Don Q's weekly fishing report for Nevada and Northern California waters

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and Sierra. This report is for the week of Dec. 18-24.

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

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishermen are still reporting catching some rainbows and browns both through bank fishing and trolling.
Courtesy of Fish Sniffer.

ANGEL LAKE, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
This lake is frozen and the road is snow covered. Travel isn’t recommended and there will not be a report on this lake until next spring.

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

BLUE LAKES, CALIF:
Road closed.

BOCA RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
ICE ON PORTIONS OF LAKE! 
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.

BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF:
Road closed.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:
Frozen, but the thickness of the ice is unknown.

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:
Higher flows this week should make for some excellent fishing later in the week for chinook and even some early steelhead.
The chinook fishery will be winding down in the next week or two.
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.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
Jim and Jeannie of the J &J's Grizzly Store and Camping Resort (530-832-0270) (www.grizzlystore.portola-ca.com) report:
December 15:
There were several fisherman on the ice today. 
They did not stop in the store to give us any further details. Just remember, the ice is NOT officially monitored, you go on the ice at your own risk!

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! 

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

FEATHER RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Still hearing reports of fair catches with many methods, such as bait fishing, trolling and casting.
Fishermen report that stripers have been caught here recently.  
Courtesy of MyOutDoorBuddy.Com.

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

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
With the recent snow the north end of the lake is freezing over.
The road to the dam has been plowed and with the freezing temperatures ice is forming at the dam.
Fishermen say be prepared and informed as conditions are changing quickly.
Courtesy of Wiggins Trading Post.

HAT CREEK CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 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  at  6 CFS. Best  chance is nymphing with caddis larva or small pheasant tails.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Frozen, the thickness of the ice is unknown. Stay off.

JACKSON MEADOWS RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Snowmobile only now.

KLAMATH RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
The fishermen are reporting fair catches this week. We hear you can expect an adult steelhead and maybe a few smaller ones. The rain is needed to help catch the fish. The fish should still be biting through March.
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

LEWISTON LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Even with lowering water, fishermen are reporting that the lake is doing fairly well. The word from anglers is the A.M. hours are best.
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

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.

MARTIS LAKE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

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

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
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 until Dec. 31.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Upper Owens River:
Current flow 66 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 76 CFS. Fishing is  a bit tougher due to the recent cold weather. Try WD-40's,  pheasant tails and hares ears. Good dry fly action with para caddis and cdc caddis.


OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Upper Owens River:
UO went off today, BIG TIME! 
I saw a huge mayfly emergence with a mix of trico’s and BWO’s #16-20. 
I also witnessed perhaps the latest sedge caddis hatch I have ever seen on the UO & not just a few mind you. 
Nymphing the deeper pools paid off with multiple bigs wanting to mix it up right from the get go. Weather was splendid, I do believe it hit low 60′s here without a breath of wind.
We used crystal leeches, dark assassins, flashback Pt’s (tung heads) hi-vis para BWO’s & BWO adults #18.
Two Bug nailed them on his evil wicked SJ worm and egg patterns.
Some turbidity around Hot Creek as there is some run-off occurring from Mammoth Creek.
Incredible catching, hope you can fish with us soon.
Middle Owens River:
Flows are back down to 75 CFS out of PV Reservoir. The gauge is malfunctioning (not enough water if you ask me). 
Weather has been really nice in the Owens Valley the last few days & this trend should continue into next week with some wind showing up by mid-week & a crash in temps by end of the week. 
Water temps still too cool (upper thirties, low forties) for any kind of consistent surface activity; however nymphing the deeper pools will get you into fish using light and dark Assassin birds nest’s, flashback PT’s, broken back tiger and zebra midges, SJ worms and glow bugs work here also this time of year.
I did see a sprinkling of first generation blue winged olives today, only two snouts came up all day on adults. 
Drifting was good this afternoon and we had over twenty to net with half of them nice wild browns. 
We are still getting into some nice fish while tossing streamers- just not big numbers.  Loebergs, Spruce-A-Bu’s, Agent Orange, Crystal Leeches, & Punk Perch patterns used with a light to moderate sinking tip will get grabs in the deeper water.
Let those flies “hover” for a while on your retrieve and slow down your strip while the water is so cold. These fish will hit out of aggression, not because they are feeding for the most part.
The Lower Owens River is now being designated as the “Middle Owens” due to some re-watering of the section below Tinemaha Reservoir down to the Owens dry lake several years ago. This has been deemed the LORP, or Lower Owens River Project.  The mid-Owens is around Bishop Ca.

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.

