By Don Quilici
• BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said, "The snowmobilers are going in by way of Forestdale Creek. The U.S. Forest Service won't let them use the Blue Lakes Road because there isn't enough snow."
• FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): "The Janssen family of Reno caught 11 rainbows off Crystal Point on Dec. 20. The fish weighed a total of 15 pounds and nightcrawlers were used as bait.
Ice is forming again, but there is much open water off Lunker Point and other areas.
No snow on roads and you can drive around the reservoir."
• LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) reported: "We had a dense fog out here for over a week.
It was cold and awful and made everyone miserable.
We actually sold some minnows over the weekend but had no reports from any of the fishermen.
This should be a great week for fishing, but be sure to dress warm."
• PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Lawrence Quadrio of the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported: "The fly fishing has been much better the last couple of days at The Nets.
They are using dark colored Woolly Bugger flies.
They are catching some nice fish but nothing super big."
In addition:
Trollers are trolling with the usual Lyman, Apex, Flatfish and Kwikfish lures at places such as Pelican Point, Spider Point and Warrior Point.
Jiggers are jigging with Gibb's Minnows or Maribou Jigs.
Fly fishermen are using black Woolly Bugger, Woolly Worm or Pyramid Popcorn Beetle flies.
Special Note:
Don Hettrick reported a very slow day of fishing for he and his partner, Bob "Slick" McCulloch, both of Carson City, last Thursday.
They each caught two small fish, while trolling between 9 a.m. and noon in Don's new boat.
Don had forgotten his electronic fish locator and also had problems with his boat steering mechanism during that trip.
• SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) said:
Redding to Anderson: Water flow is 4,000 CFS.
Fly fishing is producing some nice trout in the Redding to Anderson area.
Practicing catch and release.
PT's, and Micro May Fly patterns are working well.
Red Bluff: Fishing for Kings is fair to good. Catching chrome King Salmon, 10-15 pounds, average. Occasional 30-40 pound Salmon.
Flatfish (T-50's & T-55's) and bouncing roe are best bet, both producing King Salmon.
Watch for this month to produce even larger and bright Kings. Season will remain open until January 14, 2005.
• LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning and I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
I troll in the deep-water area in front of Carnelian Bay and King's Beach. We are using silver, Herring Dodger flasher blades with live minnows or large Apex lures."
• LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said: "I've been trolling at Cal Neva Point and Dollar Point. Trolling for average size Mackinaw is at 120-250 feet with a short leader, silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
The larger Mackinaw are down deeper at a depth of 200-300 feet."
• LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis reported that Mackinaw fishing has been very good at places like Ski Run Shelf, Ski Run Mound and Camp Richardson. He is trolling 160-240 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
Other fishermen are picking up Mackinaw while toplining between Camp Richardson and the Tahoe Keys.
• LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported that he is trolling at a depth of 160-240 with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
Some small rainbows and an occasional small Mack are being caught by shore fishermen from the Cave Rock boat landing."
• WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The weather is cool, but not cold for Wildhorse. It is getting up to about 35 degrees in the daytime.
There are 6-8 inches of clear, hard ice in the reservoir, and is so clear, it does not even look frozen.
The ice fishing is good for rainbows and lots of Perch.
They are jigging with white, Crappie jigs with the hook tipped with a small piece of worm.
We are going to have a big New Year's Party up here, with a $5 all-you-can-eat buffet, free Champagne, party hats and all the things that go with having a party.
Come up and have fun with us."
