Don Q's Nevada and Northern California fishing report for week of Dec. 10

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. Weather conditions may be hazardous due arriving winter storm systems. Check local weather reports before heading out. For travel information and road conditions check with Caltrans and NDOT.

ADOBE POND:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

ANGEL LAKE, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The road is closed to the lake and there will be no fishing reports for Angel Lake until late May of 2015.

BISHOP CREEK, AREA, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports: 
Lake level very low here at only 27% capacity. 
Small car top boats, small aluminum boats or float tubes here, water level is too low to launch anything else.  
Fishing by the dam in the morning has been good along with the inlet portion of the lake more towards the evening or on cloudy days for macks that are stacked up here.

BRIDGEPORT, RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
Carson River East (Upstream from Hangman's Bridge):
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.
Carson River West:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

CAVE LAKE, WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Reservoir is at capacity and the surface water temperature is sitting around 34 degrees. There is some ice forming around the boat launch and dock area. The ice that is present will make it difficult for anglers to launch a boat and shoreline fishing is suggested.
Fall stocking has been completed with 12,174 rainbow trout being stocked in the month of October. Anglers can expect to catch 9 to 12 inch fish.
Fly fishing with beaded nymphs and wolly buggers should do well.
Bait casters will do well using trout power bait and crappie nibbles.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Temporary regulations have been adopted for the Chetco River starting Sept. 1.
Anglers should check these regulation changes prior to fishing the river. Temporary gear restrictions are no longer in effect.
As of Nov. 4, anglers can fish the Chetco River per zone regulations.
Chinook anglers are still under bag restrictions of 1 wild adult Chinook per day and 5 wild adult Chinook year.
Good river flows have moved most Chinook upstream of Nook Creek and into spawning tributaries. This time of year anglers start side drifting eggs or plunking spin and glows to pick up a mix of steelhead and late Chinook.
Look for steelhead numbers to really pick up over the next week or two.
Before anglers head, check the flows and fish the river as it is dropping.

CONVICT LAKE AND CONVICT CREEK, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
For the Fly Flingers in Boats or Float Tubes the best areas have been Lightning Tree, Fairview Point, Mosquito Cove, and along Five Tree Point shoreline. 
Stripping Jay Fair's Wiggle tails in Olive and Black have been good along with nymphing Chironomid and midge patterns. 
Waning Callibaetis hatches have also picked up some fish where there are lots of weeds such as the Mosquito Cove area. 
Highly recommended that you use nothing less than 4x leader or tippet here as the takes are aggressive! 
As the weeds start to disappear now with the colder temps those trolling hardware have had lots of success with needlefish, kastmasters, wedding rings, and small Dick Nites. 
Best areas for the boat guys have been Mallard Cove to Grizzly. 
Big Rainbows here as the average is around 18 inches!

DONNER LAKE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports: 
Donner has dropped a little to 37%. 
Mack fishing here has been good and jigging for these guys has been best at depths from 55-75 feet and some smaller guys being caught along the shoreline.
Kokanee fishing has still be good with fat little guys ranging from 8-11 inches in 45-70 feet with most of the schools being between Loch Leven Lodge and China Cove as these are considered next year's Kokes. 
Small Macks have been busy cruising the shorelines in the morning and evening picking off baitfish.  Kastmasters, Krocodiles, Rooster Tails, Rapalas or anything that will mimic a baitfish will elicit a bite.

