Outdoors with Don Q: A warm welcome to a long-time friend

I would like to extend a warm welcome to long-time friend Doug Busey of Douglas County, who is joining Carson Now. Doug will be serving as another outdoor writer at this website, specializing in bi-weekly fishing reports for our local area.

Doug's bi-weekly focus will be at locations such as: The East and West Carson Rivers in California, Blue Lakes, Caples Lake, Heenan Lake, Indian Creek Reservoir, Red Lake, Silver Lake, Topaz Lake and Lake Tahoe.
He brings many years of experience of fishing at those locales, and will be able to give you the latest tips on where to go and what to use.

We have known each other for a long time, and a number of years ago, Doug served with me as a Co-Host on "The Outdoor Recreation Show," a weekly, one-hour, live television show on Carson Access Television Channel 10. Welcome aboard, Doug!

Below is his first column and a fishing report for the weekend. Saturday is free fishing day in California.

Hello fellow anglers:

I have to tell you. It is hard to fish when you can barely see the water through all the smoke. Renee and I took a few days to venture out to camp and fish. I have been telling our friends Geary and Deanne Ness about a beautiful pristine lake over the top of Ebbetts Pass.

Highland Lake turnoff is located 3 miles over the top of highway 4, then it requires another 1/2 mile on paved road and 4 miles on a well maintained dirt road. It is accessible by truck in 20 minutes or a Honda car in 45 minutes.
When you get to the lake, you feel as though you have driven onto a glacier top mountain with high peaks surrounding this 3/4 mile long lake. 

This time was a little different, ash was falling and visibility was only 1/4 mile. We could see the lake but no mountain tops. We fished for a couple hours, caught a few small brook trout and ventured on to another fishing hole.
Renee and I stopped at Kinney Res on the way back. The water was very low and there was no parking available, due to every 200 feet around the lake was an angler. I had a previous report this lake was doing well for rainbows. I guess it still was.

We tried Silver Creek for an hour, with Renee getting a couple bites. We then fished the Carson River east fork from above the last bridge down to the Carson River Resort. Renee caught a 2.5 lb rainbow and I a few pan sized rainbows. A good day of fishing, for day one.

Over the next few days Geary, Renee and I fished all down the East Carson  and caught over 30 fish, with a few in the 2.5 to 3 lb range. I am sorry to say that Deanne did not have that enjoyment as work was calling her back to Minden.

We met many new friends as we stayed at the Carson River Resort RV Park. Joe and Mary from Hollister California were our neighbors for those days. Their family joined us one evening for fish stories and enjoying good old country music.

I felt as though we had moved to Mayberry RFD. One night all the campers brought a dish and came together for a big supper. The only thing missing was Aunt Bea and her fresh pies. Although I have to say, I did find the ice cream cake in the ice box and had a piece.

A great experience we had, and all of these places were a short drive from The Carson River Resort.
In the mornings the blue sky would shine, by 11am the smoke would cover us like a thick blanket of fog with sight only measured by feet, at times if you closed your eyes it felt like you were in an episode of MASH. The helicopters flying overhead taking water and supplies to the firefighters at the Rim Fire.

We saw many limits of fish brought in by anglers, in fact there was a line at the fish cleaning station.
Fishing just does not get any better. Oh but it does, the CDFG  and the Alpine Fish Commission planted both the east and west fork the day after we left.

The CDFG is scheduled to plant this weekend for the California free fishing day on Sept 7, 2013.
For more information on staying at the Carson River Resort call 530-694-2229. They offer river camping, RV camping and cabins, with a general store for the items you forgot to bring.

One last word of advice when fishing the Carson River: If the fishing all of a sudden turns off, look for small swimming creatures called river otters. We encountered a mom and her two pups while fishing one of our good fishing holes. So we moved to another place while they fished in our spot.
A few other places that have been productive in our local area.


CAPLES LAKE:
On August 28th, the El Dorado Irrigation District in partners with Kirkwood PUD stocked the lake with 1,650 pounds of trout. With 33% of that plant being 2 to 4 pound fish. Many anglers have been reporting in with good success.
Jeff Knutson from Forrest Hill Ca caught a 4 lb rainbow trolling a black/yellow Rapala. While Stacy Drinkwine from Gardnerville NV also reeled in a nice 4 lb rainbow trolling a nightcrawler by the Woods Creek area. Carol Morales from Corona Ca caught a 1.5 rainbow by the dam using green Power Bait.
The CDFG has also planted the lake this week.
The Caples Marina is open for boat launching as well as boat rental. I would suggest to use the county ramp for larger boats as the water level continues to drop.
A word of caution when you venture to the Woods Creek area to Emigrant Cove, there are many large submerged rocks and cliffs in the area. Always have someone watching you bow.
For more info call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.


SILVER LAKE:
On August 28th, the Eldorado Irrigation District in partner with Kirkwood PUD stocked 1,550 lbs of rainbow trout. With 33% being trophy sized.
The lake has limited access for shore fishing.
Best area is right over the bridge is a parking area to your left. From there you can access areas around the shore to fish.


BLUE LAKES:
This week the CDFG is scheduled to plant the upper lake with catchable sized rainbow trout. Both lakes were planted a few weeks ago.
Salmon eggs or nightcrawlers have been successful.
Word of caution, this time of year the yellow jackets are out in full force. I have not found anything to repel them, yet.


INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR
The lake level is high still, the weeds are still very active.
The CDFG planted the lake last week with pan sized rainbow trout. Anglers have reported catching several trout in a matter of 45 minutes and then the fish move on. This is a sign for you to also move 20 feet to your right or left until you can find the school again.


HEENAN LAKE:
Located on top of Monitor Pass opened last weekend. This lake has restrictions. The lake is open Friday-Sunday only, sunrise to sunset, artificial lures or flies with a single barbless hook, catch and release only.
The lake is open September through the last weekend in October.
On opening day anglers reported catching 5 to 30 fish in a day.
Remember, catch and release means unharmed and released back into the lake.
You can take a picture of your catch while the fish is in the water.
The killing of any Cutthroat trout even accidental is cause for a citation.
Trout in this lake can run into the several pounds range.


CALIFORNIA FREE FISHING DAY:
Is September 7th. All rules and regulations apply to whatever body of water you fish. Limits, catch and release, hook or bait restrictions. But on this day, a license will not be required.
I hope your next adventures will be as memorable as our last trip.
Good fishin and tight lines.