Mac the Naw: How do you like your trout? Regional wildfires make for smoked fishing experience

Hello fellow anglers. With all the fires in the region, smoked trout has a whole new meaning. Not many anglers getting out with the air quality in our area.

The only place I found this week with quality air was the Kirkwood, Calif., area. The Air Quality Index was only at 48 points on Wednesday, verse's 180 in Gardnerville. I can not stress the importance of regulations in place on our forest lands. There are no campfires, charcoal grills allowed outside of designated camp areas. No smoking except within a vehicle or designated camp area.

I can't tell you how many people I have seen hanging their arms out of their vehicles, flicking the ashes off their cigarette. Why they do that, I will never understand that type of mentality. I pray for the safety of our firefighters and their families. Here is a little report of what's going on in our local fishing area:

LAKE TAHOE: Mackinaw lake trout fishing has been very, very tough to great depending on the day. Charters are fishing in 80 to 160 feet right now with Dodgers and Minnows or Flashers and minnows. Bouncing bottom has been effective as they have begun to spawn and are territorial.

Bites are pecks or nips and 90 percent of them spit the hook upon netting. They are stuffed with shrimp, crawdads, and Kokanee salmon. Some limits and size ranges have been 2 to 8 pounds with the larger fish at 12 to 18 pounds. Kokanee Salmon of 8 to 13 inches have been reported taken off Camp Richardson in 150 feet or so. Some rainbows have shown up of Deadman's Point, Eagle Point, Emerald Bay and Sand Harbor in the 12 to 21 inch range with smaller stick baits or Sepps Flashers and worm. For more information call Gene St. Denis at Blueribbon Fishing Charters, 530-544-6552.

SPOONER LAKE: Located on top of Highway 50 between Carson City and Lake Tahoe. Samantha Duarte and her father Phil Duarte from Dayton fished the lake with great success. Well for Samantha it was, she caught her limit of rainbow trout. Phil did not tell me how many he caught. I have feeling he was to busy teaching and just enjoying the moment. But what better way to spend an afternoon than to fish with your kids.

CAPLES LAKE: The water level has gone down a few feet but both boat ramps are open. The lake was planted by EID with trophy rainbow trout this summer. The fishing has been very good over the last few weeks. With the warming temps recently, the bite has slowed down.

Many anglers from shore and boats are still bringing in 2-8 pound rainbows. The mackinaw bite has been fair to good for early morning anglers. The Caples Lake Resort boat ramp is open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. seven days a week. For more information stop by the Caples Lake Resort and general store. They offer boat and kayak rental as well as snacks, drinks and fishing tackle.

RED LAKE: Fishing has been very slow. A couple anglers reported a couple small rainbows on salmon eggs and Powerbait.

BLUE LAKES: A report from a fellow friend and angler. The fishing was very slow. They fished for a few hours without bites and left for other waters.

WOODS LAKE: The CDFW is scheduled to plant the lake with catchable sized rainbow trout in this or next week. Salmon eggs or green powerbait has been most productive.

BURNSIDE LAKE: The CDFW is scheduled to plant the lake this or next week with catchable sized rainbow trout. The road into the lake is a rough one, slow down and take your time.

CARSON RIVER WEST FORK CALIFORNIA SIDE: The river has fluctuated over the last few weeks. This due to the water being let out of Red lake. The CDFW planted the river this week with catchable sized rainbow trout. If you walk the river, you will find some of those 3-10 pound trout that Alpine County planted a couple weeks ago.

KINNEY RESERVOIR: The lake is scheduled to be planted by the CDFW this or next week. Due to fires in the area, this may be delayed.

HIGHLAND LAKES: Report I received this week was, they have evacuated all in the area due to the local wildfires. This was a precautionary measure.

EAST FORK CARSON RIVER: The water here has fluctuated a little over the last couple weeks. This is due to the water being let out of Kinney Reservoir. The CDFW planted the river this week with catchable rainbow trout. Alpine County planted the river last week with 1800 lbs of 3- to 10 lb rainbow trout. I would take a walk up and down the river as they have spread out over the last week or so. I would suggest to lighten up your drag a little and get ready for a good fight. Power eggs or salmon eggs have been most productive. Some anglers have been throwing small spinners with good success. For more information stop by the Carson River Resort.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The lake is at its peak with weeds. The fishing has been slow. But if you know how to fish the weed lines, you will be successful. This time of year is great for fly anglers using an olive or brown wooley bugger with a copper Jon right above it. For more information stop by the Creekside Lodge.

JUNE LAKE AREA: June Lake Marina (760) 648-7726 and Big Rock Resort (760) 648-7717. Laurie at Big Rock has a tip for those having trouble catching fish. When using sunscreen clean your hands before handling bait. Trout don't like the smell of sunscreen. Jeremy at Ernie's uses an old fish rag so his hands smell like fish. Check in with Dan or Adam at June Lake Marina about their fly rod indicator midge method. Adam gave me a tour of their Rainbow trout rearing pens. Very impressive!

They've resurrected a program by which they receive 1 to 2 pound Oregon Rainbows and hold them in the pens until reaching from 5 to 8 pounds and then periodically releasing into June Lake. This results in a consistent stocking of "Trophy Trout." These are now regularly being caught using standard bait methods or trolling 8 to 10 colors.

GULL LAKE: Gull Lake Marina (760) 648-7539. The Marina dropped in a load of 4 to 6 pound Oregon Rainbows July 25 so we're seeing these caught now along with limits of CDFW stockers.

SILVER LAKE: Silver Lake Resort (760) 648-7525. The resort has been bringing in loads of the "Oregonians" going all the way back to last August with more due in the next week. Hence, Silver has consistently produced a steady stream of 2 to 4 pound 'Bows all season along with resident Browns and an occasional Cutthroat.

RUSH CREEK: Along with the CDFW planted Rainbows and Oregon Rainbows that migrate down from Silver Lake bait and fly fishing is working well for some nice resident Browns. Last week a 1 pound, 10 ounce rainbow and 2 pound, 10 ounce were caught and weighed in at Silver Lake Resort.

GRANT LAKE: No phone. It's a good idea to visit Doug or Harold at the marina for helpful hints. They offer a good deal on two day boat rentals that allow for fishing into the evening and early, early the next morning which is what you want to do at Grant.

Like the other Loop Lakes they recently put in some Oregon Rainbows which has improved the bigger fish catching. Although Grant has been a bit slow for the resident Browns so far it seems to be picking up as the lake level as stabilized and should continue to do so as we approach fall. 'Ol Dan nabbed a nice four pounder drag'n a Flat Fish 7 to 8 colors lead core. For more information call Ernie's Tackle and Ski Shop at 760-648-7756.

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