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF:
Bryan Roccucci of www.bigdaddyfishing.com (530-283-4103) reports:
Eagle Lake Fishing Report, December 1, 2014
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, spending time with family and friends. I took a quick break from fishing for the holiday; following way to much food and a successful mission to whack a beautiful silver tip Christmas tree it was back to Eagle for some outstanding trout fishing.
The last two weeks the lake has continued to produce great numbers of quality fish both from the boat and on the fly rods.
The fish have not been holding in the shallows as long as they had been in previous weeks, so for the fly trips a good shallow grab was short lived in the mornings. The key to keeping on active fish was to fish locations that not only offered shallow structure but also had nearby deep water drop offs.
The morning conditions have, for the most part, been really good, however afternoon winds have sometimes been the deciding factor in calling it a day.
The boat trips have been chalking up big numbers almost everywhere on the lake, or at least in the South basin.
In the last two weeks I have had lines in the water at the Youth Camp, Slough Point, Shrimp Island, Wildcat Point, Pikes Point, Ronald McDonald, Eagles Nest and Miners Bay and all have given up fish.
You get the idea, fish are everywhere.
All of our action has been close to the surface with gear running in the top 6 feet on the outriggers and Cannon Downriggers.
Most days I have been starting off the mornings with both orange and watermelon grubs out, some days one gets hit better than the other, and some days the fish just keep slamming both.
It looks like these last trips have brought me to the end of a phenomenal  Eagle Lake season for 2014.
The dock at the south boat launch has now been pulled by the forest service making launching impossible for myself as well as any other larger boat.
For those of you with small boats and shore anglers you have a little less than a month left and plenty of fish willing to bite.
Stay tuned to the reports and your email box for Captain's Club members as I will be giving away some things including free tickets to the Sacramento ISE show coming up next month.

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The Park had a lot more visitation this past week and anglers had good success for rainbows. Several brown trout were also taken with Power Bait in the usual orange, green or rainbow colorations. Fly-fishermen also had good success using Woolly Buggers.
Though ice has formed around the edges of the lake, open water was still accessible as of the holiday weekend.
For current ice conditions contact park personnel at 775-960-5102.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The reservoir remains ice free but is seeing little fishing pressure.
For current ice conditions contact park personnel at 775-962-5103.

FALL RIVER, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
Closed. Will re-open the second Saturday in February.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Like Davis, this lake fishes well this time of year and sees few anglers on any given day. 
Stripping Jay Fair wiggle tails in Olive or Mahogany, Olive or Dark Brown Wooley Buggers, or Midging under an indi have all been productive in 3-6 feet of water has been good. 
Slightly breezy days have been better than calm days but the fishing has been pretty good otherwise. 
Great place to catch some strong bows that will strip line!  3x and 4x  leader or tippet recommended. 

HAT CREEK, UPPER, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

HOBART RESERVOIR, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Closed. Will re-open May 01, 2015.

HOOVER WILDERNESS AREA, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow 4 CFS. It's hard to even find a fish. Try getting a scud or a midge puoa along the cut banks.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Hot Creek 12/5/14
Snow will be on the ground for a spell. Felt wading soles suck on ice and snow!
Fish smaller mayfly/midge adult patterns. Locate the slots in the weeds, short accurate drifts are necessary. The “interpretive” section is fishing better than others currently.
If you see a few cars at the parking area keep on trucking, as there is very little fishable water here.
Conditions have improved some since the water has cooled.  Less aquatic weed in many spots.  Water levels remain very low; but improving as Mammoth Creek adds additional flow from snow melt.  
Dry flies are the most effective patterns to use. I suggest a 10 foot leader and rod to keep the fly line off the weeds.
There are a few sections that can be fished with a dry dropper nymph rig.
Scuds, broken back zebras, egg patterns, SJ worms,  flashback PT’s, or assassin birds nest bead heads in #18 are good calls for the dropper.
This is a year around fishery with special regs in place.

ILLIPAH RESERVOIR, WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The lake thawed but has recently refrozen.
Surface water temperature was 38 degrees earlier this week with ice covering the entire portion of the reservoir south of the old dam and ice covering 1/3 of the water on the north side of the dam.
The ice is approximately 1.5” thick and anglers should not attempt angling through ice at this time.
No additional ice buildup is expected due to warmer day time temperatures.
The water is somewhat murky from the water withdrawal.
Anglers have had success using beaded wolly buggers (olive/green) , copper johns, and beaded pheasant tail nymph when they fish the open water.
Don’t expect safe ice until after the first of the year.

