Special Note:
The 2005 California sport fishing license year ends on Dec. 31. The 2006 California license year begins on Jan. 1. The 2005-2006 Nevada fishing license year runs through Feb. 28.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "Same report as before: The road to Blue Lakes is closed and the gate is shut and locked for the winter. Not too many humans up here (Woodfords Station). The weather is not that bad, right now. We had heavy rain the last couple of days. They have chain controls at Red Lake Grade and it is snowing very hard up on top (Tuesday morning). We have the 2006 fishing licenses, if anyone needs them.
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported: As of Tuesday morning, the lake has about two feet of fresh snow and you can still see open water out in the middle. Stay off the ice for right now.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: There was no ice on the lake as of last weekend.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Closes on Dec. 31.
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Andy at the Gilly: The bait chuckers have been doing OK with worms from shore.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby said, "Bruce Bearch of Carson City caught a very nice 7-pound Cutthroat trout on a Fire Tiger Krocodile lure on Christmas Eve.
I'm not sure that the county has plowed the road since it snowed on Monday. Give me a call, for an up-to-date report, before you try to drive in there.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) reported: "There has not been too much fishing due to the weather.
The fishing has been OK.
In fact, it has been good from boats. The shore fishing has been up and down.
Last Friday, we (Pyramid Lake Charters) caught and released 40 fish, up to 7 pounds.
We were trolling at the south end of the lake with the usual Apex lures."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Andy at the Gilly reported, " Pyramid Lake is fishing OK but not great.
The fly fishermen are using black/olive Woolly Bugger flies.
The shore fishermen are "chucking" spoons (dark colors on dark days and light colors on light days).
Trollers doing good with Yakima lures on the east side, North of the Pyramid at Hell's Kitchen."
RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported: As of Tuesday morning, the lake has about one foot of fresh snow and I didn't feel comfortable walking out on the ice, so I didn't.
I would recommend staying off the ice for right now.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448):
Redding to Anderson: Water flows at 15,000 CFS. The river is blown out from the storms. It is pouring rain, right now (Tuesday morning).
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been good on every trip.
We are catching Mackinaw trout early in the morning.
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. Shore fishermen are picking up rainbows from the Cave Rock Landing."
TOPAZ LAKE: Opens Jan. 1.
TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Andy at the Gilly: "The Truckee River is blown out due to the storms.
It is a heavily-stained chocolate brown in color and will need a couple of days to clear up, but there are more storms coming."
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Shore fishing has remained good at the far south end of the lake.
Fishermen in chest waders are catching Lahontan cutthroat trout, up to 4 pounds.
Spincasting with various colored No. 2 TOR-P-DO lures.
Trolling has been good between Sand Point and Sportsmen's Beach with silver flasher blades and light colored lures in shallow water.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "We've had a lot of snow and rain. In fact, it is snowing right now (Tuesday morning).
The Park Ranger and I were out on Sunday measuring the ice thickness. We've got 10 inches of good, hard ice.
and they are out there, ice fishing.
They are picking up lots of trout and perch.
The trout are in shallow water (2-6 feet) and the perch are down about 15-20 feet.
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.
Remember to drop that combination down to the bottom, bring it up about 1-2 turns on the reel handle and slowly jig, up and down."
