Fishing report through Jan. 3

Here is the fishing report for the week of Dec. 28, 2011 through Jan. 3, 2012. The report covers rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and southern Oregon.

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Water Clarity is about the same as last week holding at 8.5 ft. and should improve, providing the wind stays away. Fisherman report the most success at about 8 ft. down and dragging roe or Salmon eggs along the bottom.
In terms of trolling, break out some flashers and grab a few 04 size UV dodgers. Paired with a threaded night crawler 16 “ back on a # 6 Gamakatsu bait holder, this combo is sure to draw even the most disinterested of fish. Just remember, the waters are dark, so whatever you use, make sure it has a bit of shine in order to attract the most fish. 
— Courtesy of Almanor Fishing Adventures Guide

BISHOP AREA, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Bishop area is closed.
 
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
The fishing season for Bridgeport Reservoir is closed.

BUCKS LAKE, CALIF:
Brian Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service (539) 283-4103 (www.bigdaddyfishing.com) reports: Well 2011 came in like a lion but is sure leaving like a lamb. Here in Northeastern California we have had almost no rain or snow to speak of, but it looks like a white Christmas if you count the frost covering from overnight temps in the teens and 20's.
I'm looking forward to a little down time and spending the holidays with family and friends.
I will be kicking off 2012 with the Sacramento International Sportsmen's Expo at Cal Expo from January 19th to the 22nd. Please stop by and see us in booth number 3434 in the Sportfishing Hall. If you still haven't got your hands on one of the Grundens Heavy Duty Hoodies, I will have them in the booth. These are the best hoodies you will ever own.
Following the ISE show it will be back on the water at Lake Almanor for some great winter trout fishing, followed by spring Trophy Mackinaw at Bucks Lake in May and of course the fall bite at Eagle Lake in October and November. I look forward to seeing all my friends and clients at the show and on the water in 2012.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:
John Voss of the Caples Lake reports:
Well it’s winter time here at Caples Lake Resort, and winter sports are in full swing. The lake is frozen over and people are starting to ice skate on it.  Kirkwood Ski Resort is open on the weekends and the skiers and the snowboarders are loving it. 

CARSON RIVER, CALIF:
East Carson River: The fishing season for the East Carson River is closed upstream from Hangman’s Bridge.
West Carson River: The fishing season for the West Carson River is closed.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Low and clear. The few anglers hitting the river are reporting good numbers of steelhead in the river and some bright Chinook, but the cold, clear water is making things tough.
Anglers using smaller baits and light line are doing the best.  
ODFW is conducting a steelhead angler creel on the Chetco this year, along with Chinook salmon scale collection, and winter steelhead broodstock collection.  At times, these projects may interfere with an anglers fishing.  Please be courteous to all ODFW personnel and volunteers.

COMINS LAKE, WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
A few bass have been showing up, but no trout due to the pike infestation.
Pike fishing has also been poor. There are few if any trout left in the lake also due to the pike infestation.

CONVICT LAKE, CALIF:
The fishing season for Convict Lake is closed.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
The fishing season for Crowley Lake is closed.

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Due to the cold weather, fishing is pretty much over at Eagle Lake for the season. Warmer days might liven the fish up for those who want to try their luck though.
— Courtesy of Big Daddy Fishing

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
According to the folks at the Eagle Valley Resort in Ursine, the ice on this Lincoln County reservoir is about 7.5 inches thick and people are fishing. NDOW reminds anglers to always double check conditions before venturing onto the ice. When in doubt, you can fish from the dock.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Ice conditions are unknown, but given the reservoir’s proximity to Eagle Valley Reservoir, there is a good chance anglers will find thin ice. 

FALL RIVER, CALIF:
The fishing season for Fall River is closed.

FREMONT LAKE, CALIF:
The fishing season for Fremont Lake is closed.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530-993-4683) reports:
There is about 5 inches of ice at the dam, but there is still open water out past the ice. Turkey Point is frozen over, and there is some ice around Spring Creek and Big Cove.
Shore fishing is possible if you are willing to walk a little.
Fishermen are using marshmallows and nightcrawlers. They are catching their limits, and most are 14 to 18 inches in length, weighing about a pound or more. The west side of the lake seems to be the best for fishing, and late morning is a good time to fish.

FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
The fishing season for the Ft. Churchill Cooling Ponds is closed.

HAT CREEK, CALIF:
The fishing season for Hat Creek is closed.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF:
The fishing season for Heenan Lake is closed.

HINKSON SLOUGH, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
The fishing season for Hinkson Slough is closed.

HOBART RESERVOIR, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
The fishing season for Hobart Reservoir is closed.

HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Hoover Wilderness Area is closed.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water Conditions: Great. Flows at 21 CFS as of 12/23.
ZERO SNOW AND GATE IS OPEN SO YOU CAN DRIVE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PARKING LOTS ABOVE THE CANYON SECTION.
Fishing Conditions: Excellent. No change since last week and its all good.
With the clear, cool days, the fish are feeding hard 10 am until 2 pm and they are not very choosy! Start with Midges, then go to Baetis Nymphs and dries if they start sipping on the surface.
Once the action gets going you can go "big and buggy" and they'll gobble flies they wouldn't even look at in summer.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
The fishing season for the June Lake Loop is closed.

KIRMAN LAKE, CALIF:
The fishing season for Kirman Lake is closed.

KLAMATH RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Conditions on the Klamath have been excellent. We are starting to see more and more adult fish in the net and fewer smaller Steelhead. Productive flies include Red Copper Johns, Rubber Legs, Champagne Redd Reapers, Clown Eggs, Shrimp Pink Micro Spawns!  
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

LAUGHLIN, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Colorado River: Anglers are finding good action for rainbow trout along Casino Row. While stockers are providing much of the action, anglers are catching some larger fish from the deep pools. According to the Arizona Game & Fish Department, one angler reeled in a five-pound rainbow.
Access to the Nevada side of the Colorado River below the bridge is limited by construction at Fishermen’s Access.

LEWISTON LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
The lake level is high, and perfect for finding rainbows unaware and perfect for finding cruising rainbows, sipping on mayflies, along the edges of the lake mid day.
Best results can be found fishing the current near where it starts to slow down and become lake-like.
Fishing streamers and leeches on a RIO Deep 7should get you into some of the more insistent rainbows. We recommend floating line for indicators and dry flies, RIO's AquaLux Intermediate Sink Fly Line for swinging and stripping flies at middle depths, and RIO's Deep 7 Full Sink Line for fishing streamers and leeches deep and fast.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Mammoth Lakes Basin is closed.

MARKLEEVILLE CREEK CALIF:
The fishing season for Markleeville Creek is closed.

MARLETTE LAKE, CARSON CITY & WASHOE COUNTIES, NEV:
The fishing season for Marlette Lake is closed.

MASON VALLEY W.M.A., LYON COUNTY, NEV:
The fishing season for the Mason Valley W.M.A. is closed.

LAKE MEAD, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
If you’re not fishing, according one lucky angler, you are missing some of the best fishing on Lake Mead in years.
Shad can be found throughout the lower basin.
Boulder Harbor is teeming with the bait fish and they can also be found in the Vegas Bay area.
Live shad and shad imitations are catching striped bass from Vegas Wash to Government Wash and 33-Hole.
The shoreline from the Hemenway launch ramp to the disabled fishing pier is also giving up stripers. Nothing huge but they are fat.
The action is slow at Temple Bar.
NDOW is asking anglers who catch stripers with a red floy tag to release them as soon as possible. The fish carry sonic transmitters and are part of a study being conducted by NDOW biologists. 

