LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Trout and water temperatures were up and down but limits of nice fish were taken on east shore shallow rocks, 38-45 feet down in 50 feet of water. Set-ups in the shallows included Rapalas, set-ups in deeper water included chrome red-headed Needlefish or an olive Arctic Fox Tube Fly.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): There are chain controls this morning (Wednesday) for the Kirkwood area.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the lake is still frozen but does not know the thickness of the ice.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: The U.S.F.S. Crystal Springs and Markleeville Campgrounds are scheduled to open on April 25. Both the East Carson and the West Carson are scheduled to be planted this week by Alpine County with 1,000 pounds of rainbows from the Susanville Hatchery. He said the rivers should be in good shape for the opener in Saturday.
CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:
Hot Creek: Water flow is 8 CFS. Not much change here. Some good dry fly action with Adams or any BWO patterns in size 18 or 20. A small black Caddis like an Elk hair has also been productive. Nymph fishing is also good with small Pheasant Tails, gray or black Midge Pupa and Brassies.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Ice is out and anglers getting fish, although the bite has been a bit spotty. More catchable-sized rainbows planted this week. The Honker Cove launch ramp and parking lot are open. Vehicle access is open to Mallard Cove.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The striper bite continues up here, and one angler fishing at Boyd's Pump just south of the launch ramp using minnows caught a number of schoolie stripers, releasing all but his limit. Most are fishing the Shanghai Rapids area off the bank using plugs or pileworms and getting fish 3-10 pounds. The bite can be tough, though, as the stripers are plugged up on all the salmon smolts coming down the river. Still plenty of sandbars for the unwary boater to get stuck on, so if you don't know the river, don't boat it.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): To avoid the wind, fish early or fish the cove areas, especially between the dam and Lunker Point. Limits are being caught on nightcrawlers or Chartreuse Power Bait, as well as Jake's Spin-A-Lures (the gold one with red dots).
FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Very few fishermen and very slow fishing.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said the fishermen continue to catch a few fish. One or two fish being caught, but nothing big. The wind has made fishing tough.
Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): A fly fishermen reported seeing fish but had no hits. There is no ice.
OROVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The reaction bass bite has been turning on. Working the first points inside the coves in the north fork with Lucky Craft Pointers has been producing 18-19 inch spots. With the wind, the bite slowed and worms, tubes, and jigs fished slow at 10-30 feet was more successful. A Saturday team tournament was won with 14 pounds and big fish was a 4 pounder. The Coho bite in front of the dam is producing 20-30 fish per boat, mooching minnows, worms and anchovies at 40 feet. The silvers are running 14-16 inches.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:
Upper Owens: Water flow is 60 CFS. Fishing is improving after the pounding last weekend. Hatches have been minimal with some small black caddis in the early afternoon. Try Nymphing with WD-40's in gray or black, Pheasant Tails and Caddis Pupa.
Lower Owens: Water flow is currently 249 CFS. Fishing is tough but not impossible. Try Nymphing with Caddis Larva, Cased Caddis and Prince Nymphs. You need lots of lead to get down to the fish.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400: We had the "Hook Line and Sinker Derby" over the weekend. Tom Cruz took first place with 11-pounds, 8-ounces. Paul Adamson was second with 11 pounds and Scott Anderson was third with 10-pounds, 13-ounces. This morning (Wednesday), we had a 11-pound, 1-ounce caught at the Separator.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: It is windy but the fishing is very good. The boats are having to work a little harder, and the shore fishermen and fly guys are doing very good.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that there is some open water showing and there could be enough for some shore fishing.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448): Fly fishing trout is good. Wild Rainbow trout we have been catching have been ranging 19-25 inches, anywhere from 8 to 20 fish a day now, depending on windy weather. Fly Fishing Redding /Anderson area, weather looking like it will warm up for the weekend. Great Caddis and May Fly hatches every day. Flies working best are Micro May Flies, No. 16, and Caddis No. 16 and Beadhead Pheasant Tails.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Trout fishing is still great, as it usually is this time of year, and anglers are backdrifting Hotshots or other lures for good action on wild rainbows that average 3-4 pounds, but can get to 6-7 pounds. Fly anglers found it tough with the winds recently.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The trout and salmon action picked up around the I-5 Bridge and in the McCloud Arm from Holiday Harbor to Hirtz Bay, and also provided good fish for trollers to almost 5 pounds. Set-ups like blue Paddle Tails behind Sling Blades as well as nightcrawlers or mini-crawlers behind gang trolls like Vance's Little Slim Willy's or Uncle Larry's spinners in pearl, and shad patterned lures like Needlefish and Sockeye Slammers.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): We have been trolling 140-300 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 the Tahoe City Shelf and at Dollar Point.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): We had the Riordan Invitational Fishing Derby over the weekend with 110 fishermen. They caught a lot of fish (many in the 3-pound class from Topaz Lake) and had a lot of fun.
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Don Quilici and Don Hettrick of Carson City fished in their chest waders on the south end on Sunday and Monday. Fishing was slow, slow, slow. They caught a total of 4 cutthroat in 6 hours of spincasting each day. The largest Cutt was 2-pounds, 13-ounces.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Steve Osterman:
East Walker River (From Bridgeport Dam to the Nevada Stateline): The West Walker River, from the Bridgeport Dam downstream to the Nevada stateline, is now open, year round, with special restrictions. The water flow is 74 CFS. Lower flows mean less good holding water. Stone fly imitations have been the best bet. Golden Stone Nymphs down below and stimulators on the surface.
WEBER RESERVOIR, NEV: Produced some catfish up to 2.5 pounds over the weekend.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: There is enough open water to fish from shore, but it will be a while before you can use a boat. We've had a few shore fishermen and they have done real good. Two of them kept 5 trout (16-19 inches) that averaged 3 pounds. They caught them on nightcrawlers and orange Power Bait.