09-15-2004, 10:39 AM
Fishing report -- Sept. 15 [url "mailto:online@rgj.com"][/url]RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
9/14/2004 07:49 pm
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to rapidly changing weather conditions in the Sierra and Northern Nevada, anglers are urged to call ahead to the sources listed at the end of each area description for reports on the latest road and water conditions.
FRENCHMAN LAKE: Fishing continues to improve as fall approaches. Bank fishing at the dam is doing well. Use crawlers and flies in cinnamon or olive colors. Also, wooly worms in the same colors. Troll Needlefish, nightcrawlers or Rapalas. Look for fish in 4-8-feet of water with deeper water nearby. Stream fishing is slow. Wiggin’s Trading Post (530) 993-4683. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
LAKE DAVIS: Fishing has been fair. Most fish being caught in 8-15 feet of water. Type two or three sinking lines have been best. Use a 9-foot, 3x leader with olive and rust-colored wooly buggers in sizes 8-10. With the cooler fall weather, look for fishing to improve any day. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474. [url "http://www.renoflyshop.com/"]www.renoflyshop.com[/url]. Dollard’s Sierra Market (530) 832-5251. [url "http://www.dollardsmarket.com/"]www.dollardsmarket.com[/url]. Email — [url "mailto:dollards@psln.com"]dollards@psln.com[/url].
TRUCKEE RIVER: Fishing has been really good despite the low flows Tahoe City to the Boca bridge. Flows remain 100 c.f.s. in the town of Truckee. Nymphing with small bead head nymphs has been the best. Try copper john’s, z-wing caddis and flashback pheasant tails under an indicator. The section below Boca Bridge has a lot more water in it. Everything from streamers to small dries is worth a try. Hoppers are still out in force and fall patterns are starting to produce as well. Nymphing under an indicator with a stonefly followed by a baetis nymph has been producing. There is a little caddis activity in the evening, but finding fish rising to them has been tough. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
LITTLE TRUCKEE: Flows remain very low at 30 c.f.s. Fish are spooky and the fishing is very technical. Some baetis activity mid-morning. Burk’s bwo silhouette dun in size 18 has been working. Fishing under the surface with a hopper dropper setup is working well. Try midges and baetis nymphs in 18 to 22. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
CARSON RIVER: Flows are down to 30 c.f.s on the East Carson. The low flows are natural this time of year. Hopper dropper setups are the best bet. Try dropping a small baetis nymph 18 inches to 2 feet below a Dave’s hopper. There is a trico hatch mid-morning and nymphs are working all day long. Be very stealthy approaching holes and do not wear white. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
SMITH CREEK RANCH: Fishing is really picking up. Last week, anglers took fish between 2-5-pounds on the surface as well as with sub-surface flies. Adams’s dries size 16 and small nymphs such as calabaetis and hare’s ears are working. Fishing should only get better over the next few weeks. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Flows at 9,000 c.f.s. Corning, Calif. King salmon are in. Fishing for kings is good, catching nice bright kings, 15-30 pound salmon, some fish reaching up to 45 pounds already, monster kings. Fishing for the kings will keep getting better and better. Flatfish T-50's, and bouncing roe are best bet, both producing big fish. King salmon season will remain open until Jan. 14. Water level great, clear, and mild weather.
Lou Varela from Sparks recently caught a huge King salmon, 45 pounds, on the Sacramento River, fishing with guide Kirk Portocarrero.
Redding to Anderson: Fly fishing for rainbow trout is still great, 15-25 fish days. Great bug hatch in afternoon. Mornings and afternoons productive. Catch and release. Wild rainbows up to 6 pounds. Working well are Micro Mayfly No. 16 and Fox's Pupahs.
Guide services and information: Hank Mautz Professional Guide Service, (800) 355-3113. Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Kirk Portocarrero, (800) 670-4448 or (530) 221-6151. Web site: [url "http://www.sacriverguide.com/"]www.sacriverguide.com[/url].
WILDHORSE: Fishing is good for all species. Perch are hot. Trout, bass and channel cats are good. Browns are about ready to spawn. Wildhorse Resort, 758-6471 or email: [url "mailto:dunns@direcway.com"]dunns@direcway.com[/url].
EAGLE LAKE: Fishing has been very good with the challenge being that the fish seem to be moving around a lot. The catch of the week weighed in at Eagle Lake Marina was a 5½-pound lunker caught by John Brown of Grants Pass, Ore. He was trolling nightcrawlers at about 20-feet in the vicinity of Merrill Campground. Most fish are averaging 2½ to 3 pounds or better. Many fish have been brought in recently at 4 pounds or better.