JACKSON MEADOWS RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports: 
Access may be limited!  
Check with Sierraville ranger station for road conditions!  
Lake continues to fish well but if you're looking for the bigger fish you'll have to work hard. If you're looking for bigger fish here you're going to have to fish the face of the dam more as there is always some big fish hanging on the ledges of the dam. 
Fishing small apex's about 25-35 feet down has been the ticket here fo boaters as some anglers can't keep trout off their hooks! 
Small trout in the 12-14 inch range but numbers are high. 
Look for larger trout on the bottom in 45-55 feet of water or off the face of the dam with small minnow or crayfish imitations. 
Lake is too low to launch boats now unless they're small aluminum ones.  
Lake is at 54% capacity and it's a great escape from the masses that descend on Truckee on the weekends. 

JAKE'S/BOIES RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The water temperature on Thursday was 39 degrees and there was good access for shore fishing.
This water was stocked in October, so anglers may have to catch a few 10-12 inch fish before they get a 13-16 incher.
The usual small spinners, minnow imitations and flies as well as Power Bait and worms should all work.
Expect fishing to be fair as the water temperature cools.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.


KIRMAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

LAUGHTON, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Colorado River:
Anglers found good fishing on the river over the holiday weekend.
One angler reeled in a 1.3-pound rainbow trout near the Sunshine Peninsula using nightcrawlers.
While bait seems to produce the most bites, small spinners are worth a shot when the bite slows.
The areas around Rotary Park and Casino Row are giving up fish as well.
Striped bass fishing has been a little slow, but the fish are out there.
An angler recently reeled in an eight-pound fish while casting a pencil popper from shore along Casino Row.

LUNDY LAKE, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

MAMMOTH LAKES, BASIN, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

MARLETTE LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:

Closed. Will re-open July 15, 2015.

MARTIS LAKE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF WEEDS AND SPORADIC FISH LOSS!

MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, NEV:
Closed. Will re-open the second Saturday in February.

LAKE MEAD, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Word is the fish are biting best around 7:30 a.m., especially when stripers are actively feeding on shad. Imitation shad and lures work well during this time.
Anglers are still pulling in catfish, some up to six pounds, on anchovies near Pyramid Island.
With the change in weather bringing cloudy days and a chance of rain, expect some ups and downs in your fishing results.

LAKE MOHAVE, CLARK COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Striper action continues to improve as the weather cools.
NDOW biologists have observed a significant increase in the threadfin shad population, which should bode well for striped bass numbers in the future.
Along with this comes the report of double-digit stripers being caught south of Cottonwood Cove. Anchovies are effective bait, but lures are also working well with the right presentation.
Working the coves has been productive for those heading out during the early morning hours.

