Davis Lake:
Damsel Flies are out in force! Reports over the past few days indicate
that the recently stocked lake has fish rising to Damsel Nymphs all
morning long. The best time to fish the Damsel hatch is from about
8:30 am until about 1:00 pm depending on the wind. Use a floating line
with a long leader (9' to 12'). Tie on two Damsels in line about 24
inches apart. No Name Damsels and Dreaded Damsels have been working
well. Look for fish cruising and actively feeding. Cast out in front
of a Cruising fish and strip in slowly. Fishing from a boat, pram or
pontoon boat is the most affective way to get to where the fish are.
CROWLEY LAKE:
Crowley has been like the stock market. Up and going big one day,
crashing the next few. Arguably the best fly fishery around this area,
but not consistent by any means. Bring a bottle of water and pour it
in the lake as a symbolic gesture to show the LADWP that Crowley needs
more water. There are navigation hazards (shoals) in the middle of the
lake north and east of the Hiltons. They have less than a foot of
water in some spots. At current releases you will see an island on
Crowley in the middle of the lake by October or sooner. The Crowley
management has these areas crudely marked so use extra caution when
crossing from the CLFC to McGee Bay. Ask them for information if you
are not familiar with the lakes navigation hazards. Launching your
boat at the ramp is getting tricky due to the close proximity of the
docks, and the deteriorated shape the ramp is in. If you have a 4X4
engage it before you pull the boat up the ramp. It will really help.
McGee Bay 6-10 feet and the Green Banks area are the best locations.
The fish are spread with a bunch of 12 inchers around this fall. The
deeper water is more consistent over the course of an entire day. We
are seeing a fair amount of 18- 20 inch fish, but it has not been a
great year for larger holdover fish. There is a substantial algae
bloom that will shut you down in McGee if the wind holds from the east
or south early in the day. SD guides have had some excellent days in
the north arm all to themselves recently. No algae issues here.
There have been some sporadic signs that the streamer fishing is
picking up but on a day to day basis the still water nymphers will out
fish the tuggers 7-1 for sure. Loebergs, Punk Perch, Vanderleeches,
Agent Orange #10-14.
Stillwater nymphers will have best results using black tigers and
zebras #16-18 as the lower fly. Gillies, pupa, or crystal emergers
during the hatch. A great rig this time of year is a Punk Perch as the
upper, with a tiger or zebra for the dropper. You will get a few fish
on the PP, but it is a great attractor fly and will bring the fish in
from a greater distance. Use a #4 shot above the PP 4-6 inches to get
it down quicker. If you get a little breeze or chop on the water try
this rig out.
The Sacramento Perch Fry are making an appearance as well as an
excellent damsel fly nymph migration each morning. I suggest that for
the next two weeks you have some #14-18 bead head PT’s, some #16 Punk
Perch, and a few damsel flies #12 in your quiver to get you into fish.
The PT’s are great imitations to use while still water nymphing as
they have an excellent profile for the tiny perch fry as well as the
few callibaetis nymphs that are emerging. The damsels and Punk Perch
are also solid choices to hang as an upper fly while still water
nymphing and may also be used while trolling or stripping with a sink
tip or slime line near the surface.
The chironomids are not nearly as prolific as they should be for this
time of year and this is a consequence of the lower than usual water
levels. They are basically “hatched out” but will still be a
significant factor until September. Tigers and zebras #16-20 as your
dropper or lower fly, Gillies #18-20, or crystal emergers #18-20 on
top.
Look for a major migration of trout into the north arm of the lake
soon. The influence of the Upper Owens River will be a prevalent
factor this season as I have recorded surface temps as high as 80
degrees on the calm afternoons! You will see up to three less degrees
near the inlet here.
PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR:
You begrudgingly pay the newly added parking fee to tube Crowley
around Green Banks. It is cold and blowing as you start the kick out.
What the #$$% am I doing here you think to yourself! PV can be a good
alternative in the fall people. The still water nymphing and streamer
fishing near the inlet can be excellent here especially when the flows
recede at the powerhouse. The fall can be a great time to hit some
quality browns here especially if the weather turns sour in the upper
valleys. The inlet section just down from the powerhouse is also a great
place to fish dry/dry, dry/dropper nymph combos. It is a very small
piece of water but fishes, and looks very much like the EW with flows
around 125cfs.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Look for
the fish to be concentrated from Rainbow Pt. towards the dam along the
drop-offs and ledges on both sides of the lake this fall. This location
can be a “sleeper” and if you hit it right big rewards for those willing
to tube the north end (near the dam) of the lake in the fall. Punk
Perch, Loebergs, and Blood Sucking Vanderleeches #10-14.
Alpine Lakes:
Look for a decrease in the amount of
weekly plantings here this month. The majority of the “drive to” alpine
lakes in this region are managed as “put and take” fisheries. If you
are fortunate enough to fish an area that has been recently stocked, you
can have a great time. If you get on the water at the tail end of a
planting cycle you will have a great time fishing, but not much
catching…Streamer fishing works best for these opportunistic trout. Use
patterns that contrast best for your current conditions. Bright
day-bright color/dark day dark colors. We designed a fly called the
Agent Orange that is absolute poison for these hatchery fish. Cast it
with a full or heavy sink tip in these areas and be prepared to get
bent! .
EAGLE LAKE:
The weather has been hot and the water is warming, but this isn’t
stopping high desert anglers from pulling big, beautiful rainbows out of
Eagle Lake.
The fish are beautiful, averaging 3 lbs. apiece, with fish to 4.5 lbs.
not uncommon.
The Eagle Lake trout have moved into their summer haunts. The weather is
hot. The water has been flat, calm. “However, the bite has been very
good to excellent most daysThe keys to catching the trout are to start
fishing early.
BAUM LAKE
The cooler weather forecasted should help boost the trout fishing, but
again the bite wasn't too shabby over the Labor Day weekend. Lots of
rainbow trout are being caught at Baum. Baum Lake is producing decent
hatches of callibaetis, blue wing olive and caddis flies. Nymph
fishermen are having the best luck on trout in the 10 to 18 inch
range.Try a pheasant tail or a copper john in red.
SHASTA LAKE
Both bass and trout anglers are hooking up at Lake Shasta. The
thermocline has formed Bass anglers are hooking fish up to 2 pounds
while using a variety of techniques depending on the time of day they
fish. “The bass fishing here at Lake Shasta is still pretty good. Early
and late in the day anglers have been scoring while working top-water
flies. When the wind is up or there is a lot of boat traffic working mud
lines. The Sacramento and McCloud Arms have been fishing the best, but
you’ll find bass in the Squaw and Pit too.
Manzanita lake
Good callibaetis and midges going on right now. The motor boat caddis
should be happening, but this hatch has kind of dissappeared the last
few years. If you do see one scooting across the lake, fish will
usually pound them!
LAKE BRITTON
The Lake Britton crappie bite is definitely off
Lake Almanor
No reports were available but with good weather, anglers can expect
good action to continue from the East shore shallow rocks from 38 to
45 ft..
KESWICK RESERVOIR
The area is closed due to fires. When things settle back down, get a
power boat (look out for underwater boulders the size of cars), launch
and head up towards Shasta Dam. Fish the edges of the current with
sinking lines and peacock buggers or fish slower water with big, black
midges and birds nests.
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