For trolling and still-fishing from boats, depths have ranged from just a few feet early mornings to 20-35 feet during the day. Still-fishing is best using nightcrawlers under slip bobbers. Trolling has been doing well with a variety of Needlefish, trolling flies and Rainbow Runners. The best areas continue to be Eagles Nest, Pikes Point, out from the Eagle Lake Marina Jetty and Wildcat Point. Many boats have been working the Youth Camp area and the south shore area near Merrill Campground. The best times continue to be early morning hours with increasing mid-day and evening action. Shore fishing has been best from the jetty using nightcrawlers and/or Powerbait.
Ample camping continues to be available with many seniors enjoying the area now that schools are back in. For camping information at Eagle Lake, call the U. S. Forest Service at (530) 257-4188. For current information on fishing conditions, call Eagle Lake Marina at (530) 825-3454.
CROWLEY LAKE: Fishing here doesn't get much better. The fish have really been on the grab. The whole lake is fishing well so no particular area is better than another. Midge fishing has been the most productive with black/red or black/gray pupa patterns. Streamer fishing has also been good with matukas or olive zonkers. Barbless artificials only. Limit is two fish ,18-inches or better. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url].
UPPER OWENS RIVER: Some larger fish can be had for the angler willing to work hard and cover as much water as possible. Work along the under-cut banks with zug bugs, prince nymphs and bead head hares ears. Swinging a matuka through the deeper holes can also be fun. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url]
LOWER OWENS: Water flow is 351 c.f.s. This high flow has brought fishing here to a standstill. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url]
HOT CREEK: Water flow is at 6 c.f.s. Not much change in conditions. Good dry fly action early in the day with midge emergers. Small nymphs (sizes 18-22) such as hares ears and flash back pheasant tails mid-day and caddis on top in the evening. Don’t forget the good old hopper and dropper. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url].
Performance Guide Service, (760) 934-1957.
JUNE LAKE LOOP: Pretty good fishing now at Silver Lake. Black woolly buggers and claret colored marabou leeches. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url].
EAST WALKER: Flow remain excellent at 152 c.f.s. Everything from streamers to nymphs and dries have been working. Hoppers the best bet. Try it in the shallow pools around the edges for big browns and in the faster water for rainbows. Nymphing with small bead head nymphs is working and streamers in low light conditions also working well. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
UPPER TWIN LAKES: Many 2-pounders caught last week Try nightcrawlers or salmon eggs. Mono Village Resort (760) 932-7071.
SOUTH LAKE: SCE is beginning to pull the lake level down now, still full but are losing about a foot vertically daily. Still plenty of ramp left. The fishing slowed down a bit last week but the crowds remained. Most people were catching fish but had to work pretty hard for them. Stingers and Trout Traps were doing pretty well in the back of the lake and some good results with Thomas Buoyants. Also, in the back of the island salmon eggs are beginning to bring up a lot of fish. By the dam try red-gold Thomas Buoyants and Stingers. Trolling by the Rockslide with a Rapala or Needlefish was pretty successful. Boiler Cove was doing pretty well with Sierra Gold. Bishop Creek Resorts 760-873-4484.
BISHOP CREEK: The creek is still running pretty high with good fishing in the small holes. Salmon eggs did real well last week by just floating them down around rocks and into any small eddy by a branch, hole, turn in the creek, etc. Weir Pond was good with dark wooly buggers or red-throated olive Buggers. The fishing was good on the creek with quite a few Alpers and DFG Trophies coming out in the 2-4-pound range. The colors are intense now so it is spectacular to hike or just admire Nature’s handiwork. Bishop Creek Resorts 760-873-4484.
NORTH LAKE AND INTAKE II: Slowed fishing last week. Probably because of the intense fishing over Labor Day weekend. Some good results with salmon eggs or nightcrawlers. Thomas Buoyants and Sierra Gold also did pretty well. Intake 2 is now a mud hole. It has been drained by SCE to finish the work on the tower they were not allowed to do last time. Bishop Creek Resorts 760-873-4484.
LAKE SABRINA: The lake is down to the two natural lakes and fishing has been great for most. The inlet has been producing quite nicely with lots of Brook trout along with rainbows showing up on stringers. Worms are the attractant of choice, but Powerbait and eggs are running a close second and third.
With two natural lakes, there are two inlets and outlets. Both outlets are producing plenty of action for anglers using worms and Thomas Buoyants. Trolling wooly buggers in the morning or evening has bagged a few larger fish as has trolling around the shore. Frog patterns with lead core at four colors has generated a bit of excitement. Float tubers not minding a bit of a walk are enjoying the tranquil setting and catching plenty of fish.
Visit [url "http://www.lakesabrinaboatlanding.com/"]www.LakeSabrinaBoatLanding.com[/url] for more pictures and information or email at [url "mailto:LakeSabina@msn.com"]LakeSabina@msn.com[/url]. For boat rental information and reservations, call (760) 873-7425.
