Sierra area fishing report: Saying goodbye to the man who taught the art of fishing

Hello fellow anglers. What a perfect time of year to get up and out fishing. The weather is cool in the mornings and the water temps are coming down. A little bonus this time of year is to get out to Alpine, Mono or Inyo counties to see the fall colors in all their splendor.

You know that many times I talked about a person that has changed my life, and introduced me to the sport of fishing. Of course I am talking about my father, who taught me to fish when I was 4 years old. But another person really touched my life and introduced me to the art of fishing.

When my parents would go into town to shop, I was either dropped off at the local fishing hole for an hour or so. Or I was dropped off at the local sporting goods store. There I met a man behind the counter that I would listen in on all of his conversations while he was talking to his customers.

I was intrigued at the language he was giving. One day he came over to me and asked if I liked to fish. Being the motor mouth that I am, I talked to him for, seemed like hours. But it was really only 20 minutes or so. One day, he asked if I had ever used lures, I had not! He walked over to the counter and grabbed a black rooster tail lure from behind the counter. He told me how to use it and to report back to him how it worked. I felt very important, like a little Bill Dance.

I had a lot of practice casting with accuracy as my father taught me to cast weights into folgers cans all over the yard (Overhead and under hand). This became useful around trees and bushes along the shore. After a short time of fishing the local rivers with great success, I reported back to the man behind the counter. He told me that was now a professional angler. "Bill Dance, move over."

I kept in touch with the man behind the counter for many years, even when the store was closed and he had retired. He invited me to his ranch down in Gardnerville. We would talk about the old days and how the area has changed, and how the fishing remained basically the same.

The store was the Outdoorsman in South Lake Tahoe, the man behind the counter was Jack Martin. My father taught me how to fish, and Jack introduced me to the art of fishing. I was deeply saddened to hear the news that Jack Martin Passed away recently. Thank you for being a friend for so many years, to the dedication you gave to fellow anglers young and old, and to the sport of fishing.

Here is the latest fishing report:

CAPLES LAKE: The lake level has dropped about five feet. A couple weeks ago, they had the first annual Caples Lake Kids Fishing Day. The lake was planted with 1,800 pounds of 1 to 5 pound rainbow trout. Courtesy of Alpine County and the Alpine County Fish and Game Commission. Also a great thank you to Mike and Gwen Niccoli, the owners of the Caples Lake Resort for their support.

There were a couple hundred kids that fishied and there were some nice fish caught up to a couple lbs. Trolling has been good for anglers on toward the spillway using flashers and worms, or a small silver spinner with a ball bearing swivel. Shore anglers have been doing fair off the dam or near the spillway with inflated nightcrawlers or yellow powerbait. The EID day use and boat ramp will remain open until the first winter weather heads our way. For more information stop by the Caples Lake Resort.

RED LAKE: I spoke with a couple anglers that fished a couple weeks ago. They fished for two hours and got only a few hits. I myself will be waiting for ice fishing season before I venture up to the lake.

BLUE LAKES: The road will be open until the first winter related weather event. The lake level is low and the fishing has been fair for shore anglers using salmon eggs or powerbait.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The lake is starting to turn over and be semi weed free. Fishing Has been fair to good. Anglers have been using green or salmon peach Powerbait by the dam. Some have done well on the other side of the dam by the drop off. Thomas Buoyants work well for anglers that want to do a little walking. Both roads are open.

WEST CARSON RIVER ALPINE COUNTY: The river is running very low. Fishing has been nil, unless you fish in the Woodfords Canyon area, which there are still a few deep holes you can still find some nice fish.

EAST CARSON RIVER ALPINE COUNTY: The river is flowing a little low in places, but very fishable. Renee and I camped at the Carson River Resort recently. Each day I fished, I caught fish. I talked with a few anglers that fished higher upstream. They were using night crawlers and caught a few nice 2 to 3 pound rainbows. Alpine County is planning to stock once more before the season changes in November. The Carson River Resort is open all year for camping as well as cabin rentals.

EAST FORK CARSON RIVER DOUGLAS COUNTY: The river was planted by NDOW recently. Fishing has been doing well up by the old broken dam and down stream.

TOPAZ LAKE: The lake level has been going down about 8 inches a week. I would keep away from the far south end of the lake while trolling. As you may know or you will see. The depths go from 25 feet to 3 feet in a matter of just a short time. Keep an eye on your depth finder.The lake temps have been dropping and the fishing has started to pick up. Rapalas or flashers have done well on the north end or the west side. The east side has been spotting, but I have caught bigger fish on that side.

NDOW FISH PLANTS: Baily Pond, Wilson Common Pond, Marilyn's Pond, West fork Walker river, East Carson River and Battleborn Pond.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you get a photo of your catch, send to editor@carsonnow.org. I will be out of town for a few weeks and will hopefully have a great report for you when I return. Good fishin' and tight lines.