YOUR AD HERE »

Hey kids, Mac is back

Doug Busey, AKA Mac-The-Naw

Hello, fellow anglers. This article by far is my most pleasurable to write.

Most of you all know of the Kids Fishing Day that has been held over the last seven years at Sawmill Pond. It’s a special day at the end of the school year to promote fishing for our young people. Each year, I raise monies through donations, sales of Mac-The-Naw baseball caps to provide anything necessary for the High Mountain Anglers and the Optimist Club.

This year is special because of the full support of Raley’s in our first event. I was able to raise enough money to stock Sawmill Pond and have a second Kids Fishing Day, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 19. This will continue with the support of the community. Thank you to all who have contributed.



The No. 1-essential detail is that this special day of fishing starts at 8 a.m.

Some specials rules apply.



Only kids 14 years of age and younger may actually do the fishing. Parents are welcome to participate and help the youngsters. We want this to be a family event.

Secondly, please keep on natural paths in the meadow and grassy areas to preserve the vegetation around the pond. There will be people on hand to remind you, so please respect them.

Thirdly, show up and have fun.

When things get under way at 8 a.m., the High Mountain Anglers will be on hand to guide and assist you in your needs. Applications to join the angling club will be available.

Longs Drugs representatives and other volunteers will be there to serve soft drinks donated by Longs. And don’t pack a big lunch because Pizza Hut at the “Y” will be donating pepperoni pizza for the noon hour.

This event, like the one before, is for the kids. Loaner poles will be available and so will be a fish-cleaning station from the High Mountain Anglers.

Kelly Nason from the Auto Shop will be there to pass out balloons. Unfortunately, I think he has donated his antique fire engine to a museum, but will be on hand with balloons for all.

The fish will be planted first thing Saturday morning to ensure plenty for all. So get your beauty sleep and come on over to Sawmill Pond.

One last note, I’m asking all volunteers to come out Friday night to organize the event. Please show up in the Sawmill parking lot around 6:30 p.m. See you there!

Fly-fishing enthusiasts, this week the focus is our area and is provided by Victor Babbitt at Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters.

The temperatures are up, so the fish are down for nymphs during the day and up for dry flies in the mornings and evenings. There still is a lot of snowpack in the Sierra and the water temperatures are staying in good shape. The fly-fishing should stay good for the entire summer!

If you would like to fly-fish for big trout this summer, you need to fish the bigger rivers or some of our Alpine lakes. The East Carson River, Truckee River and the East Walker River are good possibilities. As for the lakes with big fish, try Caples, Woods (big brookies), The Velmas in Desolation Wilderness and Martis Creek.

Remember that the big fish usually like big flies, although large fish can be taken on small flies as well. Some good patterns to use on the rivers are Caddis pupa nymphs, Pt’s, Shaggy Hares Ear, Prince Nymphs and Stonefly imitations. Early in the morning or late in the evening, you might try a large streamer for an occasional big brown.

For the lakes, we like to fish with a sinking line for most of the day, switching to a dry line in the early morning and evening. Flies for the surface are Adams, Griffiths Gnats, Crippled Callibaetis, Para-Nymphs and Elk Hair Caddis. For the sub-surface, try Prince Nymphs, Matukas, Wooly Buggers, Callibaetis Nymphs and Damsel Nymphs.

Do you like to catch and release fish? A little, a lot, sometimes or maybe just when you don’t want to eat the fish you catch? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a small percentage of our local waters designated for catch and release? At this time, there no catch-and-release waters in our area. Wouldn’t it be nice to fish a lake or stream with fish in it all of the time, not just when they stock it and for a few days afterward? Is fishing a sport or just a means to put food on the table, or in most cases the freezer – to be thrown out the following spring?

The Alpine County Fish Commission has decided that it doesn’t want catch-and-release fishing in its county. I, Victor, for one, would like to see at least a small percentage of the Alpine County waters designated catch and release. It would make for a little more sport, instead of only putting fish on the table. If you have concern for catch-and-release fishing or for catch-and-kill fishing, contact the boys at Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters and let them know how you feel.

If you have any further questions on the fly-fishing in our area, stop by Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters, 3433 Lake Tahoe Blvd., and talk with Joel, Rocky, Nathan, Matt, John or Victor and we will give you the scoop on how to get into fish and fly. Or you can call, 541-8208.

Please remember to catch and release all of your wild trout.

Good fishin’.

Alpine County Planting Schedule

Alpine Lake

Caples Lake

East/West Carson River

Mosquito Lake upper/lower

Pleasant Valley Creek

Silver Creek

Markleeville Creek


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.