LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The Almanor Peninsula's Rec. Area 1 showed lots of bait on the sonar, which was good thing. Pulling red and gold Speedy Shiners with Pro-Cure Trophy Trout brushed on, and dropping downriggers down to 37 feet in 43 feet of water, netted German brown trout to 5.5 pounds.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Well, we had a total of seven days of snow and then lo and behold, Spring was back. Beautiful sunny days with a hint of a breeze. What more could you ask for. Well, I'll tell you, how about BIG fish. Yep, we got our stocking for the BISHOP CREEK CANYON SUMMER CLASSIC TAGGED TROUT DERBY. Rainbows (Alpers) ranging in size from 2-1/2 pounds up to 8 pounds were stocked in the stillwaters Sunday: That would be LAKE SABRINA, SOUTH LAKE, INTAKE II, NORTH LAKE and WEIR POND (the little pond below South Lake) courtesy of Bishop Chamber of Commerce. You can register at the following locations: Lake Sabrina Boat Landing, Parchers' Resort, South Lake Landing, Bishop Creek Lodge, Creekside RV Park, Cardinal Village Resort, Culvers, Brocks, Macs, Owens River Fly Shop and Bishop Chamber of Commerce. The Paiute Palace and Adopt-a-Creek is sponsoring the "CASH OF THE DAY" where the waters of INTAKE II, NORTH LAKE and the BISHOP CANYON CREEKS will be stocked with tagged fish redeemable at the Paiute Palace for CASH. No registration required Ð just fishing and catching. Prior to the BIG fish stocking, fishing had improved a bit over last week with most fish coming from the inlet (that would be the Dingleberry Inlet, the one in the back right corner). A few limits were brought out trolling with the Kastmaster or Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant lure. Yellow was the Power Bait, Zeke or Gulp color of choice.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Lower Blue Lake is ice free and Upper Blue is still about 50 percent ice over. The campgrounds at Upper Blue are still closed. Two fishermen hiked into Upper Blue and limited out on some good sized rainbows.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton (760-932-7001) (www.bridgeportreservoir.com): Since the April-like weather has subsided this week, the fishing has improved greatly with the Midge hatches going crazy. Warm afternoons and mild nights have finally come and the fish are adjusting to the changing water temperatures, and feeding like crazy!
Concentrations of 1.5 to 2.5 pound Rainbows are easy to find off of Rainbow and Rocky Points, as well as the nooks and crannies along the western shore towards the dam.
Try trolling with Fire Tiger Rapalas or Thomas Buoyants or a big fat nightcrawler behind a flasher at 4-10 feet.
The water remains clear and cool and we are anticipating a longer trolling season this year.
Still fishermen are doing very well with nightcrawlers or Power Baits, floated 3-4 feet off of the bottom, off of rainbow or rocky points.
Buckeye Bay will be more accessible very soon, and flyfishers should be getting ready for some real fun.
Contact us at 760-932-7001 or our website at bridgeportreservoir.com for the latest information.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River:
Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): We had some big ones come in over the weekend, including a 4-pounder on red Salmon eggs. Caleah Green, age 9, of Antelope caught her limit of pan-sized rainbows on Salmon eggs and Panther/Martin lures.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported the river fished well over the weekend. A couple of limits of small rainbows were reported. A 2.5 pound rainbow at Crystal Springs.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Crowley Lake: Thing's are picking up on the lake as the weather improves. We fished Thurs., Fri. and Sat. at Sandy Point and our clients put dozens of fish in the net. Stevie's Wonder in gray/black and black/silver both working well. Fish in about 13 feet of water and about a foot off the bottom. If your streamer fishing, try the new Arctic Fox streamers available at The Troutfitter.
Hot Creek: Water flow is currently 23 CFS. Nymph fish with micro May Fly Nymphs, olive Caddis Larva, Z-Wing Caddis. On the surface, yellow Stimulators, BWO sparkle Duns and Schroder Caddis.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Fly fishing action has been picking up, despite some nasty weather at times. Some fly folks report success using double-fly rigs under a strike indicator. Trollers getting better action with Needlefish, Rainbow Runners and Wee Dick Nites. Shore anglers can score with Power Bait and nightcrawlers, as well as casting small lures like Kastmasters from the bank. Lake Davis Fish Derby 2008 is set for Saturday, June 7.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Flows below the Outlet were bumped up to 2,000 CFS, and Shad were able to spread out above the rapids at Shanghai Bend. A few bright spring run King Salmon were being caught on big Blue Fox spinners at the Outlet and in the Low Flow Section. Yes, one may be kept, at least until the new sport fishing regulations come out (expected the beginning of July). Some small Steelhead were being caught in the Low Flow Section on nightcrawlers and small Nymphs.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Fishing from shore at Turkey Point has been very productive for many this week. Float worms off the bottom for nice 14-16 inch rainbows. Small green and white Needlefish lures have been working great at Crystal Point.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Slowed down by rainy conditions, the rainbow bite has picked up again. Some good rainbows 14 to 16 inches have been caught from shore at both Lunker Point and at Cottonwood Campground. Chartreuse Power Bait, silver Kastmasters and Rainbow Spinners have all been working. Fly fishing reported good at the north end of the lake with Nymphs and red Copper Johns. Some catfish have been caught at Crystal Point.
HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV: Elmer Bull: The bass fishing has been fairly well, but it slowed down last week due to the cooler weather and rain.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The water level is fairly low.
JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Flow in Rush Creek is down to 51 CFS. In the creek, try Stone Fly Nymphs, Flashback Hare's Ears, olive Caddis Larva and sparkle Caddis Pupa. Fly rodders at Silver Lake are doing well with black or olive Matukas on full sink lines. Also try a Zug Bug or Prince Nymph dropper about 18" behind your streamer.
MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Mammoth Lakes Basin: The road into the lakes basin is open and the lakes are now ice free. As with the rest of the area, weather has been a factor here. Try the inlet at Lake Mamie with purple or black Mohair Leeches or Doc's Twin Lakes Special in black. Some large Alper's trout have been stocked recently.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper Owens: Water flow 74 CFS. Fly fishing is fair above the Benton Crossing Bridge. The cold weather has slowed down the caddis hatch and feeding activity. Try Nymph fishing with Z wing Caddis, bird's nests and olive Caddis Larva. There are no closed sections on the river now, other than the private ranch areas.
Lower Owens: Water flow is currently 466 CFS. Try the Upper Owens!
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: Boat fishing has been pretty good for this time of the year. The shore fishermen are fishing the deeper drop-offs like Block House and Warrior Point. Not a whole lot to report at this time.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported three anglers limited out on the dam side and the south side of the lake. They caught brookies and some cutthroat on nightcrawlers.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Trout fishing was very good last week, with most of the action between Bonneview and Balls Ferry. The cooler weather suppressed the dry fly action, however. With flows at 10,000 CFS, boats continued to be banned from going under the Cypress Street Bridge.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Waters were rough but trout were still taken in a variety of areas on nickel/blue or red/gold colored lures from the surface down to 36 feet for fish to 20 inches. Dry Creek found the best action for salmon from 36 to 100 feet, as they begin to move into deeper waters, on rolled shad.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been slow to very good for Mackinaw. We have been trolling 150-300 feet deep, going deeper later in the day. 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 Sugar Pine Point and at Dollar Point. We are averaging 2-6 fish per trip with the largest being 16 pounds at Dollar Point.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: Fishing at the Ski Run Mound, 150-250 feet deep, for Macks. Jeremy and Elizabeth Rogers of Fallon caught a 10-pounder and an 8-pounder with Dodgers and minnows at a depth of 160 feet. We are averaging 2-8 fish per trip, weighing from 3 to 27 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: Toplining 20-40 feet deep, using Trophy Sticks and A/C plugs for nice Macks and browns off Deadman's Point, Cave Rock and Logan Shoals. We caught a 15 pound Mack and a 10 pound brown at Logan Shoals.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): One of our RV'ers on Thursday caught 5 rainbows, all over 2 pounds with one over 3 pounds. He caught another 5 on Friday. He was trolling flasher blades and nightcrawlers all over the lake. Shore fishing has been slow. There were a lot of jet skiers and water skiers on the weekend.
UPPER TWIN LAKE, CALIF: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): A 4-pound, 14-ounce rainbow and a 2-pound, 8-ounce rainbow, both on a red/gold Thomas Buoyant lure, a 4-pound, 5-ounce rainbow on lime twist Power Bait and a 3-pound, 14-ounce rainbow on a combo of green Power Bait and a nightcrawler.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Both the fishing and weather have had a huge turn around in the last 3 days at Virginia Lakes. Big Virginia is still 80% iced over, but there are people fishing the inlet and outlets with worms, Power Bait and Salmon eggs and they have had fairly good success. Little Virginia had an epic day on the 31st with 35-50 fish for some anglers doing catch and release. Rod Lee of Fresno caught a 4-pound, 2-ounce on an OR (old reliable) fly, and his friend Gavin Hajikawa of San Gabriel caught a 3-pound, 9-ounce rainbow and a beautiful Hoefer brown trout, both on an OR. The temperature of the water is more agreeable than last week, and it shows from the amount of tubes that launched today (17). There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground in and around the trees, and on the south side of Little Virginia. Blue Lake is ice free and producing some nice brook trout on a variety of lures and worms. The most consistent bait for the week has been Captain America extra scent Power Bait, and worms coming in second.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steve Osterman:
East Walker River (From Bridgeport Dam to the Nevada Stateline): The water flow has dropped back to 106 CFS. The constant up and down water flow has created very erratic fishing conditions as the fish can't seem to get settled. Red Serendipitys, flashy Prince Nymphs, Z-Wing Caddis and Brassies.