BISHOP, CALIF. AREA: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425):
Sabrina Lake: Once again the bite is on.
Fishing this week was great with lots of pan-size fish coming out of the inlets.
The bait Ð yup, you guessed it Ð Worms and Power Bait.
For trolling, Thomas Buoyants, Super Dupers or anything with a bit of red on it is productive.
Drifting worms is doing well, especially by the rock piles.
Woolly Buggers or Matukas are working great, using a bubble from shore or just trolling them around the lake and enjoying the view.
This is the story of the fish that didn't get away: Sept. 5, my daughter, Jenny McAdams, caught the biggest fish she had ever seen in Lake Sabrina. The fish was weighed at the site by a fellow angler at 9 pounds, 2-ounces. It is the largest fish of the season for Lake Sabrina.
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "The campgrounds are closed. There are a few fishermen going up there, but no reports of how they are doing.
It's a slow time of the year, and the gas prices may have something to do with the lack of fishermen."
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Rick Giser of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) (at 11 a.m.): It has been good by the dam.
The fly fishermen are doing great, the bait fishermen are drifting nightcrawlers and the trollers are picking some up.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jeffry Wenger of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677): "As of Oct. 9th, the Reservoir definitely turned on!
The East Walker channel, just to the north of the Marina, is stacked full of rainbows.
Many limits and the largest was a 6.1 pounder.
Still fishing with bait, trolling with lures or worms and the fly-fishing is just getting better.
Give us a call to find the current Hot Spots as the fish are constantly on the move.
We are lucky to still have water in the Marina at this time of year and that means three quarters of the lake is very fishable and folks can still launch their boats.
We are planning to close all operations here at the end of the month, even though the season will still stay open till November 15th."
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson River: Brad Davis of the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229):
"It's quieted down, quite a bit, but they are still pulling out some nice fish.
Ryan Dittenhoefer of Gardnerville, caught a 5-pound, 8-ounce rainbow on the 8th with a Panther/Martin lure.
Kathy Ridofi of Antioch caught a 7-pounder and a 5 pounder, both on nightcrawlers, across from the resort.
Another angler caught and released a 5-pounder.
West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported that fishing has been darn slow.
Not getting very many fishermen and not selling very many licenses.
Most fishermen think that the season is over but some are still out there, trying.
Has only had 2 fish turned in, during the last 10 days.
One fishermen caught an 8-pound rainbow, plus 3-4 other rainbows, while working worms in the deeper holes.
HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Brad Davis reported that some fly fishermen caught and released some really big Cutthroat trout last Friday.
Note: Closes Sunday, Oct. 30. This lake is open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the campground is about to close. He has had no reports of any fishing success.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Rick Giser reported that they are catching lots of Cutthroat trout and not very many brookies. The Cutts are running 17-26 inches.
DF&G planted Cutthroat and brookies about 1-2 weeks ago.
Note: This lake is about a 2 mile hike from the Sonora Pass Highway (S. R. 108).
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Dick Murphy reported that the Cutthroat trout fishing has been very good, but his trolling has been hampered by lots of wind.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) reported:
Redding to Anderson: Water flows at 9,000 CFS.
Rainbow Trout:
Fly fishing is fair to good. Catching and releasing many nice rainbows, 2-6 pounds.
Using No. 14 or No. 16 Pheasant tail flies. Micro May Fly patterns were working well.
Drifting Redding to Anderson, evenings.
Spin fishing is good with Glo Bugs and Crickets.
King Salmon:
Is good in the Balls Ferry area.
Limits most 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.
SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Linda Thorbjornson at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): "The fishing has been great, everyone is catching their limits, but nothing big.
I haven't taken a photo of a nice fish since Oct. 2.
Both shore fishing and trolling have been good, for mostly rainbows, quite a few browns and a few Mackinaw.
The lake is going down and it won't be too much longer before you won't be able to launch a boat.
We have a fight on our hands, as the Eldorado Irrigation District is threatening to take away our lease."
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been down-right 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.
Today (Tuesday), so, far, we have tagged and released 8 Macks and kept 3. I'm trolling 300-400 feet deep.
The other day, I caught a tagged Cubow that had either been tagged in Fallen Leaf Lake or the Truckee River and then worked its way into Lake Tahoe.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): "The Tahoe City Shelf, Agate Bay, Cal Neva Point and Dollar Point have all been very good, early in the mornings.
We're catching lots of fish.
We are trolling for Macks with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at depths of 100-250 feet, along the edges of the drop-offs."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing is good.
Best places have been Ski Run Mound and Camp Richardson.
We are trolling 150-250 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows."
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:
Gene St. Denis: "Fishing has been good.
We are trolling silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at a depth of 150-250 feet.
Working the Cave Rock Shelf for Macks."
TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071) (Ask for the boat house): A 6-pound brown caught and released on a rainbow Kastmaster lure, two different 5-pound, 15-ounce rainbows, both taken on a rainbow Rapala lure and a 4-pound, 4-ounce rainbow on a nightcrawler.
Emptying holding ponds, so there are lots of 3-6 pound, hand-fed rainbows in the lake.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort: Fall arrived, bringing our second dusting of snow to the peaks along with cooler temperatures.
The red/gold Thomas Buoyant lure was the number one pick of the week.
Salmon eggs still doing well and even a few grubs and crickets.
Upper lakes doing well on files with an occasional 12-13 inch Brook trout.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Rick Giser reported:
East Walker: Is OK but not wide open. Fishing mostly with streamers as opposed to Nymphs.
West Walker: Doing excellent in the north half of the Canyon, with flies, nightcrawlers, Salmon eggs and small spinners.
The water flow is down to 30 CFS.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: "The weather is cool, it is 18 this morning (Tuesday).
The trout fishing has been excellent.
Two fishermen from Las Vegas caught a 5.75 pound rainbow and a 5.5 pound rainbow, using nightcrawlers from shore.
My gasoline is $4 a gallon and diesel is $4.40 a gallon.
Deer hunting has been good in Area No. 6. High Desert Outfitters brought in a 10X9 buck (27 inches wide) and a 5X4 buck (30 inches wide).
