BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: The 2005-2006 season will open on May 14.
BISHOP CREEK, CALIF. AREA: Gary Olson of the Bishop Creek Resorts (760-873-4484) reported:
Intake No. 2: Was the hot spot. Very crowded with both shore fishermen and float tubers. Lots of stringers with many fish in the 2-3 pound range, some in the 6-pound class and one topping 7 pounds. Good action with Trout Stingers or Power Bait. Power Worms were dynamite for most anglers.
North Lake: There is a little open water by the entrance, but pretty frozen beyond that. Fishing was reported very good. Quite a few fish in the 2-3 pound range with nightcrawlers or Trout Traps being the best.
Sabrina Lake: A 6-pound, 6-ounce rainbow on Power Bait.
South Lake: About 40 anglers made the hike through the snow. They reported lots of fish (Browns and Rainbows, up to about 1.5 pounds). There was about 6 inches of hard ice with 3 feet of slush. Basically, anything with a salmon egg worked well.
Bishop Creek: Lots of fish caught. Nightcrawlers did real well in the pools. The top producer was a pink or orange Power Worm. A 3-pound Alpers Rainbow on a Power Worm.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Rick Giser of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707): "It was a little bit slow. They were getting fish but not very many. Most of the fish were 1-2 pounds and mostly rainbows."
CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
East Carson: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported, "It was planted from Hangman's Bridge and the bridge near the Wolf Creek turnoff. The water was somewhat high and stained on Opening Day. Not very many fishermen and not very many fish caught. I was told that Mark Franzi of Woodfords caught an 11 pound rainbow on a gold Panther/Martin lure on the East Carson."
West Carson: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) reported: "It was the best opener I've seen in many years with some incredible fish taken.
I was told that Mark Franzi of Woodfords caught an 11 pound rainbow on a gold Panther/Martin lure on the West Carson.
Ken Featch of Sacramento caught a 5.5 pound rainbow on salmon eggs.
A youngster, Cody Moore of Elk Grove, caught a 1.5 pound rainbow on a red/gold Mepps spinner.
There was also reports of a 7 pounder and many 3 pounders.
Nine fishermen checked in with limits, the most limits I've ever seen in one day.
The successful fishermen were using small, gold Kastmaster or Panther/Martin lures with a slow retrieve."
EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on May 28.
HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: Bart Cranney of the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station (530-495-2257) reported that Poore Lake is just beginning to show a little open water around the edges. He said that if you plan to hike in that country at this time of the year, be prepared for lots of snow.
KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Rick Giser reported that it is still frozen with a little open water beginning to show.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) reported: "It's actually been pretty good except for the 3 inches of hail that we got last Wednesday. They are catching some nice sized Crappie at Virginia Beach. The Walleye are going crazy at Beach No. 6 with the average size being about 3-4 pounds. Most of the folks are doing "Catch and Release." Tell the folks that if you come out here, bring your bug spray. The bugs are out already, especially the gnats."
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Doug Ouellette at the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113): The fish began to hit at about noon on Saturday for the fly fishermen.
Lots of action at the "South Nets" with either nymphs or Popcorn Beetles.
Cutts in the 8-9 pound class, up to 29 inches.
PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Andy Moore of Carson City reported slow, slow, slow fishing, while trolling on Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lots of moss in the water.
ROOSEVELT-LANE LAKES, CALIF: Reported to still be frozen.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Redding, Calif. (800-670-4448) reported: Same as last week:
Redding to Anderson: Water release is 5,500 CFS and steady.
Fly fishing for rainbows is good.
Catching and releasing at least 20 fish a day.
This river is producing nice, wild rainbows, 2-5 pounds.
Drifting from Redding to Anderson.
Using No. 14 or No. 16 Pheasant tail flies.
Also Micro May Fly patterns working well.
SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported picking up some nice rainbows and King Salmon (2-6 pounds), a few rainbows. Fishing is excellent. Limits. 60-80 feet deep, trolling with Shad pattern lures.
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 tagging and releasing the smaller ones.
We're catching nice 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): "Cal Nevada Point is the best place on the whole lake, right now. We are catching 5-25 per day, up to 9 pounds. The bite is excellent, early in the morning.
We are trolling for Macks with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at depths of 140-280 feet, along the edges of the drop-offs."
LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishiing is slow.
Trolling from Ski Run to Camp Richardson.
We are trolling 170-280 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.
Rainbows and browns are showing up at Emerald Bay and Eagle Point."
LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing is slow.
We are trolling silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows at a depth of 170-280 feet.
Toplining has also been poor to good, dependent on the day, for mostly small Mackinaw and a few rainbows.
The Topliners are trolling in 10-20 feet of water with silver/black, No. 11 Rapala lures or No. 9 Count Down Rapala lures.
Rainbows and browns are showing up at Logan Shoals, Zephyr Buoy and Deadman's Point."
TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550) reported the shore fishing is still slow but they are catching some limits from boats. The best success is trolling with flasher blades and nightcrawlers about 10-15 feet deep.
TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071) (Ask for boat house) reported: Weather was perfect. An 8-pound, 10-ounce rainbow on a purple Nymph fly and a 4-pound, 12 ounce rainbow on Chartreuse Power Bait.
VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Rick Giser reported that the road is still closed by deep snow. One ice fisherman hiked in and reported 4 feet of ice still on the lakes. He caught some brook trout.
WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
East Walker: Rick Giser said the fishing was fair to good. They were having a hard time catching fish. One report of a 5 pound brown.
West Walker: Rick Giser reported that it was muddy.
Little Walker: Muddy.
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Mike at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "Dennis (Dunn) is in the hospital in Boise. He had a heart attack, last week. Today (Monday), the doctors are going to do some more tests. He must be recovering because they tell me that he is getting ornery. I had a report of a 16-pound Channel catfish caught at Hendrick's Creek. We have had a few trout fishermen out, and they seem to be doing OK on rainbows, up to 15 inches."
