By Don Quilici
• BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: Will close on Feb. 28.
• BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF: A representative of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425) said, "The fishing is pretty good at Lake Sabrina, but you better be wearing snow boots if you're coming up this way.
The business is closed for the year, but you are more than welcome to come up and fish."
• BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said there were no fishing reports, but that there were lots of snowmobiles in the Charity Valley-Blue Lakes area this last week, playing on about three feet of fresh snow.
• BLUE LAKES, NEV: Will close on Nov. 15.
• BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Rick of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760) 932-7707 said that it has been good, off shore, with either inflated nightcrawlers or Kastmaster lures.
• CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby said that there is no fishing report this week due to the snowstorm. There is ice forming along the edges in the mornings.
• WEST CARSON RIVER, CALIF: Dave Kirby said: "There's no report for the West Carson for this week because of the winter weather, last week. We've got an early winter up here, this year.
You might pass on the information that Ebbett's Pass and Monitor Pass are both closed, and I would guess that they will probably remain closed for the rest of the winter."
• CATNIP RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: 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 runs through Nov. 15 with over $5,000 in prizes.
A 7.46 pound Alpers Trophy Rainbow Trout on a nightcrawler from the North Shore, a 7.20 pound Alpers Rainbow Trout on a Trout Teaser from the North Shore, a 6.52 pound Alpers Rainbow on green Power Bait from the South Shore and a 5.877 pound Alpers on Zekes Sierra Gold from the South Shore.
• DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: One U.S.F.S. campground is still open on the east side of the lake. It had a few sites occupied by hunters over the rainy weekend.
• FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Many reported size and up limits of rainbows. We photographed a couple of limits of 14-16 inchers caught at the dam on worms, dipped in bacon grease - a new bait by the Body family of Reno.
Others reported great fishing out of boats trolling nightcrawlers or Woolly Buggers.
• HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Will close on Oct. 31.
• INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby reported: "This is the hot spot of the entire county at the present time.
The fishing is rapidly improving with the cooler temperatures.
Eddie and Randy Ross of Carson City both caught their limits of rainbows (up to 5 pounds), while fishing from shore with nightcrawlers. A couple of other anglers also reported good fishing at the reservoir.
In addition, on Monday, Chad LaFontise of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. caught a 3 pounder and two 4.5 pounders while fishing from shore with nightcrawlers.
• KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR, NEV: Will close on Nov. 15.
* LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): Wow! If anyone is out there today (Tuesday) and fishing in this rain, they deserve the "Don Q" award.
When the weather finally clears off, this is the prefect time of the year to fish.
• PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: A representative of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) said, "The change of weather has really slowed down the fishing, in addition to people out hunting for chukar, deer or elk.
The boats are doing fairly good, but nothing special in size.
George (George Molino of Pyramid Lake Charters) was out all day yesterday, with nothing over 6 pounds.
The largest fish that we know of, so far this year, is an 11.6 pounder caught back on Oct. 5.
There is still some grass in the water on the north end."
• RED LAKE CALIF: Dave Kirby said that there is no fishing report this week due to the snowstorm. There is ice forming along the edges in the mornings.
• LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "I'm staying inside where it is warm and dry. We've got about 6 inches of snow and it is really snowing, right now (Tuesday morning). The lake looks like it came up about 1-2 inches, which is a heck of a lot of water.
The last time I went out, we caught plenty of fish but they were small. Our biggest was only about 5 pounds.
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 about 8-10 inches of snow and it was snowing hard (Tuesday morning).
The last few times he has been out, he has gotten limits for everyone but nothing super big.
He trolls at Cal Neva Point, Agate Bay and Dollar Point.
He trolls 160-280 feet deep with a short leader, Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
• VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA:
Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lake Resort: No report.
Rick of Ken's Sporting Goods Store: Little Virginia is frozen over. Big Virginia is still open and doing well with Kastmaster lures.
• WALKER RIVERS: Rick of Ken's Sporting Goods Store reported:
East Walker (Calif.): Has been good along U.S. 395 in the Walker River Canyon.
West Walker (Calif.): Continues to be good with Streamer or Nymph flies.
• WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The weather is cloudy and damp this morning (Monday).
There is snow on all of the mountains around us, we've had some nice rain down here, the creeks are running and the reservoir came up about 6 inches this week.
The rainbow trout fishing has been super for both the boaters and the shore fishermen.
The boats are using flashers with a worm.
The shore fishermen are using a shrimp scented marshmallow with a worm behind a sliding sinker.
The browns are starting to hit.
The road work is now done and the highway is beautiful.
The deer hunters have done great, we have had seven or eight 28-inchers and one 31-incher.
