time of year. Boats cannot pass the Cypress bridge construction in Redding from 7,000 CFS and up. Side drifting small Glo Bugs in various egg color combos and/or live cricket or crawlers with a Quickie Puffball have worked well. Back trolling small Hot Shot 50's or small K-4/K-5 Kwikfish in various color combos can also be very effective.

Salmon Season Update:

All Central Valley rivers are now closed to salmon fishing to protect the Sacramento River Fall Chinook Salmon. The Salmon season will re-open on November 1st and remain open until December 31st, 2008. Angler's will be allowed one salmon per person and Salmon fishing will be allowed from the Red Bluff Diversion Dam downstream to Knight's Landing.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The Dry Creek mouth and arm have been good for both salmon and trout. The best bite has been from 36 to 100 feet deep. A 50/50 mix of trout and salmon up to 3 pounds, with the average fish running about 17 inches where taken in from Bridge Bay to the Dam, with good numbers of quality rainbow trout. Waters Gulch has also been producing as well. Reaction baits, fished early and late in the day, are finding "small" bass. For the warmer, mid-day fishing, try grubs, dart-headed worms, or drop-shot worms in green pumpkin or other dark colors, fished deep.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dick Murphy of "Fishing with Father Murphy" (775-674-2270) (775-240-9163): Best area: The boat ramp to the island and in front of the island. Depth: 55-65 feet. Best lures: Murphy's Glow Baby, black and Chartreuse spinner or Wedding Rings.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been up and down for Mackinaw. We have been trolling 100-290 feet deep. We locate the fish on the fish finder and then troll Dodgers and a live minnow in a "Figure Eight" pattern, bouncing the bottom. I've been trolling at Cal/Neva Point and at the Tahoe City Shelf.

LAKE TAHOE " South Shore: Gene St. Denis: No report.

LAKE TAHOE " East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported: Shore fishing is very, very slow.

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): Lot of water skiers and jet skiers. Beautiful weather. Water is slowly dropping.

UPPER TWIN LAKE, CALIF: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): Doug Wilsey from Minden used a worm for his 4-pound, 9-ounce rainbow. A black Woolly Bugger used by Trevor Teems of San Diego for a 5-pound, 4-ounce rainbow. Red and gold Buoyants working for rainbows. Mark Shea from North Hills trolled his for a 5-pound 4-ounce rainbow. A 5-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on a purple Matuka by Jorge Nunez from Southgate. Nightcrawlers and all colors Power Bait working well from shore.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Big fish for the week: Karen Cox of Irvine weighing 3 llbs., 14 oz on Gulp. Triston Foley, age 10 of Vallejo, a 2 lbs., 1 oz on a lure. Crystal Rustin of Turlock a 3 lbs., 11 oz rainbow on a nightcrawler, Daniel Marrero of Glendora a 5 lbs., 4 oz on Chartreuse Glitter Power Bait.

Worms and Thomas Buoyants took first place honors, then for second, crickets, mealworms, grubs and ant eggs were also doing the job.

Lures were Red/Gold Buoyant 1/6-1/4 and Gold Kastmaster plain and prism. Brass Fire stripe hot shots, cripple lures, and the Tasmanian Devil. Super Dupers 502 gold and the black Roostertail.

Black is the color for the week and small Midges the fly, (WD 40's, EC Caddis Emergers, serendipity, and Zebra Midges), ants, hoppers and terrestrials. The hot streamers were red throated Matukas, Hornburgs, burgundy or black Woollies, small soft hackle bead heads, and the infamous California Mosquito.

Backcountry lakes did well on worms and small midges (brown Bi-visible, Griffith's gnat and the Tuolumne tamer), with the occasional Gray Hackle Yellow taking a nice brown. Big Virginia also did well on small flies and Adams female at the southeast corner at the outlet.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: East Walker River: Advised not to fish due to the low and warm water.