ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500):
The Rec. 2 area produced rainbow trout to 4 pounds, as the "fall fest" begins. While the brown trout, now moving in over the springs to spawn, are not the best fish to target, the 'bows around the Rec. 2 area have produced up to 14 fish, according to Roger's Guide Service. The dam area is still holding recently planted Eagle Lake trout, which, in a perfect world, would be caught and released until next year, as they are very small.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Not much going on due to the weather. I haven't sold a fishing license in about 10 days. We got some serious rain (some areas got 2.5 inches of rain) and there was lots of snow above 7,000'. Ebbett's Pass and Monitor Pass are both closed due to snow, right now (Monday morning). I don't know about Ebbett's, but I think that Monitor will probably be re-opened by CalTrans.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): It definitely froze last night (Monday). When you come up here, wear your ear muffs. The water has cleared back up and there is a bunch of fish out there. A couple of guys in Cabin No. 5 used No. 10 hooks and Salmon eggs to catch lots of fish.
East Carson River: Don Reasons and Dick Lund, both of Carson City, caught and released a number of nice rainbows, last week. They kept the largest which was 21 inches long.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Same as last week: Rainbow action hasn't slowed much and the good bite has been open to just about everybody, bank fishers, trollers and fly fishers alike. Fish up to nearly 5 pounds are being caught.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Regardless of the rumors, there are still launch ramps at both ends, just call to confirm your favorite spot is open. The trout are getting larger as the season moves towards its final conclusion. The bite remains strong with fish averaging from 3.5 to 4.5 pounds.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): A few stripers continued to be caught, but most of those big fish hanging around Shanghai Bend have disappeared, apparently heading back to the Delta. They've been replaced, though, by some pretty feisty Steelhead, including a couple in the 6-pound class which attacked jigs being tossed by striper fishermen below Shanghai Rapids. Steelhead were also hitting, spinners, nightcrawlers, roe and Glo-Bugs. Half-pounders and a few adults were also spread out on riffles throughout both the main Feather and the Low Flow Section.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Bank fishing has been good at Lunker Point. Most anglers are floating nightcrawlers. Blow them up or use marshmallows, just up from the bottom. Fly fishing has been good using anything green. Remember streams in this areas close on Nov. 15. Weather is getting a little colder, so mid-day, when it is warmest, is the best time to fish.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The good rainbow bite goes on here. Terri Stancil said 'bows up to 18 inches had been caught at the dam on Chartreuse and rainbow Power Bait. She said local anglers John, Mila, Phoebe and Beth fished from the bank at Turkey Point and caught 4 nice 2 1/2-pound 'bows on nightcrawlers and Chartreuse Power Bait.
OROVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Bidwell Canyon launching was closed for 4 to 5 days at press time and boaters were being sent to the Spillway ramp which is "launch at your own risk". The Spillway ramp extension is very flat and 4-wheel drive only boaters have to back a long way out to get to water deep enough to get the boat off the trailer. No fee is being taken at the Spillway ramp, but the launching is questionable at best. There are no reports of fishing activity because of the big rainstorm and the lack of reliable launching. Lake is at 30 percent capacity.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400: It was a little quiet over the weekend due to the weather. It really poured rain on Saturday night. The biggest fish of the week was a 8-pound, 14-ounce Cutthroat caught by Casey Arciniega of Reno, while trolling with a tiger-yellow Flatfish lure at Pelican. We also had two 6-pounders and one 7-pounder.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Chris and Jeri Grellman of Hog Charters in Sparks at 358-5199 (home) or Chris at 221-4014 (cell): Saturday's charter cancelled due to the weather, and on Sunday, it was pretty windy, so we just chilled out for the weekend.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Jim Hartfiel of Just Rite Fishing at Pyramid Lake at (775) 575-7850 (home) or (775) 813-3411 (Cell): I went out Sunday afternoon, with 3 clients and they all limited out. Nothing big. We were trolling 60 feet deep at Spider Point with Apex and Rattle-Trap lures. Fishing is kind of slow, right now.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Same as last week: The Upper Sac is fishing well from top to bottom, and the October Caddis are just now starting to hatch. Nymphing with big October Caddis Nymphs (or Stones) in the morning and early afternoon is productive, and dry and dropper rigs can be productive from late afternoon through evening.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Transition time finds both trout and bass moving up while the salmon move down. Reaction baits will become more popular now for bass as the bite improves. The area around the dam has been producing good numbers of quality rainbows. Toupee Island is also producing as well. Look for trout in the top 15 feet, the salmon generally are holding in much deeper waters as deep as almost 100 feet. Shad patterns worked best.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): We have been catching limits or close to limits on every trip. I've been fishing at Dollar Point and Cal-Neva Point. Trolling 100--200 feet deep with large Dodger blades and minnows. Our biggest fish last week was 8 pounds. Sunday, we came in early as it was too windy and rainy to stay out on the water.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: Trout fishing is the best in the 12 years of my tenure at Wildhorse. The trout are fatter (heavier per inch) than I have ever seen. Perch are scattered but fat and sassy. The Smallies are few and far between. The Wipers are eating all of the natural spawn. Channel cats are on the decline.