Fishing Report For the week of May 11-18

Here is the fishing report for the week of May 11-18. This report covers lakes, rivers and streams throughout Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra, and Southern Oregon.

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
Water surface temperature is at 48 degrees. Water clarity has improved in most areas to 6.5 ft to 8 ft. The word is excellent.
Trolling the east shore is still a big time fish producing area. Insect hatches have drawn in fish, and plenty of them. Browns Rainbows and occasional keeper salmon.
Doug Neal says he caught approximately 100 fish, released most, but caught the bleeders. He was trolling red and gold Shiners, florescent Rainbow Runners, and gold Pro Secrets with a generous application of blended Carp Spit, and Trophy Trout scents from Pro-Cure all got hits. Speed was 2.0 to 2.6 mph.
Others were trolling  crawlers and dodgers, and Needlefish tipped with a piece of a crawler.
Trollers are working the entire east shore, from Canyon Dam to Hamilton Branch and back. Fishing Pressure has been light; however the few boats we saw had nets going out.
The Branch is still running brown water into the north end of the east basin, but its staying there, allowing clarity to improve in other areas.
Big Springs is looking much better, and the A frame area has improved water clarity also.
Spring sunshine and warming water temperatures have the bugs really going off, fish are feeding all morning and into the afternoon.
Some fish are active early and we always catch a few early, but the pattern this last week is the bite really picks up after 8 a.m., when the sun hits the water it’s like ringing the dinner bell.
Work the top water early, 4 to 16 feet. down, and go deeper in the late morning 28 to 38 feet.
Fish sizes have been all over the scale from 8" plants, to 20" Kings, most of the Browns were in the 18" range, with Rainbows going to 20". No real big fish but lots of action, even smaller fish are very strong from all that bug protein and the battles have been wonderful with fish busting water and taking line.
Lake levels are rising, watch for floating hazards. Dress for cool mornings and sun bock in the afternoon.
— Courtesy of Doug Neal

BISHOP AREA, CALIF:
Rick and Patti Apted - Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760) 873-7425 reports:
Sabrina Lake: Wow, what a difference a week makes. Catching this week was great.
The temps on the Lake were down-right warm and with the warmer air temps, the ice is getting rotten. We say “stay off the Lake”, but did they listen, NO, off they went wading thru ankle deep water toward the already drilled holes from last week. Yes, a few got their limits, but I had the phone in hand ready to make that 911 call if need be – luckily, no one joined the Darwin Club this year.
The DingleBerry Inlet opened up quite a bit, with all baits and lures working, but it’s quite a hike getting back there.
One angler sent off at about 11 a.m., post-holed back fished for an hour – caught about 12 fish using a Kastmaster tipped with a worm – and waded thru crotch deep snow to get back to the Landing.
Jim Condry, John Condry, Dan Clayton and George Morris hiked back to Cooky’s Point and fished thru cracks in the ice while keeping their feet on firm soil and limited out two days in a row.
Mother Nature had to have a say on Her day today — we woke to SNOW. Temps dropped from our low of 46 Saturday morning (yes, 46 degrees was our low Saturday) to our high of 38 degrees on Mother’s Day. What a difference! Looks like temps are going to warm up toward the middle of the week, but a slight chance of showers (NOT SNOW) may be in store for us next weekend.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707 reports:
Bridgeport is still fishing pretty good, haven't heard too many good reports from the shore, just a fish here and there, but the boat fishermen are doing great. Trolling and still fishing have been good as well as some streamer fishing for the fly anglers.
Crawlers seem to be the best for bait though there's some fish being caught on Power Bait and Power Eggs.
For trolling it seems that anything orange has been good including Needlefish, Rapalas, Buoyants and Hot Shots.
There's also been some fish caught on dodgers and crawlers this week.
 
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 reports:
Water Conditions: Cold like 50 F except shallows.
Fishing Conditions: Nymphing is tough but streamer folks are doing well near the dam.
Warming weather this week should get the hatch going.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
Todd Sodaro of the Carson River Resort (877) 694-2229 reports:
West Carson River: High and muddy.
East Carson River: Fishing has been very slow, the water level came up drastically due to the warm weather and the water was a very brown color.
Yesterday, a six-year-old boy, Ryan Salberg of Meyers, California caught a 6-pound, 13-ounce rainbow trout on rainbow Power Bait.

