BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "Same report as last week: The road to Blue Lakes is closed. The gate is shut and locked for the winter. We are socked in with thick fog and there is no one fishing. But, on the other hand, at Kirkwood, they are downhill skiing in bright sunshine."
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported, "The lake is iced over, but in my opinion the ice is still way too thin to be out on. There were a couple of guys out there, skating on 3-4 inches of ice and I told them that they were crazy to be out on that ice. If they fell in, no one could get to them."
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that there is still blue water showing out in the middle, and the ice is unsafe. Do not go out on the ice.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Doug Ouellette at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported, "Same as last week. It has slowed down with the cold weather. Fish in the afternoons, when it warms up. Try Jenkins Point and Camp Five Point on the west side of the lake."
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Last Saturday morning, wide open with some very thin ice, forming at the dam.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Closes Dec. 31.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby said he had a report of some cutthroat being caught, but no details.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) reported: "There are not a lot of fishermen, due to the cold weather, but the fishing is fair.
The better fish are running 8+ pounds.
The cold has really been hard on the fishermen. Most guys are happy to catch a couple of fish, and then go home to get out of the cold.
The Nets have been good for the fly fishermen.
The boaters are mostly trolling from Sutcliffe north to Warrior Point."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette reported, "There was a 30-incher (estimated weight of 10 pounds) caught and released by Joe Winchester of Reno at "The Nets," last week. He was using a white-foam with Chartreuse body Popcorn Beetle.
The fly fishermen are catching about 1 fish every 45 minutes at "The Nets." The are using Purple/Black or Red/Black or Drab-Olive flies.
The spincasters are picking up fish at The Block House, Spider Point, Pelican Point, The Cattleguard and Warrior Point. They are using Chartreuse or Fire Tiger lures.
Not much action is being reported by the trollers.
Bring your fish in to be registered and photographed for a drawing at the end of the season for a fly fishing rod and reel combo worth more than $800."
RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the lake is icing over, but the ice is still way too thin to walk on. There is still a little bit of open water.
RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the ice is very thin and unsafe. Do not go out on the ice.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Hank Mautz of Professional Guide Services (800) 355-3113 or www.davejocobsfishing.com reported:
Fishing for big, bright, late-Fall King Salmon has continued to build from the Balls Ferry-Barge Hole area (Anderson) downstream to Chico.
Anglers in the upper river can expect to locate bright Kings (15-40 pounds), with guides reporting 2-4 hookups a day.
Farther downstream, late Fall King Salmon fishing is reported to be consistently good with 5-7 hookups per outing.
The river is currently at 5,100 CFS.
Best bets are sardine wrapped K-16 Kwikfish lures in silver or gold patterns, either back-bounced or trolled.
Look for best action early to mid-mornings or late afternoon/early evenings.
The Upper Sacramento River closes to Salmon fishing on January 15.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Linda Thorbjornson at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): "The lake is not froze over. It was completely frozen about a week ago, but it warmed up and there is a lot of open water right now. You can't get to the open water, because of the thin ice along the edges."
SMITH RIVER, CALIF: Hank Mautz reported: "Anglers looking for bright Steelhead (8-15 pounds) can expect to find them in the lower portion of the main stem of the river, up to The Forks.
Anglers drifting roe and a "Quickie" can expect bright Steelhead.
River conditions are currently dropping and clearing, making low, clear water conditions.
At this time, local guides are starting to guide from a drift boat in the main stem of the river.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been good to excellent on every trip.
Catching Mackinaw trout early in the morning and tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
We're catching lots of fish, but nothing super big.
Trolling the deep-water area in front of Carnelian Bay and King's Beach with 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): "Agate Bay and Dollar Point have been good, early in the mornings.
We are trolling for Macks with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at depths of 160-300 feet, along the edges of the drop-offs."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing has been good to excellent at Ski Run Mound, Ski Run Shelf and Camp Richardson.
We are trolling 150-300 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:
Gene St. Denis: "They are picking up rainbows (1-4 pounds), trolling at Logan Shoals and Deadman's Point. The shore fishermen are picking up rainbows from the Cave Rock Landing."
TOPAZ LAKE: Opens on Jan. 1.
TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Doug Ouellette: "The Truckee River is really slowing down due to the cold weather. Try fishing the deeper holes in the afternoons, when it warms up.
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Shore fishing is fair to good at the north end of the lake, near the boundary of the Indian reservation.
Fishermen in chest waders are catching Lahontan cutthroat trout, up to 4 pounds.
Spincasting with various colored No. 2 TOR-P-DO lures.
Trolling is good, north of Sportsmen's Beach with silver flasher blades and light colored lures in shallow water.
Shore fishing on the south end of the lake is improving.
Gene Phelps reported that his fishing group of Carson City anglers caught 6 Cutts, from the north shore last week. He caught 4 of the 6, Cal Berge had 2 and Bob Schroeder got "skunked."
On Monday at the south end, Rudy Moreno caught 7, Phelps nailed 6, Berge had 3 and Schroeder checked in with 1.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "The sun is out today and the weather is beautiful. The temperature is 34 degrees right now (Monday morning).
We've got six inches of good, hard ice and they are out there, ice fishing.
They are picking up lots of perch and trout.
Fish with small, white-colored, lead-head jigs with a plastic tail, together with a tiny piece of worm, mealworm or cocktail shrimp on the hook.
Drop that combination down to the bottom, bring it up about 1-2 turns on the reel handle and slowly jig, up and down."
