Fishing Report For the week of March 2

Here is the Northern Nevada and Northern California fishing report for the week of March 2:

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:
Doug Busey of Douglas County reported: There is way too much snow on top of way too much ice for me to ice fish.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:
There was a great striper bite in the lower Feather there for a while earlier in the month but that has since tapered off. A few fish are still kicking around but you’re going to have to work a lot harder now.
Upstream, there are some steelies around.

Winter is back in full force on the Feather River and steelhead fishing remains in a slowdown. We are in between runs and we have not seen any late run fish show yet as of last weekend. Most of the fall run fish that are here are spent and starting to move downriver.

There have been few anglers fishing below the hatchery. There continues to be a few fish caught on nightcrawlers and various worm baits by bank anglers fishing just below the Table Mountain Bicycle Bridge, mostly dark fish that have been through the hatchery cycle, along with a few young steelhead.

The water upriver has taken on a nice slate green color after recent rains with about 3 to 4 feet of visibility, however, the temperature in the Low Flow has dropped and is now between 45 and 47 degrees as a result of the recent cold, rainy, snowy weather.

Fly fishers should try using a variety of Nymphs and wet flies; salmon fry patterns, Caddis, Mayfly, or Stonefly Nymphs, fished on light line 4x or 5x, leaders underneath a strike indicator, with split shot.

Some fly casters are swinging streamers with a little success.
Lately the colder water makes a slow presentation necessary for the lethargic fish. Look for the bite to pick up as the water temperatures rise.
Spin casters have been catching fish on ‘crawlers, small spinners or spoons and small plugs fished on 4 to 6-pound line.

Various trout worms have been effective baits in natural, pink, or red colors, either rigged to drift, or cast on a small jig head.
Steelhead catches on the Feather lately averaged 2 to 3 pounds, with fish up to 6 pounds, with an occasional larger adult to 10 pounds present in the river; however 99 percent of those are dark post spawn fish.

Feather’s Low flow is running at 700 CFS with 1100 CFS being released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet along with local effluent runoff for a total of 2100 CFS below the outlet with 4500 CFS coming in from the Yuba and 2700 CFS from the Bear River for a total of 9300 CFS at Verona.
Courtesy of JD Richey and Craig Bentley.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:

Reports show no ice on the lake. The high winds blew most of the ice off of the lake. A couple feet of snow have fallen and the temps have been below freezing at night.

Fishermen can get to the dam, but going around the lake is nearly impossible without a snowmobile.

Fishermen are making it to the shore by the dam and are catching 15 to 18 inch Rainbow trout using nightcrawlers and Power Bait of all colors. Courtesy of Wiggins Trading Post.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 www.performanceanglers.com reported:
Water flow is 13 CFS. Fishing slowed with the recent series of storms. Fishing should improve with nicer weather in the forecast. 


HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 www.thetroutfitter.com reported:
Water Conditions: Good. Flows are steady at about 23 CFS as of 2/24.
Paved road to entrance of Hot Creek ranch is plowed and dry. 
Access to the canyon section and Interpretive Center sections are a walk over new snow — skies or snowshoes required.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Excellent but Tough Access.
Fish subsurface with midges and baetis patterns.
Not much dry action except midday for about 1/2 hours.
Body count is excellent for those willing to make the hike over the snow.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (866) 694-2930 www.woodfordsstation.com reported:
There is ice on Indian Creek somewhere under five feet of snow.
In addition, it is extremely cold and there is nothing happening anywhere.
We had five feet of snow, right here at the store.

KLAMATH RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:

The only place to fish right now, following the rains, is up top.
The water near the I-5 Bridge is in nice shape but there’s hardly a soul (if that) fishing at the moment. Down below, you’ll have to wait for things to clear out.
Courtesy of JD Richey. 

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 www.performanceanglers.com reported:
Upper Owens River:
Water flow 126 CFS. Closed from Benton Crossing downstream to Crowley Lake. Open to fishing upstream from the Benton Crossing Bridge.
Barbless artificials only. Zero limit.
A little slower with recent snow storms.
A few Mayflies and Midges hatching sporadically. Parachute Adams on the surface and WD-40's and small flashback pheasant tails under the surface.
Lower Owens River:
Water flow 85 CFS. Cold and snowy weather of late have the fish off the bite. Mayfly hatch should improve with nicer weather in the forecast.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 www.thetroutfitter.com reported:
Upper Owens River Water Conditions:
As of 2/24 flows are steady at 126 CFS above the Hot Creek confluence. Water is cold and clear. Access is over several feet of new snow — walk along the bank for least depth.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
Tough. Recent snows put the winter game back into effect.
The good news is there are some bigger Crowley fish moving up the river to get out from under the ice where there is some food hatching.
Mostly nymphng and streamers.
Owens River Gorge Water conditions:
Great. Flow: 45 CFS. This is a permanent flow required to be maintained by LADWP. Water is clear and cold.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good. Possibly a good bet but a little snow on the trails down. Be careful.
Lower Owens River Water Conditions:
Flows are steady at about 85 CFS as of 2/24, perfect for wading. Water is pretty clear and has yet to go back down in temp with recent snows.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
Excellent. Clients having excellent fishing when it is not raining or snowing.
Midges coming off early and late and if it warms up (not in forecast for until after the weekend) the big BWO hatches will return.
A Caddis or two have also been showing midday so if you see some go to a fat Pheasant Tail — a perfect pattern to match the Caddis pupa subsurface.

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775) 476-0555 www.fishpyramid.com reported:
Fishing was pretty good over the weekend for the few who braved the cold. Sunday was the best day.

The fly guys killed them over the weekend with white Woollies and Beetles.
Some nice fish were being caught and released.

George (Cutthroat Charters) was out last week and caught fish but nothing big enough to brag about.

RED LAKE, CALIF:
Doug Busey of Douglas County reported: There is way too much snow on top of way too much ice for me to ice fish.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:
Fishing will remain good throughout the winter months.
The trout and bass are near the surface, and anglers are finding them in the top 12-15ft of water.
Even though most of the tributaries are currently closed that feed the lake, the trout are going to be concentrated near those inlets.
A boat is a good idea to cover the most water.
Bring a selection of lines from a floating to fish nymphs under an indicator, or sinking lines to fish streamers and leeches.
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

LAKE TAHOE:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbons Charters (530) 544-6552 www.blueribbonfishing.com reported:
North Shore:
Same report as last week: When we can get out, we’ve been getting limits of Mackinaw Trout (2-6 pounds), with a few larger Macks running up to double digits in weight.
We have been trolling at The Tavern Hole, Cal Neva Point, Dollar Point and Sugar Pine Point, 110-220 feet deep, with either Dodgers and minnows or Dodgers and large Trophy Stick lures.
East Shore:
Shore fishing at Cave Rock Landing has been slow for small rainbows and an occasional brown or Mack.

TOPAZ LAKE:
Chuck and Linda Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina (775) 266-3550 reported:
Nobody has been out fishing; it has been cold, snowy and icy.
We got two feet of snow, here at the marina.
I saw one person way over the north shore last week.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 www.performanceanglers.com reported:
East Walker River:
Water flow 112 CFS. Fishing is picking up. Nymph fish with golden stone fly Nymphs and gray or red Midge pupa.