An 8-pound rainbow caught at Indian Creek reservoir

By Don Quilici

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: We are moving lots of snow at Bishop Creek Lodge and will be ready for the opener on April 30. Some real good news is that the County of Inyo is plowing the road on their way to Parchers and "hopefully" to South Lake. We are not counting on the lake but feel good about Parchers. We are doubtful of opening Parchers on Memorial Weekend this year because of the snow depth, but we are still trying.

Edison is still working on Intake No. 2 and hopefully will have it ready for opener, but for now it is still dry with tractors in the bottom. I know they have arranged for some great stocking as soon as there is water in the reservoir.

BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "No fishing report this week for Blue Lakes."

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Rick Giser of Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760-932-7707) reported that the reservoir is ice-free. The 2005 season will open on April 30.

BUCKS LAKE, CALIF: As of last week, the lake was still frozen, with the roads closed to the lake. They should be plowed in the near future.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the lake is still frozen but he has not had any fishing reports from the ice fishermen.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: Is ice-free. The 2005 season will open on April 30.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: Is ice-free. The 2005 season will open on April 30.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: On Sunday, it was completely ice-free. There were a few shore fishermen and several hardy boaters who braved the strong, cold winds.

There was still quite a bit of snow around the lake.

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on May 28.

FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, NEV: Elmer Bull of the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) reported the fishing is still rated as on the slow side. The fishermen were catching some smaller Catfish and a few Bass. They were using nightcrawlers or chicken livers.

HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV: Elmer Bull reported that the fishing was slow over the weekend, and the fishermen did not do very good. One angler, using Zebra Nymph flies in the top 1.5-2 feet of water on Friday, reported getting broken off several times.

HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: The 2005 season will open on May 1. Please note that access via the Ash Canyon road is restricted, this year, due to the rehabilitation work associated with the damage caused by last year's Waterfall Fire.

HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that Alpine County is still waiting to do the first trout plant of the season.

Fishing was slow on Saturday, except for one fisherman. Gregg Vanderzanden of South Lake Tahoe caught an 8+ pound rainbow on orange Power Bait.

The road is open all the way to the reservoir and the campground will open on May 6.

In addition, Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that on Saturday, he counted 27 vehicles, 2 tents, 1 travel trailer, 9 boats and 15 float tubes. He saw one 14-inch rainbow caught from shore.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

KINNEY RESERVOIR, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

KIRMAN (AKA CARMEN) LAKE, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV: Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) reported: "The weather has been good and the fishing has gone crazy.

There was a 5-pound, 8-ounce Walleye caught on a live minnow on Friday.

Beach Nos. 6 and 8 have been good for Walleyes.

The best place for Catfish is near the mouth of the river near beach Nos. 10 and 12.

Use chicken livers, which we have. The stinker the liver, the better the fishing.

Be sure to stay on the designated roads to avoid getting stuck in the sand."

There was an unconfirmed report of a 13-pound Catfish caught between Beach Nos. 10 and 12.

LUNDY LAKE, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

MARKLEEVILLE CREEK, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

RED LAKE CALIF: Dave Kirby said that the lake is still frozen but he has not had any fishing reports from the ice fishermen.

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 3,700 CFS and steady.

Fishing, rain or shine!

Fly fishing for rainbows is excellent. HOT!

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 olive and brown Pheasant tail flies.

Also Caddis and Micro May Fly patterns working well.

Opening day of King Salmon fishing will be July 16.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero had the same report as last week: They are picking up some nice rainbows and King Salmon (1-3 pounds). Fishing is fair. 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: "When the wind is not blowing, 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): "Fishing has been very good, except when the wind has been blowing.

Cal Neva Point produced 12-15 "Catch and Release" Mackinaw Trout, yesterday (Monday).

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.

We toplined off Emerald Point and Eagle Point and caught an 8.5 pound brown on a silver/black Rapala lure."

LAKE TAHOE - South Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing continues to be good to very good, dependent on the day.

We got a couple in the 9-11 pound class.

Trolling from Ski Run to Camp Richardson.

We are trolling 170-280 feet deep with silver Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.

Ski Run Mound has been good for jigging with 2-ounce White Star or Squid Jigs tipped with a minnow."

LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: "Fishing on the Cave Rock Shelf has been sketchy.

The Macks are concentrated and you need to find them.

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."

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields at Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550 reported, "Not much has changed since last week. There are a lot more people out fishing, nowadays.

The best fishing is still for those boats trolling in the top 5 feet of water with silver flasher blades and either Needlefish lures or nightcrawlers. There have been some also caught with Rapala lures. The shore fishermen seem to be mostly down toward the south end of the lake."

TOPAZ LAKE: Andy Moore of Carson City reported that he trolled on Sunday and caught two rainbows on Needlefish lures.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

WALKER LAKE, NEV: Gene Phelps of Carson City reported that he fished with worms from shore on Friday. His total count for the day was one bite and no fish caught.

There was another report of three fish caught on a lead-head, rubber minnow while jigging.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Linda at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "Dennis (Dunn) just left for the doctor's this morning (Monday). He thinks that he has pneumonia from that nasty flu that he came down with.

The shore fishermen have been doing very good on nice-sized rainbows.

Nightcrawlers and fluorescent Marshmallows are working well, also fluorescent red spinners and spoons."

YOSEMITE PARK AREA, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.