Mac-the-Naw: Start of summer brings more fishing

Hello fellow anglers.

Do you know what day this is? Today at 5 p.m. it will officially be summer.

That means camping and fishing weather. But with our gas prices, most anglers are staying local.

I say why not? Within just a short drive from the Tahoe basin or Carson Valley you can get into some awesome fishing in Alpine County.

In fact I will be at Indian Creek Reservoir today trying out my new birthday present from a very good friend.

It is an eight-foot pontoon float tube equipped with oars to get to that hot spot quickly, then just drop your fins in the water and fish. If you want one of these little jewels check out Cabelas; they are on sale for a ridiculously low price.

I will also be meeting Dennis Cualking, information officer from South Tahoe Public Utility District, for a little tour about the reservoir to find out what is in the future for Indian Creek Reservoir.

I am already impressed with what I have heard so far, and I think you will be too.

Keep an eye out for a special report on Indian Creek in the near future right here in The Record-Courier.

Now let's check out our local waters.

LAKE TAHOE: Early morning has been most productive all around the Lake. Gene St. Denis has been getting limits of good-sized mackinaw trout almost daily.

Gene fishes at the Cal/Neva point area in 100 to 150 feet of water trolling a dodger and a minnow.

On May 24 of this year, Steve Virgil from Texas was aboard Gene's boat, they were trolling the Ski Run Shelf in 140 feet of water when all of a sudden the reel started singing that oh so wonderful tune.

Steve was trolling with a Trophy Stick lure. After a 30-minute fight, Steve caught a 27.7-pound mackinaw trout, 36.5 inches long.

That is a record for Steve Virgil and also for Gene St, Denis and his boat " the PT109. Who needs to travel a long way to get a trophy? Just call Blue Ribbon Charters at (530) 544-6552.

CAPLES LAKE: The water level has come up a little, enough to launch most all sizes of boats.

The ramp is open Sunday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Many anglers have been still fishing from boats and doing very well for rainbow and brook trout. One angler caught a three-pound Brown but left before John Voss could take a picture, that was caught on a Rapala.

Don't forget to ask for your senior discount when launching your boat.

Don't have a boat? No worries, the marina can help you out.

For those of you that like to camp, there is the campground right across the street from the lodge. For more information, you can log on to www.capleslakeresort.com or call the marina at (209) 258-8888.

RED LAKE: For those of you that went to Red Lake last week, you know how crowded it was due to Father's Day.

Then it was a little slow, I have talked with a few people that ventured up during the week and had fair to good fishing for brookies and rainbows.

BLUE LAKES: Fishing has been slow the last week or so. But with the weather stabilizing, the fishing should pick up for average-sized rainbow trout. Road and campgrounds are open.

CARSON RIVERS: Todd from the Carson River Resort reports good to great fishing.

As Todd told me, the river is perfect and fish are biting.

Luis Cazares and his brother Roberto from Carson City each caught a four-pound rainbow, Heidi and Maddy Tyra also caught a 3.6- and a 4.1-pound rainbow.

Again, not too far to go to get trophies.

For more information, call the Carson River Resort at (877) 694-2229.

TROUT CREEK, TAYLOR CREEK, UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER: All on the south end of Lake Tahoe will open to fishing on July 1. Just a reminder, these tributaries carry the lifeline of Lake Tahoe for the Spawning Rainbow and brown trout. Please practice catch and release with barbless hooks.

This is to insure a great future for Lake Tahoe.

These are not planted by the CDFG, these are native wild trout. If you want to catch and clean, try the Carson River.

SAWMILL POND: Scheduled to be planted next week by the Eldorado County Fish and Game Commission and the California Department of Fish and Game.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: Last week was slow, but has picked up a little. David Fuentes from Carson City caught an 18-inch rainbow on night crawlers, he gave it to his brother that was camped there for the weekend.

When David asked his brother when they returned home for his fish, there was no fish. Seems his brother had left his cooler out all night, which is a big no-no at Indian Creek. The next morning David's brother spent most of an hour picking up pieces of what was left of his cooler after the bears had destroyed it and its contents.

I also have a report from a reliable person that told me a man named Jim caught a four-pound brown on crawlers. I didn't know there were browns in the lake.

PYRAMID LAKE: Will be closing on July 1 to fishing.

TOPAZ LAKE: Linda Fields reports some anglers in the early morning on the north end still fishing. Then the jet skiers come out and they all move to the south end.

There is still plenty of water to launch at the marina.

Although fishing has been slow, the fish that are caught are all two pounds. For more information, call the Topaz Marina at (775) 266-3550.

Good luck on your fishing adventures, if you get a picture of your catch, you can drop it off at The Record-Courier or you can email it to jcrandall@recordcourier.com.

Good fishin' and tight lines.

- Doug Busey is The Record-Courier's fishing columnist. He can be reached at 267-9722.