Don Q's Nevada and Northern California fishing report for week of Feb. 19-25

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Feb. 19-25, 2014.

ADOBE POND, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service (530-283-4103) (www.bigdaddyfishing.com) reports:
Fishing Report, February 13, 2014
The east shore is where it is at! Mother Nature gave us a little boost in the precip totals by sending in a pretty good storm over the last weekend bringing much needed rain to the Almanor basin.
Those of you who have read these reports in the past, know rain and snow generally doesn't stop me from getting charters out but this storm was packing some pretty good winds as well that made the lake un-fishable so I had to postpone a couple of days until the front cleared.
Early in the week we hit the water under a mostly clear sky and almost zero wind and mild temperatures.
The biggest weather event we had to deal with this week was lots of thick fog. The Lowrance radar really got a work out, one of the days we fished in heavy fog all day with it only lifting as we were headed back into the docks.
I started fishing along the east shore at a couple of my favorite spots and found plenty of fish chasing smelt right on the surface. Despite the good number of fish in the area we were only hooking a few Rainbows and the bites as well as the fish activity faded quickly.
Time for "Plan B"  We ran up the east side near Hamilton Branch, despite the increased flows out of the powerhouse the water only had a slight stain to it. Certainly fishable.
I began marking fish shallow as well as deep so we took a split approach, Arctic Fox Flies up top on the outriggers and spoons down deep on the Cannon Downriggers and the rewards started stacking up.
Over the course of the week we managed to hammer a mix of Browns, Bows and Kings from 2 pounds to just over 23 inches and 5 pounds.
The surprise of the trips was the quality of the King Salmon, we caught several 15 inch models but most of them were 19 to 19.5 inches and fat, just in incredible shape for this time of year and a hell of a lot of fun to fight on the light tackle. This is winter time trout fishing at its best.

ANGEL LAKE, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
This lake is frozen and the road is snow covered. Travel isn’t recommended and there will not be a report on this lake until next spring.

BISHOP CREEK AREA, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

BLUE LAKES, CALIF:
Road closed.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

BURNSIDE LAKE, CALIF:
Road closed.

CARSON RIVERS, CALIF:
Carson River East:
Upstream from Hangman's Bridge, closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.
Carson River West:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

CONVICT LAKE AND CONVICT CREEK, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
Completely ice free.

FALL RIVER, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

FORT CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
Closed until the second Saturday in February, 2014.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530-993-4683) reports:
Frenchman Lake is free of ice! 
Both boat ramps are accessible! 
Let’s go fishing!
Bob Parry, a regular fisherman at the lake, has opened a guide service called "Hooked on Fishing” here in Chilcoot. 
He has had lots of experience fishing Frenchman Lake and knows where the fish are and how to get ‘em. On Saturday, 02/15/14 he caught his limit at the narrows using rainbow power bait.
Call us for current lake conditions and well as updates on the fishing - Wiggin’s Trading Post (530) 993-4683.

HAT CREEK CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until the Friday before Labor Day, 2014.

HOBART RESERVOIR, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
Closed until May 01, 2014.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow is at 5 CFS. The recent cold and windy  weather has the fish off the bite but the forecast is for more spring like weather next week which should improve the bite.
Best  chance is nymphing with caddis larva or small pheasant tails and the BWO's should be beginning to show in decent numbers.


HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Hot Creek (2/15/14)
Fish are far more active this week (less the hurricane winds) and you will see good hatches of midges and mayflies so long as this pattern remains entrenched. The recent snows have put some run-off into the crick which will improve some sections in the canyon.
Access remains good, no snow here.
Look for the deepest pools-check out the area just below the hatchery called the “interpretive” site.  Not a place you want to spend a day on, and it becomes crowded with 4 anglers. 
Keep driving if you see a few cars by the kiosk.
The bulk of HC’s fish winter here and DFG surveys show this is the most densely populated section of HC. 
Dry/dropper’s, streamers, swinging soft hackles, all will get grabs. 
You can’t fish Mammoth Creek this time of year so I suggest you do not cross and stay on the HC side of the river. Hit the deep holes and slots in the canyon, weeds & low flows are unfortunately still an issue in the prime riffles. Midges and mayflies-smaller sizes are the standard.  Try a crystal scud, or a SJ worm and roe pattern to spice it up on the cooler days.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR, CALIF:

A report of good fishing on Saturday from shore, near the campground, for rainbows up to 2.5 pounds.

