By Don Quilici
LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: No report.
LAKE ALPINE, CALIF: No report.
BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open May 8.
BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF: Closed.
BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: No report.
BLUE LAKES, NEV: Will open June 12.
BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.
BOULDER RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: No report.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Closed.
BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF: No report.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) advised that the lake is still iced over, but it is beginning to show some open water around the edge. In addition, they are drawing water from the lake which means that there is now a gap between the layer of ice and the water below. Use extreme caution if venturing out on the ice. He recommends not to do so.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: Closed.
CARSON RIVERS, NEV: No report.
CATNIP RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Will open Sept. 1.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Closed.
CRATER LAKE, CALIF. (Near Kit Carson Pass): No report.
CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Closed.
DAVIS CREEK POND AT DAVIS CREEK PARK IN WASHOE VALLEY: No report.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: As of Sunday, it was ice free, except for an area in front of the dam. Do not venture out onto that thin ice.
DONNER LAKE, CALIF: No report.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: No report.
FEATHER RIVER AT ORVILLE, CALIF: Closed.
FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, NEV: No report.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post (530) 993-4683 or (530) 993-4721 at Chilcoot, Calif. sent in this report: "Great fishing off the bank. Boaters are out in force, Roads are improving daily."
FROG LAKE, CALIF. (On the hiking trail into Winnemucca Lake): No report.
GREEN LAKE, CALIF: Closed.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Closed.
HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): No report.
HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open May 1.
HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: Closed.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby reported lots of fishing activity over the weekend due to the combination of the good weather and the recent plant of 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout.
On Sunday, he saw about 20 shore fishermen and another half dozen float tubes and canoes.
Overall, the fishing was pretty good, but not a lot of limits.
The shore fishermen were using mostly Power Bait or inflated worms, just off the bottom.
Fly fishermen were using Woolly Bugger flies.
Spincasters were using small lures.
Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): Dave Kirby said that fishing was very good over the weekend.
One float tuber caught and released 12 rainbows, up to three pounds. He was using olive Woolly Bugger flies with a medium sinking line.
There were two other float tubers and about a dozen shore fishermen.
JUNE LAKE LOOP AREA, CALIF: Closed.
KINNEY RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.
KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open June 12.
LOWER KINNEY LAKE: No report.
KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: Closed.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) said, "The reservoir has now over 250,000 acres feet of water and is still rising.
We had beautiful weather over the weekend, and it was a good weekend for catching Bass and Walleye.
The Walleye are running about 2.5 pounds and are being caught with worms or minnows.
Beach No. 4 is going strong for Wipers and White Bass.
Beach No. 10 is producing catfish at night but be careful of the sand and don't get stuck.
LEAVITT LAKE, CALIF: Closed.
LIBERTY POND IN CHURCHILL COUNTY: No report.
LUNDY LAKE, CALIF: Closed.
MAMMOTH LAKES AREA, CALIF: Closed.
MARKLEEVILLE CREEK, CALIF: Closed.
MT. VIEW PARK POND IN YERINGTON: No report.
NORTH POND, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Has been drained almost dry and is unfishable.
ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open June 12.
OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Closed.
PARADISE PONDS ON NORTH EDGE OF RENO/SPARKS: No report.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette of the Gillys Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) caught and released a 13-pound, 7-ounce cutthroat trout last Thursday. He was fly fishing at the "South Nets" with a Popcorn Beetle fly (It is white with a Chartreuse body and white foam on the back).
Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) said, "Fishing has been good, moistly with spoons, Woolly Worm flies and jigs.
Not great numbers for the boaters.
The "fly guys" have been having a ball, mostly at "The Nets." They are either catching a fish on every cast or going about an hours between strikes.
Lots of fish between 11 and 14 pounds but we never see them, because the fly fishermen turn them loose when they catch them.
The larger cutthroat are now coming in closer to shore to spawn."
RAYMOND LAKE, CALIF: No report.
RANCHO SAN RAFAEL POND IN RENO: No report.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the lake is still iced over but the ice is very thin and weak around the edges. He advises not to venture out on the ice.
ROOSEVELT-LANE LAKES, CALIF: Closed.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing in Redding (800-670-4448) said: "The water release is 4,500 CFS. Water level is low and clear.
