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Cooler temps make for better fishing

Doug Busey
Special to the Tribune
Mike Ring from Reno, Nev., an ex-marine Vietnam veteran, reeled in this 19-pound mackinaw on Saturday in Lake Tahoe's West Shore. Ring hooked the monster in 150 feet of water with a minnow and dodger while charter fishing on the PT-109 with Blueribbon Fishing Charters and Captain Gene St. Denis.
Courtesy photo |

Hello fellow anglers.

There are a few things to remember this time of year, as temperatures dip and daylight hours dwindle. Yellow jackets and bears are out in full force. Both are looking for all the food they can get before winter hibernation so be consciences. Feeding bears is harmful and against the law. Most campgrounds require a signed agreement to not feed bears. If you are caught leaving food or refuse out, you will be fined $1,000. Just use the bear boxes that are provided.

Fall starts on Sept. 22 and the fishing this time of year is phenomenal. But don’t forget to pack a long sleeve shirt or layers as our mornings and evenings are brisk. Now, let’s check out your local fishing report.



LAKE TAHOE: Mackinaw action is rated very good. Sugar Pine Point and the Tahoe City shelf have been most productive. Anglers are trolling with silver flat fish or dodger and a live minnow starting in 150 to 220 feet of water. You need to start early and work your way into deeper water as the sun rises and the bite tapers off at about 10 a.m. Gene St. Denis reported a 1- to 6-pound average with a few in the 7- to 19-pound class. Mike Ring from Reno, Nev., an ex-marine Vietnam veteran, was that lucky angler to catch a 19-pound Mackinaw. With the cooler temperatures, toplining should start to pick up for rainbows and browns. For more information call Blue Ribbon Charters at 530-544-6552.

TROUT CREEK, UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER, TAYLOR CREEK: All streams leading into Lake Tahoe will close to fishing on Sept. 30. I prefer to catch and release on these waters.



SILVER LAKE: Shore fishing is slow. Some anglers are doing decent on the southwest side of the lake. You need to watch you depth finder in this area because the bottom will come up and bite real fast. The area is rocky and does hold some good rainbows and mackinaws. Anglers are using down riggers with flatfish or rapala lures.

CAPLES LAKE: The water level is dropping quickly. The Caples Lake Marina is open to launch only kayaks and canoes. Boat rentals are available. The EID launch ramp is open with no restrictions. Fishing has been good around the lake. Sandy Ochs caught a 3-pound rainbow, Jan Riley caught a 4-pound rainbow trolling flashers and a worm, Robert Lalum caught a nice stringer of rainbows from 1 to 3 pounds trolling an orange rapala. While Thanh and Ed Lou caught some nice rainbows casting roostertails and kastmaster lures from the shore by the EID launch ramp. EID in partners with Kirkwood PUD planted the lake with some nice rainbows a few weeks ago. For more information call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.

RED LAKE: The lake is cooling off and picking up a little. A couple anglers reported catching a few brook trout using salmon eggs off the dam last week. The lake is still a little green from algae. I will wait until it has eight inches of ice, which will not be for a few more months.

BLUE LAKES: This is one of the areas that have a lot of yellow jackets in the area. The waters are going down, but the fishing is still good for anglers using small spinners in the mornings or evenings, or for anglers using salmon eggs or inflated worms.

CARSON RIVERS ALPINE CO: The Alpine Fish Commission planted both rivers last Saturday with 1.5- to 5-pound rainbows. The CDFG planted the west fork on Sunday. The west fork is low, but if you are willing to walk the river you will find some good pockets. The east fork was getting cloudy last week due to letting water out of Kinney Reservoir, but is clearing nicely. Chad told me he has seen many limits of trout come into the Carson River Resort. Chad said most anglers are using salmon eggs or night crawlers. Fly anglers are using elk hair caddis or a parachute adams. For more information or reservations call the Carson River Resort at 530-694-2229.

HEENAN LAKE: This lake is located on top of Monitor Pass on Highway 89 and open Friday-Sunday until the last Sunday in October. It’s catch and release only, artificial lures or flies only with a barbless hook. Fly anglers are working hard to get a few fish a day. The anglers throwing silver Kastmasters or yellow with silver bladed Panther Martins are doing well. Report provided by Todd’s Bait and Tackle Shop in Markleeville, 530-694-2511

INDIAN CREEK RES: The two Steves (Lightfoot and Brower) fished last week from shore. They told me the wind was nasty but the fishing was good. They caught a few rainbows up to 2 pounds on powerbait. Todd from Todd’s Bait and Tackle reported that anglers were out in float tubes throwing spinners and kastmasters and caught many rainbows up to 3 pounds, with most in the 13-inch class. Cooler temperatures will make the shore fishing better. The largest fish reported to me this year was 4.5 pounds. There are trout more than 10 pounds in this lake.

NDOW TROUT PLANTS: East Walker River, Baily Pond, Spooner Lake.

CDFG AND ALPINE COUNTY: East and west fork Carson Rivers.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you get a picture of your catch send it to bregan@tahoedailytribune.com. If you have a question in our local fishing area call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722.

Good fishin’ and tight lines.


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