JIGGS / ZUNINO RESERVOIR, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Unfortunately, Jiggs has dried up.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

KIRMAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

LUNDY LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

MARLETTE LAKE, CARSON CITY & WASHOE COUNTIES, NEV:
Closed until July 15, 2014.

MARTIS LAKE, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Upper Owens River:
Current flow 54 CFS. The section downstream  of the Benton Crossing Bridge is closed for the season. Upstream of the bridge is open all year.
Fishing is slow due to the wintery weather of late.
Some larger lake fish showing up here and there.
Some hold over stockers and a few wild fish available.
Nymph fish with WD-40,buckskin nymphs and midge pupa.
Lower Owens River:
Water flow 102 CFS. Fishing is  good  in the wild trout section with WD-40's,  pheasant tails and hares ears. Surface action picking as the blue winged olive hatch begins.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Upper Owens River (2-17-14)
Morning temps are once again getting cold and this tends to move the fish back into the deeper pools and slots. Numbers remain very good with steady action until the wicked witch of the west blows in.
Quite a few smaller rainbows moving up from Crowley & the winter steelhead are returning to the lake.  Numbers have been decreasing the last week  on the bigs. Still worth the effort in my opinion-they are the finest trout the Sierra has to offer.
The prime time historically ends around mid-March. You will note more feeding behavior from the smaller fish and they can provide takes in between grabs from the “zillas”. Overall conditions remain very good here with no access issues or flow changes.
A good tactic is to go full ninja and spot fish holding in the runs, then position to make a good presentation. 
Midge hatch is picking up as the days lengthen & I am seeing good mayfly emergences on the warmer days.
A variety of imitations will get looks.  I like tandem nymph rigs using Assassins, crystal leeches, flashback PT’s, San Juan Worms as your upper.
Stick to #12-16 as your top flies. Hang glow bugs/eggs, broken back midges, smaller assassins and PT’s,  tiger and zebra midges, olive crystal zebras & Killa baetis nymphs as the lower. These can be #14-22. Use a para high-vis BWO, or mayfly adult #14/16/18 and one of the aforementioned bead head nymphs for a dry/dropper rig if you observe sipping fish. 
This is an excellent way to fool spooky fish and one can stay downstream of the feeders for casting.
It is crucial that you keep your flies near the bottom and alter your depth/weighting with each location and section of any given pool you fish. 
It is the “little” things that separate those who get bigs, & those who do not.
GUIDE TIP: 
Winter time takes are as soft as a butterflies kiss, so set on anything.  If your Under-cator stops, shimmies, hovers, or plunges, SET IT!  I tell clients look for reasons to set the hook, not excuses why you didn’t! Swings are free, and you can’t strike out while fly fishing. Try to set the hook moving your rod the direction your indicator is moving. This establishes ANGLE & insures you pull the hook INTO the fish, not out of it’s mouth. Anything 4 feet or deeper may hold a fish or two.
 You can pick up our flies and Under-cators at Reagan’s Sporting goods in Bishop & the Crowley General Store in Crowley if you are in the area and need the hot flies we use on this report.  They are also sold on my online store at the top of this page.
Middle Owens River 2/16/14
The LADWP realtime gauge that registers release rates from Pleasant Valley Reservoir is back in operation. Currently at 102 CFS. I have a link to their site on the resources page of my website located at the top of any page. 
Just saw the first stone flies of the year! I have not done due diligence on the exact species; however I do believe them to be “slender winter stones” Dark bodies, by no means a significant hatch, but something to consider if you like fishing larger nymphs. 
Also an increasing number of yellow stones, smaller & more prevalent. 
Very early to see these on the Middle Owens friends.
Good adult imitations are Stimulators/sofa pillows for adults and larger birds nest patterns as nymphs.
The BWO mayfly hatch is in full swing and the wild fish are moving into the riffle water and tail outs to feed mid-day.  The trout are really keying in on this hatch & you will see a decline in grabs after the emergence most days.
The midge hatch is nearly a blanket emergence on the high pressure days.  These smaller insects are a mainstay for the Sierra’s trout.  Use very small patterns like tiger and zebra midges with crystal tails #20/22 to imitate the shucks they crawl from. # 20/22 gillies, pupa, & crystal emergers work well while nymphing beneath an Under-cator. Midge cluster patterns and parachute hi-vis adults #20/22 are best for dry fly enthusiasts. The BWO or baetis mayfly hatch is also a hot ticket now. 
Nymph patterns like assassins birds nest, flashback pheasant tails, and ribbed hares ear patterns work great to represent the larger sub-surface profiles. #14/18 are good calls.  The adults have upright wings, twin tails, and ride high in the foam lines.
Streamer fishing using the “dip & strip” is also productive & will fool larger trout more often. With the fish feeding now and warmer water temps, patterns like olive and light punk perch #12/16, Loebergs #10, crystal leeches & agent orange #12/16 are good choices. 
Recent drift trips have the olive punk perch as the top producer. This fly is a “strymph” pattern. Cross between a streamer and a nymph. Use these with a light sinking tip & swing your fly into the foam lines or main current-do not cast on top of where the fish are holding so you don’t put them down or spook them.
The Lower Owens River is now being designated as the “Middle Owens” due to re-watering of the section below Tinemaha Reservoir down to the Owens Dry Lake several years ago.
This has been deemed the LORP, or Lower Owens River Project. 
The mid-Owens is around Bishop Ca.

