Don Q's Nevada and Northern California fishing report for Sept. 30 and beyond

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Sept. 30, 2015 and beyond. Nevada Department of Wildlife fishing reports for Western Nevada waters are not included as their reports have not been updated.

BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF:
Rick and Patti Apted - Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425) (www.lakesabrinaboatlanding.com) reports:
Lake Sabrina Boat Landing will close for our 2015 season on October 11. Fishing season closes November 15th, 2015
Another beautiful week and weekend at the Lake – a bit breezy at times, had a bit of haze from the Rough fire still, but all in all a great time.
The colors have almost peaked up at the Lake, but the drive up the South Fork (toward South Lake), the North Fork (toward North Lake on the ‘scary’ road) and the Middle Fork (toward us) is still stunning.
It was an on again off again fishing week and weekend. Some anglers sat at the Inlet for a few hours JUST enjoying the sights — then the bite was on for a couple of hours, one fish after another, and then enjoying the scenery again.
You know the drill: Nightcrawlers, Power Bait, Jigs or Salmon Eggs at the Inlets. Trolling is on the slow side, too – Flashers (Dave Davis) and a Nightcrawler, Red and Gold Thomas Buoyants or just drag a Nightcrawler (don’t forget that swivel).
Fishing the rock piles with Power Bait, Nightcrawlers, or tossing Lures or drifting thru the channels.
Shore fishing with Nightcrawlers, Power Bait or Salmon Eggs.
Rick and Sandy Fowler brought home dinner using Chartreuse Power Bait.
Jose Lopez caught his first fish ever using Green Garlic Power Bait.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: 
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
September 27, 2015 
Bridgeport is still a little hit and miss though we have started to hear about some nice 3 to 6 pound fish being caught from the shore down near the dam.
Shore anglers have been using mice tails, crawlers and power bait, they don't seem to be catching huge numbers of fish but most of the fish being caught down there are over 3 pounds.
Boat anglers are getting into a few fish trolling with thomas bouyants, small rapalas and blade/crawler rigs.
Boat/bait anglers are using crawlers and mice tails for the best success.
                  
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Bridgeport Reservoir, Sept. 29. Call the Bridgeport Marina for info. Lake level is very low.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:
John Voss of the Caples Lake Resort (209-258-8888) (www.capleslakeresort,com) reports:
The lake is down about 12 feet but on September 16 the EID (Eldorado Irrigation District) reduced the lake outflow from 70 CFS to 5 CFS. This means the lake level be will reduced 1/4inch a day (instead of 3 ½ inches per day for the last month) through the fall. The public boat launch 1/2 mile east on Highway 88 will be open through October or later.
The water has cooled down to 60 degrees and the catching is picking up.
Brandon Burrell from Elk Grove caught a 6 pound rainbow from the dam using a fly rod on Sept. 18. We will have cabins and lodge rooms available as well as fishing boats and kayaks into November. The past 3 years of drought are making the fall colors come early, so come on up early this year.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Chinook fishing is slow. Anglers can expect a few chinook to start moving into the estuary in late September.
Anglers are reminded to check regulations before heading out.
Starting Sept. 1 and running through Nov. 3, there are gear restrictions upstream of river mile 2.2.

