By Don Quilici
• BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: Fishing is poor due to low water. Will close on Feb. 28.
• BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA:
Tamarack Lake: Is now down to just two large bodies of water but they are both fishable for brook trout.
• BLUE LAKES, NEV: No report. Will close on Nov. 15.
• BOULDER RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Water levels dropping but fishing remains fair to good. Weed growth make shore fishing difficult. Use a float tube or small boat to get out to open water.
• BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760) 932-7707: It has picked up for shore fishermen using inflated nightcrawlers.
Susie Greilich said to troll with three colors of leadcore line with Striker lures.
• EAST CARSON RIVER, CALIF: Brad at the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229) said, "The river is low and clear but there are still some nice fish coming out.
Ben Martini of Sonoma, Calif. caught a 5 pound rainbow and a 2 pound rainbow, both on nightcrawlers.
Matt Andice (I'm not sure about that spelling) of Carson City caught three rainbows on nightcrawlers, a 6-pounder, a 4-pounder and a 2-pounder.
• WEST CARSON RIVER, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said: "We had all kinds of people, up here this weekend, enjoying the Fall colors, but no fishermen.
My store was absolutely jam-packed with folks for about two hours on Sunday afternoon.
The highway patrol was going nuts with all of the people who were parked along the highway (S.R. 88).
In fact, the Fall colors should be peaking this weekend.
The water is very low and very clear which makes fishing challenging.
• CATNIP RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Best fishing is found near the dam. Cutthroat trout in the 14-16 inch range are common. Will close on Nov. 15.
• CONVICT LAKE, CALIF:
David DeSurra of the Convict Lake Resort (800) 992-2260 reported the annual Convict Lake Fall Derby began on Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 15 with over $5,000 in prizes.
Susie Greilich at Kittridge Sporting Goods Store in Mammoth at (760) 934-7566 said that a 7-pound rainbow was caught on a Trout teaser.
Shore fishermen are wading on the North end with Power Bait or Trout Teasers.
• CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Susie Greilich: Fish with Midge flies at Sandy Point, Leighton Springs or Green Banks.
• HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Will close on Oct. 31.
• INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that there is not much change. The shore fishing is slow from shore and better for those fishermen in float tubes in deep water.
The first freeze was Monday morning, so the fishing should pick up.
• JUNE LAKE LOOP AREA, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:
Grant Lake: Use Thomas Buoyant lures.
Gull Lake: A 6.65 pound and a 6.3 pound rainbow, both on worms.
June Lake: Use Leeches or Power Bait.
Silver Lake: Use Power Worms.
Rush Creek: Use Pheasant Tail flies.
• KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: Ken's Sporting Goods Store reported that the fishermen are picking up some Cutthroat trout but not any brook trout.
• KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR, NEV: No report. Will close on Nov. 15.
• LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): We have a few die-hards, out there fishing, but nothing is coming into the store.
All the leaves have turned color and the trees are beautiful.
The lake level has dropped quite a bit and it should be ideal fishing, right now.
You need to check with State Parks (775-577-2666) to see if you can launch your boat because of the drop in the water level.
• MAMMOTH LAKES AREA, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:
George Lake: Try Power Bait or Super Duper lures.
Mamie Lake: Use silver/blue Thomas Buoyant lures.
Mary Lake: A 6.35-pounder on a Trout Teaser.
Twin Lakes: Best fishing is from a float tube with Zug Bug flies.
Mammoth Creek: Recently stocked. Use Salmon eggs or Panther/Martin lures.
• OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:
Benton Crossing (Upstream): Olive Streamer or brown Woolly Bugger flies.
Benton Crossing (Downstream): Close to all fishing to the Monument.
• PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) said that the boat fishermen are doing very good either trolling or jigging.
Some boats are catching 6-12 fish per trip. Other boats are catching anywhere from 12 to 60 fish per day.
The shore fishing is slowly getting better, but the fishermen still need to fish the deeper water.
The best shore fishing is at places like Spider Point and Blockhouse.
The boat fishing is good everywhere.
The fly fishing is good, just about anywhere.
There is still grass in the water at the north end, but it is getting better every day.
• SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) sent in this report:
Redding to Anderson: Water flow is 7,500 CFS.
Fly fishing for rainbow trout is fair to good. Catching and releasing. Using Micro Mayfly. Fox's Pupahs, Caddis and egg patterns.
Red Bluff: Catching limits of King Salmon, 10-25 pounds. Some Salmon over 30 pounds, seeing limits.
Using Flatfish (T-50's), and bouncing roe are best bet, both producing great Kings.
Water level great, clear and mild weather.
Watch for November and December to produce monster Kings, even larger.
King salmon season will remain open until January 14, 2005.
• SQUAW CREEK RESERVOIR (north of Gerlach in Washoe County): Continues to be a hot spot. The best fishing has been in the mornings or evenings.
• 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 250-550 feet deep 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."
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said he has been trolling at Cal Neva Point, Agate Bay and Dollar Point.
He is trolling 160-280 feet deep with a short leader, Herring 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:
They are catching small Macks (2-3 pounds) and small Kokanee Salmon (5-10 inches).
The Kokanee fishing is sporadic, with an 11-inch fish being considered as bragging size.
• LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:
Gene St. Denis said that Cave Rock Shelf has been slow but they are getting fish.
Nothing big with an average size of about 2-4 pounds for the Macks.
Jiggers are doing the best.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA:
• Upper Twin:
Mono Village (760-932-7071): The lake is cooling down quickly.
A 6-pound, 8-ounce rainbow on yellow Power Bait, a 5-pound, 8-ounce rainbow on a gold Thomas Buoyant lure and a 3-pound, 13 ounce rainbow, also on yellow Power Bait.
Susie Greilich said to use nightcrawlers or Thomas Buoyant lures.
• VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA:
Ken's Sporting Goods Store reported that Little Virginia Lake is fishing very good.
• WALKER RIVERS: Ken's Sporting Goods Store reported:
East Walker (Calif.): Continues to be good with Streamer or Nymph flies.
West Walker (Calif.): Has been good in the Walker River Canyon with Hopper Droppers.
• WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The weather is getting chilly. It's getting down to about 25 degrees at night and it was downright cold yesterday (Sunday).
The fishing is excellent, right now, for rainbows and an occasional German brown.
The Cushmans from California were trolling and they were catching and releasing 35-40 trout (up to about 5 pounds) per day. They trolled with blue imitation minnows, silver spoons and nightcrawlers behind silver flasher blades.
Heck I even went out fishing. I caught 5 rainbows in 2.5 hours. They weighed 10 pounds, after being cleaned. I was shore fishing with a nightcrawler and a shrimp flavored marshmallow.
• YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AREA, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:
Lee Vining Creek: Use small spinners or worms.
Saddlebag Lake: Use Power Bait or Thomas Buoyant lures.
