By Don Quilici
BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425) reported:
Sabrina Lake: Just about anything was working. Bounties of pan-sized limits came in from the inlets, mostly caught on nightcrawlers or salmon eggs.
Only a couple of trophy fish were caught this past week: A 2 1/4-pounder on a red-head Matuka fly, a 2-pounder on Power Bait and a 1.5 -pound German brown on a Rapala lure.
BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA:
Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said fishermen were catching limits at both Upper and Lower Blue Lakes with Power Bait or nightcrawlers.
Go prepared with plenty of repellent for mosquitoes. There is still standing water in that area and there are a lot of mosquitoes. The store carries repellent for those anglers who forget theirs.
Todd Sodaro reported Carey Gildroy caught a 2-pound cutthroat at Upper Blue on Salmon eggs.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) said, "It is good for boats stillfishing with nightcrawlers or Power Bait. Also good from shore with the same bait. It's not very good for trolling, right now.
CARSON RIVER AREA, CALIF:
East Carson:
Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229) reported it was a heck of a weekend and the fishing was incredible, with lots of limits. Calif. DF&G had planted 1,700 pounds of rainbow trout on Thursday.
Mike and Calleah Green caught a 4 1/4 pound rainbow on Salmon eggs.
Jerry ONeill of Gardnerville caught a 4-pound, 13-ounce rainbow and a 3-pound, 7-ounce rainbow.
Dave Kirby reported Greg Shaffer of Minden caught a 5 1/4-pound rainbow on a yellow Panther/Martin lure.
West Carson:
Dave Kirby reported the river is still a bit murky and that Dakota Lowden, 4-years-old, of Gardnerville caught a 4-pound rainbow on Salmon eggs, with a little help form his dad. Arnie Phelan of Gardnerville also caught a 4-pound rainbow on Salmon eggs.
DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
Sara at the Grizzly Store and Resort (530-832-0270): "They caught an enormous amount of fish in the fishing derby over the weekend. The derby paid out for the top 27 places for trout that were all over 20 inches long. There was a tie for first-place with two fish that each measured 22 3/8 inches.
The Grizzly Stores' fast food hamburger annex is now open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell your readers to drop by for a cheeseburger and French fries, like you did last Friday."
DESOLATION WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: Gene St. Denis reported that the following lakes that he has seen are now ice-free:
Aloha, Gilmore, Grass, Heather, Secret, Stony Ridge, Suzie, Upper and Middle and Lower Velma.
He also reported that there are lots and lots of fierce mosquitoes.
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Dave Meserve of the Eagle Lake Marina (530-825-3454) reported fishing was mostly good last week.
Most fish have been weighing 1.5-3 pounds.
Best action has been from Wildcat Point working north towards Pelican Point.
Trolling with Needlefish and other similar lures at about 10-30 feet seems to be producing the best results.
Stillfishing continues best using nightcrawlers under bobbers.
FEATHER RIVER AT OROVILLE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported that he and his clients are catching nice chrome King Salmon, 12-20 pounds. Back-trolling with Flatfish lures, between Oroville and Gridley.
HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: Jim Reid reported that the shore fishermen are doing very good at Poore, Secret, Roosevelt and Lane Lakes, all near the Sonora Pass Highway (Calif. S.R. 108), mostly with Power Eggs.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF:
Dave Kirby reported it was a great weekend for the Free Fishing Day Derby for youngsters.
Great weather, lots of people and lots of kids.
There were a total of 126 youngsters in the derby, and they helped plant 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout that were provided by Alpine County.
Two of the planters were 15-pound rainbows (one is almost 16 pounds!) that have not yet been caught and are still swimming around in the reservoir.
Todd Sodaro reported Jay Mudd caught a 3-pound, 1-ounce rainbow on nightcrawlers.
KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: Jim Reid said that they are catching some fish but the fishing is still pretty tough.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) said, "Lots of people fishing out here and we are almost out of minnows.
Some decent Walleye are being caught with a report of a 5-pounder.