PAHRANAGAT WILDLIFE REFUGE, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Anglers are finding some success at the upper marsh for panfish and catfish.
Mealworms or nightcrawlers below a bobber will catch fish.

PINE FOREST COMPLEX, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Onion Valley Reservoir:
Has dried up.
Blue Lakes:
Closed.
Knott Creek Reservoir:
Closed.

PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR AND THE GORGE, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Pleasant Valley Reservoir/The Gorge 2/15/14
Levels have fallen considerably since my last update here which has improved access to the “transition” section near the inlet to the Rez proper. 
Still plenty of weed but with the lower levels you can now get to the elbow area which has better conditions. 
Watch for the mud!  It will be frozen in the morning, and can thaw rapidly. 
I know of a few wading boots buried in the muck due to this common error.
The DFG planted a bunch of big brood stock here and some catchables recently. Not the prettiest fishery, but it can kick out Fifty fish days if you know how to fish it.
The short creek section is fishing well in the deeper pools & runs.
Midge patterns and smaller mayflies are good choices for nymphing or dry/dropper combos in both areas. 
FREEZE tubing has been the most consistent currently.
Still water nymphing can be productive along the drop-offs on the west side in 9-12 feet. The rainbows and browns here on the chew by late morning. Tiger midges, gillies, crystal pupa and emergers are hard to beat here fished below an Under-cator. If the wind picks up use a broken back tiger as the lower.  Small Assassin birds nest work well for imitating the mayfly nymphs, use these under a stimulator or hi-vis para Bwo as your indicator. Streamer tuggers have a full sinking or heavy sink tip line.
Loebergs, Agent Orange, & Spruce-A-Bu’s will get you grabs near the inlet and launch ramp areas.
The Gorge:
The Gorge has very low flows due to work being on the hydro plants.
The wild browns are holding in the deepest holes and significant dry fly action has been dropped off the last couple weeks even though the weather has been near perfect for this area. 
Dry/dry, or dry dropper bead head rigs using small mayfly and crystal olive caddis nymphs are good choices. 
Fish are small and scrappy here, but plentiful in the middle and upper area of the lower sections.
You need to be able to hike and rock hop. 
Waders are a must, studs & a staff will help immensely.