CONVICT LAKE AND CONVICT CREEK, CALIF:
Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260) (www.convictlake.com) reports: With the start of the turning of the leaves, the fishing remains hot at Convict Lake. It's a great time of year to be in the Eastern Sierra. The smoke from the Rough Fire is no longer an issue now that it is over 75 percent contained.
Autumn brings not only fall colors but monstrous trout. This week's "Catch of the Week" has tied the record of largest fish checked in at the store over several years.  
Catch of the Week: 
Chuck Nelson from Bakersfield had a very productive time at the lake. His largest fish was a colossal 9 pound 6 ounce Rainbow. The second fish in the photo is a 4 pound 6 ounce Rainbow.
Both fish were caught with a Nightcrawler while fishing at the Inlet.
Chuck also hooked a 4 pound 12 ounce Rainbow (not in photo) with a cricket. Way to go Chuck!!
Other notable catches this week:
Mike Parmley from Poway, Calif., caught two solid fish. One was a 7 pound 3 ounce Rainbow and the other was a 4 pounder. Both lunkers were caught with Nightcrawlers while fishing along the North Shore.
Sue and Jim O'Brien from Placerville caught a stout 6 pound 14 ounce and 6 pound 5 ounce Rainbow.
They were using Nightcrawlers and were fishing near the Jetty.
Don Toporek from Claremont caught a 6 pound 11 ounce Rainbow while fishing at the Outlet. Don was using Power bait. 
Dan Barton of Ladera Ranch, Calif., landed a fat 6 pound 6 ounce Rainbow using Salmon Eggs. Dan was posted up along the North Shore. Matt and Teri Pyles from Corning, Calif., with a hefty stringer. The two largest fish were a 5 pound 15 ounce and a 2 pound 9 ounce Rainbow. They filled their stringer while fishing with Nightcrawlers at the South Shore. 
Tactics/Bait:  
A variety of baits and lures worked this week. Nightcrawlers remained king by catching some of the largest fish of the week. Other top choices that were hooking the fish were Salmon Eggs, Garlic Power bait, Berkley Mice Tails, Thomas Buoyants and Power bait. The top Power bait colors were garlic yellow and garlic rainbow. 
Some of the most productive spots on the lake were the Inlet, the Outlet/Jetty area and the North Shore. The "Catch of the Week" was caught at the Inlet. Other locations to try would be the South Shore and Hangman's Tree. 
Here is a list of other baits/lures that can be productive:  
Sierra Slammers, Tasmanian Devil, green or brown Marvel Flies , Trout Teasers, Panther Martin, Needlefish, Roostertails, and Bite-On Fury Shad on Power bait. I would suggest using some type of added attractant.
Pro-Cure, Bite-On, Lip Ripperz and Berkley all make excellent attractants, which are sold at the general store.
Here is a list of recommended flies:  
Dry Flies:
Adams, Female Adams, Cutter's Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators, Black/Red Ants, Sierra Bright Dot, Royal Coachman and Hoppers.  
Streamers:
Wooly Bugger (black, brown, olive, or green), Mutuka (black, brown, olive, or green), Hornberg, and Muddler Minnows. 
Wet Flies (Nymphs):
Prince Nymph, Flashback Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Zebra Midge (red and black), Copper John (red and copper) and San Juan Worm (brown or red).
Other Resources:
View our Convict Lake Fishing Map and Fishing Rig Suggestion brochures.
Both brochures are available in the General Store.
Derby News: 
Running now: The Ambush at the Lake Fishing Derby runs through Nov. 15. Don't miss out on a chance to win $6,000 in Resort Prizes. The Morrison Bonus Cash Weekend will be Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. $2000 in cash prizes.
Weather:
The forecast is calling for continued sunny skies and clear at night for the beginning of the week. The high temps for the start of next week will be in the low-70's and the lows in the mid-40's. Here is the National Weather Service link that is usually quite accurate: 7-Day Forecast Convict Lake.
