Doug 'Mac the Naw' Busey's Lake Tahoe and Sierra fishing report: Heenan Lake is a fall favorite

Hello fellow anglers, fall is near and the fishing has picked up around our local area. With the change of the season comes the traditional opening of Heenan Lake, from the first Friday in September through the last full weekend of October.

Heenan Lake is located on Highway 89 on top of Monitor Pass in Alpine County. There are special regulations to abide by when fishing here. The limit is zero and you can only fish with artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks. The lake is open only Friday-Saturday and Sundays from sunrise to sunset. Shore fishing is available around the lake, if you don't mind fishing in a little algae. They do allow boats with electric motors (no gasoline motors) kayaks and canoes.

I personally like to use my float tube to get out on the lake. Last week the fishing was good for anglers using spinners and the fly anglers had best success with wooly buggers. Remember this is a catch and release only lake. Please keep your catch in the water and use the wet release method. You can expect to catch Lahontan Cutthroat trout ranging from 1 to over 7 pounds. Now let's check out other fisheries in our local area.

LAKE TAHOE:
Mackinaw action has been good on the south end of the lake. Mike and Alison Carman from Sunset Beach CA were trolling  live minnows by the Tahoe Keys area, they were in 150 feet of water on board the Hopper IV and caught a nice 23 pound 39 1/2 inch mackinaw. I have not received any kokanee reports this week. For more information call Tahoe Sportfishing at 530-544-5448.

TROUT CREEK, UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER AND TAYLOR CREEK:
All located on the south end of Lake Tahoe close to fishing on Sept. 30.

CAPLES LAKE:
The water level is only 7 feet down and water temperature is at 67 degrees.
Fishing has picked up with the cooler nights. Leonard Martin from Sonora, Calif., caught a 7-1/2 pound rainbow last week. He was fishing near the dam with a water bubble and a threaded night crawler and a marshmallow.
Matt and Mark Moorehouse from Penryn CA rented a fishing boat and trolled around the shore for awhile with no success. They went out to the middle of the lake, took out the lead core and fished in 55 feet of water with a Rapala. They caught a 3 pound rainbow and a 2 pound mackinaw.
The Caples Lake Resort is open from 8-5 every day for boat rentals and launching. For more information call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888. A special note; August 28 the Kirkwood PUD and El Dorado Irrigation District planted 2,000 pounds of catchable and trophy trout.

ALPINE LAKE:  
Located over top of Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4. They received 1,800 pounds of trophy trout earlier this year, and will be planted again in a few weeks by the Alpine County Fish and Game. I spoke to friend and fellow angler Joe Garcia last week. They fished a couple weeks ago and caught many rainbow trout ranging from 1 to 3 pounds.

BLUE LAKES:
The lake level is way down and fishing has been very slow.

CARSON RIVER EAST AND WEST FORK CALIFORNIA:  
Fishing has been very good on the east fork. Renee and I fished the week before Labor Day weekend and caught and released a lot of small rainbows. The Alpine County Fish and Game planted the river with 1,800 pounds of trout last Friday and the fishing was on.
One angler caught a 7 1/2 pound rainbow over the weekend, They do have a picture in the Markleeville General store, unfortunately I was unable to get the anglers name.
I have had many reports from angler that have also had great success. Fellow angler Peggy Bristol from Wellington NV caught a 4.9 pound rainbow on a nightcrawler. For more information call the Creekside Lodge at 530-694-2511.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR:
For weeks I have been telling anglers of the big fish in this lake and how to catch them. Yes, the lake has a large amount of algae. But if you can learn to fish in it, you will have great success.
Last week Greg Silvestro was fishing near the dam and caught a 10 pound rainbow trout. Greg said it took him 15 minutes to reel in without tipping over his kayak. When he got it up to his kayak, I think only half of it fit in his net. This was the first time fishing Indian Creek for Greg this year. I think he will be back again.
The campground and boat launch is open.
With shorter days, early mornings or late evenings are good for getting out in a float tube and throwing a wooly bugger around those weeds.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you get a picture of your catch, send it to donquilici@hotmail.com.
If you have any questions or report in our local fishing area call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722. Good Fishin and tight lines.