CONVICT LAKE, CALIF:
Jen Heintzelman of Convict Lake Resort (800) 992-2260 reports:
Weather: Daytime highs will be in the 40's & 50's mainly with a possibility of breaking into the low 60's mid week. Night time lows will be in the 20's & 30's.  Sunday-Tuesday are predicted to be the coldest days with a chance of rain or snow but the rest of the week looks mainly sunny. 
Feel free to call us for a real-time weather report. Here is a local site that is usually quite accurate
Tactics/Bait: This week has been a bit lighter in the photo gallery due to not as many people fishing however the fishing has been excellent. 
A few folks with fish finders have reported seeing a lot of fish. 
We have seen some full stringers and the largest fish of the week, a 3 lb 9 oz caught by Mike Ulmer. 
Fish are being caught all around the lake with night crawlers, green/yellow Power Bait the most productive baits.  
Here is a list of other baits that are good to try: Rapala, Trout Teasers, Midges, Panther Martin, Thomas Buoyants, Green Woolly Bugger, White Mini Jig and Garlic Power Bait.
Trolling with downriggers 3-6 colors or 20 to 50 feet is a depth range to try.  

Stocking: DFG has been here this week. Next week we will provide Mono County and Convict Lake supplemental stocking plans.

Sunrise - Sunset: Sunrise this week 5:53am - 5:47am and Sunset 7:48pm - 7:53pm.

Derby News: Round-up at the Lake going on now until June 5th.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 reports:
Water Conditions: Crowley is cold and generally clear but not crystal.
Uniformly 47-48 F everywhere.
Fishing Conditions: Bait slingers and trollers failed miserably on Opening Day weekend and 100,000 lives were spared!
Fish were everywhere but nowhere with no weeds or warm water to hold a good concentration any one place.
Now that the "dust'" has settled try west side of McGee, Leighton, Sandy Point and Hilton Bay off Pelican Point. All holding big fish but you must be patient. 12 to 20 ft. depth and spread out. Look for staging spawners at the north end, in Whiskey Bay and in Crooked Creek.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
Still pretty slow. Three anglers in our boat hooked and landed four nice fish at Sandy Point on Friday. Stevie's Wonder gray or Stevie's M-80.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
Jim and Jeanne of the J & J Grizzly Store (530) 832-0270 reports:
The lake level is at 88 percent as of this morning.  Fishermen report trolling at 6 to 10 feet, using Dick Nite Copper Red Head, Red Rainbow Runner, and Red Dot Frogs have been the best. They reported that they caught 12 in about 3 hours.
Shore fishing nightcrawlers are producing the best results.
Fly fishing, nymphs and Jay Fair Wiggle Tails in Burnt or Cinnamon have been reported as the best. Mallard Cove and Coot Bay are fully accessible. 
Honker Cove boat ramp is in the water and open. West side road is still snow-packed at the turn-off from Lake Davis Road.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
The Truckee River Outfitters (775) 853-7368 (info@renoflyshop.com):
We have seen some great Midge hatches.
There has been some great fishing on the north end of lake with lots of fish 14 to 17 inches on Midge larvae and J Fair wiggle tails.
Still some fish with ugly stuff on them, but numbers are going down. Honker Cove boat ramp is in and access is open to Coot Bay, Mallard Cove and Lightning Tree campground and boat ramp. It is nice to be able to use Lightning Tree boat ramp for the first time in a few years.
West side road still a challenge, but we are predicted to have 70 degree weather next few days that may take care of that.
Special note: Both Grasshopper and Grizzly campgrounds will not open this year leaving only Lightning Tree (a self contained campground only) and the Grizzly Store campground.
There is some rough camping allowed on the West side in some spots, but a lot of people will be without campsites if they just show up. On a good note: this will reduce the lake traffic considerably.

