ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The Rec. 1 area was still holding pond smelt just outside the log boom in front of the Osprey nest. Browns are actively feeding in here from first light till 11 a.m. Try a large threaded nightcrawler with Pro-Cure Trophy Trout gel. A combo of crickets and mealworms, or double crickets off the bottom tempted them. Big Springs held salmon, with premium anchovy tails and Pro-Cure's Krill Scent, four to eight cranks off the bottom or crawlers doing the job here.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Not only did fishing pick up a bit by the end of the week, so did the wind. Average wind speeds of 38 mph with gusts to 51 mph were felt at the landing on Sunday. Temperatures dropped during the week, with reports of 24 degrees with frost on the trucks at Camp Sabrina Tuesday night, but the lows for that night at the landing were only 53.
Drifting was still where part of the action was and the anglers were getting quite inventive with some anglers using a nightcrawler-Power Bait combo. Yup, a piece of a worm with a little dab of Power Bait. Roostertails were working for a few of the shore fishermen fishing in the bay on the far side of the small island. Dingleberry Inlet picked up a bit with some fishermen using Salmon Eggs although Becky Smith of Riverside was jigging with a Crappie jig and hooked into a 4.5 pound Alpers. The other part of the action was down deep. Local Jim Diddy landed with the help of another Bishop local Wayne Ball (Wayne netted the fish) a beauty - a 7.25 pound lunker on a Thomas Buoyant. Another local George Barber helped his daughter Kim Sims bring in an 8.25 pound fish on a Rapala. Got a few DFG fish on Tuesday.
The lake continues to drop. Rick will probably be taking the docks apart as soon as the wind dies. We actually got a few showers and a bit of hail on Saturday and we did hear of snow falling at Paiute Lake. That would mean snow in the high country in August - you never know - remember Memorial Day and our 8 inches of snow? And that touch of Fall? More and more small patches of yellow continue to pepper the Bishop Creek Canyon hillsides.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Pretty quiet over the weekend, mostly due to the wind.
BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby: The authorities have a "Person of Interest" who had that illegal campfire that caused the forest fire over the weekend. A lot of the locals are hoping that he will get a manslaughter conviction because of the three people who died in that plane crash. The fire is about 45 percent contained this morning (Tuesday).
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that an 18-pound brown died from the DFG electro-shocking being used to transfer trout to Silver Lake. A couple of Mackinaw (36 & 37 inches in length) were transferred successfully. Brookies were transferred to Red Lake.
There is still plenty of water and plenty of fish to catch.
A couple of stringers of brookies were caught from shore.
One angler caught a 3-pound brown while trolling a broken back Rapala lure.
There is a new launch area on the right side of the Caples Lake Marina where you can launch small boats, canoes or kayaks.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Doug Busey reported he watched a fisherman lose about a 4-pound rainbow and another fisherman lose about a 6-pound rainbow.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported: The water is extremely low and very clear. The wind was the problem most of the weekend. A few fish were caught. There was a plant last week.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Fishing remains very good, with most limits including trout from 2.5 to almost 4 pounds, but fish early. Some of the better areas for both trolling and bobber fishing included Shrimp Island, Miners Bay, and Wildcat Point.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): The weather is cooling down and the lake is beginning to turn over. Fishing has been good at Lunker Point. They are catching their limits, using nightcrawlers and Power Bait. They are casting way out from shore. Trolling has been good near the old boat ramp. Using various colors of Power Bait and lures. Early in the evening seems to be the best time to fish.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the Opening Day was pretty good and it was better than average. The fishing success was slow to begin with, but picked up later in the day. Most of the action was by fly fishermen with Woolly Buggers or Nymphs. One angler caught and released 18 cutthroat in 4 hours.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The water is low and murky looking. No fishing reports. The are currently working on the new oxidation system and hope to have it done by next spring.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the lake should be called "Green Lake," as is an awful-looking green and it must be turning over.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Fish deep for trout, Salmon feeding on Shad in the Thermocline. Trout are holding between 36 to 100 feet with the best bite continuing to be between 50 and 75 feet. The main body of the lake from Bridge Bay to up by the dam has been good areas to target. Dry Creek continues to be good for both Salmon and trout, while the west side of Toupee Island produced quality trout. Bass are suspended but targeting the deeper fish may net you a nice one. Try 50 feet down with a drop-shot rig, spooning them up, or shaking a jig or worm for the deeper fish.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): same as last week: Fishing has picked up. We have been trolling 100-300 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 Dollar Point and Cal/Neva Point. We fish early and have caught several limits. The Macks are running 5-10 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported: Shore fishing is still slow. The jiggers are jigging at depths of 150-250 feet with white Crippled Herring jigs.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): Lot of water skiers and jet skiers. Water is still slowly dropping. Our boat launch is closed for the season due to the low water. There are no fishermen and there is no catching.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: The week ended with heavy winds and the promise of snow Sunday night at the higher elevations, which is yet to be seen. The week was very warm with temps hitting in the low to mid 80's at 9727 foot elevation and 85 to 88 at Conway summit.
Salmon Peach Power Bait is still holding the number one spot over nightcrawlers by 2 lengths, and lures on the far turn as a quick 3rd. Alpers put in his famous fish last week and only 2 have been caught as far as we know, so there's plenty to go round. I helped Tim with the load and got a good look at these fish and some were over 6 lbs from what I could see. DFG also stocked about one hour after Alpers and by evening when the lake was flat, fish were sipping and it looked as if it was raining from the ringing going on.
The biggies of the week were caught by Jon Oshiro of Tucson AZ (2 lbs 4 ozs) on a Panther Martin, and Zach Squires of Reno brought in a nice 3 lbs 10 ozs on a Rooster Tail, and Stan Tanaka of Ventura caught a 6 lbs 4 ozs on a Bird's Next.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: Fishing is good for both perch and trout. Remember to float your crawler at about 15 feet of water. Chartreuse Power Bait on the bottom hook to float the crawler.