Special Note: On Nov. 15, California closes most of its Sierra streams, creeks and rivers to 2005 fishing. Those waters will not re-open until the last Saturday in April. All of the applicable, open waters in Inyo and Mono Counties will also close for 2005 on Nov. 15.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "Been super quiet with very few humans.
It is raining right now (Monday morning) and it looks like it is snowing, up on the mountain.
Nothing to report, fishing-wise.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (at 11 a.m.): Has been doing good, mostly out of boats.
A few being caught from shore.
An 8-pound, 9-ounce rainbow was caught on a trolled lure that is kind of like a Needlefish lure.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jeffry Wenger of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677): "For those of you who still want to fish the Reservoir until closing on Nov. 15th, we will have the RV Park open as weather permits and you can launch your boats from here or on the dirt ramp towards the dam."
CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported a fisherman caught a mixed limit for rainbows and cutthroat on Friday.
He was fishing from the dam with worms.
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Brad Davis of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): It's been pretty quiet.
Not many fishermen with the bad weather.
There was a 4-pounder caught, on Sunday, across from the resort.
CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: The Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260): An incredible week here at Convict Lake.
The average fish size was over 4 pounds!
The top rainbows were: A 8.04 pounder on an olive Marvel fly from the jetty, a 7.31 pounder on a blue Thomas Buoyant lure from the south shore, a 6.74 pounder on a fly from the jetty, a 6.65 pounder on yellow Power Bait from the jetty, a 6.06 pounder on nightcrawlers from the south shore and a 5.84 pounder on a custom jig from the south shore.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Doug Ouellette at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported, "Davis Lake has slowed down with the bad weather.
The fly fishermen are using Snails and Blood Midges from float tubes and boats at Freeman Creek and Jenkins on the west side of the lake."
FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Several positive fishing reports over the weekend.
Rainbows up to 16 inches, in limits.
Bank fish at the dam.
Use nightcrawlers and rainbow Power Bait.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Has been OK, but not red hot.
Best for the fly fishermen.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) reported: "The fishing is getting a little better.
The water temp has dropped down to 53 degrees.
They were catching them from shore over the weekend. Nothing big, but they were having fun.
The boats are catching them, deep, down to 80 feet.
They are trolling Flatfish, Apex, Lyman and TOR-P-DO lures. Frog has been a good color.
We (Pyramid Lake Charters) caught a 7-pounder on Saturday on a watermelon Apex lure."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette reported, "Starting to pick up for fly fishermen at "The Nets."
There was a 7.5 pounder caught this week at The Nets.
They are using black and purple or black and red Woolly Bugger flies or the white Popcorn Beetle fly,
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 a fisherman on Saturday caught a 3-pounder and 2 smaller fish.
He was fishing off the dam with red Salmon eggs.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) reported:
Redding to Anderson: Water flows at 5,600 CFS.
Rainbow Trout:
Fly fishing is fair to good.
Catching and releasing nice rainbows, 2-4 pounds.
Catching a few Steelhead trout.
Practicing "Catch and Release" fishing.
Using No. 14 or No. 16 Prince Nymph flies.
Micro May Fly patterns were working well.
Drifting Redding to Anderson.
King Salmon:
Is good in the Balls Ferry area.
Limits some days.
Catching huge Kings, up to 45 pounds.
Flatfish lures, wrapped with Sardine wrap, are best bet.
Watch for November and December to produce even bigger Kings.
Catching a few Steelhead trout now.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Linda Thorbjornson and Mona at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): "It's really quiet, up here. They are forecasting a snowstorm to drop two feet of snow, tonight (Monday).
The two big fish of the week were:
On Nov. 3, Currin Collins of Sacramento caught a 3 pound and a 5 pound brown, both from shore with nightcrawlers.
On Nov. 6, Luke Smith of Rancho Cordova caught a 6 pound rainbow on something called "Swim Bait."
If you're coming up fishing, I recommend leaving your boat home due to the low water level at the boat ramp.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been good on every trip, when we can get out.
We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning and tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
We're catching lots of fish, but nothing super big.
I am 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 all been medium to excellent, early in the mornings, when I can get out.
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 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.
Jigging has also been effect at the Ski Run Shelf with a white squid jig tipped with a minnow."
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Rick Giser reported that the lakes are still ice-free.
However, the road gate is closed for the winter and you have to walk (about 100 yards) to Little Virginia Lake.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Rick Giser reported:
East Walker: Is going good for lots of small fish (10-12 inches), some nice ones (18-22 inches) and a couple of "Double Digit (10+ pounds) hogs."
Those two big rainbows were caught and released by a fly fishing guide from Mammoth.
One was 31 inches long and the other was 27 inches (13 inches deep in the body).
West Walker: Probably on the downside. A few fish being caught but not so hot.
It really got hammered about a week ago and has not been stocked, lately.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "It's cloudy, windy and trying to spit some moisture (Tuesday morning)
The fishing turned "red hot" last week.
There were limits, both trolling and from shore.
Two fishermen (one was Clint McCauly of North Fork) caught 10 fish that weighed 27.7 pounds in 4 hours of trolling with red/white spoons.
Doug Molohon of Spring Creek was fly fishing with streamers. In 3 hours, he caught 5 Cutbows that weighed a total of 14.3 pounds.