PIT RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishermen are still pleased with the river this week. We are hearing that the best time to catch is late morning into the afternoon. This river is pretty remote so please be prepared in case a cold front moves in on you.  
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR/THE GORGE, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Pleasant Valley Reservoir:
This is the only year around still water open in Inyo or Mono Counties. 
The transition area is choked with heavy weed beds-more than I have ever seen. The level is very high and you will find only limited access near the inlet section. It pretty much sucks here right now in this section.
The short creek section is fishing so-so in the deeper pools.
Midge patterns and smaller mayflies are good choices for nymphing or dry/dropper combos in both areas. 
FREEZE tubing has been the most consistent currently. The cold weather has really slowed all sections down and no hatches to focus on.
Still water nymphing can be productive along the drop-offs on the west side in 9-12 feet.
Tiger midges, gillies, crystal pupa and emergers are hard to beat here fished below an Under-cator.
If the wind picks up use a broken back tiger as the lower. 
Small Assassin birds nest work well for imitating the mayfly nymphs, use these under a stimulator or hi-vis para Bwo as your indicator. Streamer tuggers have a full sinking or heavy sink tip line. Loebergs, Agent Orange, & Spruce-A-Bu’s will get you grabs near the inlet and launch ramp areas.
The Gorge:
The Gorge has been bumped up to 50 CFS below middle powerhouse.
There is still a bunch of major work being done on the hydroelectric facility and flows are being bypassed through the Gorge. 
Dry/dry, or dry dropper bead head rigs using small mayfly and crystal olive caddis nymphs are good choices. 
The brush has really thinned out making it just difficult in some places to cast. This is not a place to practice false casting friends!

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

RED LAKE, CALIF:
Frozen, but the thickness of the ice is unknown.

ROCK CREEK, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

RUSH CREEK, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (LOWER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishermen report some of the nicest Rainbows come from this river in the winter months. The lower water line is great for wading and reports are that fishing has been good this week.
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

SACRAMENTO RIVER (UPPER), CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Reports are fishing has been fair. Fishermen are reporting getting some catches from rainbows feeding off the surface. We hear the best fishing is towards Dunsmuir.  
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
The reports this week are coming in of good bass fishing from the shore line out to about 30 feet. Fishermen are saying that mud pie tubes and green pumpkin senkos are working well.
Courtesy of Phil’s Propeller.

SILVER LAKE, CALIF:
Frozen, but the thickness of the ice is unknown.

SPOONER LAKE, DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEV:
Frozen, but the thickness of the ice is unknown.

LAKE TAHOE:
A report of average sized Mackinaw trout caught while trolling with flasher blades and minnows south of the Cave Rock Landing.
Another report of catching rainbows while top lining with flashers and lures near Deadman's Point.

TOPAZ LAKE:
Closed until January 01, 2014.

TRINITY LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishermen are reporting that catching steelhead has been tricky this week. Some are catching a couple fish, while others catch nothing at all.
Courtesy of Fish Trinity Lake.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Fishermen are reporting that catching steelhead has been tricky this week. While some have caught a couple others have had no luck at all.
Courtesy of The Fly Shop.

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
December 16, 2013 Fishing report
Currently, Water is at 300 CFS.
Trinity River steelhead fishing is red hot. We got the rain we needed, steelhead fishing on the Trinity River is awesome now. 5 to 8 fish hooked and landed, a day, on average. 8 steelhead day yesterday. 
Fishing daily, now is time for steelhead fishing. We are fly fishing and spin fishing the river, fishing from Lewiston to Junction City. 
Fly fisherman are using eggs patterns and doing very well.
Please give us a call to reserve your day on the water.
Trinity River fishing 
is conveniently located 40 minutes West of Redding, CA  fishing from the town of Weaverville, California.

TRUCKEE RIVER, BIG:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

TRUCKEE RIVER, LITTLE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 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:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
East Walker River:
December 17, 2013 
The river is still running at about 35 CFS these days.
The weather has warmed up a bit (as in it hasn't been below zero lately) so this usually helps out the fishing a bit.
We haven't had many reports lately though a couple anglers have said it's been a little tough. There's some surface action with BWO's but it sounds like they're very tiny and the fish have been a bit picky on dry patterns.
Nymphing is probably still the best way to go with some small midges like flashback emergers, WD-40's, zebra midges, top secret midges, rainbow warriors and the like.
Best time to be on the water is going to be from about 9am to 3pm or so.       
Sceirine Ranch:
December 17, 2013
Haven't had any reports from the ranch this past couple weeks, my guess is that it's going to be fishing much like the California side of the river, plenty of openings if you want to give it a go!       
Hunewill Pond:
December 17, 2013
The pond if frozen now, we'll start checking in March or so and let you know when it thaws!

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow  is currently 34 CFS. Fishing is tough and you may encounter ice in the channel. Midge patterns, baetis emergers and pheasant tails.
Early am or last hour of the day.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
The “pulsing” of flows really paid off during the cold snap and prevented substantial bed ice from forming in the miracle mile. 
Still on the slow side here, but if the trend continues this may be a good option as pressure has been extra light this fall and winter.
Access is very good with no significant ice or snow around.
Use the same strategy as you would on the Upper Owens. Stick to the deeper water and pools. I like a punk perch/crystal leech #14 or 16 as an upper fly.  Use an Assassin, or broken back tiger or zebra midge as your dropper. 
SJ worms and glow bugs also work well during the cooler months here.

WALKER RIVER, WEST, CALIF:
A report that on November 6, 2013, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife announced that the West Walker River has been designated for winter fishing, from the confluence with the Little Walker River (Hwy. 395 Bridge at mile marker 96), north to the inlet of Topaz Lake, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.
These new regulations go into effect on March 1st, 2014.
Along with these new dates, the winter fishing regulations are as follows: Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used for catch and release only, zero daily bag and possession limit.

WHISKEYTOWN LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530-365-7500) (www.shastacascade.com) reports:
Best Time to fish this lake fishermen are saying is between 9:30 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure and weather changes.  
Courtesy of Hook & Bullet.

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