Nevada and Northern California fishing report for week of Oct. 16

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Oct. 16.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:
John Voss of the Caples Lake Resort (209-258-8888) (www.capleslakeresort,com) reports:
Yes, It’s a 2 lb Rainbow caught October 13 by Nick Burruel, from Kirkwood, CA – at the dam on a mouse tail.
The fishing continues to be great!
Caples Lake Resort is OPEN with Cabin and Boat Rentals thru October 27.
Our gravel boat ramp is open 8 to 5 daily for small 14’ Aluminum fishing boats on trailers.
We welcome you to come on up and catch your limit, enjoy the crisp fall weather and scenery.
John Voss

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Chinook salmon fishing has been fair to good for anglers fishing the Chetco River bubble fishery. Weather has been the toughest part, with anglers fishing earlier in the morning doing the best.
The Chetco River ocean bubble fishery started Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 13. Anglers will want to check on the HYPERLINK "http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/coastal_salmon_seasons.asp" current regulations and ocean conditions before heading out.

CONVICT LAKE AND CONVICT CREEK, CALIF:
Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260) (www.convictlake.com) reports:
Hello Convict Lake fishing report followers!  
A great way to fish Convict Lake is with the fly and the bubble rig.
This past week a few guests was having great success with this set-up, so I decided to give it some attention on this report. This fly and bubble rig is another way to fish dry flies, wet flies, and streamers without using regular fly fishing equipment.
Using Marvel Fly Lures with this rig it a great substitute for streamers.
This rig has one big advantage over fly rods when fishing in a lake without a boat or float tube. You will be able to cover a greater distance and area off shore, where fly rods often have more difficulty.
The set-up involves a clear plastic bubble with a swivel or a Carolina Keeper above a 3-4 foot leader. I prefer to use fluorocarbon fly fishing tippet as my leader because it has a thinner diameter with greater strength (pound test).
Early in the morning and late are the best times for using a dry fly.
Only fill the bubble about ¾ with water and use a slow retrieve when fishing with a dry fly.
Streamer and Marvel Fly Lures can be used all day with good results.
When using streamers completely fill the bubble with water (no air) in the bubble and use a medium to slow retrieve but beware of the bottom to avoid getting hung up.
The fly and bubble rig also does very well in the back country lakes out of Convict Canyon. Below in the Tackle/Bait section you will find a list of preferred flies. Remember to set the hook with a short, sharp motion.
Good luck and tight lines!!

Catch of the Week: 
Congratulations Carlos Galvan of Crowley Lake, CA. Carlos was using a Tasmanian Devil and was posted up at the Jetty when he landed himself a 3 pound and 5 ounce rainbow.
Other Notable catches this week:
Gian and Gail Starinieri of Rolling Hills, CA with an excellent catch.
They landed a 2 pound 13 ounce rainbow using a nightcrawler.
They were fishing at the North Shore. 
Tactics/Bait: 
Tasmanian Devils and nightcrawlers were productive this week at the lake.
Also try using Mice Tails, Power Worms or Gulp Pinch Crawlers Garlic. The most successful Power bait colors were yellow and rainbow.
The North Shore and Jetty were the hot spots.
Other locations to try are the Inlet, South Shore, Outlet, West Shore, Creek, Handicap Pier and Hangman's Tree. 
Here is a list of other baits/lures that can be productive:
Tasmanian Devil, Trout Teasers, Panther Martin, Needlefish, Rooster Tails, and Bite-on Fury Shad on Power bait.
Here is a list of flies recommended with the fly and bubble rig:
Green or brown Marvel Fly Lures.
Dry Flies:
Adams, Female Adams, Cutter's Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators, Black/Red Ants, Sierra Bright Dot, Royal Coachman and Hoppers.
Streamers:
Wooly Bugger (black, brown, olive, or green), Mutuka (black, brown, olive, or green), Hornberg, and Muddler Minnows.
Wet Flies(Nymphs):
Prince Nymph, Flashback Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Zebra Midge (red and black), Copper John (red and copper) and San Juan Worm (brown or red).
Other Resources: 
View our Convict Lake Fishing Map and Fishing Rig Suggestion brochures.
Both brochures are available in the General Store. 
Derby News: Ambush at the Lake Fishing Derby for a chance to win $6,000 in Resort Prizes!
Also mark your calendars for the Morrison's Cash Bonus Weekend on November 1-3. $2000 in cash prizes.
Weather: 
Next week's forecast has the highs in the mid-50s and the lows in the low-30s. The fall colors should hold with the weather forecasted.
Make sure to check the National Weather Service site before heading out. Temps could rise or fall dramatically from day to day.
Here is the National Weather Service link that is usually quite accurate: 7-Day Forecast Convict Lake.    
Sunrise - Sunset: 
Sunrise this week 7:01 am - 7:07 am and Sunset 6:24 pm - 6:16 pm.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Fishing on the lake has been off and on.
Lots of smaller fish from recent stockings.
Try Stevie's Wonder  gray/black in 8-10 feet of water.


CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Kent Rianda of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water conditions:
Water temps are getting lower everywhere on the lake.
Algae is taking one last stab in the north end and the stringy stuff moves in and out so you've got to move sometimes.
WARNING-
The lake is much lower than previous years.
Watch out for Pelican Point which sticks out way into the lake.
Also the islands just north of there are popping out. Watch for buoys and go slow coming in when it is rough as buoys are small and tough to see in chop.
Fishing conditions:
Excellent, to good, to great!!!
Leighton Springs and Six Bays are giving up some large quality fish typical of this time of year in roughly 13 ft of water.
The other hot spot is Big Hilton, which has more smaller fish but a fat guy here and there in 8 to 11 ft of water.
See if you can sneak up on a weekday as 38 float tubes in North Landing and Green Banks Bay alone last Saturday but everyone caught a bunch of fish despite the need for rear view mirrors on the rubber Cherrios.

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Anglers having great success for rainbows this past week with those using green or orange power bait hauling in fish in the 11–13 inch range.
Those using small spinners and flies have also done well.
The bass action has slowed down quite a bit due to the cooling water temps, but fly fishers and casters throwing white with chartreuse or white with orange spinning lures still bring in fish.
The campground remains open with all facilities on-line.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Rainbow trout action has improved this past week with anglers using orange or green Power bait doing the best.
The bass and crappie action has slowed down with few fish being caught.
The campground remains open.

FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
Closed until the second Saturday in February, 2014.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530-993-4683) reports:
Fall fishing is picking up at Frenchman Lake.
8 rainbows were caught by 2 fellows trolling near the dam on 10/08/13. Their fish weighed 2 lbs each and measured 16 inches apiece.
They were using nightcrawlers and flashers.
There has been some confusion regarding what is being allowed at the lake and what accesses are restricted. If an area is not barricaded or locked, you may enter and use these areas. If the area is chained or access is otherwise blocked, do not use.
Wiggins Trading Post is open 7 days a week for all of your fishing and camping needs. Call us for updates at (530) 993-4683.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closes the last Saturday in October.

HOBART RESERVOIR, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Closed until May 01, 2014.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow is down to 5cfs.
Try a hopper or stimulator  with a buckskin nymphs caddis pupa or small pheasant tails as a dropper. Some decent dry fly fishing in the afternoon with CDC caddis and Hot Creek caddis.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Kent Rianda of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water conditions:
Flows at 5 CFS as of 10/10. Clear-weedy.
Fishing conditions:
Good. With the fall upon us, crowds are gone, the temps are low, making fishing ideal for the hard core anglers.
Nymphing is good. Make sure to keep ur set up short.
Because of the cold snap, a lot of the weeds have started to die, making nymphing way easier.

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

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Grant - Gull - June - Silver Lakes and Rush Creek:
Silver Lake still seems to be the best for float tube fly rodders fishing black or purple woolly buggers on full sink lines doing  well.
Rush Creek flow is 36cfs.
Royal coachmen, elk hair caddis, prince nymphs and copper Johns.

LAUGHTON, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Colorado River:
The boundaries for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area end just below Davis Dam so fishing opportunities the river offers are available for anglers.
Catfish are still biting hard and those throwing out a line have reported bringing in fish in the double digits.
Anchovies have been the most versatile bait bringing in the catfish as well as trout. Some of the holdover trout brought in were over three pounds.
Out of the Topac marsh, limits are being caught of largemouth bass.
Small spinners in light green have been most successful.
With the cooler weather coming in, striper action should also pick up.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
George Lake - Mary Lake – Mamie Lake – Twin Lakes:
Try Lake George with Doc's Twin Lake Special black or brown.


MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Kent Rianda of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
George Lake - Mary Lake – Mamie Lake – Twin Lakes:
Water conditions:
Clear.
Fishing conditions:
Good. Still some stocking going on. with this cold snap the fish should be a little bit more active. Still nymph around the points along the shore line and dry fly around structure like down logs or big rocks. If in a tube, use a type 3-6 sink line and pull a streamer with a trailer about 12"-16" apart.

