New York angler catches 15-pound Mack at Tahoe

BISHOP, CALIF. AREA: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425):

Sabrina Lake: This week was pretty good fishing! Lots of stringers of limits were seen leaving the lake.

DF&G stocked the lake Friday with pan-size fish and a few fish tipping the scales at 2-pounds.

We also got an Alpers stocking, with some of the really nice looking fish topping the scales at about 8-pounds!

A dandy 6-pound rainbow back at the inlet on a Trout Trap tube jig tipped with a meal worm (He also released a 5.5 pounder earlier in the day), a 3.5 pounder on a jig and a 2-pounder on Power Bait.

Anglers were having a great time using Lemon Twist Power Bait or blowing up crawlers and floating them off the bottom or casting Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant lures.

Trollers were having the best luck using Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant, gold Phoebe, Fire Tiger No. 5 Rapala lures or flashers and a worm or just a worm with a split shot.

Red Throat Olive Matuka is your best bet for trolling a fly.

The inlets are full of Browns, brooks and rainbows, use Grasshopper jigs or Perch pattern jigs tipped with a meal worm, Panther Martin lure, worms or eggs.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930):

Upper and Lower Blue Lakes: Were fair with some limits at Upper Blue on inflated worms or Power Bait, floated off the bottom.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Rick Giser of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707): Still awesome at Buckeye Bay.

Most boats are stillfishing with bait or Woolly Bugger or Midge flies. They are catching rainbows averaging 2-2.5 pounds and running up to 5 pounds.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jeffry Wenger of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677) (website www.bridgeportreservoir.com) reported: "As of Aug. 8th, we are still experiencing a very consistent season.

Water levels peaked about a week ago and the lake is just starting to go down a bit.

Good news for shore fisher people, though as accessibility is better.

Nightcrawlers and Power Bait (orange, green or rainbow), or lures is the way to go in Buckeye Bay, Rainbow Point or off the Marina with average fish between 13 and 20 inches.

Some trolling is working despite that nasty grass around your hooks.

Those who go out early or late in the evening by the dam or down the center, deep, will get some of these footballs.

Also try a floating Rapala along the West shore late in the evening.

Fly fishing is happening. Try indicator techniques using Midges, size 18 or 20, at Buckeye Bay.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:

East Carson River: Brad Davis at the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229): "Lots of limits.

We had a group of fly fishermen in from Orinda, Calif., and Gill Ness caught a 8-pound, 13-ounce rainbow on a green Matuka fly and Hal Hill caught an 11-pounder on a No. 16, bead-head, Zebra Midge fly.

Also, Joe Valenzuela caught a 6-pounder, upstream from the Resort, on a nightcrawler.

West Carson River: Dave Kirby reported the river is getting challenging, now that the water is low and clear, with not too many big holes left.

Some limits were taken over the weekend, but nothing big.

Most were taken on Salmon eggs or nightcrawlers.

A 3-pounder was caught near the Crystal Springs Campground.

FEATHER RIVER AT ORVILLE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported: Water is at 3,500 CFS. Slow fishing for King Salmon. Water is slow.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): "Fishing is steady.

They're getting "Cats" as well as rainbow trout.

Fish deep. Water temp is warmer.

Use nightcrawlers trolled behind flashers.

The dam area has been very good. Limits have been seen there.

Good fly fishing at Crystal."

FROG LAKE, CALIF: Chuck Van Hise of Carson City reported he got skunked fishing last Thursday.

His wife, Barbara, reported the wildflowers looked great along the trail to Winnemucca Lake.

His dog, Blue, had a ton of fun, swimming in the lake, right where Chuck was fishing.

GREEN CREEK, CALIF: Rick Giser said that the Mosquitoes are still fierce.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that it was pretty quiet over the weekend.

KINNEY RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported, "This is "My Hot Spot Tip" for Alpine County this week.

Limits of brookies were taken on both Saturday and Sunday by shore fishermen."

KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: Rick Giser said he has had reports of good results by fly fishermen in float tubes, using Woolly Bugger or Scud flies.

