East and West Carson Rivershad great fishing for opener

By Don Quilici

LAKE ALMANOR, CALIF: No report.

LAKE ALPINE, CALIF: No report.

BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open May 8.

BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF: No report.

BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA: No report.

BLUE LAKES, NEV: Will open June 12.

BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.

BOULDER RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: No report.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Fishing success was very slow for trollers for the opening weekend. Water is mossy. On Monday and Tuesday, the boaters got blown off the lake by about 2 p.m. by the wind.

BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF: No report.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported the ice is coming off the lake with shore fishing now available. The remaining ice is too dangerous to be on.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said it was a great weekend with lots of fishermen, good weather and he sold over $1,500 in fishing licenses on Saturday and Sunday. Both forks of the Carson River were planted with 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout for the fishing season opener.

East Carson: Doug Busey caught a 4-pound, 11-ounce (10.5 inch girth) rainbow with a nightcrawler on the opening day.

Chad Mashadeo at the Carson River Resort at 877-694-2229 reported that Alan McMaster caught a 9-pound, 2-ounce rainbow on April 26, Christine Lawrrance caught a 4-pound, 7-ounce rainbow on salmon eggs and Annie Long also caught a 4-pound, 7-ounce rainbow on salmon eggs.

West Carson: Duane "Beans" Sousa of Carson City caught the largest trout in the Carson Resort Fishing Derby. It was a 5-pound, 2-ounce rainbow caught at 6 a.m. on the opening day at the Woodfords Bridge.

Brandon Tollin of South Lake Tahoe caught a 6-pound rainbow on salmon eggs.

Clint Johnston of Gardnerville caught a 4.5 pound rainbow on orange Power Bait.

Walker Spurgeon of Woodfords (age 8-9) caught his very first fish on Power Eggs.

CARSON RIVERS, NEV: No report.

CATNIP RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Will open Sept. 1.

CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: No report.

CRATER LAKE, CALIF. (Near Kit Carson Pass): No report.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF: No report.

DAVIS CREEK POND AT DAVIS CREEK PARK IN WASHOE VALLEY: No report.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: No report.

DONNER LAKE, CALIF: No report.

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: No report.

FEATHER RIVER AT ORVILLE, CALIF: No report.

FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, NEV: No report.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683) reported fishing was fair.

Stream fishing was reporting nice limits of German browns, both above and below the reservoir.

FROG LAKE, CALIF. (On the hiking trail into Winnemucca Lake): No report.

GREEN LAKE, CALIF: No report.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Will open Sept. 3.

HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): No report.

HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open May 1.

HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF: No report.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR. CALIF: Doug Busey reported the reservoir received a special plant of rainbows up to 8 pounds for the opening weekend.

Summit Lake (above Indian Creek Reservoir): No report.

JUNE LAKE LOOP AREA, CALIF: No report.

KINNEY RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.

KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open June 12.

LOWER KINNEY LAKE: No report.

KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: No report.

LAHONTAN RESERVOIR, NEV:

Missy Swain at Burke's Market at Silver Springs (775-577-2750) said the reservoir is at about 220,000 acres feet of water.

The fishing success has been on the slow side, probably due to the cold water. Lots of fishermen but no reports of big fish.

Beach No. 10 is producing catfish but be careful of the sand and don't get stuck.

A fisherman who was across the reservoir from Fisherman's Point caught a nice stringer of White Bass, catfish and carp.

LEAVITT LAKE, CALIF: No report.

LIBERTY POND IN CHURCHILL COUNTY: No report.

LUNDY LAKE, CALIF: No report.

MAMMOTH LAKES AREA, CALIF: No report.

MARKLEEVILLE CREEK, CALIF: No report.

MT. VIEW PARK POND IN YERINGTON: No report.

NORTH POND, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Has been drained almost dry and is unfishable.

ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR, NEV: Will open June 12.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: No report.