MARLETTE LAKE, CARSON CITY & WASHOE COUNTIES, NEV:
Closed until July 15, 2014.

MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE MANGEMENT AREA, NEV:
Hinkson Slough - North Pond - West Walker River - Crappie Pond:
Closed until the second Saturday in February, 2014.

LAKE MEAD, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Due to the federal government shutdown, all national recreation areas are closed.

LAKE MOHAVE, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Due to the federal government shutdown, all national recreation areas are closed.

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The recreational Dungeness crabbing is open in the ocean.
Crabbing has been better in the ocean than inside the local bays.
Fishing for bottom fish including rockfish, lingcod, and cabezon is now open at all depths. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish and a separate daily limit for lingcod (two). Retention of 1 cabezon per day is still allowed.
Chinook salmon fishing in the ocean remains open until Oct. 31.
The ocean has been extremely rough the past week making it difficult for anglers to get out.
Fishing for coho in the ocean closed on Sept. 30.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Upper Owens River:
Flow has lowered to 57 CFS.
Special regulations still in effect. upstream of the Benton Crossing Bridge and from the monument to Crowley Lake.
The section from the bridge to the monument is closed.
Fishing is fair. Try egg patterns, San Juan worms, Prince nymphs and copper John's.  Elk hair caddis or cdc caddis on the surface.
It's important to cover lots of water as the fish are scattered
Lower Owens River:
Water flow is down  a bit to 198 CFS.
Fishing is good Try WD-40's,  pheasant tails and hares ears.

PAHRANAGAT WILDLIFE REFUGE, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Anglers are finding some success at the upper marsh for panfish and catfish.
Mealworms or nightcrawlers below a bobber will catch fish.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF:
JD Richey of JD Richey Guided Sportfishing (916-952-1554) (www.fishwithjd.com) Reports:
There are plenty of salmon rolling through the lower end of the river and trollers pulling plugs and spinners between Isleton and Sacramento have been seeing some nice chromers.
Guide JD Richey just got back from the Trinity on Saturday and hit the water Saturday for some nice chromers near Freeport.
He said that the boat pressure was high but he bobbed and weaved and stayed ahead of the crowd and caught fish pulling silver/chartreuse K14′s. He’ll be on the Sac until sometime in November.
Upriver, the action at Verona has slowed but there are good days on darker fish around Ord Bend & Hamilton City.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF:
Rick and Tresa Kennedy of Tight Lines Guide Service (888-975-0990) (www.fishtightlines.com) report:
I had a day with just Dan Vasquez from Antioch on Tuesday 10/8, and we decided to try the Clarksburg area.
We had 6 hook ups and Dan landed two chrome King Salmon. They weren’t the biggest but they sure were bright and produced some beautiful filets.
The chrome / green head Yakima Bait M2 Flat Fish wrapped with sardine was what they wanted on this day.
I also tried some T50′s but they didn’t seem to like the larger plugs.  
We were using our Abu Garcia 5500 line counter reels teamed up with Berkley IM8 Air Rods to get all the lures working the same distance behind the boat while trolling down Sacramento River Salmon Fishing.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, CALIF:
Kent Rianda of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water conditions:
7 CFS as of 10/10.
Fishing Conditions:
Good. River is still fishable even with the low water level. Dries are better than nymphs. Smaller the fly the better chances on getting some action.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER/RED’S MEADOW, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Flow is up to 8 CFS. The river is  lowering and the fish are spooky.
Try attractor dry flies like stimulators, sierra brite dots and royal wullfs.
Recent snow could affect road closures.

TOPAZ LAKE:
Closed until January 01, 2014.

WALKER LAKE, MINERAL COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
No new updates. No Lahontan cutthroat have been reported or seen at Walker Lakes since 2009.
Launching is not possible right now.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow has been up and down and is currently 27 CFS.
Fishing is tough. Midge patterns, baetis emergers and pheasant tails.
Early am or last hour of the day.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Kent Rianda of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water conditions:
Flows up to 27 CFS as of 10/10.
Fishing conditions:
OK. Flows are still low and inconsistent, but the fishing is OK.
Only thing making this place fishable is the temperature.
The fall season is upon on us so the water temp is staying cool enough for the fish to feel comfortable. River is a little green due to the reservoir being so low. Nymphing is preferred, but dries will work certain times of the day.

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