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 now open again for harvest of Dungeness crab.
Fishing for bottom fish, including rockfish and lingcod opened back up to all depths starting Oct. 1. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish and a separate daily limit for lingcod (two).
Retention of cabezon is now allowed but only one cabezon per day per angler.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Upper Owens River:
Flow is now 48 CFS. The water is low and clear. Try caddis pupa, San Juan worms and egg patterns. The fish are scattered so cover lots of water.
Lower Owens River:
The current water flow is unavailable.
The mayfly hatch is slowing  Nymphing with Barr's graphic caddis, olive pheasant tails or copper zebra midges very productive.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Upper Owens River 12/5/14
Water clarity has improved since most of the snow has melted along the river's edge. Fishing was outstanding today due to solid cloud cover.
Access has become more problematic with fresh snow and ice on the roads, and along the rivers banks. Watch the ruts after the ground thaws or you will get high centered.  
You will need to cover a lot of water to locate the larger fish, and the deeper pockets they hunker down in.
Solid mending techniques are critical in getting the bigs to hit. Stay on the “tail” of your targets whenever possible & keep those nymph rigs bouncing on the dirt. If you are not tickling the bottom at least half the drift, your leader is too short; or improperly weighted.
Your presentations and mending might just suck too!  
As Crowley slowly fills, the communication between the lake and river improves, giving the trout a more favorable pathway to migrate upstream. This is why winter fishing here can be so great! The colder air temps force the fish to seek refuge in the deeper pools.
Nymphing below an Under-cator is the best method to get the larger migratory rainbows and browns to take a fly. Use attractor patterns-appropriately weighted, and in tandem such as San Juan Worms, & roe imitations.
Flashback PT’s, Assassin birds nest, broken back midges, tiger midges, Agent Orange, & Crystal Vanderleeches are also good choices especially after the gravel warms up in the afternoons.  
You will see a decent midge hatch and small mayflies during periods of warmer weather. Small para BWO’s or duns, and midge cluster patterns are good surface profiles. Streamer fishing can also be a good call during windy days.
Stay along the deeper/channel side of the river and use the “dip & strip” technique with a light sinking tip, or floating line.
Loebergs, Spruce-A-Bu’s, & Punk Perch #10-6 can get those big boys out from under those deeper cut banks where it is difficult to dead drift a nymph rig. 
Special angling regs in effect. 
Open year around upstream from the Benton Crossing Bridge.
Closed from the Bridge downstream to Crowley Lake until next season. 
Middle Owens River (Bishop area) 12/5/14 
Drift boat fishing has been good weather permitting.
Flows are as low as I have seen in many years. Currently 75 CFS below the dam at Pleasant Valley.
Fishing is consistently good from the Footbridge at PV Campground downstream to the Five Bridges Crossing.
We are seeing a more seasonable weather pattern develop with the big fall hatches of mayflies & caddis slowing down.
Smaller midges will become more prevalent as the days shorten.
Nymphing with tandem rigs-properly weighted will get you into fish consistently. I suggest you use Flashback PT’s, Assassin birds nest, broken back midges, tiger midges, olive crystal zebras, & caddis larvae (to imitate caddis larva & rock worms).
You can use dry/dropper bead head rigs for the warmer days working the tailouts of larger pools, & riffles.
Have some high vis para BWO’s for the uppers & keep them dressed with desiccant  to suspend your bead head nymphs.
Guided drift boat trips are a great vehicle to reach the secluded, and less fished areas of the river. We predominantly fish streamers like Loebergs, Spruce-A-Bu’s, Punk Perch, Agent Orange, and Crystal Vanderleeches. Using a light sinking tip line we position the boat upstream from the target water, casting about 35 feet down towards larger pools. We then insert the rod tips below the surface to get the streamers down without using excessive weight.
Stripping the line in an erratic series of short and long pulls imitates the swimming motion of injured baitfish. The “dip & strip” technique is a fun way to get into numbers and large rainbows that hold in the lower sections of the river well below the wild trout section.
Check out my “be the fly” video by clicking on the videos link at the top of the page to see how we do it. 
This fishery remains open year around. Special regs from the footbridge at Pleasant Valley campground to the fishing monument 4.7 miles downstream. 

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.

PINE FOREST COMPLEX, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NEV:
Onion Valley Reservoir: 
Closed. Will re-open second Saturday in June, 2015.
Blue Lakes: 
Closed. Will re-open second Saturday in June, 2015.
Knott Creek Reservoir: 
Closed. Will re-open second Saturday in June, 2015.