PARADISE PONDS ON NORTH EDGE OF RENO/SPARKS: No report.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV:

Diane at Crosby's Lodge (775-476-0400) reported that fishing has been generally slow due to the weather change and the spawn.

Don Hamby of the Gillys Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported that fishing has slowed down, probably due to the real nice weather.

George Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) said that the fishing has been generally slow. However, one day last week, he had a great trip (Pyramid Lake Charters) with a total of 38 cutthroat at the north end.

RAYMOND LAKE, CALIF: No report.

RANCHO SAN RAFAEL POND IN RENO: No report.

RED LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the lake is now about 1/4 open. You can fish from shore. The remaining ice is too dangerous to be on.

ROOSEVELT-LANE LAKES, CALIF: No report.

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

Colusa area: The striper fishing is getting hot. Catching 15-20 stripers per day. Using live minnows and some lures. Side drifting and back trolling is your best bet.

Redding to Anderson: Fishing for rainbows is good, with 10-25 fish most days. Catching rainbows up to 6 pounds.

SCOTT'S LAKE: No report.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey reported that the lake is now about half open. The remaining ice is too dangerous to be on.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Kirk Portocarrero reported catching nice brown and rainbow trout, 2-4 pounds, using Shad pattern lures.

SMITH RIVER, CALIF: No report.

SOUTH FORK RESERVOIR, NEV: No report.

SPARKS MARINA (in Sparks): No report.

SPOONER LAKE, NEV: No report.

SQUAW CREEK RESERVOIR (north of Gerlach in Washoe County): No report.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR, CALIF: No report.

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. I've been tagging and releasing the smaller ones. Catching mostly average size fish, with nothing super big.

I'm trolling 250-550 feet deep in the 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."

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore:

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 at 180-220 feet deep.

Jigging has been productive at Dollar Point and Cal Neva Point with a White Star jig.

LAKE TAHOE - South Shore:

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 at 180-280 feet deep.

Toplining has slowed way down.

LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:

Gene St. Denis said, "Cave Rock Shelf has been steady with a short leader, Dodgers and live minnows at 180-280 feet deep. Catching 6-15 Macks per trip, with the average size running up to 6 pounds. A 12 pound Mack caught over the weekend.

Toplining has slowed way down.

TOPAZ LAKE: Chuck Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550) reported fishing was pretty good for the shore fishermen who were at the south end. They were catching rainbows up to 1.5-1.75 pounds on nightcrawlers.

Trollers were catching limits of the same size rainbows on the southeast side of the lake and right down the middle with silver flasher blades and worms.

TRUCKEE RIVER:

Little Truckee River, Calif: Will open April 24.

Truckee River, Calif: Will open April 24.

Truckee River, Nev: Don Hamby of The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks (358-6113) reported that the river is high, fast and cold, and you need to fish along the edges.

The best areas to fish are at Lockwood, Mustang and Derby Dam. Use stream flies, small spinners or Rapala lures.

Truckee Canal, Nev: No report.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA:

Lower Twin: No report.

Upper Twin: Mono Village (760-932-7468) reported a great opener.

Biggest trout were a 4-pound, 14-ounce rainbow on a gold Kastmaster lure, 4-pound, 13-ounce German brown on salmon eggs, a 4-pound, 12-ounce rainbow on green Power Bait and a 4-pound, 9-ounce rainbow on Turbo Bubblegum bait.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA: No report.

VIRGINIA LAKE IN RENO: No report.

WALKER LAKE, NEV: No report.

WALKER RIVERS:

East Walker (Calif.): No report.

West Walker (Calif.): No report.

East Walker (Nev.): No report.

West Walker (Nev.): No report.

Little Walker (Calif.): No report.

WASHOE LAKE, NEV: No report.

WEBER RESERVOIR, NEV: No report.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: No report.

WILSON COMMON POND IN WASHOE VALLEY: No report.

WINNEMUCCA LAKE, CALIF: No report.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AREA, CALIF: No report.