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
The Crosby Lodge 27th annual President's Day Fishing Derby was won by Jeff Morris with a 21- pound Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

ROCK CREEK, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

RUSH CREEK, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
Fly fishing:
As of February 17, 2014, water flow is currently 3,550 CFS. 
Lower Sacramento River fly fishing report, fly fishing is great. 
Fishing Posse Grounds area in Redding, fishing well. 
Rainbow Trout fishing, 18 in to 22 inches, from 12 to 20 fish days.
Later in the day best, as the day warms a bit. 
Lots of rain over the weekend well received.
Using Prince nymphs, Iron Sallies, Pheasant Tails & Brown Micro Mays, 
Yellow Sucker Spawn.
Rain has been great for the fishing, a little murkey this morning, but cleared as the day went on
Call or email us today. We offer daily guided fishing trips, 7 days a week. Drift  boats or Jet boats available. 
For those of you who are not fly fisherman, we offer spin fishing trips on the Sacramento River are available.
We cater to all levels of anglers.
Daily drifting Redding, California and Anderson, California. 
Groups and Clubs welcome, we can accommodate ANY size group.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

SHASTA LAKE, CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
February 17, 2014.
Shasta Lake guided fishing- Northern California fishing Lake Shasta. 
We offer daily guided fishing on Lake Shasta.
Lake Shasta fishing is fair to good, depending on what you are after.
Bass fishing is great! A few rainbows. 
The bass fishing has very productive this week.:

TRINITY RIVER, CALIF:
Kirk and Lisa Portocarrero at outdooradventures@sacriverguide.com and www.sacriverguide.com (1-800-670-4448) report:
February 17, 2014 Fishing report
Currently, Water is at 300 CFS. Trinity River steelhead fishing is awesome. 
Rain is here. 4 to 10 fish hooked and landed, a day, on average.
Fishing daily, now is time for steelhead fishing. We are fly fishing and spin fishing the river, fishing from Lewiston to Junction City. 
Fly fisherman are using eggs patterns and doing very well. 
Please give us a call to reserve your day on the water. 
Trinity River fishing is conveniently located 40 minutes West of Redding, CA  fishing from the town of Weaverville, California.

TRUCKEE RIVER, LITTLE, CALIF:
Mountain Hardware and Sports of Truckee (530-587-4844) (mountainhardwareandsports@gmail.com) reports:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

TWIN LAKES, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

VIRGINIA LAKES, CALIF:
Closed until Saturday, April 26, 2014.

WALKER LAKE, MINERAL COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
No new updates. No Lahontan cutthroat have been reported or seen at Walker Lakes since 2009.
Launching is not possible right now.

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods Store in Bridgeport (760- 932-7707) (www.kenssport.com) reports:
Hunewill Pond:
The pond if frozen now, we'll start checking in March or so and let you know when it thaws!

WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow has dropped to 21 CFS. Fishing is tough and you may encounter ice in the channel. Midge patterns, baetis emergers and pheasant tails.


WALKER RIVER, EAST, CALIF:
Tom Loe of the Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
East Walker River (2/13/14)
Same old story here.  Low flows have the fish in limited water. 
The warmer weather has improved conditions for sure and you see some good baetis activity in the late mornings on warmer days-after noon on the cooler. Midges are always here, let’s hope we get more water to spread the fish out.
I find dry/dropper combos to be the best rigs during low water conditions & warmer weather,  Assassin bird’s nest, flashback Pt’s, broken back tiger and zebra midges, crystal olive zebras and chironomid pupa patterns are all good calls for nymphs in the deeper pools and runs. BWO adults like hi-vis para bwo’s & para Adams, blue & sparkle duns will get looks.

WALKER RIVER, WEST, CALIF:
A report that on November 6, 2013, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife announced that the West Walker River has been designated for winter fishing, from the confluence with the Little Walker River (Hwy. 395 Bridge at mile marker 96), north to the inlet of Topaz Lake, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.
These new regulations go into effect on March 1st, 2014.
Along with these new dates, the winter fishing regulations are as follows: Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used for catch and release only, zero daily bag and possession limit.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.