PIT RIVER, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Pleasant Valley Reservoir 12/5/14
No snow or ice here, access is good. Fishing very good here reports local hot stick Seth Cline. He used tiger midges nymphing, and Spruce-A-Bu’s while streaming recently.
Reservoir stable for a week at (4383′). This level is optimum in my opinion.  
Be cautious when the mud along the river bank thaws.
Power generation can occur at anytime, so if you observe the water rising cross to the east side immediately to avoid a difficult walk back to the parking area.
They raise the water slowly; but there is no audible warning.
The small river directly below the powerhouse is awesome when the flows are low, or stable. Forget fishing the river, or inlet if the hydro station is ramped up.
The quiet water at the inlet can be great for tubers during this period.
Dry dropper combos using Stimulators, hi-vis para BWO’s or hi-vis caddis, may be used as the upper fly-use crystal olive caddis larva, flashback PT’s, Assassins, broken back or crystal tiger & zebra midges as your dropper bead head nymph. Streamers like Loebergs, Agent Orange, Crystal leeches, & Spruce-A-Bu’s will get you into some nice browns in the rez proper. Use a full sinking line to get down to 10-15 feet quickly.
You can also fish “Crowley midge style” in the rez near the drop-offs.  
Fish the same chironomid patterns below an Under-cator. Gillies, broken back midges, crystal emergers & pupa patterns.
Tiger & zebra midges are always a solid choice for your larva pattern.
This fishery is open year around.
The Gorge 12/5/14
Water conditions are very good, and access remains free of ice or snow. This maybe the best dry fly fishery we have during the winter months.
The Gorge could be classified as the true “tailwater” from Crowley Lake.
The fish here are all wild browns with a large one going 16 inches.
Moderate/difficult hiking is required to access the more secluded sections. Rock hopping and bush whacking can be expected.
Dry/dropper bead head nymph combos work well in the deeper pools. Use PT’s, Assassin birds nest, broken back midges, tiger midges, & crystal olive larva patterns as the nymphs. Hi-vis para BWO’s, Stimulators, parachute midge adults, & elk caddis are good choices for your dry fly.
Pack in water , have cleated wading boots and a stout staff. 2-4wt. rods are perfect for this water.
Season open year around

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY,NEV:
Rob Anderson of www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com (775-742-1754) reports:
December 2nd
After a tough week of fishing two weeks ago, the lake has turned out some pretty good days this past week.
Storms, low pressure and some wind are all a big part of the lake fishing better, especially over the past few days.
Figuring out when and where the fish will show up is still a little bit of a mystery. We have reports from all over the lake and it is still good one day and slow the next in most places.
If you use some of our tips and tricks from last week’s report you can put the conditions in your favor but that is still no guarantee right now.
If you are in a spot and the fishing is slow you can either wait for some fish to show up or move to a new location.
We are still in for some unsettled weather for the next few days and the fishing should be pretty good.
Anglers are catching a lot of fish on Bloody Mary and Olive Martini Wooly Worms with a shooting head.
Chartreuse Loco Beetles are a good bet for a dropper.
Nymphing under an indicator has also been working well.
Some big fish landed on Red Maholo Nymphs just off the bottom this week.

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports: 
With the weather pattern changing from one system to another this week timing will be key.  Fish before the front moves in and you should have success. 
Overcast skies with intermittent rain/snow mix will also help pull fish closer to ledges throughout the day. 
Be extra careful about the wind conditions as this lake can capsize boats easily. 
For those trolling we now carry Lyman's sz 4 and sz 3 flatties in popular Pyramid colors and Father Murphys Pyramid Vibrator Spoons.  These have been the go to lures at this lake this year. 
Be safe, be smart when you venture out here.

RUBY LAKE NWR, WHITE PINE, COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The ice has receded here, there is still some ice on the main part of the marsh, but the collection ditch and most of the ponds are open and available for fishing.
Fishing has been good for trout in the collection ditch and anglers report quality fish being caught in several areas of the ditch, with the oxbow behind the hatchery producing a few three to five pound fish.
Small olive buggers, hare’s ears, damsel/dragonfly nymphs and leech patterns should all work.
For spin fishermen the usual assortment of small spinners and minnow type lures are all effective here.
The ditch is artificial lures and flies only.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
King Salmon fishing:
December 5, 2014
King Salmon fishing on the Sacramento River.
Water flow is currently 3,700 CFS.
As of today, all our salmon trips will be on hold, unsure if we will be able to fish these last few weeks due to the heavy rain creating extreme muddy water conditions on the Sacramento River from Redding  to Red Bluff. 
Muddy water and debris make the fishing impossible at the moment.
There is a possibility of the river clearing , we will keep you updated.
All of our trips we will move to the Trinity River now, where water conditions are clear and producing nice steelhead, fishing is productive. 
Prior to our storms, King Salmon fishing was fair. 
The salmon fishing season will close December 16th.
Steelhead has slowed down on the Sac River now,  catching rainbows in Redding and Anderson area  around 2 to 4 pounds.

