A 33-inch Cutthroat caught at 'The Nets' at Pyramid Lake

By Don Quilici

• BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: No report. Will close on Feb. 28.

• BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said, "Business and fishing were both dead, because of Christmas falling on the weekend.

The snowmobilers are going into the Blue Lakes area by way of Forestdale Creek. The U.S. Forest Service won't let them use the Blue Lakes Road because there isn't enough snow, so far.

However, it is snowing heavy at Silver Lake on Kit Carson Pass (Monday morning), they have chain controls in the Kirkwood area, and that big snowstorm is slowly but surely moving this way."

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: No report.

• DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Was partially iced over on Christmas day. It was very windy and bitter cold and there was one die-hard shore fisherman where there was some open water.

In addition, there was another three-person party of unsuccessful ice fishermen at the dam.

• EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: The 2004 fishing season will close on Dec. 31. The 2005 season will open on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): No report.

• INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that there was open water at the reservoir as of Sunday.

The warm weather melted off all of the ice.

He said that the two huge 15-pound rainbow trout have to still be there, enjoying life, because no one has reported catching either one.

• LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) reported: "It's trying to rain (Tuesday morning). It has been dead quiet out here, but as a matter of fact, we did have an older gentleman and a young boy come in on Christmas Eve to get some minnows so they could go fishing.

Happy New Year and I'll talk to you next year."

• PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette of the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported: "The fishermen have been doing good from shore.

The boaters continue to do good. You need to use your fish finder as the trout are bunched up. Once you find a bunch, just stay right on top of it.

Trollers are trolling with the usual Lyman, Apex, Flatfish and Kwikfish lures at places such as Pelican Point, Spider Point and Warrior Point.

The jigging has gotten good. Jiggers are jigging with Gibb's Minnows or Maribou Jigs.

Fly fishermen are using black or purple Woolly Bugger, Woolly Worm or Pyramid Popcorn Beetle flies. But don't be afraid to use strike indicators with floating line.

Yesterday (Monday) a fly fishermasn reported that he caught a 33-inch Cutt at The Nets."

• RED LAKE CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the thickness of the ice would be very questionable around the edges of the lake.

• SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) said:

Redding to Anderson: The river is blown out by all of the rain that we have been getting.

It is high and muddy and not fishable.

We have had nothing but a constant downpour of rain for days.

Fly fishing was producing some nice, catch and release trout in the Redding to Anderson area.

PT's, and Micro May Fly patterns were working well.

Red Bluff: Fishing for Kings was fair to good in the Balls Ferry area before all of this rain.

Our clients were catching chrome King Salmon, 10-15 pounds, average, with an occasional 30-40 pound Salmon.

Flatfish (T-50's & T-55's) and bouncing roe were the best bet, both were producing King Salmon.

King salmon season will remain open until January 14, 2005.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: No report.

• LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning and I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones.

I troll in the deep-water area in front of Carnelian Bay and King's Beach.

We are using 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) said: "Cal Neva Point is good right now.

The best trolling for average size Mackinaw is at 160-240 feet with a short leader, silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.

The larger Mackinaw are down deeper at a depth of 300-400 feet, but I don't go that deep."

• LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis reported the Mackinaw fishing has been very good at places like Ski Run Shelf and Ski Run Mound.

He is trolling 160-240 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.

Other fishermen are picking up Mackinaw while toplining between Camp Richardson and the Tahoe Keys.

There are quite a few jiggers at Ski Run Mound.

"Yesterday (Monday), my son and I did (hiking) the south face of Maggie's Peak and looked down on Cascade Lake. It was ice-free."

• LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis reported that the best fishing, currently, is from shore at the Cave Rock Landing.

Some small rainbows and an occasional small Mack are being caught.

Toplining is best in this area at a depth of 10-40 feet with 25 feet being the best. Skyland Point is the best location.

Use a large sliver and black or a rainbow colored Count Down Rapala lure when toplining.

When he trolls, he is trolling at a depth of 160-240 with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.

• TOPAZ LAKE: The 2005 fishing season will open on Jan. 1.

Call Chuck or Linda Fields at Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550 or the Topaz Lodge at (775) 266-3338 or the Topaz Lodge General Store at (775) 266-3337.

• WALKER LAKE, NEV: No report.

• WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "It is getting up to about 40 degrees in the daytime (Monday).

We were closed for Christmas and I got a chance to eat breakfast with my wife, Ann, at the house for the first time in three years.

There are 9 inches of good, clear, hard ice on the reservoir, so bring your ice skates!

The ice fishing is good for nice, fat rainbows.

They are also catching lots of Perch, 6-12 inches.

They are jigging with white-colored, Crappie jigs with the hook tipped with a small piece of worm.

The best fishing is down by the dam or by the island.

Don't forget our big New Year's Party, with a $5, all-you-can-eat buffet, free Champagne, party hats and all the things that go with having a party.

If you can't make it up here, have a Happy New Year!"