FALL RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
We had some cold air moving through from the NE that can put the hatches and the fish off the bite. Expect the fishing to get better and better over the next week. Beyond that, there are good numbers of PMDs already beginning to hatch, especially from Island Bridge upstream, with the peak dry fly activity from about 10:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon.
There are some really big rainbows showing up right now slurping these tasty dry fly morsels, and since it's still early in the season they're not particularly tippet shy...yet!
With high runoff on many of the mountain streams, the Fall River is a super option this year for the month of May, and beyond!
Best fly/most fish ate: Green leech stripped on a type II uniform sink line through shallow water.
On Fall River in the month of May, expect hatches of pale morning duns that can carpet the river. Early spring hatches of this rainbow trout food staple produce some of the best dry fly fishing to be found anywhere!
A fly box during the month of May should have # 18 Tilt Wing Dun PMDs, # 18 Last Chance Cripple PMDs, Norman's Wiggle Tail PT # 16-18, Zack's Swimming Leech in black and olive, # 16-18 Micro Mays in brown and olive and last but far from least, you must have # 16-18 PT nymphs.
Fall River is such a diverse stream. Prolific hatches can keep most anglers opening their fly box in search of just the right fly for that hog that keeps poking it's nose up next to the bank.
Go to this river prepared with more than a few nymphs, dries and leeches.
Expect 16"-20" rainbows that will break your 6x tippet if not careful.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
Striper fishing has been good here and guide JD Richey says he has been seeing 20 to 50 fish days lately on jigging spoons and light tackle between Verona and Boyd’s Pump.
Unfortunately, with the slowdown of the Sacramento River, the flotilla of guide boats has been pounding this area since Friday and its getting crowded. He said he counted 51 boats in a 2-mile stretch over the weekend!
Most guys have been drifting or trolling live minnows but Richey’s been throwing artificials exclusively.
With the good bite down in the Sac Metro area, there may be more fish still to come up here, but the spawn is coming soon and that will chase most fish downriver pretty quickly.
Up in the Low Flow, the steelhead bite is dropping off considerably.
The Feather opens on July 16 to salmon fishing.
— Courtesy of JD Richey

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530) 993-4683) reports:
Catching brown trout in the creeks, and rainbow trout in the lake, fishermen have been doing well at the dam, and at or near Lunker's Point.
The east side of the lake has been excellent for trolling.
Using nightcrawlers that are inflated, salmon eggs, Power Bait (rainbow, chartruese), flies (Dark Lord, Prince Nymph) and various lures (Tasmanian Devil, Luhr Jensen), catching limits are not a problem.
Boat docks are in the water, campgrounds are open (except Big Cove), and the weather is getting warmer.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
The Truckee River Outfitters (775-853-7368) (info@renoflyshop.com):
Lots of anglers are finding fishing relatively fast and furious.
Some nice size rainbows are being caught along with the normal 13 to 15 inch fish. Probably the best bet in the Eastern Sierras right now.
Access is easier that Davis with most everything easy to get to.
There are some Midges around and fishing Zebra Midges under an indicator has been really effective.
The fish are very active and are eating just about anything.

HAT CREEK, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) reports:
Hat Creek has been fishing great! Water conditions are clear and wader friendly. Right now is a perfect time to fish Hat Creek!
Not known for huge numbers of rainbows brought to hand, Hat Creek has produced top quality fishing this week.
Bring your dry fly box and go hunting for rising fish!
Anglers should expect hatches of pale morning duns, green drakes, mahoganies, blue wing olives, Baetis, Caddis. Bring a fly box including Mercer's Missing Link # 16, Last Chance Cripple Green Drake # 12, Pseudo Mays # 18, Micro Mays # 16-18, Rubberlegs # 6-8. 
Fishermen are really looking forward to the salmon fly hatches on Hat Creek that start after warmer days in late May. 
For a fun challenge, try catching Hat Creek trout on as many tactics as you can: small indicators with Nymphs, swinging wet flies and/or streamers, and, of course, with a well-presented dry fly.
The Powerhouse #2 Riffle is one of the best spots on the creek, but also one of the most popular.
Anglers seeking a real challenge should sight-cast to trout in the fabled "carbon flats" section, and those looking for solace can hike into the freestone section just above Lake Britton. 
5wt rods are perfect. Have an extra spool loaded with a Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Clear Fly Line.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
Water flow jumped up to 55 CFS. Fishing has slowed.  Nymph fish with FB Pheasant Tails, gray WD-40's and Caddis larva and olive scuds.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 reports:
Water Conditions: Good. Flows have increased to about 45 CFS and water still clear as of 5/5.
Fishing Conditions: Excellent. Major hatches Midges early and BWO's midday. Some Caddis showing but fish aren't quite on the grab. Wait until the end of this week.
Guides are reporting like 30 fish per client . . . "It was stupid!"
Dry/dropper time for max body count.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
Grant – Gull – June – Silver Lakes and Rush Creek: Rush Creek flow is 176 CFS. Fishing is fair. Basic Nymph patterns like Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears and Prince Nymphs.