Note: This lake is about a 2 mile hike from the Sonora Pass Highway (S. R. 108).

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): "We had a 13-pound catfish that was caught on a minnow at Beach No. 12, down toward the mouth of the river.

The Catfish are hitting between Beaches No. 10 and 12 and also over by Beaches No. 9 and 11.

The reservoir is finally beginning to drop."

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

Redding to Anderson: Water flows at 12,000 CFS.

Rainbow Trout:

Fly fishing for rainbow trout is awesome.

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.

Spin fishing is good with Glo Bugs and Crickets for trout and Shad.

Great bug hatch now.

King Salmon:

Is improving. Fishing is fair. Some days better than others, with increasing numbers of Salmon passing over the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.

Catching some nice Kings in the Corning area, using Flatfish lures and bouncing roe,

Salmon are 15-30 pounds.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Linda Thorbjornson at Kay's Silver Lake Resort (209-258-8598): There have been some great rainbows caught recently (6-7-8 pounds).

Mostly from boats trolling with silver flasher blades and nightcrawlers.

Shore fishing has also been good.

We had a 8.5 pound brown taken on the 7th on a nightcrawler by an angler stillfishing from a boat.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported catching nice King Salmon (2-6 pounds) and a few rainbows. Fishing is great. 80-100 feet deep, trolling with Shad pattern lures. Fishing the Digger Bay area.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

Mickey Daniels of Mickey's Big Mack Charters (800-877-1462): "The fishing has been excellent 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."

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 excellent, early in the morning, quite a bit slower in the afternoons.

We're catching lots of fish, with easy limits.

Today (Monday), David Aragon of New York caught a 15-pound, 2-ounce (35 inches) Mackinaw.

He and his partner limited out in 1.5 hours with their smallest Mack being 6 pounds.

He is going to freeze-dry that big one and ship it back to New York.

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. Most are 1-4 pounds."

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550) reported, " it's still slow, out here, fishing-wise.

Not a lot of fishermen any more due to all of the water skiers and jet skis.

This is also the time of year when there are "tons" of minnows in the lake, so the fish are stuffing themselves on the minnows.

Note: Topaz Lake will close for 2005 fishing on Sept. 30.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF:

Upper Twin Lake: Annett's Mono Village (760-932-7071) (Ask for the boat house): A 6-pound, 12-ounce rainbow was the biggest of the week.

A 6-pound, 1-ounce and 3-pound, 3-ounce were both taken on a Woolly Bugger fly by the same angler.

In addition, a 4-pound, 4-ounce rainbow.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort:

Little Virginia: Numerous large trout being caught mainly on lures and Power Bait.

The same angler caught a 3-pound, 3-ounce, a 2-pound, 3-ounce and a 1-pound, 14-ounce, all with Berkeley Salmon Peach Power Bait.

Another angler using a night crawler, pulled up a DF&G rainbow weighing 4-pounds, 12-ounces.

Big Virginia: Has been doing well on salmon eggs, Thomas Buoyant, Roostertail, and various Kastmasters lures.

Tubers reported using large streamers, flashabouts, spruce flies, black and olive Woolly Buggers, #16 Female Adams, and Gray Hackle Peacock's.

Blue Lake: Has been doing excellent on small dries early and late when the bugs come out.

Cooney Lake: Has been great near the rocks where it's the deepest.

Frog Lake: Has been producing some nice brooks. No real size, just a lot of action.

Moat Lake: Has been fairly dormant and not much action. Lots of rises with no takes.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: Rick Giser reported:

East Walker: Is doing well for rainbows over 20 inches. Using Nymphs, right on the bottom.

West Walker: Is getting a little silt from the thunderstorms and is running at about 175 CFS. Everything is working: Bait, lures, wet flies and dry flies.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: It's been down to the mid-40's at night. We are getting up into the 80's during the day.

The reservoir water level is staying in good shape, but the fishing has been a little slow due to warm daytime weather.

The bass are hitting good on plastic worms.

The Perch are hitting on nightcrawlers.