Stopped at 90 fish on E. Carson River

LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): No reports were available, but with good weather, anglers can expect limits to continue from the east shore shallow rocks from 38 to 45 ft. down in 50 feet of water on Rapalas, or in deeper waters on chrome red-headed Needlefish or an olive Arctic Fox Tube Fly.

BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:

Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): The Opener was GREAT! Nice weather, good ice and lots of fish and people. With the warm temperatures, the ice has gotten soft, so Rick and I are both staying off the ice. We have a few new members of the Lake Sabrina Polar Bear Club. Richard Otte of Rosemond is a double member going in the lake both Friday (while checking out the open water) and Saturday (while trying to open a new hole). Four others went for a cold water dip and I'm sure for a HOT shower afterwards. All are fine. The McLaughlin family returned for their 34th Opener at Lake Sabrina and wouldn't you know it, Don enticed a 2.5 pound brown with a gold Kastmaster lure. His son, John, and grandson, Nick, of Las Vegas, also managed to catch and release their fair share of fish. Jason Schumacher from Down-South "Knocked 'em Stupid" with Lip Ripperz, catching and releasing about 20 fish in a couple of hours. A few people made the hike to the inlet where there was about 10 to 15 feet of open water and did GREAT. There won't be much ice fishing this week, but you can find some open water around the shore with some walking.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The road is still closed to travel.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, AREA: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (www.kenssports.com): It was pretty good over the weekend, but not the best Opener (success wise) that we have ever had. There were quite a few boats and trolling was best with Rapala lures or Trophy Sticks for lots of 3-4 pound browns, with browns up to 5 pounds and rainbows up to 7 pounds.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that the lake is still frozen with about 2 feet of slush on top of 1 foot of ice.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:

East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): It was an excellent Opener. The weather was picture perfect and the water was was the best for as long as I can remember. The state planted 9-15 inch rainbows and the county planted 1,800 pound of trophy fish for the Opener. Two fishermen stopped fishing when they reached 90 fish. Two other fishermen said that they stopped when the reached triple digits (100+) fish. The fishing was spectacular.

West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported that it was a good Opener with ideal weather and water conditions, plus plenty of planted fish. A number of limits of rainbows, up to 2.5 pounds. Paul Manelly of Minden caught a 5-pound rainbow on Saturday afternoon with a nightcrawler. There was also a 4-pounder caught on a nightcrawler. Salmon eggs did not seem to do too well.

CROWLEY LAKE AREA, CALIF: Steve Osterman of Performance Anglers of Mammoth Lakes (760) 924-2181:

Crowley Lake: Crowds were light for the opener here. Fly fishing was fair along the north side of McGee Bay with Stevie's Wonder in black/silver or Stevie's "Z" black /red in about 8 feet of water.

Hot Creek: Water flow is 9 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: Is now completely ice free. Last Friday, there were a number of shore fishermen and boats, but not much action.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Ed Dillard (Dillard Guided Fishing) (530-832-6394): I fished Sunday, 10:30 to noon, and landed 20 fish, 14-16 inches. The fish were hitting on a copper/red head Dick Nite lure and a frog/red dot Needlefish lure.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Fishing has been a bit spotty, with some wind at times, but a few limits of rainbows have been reported from boaters, shore anglers and fly fishermen. Between 10:30 and 1 p.m., anglers caught 16 rainbows averaging 12 inches on pink and copper Dick Nite Spoons and Pautzke Krill scent.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Both Striped Bass and Shad have moved up to the rapids at Shanghai Bend. Striper fishing wasn't exactly red hot, but there were some nice fish taken last week on everything from bait to big Clouser streamer flies. Shad have shown up as well, and anglers were catching mostly small males on Shad jigs and flies. Flows were still very low, so it was a jetboats only boating.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Lot of fishermen came out for the stream opener this past Saturday. The fish are close to shore now, so those fishing off the bank are having better luck than the trollers, unless you troll near the mouths of the creeks. Nightcrawlers and Chartreuse Power Bait are both working well. Small frog lures are good too.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Better fishing has been in cove areas where anglers can get out of what wind there may be at the time. Limits of rainbows being reported, with nightcrawlers, Chartreuse Power Bait, and Jake's Spin-A-Lures the top producers. Trollers scoring with nightcrawler/flasher combos.

FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS (on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Elmer Bull: A few fishermen were catching some small catfish.

HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV: Elmer Bull: On Friday, some fly fishermen were catching trout on brass bead head and Sheep Creek Special flies.

HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: Opens on May 1.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said the campground was full and the fishing was fair. The low water conditions could cause some problems for the shore fishermen.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: Steven Osterman: All the lakes are ice free and the road is open. Gull and Silver fishing best for fly anglers. Slow strip dark streamers on full sink lines. Purple and black working best.

KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Jim Reid: Not that many fishermen. The fly fishermen did well with streamers.

Note: This lake is about a 2 mile hike from the Sonora Pass Highway (S. R. 108).

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF: Steven Osterman: Mammoth Lakes Basin: Still frozen. Road closed at Twin Lakes.

MT. VIEW POND IN YERINGTON: Was planted with 600 trout for a kids' fishing derby. On Saturday, 169 kids only caught a total of 18 fish.

OROVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Good bass fishing. Recent tournaments are being won with 15-16 pounds, which is a heavy weight for this primarily spotted bass impoundment. Dave and Bobbi Sherrill won a Sunday event with 16.46 pounds and had a 7.53 pound fish. Tubes, jigs and Super Flukes are the hot baits right now. The fish had been up on the nests for the sight fishermen but the cold snap of last week pushed them off the bank. Warm temps will return them to the spawn. Cohos are still at the dam for moochers using minnows, worms and anchovies.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Steven Osterman:

Upper Owens: Water flow is 61 CFS. Fishing is good above the Benton Crossing Bridge. Remember the river is closed from the bridge to the monument. Some good Caddis activity on the surface. Try elk hair or E/C Caddis on top and Cased Caddis or Z Wing Caddis down deep.

Lower Owens: Water flow is currently 254 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. Dry fly action is minimal until the flow lowers.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: Fishing has been good and we had good weather all weekend. Friday, we caught 12. Saturday we caught 14. Nothing big, the largest was 23 inches. The biggest fish on our board is 12-pounds, 5-ounces. It was caught on the 25th by Mike Brockelsby of Reno. There are lots of guys on shore and in boats catching lots of fish at Pelican. It is like a circus up there.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The most popular float for fly fishing drift boaters lately has been Bonnyview to Balls Ferry, as the upper river is not driftable right now because of the Cypress St. Bridge Construction Zone. Try amber-wing Prince Nymphs, flashback P.T's, micro Mayflies in black, brown, or olive, and superfloss rubber legs. Jet boaters can run back up or downstream from the Cypress Ave. Bridge. Spinfishermen scored on back-trolled Hot Shots and drifted Glo-Bugs.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):

Rainbow Trout: Fishing for wild rainbow trout from Redding downstream below Anderson has been good with multiple hook-ups for anglers, both on conventional spin and fly gear. River releases from Keswick dam near Redding have increased to 7,500 CFS. Boats can pass the Cypress Bridge construction in Redding, from 7,000 CFS and up. Trout fishing is improving with the increased Spring flows. Side drifting small Glo Bugs in various egg pattern color combos and/or live cricket or nightcrawlers with a Quickie puffball have worked well. Back trolling small Hot Shot 50's or small K-4/K-5 Kwikfish in various color combos can also be very effective for wild rainbow trout one to three pounds.

Striper: Reports of better striper fishing have come in for guides who find the schools of striper's in and around the Colusa/ Grimes area. Best striper action has been spread out with most activity near Grimes/Tisdale area. The bigger concentration of stripers are down river below Tisdale. Some days reports of limits come in with a couple of days where guides are reporting working hard to bring in their limits of stripers. Sardine cut bait fishing from anchor has worked as well as backbouncing minnows or pile worms producing nice stripers to 10 pounds. Trolling Rebel style lures in various color combos has also brought in nice stripers. Striper fishing should improve through April and into early May.

Sturgeon: Reports of good numbers of sturgeon have still come in with fish being found from Princeton downstream around the Tisdale area of the Sacramento or Sac River. Angler's soaking pile worms, ghost shrimp or store-bought eel from anchor have produced most sturgeon bites.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The salmon bite picked up in the Dry Creek Arm but the dam should also be good for fish to 3 pounds or so. Troll from 50 to 150 feet. The brown trout bite dropped off some. Darthead worms, Senkos, a few spinners, and rip baits fed hungry bass. They should start to move up in greater numbers this week, in which case, look shallow and fish Brush Hogs and Lizards in bedding fish.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Fishing has been good to excellent for the last three weeks. Lots of limits. Our largest was 15 pounds. We have been trolling 50-300 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. There was a report of a 10-pound (30 inches) brown caught at Sand Harbor with a dodger and minnow.

LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: Fishing at the Ski Run Mound, 150-240 feet deep, with a Thunderstruck lure for Macks, 2-7 pounds. We caught an 8-pound (29 inch) brown off of Eagle Point near Emerald Bay with a Thunderstick lure in 25 feet of water.

LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: Has been slow to good. Several Macks 10-18 pounds, trolling 20-40 feet deep, using Trophy Sticks and AC plugs. The shore fishermen are catching 1-4 pound rainbows that are full of roe. They are using worms or minnows. We caught a 6-pound brown at the Cave Rock hazard buoy with a Thunderstick lure.

UPPER TWIN LAKE, CALIF: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071): Rex Baugher of Bakersfield opened our season with his 6.5 pound rainbow on a spruce Matuka fly. David Lujano of Little Rock caught a 5-pound, 5-ounce rainbow and a 3-pound, 1-ounce rainbow using an orange/black Rapala lure. A combined weight of 25 pounds of rainbows were caught on rainbow Power Bait by Matt and Bob DeMarco of Sacramento.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Jim Reid: The road is open to the lakes. The lakes are still frozen but the ice is getting thin. There were some ice fishermen for the Opener.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Jim Reid:

East Walker: Fished well, but it was crowded. The fly fishermen were using streamers and Nymphs for rainbows up to 22 inches. The average fish was 16-17 inches.

West Walker: Also fished well. Not that muddy yet. The best action was on Atomic Teaser Crappie jigs.

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 93 CFS. The increase in water flow should improve fishing here. Stone fly imitations have been the best bet. Golden Stone Nymphs down below and stimulators on the surface.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: The ice is mostly gone, except out in the middle. You can launch a small boat and troll along the shoreline. The fishing is doing fine and NDOW is going to do some stocking.