KIRMAN LAKE, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707 reports:
We've had a couple reports from Kirman this week and unfortunately they've been not so good.
The best report was from a pair of anglers who threw lures and flies for the better part of a day and were only able to get a couple of hits.
My guess is that the water is probably just a bit too cold just yet and within the next couple weeks it will start to get better.
If anyone has any different reports for Kirman let us know!!
 
KLAMATH RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
Flows are high at 3,820 cfs. Tough conditions! Fishing is tough too!
You can easily fish it from a boat; however, launching at Iron Gate will put you at Klamathon Bridge within a couple hours.
At these flows, if your guide isn't constantly pulling hard on the oars, the boat will be at Interstate 5 by lunch time. All this will change by the end of the month. All the snow we have has to melt. Not the best conditions for our old friend the Klamath River. 
Sub 2,000 cfs releases out of Iron Gate dam are best.
All the recent rain and snow has made this river, which is usually a solid bet at this time of year, not such a solid bet.
Wait for June and hope flows come down.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

LEWISTON LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
Good water conditions, fishing is good to great.
Huge fish lurk here! It's a blast when it's on.
Suspending tiny Midges, stripping Woolly Buggers and retrieving leeches on Lewiston Lake has produced some really nice rainbows in recent days and weeks. Use a full sinking type 7 line for fast, speedy retrieves, like Woolly Buggers cast to the shallow bank and stripped back through progressively deeper water. 
RIO's Auqua Lux Intermediate Sink Fly Line is a great all around line for slow or fast retrieves on Lewiston.
Insect hatches of Callibaetis are frequent.
Finding fish on the surface happens.
Fishing has improved as water clarity has improved. Funny how the fishing improves as the weather gets better. A knowledgeable guide is key to getting the results on Lewiston.
You can't go too small. Can you? When using indicators, the takes can be difficult to detect and grasp, and then the takes can be electric.
Successful indicator anglers keep the flies in the water, all the way to the backing, then low and slooooow retrieve.
Sink tip fly lines allow anglers to retrieve leeches and buggers fast or slow.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
George Lake - Mary Lake – Mamie Lake – Twin Lakes:
Some open water at Lower Twin. Water temps still very cold. Not recommended right now

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 reports:
George Lake - Mary Lake – Mamie Lake – Twin Lakes:
Fishing under ice with conventional gear.

MASON VALLEY W.M.A., LYON COUNTY, NEV:
Elmer Bull of Yerington reports:
Bass fishing has been really good at Hinkson Slough, if you know what you’re doing. We are currently in the process of drying up Bass and Crappie Ponds to rid them of thick vegetation.

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800) 720-ODWF reports:
Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has been good when the ocean has been “calm.” Concentrate your fishing near rocky outcroppings and drop-offs. Fishing for rockfish and lingcod outside of 40 fathoms is closed from April 1 – Sept. 30.
A few lingcod and rockfish are being caught along the jetties inside the bays. Effective baits to use for lingcod are bouncing a jig with a big plastic tail or bouncing a herring near the bottom.
There have been a few reports of surfperch being caught. To fish for surfperch look for places that have riptides or areas that has steeper beaches. Best fishing is usually on an incoming tide with ocean swells less than 6 feet. Sand shrimp or sand worms are great baits to use for surfperch.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
Upper Owens River: Water flow 86 CFS. The section from the Benton Crossing Bridge to the monument is still closed until the Saturday preceding Memorial Day.
The river from the monument to the mouth of Crowley Lake is open and some spawning fish from the lake have been moving in. Try San Juan worms or Bead Head Pheasant Tails.
The section above the Benton Crossing is still under special regulations. Fishing there is slow. Some Caddis activity.
Lower Owens River: Water flow 531 CFS.  Fishing is poor due to high water flow.


OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 reports:
Upper Owens River Water Conditions: As of May 5 flows are at 72 CFS above the Hot Creek confluence. Clear and warming some.
Fishing Conditions: Fair to Good. Fish are getting more active with each day and a few big guys are being nabbed but no high body count. Keep moving.
Fish are up in Big Springs but need a few more days of warm weather to get on the bite.
Nymphing, streamers, Midges early and Baetis midday.
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: Excellent. No stinging nettles yet and fishing has been great. Good place to beat the crowds. Take water along as it is hot these days.
Lower Owens River Water Conditions: Flows are still raging at 544 CFS as of May 5. Wading not recommended. Watch out for crumbling bank. Water is warming fast.
Fishing Conditions: Fair to poor. Try to find area's of slower moving water, and stay subsurface until the flows subside. Also try more towards Big Pine as river is wider with no banks.

PIT RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
The Pit River is still high and crazy! Water is dumping over the top of Lake Britton Dam into Pit #3. Too high. Guides are not suggesting fishing anywhere on the Pit River until early June at best.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Don Hettrick and John Holiday, both of Carson City, and Rich Bachle of Fernley trolled last Wednesday between Warrior Point and Sutcliffe. Holiday caught two small Cutthroats, the other two got skunked.

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
The Truckee River Outfitters (775) 853-7368 info@renoflyshop.com:
Report as of May 8, the water temps are up in the high 50’s now. Fish are starting to cruise in really shallow water. There have been some awesome days and some slow days mixed in.
The water is coming up fast in conjunction with the run-off coming down the Truckee River. The significance of the water coming up is it is getting very difficult to wade out to the ledges at certain beaches. Within the next week it will be impossible to get out to the first drop off at beaches like the Nets, Pelican, and Warrior Point etc.
The fish should be in shallow enough to fish the flats that will be 4-5 feet deep where we normally would wade through to get to the deeper drop-offs. Unless we get some really big wind storms to change the bottom it will be interesting to see how the rest of May plays out.
Fish are being caught on Maholo Nymphs and Midges in sizes 10-12 fished under an indicator or floater no-cater style. Stripping beetles and Woolly Worms with a shooting head is also catching plenty of fish.
The best days remain to be windy days with or without cloud cover. Mornings and evenings have been the most productive.
Pyramid is a strange lake to figure out. We find new spots and give up on old spots every year due to change in water levels. This year is no different.
The great thing is if you move around and try new areas you can fish alone on beaches that are on fire and have few anglers.
What a great place to fish. The techniques remain the same (if you know what they are) but the beaches change.
The next month or more should be awesome. Nymphing with a floating line and retrieving flies with a shooting head will all be working. The fishing should be good through May this year.
Hope to see you catching a fish of a lifetime at the lake!
We have plenty of guide availability if you give us some notice. We also still have all the Reno Fly Shop fly patterns for sale.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF:
J.D. Richey of www.fishingwithjd.com (916) 388-1956 reports:
The striper bite from Knights Landing to Colusa has been going great guns for several weeks now but things suffered a bit of a setback over the weekend as the water dropped and the fishing pressure increased.
The fish have moved downstream a bit and most folks jumped over to the Feather again.
The best bite lately has been down near Sacramento near the mouth of the American where bait dunkers have been seeing good scores of quality bass on sardines. There have also been plenty of shad at Freeport and Clarksburg.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
As the flows jumped up to 7,500 cfs on May 3rd a few fair reports came in.
Fair fishing does happen occasionally on the Sacramento River.
Don't be alarmed though! As of today, the fishing is good as always!
You might be surprised to know that this river is not affected by snow run off many of our regional streams are encountering.
Shasta Dam separates the top 20 miles of the Lower Sacramento from the spoils of snow melt. While other streams are high and off color, the Lower Sacramento between our home towns of Redding and Anderson provides ideal water conditions and productive angling all year!
Now, going below Cottonwood Creek, below Anderson, snowmelt can have an undesired effect on fishing conditions.
Stay between Redding and Anderson for over all best conditions.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

