Outdoors with Don Q: California's second Free Fishing Day

The second Free Fishing Day in 2013 in California will be Saturday, Sept. 7. The first was way back on Saturday, July 6.

On Sept. 7 you will be able to fish wherever you like without the need for a fishing license. However remember that you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever water(s) you will be fishing.

Be sure to obey those rules and regulations, and don’t do something illegal. If you do, and if you get caught, it could be a very expensive experience.

If you would like to fish on that second Free Fishing Day, and don’t know where to go, here are some suggestions on where to go:

ALPINE COUNTY AREA
Upper and Lower Blue Lakes:
They are reached by a 12-mile, paved road from S.R. 88 in Hope Valley.
You can catch brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout.
Shore fishermen usually use inflated nightcrawlers.
Boaters usually troll with flashers and small lures.
On holidays, you could expect to find this area to be super crowded with fishermen, campers, hikers, bicyclists, camp trailers, fifth wheelers, etc.
The two lakes have four campgrounds: Lower Blue Lake (16 units), Middle Creek (5 units), Dam Site (25 units), and Upper Blue Lakes (32 units).

Caples Lake:
It is along S.R. 88 between Kit Carson Pass and the Kirkwood Ski Resort.
The lake contains brook, brown, cutthroat, Mackinaw and rainbow trout.
My favorite shore fishing location (spincasting with small lures) is on the far side of the lake, just below the hiking trail that leads to Emigrant Lake.
On weekends the area where Woods Creek flows into Caples Lake will be crowded with a mix of closely grouped shore and boat anglers.

East Carson River and West Carson River:
Both of them are planted with a combination of planter-size rainbow trout by the California Department of Fish and Game, plus super-size rainbows (up to 6-7-8 pounds) from a private fish hatchery in Susanville, which has been contracted to do so by the Alpine County Fish and Game Commission.
As a special tip, you might want to fish the deeper pools and holes downstream from the bridges on those two rivers. Those bridges are the preferred locations for planting trout from the planter trucks.

East Carson River Special Restrictions:
The area from Hangman’s Bridge, just out of Markleeville, all the way downstream to the Nevada state line has special restrictions.

Indian Creek Reservoir:
This reservoir is stocked on a regular basis with planter-size by the state and super-size rainbows by Alpine County.
Fishing is best in the deeper water with artificial flies or lures from a float tube, canoe, inflatable raft or small boat.
If you camp at the Indian Creek Bureau of Land Management Campground, be advised that it has hot showers! That’s my kind of camping!

Red Lake:
This lake is situated at the foot of Kit Carson Pass on S.R. 88.
This lake contains brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout.
The far end (away from the parking area) is a favorite location for fly fishermen in float tubes, who fish in shallow water.
Shore fishermen tend to favor nightcrawlers (try inflating them) or various colors of Power Bait while fishing from the dam.
There are no launch facilities for boats.

BRIDGEPORT AREA
Bridgeport Reservoir: 
It is a short distance east of Bridgeport via Calif. S.R. 182.
The reservoir can produce some impressive rainbow and brown trout.
Shore fishermen generally do best near the dam by using various baits such as nightcrawlers (try ‘em inflated), Power Bait or red Salmon eggs.
Boaters generally do well by trolling flasher blades with either nightcrawlers or small lures such as Flatfish or Rapalas, down the middle of the reservoir from the Marina toward the dam.
Fly fishing from tubes produces action for those using Midges, Damsels, Pheasant Tails or soft hackles. Nymphing under an indicator, Scuds, San Juans, leeches, and perch patterns or any other bait fish pattern also work.
This reservoir is prone to being very windy, beginning in the mid-mornings, so you better get up early to catch your fish before the wind comes up.

Upper and Lower Twin Lakes:
The two lakes are about 11-12 miles west of Bridgeport, via a paved road, and lie at the base of the spectacular Saw Tooth Ridge.
I recommend either or both of these lakes for fishing from a boat. If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry, both lakes have rental boats for hire.
The lakes contain rainbow and brown trout, plus small Kokanee salmon.
The last two California state record brown trout (25+ pounds) came from each of these two lakes.
Here is a hint on how you might tie into one of those behemoths: Troll deep and slow along the steep drop-offs at either lake, with any lure that looks like a small rainbow or Kokanee salmon (the brown's favorite food).

EBBETT’S PASS AREA
Kinney Reservoir:
Near the top of Ebbett’s Pass on S.R. 4.
Kinney is reached by a narrow, winding and steep highway that is not recommended for large vehicles or those who are faint of heart. If you are afraid of heights, don’t look down…it’s a long ways down!
The reservoir has brook and rainbow trout.
Some of the better shore fishing is to go across the dam and then to the far end. Once there, use nightcrawlers or bright colored Power Bait.
This lake is prone to being windy in the afternoons.

PLUMAS COUNTY AREA
Davis Lake:
From Carson City, take a combination of U.S. 395 & I-580 to Reno, and then U.S.395 north to the Hallelujah Junction with California S.R. 70.
At that junction, take S.R. 70 west to Vinton and Beckwourth and finally to a junction with Grizzly Road.
Turn onto Grizzly Road and travel about five miles to Davis Lake.
The trip to Davis Lake is a 1.5 hour drive (one-way) from Carson City.
Davis has good fishing from shore, float tubes, canoes or boats for rainbows that can go up to 5-6-7 pounds.
If you like to fish from shore or from a float tube, try Camp No. 5 on the west side or way up at the very far north end of the lake.

If you have a boat, troll with flashers and lures around the big island or between the big island and the east shore boat ramp.

The Davis Lake area offers camping at a number of U.S.F.S. campgrounds, boat ramps and fishing from shore, float tubes or boats for rainbow trout.
If you forget to bring something or would like to eat out, visit the J & J Grizzly Store and Frosty on the south end of the lake.

Frenchman Reservoir:
It is reached by a paved road from Chilcoot, which is on S.R. 70, between Hallelujah Junction and Portola.
The reservoir has both good shore and boat fishing for rainbow trout.
The area near the dam is popular with both shore and boat fishermen.
If you would like to fish at Frenchman, be sure to stop at Wiggins’ Trading Post in Chilcoot for the latest tips on where to go and what to use.

TRUCKEE AREA
Stampede Reservoir:
This reservoir is a short distance off I-80, just east of Truckee.
The reservoir offers boat fishing for some of the best Kokanee Salmon fishing in this area, plus rainbow, brown and Mackinaw trout.

If you’re interested in fishing for the Kokanee Salmon, be forewarned that they do not like sunlight. You will have to be up at “Oh Dark Thirty” to fish super early for these wily fish, as they gradually retreat into deeper water as the sun comes up. You are usually done for the day by about 10 a.m.
You’ll have to troll at fairly deep depths (50-60-70 feet) with very small lures (Murph’s Kokanee Bugs), and remember to tip the end of the hook with one small kernel of white corn for best results.

THERE YOU HAVE IT
A whole bunch of choices for enjoying the second 2013 Free Fishing Day.
Pick a location, load everyone into the family vehicle and then go out and enjoy a day of free fishing, courtesy of the State of California.

BET YOUR FAVORITE PIGEON
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you what we like to buy at the J & J Grizzly Story and Frosty at Davis Lake.

If he grins and says, "They like to order cheeseburgers and French fries with a soft drink," he has eaten lunch there with them.