[signature]
9/14/2004 07:49 pm
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to rapidly changing weather conditions in the Sierra and Northern Nevada, anglers are urged to call ahead to the sources listed at the end of each area description for reports on the latest road and water conditions.
FRENCHMAN LAKE: Fishing continues to improve as fall approaches. Bank fishing at the dam is doing well. Use crawlers and flies in cinnamon or olive colors. Also, wooly worms in the same colors. Troll Needlefish, nightcrawlers or Rapalas. Look for fish in 4-8-feet of water with deeper water nearby. Stream fishing is slow. Wiggin’s Trading Post (530) 993-4683. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
LAKE DAVIS: Fishing has been fair. Most fish being caught in 8-15 feet of water. Type two or three sinking lines have been best. Use a 9-foot, 3x leader with olive and rust-colored wooly buggers in sizes 8-10. With the cooler fall weather, look for fishing to improve any day. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474. [url "http://www.renoflyshop.com/"]www.renoflyshop.com[/url]. Dollard’s Sierra Market (530) 832-5251. [url "http://www.dollardsmarket.com/"]www.dollardsmarket.com[/url]. Email — [url "mailto:dollards@psln.com"]dollards@psln.com[/url].
TRUCKEE RIVER: Fishing has been really good despite the low flows Tahoe City to the Boca bridge. Flows remain 100 c.f.s. in the town of Truckee. Nymphing with small bead head nymphs has been the best. Try copper john’s, z-wing caddis and flashback pheasant tails under an indicator. The section below Boca Bridge has a lot more water in it. Everything from streamers to small dries is worth a try. Hoppers are still out in force and fall patterns are starting to produce as well. Nymphing under an indicator with a stonefly followed by a baetis nymph has been producing. There is a little caddis activity in the evening, but finding fish rising to them has been tough. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
LITTLE TRUCKEE: Flows remain very low at 30 c.f.s. Fish are spooky and the fishing is very technical. Some baetis activity mid-morning. Burk’s bwo silhouette dun in size 18 has been working. Fishing under the surface with a hopper dropper setup is working well. Try midges and baetis nymphs in 18 to 22. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
CARSON RIVER: Flows are down to 30 c.f.s on the East Carson. The low flows are natural this time of year. Hopper dropper setups are the best bet. Try dropping a small baetis nymph 18 inches to 2 feet below a Dave’s hopper. There is a trico hatch mid-morning and nymphs are working all day long. Be very stealthy approaching holes and do not wear white. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
SMITH CREEK RANCH: Fishing is really picking up. Last week, anglers took fish between 2-5-pounds on the surface as well as with sub-surface flies. Adams’s dries size 16 and small nymphs such as calabaetis and hare’s ears are working. Fishing should only get better over the next few weeks. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: Flows at 9,000 c.f.s. Corning, Calif. King salmon are in. Fishing for kings is good, catching nice bright kings, 15-30 pound salmon, some fish reaching up to 45 pounds already, monster kings. Fishing for the kings will keep getting better and better. Flatfish T-50's, and bouncing roe are best bet, both producing big fish. King salmon season will remain open until Jan. 14. Water level great, clear, and mild weather.
Lou Varela from Sparks recently caught a huge King salmon, 45 pounds, on the Sacramento River, fishing with guide Kirk Portocarrero.
Redding to Anderson: Fly fishing for rainbow trout is still great, 15-25 fish days. Great bug hatch in afternoon. Mornings and afternoons productive. Catch and release. Wild rainbows up to 6 pounds. Working well are Micro Mayfly No. 16 and Fox's Pupahs.
Guide services and information: Hank Mautz Professional Guide Service, (800) 355-3113. Outdoor Adventures Sport Fishing, Kirk Portocarrero, (800) 670-4448 or (530) 221-6151. Web site: [url "http://www.sacriverguide.com/"]www.sacriverguide.com[/url].
WILDHORSE: Fishing is good for all species. Perch are hot. Trout, bass and channel cats are good. Browns are about ready to spawn. Wildhorse Resort, 758-6471 or email: [url "mailto:dunns@direcway.com"]dunns@direcway.com[/url].
EAGLE LAKE: Fishing has been very good with the challenge being that the fish seem to be moving around a lot. The catch of the week weighed in at Eagle Lake Marina was a 5½-pound lunker caught by John Brown of Grants Pass, Ore. He was trolling nightcrawlers at about 20-feet in the vicinity of Merrill Campground. Most fish are averaging 2½ to 3 pounds or better. Many fish have been brought in recently at 4 pounds or better.
