New record Wiper bass at Lahontan Reservoir

By Don Quilici

• BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF:

Gary Olson of the Bishop Creek Resorts (760-873-4484):

The fall colors are really changing now with some of the areas peaking with bright yellows contrasting with the greens.

Very few mosquitoes now.

Intake No. 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.

North Lake: Was reporting slowed fishing this 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.

South Lake: A 7-pound, 10-ounce Alpers Trophy Rainbow Trout, using a Trout Trap by the Gilbert Glacier inlet behind the island.

A 5-pound, 8-ounce Alpers Trophy Rainbow, using an olive Woolly Bugger.

A 4-pound, 1-ounce Trophy Rainbow, using Stingers.

SCE is beginning to pull the lake level down now, we are still full but are loosing about a foot vertically daily.

The fishing slowed down a bit this week.

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, red-gold Thomas Buoyants and Stingers were good.

Trolling by the Rockslide with a Rapala or Needlefish was pretty successful.

Bishop Creek: The creek is still running pretty high with good fishing in the small holes.

Salmon Eggs did real well this 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 Woolly Buggers or red throated olive Woolly Buggers.

• BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA:

Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said:

Upper and Lower Blue Lakes: Limits with inflated nightcrawlers at Lower Blue.

Crater Lake: Lots of small brookies.

Meadow Lake: Rated good for brookies.

Lower Sunset Lake: Limits of small brookies.

Tamarack Lake: Is not fishable. It has only a small amount of water remaining.

• BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid at Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760) 932-7707 said: Fishing is still tough. The water temp is warm and the water is green. Not much success, right now.

• CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby said the boat ramp at the Resort is unusable for larger boats but you can still launch small boats from the shoreline.

• EAST CARSON RIVER, CALIF: Chad at the Carson River Resort (877-694-2229) reported fishing has been good and they are pulling out some big fish.

Had a 8.5 pounder and a few 7 pounders.

• WEST CARSON RIVER, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported the water is very low and crystal clear.

Fish are being caught but not a lot of limits.

Recommends working the deeper holes.

• CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Susie Greilich at Kittridge Sporting Goods Store in Mammoth (760) 934-7566: Rainbow Power Bait caught a 6.84 pound on the south shore and a nightcrawler caught a 6.35 pounder from the Jetty.

Also a lot of 2-6 pounders with Thomas Buoyant lures, nightcrawlers or Trout Teasers.

• CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Susie Greilich reported Perch fishing is good with downriggers.

Also trolling streamers.

• FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Continues to improve as fall approaches.

Bank fishing at the dam is doing well.

Use nightcrawlers or flies in cinnamon or olive color.

Troll nightcrawlers or Needlefish or Rapala lures.

• HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported lots of fishermen over the weekend.

The float tubers are doing best by going deep.

• INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby said the fishing is starting to improve.

• JUNE LAKE LOOP AREA, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:

Grant Lake: Fishing is good with worms, Matuka flies or spinner lures at the inlet.

Gull Lake: Green Power Bait, Triple Teasers or Thomas Buoyant lures.

June Lake: A lot of stringers. North end of the lake is good. Bait fishing is best.

Silver Lake: Salmon eggs or Power Bait.

Rush Creek: Worms or small spinners.

• KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: Jim Reid reported that it is doing good from shore with spinners or streamer flies.

• LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750): "Fishing is good right now. The water level is down and it's cooling off at night. The water level is about 108,000 acre feet and dropping. You can still launch a boat but it's getting tricky.

Lots of catch and release fishing going on.

A 12-pound catfish was caught over the weekend.

The big news is the new record for a Wiper Bass. Dan Hannum of Dayton caught a Wiper that weighed over 12 pounds.

He was trolling in the area of "The Narrows" with a lure.

He broke his own record that he set last year."

• MAMMOTH LAKES AREA, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:

George Lake: Power Bait or Woolly Bugger flies.

Mamie Lake: Power Bait or Hot Shot lures.

Mary Lake: Trout Teasers or inflated nightcrawlers.

Twin Lakes: Trout Teasers, Zug Bug or Pheasant Tails.

Mammoth Creek: Salmon eggs or Panther/Martin lures.

• OWENS RIVER, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:

Benton Crossing (Upstream): Brown or black bead head Woolly Bugger flies.

Benton Crossing ((Downstream): Stream or grasshopper flies.

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

Redding to Anderson: Water flow is 9,000 CFS.

Fly fishing for rainbow trout is still great with 15-25 fish days. Great bug hatch in the afternoons. Catching and releasing wild, trophy rainbows, up to 6 pounds. Using Micro Mayfly and Fox's Pupahs.

Red Bluff: King Salmon are in!

Fishing for Kings is good.

Catching nice bright Kings, 15-30 pounds, a few fish reaching up to 45 pounds already.

Flatfish (T-50's), and bouncing roe are the ticket.

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

• 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.

The fishing has been very consistent, 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.

Trolling at Dollar Point at 130-280 feet deep.

Trolling at Cal Neva Point at 120-240 feet deep.

Trolling at Agate Bay at 160-250 feet deep for Macks.

• LAKE TAHOE - South Shore:

Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552) said the fishing is very slow. Catching Macks 2-3 pounds and Kokanee Salmon (5-10 inches).

• LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:

Gene St. Denis said that Cave Rock Shelf has been producing mostly smaller Macks.

Jiggers are doing the best.

The Macks are small, running 1-3 pounds.

• TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550): No report.

Note: Topaz Lake closes for the 2004 fishing season on Sept. 30. It will re-open on Jan. 1.

• TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA:

Lower Twin: Carey at the Twin Lakes Resort (760-932-7751): No report.

Jim Reid reported that a 9-pound, 4-ounce rainbow was caught on a nightcrawler.

Upper Twin: Mono Village (760-932-7071): No report.

Robinson Creek: No report.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Jim Reid reported that the lakes are doing very well with lures from either shore or float tubes.

• WALKER RIVERS:

East Walker (Calif.): Susie Greilich said fishing is picking up with small Nymph flies.

Jim Reid reported the water flow at 148 CFS.

West Walker (Calif.): Jim Reid reported the fishing is god in the Canyon or in the Pickle Meadows area.

• WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The weather is cooling off and it is down right chilly at night.

Trout fishing is good with blue Panther/Martin lures.

Bass are hitting on imitation crawdads.

Channel Catfish being caught with shrimp.

The Perch are hitting you want to throw at them.

On the hunting side: Dick Giantbelly of Indian Hills came in this morning (Monday) with a 4X4 (32 inch spread) that he got with his muzzleloader. He and his brother are out fishing, right now."

• YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AREA, CALIF: Susie Greilich said:

Lee Vining Creek: Black Ant flies, Glo Bugs or Salmon eggs.

Saddlebag Lake: Trolling Needlefish lures or Woolly Bugger flies.