By Doug Busey

Hello fellow anglers, the fishing report this week will be a little different. I have not had the opportunity to fish myself for a few weeks and the reports that I have received are not that encouraging. I will give you what reports I have and give you personal tips on other waters. I will tell you one thing though. I will be fishing this weekend somewhere to rid myself of fishing withdrawals.

LAKE TAHOE:
This time of year is usually the best time to fish for bigger mackinaw at Lake Tahoe.
As you saw in last week’s photo of brothers Ron and Zac Sayed and their friend Dave Sorokwasz from Carson City NV. They were trolling in 40-70 feet of water near Skyland with custom tuned and painted F18 Rapala. On the last run of the day, they caught a 24.75 pound Mackinaw trout.

My favorite areas to fish the lake are off the Tahoe Shelf  by Tahoe City, Cal/Neva point, Sand Harbor, Cave Rock, or just past Emerald Bay in about 75 feet of water. Trollers can use dodgers or flasher blades followed by a live minnow. Rebels, Rapalas or AC Plugs are also very productive.

If you are a shore angler, the Cave Rock boat launch area is sometimes productive for angler with night crawlers or live minnows right off the rocks.

CAPLES LAKE:
I talked to Drew this week from the resort. Drew reported there was open water around the shore area of the lake and around the rocks in front of the resort. He did not attempt to drill any holes to check the thickness of the ice due to the insecurity. I have put away my ice fishing gear for the year due to our recent weather.
For more information you can contact Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.

RED LAKE:
The shore area has been questionable in its stability and thickness of the ice.
Here again I would recommend to not attempt to do any ice fishing for this year.

CARSON RIVERS IN CALIFORNIA:
Closed to fishing until April 25, 2015.
The section on the east fork from Hangman’s Bridge to the Nevada stateline is open all year to catch and release fishing with special regulations. Artificial lures or flies only with a barbless hook. 

CARSON RIVER IN NEVADA:
Is open all year to fishing.
With our rains last week the waters are running high and muddy.

TROUT CREEK-TAYLOR CREEK-UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER:
All located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe are closed to fishing until July 1.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: 
The dirt road is a little muddy from our last week’s rain.
I have not received any reports for the last two weeks.
The water level as of two weeks ago had dropped a few feet and the lake had a small amount of algae growing.
This lake has rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout in it. The average catch is 10-14 inches, but do not leave your pole unattended for too long. I have seen poles fly off the shore and into the lake, some retrieved others have not.

The Alpine County Fish Commission plants this lake a couple times a year with 2-5 pound trout. The biggest trout reported to me last year was 8.5 pounds and there are fish bigger than that still swimming around.
Shore anglers have had best luck with various colors of powers bait.

TIP 1 – If you do not get a bite soon, change your color.
Tip 2- You do not always have to cast a mile to catch a fish, many fish are caught with in 20-30 feet from shore.
Tip 3- Change the length of your leader, some time the fish are not always close to the bottom.
Lures are also productive in this lake, like Kastmasters and Thomas Buoyant spoons. Fly fishing is very good with wooley buggers in a black or green pattern.
There is an unimproved launch area on the east side of the lake open all year for small boats or float tubes.

TOPAZ LAKE:
I have not received any reports for the last two weeks for the Topaz Lodge Derby.
I have talked with a few anglers that said the fishing was very slow to no luck at all. The Douglas County boat launch is only advisable for small boats at this time. The Topaz RV Park by the stateline is closed to launching.
I hope to have  a better report for you next time.

If you have a picture of your catch, send it to donquilici@hotmail.com. If you have a question or a report in our local fishing area call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722.
Good fishin and tight lines.