Fishing report for March 21-27

Here is this week's fishing report covering rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon. This report is for the week of March 21-27.

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Surface temperatures are at 41.2 degrees, which is the highest to date. Clarity improved to 10 ft. The full moon this past week offers 24 hr. feeding opportunities. Slightly warming water has activity picking up.
Fishing the top 20 ft. of water is recommended early and most of the hits came off the 14 ft. deep offerings.
Lots of positive fishing on the Marine Band channel 69.
The reports have been good coming out of the Prattville area and the West side of the Peninsula from Rec. 2, north toward Baily Creek inlet.  
Strike Master Dodgers (SMD) in dark have been a success in deeper water for fishing Rainbows and Browns.
Plan ahead because a series of storms are headed toward the lake.
Fishing report provided by: D. Neal, www.almanorfishingadventures.com.

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Brian Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service (539-283-4103) (www.bigdaddyfishing.com) reports:
Plenty of water up here in Northeastern California with several days of rain and a little snow as the icing on the cake.
The recent line of storms have had plenty of moisture in them but the temps have been relatively warm keeping the snow level up around 6000 feet with some dustings as low as 3000 feet with just enough snow to turn things white. These storms will positively help out our water situation for the upcoming spring and summer.
Prior to the storms the bite at Almanor was holding solid and we were landing some quality fish along the lake's east shore under "Spring like" weather. The catch was made up of a mix of Bows and Browns from 2 to 4 pounds. These fish were actively feeding on Almanor's abundant pond smelt.
It has pretty much been the Arctic Fox show with the Tube Flies taking the brunt of the abuse from these fish.
With the storms forecast to clear I will be back on the water putting clients on fish during the exciting transition time between Winter and Spring, for those of you that have fished this time of year with me before, you know what that means.

ANGEL LAKE, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The road to Angel Lake is now closed for the winter.

BISHOP AREA, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Bishop area is closed.
 
BLUE LAKES, CALIF:
The road to Blue Lakes is now closed for the winter.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
The fishing season for Bridgeport Reservoir is closed.

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:
Higher flows this week should make for some good steelhead fishing once the river drops. This time of year anglers can expect a mix of spawned out and fresh fish. Anglers should always check the flows before heading out and try to fish when river levels are dropping.
ODFW is conducting a steelhead angler creel on the Chetco this year.
At times, these projects may interfere with an anglers fishing. 
Please be courteous to all ODFW personnel and volunteers.

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:
The fishing season for Eagle Lake is closed.

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

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Feather 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:
The lake is all open water now, early morning there may be some ice around the edges. Fishermen have been doing good at the dam and to the right of the dam, at Big Cove, and on the North end near Nightcrawler Bay.
They have been using nightcrawlers and/or Power Bait (white glitter, rainbow, and orange).
The road up to the dam has been plowed, but there are patches of ice on the road up to the dam, so be extremely careful. You still need a four-wheel drive truck to get around the lake.

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

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF:
The fishing season for Heenan Lake 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 ~35cfs as of 3/15
The road to the canyon section is clear and the gate has again been unlocked so you can drive right up to the parking lots.
No snow on the road to the interpretive section either.
Fishing conditions: Good to Excellent. The fishing in the canyon section has been pretty amazing the past week. Pretty big Mayfly hatches mid-day considering it's still March. Mainly Baetis.
Once the water temp comes up about two degrees the food bell rings and it is downright good for 3-4 hours daily.

JIGGS / ZUNINO RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Unfortunately, Jiggs has dried up.

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.

LEWISTON LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Callibaetis hatches are just starting to occur in Lewiston Lake.
Rainbow trout are showing numbers, some have been seen up to 16 inches in the lake. The fishing has been good most days, seems like the bite goes off when a front is approaching.
— 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.

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Anglers have picked up a few redtail surfperch on the beaches near Coos Bay and Bandon when the swells have been smaller. Sand shrimp or sand worms are a very good bait to use when fishing for surfperch. 
Fishing for bottom fish is open at all depths. Fishing for lingcod has been excellent when anglers are able to get out on the ocean.
Anglers may not retain Cabezon between Jan. 1 and March 31.
Fishing from shore near the rock outcroppings can be very good this time of the year for catching rockfish.
Be careful of slippery footing and sneaker waves. 
Bottom fishing will be closed outside of 30 fathoms starting April 1.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Upper Owens water conditions: Good to Excellent. As of 3/15 the flows are down to 78 CFS.
Road is open all the way up. 4X4 a must now and expect to get a wash job when you get back to town.
Fishing conditions: Good to Excellent.
Getting some reports of better results with streamers than nymphs.
Best bet would be to fish a size 16-18 attractor Nymph, with a much smaller 20-22 Midge or Western Coachmen below.
Mostly Nymphing but a 45 min hatch midday is typical. Maybe longer now with the expected warmer weather.
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.
Beautiful these days and lots of hungry fish to greet you!
Lower Owens:
Water conditions: Excellent. Notice how the flow report hasn't changed by even a tenth of a CFS in two weeks. 'Found out the gauge is stuck.
Actual flow is really about 125-150 CFS as of 3/15.
The latest first-hand info from LADWP is that the flows will be gradually increased until they reach 400 cfs then hold there indefinitely.
Warmer and longer days have brought water temps up. Wading and drifting are still good now so strike while the iron is hot.
Fishing conditions: Getting reports of clients hooking upwards 20 fish! Should continue to be good until they bump up the flows, but they're holding steady.
Midge clusters showing up as early as 9am, so start with small Midge patterns sub-surface or go with Griffth's Gnat up top.
Around noon the Caddis start to come off big time. To get your "one of the many" noticed try a surface emerger in the film .

