Mac the Naw: Summer fishing in full swing at Tahoe and Sierra lakes

Hello fellow anglers, If you are planing to take an adventure to Alpine County this weekend, remember the Death Ride bicycle event is on Saturday, July 8. There will be some temporary road closures on Monitor and Ebbetts passes south of Markleeville. Yes, Ebbetts Pass is now open. Most any place you go in Alpine County this weekend there will cyclists on the road.

Slow down and give them plenty of room. We are all out for the same reason, to enjoy the outdoors in our own way. Some people hike, some bike, while others fish. For those who fish, here is your local fishing report:

LAKE TAHOE: The transition has started from spring to summer fishing. You may have to work a little harder for the mac's. Most have come in at 1 to 6 pounds with a few in the 7 to 19 pound class. Best action has been the Tahoe City shelf or the Sugarpine Point area. Dodger and a minnow is most productive. The Chrome dodger and a white flatfish has also been productive. Anglers have been fishing 100 to 180 feet of water. For more information call Blue Ribbon Fishing Charters at 530-544-6552.

SILVER LAKE: Fishing has been fair for anglers giving a good days work. The boaters have been trolling near the water falls with Rapalas for mackinaws in the 1-3 pound class. Last week Tom Blotter from Minden caught a 6 pound 24 inch mackinaw on an AC Skinny. I have not received any reports for the brown action this week. The water level is still high and the ramp is open. Watch your depth finder to see those sudden rise and falls through out the lake. Shore angling has been slow for the last couple weeks.

CAPLES LAKE: The water level is up to within a few feet from the full mark. The county ramp is open from 7-5 seven days a week. The Caples Lake Resort is is open 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. They have a general store and boat launch and rentals. I fished with Tom Blotter last Saturday, we had fair luck trolling Rapalas. I caught three small rainbows and Tom hooked a nice 3 pound mackinaw. This last week Ken Salvi caught a 24 inch, 4 pound Brown on a wooly bugger fly at Emigrant Creek. Nicolino Azzallini Caught a 3.5 and a 5 pound mackinaw trolling a broken Back Rapala. The CDFW planted the lake last week with catchable rainbows. For more information call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.

WOODS LAKE: Road closed.

BLUE LAKES: The road is open to Charity Valley approx 7.5 miles in. The road is scheduled to be open to the lower lake by the middle of July, while the upper lake will not open until August.

BURNSIDE LAKE: The road is open. I would use caution driving in as the road did not winter very well.

WOLF CREEK AND LOOPE CANYON RD: Close indefinitely due to winter slides and erosion.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The lake is up and the weeds are growing fast. In 10 days the weeds grew a foot. Fishing has been good for shore anglers. Powerbait or inflated night crawlers. Fly anglers have done well with wooly buggers or small streamers. The surface temperature last week was 74 degrees. I would recommend to fish the early or late bite.

WEST FORK CARSON RIVER CALIFORNIA SIDE: The river is running at very fishable levels. CDFW planted the river last week with catchable rainbow trout. Alpine County planted last week with 1,000 pounds of 12 inch to 5 pound rainbows. Many anglers have done well with salmon eggs or small spinners. For more information stop in Todd's Bait and Tackle.

EAST FORK CARSON RIVER CALIFORNIA SIDE: The river is still running to fast for the state and county to plant. last week it was running at 2,000 cubic feet per second. No reports have come in.

MARKLEEVILLE CREEK: The river is running very fishable. Alpine County has planted the river over the last couple weeks with 1,800 pounds of 12 inch to 4 pound rainbows.

ALPINE COUNTY BACK ROADS: Forestdale to the bridge(4 wheel drive only) and pleasant Valley road is open. Schneider Cow camp, Highland Lakes, Silver Hill and Poorboy is closed.

JUNE LAKE LOOP REPORT: Grant Lake: Grant is the place to go in The Loop to target larger Browns with rainbows and cutthroats too. Last summer a 20 plus pounder was caught and released on a mice tail believe it or not. The best approach for these bigger fish is trolling early and late grabbing 3-4 pounders with an occasional "toad" being hooked. Tazmanian devils, Rapalas, wedding rings, and needlefish are working. Check in at the marina for patterns, location, and depth. Ritchie and Tom at the dock suggest taking a rental boat up deep into the Rush Creek inlet and using current to drift fish targeting the now submerged creek channel.

Rush Creek: Rush is still flowing high but can be fished using caution. Bait fishing is restricted to the slower moving water primarily with night crawlers. Best bet is lure fishing with Thomas Buoyants, Panther Martins, and Kastmasters. Heard some reports lately of good success throwing Vibrax blue fox lures.

Silver Lake: Lake is full to the brim reducing the available shore fishing so best to grab a boat from marina or bring a tube, kayak, whatever. When on the shore try the Alger Creek inlet area. When "floating" hit the east side near cabins and Rush Creek inlet. Guys at the dock say it's been good because CDFW planted 3 to 4 pound rainbows. Oregon Rainbows put in during recent weeks. Garlic Powerbait is working best along with usual suspects of floating baits, night crawlers, and lures. Stop by or call Ernie's Tackle and Ski Shop in downtown June Lake for all the latest report. Call (760) 648-7756.

Special note for Alpine County. Due to fire danger, there will be no campfires outside of designated camping areas. There will be no shooting east of Highway 89 from Monitor Pass to Markleeville.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you get a photo of your catch, send it to jeff@carsonnow.org. Have a question or a report in our local fishing area call the Naw line at 775-267-9722. Good fishin" and tight lines.