Sunrise - Sunset: Sunrise this week 6:47 am - 6:52 am and Sunset 6:49 pm - 6:39 pm.
Stocking: DFW will be stocking the creek and the lake the week of Sept. 27.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Crowley Lake, Sept. 29:
The bite has been sporadic due to the more seasonal weather pattern that is beginning to influence the region.
McGee Bay and the North Arm continue to kick out some really nice fish. If you ever have wanted to fish Crowley, this fall should be a memorable one based on how the summer fished. Streamer fishing is picking up as the lake level drops and defines the weed lines. Intermediate full sinks, or heavier sinking tips are the right lines to cast Loebergs & Punk Perch patterns along the weed lines; or in the larger “pockets.”
Chironomid hatches will continue to occur during periods of high pressure.
Gillies and crystal mergers, and midge pupa patterns are good calls as the upper flies during hatches. Twin gillies, or a broken back gillie as the upper- along with dark zebras,  copper tiger midges, BB tigers and zebras will get you take downs during pupal ascents. If you locate some clean water along the weeds, try an assassin, punk perch, or crystal leech as your upper fly.
Hang a midge pattern as the dropper below an Under-cator.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530-993-4683) reports: 
Sept. 27. Weather is beginning to cool down a little bit and its perfect time to sink those worms and catch a big one up at Frenchmans!
The dam appears to be the only feasible fishing place up at Frenchmans due to the low water level but the fish that they are catching are beautiful large ones! We have heard some reports on fishing the creek.
Nightcrawlers remain the No. 1 bait of choice. One of our regular fisherman, Mitch from Reno never fails to surprise us with a big beauty! Last Sunday he caught a 3.76 pound rainbow using nightcrawlers fishing at the Dam!
Micah Dovlet from Folsom and his buddy James Ervin from Reno headed up to the lake early morning last week and each caught a beautiful rainbow by the dam fishing with nightcrawlers.
Each fish weighed close to 2lbs each. 
On Sept. 25, John and his dad from Reno and Las Vegas, both caught their limit fishing at or around the dam using power bait. All the fish were around the same size, 17" to 19" long.
They had attempted to go to their favorite spot, Turkey Point but it was too low to fish. Still happy men as they both limited out! They fish Frenchman Lake about 4 times a year and will continue to do so!
Come to Chilcoot, browse around the store, best fresh made sandwiches around!
Perfect weather for mountain bikes, hikers, and atvs.
With the leaves beginning to change color, grab your camera and take a drive through the canyon. Beautiful photography! 
Please call us for current lake conditions and updates on the fishing
Wiggins Trading Post (530) 993-4683.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Hot Creek, Sept. 29: Tough fishing here, with minimal water. Some fall caddis, & micro mayfly (tricos)  currently.
Dark bodied, or natural colors for the caddis bodies are the hatch.
Light olive to gray for the Mays. Keep them well dressed to ride high in the foam. Pheasant tails, & bird’s nest patterns are best for nymphs. S
mall parachute midge; or mayfly patterns used with a 10 foot leader are best for surface presentations when the fish are on the midges/or clusters.
There are a few sections that can be fished with a dry dropper nymph rig.
The hoppers are now present. A stimulator is a good profile for them. Use these in the wind, as the terrestrials get blown off the banks, and the trout hunt for them along the shoreline.
Try my hi-vis caddis pattern, it works well here. Dead drifted broken back zebras, small gillies, scuds, flashback PT’s, or assassin birds nest bead heads in No. 18 are good calls for the dropper. Size 18 or smaller crystal olive caddis larva or zebra midges are good calls as droppers.
This is a year around fishery with special regs in place.

