Reno Nevada fishing report 10/24/08

[T_boy]

FRENCHMAN LAKE: The lake is down, but fishing is good off shore using nightcawlers or Powerbait in rainbow chartreuse colors. The docks are out of the water, but Frenchman's campground is still open for dry camping. Lunker's Point and Turkey Point have been good for shore fishing. Wiggin's Trading Post, 530-993-4683.

TRUCKEE RIVER: Continues to produce some good fishing. October Caddis and Baetis mayflies are hatching. Nymphs such as Oct. Caddis pupa, poxyback stones, bottom rollers, bird's nest and pheasant tails are producing fish. McCunes sculpins, bandit leeches, crayfish and other streamers also will catch some fish. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.

LAKE DAVIS: The good old days are now. The fall bite has been excellent for fat rainbows ranging in size from 16-22 inches. The surface water temperatures are running 51-52 degrees. Examples of hot action are easy to find from experienced Lake Davis Anglers. Louis Neely and guest caught and released 29 fish while fly-fishing on Oct. 21.

They caught equal numbers of fish by casting and stripping a cinnamon wooly bugger with an intermediate sinking line and by using dual nymphs under an indicator. Larry Goldsmith of Wild Life Charters landed 15 fish for his clients on Oct. 21. He caught the fish from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. while trolling cinnamon and olive wooly buggers and Fire Tiger Needlefish at a depth of 7-8 feet.

Dillard's Guided Fishing reports landing 18 fish on Oct. 22, 25 on Oct. 20 and 10 on Oct. 19. Shore fishing has also been producing at Coot Bay, Mallard Cove and Fairview. Success has come to those using nightcrawlers dressed with Berkley trout dip and or rainbow Powerbait. Boat launching is still available at Honker Cove boat ramp. Four-wheel-drive is recommended. dollardsmarket.com.

WALL CANYON RESERVOIR: (North of Gerlach) Fishing has been good for smallmouth bass and brown trout. Rooster Tails have been one of the best lures in white coach dog or yellow coach dog colors. Thomas Buoyant lures are also good here in white or frog colors. Mark Fore & Strike, 786-3474 or 322-9559.

PYRAMID LAKE: The beaches with deeper drop-offs continue to provide the best fishing. Tui Chub minnow immitations, as well as standard wooly worms such as the Martini Olive and black or purple work well this time of year. Find a beach with some minnows swimming around and fish there. The trout follow the schools of minnows. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.

SACRAMENTO RIVER: Flows are 8,500 c.f.s. Flows are dropping. Fishing for wild rainbow trout has improved recently with a few fall steelhead also in the mix. Rainbow trout are averaging 1-3 pounds with an occasional 4-pounder. Both hatchery and wild steelhead have been hooked from Redding down river. Most rainbow trout are in the 16-inch range with some up to 20 inches. Fall salmon are spawning and moving upstream. Trout fishing best side-drifting small glo-bugs in avrioous egg color combinations and/or live crickets or crawlers with a Quckie Puffball. Small Hot Shots 50s or small K-4/K-5 Kwikfish good for back-trolling.

The salmon fishing on the Sacramento River will open on Nov. 1 from Woodland to the Red Bluff diversion dam. Anglers can keep one king salmon per person.

Dave Jacobs/Hank Mautz Professional Guide Service, 800-355-3113.

LITTLE TRUCKEE RIVER: The water is low and clear. Kokanee are spawning and the browns are beginning to spawn as well. Baetis nymphs and dries in sizes 18-22 are catching most of the fish. San Juan worms with a small Unreal Egg as a dropper is also worth trying. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.

LAKE TAHOE: Fishing has been decent. One angler reported success fishing for browns and rainbows around the Sand Harbor area, using Dave Davis flashers and nightcrawlers down about 20 feet. Mackinaw fishermen doing well near Stateline in 125-150 feet of water with flashers and minnows. Apex lures and Flatfish also working well. Mark Fore & Strike, 786-3474 or 322-9559.

KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR/BLUE LAKE: Fishing has been excellent. Use single barbless hooks only and only artificial lures, no bait. Thomas Buoyants in white or red/gold work well. For fly-fishermen, try olive or cinnamon wooly buggers. Snail patterns also good, such as Sheep Creek Specials. Moslty tiger trout being caught with some rainbows, cutthroats and brook trout. Mark Fore & Strike, 786-3474 or 322-9559.

EAST WALKER RIVER: Fall fishing continues to be pretty good although the flows are somewhat low. Small baetis nymphs, zebra midges, hunchback pheasant tails and birds nests are working. Not much surface activity, but fish can be taken on a well presented streamer. Reno Fly Shop, 825-3474.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR: Fishing is as good as it has ever been in the last 12 years. Trout are heavier per inch than ever. One angler caught three trout that weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces combined. Perch and smallmouth bass are getting hammered by the wipers. Dunn's Wildhorse Resort, dunnswildhorsresort.com or 758-6472.

LAKE SABRINA: (Bishop, Calif.). The boat landing closes Saturday. The temperatures picked up and there was Indian summer weather during the week. A bit of snow flurries on Saturday and then another beautiful Sunday, less the colors around the lake as the oranges, yellows, golds and reds turned the freezed-dried brown color that comes from a hard freeze.

Salmon Eggs and nightcrawlers are the current ticket to the fish, especially when fishing around the rock piles and back at the Little George or Dingleberry Inlets. Quite a few limits came out Saturday. Not many out trolling lately. Department of Fish and Game stocked the lake last week.