ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Trolling the east side with a pearl bikini colored Needlefish or a single, small, 1.5 inch worm on a No. 8 Gamakatsu hook and a scent, were all that was needed. Best depths averaged from 30 to 40 feet or deeper, and a No. 4 single blade Sling Blade was also productive for browns and bows at that same depth.
BISHOP, CALIF. AREA:
Sabrina Lake: Rick and Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Fishing is getting better. It might be due to the Alpers stocked by Inyo County on Monday. DFG stocked a few fish on Tuesday. The Colors are starting - here and there patches of yellows are starting to appear in the canyon. Across from the landing, Aspens are beginning the annual turn - soon the slopes will be dotted with yellows, golds, oranges and reds and the lakes rimmed with the same brilliant colors. The dropping of the lake has slowed, but we continue to drop. It's the nature of a reservoir.
Now onto fishing. Fishing the inlets with Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, Power Bait or Gulp (especially Chunky Cheese) brought in several limits as did trolling flashers and worms or Woolly Buggers. Those wanting to try lead core - 4 colors seemed about the right depth. Drifting nightcrawlers or Power Bait or Gulp or just still fishing around the rock piles. Shore anglers should try a nightcrawler and bobber or just Power Bait or Gulp. Greg Lee of Newbury Park landed a nice 4-1/3 pounder on a brown Woolly Bugger, while Jacob Dougherty of Garden Grove brought in a 4-3/4 pounder on a JER-KIT lure (gray wormy-wiggly-looking thing with lead in the head).
Temperatures have cooled a tad so hopefully the fish will start to come up. Not sure what's in store for us next week.
Remember your sunscreen, dark glasses and bug juice as we still have a few of those pesky skeeters around.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Not much to report. Not much action since labor Day, but it should be great Fall fishing up there, now that the temperature is cooling off.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton (760-932-7001): Fishing remains very good with the still fishers using crawlers or floating bait off of Rainbow and Rocky Points. Trolling has been producing good action from the Narrows to the dam using small flashers with Rapalas, Buoyant, or crawlers.
Flyfishers are doing very well with fast sink line and streamers as the lake is loaded with perch fry. Also try Midging, Caddis, and Damsel Nymphs.
All launching and boat rentals are at the bathtub now. Beautiful fall weather.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: John Voss of the Caples Lake Resort reported a 3-pound German brown trout was caught on a broken-back Rapala lure on Sept. 1 by an angler from Pleasant Valley while trolling in his boat.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Todd Sodaro and Chad Machado of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): The water is the same as it has been for the last four weeks. The temperature has been about 80 degrees. The fishing has been spectacular. The state planted last week, the county the Friday before. The county will be planting those "Big Boys" from the Susanville hatchery, again, tomorrow (Tuesday). The six mile stretch in front of the resort (from bridge to bridge) should be awesome fishing. Our biggest fish this last weekend was 6-pounds, 7-ounces.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported: The water is extremely low and very clear. Not a lot of fishermen over the weekend.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Water surface temps down to 65 degrees now. Shore fishing at Mallard Cove has been producing some real quality fish. Fishing early and using Power Bait has been the winning combination. Fly fishing in the Jenkins Cove area has produced some large rainbows and there has even been some early-morning dry fly action.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Limits were found everyday but with a change of tactics. Anglers are now catching fish early, on the inshore shelves that rise up to 30 feet deep and then later, after the sun has been on the water awhile, they are moving out, as deep as 52 feet.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Striper fishing improved last week, with fish to 15 pounds caught from Shanghai Rapids to Live Oak. Minnows, sardines, swimbaits and streamers were all producing bites at one time or another. A few small Steelhead were being taken on nightcrawlers and small nymphs in the Low Flow Section.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Indian Summer is here. Cooler temperatures at night are keeping the lake cooler. Fishing is improving, both trolling and bank fishing. Nightcrawlers are still the favorites although some have had luck with various lures such as Roostertails and Dick Nite.
