Fly fishermen having a ball at Bridgeport Reservoir

BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:

Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Spending the weekend with family and friends was on tap for lots of Dads during the week leading up to Dad's Day. The weather was awesome as was the fishing. Local Bishopites seem to know how to entice those bigger fish out of the lake. Marty Pendleton pulled in a 3 lb. Alpers on a nightcrawler. Dan Doran hauled in a 5-3/4 pounder and Bill Henry caught a 3 1/4 lbs rainbow, both caught with a Thomas Buoyant. Howard Hodgson of Yucca Valley hopefully paid for his trip snagging a YELLOW TAGGED 3-pounder on a Kastmaster.

So now, what's working: Pretty much the same things as last week. Lots of limits came out this week from the three inlets: Dingleberry (Back right-hand side), Little George (back left-hand side) and George (this way a bit from the Little George Inlet), with most anglers using nightcrawlers and Power Bait (the color did change from Yellow and Orange to Chartreuse). Gold Kastmasters and Red/Gold Thomas Buoyants and olive Woolly Buggers were on order for Trollers. And for those just enjoying the scenery (driftin' the lake) it was nightcrawlers or Power Bait.

A bit more of the pine pollen (that's the lime yellowish-greenish stuff on top of the water) is showing up on the rapidly filling lake. DFG stocked on Monday.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The ice is all gone, there are a few snow drifts and the fishing was fine over the weekend, mostly with worms at both lakes.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton (760-932-7001) (www.bridgeportreservoir.com): Fishing remains good to very good as the water levels stay steady and the temperatures rise. Many limits of 1-4.5 pound quality fish are coming in mainly from Rainbow and Rocky Points. Bait fishing with floating bait and nightcrawlers is producing the best action. Trolling action has been very good from Rainbow north to the dam. Try flashers with nightcrawlers, Rapalas or Buoyant at a depth of 4 to 10 feet. Fly fishers are having a ball with Midges, Damsels, Callibaetis, and Perch or Leech streamers, just off of the Marina and south towards Buckeye and the inlets.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that one angler caught a 3-pound brown on a Rapala lure. The boaters are drift fishing with bobbers, a 6-foot leader and a nightcrawler. The boat launch is open 7 days a week to boats of all sizes and there is a senior discount for launching.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:

East Carson River:

Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): I've been busy moving into my brand-new cabin. The weather is perfect, the water is perfect and the fishing is perfect. A fisherman who calls himself "Cousin Jim" caught two 4-pound rainbows on orange Power Bait and a 3.5 pounder on nightcrawlers. The river will be planted this week by Alpine County.

West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported the water was a little murky in the Woodfords Canyon but clear in Hope Valley. Fish were being caught, mostly on worms or Salmon eggs. The river will be planted this week by Alpine County.

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. 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 49 CFS. Fishing has not changed much. On the surface, yellow Stimulators, BWO sparkle Duns and Schroder Caddis. Sub surface, try WD-40's, micro May Flies and Caddis Pupa.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Ed Dillard (Dillard Guided Fishing) (530-832-6394): I am catching 10-25 fish a trip. Fishing almost every day. Dick Nite copper redhead, down 11 feet. The water is 63. The fish are 14-20 inches.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Just about everything bait-wise working, from trolling to dunking nightcrawlers and Power Bait from shore. The lake is sure to become the hot one this summer.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Sarah Bensinger of the Grizzly Store (530-832-0270): I've e got a number of photos of some awesome 5-6 pound rainbows that have been caught.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Flows dropped again last week, and salmon fishing slowed down. There were still a fair number of springers moving upstream, but they were very spooky in the low clear water, and it was difficult getting them to bite. A couple of salmon might be caught in a morning session out of 15 or 20 people trying for them at the Outlet. Big Blue Fox spinners were the lure of choice. With the low flows, shad were stuck, once again below the falls at Shanghai Bend. They were biting best toward evening, and anglers fishing for shad were hooking the occasional striper as evening turned to night.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): We've had many reports of fish being caught on a variety of things this week. A 19-inch rainbow on a purple Woolly Bugger while trolling on the east side (18-25 feet down). A 15-inch trout on a green Kastmaster lure. Bead head Flashback Pheasant Tails and black Midges are worth trying too. Trolling is good with nightcrawlers and flashers at Big Cove.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Action pretty good in several areas. Shore fishing at Turkey Point has been very productive, according to many reports from there. Floating nightcrawlers off the bottom for rainbows 14-16 inches. Small green-and-white Needlefish have been working for trollers off Crystal Point.

HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV: Elmer Bull: The bass fishing has been pretty good for bass with rubber worms in the early hours. The best trout fishing has been in the late afternoons when they start to rise to the surface.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Doug Busey reported the water level has come up but it is still low. He fished on Saturday for three hours and got one bite. Some fly fishermen with Woolly Buggers and Copper Johns got a few rainbows, up to 18 inches.

Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): Will be planted this week by Alpine County.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Flow in Rush Creek is down to 68 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: Fishing is good in all the lakes right now. Try the inlet at Lake Mamie with purple or black Mohair Leeches or Doc's Twin Lakes Special in black. Some large Alpers trout have been stocked recently.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:

Upper Owens: Water flow 79 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 399 CFS. Try the Upper Owens!

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: The lake closes on trout fishing on June 20. Boats are catching fish, shore fishing is slow. The fish are scattered all over the lake. Saturday, we caught and released 24 on the west side of the lake. Sunday, we had 30 on the east side. We are trolling about 40 feet down.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Trout fishing was pretty good down to Balls Ferry with anglers adjusting to the blockage to boats at the Cypress Street Bridge. Spin fishermen were using drifted crickets or small, No. 70 Hot Shots in black and silver prism. American shad are starting to show in the upper reaches of the Sacramento river below Red Bluff, with the best fishing from Red Bluff downstream below Chico. Guides have reported side drifting small jigs to be best technique on conventional gear. 1/32, 1/16 and 1/8 ounce weighted jigs with a one or two inch curly tailed grub have been top producers. Shad fishing will continue through June.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported one fly fisherman in a kayak caught and released 14 nice rainbows with Woolly Buggers at the east end of the lake.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Bass provided the better action as the trout are still scattered. Vance's Little Slim Willy's, and a trailed threaded nightcrawler, 18-24 inches behind that, found a few fish in the top 50 feet of water. Better bets were in the McCloud, Pit or Sacramento Arms but trout are everywhere. Troll lighter tackle and slower, in this colder than usual water. Chartreuse and white colored spinnerbaits worked along the mud lines where the water has been kicked up has been effective for mostly spotted bass. Also try lipless cranks and other reaction baits in these same areas. The arms, cuts and points will be good areas to focus on. Topwater early and late in the day has also provided good action. During the heat of the day, crawdad imitating tubes and worms will work for these post-spawning hungry bass. Single-tailed grubs in Chartreuse colors will also work for spotted bass up to 2 pounds, with a few larger fish thrown in.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been slow to good for Mackinaw. We have been trolling 100-300 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 Cal/Neva Point and at Dollar Point. We are averaging 2-6 fish per trip.

LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: Fishing at the Ski Run Mound, 80-220 feet deep, for Macks with Dodgers and minnows. We are averaging 2-8 fish per trip. The Macks are running 2-5 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, 2-5 trout per trip. Shore fishing is slow.

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): Fishing results have been slim to none. That's the short and sweet of this week's report. Lots of boats, mostly jet skiers and water skiers.

UPPER TWIN LAKE, CALIF: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): Rainbow Power Bait bringing in nice stringers of pan-sized rainbows. Romie Lofthouse of Carson City used Chartreuse for his 3.5 pound rainbow. Kokanee Salmon are moving around: Usually 13-16 inches and one pound.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Summer has officially taken place in the Eastern Sierra, but with some windy days just to keep everyone on their toes. There is about 10% ice on both Red and Moat Lakes, and reports say Summit Lake is almost ice free. Fishing in the back country has been producing some nice brook trout without much size. Coney has done well on small dries late afternoon, but the blood thirsty bugs are anxiously awaiting anything that resembles A, B or O positive/negative and will keep you hopping to avoid their itchy bites.

Little Virginia has done the best, and has been steadily stocked since the ice went off the lake, and Big Virginia is also doing well. Big V got it's first stock, but their size was a bit smaller than everyone had anticipated, but they are still good eating, and lots of fun to catch.

Top baits are power worms, Power Bait (rainbow glitter), and nightcrawlers. Thomas Buoyants in red/gold, rainbow and black/with dots, also Kastmasters in silver prism, plain gold, and the tiger stripe. Fly anglers have been using Woolly Buggers in black, olive, dark burgundy, and a few light and brights (orange, yellow, white, and light blue) but won't tell you exactly what color is hot at the moment. Small olive bead head nymphs, under a streamer or a large bushy dry (Humpy) should get some nice hits. Small Griffith's Gnats, Adams parachute, regular or a Martinez (small, smaller, and the smallest) in size 18 should provide an afternoon of pure delight.

Grant Barksdale, age 8 of Bakersfield took a real nice rainbow over 4 lbs on a night crawler on the 12th, and Justin Wragg of Jamul CA caught a rainbow hawg of 4 lb. 4 oz. on a Kastmaster on the 11th. San Chang of Cota de Caza took the weekly honor of a 5 lb. 3 oz. rainbow on a pink power worm.

Lower 139 and upper 139 creek campgrounds are both open and Trumbull is still closed, with virtually NO SNOW to stop the Managers of American Land and Leisure from opening it, other than it's not a priority for them.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steve Osterman:

East Walker River (From Bridgeport Dam to the Nevada Stateline): The water flow is now up to 220 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.