Doug Busey Sierra and Tahoe area fishing report for week of Sept. 20

Hello fellow anglers, the weather is cooling and the sun now setting at 7:30 p.m. A few things to remember this time of year. The yellow jackets and the bears are out in full force getting ready for winter hibernation. Both fierce and are looking for all the food they can get. But we have to remember that feeding bears is against the law.

In Alpine County the ordinance reads. No person shall feed bears or knowingly leave food, food products, refuse, pet food, grain or salt in a manner which constitutes a lure attraction or enticement to bears. Ord -622 part 2000. There are some campgrounds that will require you to sign an agreement before entering said campground, that you will not feed bears. If you do not sign, you do not enter.

And if you do sign the agreement and are caught leaving food or refuse out, You will be fined $1,000. Just use the bear boxes that are provided. This will help the bears to fend for themselves and make camping a better experience for all.

Fall starts on September 22nd and the fishing this time of year is phenomenal. A great time of year to enjoy our local outdoors without the 90 degree temperatures. But don't forget to pack a long sleeve shirt as our mornings and evenings are quite brisk. Now let's check out your local fishing report.


LAKE TAHOE:
Mackinaw action has been rated as very good.
Sugar pine point and the Tahoe City Shelf has been most productive.
Anglers have been trolling silver flat fish or dodger and a live minnow starting in 150 to 220 feet of water. You need to start early and work your way into deeper water as the sun rises as the bite tapers of about 10 AM.
Gene St Denis reported last week 1 to 6 pound average with a few in the 7 to 19 pound class. Mike Ring from Reno Nv, an Ex-Marine Vietnam Veteran was that lucky angler to catch a 19 pound Mackinaw. With our cooler temperatures, toplining should start to pick up for rainbows and browns.
For more information call Blue Ribbon Charters at 530-544-6552.


TROUT CREEK, UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER, TAYLOR CREEK:
All streams leading into Lake Tahoe will close to fishing on September 30th.
I prefer to catch and release on these waters.


SILVER LAKE:
Shore fishing has been slow. Some angler shave been getting out and doing fair on the south west side of the lake. You need to watch you depth finder in this area as the bottom will come up and bite real fast. The area is rocky and does hold some good rainbows and mackinaws. Anglers have been using down riggers with flatfish or rapala lures.

CAPLES LAKE:
The water level is dropping quickly.
The Caples Lake marina is open to launch only kayaks and canoes. Boat rentals are available. The EID launch ramp is open with no restrictions.
Fishing has been very good around the lake. Sandy Ochs caught a 3lb rainbow, Jan Riley caught a 4 lb rainbow trolling flashers and a worm, Robert Lalum caught a nice stringer of rainbows from 1 to 3 lbs trolling an orange rapala. While Thanh and Ed Lou caught some nice rainbows casting roostertails and kastmaster lures from the shore by the EID launch ramp.
EID in partners with Kirkwood PUD planted the lake with some very nice Rainbows a few weeks ago.
For more information call the Caples lake resort at 209-258-8888.


RED LAKE:
Cooling off and picking up a little. A couple anglers reported they caught a few brook trout using salmon eggs off the dam last week. Still a little green from the algae. I will still wait until it has 8 inches of ice on it. Which will not be for a few more months.


BLUE LAKES:
This is one of the areas that have a lot of yellow jackets in the area. The waters are going down and the fishing is still been good for anglers using small spinners in the morning or evenings. Or for anglers using salmon eggs or inflated worms.


CARSON RIVERS ALPINE COUNTY:
The Alpine Fish Commission planted both rivers last Saturday with 1.5 to 5 pound rainbows. The CDFG planted the west fork on Sunday. The west fork is getting low, but if you are willing to walk the river you will find some good pockets of fish. The east fork was getting cloudy last week. Due to letting water out of Kinney res, but has been clearing nicely.

Chad told me he has seen many limits of trout come into the Carson River Resort. Chad said most angler have been using salmon eggs or night crawlers.

Fly anglers have been using elk hair caddis or a parachute adams.
For more information or reservations call Carson River Resort at 530-694-2229.


HEENAN LAKE:
Located on top of monitor Pass on highway 89. Open Friday-Sunday sun rise to sunset through the last Sunday in October, catch and release only, artificial lures or flies only with a barbless hook. Fly anglers have been working real hard to get a few fish a day. The anglers throwing silver Kastmasters or yellow with silver bladed Panther Martins have have been doing very well.
Report provided by Todds Bait and Tackle Shop in Markleeville, 530-694-2511.


INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR:
Fishing has been good. The two Steves ( Lightfoot and Brower ) fished last week from shore. They told me the wind was nasty but the fishing was good.
They caught a few rainbows up to 2 pounds on power bait.
Todd from Todds Bait and Tackle reported that anglers were out in float tubes throwing spinners and kastmasters and caught many rainbows up to 3 pounds, with many in the 13 inch class. Cooler temps will only make the shore fishing better. The largest fish reported this year to me was 4.5 pounds. There are trout over 10 pounds in this lake.


NDOW TROUT PLANTS:
East Walker River, Baily Pond, Spooner Lake.


CDFG AND ALPINE COUNTY:
East and west fork Carson Rivers.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure:
If you get a picture of your catch send it to bregan@tahoedailytribune.com.

If you have a question in our local fishing area call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722. Good fishin and tight lines.