Troll deep with flashers or Woolly Buggers, olive, rust or black.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Fishing continues to be good at the dam for anglers using small Needlefish, Salmon eggs, rainbow Power Bait or trolling copper Dick Nites. Most fish running between 1 and 2 pounds.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): It still has the algae bloom. The water is fairly dirty looking. Great camping but not much fishing.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby: I would rate it as fair. They are catching some brookies, probably some of those that were transplanted from Caples Lake.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Dave Jacobs (Professional Guide Service) (800-355-3113):
Rainbow Trout: Fishing for wild rainbow trout on the lower Sacramento or Sac River from Redding downstream below Anderson has slowed for the time being for trout guides both on conventional spin and fly gear. Guides are reporting fair fishing for wild rainbow trout 1-3 pounds with the occasional big trout of 4 plus pounds from Redding downstream near Red Bluff. Depending on which section of river you fish will determine which baits are best. Many trout have been over 16 inches with some in the twenty plus inch class. 15 to 20 plus rainbow trout hook-ups a day a real possibility this time of year. Boats cannot pass the Cypress bridge construction in Redding from 7,000 CFS and up. Side drifting small Glo Bugs in various egg color combos and/or live cricket or crawlers 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.
Salmon Season Update:
All Central Valley rivers are now closed to salmon fishing to protect the Sacramento River Fall Chinook Salmon. The Salmon season will re-open on November 1st and remain open until December 31st, 2008. Angler's will be allowed one salmon per person and Salmon fishing will be allowed from the Red Bluff Diversion Dam downstream to Knight's Landing.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The main body of the lake from Bridge Bay to up by the dam continues to be good areas to target. Dry Creek continues to also provide for both salmon and trout, while the west side of Toupee Island produced quality trout. Fish deeper as the trout and salmon are feeding on shad in the Thermocline. Trout were holding between 36 to 100 feet though the best bite continued to be between 50 and 75 feet. Bass are still suspended, according to Phil's Props, but targeting the deeper fish may net you a nice one. Try 50 feet down with a drop-shot rig, spooning them up, or shaking a jig or worm for the deeper fish.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): Sme as last week: 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 Dollar Point and Cal/Neva Point. We fish early and have caught several limits. The Macks are running 5-10 pounds.
LAKE TAHOE " East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported: Shore fishing is slow. The jiggers are jigging at depths of 150-250 feet with white Crippled Herring jigs.
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck and Linda Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): Same as last week: Lot of water skiers and jet skiers. Water is still slowly dropping. Our boat launch is closed for the season due to the low water. There are no fishermen and there is no catching.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Another great week of weather after the two days of brutal winds. Fishing was slow mid-week but quickly picked up with only a couple Alpers taken on the occasional Berkeley Gulp Power Bait and Power Worms. BIG FISH: Pat Carroll of Santa Barbara took a 5 pound, 10 oz Alpers on a Power Worm, and Joe Faruzzi of Newbury Park caught a 2 pound, 13 oz on a Woolly Bugger. Troy Tucker of LA pulled in a 3 pound, 14 oz on a gold Kastmaster. Float tubers hit the lakes early Saturday and the water was calm for an hour or so until the sun hit the water and things started to happen. Woolly Buggers were tugged to the limit, and a lot of dries hit the air. Caddis, Sedge (the smallest black version), up to the largest lace wing. Top flies were Gray Hackle Peacock, rust Woolly Bugger, olive/black Buggers, and small Midges, oh yes, the inimitable midge (Griffith's, Adams, Martinez, Grizzly King), and the black Trico Spinner. Lures were not on the top of the list, but Berkeley Power Bait, garlic and plain Chartreuse behind red Power Eggs all did well. Salmon eggs are still bringing in limits along with some artificial crickets.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: Same as last week: Fishing is good for both perch and trout. Remember to float your crawler at about 15 feet of water. Chartreuse Power Bait on the bottom hook to float the crawler.