Nov. 15 when California closes many of its streams, creeks and rivers for the 2005 fishing season. Those waters will not re-open again until the last Saturday in April (April 30, 2006).
And, as a special reminder, all of the applicable, open waters in Inyo and Mono Counties will also close on Nov. 15. So, if you're not into ice fishing during the winter months, you better hustle.
Waters closing include:
Bridgeport area: Bridgeport Reservoir, Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, Robinson Creek, West Walker River, East Walker River, Kirman Lake, Virginia Lakes and Lundy Lake, to name just a few.
Hope Valley area: The West Carson River and Red Creek.
Markleeville area: The East Carson River and Markleeville, Silver and Wolf Creeks.
Truckee area: The Truckee River and Little Truckee River.
Staying open include:
Ebbett's Pass area: Kinney Reservoir and Upper and Lower Kinney Lakes.
Hope Valley area: Upper and Lower Blue Lakes, Upper and Lower Lost Lakes, Twin Lake, Meadow Lake, Tamarack Lake, Upper and Lower Sunset Lakes and Wet Meadows.
Kit Carson Pass area: Red Lake, Caples Lake, Silver Lake and Winnemucca Lake.
Portola area: Frenchman's Reservoir and Davis Lake.
Truckee area: Boca Reservoir and Stampede Reservoir.
Lake Tahoe area: Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe.
Woodfords-Markleeville Area: Indian Creek Reservoir.
Special Note:
During the Winter, you'll have to go in on either a snowmobile, snowshoes or cross country skis at many of these open waters.
So, the good news is you can fish during the winter months at many of California's lakes and reservoirs.
The bad news is that once you get to your destination, you will probably have to cut a hole in thick ice at most locations.
SOME suggestions:
Here are a few selected locations, soon to close, south of Carson City, to check to see how the fishing is at the present time:
• Bridgeport Reservoir: Just outside of Bridgeport.
Good fishing for rainbows and browns.
Currently, best from boats.
Call Jeffry Wenger of Bridgeport Reservoir Marina (888-377-1677):
• Upper and Lower Twin Lakes: From Carson City, drive south on U.S. 395 for 83 miles to Bridgeport.
At Bridgeport, turn right at the first gas station on your right.
Then, take that paved road west for 11 miles to Lower Twin Lake. Upper Twin is just past Lower Twin.
You'll catch mostly rainbow trout, an occasional nice-sized German brown trout or small Kokanee salmon.
Call the Twin Lakes Resort at Lower Twin at (760) 932-7751 or Annett's Mono Village at Upper Twin at (760) 932-7071.
• Lundy Lake: Which is located in a spectacular, Swiss Alps-type mountain setting.
Drive south from Carson City on U.S. 395. About 20 miles south of Bridgeport, near the south foot of Conway Summit, look for the signed, paved road on your right.
Take that paved road for five miles to Lundy Lake.
You'll catch rainbow, brown and Eastern brook trout.
• June Lake Loop: This paved loop is just west of U.S. 395, between Bridgeport and Bishop, about 100 miles from Carson City.
Look for the signed, paved highway on your right.
The Loop has Gull, Grant, June and Silver Lakes, plus Rush Creek.
Gull Lake: Rainbow trout.
Grant Lake: Lahontan cutthroat, German brown and rainbow trout.
June Lake: Lahontan cutthroats, browns and rainbows.
Silver Lake: Some browns and mostly rainbows.
Rush Creek: Lahontan cutthroats, browns and rainbows.
Ernie's Tackle Store (760) 648-7756.
• Convict Lake: Drive south from Carson City for about 140 miles on U.S. 395.
Then, just a couple of miles past the Mammoth Lakes Exit, turn off to the right when you see a signed paved road that leads two miles to Convict Lake.
Excellent fishing for large rainbow and brown trout is found in Convict Lake and Convict Creek.
Call the Convict Lake Resort at (800) 992-2260.
Finally:
The last Saturday in April is a long ways off. So, you better get in all the fishing you can in the next 12 days in those closing waters.
• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you where I will be fishing during the next 12 days.
If he grins and says, "Don is planning to fish at Walker Lake in Nevada," he could be one of my fishing partners.
• Don Quilici is the Outdoors editor for the Nevada Appeal.
