2005 fishing season opens on Saturday in California

BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: The 2005-2006 season will open on May 14.

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

BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): "No fishing report this week for Blue Lakes. The road is still closed due to snow."

BLUE LAKES, NEV: The 2005 season will open on June 11.

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.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby reported that the lake is still frozen but advises not to venture out onto the ice at this time.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30. The East and West Carson Rivers plus Markleeville Creek were stocked by Alpine County with a total of 1,000 pounds of rainbows, up to 8 pounds, for the opener. In addition, Calif. F&G has also done two stocking of rainbows. Waters are fairly high but clear.

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

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

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

FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, NEV: Bob ("Slick") McCulloch of Carson City caught his catfish on Tuesday while bottom fishing with chicken livers coated with cornmeal.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Water level in lake is up from last year. Fishing is great: Off the bank, trolling or stillfishing. Use worms or standard Power Bait.

HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV: Norm Budden caught a 2 pound, 4 ounce rainbow on Sunday, while fishing from his float tube with a Thomas Buoyant lure. He reported catching and releasing many smaller rainbows.

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.

John Mandoki of Carson City caught a 3-pound rainbow on orange Power Bait.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, 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: Shirley at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) reported: "Beach No. 10 has been very good for Walleye. One angler caught 7 Walleye last Friday with the largest being 7 pounds. He was using minnows.

Also, some white bass and striped bass being caught on the right side of the boat dock at Beach No. 4.

They are catching some Walleye at the dam.

Catfishing has been good with reports of lots of small ones.

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.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

RED LAKE CALIF: Dave Kirby said that the lake is still frozen but that there is open water showing by the dam. He advises not to venture out onto the ice at this time.

ROOSEVELT-LANE LAKES, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

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 5,000 CFS and steady.

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.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby said that the lake is still frozen but that there is open water showing by the dam. He advises not to venture out onto the ice at this time.

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: "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 slow to good due to the full moon and the storm fronts moving through the area.

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. Our biggest was 7 pounds. "

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

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.

Rainbows and browns are showing up at Emerald Bay and Eagle Point."

LAKE TAHOE - East Shore: Gene St. Denis: "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: Fishermen entered in the Sunday-Monday-Tuesday John Riordan Invitational Fishing Derby reported very spotty results. Some got skunked, some caught some fish and some caught limits, but nothing big. Best action seemed to be with black/gold or black/silver Rapala lures.

TRUCKEE RIVER, CALIF: The 2005 season will open on April 30.

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

Upper Twin Lake: Ice is breaking up and the campground is being cleared.

Lower Twin Lake: Is ice free.

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

WALKER LAKE, NEV: Good fishing for Cutthroat trout, up to 3 pounds, over the weekend was at the north end of the lake. The fishermen were using rainbow-colored, No. 2 TOR-P-DO lures while spincasting in chest waders. Best success was between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Don Hettrick of Carson City caught a 3 pound, 2 1/2 ounce Cutt on Monday.

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

WALKER RIVERS, NEV:

East Walker: No report.

West Walker: Very high and muddy.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The ice is gone! Bring your boats. Rainbows, Cutbows and some Perch. Nightcrawlers and Marshmallows seen to be doing the trick."

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