Doug Busey's local lake and stream fishing report

Just got back from a 1,200 mile trip up the coast and into Oregon to fish and enjoy family. Renee and I enjoyed all the rivers on the way. The Russian, Klamath, Eel, Illinois, Chetco, Smith and the Rogue. Caught a few fish and had a great time.

While in Gold beach Oregon we received over 2 inches of rain in one afternoon.

We left on our trip in shorts and came home to winterizing the house and wearing a jacket. We are not the only state that has strange weather. The last night in Grants pass they had  snow advisory down to 5000 feet. So we hightailed it over the Siskiyou mountains before it snowed on us.
We ended up that night in Mt Shasta City Calif., where we stayed at the Cold Creek Inn, located at the base of Mt Shasta. When we woke the next morning, Mt Shasta was covered in snow.

We packed up and headed home, where we enjoyed the last few days fishing with friends in our local area.
In this report you will read of those areas.


LAKE TAHOE:
With the cooler temps, the fishing has picked up a bit for long lining rapalas. Best areas have been Camp Richardson to and past the mouth of Emerald Bay. Here you can pick up some nice rainbows, browns or mackinaws.

Deep lining has been productive off the Tahoe Shelf on the northwest side. Anglers have been using flashers with a live minnow 12 inches behind.

This weekend is the Fall Festival, formerly known as the Kokanee Festival. I still remember every year my mom and dad would take us kids up to Taylor Creek to watch the salmon run up the stream. This was when the only path was old fishing trails alongside the creek. I highly recommend to see this spectacular site.
Taylor Creek is located on highway 89 about 3/4 of a mile north of Camp Richardson on the lake side of the highway.

Here you will enjoy the stream profile chamber with a wooden walking path through the meadow and alongside Taylor Creek.

I would recommend you leave the fishing poles at home for this great adventure, as the streams leading into Lake Tahoe closed to all fishing on Sept 30th. But if you are in the fishing mood, call Blue Ribbon Fishing Charters at 530-544-6552.


CAPLES LAKE:
Water level still dropping as it does this time every year. The EID boat ramp is scheduled to be open until the first snow fly.
The resort and general store will remain open until the end of October. The boat launch is closed but they have Boat rentals available. Fishing has been rated as good for shore and boat anglers.

Scott Liu took a rental boat and trolled a Thompson spoon behind flashers and caught a 4 lb rainbow. Nick Burruel was floating a night crawler near the spillway and caught a nice 2 lb rainbow. Dan Foley and his two boys Seth and Caleb were trolling power bait (mice Trails) by Woods Creek and caught a nice stringer of rainbows up to 2 lbs. The cooler it gets the better the fishing will become.
November is one of the best months for big browns and mackinaws. For more info call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.


WOODS LAKE:
Fishing is slow, but a great place to spend the day. There is camping near the lake, and many hiking trails to enjoy to other higher lakes in the area.


BLUE LAKES:
The roads are still open to the area. Fishing has been fair for small rainbow trout.
Salmon eggs or inflated nightcrawlers have been most productive.


BURNSIDE LAKE:
As of October 3rd, the road was still open to the lake. Beware of sudden weather changes in this area. The gate may be open but weather can change the road driveability quickly.


CARSON RIVERS:
The West was planted twice over the last two weeks and the East Fork planted last week by the CDFG.
The west fork water level is very low. Fish the deeper sections and let no eddy be overlooked, 3 inches of water can hold some big fish. I like to walk the Woodfords Canyon area.

Fish away from the bridges and you will find some nice trout. On the East Fork, the water levels a still flowing nice. Geary Ness from Minden, Renee and I fished the high section last weekend. Geary could not stop catching nice pan sized rainbows, while standing only feet from us. Renee caught one 3 lb rainbow and  I caught one  2.5 lb rainbow.

In talking to Chad at the Carson Resort, he told me the fishing is the best it has been all year.
For more info call The Carson River Resort at 530-694-2229.


HEENAN LAKE:
Open only Fri, Sat and Sundays through the last Sunday of this month. Catch and release artificial lures or fly with barbless hooks.

We all ventured up to shore fish the lake last Saturday. It looked like a tilted bowl of Cheerios. All the float tubers were on the east side of the lake. Not having our float tubes, we shore fished.
The good warden recommended gold Kastmasters or gold spinners.
After walking half way around the lake with no hits and 10 lbs of weeds, we decided to leave and to return another day with flotation devices.


TOPAZ LAKE:
Closed to fishing on September 30th, to open on January 1st 2014.


UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER, TROUT CREEK, TAYLOR CREEK:
All streams that lead into lake Tahoe closed to fishing on September 30th, to open on July 1 2014.

If you are an angler or just an outdoor enthusiast:
You have to get out to Alpine county to see the fall colors.
Highway 88 from Woodfords Ca to Caples lake or highway 89 through Markleeville up and over Ebbetts or Monitor Pass.
Always remember, wherever you travel in the high country. Be prepared for extreme weather changes and make sure to tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.

If you have  a question or a report in our local area, call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722. Good fishin and tight lines