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

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, CALIF:
J.D. Richey of www.fishingwithjd.com (916-388-1956) reports:
The river is on a rapid rise so there won’t be much fishing this week…the water level near Sacramento are expected to rise around 8 feet, so she’s going to be big & brown for awhile. That could, however, spark a sturgeon bite…along with coaxing some stripers into the system.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fly fishing in Redding has been great, excellent March caddis hatch. 
Fishing is wide open right now.
Fishermen are catching lots of wild rainbows, averaging 15 - 30 hook ups a day in the Redding  Anderson region. The Posse ground area of the Sacramento River has been off the hook, so to speak.
Flies working best now are Sucker Spawn # 14, Pheasant Tail # 14, Gordon Prince Nymphs # 16, Cinnamon Pupahs # 14, PMD's # 18,Black Silvies # 16, and Brown Micro May flies # 18.
Naturally, fish are hitting better on warmer days. 
Bonneyview to Anderson stretch doing well also. 
— Courtesy of Outdoor Adventures

SAN JOAQUIN/RED’S MEADOW, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Road closed.

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

SMITH RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Steelhead have arrived in the Smith River. Although most of the angling opportunity will be catch and release, a few hatchery fish have been reported. Only an adipose fin-clipped steelhead can be harvested.
Striped bass have been caught recently in the basin.

LAKE TAHOE:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbons Charters (530-544-6552) (www.blueribbonfishing.com) reports:
The Mackinaw fishing continues to be good when we can get out.
The Macks are running about 2-8 pounds with an occasional one in the double digit weight size.
I’ve been trolling 250-280 feet deep with Dodgers and minnows at the Tahoe City Shelf on the west side of the lake.

TOPAZ LAKE:
Chuck and Linda Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775-266-3550) reports:
Fishing has been decent, they are still catching fish.
There have been few people out on the lake.
The boats are using things such as Needlefish lure and pink colored flies.
Nothing big is being caught right now.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Good fishing is still happening.
A fisherman reported that it’s been great fishing a couple days ago!
Crowds are gone because the fishing typically slows down at this time of year on the Trinity, but this March 2012 has been an exception.
Take advantage before the storm hits because for now the Trinity River is a great option!
— 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 Lahontan cutthroat have been reported or seen at Walker Lake since 2009. 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:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
East Walker – West Walker – Sceirine Ranch - Hunewill Pond:
East Walker River: The flows are still holding at about 65 cfs this week and the fishing has been very good. We've had a lot of good reports in spite of the unpredictable weather. The best action has still been with small Nymphs and Midges though we have had some really good reports on dries and a few good 
reports on streamers.
The majority of fish being caught are in the 14 to 17 inch range with a few here and there that are going over 20.
Some patterns to try include Zebra Midges, WD-40, Flashback Emerger, GT Emerger, Midgeling, Para Adams, BWO, Zuddler, Sculpzilla.
West Walker River: Closed.
Sceirine Ranch: We haven't had any clients on the Sceirine lately but it should be fishing excellent as well. If you want solitude this could be a great opportunity!
Hunewill Pond: Closed.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) ( www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
The EW has been fishing as good as it gets with one caveat…The fish are concentrated in only the larger pools and deeper runs.  
It is not often you can stay in one section of the river for hours and continue to get grabs while Nymphing and fishing the predictable Baetis hatch after 1 pm.  I have seen pools holding well over 100 trout this week.
Release rates continue to be under 100 CFS out of Bridgeport Reservoir making wading and access very easy.
Start your mornings with Mayfly or Midge imitations in the # 16-22 range fishing with or without an Under-cator.
Keep an eye on the softer water especially in larger eddies for trout sipping emergers or midge clusters. I have found the surface action to be superior to Nymphing lately and far more consistent over the course of the day.
The Baetis hatch (BWO) is prime time and it sparks a feeding frenzy.
Pods of trout will appear seemingly out of no where and begin to feed in the foam on the adult mayflies, # 16-18.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
East Walker River Water conditions: Good. Flows are at 65 as of 3/15.
Fishing conditions: Excellent! Might start off a little slower in the morning, but it picks up by mid-day. Decent Baetis hatch after noon with fish sipping big (#16-18) flies on the surface. Fish aren't terribly spooky but keep fishing riffles and pocket water well downstream. The water is about as clear as it ever gets!