SACRAMENTO RIVER (UPPER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
The Upper Sacramento is flowing at 2,000 cfs near where it meets Lake Shasta. The fishing is tough!! This river is fast and dangerous! Snow run-off will prevent us from enjoying safe productive fishing. For now, we are expecting this river to drop to ideal levels in July.
The Upper Sacramento River in the town of Dunsmuir, CA. is high and fast, but we have heard a couple reports of dedicated anglers going for it, fishing along the edges of the river and finding a few fish.
We think it's best to wait until levels drop to reasonable flows.
Fishermen advise if you decide to fish, do your best to stay out of the river.
Don't wade into fast water.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

SAN JOAQUIN AND RED’S MEADOWS, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
Road is closed.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
Lots of water again this year! This is great for fishing conditions. 
Rainbow trout fishing is good. Catching Rainbows 40 to 60 ft deep, throughout the lake's main body, trolling using shad pattern lures.
Several beautiful Brown trout have been caught this week according to the guides. Some Salmon are being caught throughout the lake between 15 to 20 inches. Trolling using Cripp lures and Wiggle Hoochies.
— Courtesy of Outdoor Adventures

SMITH RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800) 720-ODWF reports:
The Smith is open to striped bass year-round, two fish per 24 hours, 24-inch minimum size. Fishing for stripers in the tidewater area should be good for the next several weeks.

LAKE TAHOE:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbons Charters (530) 544-6552 reports:
I had to cancel a fishing trip with Don Quilici and Kevin Law, both of Carson City, early on Monday morning due to white-out, blizzard conditions. It must be springtime in the Sierra Nevada Mountains!
North Shore: Fishing has been good when I can get out on the lake.
We’ve been getting our limits of average-sized (2-6 pounds) Mackinaw (Lake) Trout with larger Macks running up to 10-12 pounds.
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 reports:
It has been snowy and stormy out here.
It’s nice today but there is no one out on the lake.
There were some boat fishermen over the weekend but no limits reported.
Sore fishing has been real slow, especially on the north end.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 reports:
Fishing is tough! Current flows are way, way up! 11,000 CFS to be exact. The river has jumped its banks!
Flows will come down to 3,040 CFS by May 31st. Still on the "way to high" side of the spectrum.
In the neighborhood, good fishing reports are coming out of Lewiston Lake!
The Fly Fishing Only Section, above the Old Bridge located in Lewiston, CA. on the Trinity River is open, but fishing is tough.
Limited wading options exist at 3,040 CFS, but real danger exists. Swift water sustains the real possibility of being swept downstream and drowning.
For now, the Trinity River is offering a great river rafting experience!
Bring light fly rods, like the 2wt. or 4wt.
Leaders for dry flies should extend 10' to 5x. Monofilament.
Anglers will find stripping, swinging, suspending flies will produce lots of action in the river near the town of Lewiston. Anglers can park at the Old Bridge and walk down stream, finding rifle after run after pool to cast flies into and find fighting fins.
Heavier rods should be used for throwing sinking lines, like a 6 or 7wt.
— Courtesy of The Fly Shop

TRUCKEE RIVER:
The Truckee River Outfitters (775) 853-7368 info@renoflyshop.com:
The Truckee is only coming out of Lake Tahoe at 71 CFS. The problem is all of the creeks running into the Truckee between Tahoe City and Truckee are flowing hard. By the time the river reaches the Town of Truckee it is over 700 CFS. When it gets downstream to Boca Bridge it is over 2,500 CFS. It is really high and dangerous right now and should be avoided until the flows mellow out as the run-off tapers off some. It stays over 2,000 CFS all the way through Reno.
The good news is the river is getting a good flushing and should really help make this a great year once the river comes back down to fishable flows. This has been one of the largest snowpack winters in recent history so bear with us on the reports until the river becomes more manageable.
Here are the current flows as of May 8.
(Safe fishable flows in parenthesis).
Town of Truckee: 754 CFS (100-350)
Boca Bridge: 2840 CFS (anything below 650)
Farad: 3220 CFS (400-600)
Mogul: 3140 CFS (300-500)
Reno: 3360 CFS (350-500).

