Doug 'Mac the Naw' Busey's Lake Tahoe and Sierra fishing report for the July 4 weekend

Hello fellow anglers and welcome to Independence Day weekend 2016. The weather is hot and the fishing is picking up. The roads will be busy and patience will be thin. Take your time and watch for anglers jumping from hole to hole, especially around the rivers. With our dry and hot temperatures, a few things to remember:

Campfires are not allowed outside designated sites on U.S Forest Service and BLM land in California and Nevada.
Campfires are restricted to certain exempted recreation sites and other fire-related activities will be prohibited.

Illegal and unattended campfires cause over 90 percent of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin and increased fire danger due to the ongoing drought and warm summer weather is a big concern at Lake Tahoe.

Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of human caused fires. You can obtain a permit from the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce or go online to preventwildfireca.org.

If you are permitted within a designated place, remember to put out your campfire with water only and do not bury it with dirt. Embers can stay hot for up to 48 hours or more. Long after your camp trip a fire can start if not extinguished properly. Lets all place safe when enjoying our great outdoors. Many of our local areas have finally opened for the season, so be prepared for crowed fishing this weekend.

LAKE TAHOE: The lake has been doing well for mackinaws. I recommend you get out early to take advantage of the calm waters. Best areas have been Cal/Neva point to Dollar point. Start at 80-100 feet of water and progress out as the sun comes up. By 9 am you should be out to 180 to 220 feet of water. Silver and white dodgers with alarge live minnow has been most productive. Silver flashers have also been working. Average Mackinaw has been 2-6 pounds with a few in the 8-10 pound class.

The Cave Rock launch ramp will be challenging with the road work they are doing at Cave Rock. As of right now the launch is open but is scheduled to close on August 1 and may stay closed up to 30 days or more. Other areas to launch are Tahoe Keys Marina on the south end and Sand Harbor for smaller boats on the east side. Also Tahoe City has the Lake Forest Boat ramp.

Top linning has been fair for anglers that fish just before first light arounf the Cave Rock area to Sand Harbor area. Cave Rock also has shore fishing available. Didn't bring your boat, call Blue Ribbon Fishing Charters at 530-544-6552.

CAPLES LAKE: The water level is at 61 feet, full capacity is 62 feet. Caples Lake has two boat launching areas. The Caples lake Lake resort or the Eldorado Errigation District faciltity. The lake also offers many shore fishing areas. If you don't mind a hike, take a trip to the Woods Creek inlet area. The dam and spillway also offers shore fishing areas. Joe Rizzo and Charles Moss caught a nice stringer of rainbows using night crawlers in Emigrant Cove.
Marvyn Hunting caught a 6 pound rainbow by the Woods Creek inlet with Nuetral scent Powerbait. The resort offers fishing boat and kayak rentals and a general store that is open 8-5 .The campground is open on a first come first serve basis. For more information call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.

WOODS LAKE: Campround is open the lake is scheduled to be planted by California Department of Wildlife. Small lake with access to great hiking trails and lake front camping.

RED LAKE: Fishing has been slow. The lake has cutthroat, rainbow and brook trout. No camping allowed behind the dam. Camping is available on the other side with limited access. Carry down boats only or float tubes. Bring mosquito repellant.

BLUE LAKE: The road is open to upper and lower Blue lakes. Camping available through out the area. The CDFW has scheduled to plant the lake soon with catchable rainbows. No fishing report as of this time.

BURNSIDE LAKE: Road is open with camping around the lake area. Small lake with wooded shore line. The CDFW is scheduled to plant the lake soon.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The campground is open on first come first taken basis. They has dry RV sites and tent camping. The campground has heated shower and bathrooms. The boat ramp is open by the camping area. Fishing has been good early AM then spotty during the day. Powerbait has been most productive in the deeper water areas by the dam. The water level is way up and starting to get some algae bloom. morning and evening is good for fly fishing with woolly buggers, damsels or copper jons. For more information stop by the Creekside Lodge in Markleeville.

HIGHLAND LAKES: Located on Highway 4 over Ebbetts pass is open for camping and brook trout fishing. They have a primitive campground with portable toilets. Highland lakes is is the hiking entrance to the Mokelumne wilderness area.

CARSON RIVERS EAST AND WEST CALIFORNIA SIDE: The west fork is running nice and clear, the east fork is running high with a little green tint to it. The rivers have been planted by Alpine County this week. The CDFW has scheduled plants on both rivers. Salmon eggs, Powerbait have been most productive. Anglers have been using micetails through the currents. Do a little walking up and down the rivers to find those bigger trout. For more information stop by the Carson River Resort.

CARSON RIVER NEVADA SIDE: The NDOW planted the river by the broken dam with catchable sized rainbow this week. Small spinners or salmon eggs have been productive.

ROAD CONDITIONS: The following roads are now open in Alpine County.Blue lakes, Forestdale to the bridge, Burnside, Pleasant Valley, Schneider Cow Camp, Woods Creek, Wolf Creek Highland lakes. Silver hill road is still closed.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you have a photo of your catch, send it to jeff@carsonnow.org. Have a question or a report in our local fishing area, call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722. Hope to see you on the waters. Good fishin' and tight lines.