KIRMAN LAKE, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
September 27, 2015. We haven't had any reports from Kirman this week but I would have to guess that the conditions haven't changed much yet, look forward to the weather cooling down more which will drop the water temps up there and hopefully the fishing will improve.             

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The ocean is open for harvest of Dungeness crab and crabbing has been good outside of Coos Bay and Winchester Bay.
Anglers are catching surf perch on the area beaches like Horsefall Beach. Fishing the incoming tides with sand shrimp usually works the best to catch surf perch.
Recreational ocean salmon season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. is open for Chinook salmon.
The non-selective coho season is open through the earlier of Sept. 30 or attaining the quota of 20,700 coho. As of Sept. 20, 83 percent of the quota remains.
The bag limit is two salmon per day, and a minimum size for Chinook salmon at 24-inches or larger and 20-inches or larger for coho.
Fishing for Chinook in the ocean from Bandon to Winchester Bay has been slow.
The nearshore halibut season opened on July 1.
The fishery is open 7 days per week inside the 40-fathom line.
Anglers were catching a few halibut near Bandon inside 40-fathoms this past weekend. As of Sept. 13, 1 percent of the nearshore halibut quota remains.
The summer all-depth halibut season was open this past weekend and will be open again on October 2-3 if any of the quota remains.
There was 26 percent of the quota remaining as of Sept. 5.
Fishing for bottom fish is restricted to inside the 30 fathom curve through September 30.
Fishing for black rockfish continues to be very good from Charleston to Bandon.
Fishing for lingcod has slowed down inside 30-fathoms.
The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish and a separate daily limit for lingcod (two). Anglers can only keep 3 blue rockfish and 1 canary rockfish as part of their daily limit and there will be no harvest of China, quillback, or copper rockfish.
Retention of cabezon is now allowed at 1 fish per day and at least 16-inches long.
To help anglers identify common species and comply with the regulations, ODFW has produced several sheets of ID Tips for blue vs. black rockfish and for China, copper and quillback rockfish, as well as a handout titled “What Can I Keep, and How Many?”

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Middle Owens River (Bishop area), Sept. 29: Flows have recently come up to 225 CFS and this will cause some turbidity in the lower sections of the river for a few days.
Wading the WT section at this release now requires  some caution, and will make overall access more difficult.  
Streamer fishing using Loebergs, Punk Perch, and Spruce-A-Bu’s with a light sinking tip is a good call.
Caddis and small mayflies are present below the dam at PVR.
Have some No. 18/20 light bodied adults, light assassins No. 18, and FB pheasant tails for nymphs, No. 18 and 20.
Caddis emerge when the barometer goes up. Use hi-vis caddis No. 16 and 18. Nymphing with crystal olive caddis larva, assassins, and broken back midges are also good when the hatch is off. Dry/dropper bead head rigs can be effective in the deeper riffles. The bass have moved up from the lower sections of the river, and migrated through the canals from Buckley Pond into the Owens. Even the wild trout section has numerous bass now.  
This fishery remains open year around.
Special regs from the footbridge at Pleasant Valley campground to the fishing monument 4.7 miles downstream.
Upper Owens, McGee Creek, Sept. 29. The cooler weather forecast to move into the region over the next 10 days should be the catalyst to start moving some larger fish up from Crowley.
Water levels remain consistent; but low. Dry/dropper techniques can be effective during warmer periods. Overall conditions remain good here with a few larger fish holding in the deepest pools.
The sections up from Benton Crossing are much better. You can get into a few decent browns on caddis, and last generation BWO adults at times. Some larger browns hitting crystal leeches fished with a sink tip in the deepest pools.
Stimulators, hi-vis caddis, and natural caddis are good calls for dry flies. I like a tandem nymph rig in the deeper pools using an assassin, FB PT, or crystal leech as the upper-put an egg, or smaller Assassin as the dropper. Aquatic weeds are an issue in the lower sections below the Benton Crossing Bridge.
McGee Creek proper has some small browns and a few decent rainbows.
Dry dropper rigs, and nymphing with FB PT’s, Assassins, and olive crystal caddis below an Under-cator, or hi-vis caddis or hi-vis para BWO will work. 