There was also a stringer of catfish, up to 3 pounds. The cats are being caught on minnows or chicken livers, anywhere from Fisherman's Point over to Beach No. 4.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Will close on June 30 for the 2003-2004 cutthroat trout fishing season.
RED LAKE AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that Don Bartlow of Minden caught a 4-pound and a 2.5 pound Cutthroat trout, both on rainbow Power Bait.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) sent in this report:
Redding to Anderson: Water release is 14,00 C.F.S. Fantastic fishing! Fishing for rainbow trout is great with 15-25 fish days. Catching and releasing wild, trophy rainbows, up to 6 pounds. Using Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Caddis patterns and egg patterns.
Red Bluff: 1,079 King Salmon have passed over the Red Bluff Diversion Dam to date. Last year, to date, there were 618 Salmon.
The King Salmon season will open on July 16.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported that fishing is good with limits of King Salmon 1-4 pounds and up to 23 inches. Trolling with Shad pattern lures. Catching rainbows and Salmon in the Dry Creek Area.
LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:
Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462) said: "Same report as last week.
We've been catching our Mackinaw trout early in the morning and I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
The fishing has been very good but nothing super big.
I troll 250-550 feet deep 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."
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said he is trolling with a short leader, Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
Cal Neva Point is slow to good dependent on the day.
Trolling 140-280 feet deep.
Average Mack is 2-5 pounds. The largest last week was 7 pounds.
Dollar Point, Agate Bay and Sunnyside are medium to excellent dependent on the day.
Trolling 150-300 feet deep.
Average Mack is 3-6 pounds. The four largest last week were in the 10-15 pound class.
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said he is trolling in the Camp Richardson and Baldwin beach areas with a short leader, Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at 160-280 feet deep. Fishing has been slow to medium dependent on the day.
Jigging has been slow.
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:
Gene St. Denis said, "Cave Rock Shelf has been slow to medium with mostly smaller fish. Jiggers are doing the best. The Macks are running 1-3 pounds with nothing over 5 pounds."
TOPAZ LAKE: Lucille of the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): Fishing has been pretty good at the south end for boaters stillfishing with Power Bait or worms.
Bob Reem and David James got their limits of rainbows, up to 3-pounds, 3-ounces. Their two stringers weight a total of 12-pounds, 8-ounces.
Two other anglers caught 9 trout with the largest being 2-pounds, 1-ounce.
There was a 4-pound, 15-ounce rainbow taken on a Rapala lure.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA:
Lower Twin: The Twin Lakes Resort (760-932-7751): "Fishing and weather are great but the people aren't here.
A 5-pound rainbow on Power Bait.
One family caught their limits on Thomas Buoyant lures.
Limits still being caught with the average large fish being about 2 pounds."
Upper Twin: Mono Village (760-932-7071) reported Tom Henderson of Carson City caught a 5-pound, 4-ounce rainbow while stillfishing from shore with nightcrawlers and a bobber. Sean Stutsman, also from Carson City, caught a 3-pound rainbow while trolling with a red/gold Thomas Buoyant lure.
Robinson Creek: Is doing very well.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Jim Reid reported both Big and Little Virginia Lakes were good for bait, lures ,flies or whatever.
WALKER RIVERS:
East Walker (Calif.): Fishing is still "Red Hot," mostly with Nymph flies. Best for the fly fishermen rather than the spincasters.
West Walker (Calif.): Is starting to pick up. It is getting clear bit just a little high. Some good reports for fishermen using worms.
Little Walker (Calif.): Good for small rainbows and brookies worms in the Willow Flat area.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "Fishing is pretty darn good up. Come on up fishing and get in on it!
One party of Perch fishermen caught a total of 130 Perch.
The shore fishermen and trollers are catching limits of trout in the 12-18 inch class.
The Channel Catfishing is pretty hot. Sharon Bjorlim of Sweden caught two Channel Catfish: One was 12-pounds, 14-ounces and the other was 8-pounds, 8-ounces. She caught them on worms.
