More hunters than anglers at Lower Blue Lake, Calif.

By Don Quilici

• BIG SPRINGS RESERVOIR, NEV: Fishing is poor due to low water. Will close on Feb. 28.

• BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF:

Gary Olson of the Bishop Creek Resorts (760-873-4484): Fall is definitely in the air. Nights getting into the low 40's. The Fall colors are really changing fast with some pretty well gone at the higher elevations.

Intake No. 2: Under control of the contractors, so no fishing.

North Lake: Picked up a little this week with quite a few float tubers trying their wares.

South Lake: We have been packed on weekends and pretty busy during the week. Trolling with leadcore line and using a Dave Davis with a nightcrawlers has been very effective.

A 7-pound, 7-ounce rainbow from shore with Power Bait, a 4-pound, 10-ounce rainbow using nightcrawlers.

Bishop Creek: Salmon eggs or nightcrawlers been awesome.

Good results with Power bait or Sierra Gold.

Weir Pond: Fly fishing was good with Bead-Headed Prince Nymphs and olive Matuka flies.

• BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF:

Sabrina Lake: Patti Apted of the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425): Fishing has been fine this week with lots of limits from the inlet and outlet of the back natural lake. The front lake slowed down a bit this week.

Power Bait or Salmon eggs are working for the shore fisherman. A few browns have shown up in the evening. Trolling Woolly Buggers in the morning or evening brought in a few limits.

• BLUE LAKES, CALIF. AREA:

Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930) said: "The campground at Lower Blue is jam-packed, but it is mostly rifle deer hunters who are here for the opener (last Saturday) of Zones D-5 and X-8. Some fishermen are fishing from shore on the back side with inflated nightcrawlers.

Tamarack Lake: Is now down to just two large bodies of water but they are both fishable.

• BLUE LAKES, NEV: No report. Will close on Nov. 15.

• BOULDER RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Water levels dropping but fishing remains fair to good. Weed growth makes shore fishing difficult. Use a float tube or small boat to get out to open water.

• BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Jim Reid at Ken's Sporting Goods Store (760) 932-7707 said: Fishing is starting to pick up, even from shore. A 5-pounder a couple of days ago.

• 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.

• WEST CARSON RIVER, CALIF: Dave Kirby said that the water is low and clear which makes fishing challenging. There were a lot of fishermen on Free Fishing Day.

• CATNIP RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY: Best fishing is found near the dam. Cutthroat trout in the 14-16 inch range are common. Will close on Nov. 15.

• CONVICT LAKE, CALIF: David DeSurra of the Convict Lake Resort (800) 992-2260 reported another fine week of fishing. The annual Convict Lake Fall Derby begins on Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 15 with over $5,000 in prizes. A 6.31 pound rainbow was the top trout from the lake. Salmon eggs and Power Bait catching rainbows in the creek.

• EAGLE LAKE, CALIF: Dave Meserve of the Eagle Lake Marina (530-825-3454):

The trout have been moving to the shorelines and spreading out throughout the lake as they follow the schools of minnows. The best catches have been as anglers work the "bait balls" formed by the minnows.

Needlefish and other lures have been working best for trolling with the best results coming from still fishing with nightcrawlers. Average size has been from 2 to 4 pounds. The best shore fishing reports have come from the south shore jetty.

• FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, NEV: Will close today.

• FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): Free Fishing Day on Saturday was great at Frenchman's.

Nice stingers of various-sized rainbows off Lunker Point on Power Bait.

• HEENAN LAKE, CALIF: Will close on Oct. 31.

• HINKSON SLOUGH, NEV. (On the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area): Will close today.

• HOBART RESERVOIR, NEV: Will close today.

• KIRMAN (CARMEN) LAKE: Jim Reid said that he is getting reports of fishermen catching lots of cutthroat trout in the 8-12 inch class. No one knows how the cutthroat got into the lake.

• KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR, NEV: No report. Will close on Nov. 15.

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

• PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Will open to Lahontan cutthroat trout fishing on Oct. 1.

• 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 8,000 CFS.

Fly fishing for rainbow trout is good with 12-18 fish days. Catching and releasing wild, trophy rainbows, up to 6 pounds. Using Micro Mayfly and Fox's Pupahs.

Red Bluff: Catching nice bright Kings, 15-30 pounds. Some fish reaching up to 45 pounds, with limits most days.

Using Flatfish (T-50's), and bouncing roe are best bet, both producing big fish. Water level great, clear and mild weather. King salmon season will remain open until January 14, 2005.

• SQUAW CREEK RESERVOIR (north of Gerlach in Washoe County): Continues to be a hot spot. The best fishing has been in the mornings or evenings.

• 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 has been trolling at Cal Neva Point, Agate Bay and Dollar Point.

He is trolling 160-280 feet deep with a short leader, Herring Dodger flasher blades and live minnows.

The Macks are averaging 2-6 pounds with the largest being 11 pounds, last week.

Catching limits in a couple of hours.

• 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 has been on the slow side.

Catching small Macks (2-3 pounds) and small Kokanee Salmon (5-10 inches).

The Kokanee fishing is sporadic, with an 11-inch fish being considered as bragging size.

• LAKE TAHOE - East Shore:

Gene St. Denis said that Cave Rock Shelf has been a little slow but they are getting some fish.

Nothing really big with an average size of about 2-4 pounds for the Macks.

Jiggers are doing the best.

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

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

• TRUCKEE RIVER:

Truckee River, Calif: No report.

Truckee River, Nev: 2,500 (10-12 inches) Lahontan cutthroat trout are scheduled to be planted at three locations around Verdi.

• TWIN LAKES, CALIF. AREA:

Lower Twin: Carey at the Twin Lakes Resort (760-932-7751): It's been a little slow but there are still fish being caught.

A 7-pound rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant lure, a 7-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler, a 6.75 rainbow on a nightcrawler, a 6.25 pound rainbow with Power Bait and a 6.25 pound rainbow with Sierra Gold.

Upper Twin: Mono Village (760-932-7071): A 5-pound, 6-ounce rainbow on a Woolly Bugger fly, a 5-pound, 6-ounce rainbow on Power Bait and a 5-pound, 4-ounce rainbow on a nightcrawlers.

Robinson Creek: No report.

• VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF. AREA: Jim Reid reported that the lakes are still doing good, as usual, with lures, bait or flies from either shore or float tubes.

• WALKER LAKE, NEV: Fishing is slow due to the water temperatures.

• WALKER RIVERS:

East Walker (Calif.): Jim Reid reported fishing is doing very well with Nymphs or Streamers. Water flow is 45 CFS. Temps in the low 60's.

West Walker (Calif.): Jim Reid reported it is also very good in the "Canyon." The Picle Meadows area has slowed down and is quiet.

East Walker (Nev.): No report.

West Walker (Nev.): No report.

Little Walker (Calif.): No report.

• WILDHORSE RESERVOIR NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472 said, "The weather is beautiful, it couldn't be any nicer.

The lows are about 20-30 and the highs in the afternoons are in the 70's.

If it stayed this way all year, it would be hunky dory.

The trout fishing has really picked up, especially on the west side of the reservoir.

They are catching rainbows (2-3 pounds) using nightcrawlers or yellow or rainbow Power Bait.

The trollers are using green/gold or black/gold lures.

Even the brown trout are hitting.

The bass are hitting imitation crawdads and worms.

The catfishing has slowed down with the cooler weather.

The road construction is about to wind up."