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout seasons opens October 01.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
King Salmon:
September 29, 2015 King Salmon fishing on the Sacramento River. 
The river is at 6,800 CFS and steady.
Sacramento River salmon fishing is going great! Salmon fishing is good and there has been some big fish brought in over the last few weeks. Some limits. More salmon will continue to make their way up river.
Bouncing roe and back trolling Flatfish lures is way to bring in the big kings. We are fishing every day.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
As of September 29, 2015 water flow is currently 6,800 CFS and steady. Lower Sacramento River fishing report - Lower Sacramento River Rainbow trout fishing is fantastic. Over 30 fish days on the Sacramento River right now for Rainbow trout. 
Water is clear and low. We are fishing from Redding to Anderson , CA, Bonneyview Bridge to Jellys Ferry Bridge is excellent.  
The largest fish have been caught the last few days in the Bonneyview area.
Working great is egg pattern, Cinnamon Pupa, and  PMD’s. We are spin fishing and fly fishing.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
San Joaquin River, Sept. 29: Mornings are really cooling down in the high county. The fish will be lethargic until the sun warms the rocks around noon. Flows are super low here. Locating riffle water/runs over a foot is difficult; however this is where you will find the trout.
As the water cools the fish will gravitate into the deeper pols and runs.
The trout will still take surface imitations in the No. 14-18 range.
Make upstream presentations, staying on the “tails” of the fish. I like hi-vis para mayflies, Stimulators, and  hi-vis caddis patterns as a point fly. Tie a one foot dropper off the hook bend and add a blue winged olive or natural caddis adult. Dry/dry tandems are effective and can really help you see you imitations in riffle water, or shadows.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
September 24, 2015  Shasta Lake guided fishing-
Northern California fishing Lake Shasta. 
Offer daily guided fishing on Lake Shasta. For Shasta Lake fishing,
We are catching Rainbow Trout and King salmon, trolling Shasta Lake main body, Rainbow trout fishing is excellent !  Fishing has been amazing ! Limits of fish daily. We are fishing 35 to 100 ft deep depending on the time of the day.  Early morning fish are ranging from 35 to 50 ft deep, Mid day 80 to 100 ft deep using triple teasers and rolling shad. 
Wow great days on the lake right now.

SMITH RIVER, OREGON:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead is allowed in the Smith River mainstem from the mouth upstream to Spencer Creek and in the North Fork of the Smith River from the mouth upstream to Johnson Creek.
The use of bait is allowed in tidewaters. Trout fishing also is open and anglers should pay close attention to catch-and-release, harvest, and artificial fly use deadlines outlined in the regulation manual.
Sturgeon fishing is catch-and-release only.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
September 27, 2015:  They're still picking up some really nice fish from the Twins lately with some of them tipping the scale at around 7 or 8 pounds. Bait anglers doing well with mice tails, power bait and crawlers and trollers are doing well fishing deep with rapalas, thomas bouyants and jake's spin a lures.
There have been a few fly anglers doing pretty well on some rainbows up to around 8.5 pounds stripping streamers from tubes, simi seal leeches, mini leeches, seal buggers and matukas are the ticket there.
The kokanee are still spawning so don't forget to bring some orange and red lures and flies.               

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:  
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
September 27, 2015  
The Virginias are also a good place to go right now with some nice fish up to around 4 pounds being caught.
Fly anglers are doing the best with intermediate sink lines and streamer patterns like simi seal leeches, matukas and seal buggers with soft hackle and zug bug droppers. Bait anglers are going with power bait, crawlers and mice tails. Lure anglers are doing the best both early and late in the day with kastmasters, thomas bouyants and rooster tails.       

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
John and Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort (760-647-6484) (vir@qnet.com) report:
The fishing just took a huge upswing with the cooler water, and the feel of fall in the air so there seems to be a better catching rate than last week. 
A group of 7 anglers took a lot of large fish Thursday, but no one came in to weigh them, but I saw and heard them discussing their catches.
The aspens continue to turn daily.  It looks like a peak date at the lakes will be within 7 or 8 days. 
Also, the smoke has disappeared from our area since the 15th.  Lower creek campground aspens are fully yellow going into oranges, and they're beautiful.
BAIT: Inflated crawlers are still doing as good as mice tails, glitter orange power bait, pink power worms, mice-tails with pink/white head and red/tan head, orange/red head, pink power worms, red power worms and yellow power bait. 
An angler was rigging up his own bait with salmon eggs dipped and rolled in magic dust, and catching a lot of fish.  Marshmallows and eggs with a piece of worm always works in dry years.

LURES: The best action was STILL on silver/blue Kastmasters, gold Hot Shots, silver Super Dupers, black/yellow dot Panther Martin and red/gold Buoyant's.

