Mac the Naw: Fishing strong at Sierra lakes; Heenan opens Sept. 1, plus adventures in Oregon

Hello fellow anglers, I have been away for a couple weeks fishing in Oregon and northern California. Oh did we get into some nice fish, which I will give you the full story at the end of this report.

I would like address one serious issue I have been witnessing. Last week when we returned from our trip, we spent a few days on the east Carson River. I fished until around 7:30 p.m. each evening. On my way back to camp, I spotted four illegal campfires along the river. How many times do we have to put our firefighters lives in danger to get the message out there?

Camp fires are not allowed out side of a designated campground area. A designated campground is defined as a campground with sign that states "campground area" and most of our areas have a designated camp host. While it is legal to camp along the river, you are not allowed to have a camp fire. For instance, as you enter Indian Creek Reservoir at the end by the dam, the sign reads "no campfires or charcoal barbecues."

Gas stoves are only allowed. But you may have a fire in the campground area located on the other side of the lake. Lets all try to save what wilderness and public lands we have left. Not to mention the safety and well being of our firefighters.

Here's this week's fishing report:
LAKE TAHOE: Fishing has been great one day and very tough the next. Two to 6 pound Mackinaw were basic fish netted with some larger specimens netted from 7 to 24 pounds. We have released several larger macs at 18, 22 and 24 pounds. Cal Neva Point, Sugar Pine Point, Dollar Point and the Tahoe City shelf have been producing with effort., working and bouncing bottom 100 feet to 250 feet with flashers and minnow, white and chrome dodger and minnow, and flat fish in chrome/ white.

Also bringing presentations just under the kokanee schools in 100 to 120 feet in over above 300 feet to 600 feet have resulted in some larger monsters, as well as dragging presentations over cliff edges to deep water drop offs.

Of the fish, 90 percent were lip hooked and the hooks came off in the net. Cave Rock, Lake Forest and Sand Harbor are open. Fishing is going to be improve as usual and get really good this fall with all this feed in the water this summer getting everything started with a bang. Have an awesome fall in the High Sierra and be safe out there people. Captain Gene St. Denis Blue Ribbon Fishing Charters (530) 544-6552.

CAPLES LAKE: The lake level has dropped over the last few weeks. Fishing has been productive for anglers trolling flashers and a 1/2 a worm. Mike Harris from Roseville, Calif., caught a 4-pound rainbow. Shore anglers have done fair from the dam, spillway or the Woods Creek area with salmon eggs or throwing 1/8 ounce Kastmaster lures. The CDFW planted the lake with cathcable rainbows this month. The resort is open with fishing boat and kayak rentals. The EID day use area and boat ramp is open. For more information stop by the Caples Lake Resort.

WOODS CREEK: Small lake located just south of Caples Lake off Highway 88 with fishing, hiking and camping. The CDFW planted the lake this month with catchable rainbow trout.

BLUE LAKES: The road is open to upper and lower Blue Llakes. Fishing has been fair for anglers using small spinners or salmon eggs. The CDFW planted the lake this month with catchable trout.

BURNSIDE LAKE: Located 8 miles in off of junction 88 and 89 in Hope Valley. The road is rough and one should take their time venturing in. I have not had any reports from this area for awhile.I have heard a rumor of making this a trophy trout lake in the future, but this rumor has not been substantiated.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The lake level has come down a little. The weeds are plenty and the fishing has been spotty over the last few weeks. The lake holds many trophy sized rainbows and cutthroat trout. If you can deal with the weeds, the reward is in the 2-6 pound range. There is also a lot of smaller trout in the lake. This time of year can also be rewarding for bass anglers. The lake has large mouth bass ranging from 8 inches to a couple pounds. Best areas are by either one of the dam areas off the rocks. Two ways to enter. Of Highway 89 on Airport Road or from a dirt road off Diamond Valley Road.

WEST FORK CARSON RIVER CALIFORNIA SIDE: The water level is great, while the fishing has been a little slow from the reports I have received. The Alpine County Chamber of Commerce and the South Tahoe PUD planted the river on August 10th with 12 inch to 4 pound rainbows. Take little walk away from the bridges and you find some of those larger fish along the banks. For more info stop by Todd's Bait and Tackle.

EAST FORK CARSON RIVER CALIFORNIA SIDE: Renee and I fished for a few days last week. We used small silver spinners or powerbait. We caught many of those small cutthroat trout planted by the CDFW. I caught so many I went to a barbless hook set up. I talked with few anglers that had good luck using salmon eggs and a small split shot. The river was planted on August 10th by the Alpine chamber of Commerce and the South Tahoe PUD. Those fish were 12 inches to 6 pounds. I had better luck in the faster moving areas then the deep pools. For more info stop by Creekside Lodge.

TOPAZ LAKE: Fishing has been slow for trollers. I ventured up with fellow angler Tom Blotter last week. We still fished with Powerbait and Berkley Gulp for the morning hours. Tom had me 7 to 2 fish on the fish count. We then trolled Rapalas in on the south end and we picked up a few more. Most trout were in the 12 to 17 inch class. The water level has started to come down a foot or so over this last week. For more information stop by Topaz Landing Marina.

ALPINE COUNTY BACK ROADS: Pleasent Valley, Schneider Cow Camp, Highland Lakes (rough road), Poorboy, all open to vehicles. While Loope Canyon, Silver Hill and Wolf Creek roads are closed indefinitely.