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

SMITH RIVER, OREGON:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Winter steelhead will start arriving in the Smith River basin. Most of the steelhead will be wild, therefore fishing will be primarily catch-and-release.

SOUTH FORK RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
The lake is ice free and fishing for trout continues to be good from shore on most days, though anglers do report the occasional slow day.
Surface water temperature is still holding in the low 40’s.
The state park has taken the boat dock out of the water here.
With the cooler temperatures trout are moving into shore especially during low light conditions.
Fly rodders continue to catch fish using chironomids, hare’s ears, wooly bugger and leech patterns.
Bass fishing is slow to nonexistent.
Anglers report good fishing along Jet Ski Beach and the south end. Good success for trout along the old river channel at the south end of the lake as well using small boats, float tubes and pontoon boats.
The eastern shore on either side of Tomera Cove has been fishing well, especially for fly rodders.
Bait anglers are using nightcrawlers and Power Bait in a variety of colors though orange and chartreuse as well as rainbow seem to be favorites.

LAKE TAHOE:
A continuing report of limits of average sized Mackinaw Trout being caught on silver flasher blades and minnows, trolled at depths of 100-300 feet on the west side of the lake near Homewood, California.

TOPAZ LAKE:
Closed. Will reopen January 01, 2015.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
December 8, 2014 Fishing report
Currently, Trinity River flows are as follows: Currently 300 CFS. 
We are trout and steelhead fishing has been fair to good, with fishing getting quite the end of the week. Hook ups throughout the day, mid morning best.
Trinity River fishing is conveniently located 40 minutes West of Redding, CA  fishing from the town of Weaverville, California.

TRUCKEE RIVER, CALIF & NEV:
Rob Anderson of www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com (775-742-1754) reports:
December 2nd
Flows have continued to come up over the past week.
This is a result of some much needed rain and snow in the higher elevations and some extra water releases from Prosser and Boca Reservoirs.
The river looks fantastic compared to three weeks ago.
As we get storms bringing rain and snow this winter expect the flows to fluctuate some. The river is totally fishable now but don’t expect great results.
The low water over the summer and fall took its toll on the Truckee and it could be a while before the river is back to normal.
Nymphing in the middle of the day is a great way to go right now.
With colder water and weather the warmer afternoons are the best time to fish.
Small Stonefly Nymphs with a Baetis Dropper is a good way to go.
Flows are: Town of Truckee 27 CFS, Boca Bridge 211 CFS, Farad 243 CFS, Reno 189 CFS and Vista 243 CFS.

TRUCKEE RIVER, CALIF & NEV:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports: 
California:
FLOWS ARE UP WITH THE RECENT WEATHER! 
Partly cloudy for the rest of the week with some weather coming in Wednesday night and for the weekend in the form of rain/snow. 
With the recent precip water is being released from Boca and that means flows that are more in norm with this time of year. 
Cold temps for the rest of the week so dress accordingly!  
Water temps are getting cold and fish are starting to get more lethargic and picky.  
Lots of Midges and small BWO/Baetis Mayflies. 
Hopefully these flows continue as long as we get weather. 
Nevada:
If you do fish the Truckee in Nevada please be aware that New Zealand Mudsnails have been found in sections of water there so please clean your shoes and gear accordingly to avoid aquatic hitch hikers!  
Study the water and turn rocks and see what is going on, also seine for what is in the drift.  Little things like this and slowing your approach to the river’s edge will greatly increase your chances of being successful. 
Again, make sure your box is stocked with every conceivable stage of bugs that are present now!  (x) = drawer number.  

TRUCKEE RIVER, LITTLE, CALIF:
Rob Anderson of www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com (775-742-1754) reports:
December 2nd
The flows remain low at 32 CFS.
Low flows are normal on the L.T. this time of year.
The water is cold and clear and the fish are pretty spooky so use some stealth.
Nymphing with a really neutral indicator with small Midges and dark colored Mayflies in sizes 18-20 is the way to go.
There are a few bugs flying around but most of the fish are being caught under the surface. This pattern should remain for some time now.

