Don Q's fishing report for week of Nov. 20-27

Here is this week's fishing report of rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and southern Oregon. This report is for the week of Nov. 20-27. Many California mountain waterways are closed for the season but a few remain open for fishing.

ADOBE POND, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
No crowds and the fishing has been improving with each passing day! 
Lake level continues to drop here and will concentrate fish in certain areas.  
Lake level is very low at 28 percent capacity. 

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
Carson River East, Upstream from hangman's Bridge:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.
Carson River West:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The Chetco River remains open to fall chinook.
Anglers have had really good success catching numerous chinook and even a few steelhead. Low flow conditions are keeping chinook in the lower river where bank anglers are faring the best.
This year anglers are encouraged to turn in chinook salmon snouts from hatchery fish that are kept. The chinook salmon snouts may contain coded wire tags that tell where they come from. ODFW and South Coast Fishermen have placed collection sites at Social Security gravel bar and at the Port of Brookings fish cleaning station.
Anglers will want to check current temporary regulations that affect the Winchuck and Chetco Rivers before heading out.

CONVICT LAKE AND CONVICT CREEK, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

DONNER LAKE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports: 
This lake has been fishing very well.  Lake is at its winter level and a lot of fish are cruising the shoreline drop offs now! 

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Fishing pressure has dropped off with the arrival of cold temperatures.
Despite that the catch rates have been very good for those braving the cold and using Power Bait or nightcrawlers with mini-marshmallows.
Most fish are planters in the 10- to 13-inch class.
Fly-fishers have found success with nymph patterns and Woolly Buggers.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Fishing has been good for the few brave souls who ignore cooler temperatures. One angler caught and released approximately 25 fish in less than three hours while casting a Mepps lure off the dam.
The fish are mostly in the 10- to 12-inch range.

FALL RIVER, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Still no dramatic changes with lots of salmon right now, their weight ranging anywhere between 15 and 40 pounds. Local fishermen have reported successful catches using Quikfish, Sacramento Spinners, and jigs.
Low water level so be wary of water hazards when boating.
Lots of fish reported near 5th Street and up. 
Courtesy of Johnsons Bait and Tackle.

FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
Closed until the second Saturday in February, 2014.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until the Friday before Labor Day, 2014.

HOBART RESERVOIR, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Closed until May 01, 2014.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow is  down to 4 CFS. Try a hopper or stimulator  with a buckskin nymphs caddis pupa or small pheasant tails as a dropper. Some decent dry fly fishing in the afternoon with CDC caddis and Hot Creek caddis. Colder nights and shorter days are helping to break down the heavy weed growth.

JACKSON MEADOWS RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Lake level is at 38%.  This lake is a great escape for those who need to get a little further out of town!  Access may be limited if we get all the snow that the news channels are predicting! 

JIGGS / ZUNINO RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Unfortunately, Jiggs has dried up.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

KIRMAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

LAUGHTON, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Colorado River:
With the warm weather pattern holding in the area, catfish are still hitting.
The fish have been hitting near Community Park, above the Nature Center and in the vicinity of Sunshine Peninsula.
The fish hatchery at Willow Beach planted rainbow trout this week in the area of Davis Camp and Rotary Park. This should increase the activity of the holdover trout as well as stripers cruising along the river.

LUNDY LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

MARLETTE LAKE, CARSON CITY & WASHOE COUNTIES, NEV:
Closed until July 15, 2014.

MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE MANGEMENT AREA, NEV:
Hinkson Slough - North Pond - West Walker River - Crappie Pond:
Closed until the second Saturday in February, 2014.

LAKE MEAD, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Cooler nights have dropped the water temperature around the lake and with that fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass has slowed.
Some anglers are still having success by trolling with divers in water no deeper than 20 feet or casting squarebills and Texas-rigged worms.
Striped bass seem to be holding in deeper water. Those who are catching fish are mostly reeling in fish in the two- to three-pound range.

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The recreational Dungeness crabbing in the ocean is closed from Oct. 16- Nov. 30. Fishing for bottom fish including rockfish, lingcod, and cabezon is now open at all depths. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish and a separate daily limit for lingcod (two). Retention of 1 cabezon per day is still allowed. Fishing for lingcod has been very good in the Coos Bay area. The state waters recreational chinook season off the mouth of the Elk River will be open from Nov. 1 through 30, refer to open area and special regulations.

ORVILLE LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Bass are moving into deeper water. Find them around the 30 feet deep drop-shotting RoboWorms. Most are 13 to 16 inches.
Overall the bite is on the slow side. 
Courtesy of My Outdoor Buddy.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Upper Owens River:
Flow steady at 69 CFS. The section downstream  of the Benton Crossing Bridge is closed for the season. Upstream of the bridge is open all year.
Fishing is slow. Some hold over stockers and a few wild fish available. Nymph fish with WD-40,buckskin nymphs and midge pupa.
Lower Owens River:
Water flow dropped to 79 CFS. Fishing is good Try WD-40's,  pheasant tails and hares ears. Good dry fly action with para caddis and cdc caddis.

PAHRANAGAT WILDLIFE REFUGE, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Anglers are finding some success at the upper marsh for panfish and catfish.
Mealworms or nightcrawlers below a bobber will catch fish.

PROSSER RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Like shooting a fish in a barrel here! 
Lake level is very low at 23 percent capacity. 

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
King Salmon fishing:
As of  November 15, 2013  water flow is currently 4,250 CFS.
Salmon fishing is up and down, most days getting one salmon per person, some days more fish.
We are picking up Rainbows and a few nice Steelhead too.
Rain should be on the way soon, this will be great for the salmon fishing.
Only a few weeks left of the salmon season ends December 16th, 2013.
We will be turning the steelhead fishing next on the Sac and up North, the Chetco River steelhead. 
Flatfish lures working best, turning to roe later in the day, using Pautzke Red cure. Weather perfect. We are fishing until December 16 for salmon.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER/RED’S MEADOW, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Road closed.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishing is still great right now, especially around Bay Bridge and Packers Bay. Rainbows are being caught on the surface in the morning but then drop down, along with the Salmon, to about 80 feet. Use humdingers, wiggle hoochies, and 4 inch worms for the best chance of getting a hook-up.  Courtesy of Sacriver Guide. 

TOPAZ LAKE:
Closed until January 01, 2014.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

WALKER LAKE, MINERAL COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
No new updates. No Lahontan cutthroat have been reported or seen at Walker Lakes since 2009.
Launching is not possible right now.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow has been up and down and is currently 26 CFS. Fishing is tough. Midge patterns, baetis emergers and pheasant tails.
Early am or last hour of the day.


WALKER RIVER, WEST, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

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