BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "A quiet weekend with not too much action. It was 18 degrees on Sunday and this morning (Monday) it is 22 degrees. Some of those upper lakes should be beginning to ice up."
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Doug Ouellette at The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported, "It is shutting down with this cold, nasty weather. Fly fishermen are using Snails at Jenkins Point and Camp Five Point on the west side."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) reported: "Fishing has been about the same, but getting better from shore, now that the water is cooling off. The water temp is 48. Our boat (Pyramid Lake Charters) was out on Sunday and we caught about 10 fish, all average size.
We had about 60 fishermen entered in our Thanksgiving Weekend Derby. The biggest fish was 7-pounds, 1-ounce and it was caught from shore.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette reported, "They were getting some nice fish last week.
There was a 30 & a 27 incher.
The fly fishermen are catching about 1 fish every 45 minutes at "The Nets." They are using white-foam with Chartreuse body Popcorn Beetles. Also try Purple/Black or Red/Black or Drab-Olive flies.
Fly fishermen are doing well on the east side of the lake.
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.
The boats are doing well at Hells Kitchen. It depends on the weather. Keep an eye out for the wind coming up, if you go there."
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448):
Redding to Anderson: Water flows at 5,500 CFS.
Rainbow Trout:
Fly fishing is good.
Catching and releasing nice rainbows, 2-4 pounds.
Catching a few Steelhead trout.
Practicing all "Catch and Release."
Using No. 14 or No. 16 Prince Nymph flies.
Also Fox's Poopah and Copper John Nymphs.
Drifting Redding to Anderson.
King Salmon: Is fair to good in the Balls Ferry area. Late Fall Salmon are starting to arrive. Catching nice bright Salmon. Using Flatfish lures, wrapped with Sardine wrap.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Hank Mautz of Professional Guide Services (800) 355-3113 or www.davejocobsfishing.com:
King Salmon: Anglers in hot pursuit of big, bright, late fall King Salmon can expect best results from Balls Ferry (Anderson) to Chico. Late fall Kings averaging 20 to 30 pounds can be taken on fresh sardine-wrapped, K-16 Kwikfish lures.
Trout/Steelhead:
Anglers can expect trophy trout fishing for wild rainbows 1-3 pounds to be red-hot, while side-drifting Glo-Bugs or a small piece of roe with a "Quickie."
A hot trout bite can be expected from Redding to Red Bluff with an occasional steelhead from Balls Ferry to the Barge Hole. 54 wild rainbows were caught on a half-day trip for 2 anglers on Nov. 23, fishing in the Anderson area.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Linda Thorbjornson at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): "Duh! Of course, it's snowing (Monday morning). There are chain controls, and we are supposed to get three feet of snow.
On Nov. 23, some guys from Sacramento launched their boat, fished all day, did not catch anything, came back and got the boat trailer stuck at the ramp.
While they were waiting for a tow truck, Rufus Walton was casting a Rapala lure from shore, and caught an 8-pound rainbow.
On Nov. 26, four guys caught a total of 11 pounds of browns with nightcrawlers from shore. They came back yesterday and caught about 1o rainbows from the opposite shore."
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been very good on every trip.
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 has 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 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: "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.
TRUCKEE RIVER, NEV: Doug Ouellette: "The Truckee River is ice cold, fishing wise. The fishing is really, really slow.
WALKER LAKE, NEV: Still good shore fishing at the north end of the lake, near the boundary of the Indian reservation.
Catching Lahontan cutthroat trout, up to 4 pounds.
Fishing in chest waders.
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 still rated as slow.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "It's freezing today! It was -12.7 degrees this morning (Monday).
The reservoir is about half-froze over.
The north end is still open, and the south end is froze.
The shore fishing has been great, up until yesterday, for nice rainbows in the 2-3 pound class.
They are using white marshmallows, rainbow Power Bait, dark green or black/red dot lures."
