Outdoors with Don Q: This Saturday is California's Free Fishing Day

The second Free Fishing Day in 2014 in California will be this Saturday, Sept. 6. The first was way back on Saturday, July 5. On Saturday you will be able to fish wherever you like without the need to buy a fishing license.
However remember that you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever waters you will be fishing.

Be sure to obey those rules and regulations, and don’t do something illegal. If you do, and if you get caught, it could be a very expensive experience.
Special Note: Be advised that almost everywhere you go this year, the water level will be adversely affected by our seemly never-ending, on-going drought, especially, the creeks, rivers and man-made reservoirs.

Some waters currently severely affected by the drought include:
Boca Reservoir
Bridgeport Reservoir
Hot Creek
Martis Lake
Prosser Reservoir
South Lake
Stampede Reservoir
Walker River, East
Walker River, Little
Walker River, West

If you would like to fish Saturday on that Free Fishing Day, and don’t know where to go, here are some annual suggestions on where to go:

Alpine County Area:
Upper and Lower Blue Lakes:
They are reached by a 12-mile, paved road from S.R. 88 in Hope Valley.
You can catch brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout.
Shore fishermen usually use inflated nightcrawlers.
Boaters usually troll with flashers and small lures.
The two lakes have four campgrounds: Lower Blue Lake (16 units), Middle Creek (5 units), Dam Site (25 units), and Upper Blue Lakes (32 units).

Caples Lake:
It is along S.R. 88 between Kit Carson Pass and the Kirkwood Ski Resort.
The lake contains brook, brown, cutthroat, Mackinaw and rainbow trout.
My favorite shore fishing location (spincasting with small lures) is on the far side of the lake, just below the hiking trail that leads to Emigrant Lake.
On weekends the area where Woods Creek flows into Caples Lake will be crowded with a mix of closely grouped shore. float tube and boat anglers.

East Carson River and West Carson River:
Both rivers have low water levels due to the drought.
Both of them are planted with a combination of planter-size rainbow trout by the California Department of Fish and Game, plus large rainbows (up to 6-7 pounds) from a private fish hatchery in Susanville, which has been contracted to do so by the Alpine County Fish and Game Commission.

As a special tip, you might want to fish the deeper pools and holes downstream from the bridges on those two rivers. Those bridges are the preferred locations for planting trout from the planter trucks.

East Carson River Special Restrictions:
The area from Hangman’s Bridge, just out of Markleeville, all the way downstream to the Nevada state line has special restrictions. Be sure you know what they are, before fishing.

Indian Creek Reservoir:
Located near the airport between Woodfords and Markleeville.
This reservoir is stocked on a regular basis with planter-size by the state and large rainbows by Alpine County.
Fishing is best in the deeper water with artificial flies or lures from a float tube, canoe, inflatable raft or small boat.
If you camp at the Indian Creek Bureau of Land Management Campground, be advised that it has hot showers!

Red Lake:
This lake is situated at the foot of Kit Carson Pass on S.R. 88.
This lake contains brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout.
It currently looks green due to the drought and warm weather.
The far end (away from the parking area) is a favorite location for fly fishermen in float tubes, who fish in shallow water.
Shore fishermen tend to favor nightcrawlers (try inflating them) or various colors of Power Bait while fishing from the dam.
There are no launch facilities for boats.

Bridgeport Area:
Bridgeport Reservoir: 
It is a short distance east of Bridgeport via Calif. S.R. 182.
Water level is very, very low.
The reservoir can produce some impressive rainbow and brown trout.
Shore fishermen generally do best near the dam by using various baits such as nightcrawlers (try ‘em inflated), Power Bait or red Salmon eggs.
Boaters (if you can launch a small boat) generally do well by trolling flasher blades with either nightcrawlers or small lures such as Flatfish or Rapalas, down the middle of the reservoir.
Fly fishing from tubes produces action for those using Midges, Damsels, Pheasant Tails or soft hackles. Nymphing under an indicator, Scuds, San Juans, leeches, and perch patterns or any other bait fish pattern also work.
This reservoir is prone to being very windy, beginning in the mid-mornings, so you better get up early to catch your fish before the wind comes up.

Upper and Lower Twin Lakes:
The two lakes are about 11-12 miles west of Bridgeport, via a paved road. They lie at the base of the normally spectacular Saw Tooth Ridge, when it is covered with a deep layer of snow, but not this year!
I recommend either or both of these lakes for fishing from a boat. If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry, both lakes have rental boats for hire. They contain rainbow and brown trout, plus small Kokanee salmon.
The last two California state record brown trout (25+ pounds) came from each of these two lakes.
Here is a hint on how you might tie into one of those behemoths: Troll deep and slow along the steep drop-offs at either lake, with any lure that looks like a small rainbow or Kokanee salmon (the brown's favorite food).

Ebbett's Pass Area:
Kinney Reservoir: Near the top of Ebbett’s Pass on S.R. 4.
Kinney is reached by a narrow, winding and steep highway that is not recommended for large vehicles or those who are faint of heart. If you are afraid of heights, don’t look down…it’s a long ways down!
The reservoir has brook and rainbow trout.
Some of the better shore fishing is to go across the dam and then to the far end. Once there, use nightcrawlers or bright colored Power Bait.
This lake is prone to being windy in the afternoons.

Plumas County Area:
Davis Lake:
Its water level is also low. From Carson City, take a combination of U.S. 395 and I-580 to Reno, and then U.S.395 north to the Hallelujah Junction with California S.R. 70.
At that junction, take S.R. 70 west to Vinton and Beckwourth and finally to a junction with Grizzly Road.
Turn onto Grizzly Road and travel about five miles to Davis Lake.
The trip to Davis Lake is a 1.5 hour drive (one-way) from Carson City.
Davis has good fishing from shore, float tubes, canoes or boats for rainbows that can go up to 5-6-7 pounds.
If you like to fish from shore or from a float tube, try Camp No. 5 on the west side or way up at the very far north end of the lake.
If you have a boat, troll with flashers and lures around the big island or between the big island and the east shore boat ramp.
The Davis Lake area offers camping at a number of U.S.F.S. campgrounds, boat ramps and fishing from shore, float tubes or boats for rainbow trout.
If you forget to bring something or would like to eat out, visit the J & J Grizzly Store and Frosty on the south end of the lake.

Frenchman Reservoir:
A reservoir with lower than normal water levels, it is at 38 % of its capacity.
It is reached by a paved road from Chilcoot, which is on S.R. 70, between Hallelujah Junction and Portola.
The reservoir has both good shore and boat fishing for rainbow trout.
The area near the dam is popular with both shore and boat fishermen.
If you would like to fish at Frenchman, be sure to stop at Wiggins’ Trading Post in Chilcoot for the latest tips on where to go and what to use.

Finally:
Some choices for enjoying the second 2014 Free Fishing Day in California.
Pick a location, load everyone into the family vehicle and then go out and enjoy a day of free fishing, courtesy of the State of California.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon:
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you what Elaine and I like to buy at J & J's Grizzly Story Frosty at Davis Lake. If he grins and says, "They like to order cheeseburgers and French fries with a soft drink," he has eaten lunch there with them.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don's wife, Elaine, is the Outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.