LITTLE TRUCKEE RIVER:
The Truckee River Outfitters (775) 853-7368 info@renoflyshop.com reports:
Flows are over 700 CFS. It is really high and out of the banks. There have been a few local anglers that know the Little Truckee pretty well that are catching fish even with the high flows.
If you are thinking about giving it a try you have to fish it more like a big river now. Fish the seams and edges out of the main current. Make sure to use enough weight to get your flies down and if you are Nymphing with an indicator, use one big enough to hold up the extra weight. Do not try to cross and stay out of the main current. It is running hard and can be dangerous to those who don’t know it very well.
Stampede is nearing capacity and the Little Truckee should be running high for a while.

TWIN LAKES AREA, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707 reports:
Upper Twin Lake – Lower Twin Lake – Robinson Creek:
The Twins have been fishing well this week, lots of fish in the 1 to 1.5lb range with a few showing up around 3 pounds.
Fly fishing with streamers and a Nymph dropper has been very successful as well as crawlers and power bait. There's also been some anglers doing well from the shore casting lures like Thomas Buoyants and Rapalas.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707 reports:
The Virginias are still doing great through the ice.
Jigging streamer flies or spoons has been good as well as jigging small jigs like a trout teaser. You can also drop a crawler down there or the new Berkley mice tails and have some great fun.
Most fish are in the 1 to 2 pound range with a few in the 2 to 3 pound range.

WALKER LAKE, MINERAL COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife 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, NEV:
The Truckee River Outfitters (775) 853-7368 info@renoflyshop.com reports:
East Walker River: Flows have been all over the map. Currently they are 268 CFS.
Bridgeport reservoir is full and I would imagine upper and lower Twin lakes are as well. Irrigation season is right around the corner and the flows could go up any time now. If you are want to fish the East Walker you should go soon and check the flows before you get in the car.
The East Walker is fishable right now but it could change anytime.
Be careful wading there are not too many spots that you can cross with the current flows.
Nymphing with a Stonefly and a smaller dropper like a Baetis or a Midge along the edges and out of the main current is a pretty good way to fish the East Walker when the flows are high. Streamers can also be effective.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707 reports:
East Walker – West Walker – Sceirine Ranch - Hunewill Pond:
East Walker River: The East is around 264 CFS today and has been there for a couple days now. Since they dropped it from about 375 it's really been fishing great!
Almost everyone we've talked to that's fished down there has done well.
It's still mainly Nymph fishing but there's plenty of different Nymph and Midge patterns working. To name a few: Zebra Midges, San Juans, Tailwater Tinies, Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Copper John, Birds Nest, GT Emerger, Flashback Emerger, and so on.
Lots of fish in the 14 to 18 inch range with a few showing up that are 20+.
We've also had some good reports form the Rosachi this past week, the slightly lower flows definitely help out the Nevada side of the river.
Same bugs seem to be working down there as on the Cali side. Not sure how the flows will be in the near future, but they sure are great right now!!
West Walker River: The West has been a little tough with the higher flows but for a few hearty anglers it's been producing pretty well.
The folks that are getting some fish up there are working the calmer portions of the river with crawlers or spoons and getting into some fish up to 2 pounds or so.
Sceirine Ranch: The ranch has been fishing excellent as well with this lower flow, you can go with slightly larger bugs down there probably due to the lower amount of pressure. Birds Nests, Princes, Flashback Emergers, Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns have all done well this week. There have also been a couple good reports on streamers like Zuddlers and Dungeons.
Hunewill Pond: Haven't had anyone on the pond yet.
Will post report(s) as soon as we have one!!

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760) 934-2517 reports:
East Walker River Water Conditions:  Flows back down to a more fisherman friendly 268 CFS.
Fishing Conditions: Fair to Good. The fishing was a little tough at the higher flows but should improve if the lower flows hold for a couple of days.
Fish being caught by guides and their clients toward the Nevada line. Streamers on the swing is still producing.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760) 934-6101 reports:
East Walker River: Water flow 268 CFS. Fishing here has been good this last week. Our recent trips to the Walker have been very successful. Check out the photo on our home page. Nymph fish with gray or black Midge pupa,WD-40's and  Prince Nymphs. The May Fly hatch has been strong not much surface activity.


YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AREA, CALIF:
The Tioga Pass Highway (California S.R. 120) to Yosemite (from the east side) is still closed. Tioga Pass has an elevation of 9,943 feet, making it the highest automobile pass in the Sierra Nevada.