ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The A-frame is once again kicking out fish and anglers are setting up in there and bait fishing with the usual stuff like nightcrawlers, anchovies, crickets and mealworms or combinations, 4 to 8 cranks, just off the bottom. This method produced several big fish, the best fish being a rainbow that came in at 4.5 pounds. Use a downrigged ball flasher rig with a nightcrawler here for healthy rainbows, working 6 feet off the bottom, where fish went to 3.2 pounds.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): THE LAKE IS FULL! Yep, according to Southern California Edison, the waters of Lake Sabrina started over the spillway Tuesday, July 15th about 4:00 a.m.. Sure is pretty. The rains we had over last weekend and at the beginning of the week put us well over the full mark. We ended up with almost 2 inches of rain, with more coming down in the back-country.
Along with the lake being full, lots of anglers' creels were full of limits with the catching part of fishing picking up over the week. A few big fish came out all at 5 pounds, not too shabby. Local Bishop resident Jody Davis caught her FIRST FISH (boy what a fish) on a Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant, while Preston Torres of Moreno Valley lured in a beauty on a Green Trout Trap. Jennifer Scott rode her motorcycle up to the lake, then she sat on the bench and blew up her float tube, then on to the lake to nab her 5 pound Alpers, and back to camp with her float tube strapped to her back, What a fisherperson!
Something a bit new in the mix at the Dingleberry Inlet Ð Mini-jigs and flies, but don't forget the tried and true nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Drifting around the rock piles with nightcrawlers or Power Bait. The trollers were filling their stringers using Flashers and a nightcrawler or just trolling a mini-jig, Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant or Gold Kastmaster. Trolling the front half of the lake is currently better than the deep natural lake. Those wanting to keep both feet firmly on earth were seen using Power Bait or nightcrawlers from the dam and shore. We got state fish on Tuesday.
Temperatures were running in the mid 70s for the highs and low 40s for the lows. They're calling for rain Monday, Tuesday and maybe Wednesday, and then it should clear out. Speaking of clearing out, it appears the skeeters are clearing out a bit. They are not yet gone, just not nearly as many.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): One of the first weekends that the campgrounds were completely full. Not a lot of fish being caught, mostly at Upper Blue, with float tubers and boaters fishing deep with small lures and worms.
BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported a youngster caught fish from shore with worms, and a float tuber did fair with Woolly Bugger flies.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: Starting today (Monday), they are going to drop the water level of the lake to fix a valve. The lake is going to be extremely low and will be at its the lowest level in many years. Caples is going to be tough fishing this Fall.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported the water is low and clear and challenging. The fish are spooky. Best success has been by drifting Salmon eggs into the deeper holes.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Fishing here is way out of the norm for this time of year. Instead of falling off into the dog days of summer slows, the rainbow bite continues good for shore anglers and for experienced trollers. The Damsel hatch remains strong and fly fishermen have caught and released fish up to 27 inches.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): While salmon are now off-limits, anglers still had options: Striped bass below Shanghai Bend and Steelhead in the Low Flow Section. The Steelies were mostly small, 15-16 inches, but some adults were in the mix. They were taking nightcrawlers, and small Nymphs like Foxes Poopahs and Prince Nymphs. Stripers were eating soaked sardines, pileworms, and topwater plugs.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Those having the most success this week are casting out to the deepest water. Use nightcrawlers or various colors of Power Bait, such as Chartreuse, rainbow glitter or orange. Keep your bait off the bottom. Trollers use leadcore line or downriggers to go deep, at least 25-30 feet. Worms and silver dodgers are producing good results.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Best fishing has been early morning and late evening just before sunset. Limits of rainbows have been caught at the dam on rainbow glitter Power Bait and one fisherman reported catching fish all around the lake with nightcrawlers and green marshmallows. Trollers working at least 25 feet deep with nightcrawler/flasher rigs. Bank fishermen should find deep water and keep bait just off bottom.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Last Thursday, Norm Budden, Don Hettrick and Bob "Slick" McCulloch, all of Carson City, fished from shore by with worms, and reported that they all caught numerous fish. Marty Martinez did not catch any fish.
NORTH POND (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Elmer Bull reported some nice bass were caught last week in a local bass fishing tournament. The winning team had 4 bass that totaled 10-pounds, 4-ounces. There are lots of weeds at the present time.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Because of rising water temperatures, fishing has been best in the morning. Fish in pocket water and riffles with Nymphs like Princes in No. 14's, micro May Flies and Caddis Poopahs in No. 16's.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Don Quilici of Carson City reported lots of people, swimmers, campers, day hikers, picnickers, fishing boats, speed boats and kayaks, last Thursday.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The reaction bite has been good with spinner baits, cranks and topwater. Better colors choices included clear Vixen for topwater, Chartreuse and white spinnerbaits or yellow and purple crankbaits with a 10-12 foot diver. Spotted bass and an occasional smallie were taken with fish averaging up to 1.5 pounds, with an occasional larger one in the mix.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been slow for Mackinaw. Having to work hard for limits. 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 Cal/Neva Point and at Dollar Point.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: I've been fishing at Ski Run Shelf, Tahoe Keys and Camp Richardson. Trolling 50-250 feet deep with Trophy Stick lure and A/C plugs, which have been more effective that Dodgers and minnows.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported: Shore fishing at Cave Rock Landing is very slow. If you fish from a boat, launch early to avoid all of the speed boats, water skiers and jet skis.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: The week started out on the "right" foot with Alpers arriving on Monday, and backed up with DFG planting on Tuesday. The air was clear and calm with a few breezy afternoons, and the bite was on. Catching was better than the fishing in most cases with worms still holding the number one spot, and Power Worms coming in just behind. Natural baits were also doing well, but then you have to exert some energy to catch them. Lures for the week were Rapala F-7 (rainbow and brown), Thomas Buoyant (red/gold), Roostertail (dark green with gold), and the polka dot Jake's. Gold/fire Hot Shots were also doing well. Flies for the week were the Olive red throated Matuka, if you are dragging from watercraft, or small dries like Adams Parachute, olive Elk Hair Caddis, Cripple Callibaetis, black ants (fur, foam, hairy and flying), gray hackle yellow mosquitoes (sizes 16 or 18) and Western Coachman. Two fly rigs (dry) were still in the running for pulling out some great rainbows. Top fly of the week was a western Sedge in black, and hard to find. The prize of the week went to Kaelub Schultz (13) of Rancho Mirage with a 3 lb. 10 oz. Alpers on a worm on the first cast.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: Fishing is good for both trout and perch. Nights are cool: 35-50 degrees and the summer is half-over.