TRUCKEE RIVER, LITTLE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Done.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
John and Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort (760-647-6484) (vir@qnet.com) report:
Have a great winter, and let's pray for a lot of snow for water to refill all the reservoirs, lakes and streams with plenty for the ski resorts.
May you all have a Happy, Healthy 2015, see you on the water in late April!
Carolyn

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, NEV. & CALIF:
Rob Anderson of www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com (775-742-1754) reports:
December 2nd
Flows have been around the 20 CFS area for over four weeks now.
A little warmer weather has helped the conditions a little over the past week.
There is still some ice around the edges and that should be the case for a while now. The best time to be on the water is late morning until midafternoon. This is the time of day when the water is its warmest and the fish are most active.
Perfect bankers hours fishing conditions right now.
Small nymphs in sizes 16-20 are the way to go.
Baetis mayflies and Midges are the predominant available food source for sure.
Keep an eye on the weather and the overnight temperatures in the Bridgeport area before making a trip to the East Walker.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
East Walker River:
December 7, 2014 
We've only had a handful of reports from the East this past week, a few anglers have tried the Miracle Mile section but had no luck at all, we haven't heard anything from the section between the bridge and Murphy's Pond on the California side at all.
There have been a few fish being caught on the Nevada side though, both on the Rosachi and Sceirine sections.
Most of the anglers are only reporting 3 to 5 fish per day but most of the fish seem to be in the 18 to 22 inch range.
Dry/dropper rigs have been the best though there have been a couple fish caught on streamers. Humpies and stimulators on top with flashback emergers, copper johns, dark lords, san juan worms or prince nymphs underneath. For streamers try zuddlers, zonkers or jj specials.                   
Sceirine Ranch:
December 7, 2014
The ranch reports is included in the East Walker report!    
Hunewill Pond:
December 7, 2014
The pond is frozen over, probably for the remainder of the winter, we'll try to get out there as soon as it thaws and let you know how the fish wintered!

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow at 21 CFS. Low and slow. Try the Lower Owens.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
East Walker River 12/5/14
A little snow and ice along the river currently. Flows currently at 21 CFS. Limited fishable water. Diploid browns will be planted here again-great news!
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:
December 7, 2014
We've only had one report from the West this past couple weeks, we were told that the anglers were able to spot some fish in a couple of the deeper pools but were unable to get any takes from them.
The water is very cold up there this time of year so the fish are likely pretty lethargic, also the water is very clear most of the time so you'll need to be pretty sneaky so as not to spook the fish.
If you want to give the West a try I would suggest trying attractor nymphs like princes or pheasant tails under a humpy or small indicator, keep them moving slow with the current and try to get them right down in front of the fishes nose.

WALKER RIVER, LITTLE, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Totally open water here with not even ice in the back of the coves with the recent 50 degree weather.
With the projected daytime highs pushing 50 through next weekend, expect the lake to stay open.
Shorelines are very soft and muddy due to recent precipitation, so anglers are discouraged from driving on them.
Launching a boat is not recommended at all.
Up to this time, fishing has been good here as the few anglers who have made the trip and braved the cold have caught nice fish, and plenty of them.
Fly rodders are having success with buggers, hare’s ears, leech patterns and chironomids. Fish the nymphs under an indicator and the buggers and leech patterns with an intermediate sink line in the shallows early in the morning. If fishing chironomids a slip-strike indicator allowing you to fish the fly right on the bottom with a floating line.
Bait anglers are having luck with worms and Power Bait.
The campground is open year round, though the fish cleaning station is closed.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Water is only about 10% of capacity and is covered with unsafe ice.

WILSON RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Wilson is 30% full and though it was about 90% ice covered a couple of weeks ago is now open water.
However, no current report so you take your chances if you go.
Speaking of chances, chances are the road is wet and muddy so 4WD is recommended if you decide to go.
Use the same flies and techniques as at South Fork Reservoir.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF:
Closed. Will re-open April 25, 2015.

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