LAKE MOHAVE, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Fishing activity has slowed down in the Cottonwood Cove area, but those making the trip are finding some success for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Striper action has slowed significantly.
Willow Beach will challenge even the most experienced fisherman, but some anglers continue to catch double-digit stripers. The fish tend to key in on stocked rainbow trout, so large lures like the AC Plug or Spro are a good choice. For trout try Power Bait, Salmon eggs or small lures and spinners.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Upper Owens water conditions: Good. As of 12/23 flows have been stable at 76 cfs for a couple of weeks.
You can still drive all the way up to Long Ears as zero snow anywhere.
Fishing conditions: Good to Excellent. Small midge dries around mid day, with bigger midges subsurface.
Some bigger fish are still in the system. They'll go for a streamer midday.
Do keep moving if you aren't getting grabs anytime after 11 am.
Owens River Gorge water conditions: Great. Flow: 45 CFS.
This is a permanent flow required to be maintained by LADWP
Fishing conditions: Excellent and nice and warm on cool sunny days this time of year.
Lower Owens water conditions: Excellent. The flows are staying down and at 127 CFS as of 12/23. Wading is excellent.
Fishing conditions: EXCELLENT. Big hatches starting with Midges early then about 11 am the BWO action takes off. Fish are feeding hard midday.

PINE VALLEY COMPLEX, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NEV:
The fishing season for the Pine Valley Complex is closed.

PIT RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Conditions are great this week and the best bites are occurring mid-day, but mornings are not lacking in activity.
The best flies should be dark colored stone flies like Zack's Thurmanator Stone, Dark Lords in all sizes and of course the always reliable Pheasant Tail Nymph in # 14-18.
— Courtesy of the Fly Shop

POORE AND SECRET LAKES, CALIF:
The fishing season for Poore and Secret Lakes is closed.

ROOSEVELT AND LANE LAKES, CALIF:
The fishing season for Roosevelt and Lane Lakes is closed.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
River flows on the Lower Sacramento are 5,000 CFS and the weather has been fantastic!
Hydropsyche Caddis are hatching like crazy, so try attracting fish by using imitators fly patterns such as: # 14 Bird's Nests, # 14 Zaddis and # 14 Cinnamon Poopahs.
BWOs and Baetis are hatching tiny # 16-18 mayflies in olive and brown. Rainbows are on the hunt for eggs so try egg patterns in orange, peach, shrimp pink colors to try to attract one of those beauties.
Anglers have been having success with Alvins, leeches and Matukas in the riffles and tail-outs.
— Courtesy of the Fly Shop

SACRAMENTO RIVER (UPPER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishing is truly an adventure on the Upper Sacramento River!
Testimonies of success vary but we have got some success stories from fishermen near Shasta Lake in the mornings through mid day and near Dunsmuir in the late afternoon.
Insect hatches include BWOs and Baetis (basically small olive and/or brown flies in # 16-20). The best flies reported to throw are Zack's Thurmanator Dark Stone and Skwalla Stone, Pat's Brown Rubber Legs in # 6-8, # 16-18 pheasant tails, a selection of midges and a couple olive micro-mayflies.
— Courtesy of the Fly Shop

SILVER CREEK, CALIF:
The fishing season for Silver Creek is closed.

SMITH RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) ( HYPERLINK "http://www.dfw.state.or.us.com" www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The Smith is open to striped bass year-round, two fish per 24 hours, 24-inch minimum size. The Smith is now closed for trout fishing.
Steelhead will start entering the Smith as more rain occurs in the area. Most of the angling opportunity will be catch and release of wild fish; however, adipose fin clipped Coho and Steelhead can be harvested in the Smith.

TOPAZ LAKE:
The fishing season for Topaz Lake is closed.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishing the Trinity River is proving to be a welcomed challenge!
Some steelheads have given up waiting for the rain to come, and are now traveling the river, a perfect opportunity for a patient fisherman.
The weather is as clear and beautiful as the water, so don’t be surprised if you are sharing the river!
— Courtesy of the Fly Shop

TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
The fishing season for Twin Lakes is closed.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
The fishing season for Virginia Lakes is closed.

WALKER LAKE, MINERAL COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
No fish have been reported or seen at Walker Lake so far this fishing season.
Mineral County Road Dept. has done some work on the State Parks Launch. Launching is improved but you still need four wheel drive.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
East Walker River water conditions: Good, Flows fairly steady for several weeks and at 34 CFS as of 12/23.
Fishing Conditions: Good. Water is cold, but as soon as the water temp comes up a couple of degrees daily the Baetis start hatching in quantity and it gets good quickly.
Midges early as usual. Fishing continues excellent midday.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now and South Tahoe Now. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.