HEENAN LAKE: The lake will open on Sept. 1. Open Friday through Sundays only. Catch and release with artificial lures or flies only, with barbless hooks. Located on top of Monitor Pass on Highway 89. Boats or canoes are allowed with electric motors only, and it is carry down access. If you want to see what a large bowl of Cheerios looks like, come check out the amount of float tubers that enjoy the lake.

JUNE LAKE LOOP: Summertime in the Loop is a real treat currently with mild temps and less fishing pressure due to decreased visitors as kids start going back to school. From now through October this is a great time to come see us. Daytime temps are in the mid to high 70s with occasional afternoon clouds and a few sprinkles to keep it cool and fresh. Actually feels more like 3rd week in September not August. Lows at night are starting to dip into the high 40s.

Thought I would go through some baits and methods to use while in The Loop.

Trout Plants: CDFW is continuing weekly plants in June, Grant, Silver, Gull Lakes and Rush Creek. Additional plants of larger rainbow trout from Desert Springs Hatchery in Oregon are being dropped in thanks to Mono County and the private marinas per below.
More Info: It's always wise to call or visit us at Ernies Tackle and Ski Shop (760-648-7756) and the marinas at each lake.

JUNE LAKE: Oregon Trout put in July and August with more due early September. Shore fishing good throughout due to easy access. From boats in front of marinas 25 to 30 inches. Trolling 9 colors in deeper waters for larger Bows and Cutthroats. Check out the Big Rock Resort Marina or June Lake Marina.

GRANT LAKE: Oregon trout dumped in July and more early September. Lake is receding due to more Rush Creek flow out than in. A simple concept that always holds true. This has opened up more easily accessible shoreline. Grant is where you want to go for some nice browns especially as fall approaches. Mornings run 6 to 9 colors then try the shallower Rapala/streamer method in the upper/inlet portion of the lake. Visit the Grant Lake Marina. You have to stop by due to lack of phone service. Who needs modern technology anyways?

RUSH CREEK: Flows are pretty much normal or slightly above for this time of year. Hit the section from Grant Lake inlet upstream and Silver Lake outlet downstream taking the time to fish every nook and cranny you can along its entire run to Grant.

SILVER LAKE: Whoa! Silver received 4,000 pounds (that's not a typo Tina, I said 4,000 pounds) of 1 to 3 pound Oregon trout Aug. 18. These fish are loads of fun to catch and great eat'n with nice pink color. In addition still good for 4lb range trout from previous plants. In a boat try the east shore along the cabins. Stop in at the Silver Lake Resort and Marina.

GULL LAKE: Gull is continuing to put out a steady stream of CDFW planted limits along with a good amount of 4 to 7lb Oregon fish due to those trout being brought in during July and Aug. and like the other lakes more coming early Sept. Gull is particularly suited for fly chucking "tubers" due to its compact size relative shelter from wind. See the folks at Gull Lake Marina.

I hope you have a great adventure on your next fishing trip. Renee and I started out for Oregon on August 6. We fished with my cousin Steve Hacker for steelhead on the Rogue River the first day. We caught a few small throwbacks until I casted my No. 9 Panther Martin lure across the river and thought I had a snag. When I mistakenly gave it a little slack, I realized I had hooked a very large steelhead.

With one whale like jump, he spit the lure and was gone. I call that LDR, which means long distance release. The next day we got up early and decided to beat the heat of 103 degrees with 30 percent humidity and head to Brookings, Oregon to do some ling cod fishing.

We all caught limits of green and blue ling cod ranging from 4 to 16 pounds. Renee of course reeled in the biggest that morning. We also caught 9 black and blue rock cod ranging 3 to 5 pounds. As a note, Renee also caught and released a 10 pound red vermilion, which in Oregon are illegal to keep. We came home to relax for a day and Renee and I headed for Crescent City, Calif.

There we stayed for a few days in a nice cloud covered 68 degree weather. We went fishing with John Martin, owner of the hardcore fishing trips. It was Renee John and I as we venture out 7 miles off shore where John had a secret place he liked to fish.

Funny thing I forgot to say was, we left after all the sport fishing boats had left the port. We fished for a for about 3.5 hours and caught our limit o ling cod ranging 4 to 15 pounds plus our limits of blue and black rock cod, quill back, vermilion ( which is legal to keep in California) I also caught an 8 pound canary rock bass, which was 5 ounces shy of the California state record.

We had released many fish that morning. We both were exhausted and had caught over 150 pounds of fish just in that trip. Now for the other part of that funny thing, we returned to the harbor, cleaned all of our fish before those sportfishing boats and they did not come close to the fish we caught.

We returned back to the hotel and decided to do some serf fishing the next day. With great advice from Eglund Marine Supply, which also has and excellent fishing section. We headed up the coast about 12 miles to a secluded beach area. This was Renee's first time surf fishing. But after a half hour or so, she had it down to science. We caught the biggest surf perch I had ever caught. They ranged from 8 inches up to a couple pounds.

That night I called my cousin to tell him we would be coming back the next day, and told him of our success. Steve told us to stay there and meet his son at Brookings Harbor the next morning to go out for albacore tuna. With all the fish we had caught we had to decline the invite just to rest a few days before starting home to fish some more. I have to tell you.

If you ever get up to Crescent City, Calif., and want to have great fishing adventure, call John Martin at 707-696-FISH. I guaranty you he will put you on the fish. The only thing you might want to do, is get a bigger fish cooler. Good fishin' and tight lines.