Lots of Mackinaw trout being caught at Caples Lake

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The road is still open and you can still fish there. You can get a couple more weeks of Fall fishing.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF: Doug Busey of Douglas County reported that the dam repair work is finished and the water has come up a couple of feet. There is an unconfirmed report of a 15-pound Mackinaw caught from shore. Mark "Sully" Sullivan of Kirkwood caught and release a lot of 18 inch Mackinaw while casting a Kastmaster lure from his Kayak. The Caples Lake Resort is closed until Christmas.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Occasional rains have made fishing a bit less enjoyable for anglers at times, but the rainbow bite has been holding strong. Trollers can pick up fish in the dozens pulling trolling flies, Needlefish and Krocodile. Fly fishing has slowed some, but Mosquito Slough, Freeman and Jenkins are still productive when the breeze stirs the surface a bit. The bank-fishing bunch continue to catch fair numbers of 'bows at Fairview and Mallard.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Steelheading was pretty good, at least on some days, in the Low Flow Section of the Feather, all the way down to Shanghai Bend. There wasn't much action on striped bass, however the Steelhead were hitting, spinners, nightcrawlers, roe and Glo-Bugs. King meal worms were also working particularly well. Some of the Steelies weighed as much as 6 pounds.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Wiggin's Trading Post at Chilcoot, Calif. (530-993-4683): The weather was pleasant this past weekend and there were a lot of fishermen out. Reports of catching two or three on nightcrawlers that are blown up and floating off the bottom.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Floating nightcrawlers just up from bottom has been working well for bank anglers at Lunker Point. Either blow 'em up or add marshmallows for the lift. Fly fishing has been good for fishermen using just about any kind of green bug.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): The fishermen had a pretty good weekend. The cooler temperatures have the fish biting. One guy had limits on both Saturday and Sunday with two fish over 24 inches long. Another guy caught three very nice fish. They were fishing from shore with worms.

OROVILLE LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): Launching is at the Spillway "launch-at-your-own-risk" ramp. 4-wheel drive required and no fees are being collected at the gate. If you can get launched, the bass and catfish are hitting. Cats to 9 pounds are coming out of the forks on anchovies and bass are hitting drop-shot worms, jigs and tubes in 30-35 feet of water. Some fish to 6 pounds weighed in recently.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Valerie at Crosby's Lodge at (775) 476-0400: The biggest fish of the week was a 12-pounder (29.5 inches) caught at "The South Nets" by fly fisherman Peter Thompson of Reno. He was using a black fly. The fishing is starting to pick up, especially for boats at Hell's Kitchen. We had five 7-pounders and one 5-pounder. Most were caught trolling Apex lures at Hell's Kitchen.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: George and Carla Molino and Karen of the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 476-0555: Jay reported: George and Carla are on vacation. Fishing has been steady but the fish are not too big in size. We had a couple of 6-pounders and one 7-pounder checked in. Most of the boat fishing is over at Hell's Kitchen and the Pyramid. The fly fishermen are working the areas south of Block House.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Chris and Jeri Grellman of Hog Charters in Sparks at 358-5199 (home) or Chris at 221-4014 (cell): We trolled from the Indian Head to The Nets, yesterday (Sunday). Nothing big. We used Apex lures.

PYRAMID LAKE, NEV: Jim Hartfiel of Just Rite Fishing at Pyramid Lake at (775) 575-7850 (home) or (775) 813-3411 (Cell): We are out on the lake as we speak (Monday morning), and we just got a double hook-up. Over the weekend, we trolled100 feet deep in 180 feet of water at Hell's Kitchen, and caught 7 fish (20-24 inches) with Apex lures.

RED LAKE, CALIF: Dave Kirby: Fishing has been fair for mostly brookies and some cutthroat. Getting action from shore with worms with some limits.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The Upper Sac is fishing fair. There are still a few October Caddis hatching in the afternoons and evenings, but not a lot of fish rising too them. The most productive methods for catching fish have been drifting big rubber leg Stones, Copper Johns, and PT's under indicators in the deeper pools and runs. The best fishing has been from late morning into early evening, when the temperatures are a little warmer and the fish more active.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500): The bass bite is improving with a few larger fish and more of them coming in. Topwater, swim baits, or ripbaits will be good choices in the first mile or so in the arms but it gets very shallow in there quickly so points in the main body are also popular. The Packers and Bridge Bay areas produced limits of trout averaging 15-16 inches from the surface down to 10 feet on Cripplures and Hum Dingers in UV patterns in silver colors and the Fire Tiger Cripplure.

LAKE TAHOE - North Shore: Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (530-544-6552): The weather is drop dead beautiful. It's the best I've ever seen for this time of the year. Fishing has been slow to good. I've been fishing at Dollar Point, Cal-Neva Point an d Sugar Pine Point. Trolling 100--200 feet deep with large Dodger blades and minnows. Catching Macks 1-9 pounds. They are just coming out of their spawn.

LAKE TAHOE " South Shore: Gene St. Denis: I've been fishing at the Ski Run Shelf. Trolling 100--200 feet deep with large Dodger blades and minnows. Catching Macks 1-9 pounds. They are just coming out of their spawn.

LAKE TAHOE " East Shore: Gene St. Denis: Shore fishing at Cave Rock Landing is dead to slow. The Landing now has a locked gate, which is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day until May 1. When the gate is open, there is an inspector who inspects you boat to make sure that no mussels or snails are going into the lake. The boat launch at Sand Harbor is open only to car top boats, canoes and kayaks due to the low water level.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, NEV: Dennis Dunn at the Wild Horse Resort (775) 758-6472: I don't know what to tell you folks. Trout fishing is not better anywhere in the west. Perch and Smallmouths are few and scattered. Channel Cats are close to nonexistent, thanks to NDOW's stocking of the trash fish called "Wiper."