Fishing: Longer days mean more fishing

Hello fellow anglers.

As we approach later into our year you will notice that the sun is setting later. Before you know it, we will have enough light to get in a couple hour of fishing after work.

As the weather warms up the fishing should pick up also. Here are some of your local reports.

LAKE TAHOE: Over the last week or so the mackinaw action has been variable, depending on the wind and clouds. Gene St. Denis told me he has been having good luck on the north end of the lake, i.e. Cal-Neva Point, Dollar Point, and Sugar Pine Point.

Gene started fishing in 150 feet of water and moving out from there, his best action has been in 200 to 340 feet of water using dodgers or flashers followed by a live minnow or a rubber minnow right on the bottom. Gene has been averaging two to seven fish per trip with the average weight two to 13 pounds.

Also, the Ski Run Shelf on the south end has been producing macs. For the toplinners, Logan Shoals to Cave Rock areas has done fair to good using Rapalas. Shore anglers have done well at the Cave Rock boat launch with live minnows, power bait or mini crawlers.

Rainbows have averaged 12 to 18 inches, with a couple macs coming in at two to four pounds.

For more info you can call Blue Ribbon Charters at 530-544-6552.

CAPLES LAKE: Still iced over with 2 to 3 feet of ice. Some anglers have been doing well at the spillway for rainbows and brook trout, Dave Kirby from Woodfords Station reported a 7-pound mackinaw caught at the dam.

RED LAKE: Some friends and I have been fishing there quite often. On our last trip Sunday there was 18 to 24 inches of hard compacted snow and ice. This time of year there should be 2 to 3 feet, but with the lack of snow and rain the lake has not thickened. Please use caution even on 2 feet of ice as with our lack of these elements and now our slight warming temperatures the ice will be unstable.

Better safe than sorry. The fishing has been slow, out of the five of us last week only 3 fish were caught and a couple shakers.

BLUE LAKES: No reports from any one. Main reason is there is not enough snow in the back country to make a safe trip. If anyone has gone into this area, please call the Naw line with any info you may have.

INDIAN CREEK: This report I don't really want to give, but there have been some anglers ice fishing on the lake and a few ice skaters. I have never seen Indian Creek reservoir safe enough to ice fish. Please use extreme caution on this body of water, or just stay off. I will be going up to the lake on Sunday to check out the conditions, and I bet it will be 90 percent ice free. This is how fast ice can come off of the lake.

TOPAZ LAKE: As of last week you could only launch your boat at the Nevada campground area, as the Topaz marina was completely frozen. There was only open water for boats to troll on the east side of the lake, as most of the lake was frozen. Some shores anglers have been doing fair, with one lucky individual catching a $250 tagged fish. For more info call Chuck Fields at the Topaz Marina at 266-3550.

PYRAMID LAKE: For the last couple of weeks the fishing has been slow to poor due to the extremely low temperatuers. Don Quilici of the Nevada Appeal reported an 11-pound cutthroat caught last week by a troller. Anglers at the nets are working all day to get one or two fish.

MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE AREA: Will open on the second Saturday in February. As of this date all of the ponds are frozen.

WALKER LAKE: Last week, four anglers fished on the south end for many hours, using various torpedo lures and flies. By the end of the day, they all were skunked with not even a bite.

FRENCHMANS LAKE: The lake is frozen, and some anglers have been having good luck fishing near the dam. They were using night crawlers or meal worms. Again, use caution on frozen bodies of water. No fish is worth your life.

Good luck and be safe on your next fishing outting. If you have any questions in our fishing world, call the Naw line at 267-9722. Good fishin' and tight lines.