For trolling and still-fishing from boats, depths have ranged from just a few feet early mornings to 20-35 feet during the day. Still-fishing is best using nightcrawlers under slip bobbers. Trolling has been doing well with a variety of Needlefish, trolling flies and Rainbow Runners. The best areas continue to be Eagles Nest, Pikes Point, out from the Eagle Lake Marina Jetty and Wildcat Point. Many boats have been working the Youth Camp area and the south shore area near Merrill Campground. The best times continue to be early morning hours with increasing mid-day and evening action. Shore fishing has been best from the jetty using nightcrawlers and/or Powerbait.
Ample camping continues to be available with many seniors enjoying the area now that schools are back in. For camping information at Eagle Lake, call the U. S. Forest Service at (530) 257-4188. For current information on fishing conditions, call Eagle Lake Marina at (530) 825-3454.
CROWLEY LAKE: Fishing here doesn't get much better. The fish have really been on the grab. The whole lake is fishing well so no particular area is better than another. Midge fishing has been the most productive with black/red or black/gray pupa patterns. Streamer fishing has also been good with matukas or olive zonkers. Barbless artificials only. Limit is two fish ,18-inches or better. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url].
UPPER OWENS RIVER: Some larger fish can be had for the angler willing to work hard and cover as much water as possible. Work along the under-cut banks with zug bugs, prince nymphs and bead head hares ears. Swinging a matuka through the deeper holes can also be fun. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url]
LOWER OWENS: Water flow is 351 c.f.s. This high flow has brought fishing here to a standstill. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url]
HOT CREEK: Water flow is at 6 c.f.s. Not much change in conditions. Good dry fly action early in the day with midge emergers. Small nymphs (sizes 18-22) such as hares ears and flash back pheasant tails mid-day and caddis on top in the evening. Don’t forget the good old hopper and dropper. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url].
Performance Guide Service, (760) 934-1957.
JUNE LAKE LOOP: Pretty good fishing now at Silver Lake. Black woolly buggers and claret colored marabou leeches. [url "http://www.performanceguideservice.com/"]www.performanceguideservice.com[/url].
EAST WALKER: Flow remain excellent at 152 c.f.s. Everything from streamers to nymphs and dries have been working. Hoppers the best bet. Try it in the shallow pools around the edges for big browns and in the faster water for rainbows. Nymphing with small bead head nymphs is working and streamers in low light conditions also working well. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.
UPPER TWIN LAKES: Many 2-pounders caught last week Try nightcrawlers or salmon eggs. Mono Village Resort (760) 932-7071.
SOUTH LAKE: SCE is beginning to pull the lake level down now, still full but are losing about a foot vertically daily. Still plenty of ramp left. The fishing slowed down a bit last week but the crowds remained. Most people were catching fish but had to work pretty hard for them. Stingers and Trout Traps were doing pretty well in the back of the lake and some good results with Thomas Buoyants. Also, in the back of the island salmon eggs are beginning to bring up a lot of fish. By the dam try red-gold Thomas Buoyants and Stingers. Trolling by the Rockslide with a Rapala or Needlefish was pretty successful. Boiler Cove was doing pretty well with Sierra Gold. Bishop Creek Resorts 760-873-4484.
BISHOP CREEK: The creek is still running pretty high with good fishing in the small holes. Salmon eggs did real well last week by just floating them down around rocks and into any small eddy by a branch, hole, turn in the creek, etc. Weir Pond was good with dark wooly buggers or red-throated olive Buggers. The fishing was good on the creek with quite a few Alpers and DFG Trophies coming out in the 2-4-pound range. The colors are intense now so it is spectacular to hike or just admire Nature’s handiwork. Bishop Creek Resorts 760-873-4484.
NORTH LAKE AND INTAKE II: Slowed fishing last week. Probably because of the intense fishing over Labor Day weekend. Some good results with salmon eggs or nightcrawlers. Thomas Buoyants and Sierra Gold also did pretty well. Intake 2 is now a mud hole. It has been drained by SCE to finish the work on the tower they were not allowed to do last time. Bishop Creek Resorts 760-873-4484.
LAKE SABRINA: The lake is down to the two natural lakes and fishing has been great for most. The inlet has been producing quite nicely with lots of Brook trout along with rainbows showing up on stringers. Worms are the attractant of choice, but Powerbait and eggs are running a close second and third.
With two natural lakes, there are two inlets and outlets. Both outlets are producing plenty of action for anglers using worms and Thomas Buoyants. Trolling wooly buggers in the morning or evening has bagged a few larger fish as has trolling around the shore. Frog patterns with lead core at four colors has generated a bit of excitement. Float tubers not minding a bit of a walk are enjoying the tranquil setting and catching plenty of fish.
Visit [url "http://www.lakesabrinaboatlanding.com/"]www.LakeSabrinaBoatLanding.com[/url] for more pictures and information or email at [url "mailto:LakeSabina@msn.com"]LakeSabina@msn.com[/url]. For boat rental information and reservations, call (760) 873-7425.
[signature]