Fishing for rainbow trout is great with 10-20 fish days. Water level is great for drifting.
March and April are great months to produce many nice sized rainbows.
No. 16 PT's and No. 14 & 16 May Fly Nymphs and egg patterns are working well. "
SCOTT'S LAKE: No report.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: No report.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported that he is starting to pick up a few rainbows, 1-3 pounds, trolling with Shad pattern lures.
Bass fishing is good with rubber worms or crank baits.
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: No report.
SOUTH FORK RESERVOIR, NEV: No report.
SPARKS MARINA (in Sparks): No report.
SPOONER LAKE, NEV: No report.
SQUAW CREEK RESERVOIR (north of Gerlach in Washoe County): No report.
STAMPEDE RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "I had 10 fishermen from the Ormsby Sportsmen
Association of Carson City on Sunday. Nine of the 10 caught fish and the largest was a 25-incher caught by Keith Holland.
We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning. I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones. Currently catching mostly average size fish, with nothing super big.
I'm trolling 250-550 feet deep in the 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, "We've been trolling at depths of 200-400 feet at Cal-Neva Point and Agate Bay.
The Mackinaw fishing has been up and down, good one day and slow the next, but it is improving.
We're using Dodger flasher blades and live minnows."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said: "It's best in front of Camp Richardson at 260 feet deep with a short leader and Dodgers and live minnows.
We are catching 5-12 fish per trip (average size of 4-6 pounds) with the largest last week being a 15-pounder on Friday morning.
There is pretty decent Mack action on the Ski Run Mound if you like to jig.
Toplining everywhere is slow, except early mornings or late evenings."
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said, "Cave Rock Shelf has been producing average-sized Macks at 160-240 feet.
I'm using a short leader and Dodgers and live minnows.
Toplining has really slowed down, all over the lake., except at first light of day or at the last light.
The best place, right now, is at Deadman's Point. You catch mostly Macks because the rainbows and browns have moved somewhere else.
When toplining, I use a small Sepps flasher with either a live minnow or small Rapala lures.
We also use silver flasher blades and worms. Troll slow in 25 feet of water, so the flashers just barely flutter. For best results use a No. 11, black/silver Rapala lure and watch out for the rocks."
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550) said, "The wind is beginning to blow pretty hard right now (Monday morning) but we had a great weekend, weatherwise and fishing wise.
The fishing was a little slower but they still got limits, both from shore and in boats.
The shore fishermen got some limits but it took them a long time to do so.
The largest fish here at the Marina was a 2-pound, 9 3/4 ounce rainbow (18 inches) caught while trolling an orange Rapala lure in the middle of the lake.
There was a 21 inch rainbow turned in at the lodge.
TRUCKEE RIVER:
Little Truckee River, Calif: Closed.
Truckee River, Calif: Closed.
Truckee River, Nev: Doug Ouellette of The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks 358-6113) reported that the river is up high and you need to fish along the edges.
The best areas to fish are at Lockwood, Mustang and Derby Dam. Use stream flies, small spinners or Rapala lures.
Truckee Canal, Nev: No report.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Closed.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Closed.
VIRGINIA LAKE IN RENO: No report.
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Don and Elaine Quilici of Carson City fished in their chest waders on Monday. They were at the small point just north of the old State Park boat ramp. Between 8:15 a.m. and 2 p.m., they caught and released 50 cutthroat trout, up to 19 inches. Their best action was with an orange/bronze striped No 2 TOR-P-DO lure.
WALKER RIVERS:
East Walker (Calif.): Closed.
West Walker (Calif.): Closed.
East Walker (Nev.): No report.
West Walker (Nev.): No report.
Little Walker (Calif.): Closed.
WASHOE LAKE, NEV: No report.
WEBER RESERVOIR, NEV: No report.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Steve Epling at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 checked in and said, "The weather is beautiful, up here. It's kind of cloudy but warm today (60 degrees on Monday morning).
There is open water showing all around the reservoir.
Ice fishing is over for the year.
You can fish from shore at Hendrick's Creek, the State Boat Ramp and on the south end.
No fishing reports because no one has been out fishing, this last week."