FLY AND BUBBLE: The main hatch continues to be very small surface midges, a few emergers off and on depending on the temperature and cloud cover. 
Fish the top with olive elk-hair caddis, Solomon caddis, and small Griffith's Gnat, and soft hackle yellow bead-head as spider trails are coming off the Lodge Pole pine trees over the meadow. 
Also try some foam ants, flying ants with white wings, very small Dave's hoppers, blue-grey hoppers (small) and black beetles.  Best action is when there is a chop on the water which is usually late afternoon to legal limit at night.

FLY RODS: Olive Matuka with red throat, Olive Twin Lakes Special (my Dirty Doc), then Rickard's tan AP nymph, and his olive/rust stillwater nymph. Some fly rodders were using Rickarkd's stillwater nymph, AP nymph and seal buggers. 
Always bring pheasant tails, zebra's and hare's ear as you never know what key will unlock the secret to the bite.
Here's my new designed fly called "mice fly Tail or a Tadtail", but my fingers are still too split to tie.  I'm going to use dark olive acrylic yarn tied in a ball with red acrylic yarn in the center with a small ball of foam then use black and olive silly legs for the extended body with a with something to give it more substance to wiggle.  Antron for the head with maybe some black deer hair to keep it upright, I'm still working on it, but I have all winter.
BACKCOUNTRY: 
Fishing has been fairly good depending on day temperatures using dry flies with a bubble or fly rod with black fur ants, small No. 16 Stimulators, Coachman, olive elk hair caddis, beetles, lures and worms. 
Early morning and early evening is the best time for good action. 
Fly rods have been doing great in the lakes from Blue to Cooney using small hoppers and black ants. 
Of course it's even better if you know what you're doing.  
Please keep only what you can eat, it is a valuable resource.

NOTE:  If the trout bleeds, it's yours, PLEASE don't toss it back into the lake as it will die. If you care about the resource please be careful when releasing fish back into the lake.  Also, it attracts bears.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
East Walker River, September 27, 2015:
Not much has changed on the river this past week, the temps are still good, the flows are still around 20 CFS.
There is still relatively little angler traffic but the anglers who are going down there are doing pretty well.
We also have started getting some good reports on streamers along with the usual small midge patterns and caddis nymphs.
The stretch below the bridge seems to still be producing good numbers of browns in the 10 to 15 inch range with a few around 17 or 18 inches. The Mile section is still producing some nice rainbows but not too many browns.
Patterns to try: zuddlers, moal leeches, jj special, sculpzilla, fox's poopah, z-wing caddis, zebra midge, dark lord, flashback emerger and miracle nymph.
Sceirine Ranch: September 27, 2015  
We haven't had anyone on the ranch this week, as soon as we get some reports we'll let you know!              

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
East Walker River 9/29/15
Running at 19 CFS. Poor conditions.
This fishery is open year around with special regs in place.

WALKER RIVER, WEST, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
September 27, 2015  
The West is of course still running very low and clear but the fishing hasn't been too bad. You'll want to be in stealth mode up there so as not to spook the fish too much. Spin anglers are using panther martins and rooster tails, bait anglers are going with salmon eggs and mini crawlers. Fly anglers are still doing well with hoppers, ants, humpy's, royal wulffs on top and prince nymphs, pheasant tails, copper johns and hare's ears underneath.        
WALKER RIVER, WEST, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
West Walker River, Sept. 29. Flows are low here; but this location is running better than most of the freestone creeks in the Sierra.
Dry dropper rigs are my choice for fooling the trout in the deeper pools and runs. I like a Stimulator, hi-vis para BWO, or hi-vis caddis as the upper fly. Hang a crystal tiger midge, Assassin, or FB PT about 2-3 feet off the dry.
Pikel Meadows is a fun spot to fish with plenty of area to fish.
Winds can make it tough, so get on the water early. The West Walker River north of Bridgeport is in the best condition of all the freestone creeks in the region.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com