Hello fellow anglers, 
We are in that crazy time of year when one day it’s summer, the next it’s winter. I wake up to 25-degree temps, and by the afternoon I’m peeling clothes off. For the last couple of weeks, Renee and I have been on the road searching for new fishing holes and visiting some old ones.

We started down Highway 88, up and over the pass to Jackson, CA. From there, we ventured over to Placerville, CA, and back over Highway 50 to Sunrise Pass and home again. The trip up was pleasant, but the trip back was a wet and sloshy mess.

If you have not been out yet this fall, I recommend going to Hope Valley. The colors are splendid, with a variety of reds, yellow, and orange. The fishing, though, was slow on the river due to low waters. I was hoping to fish the American River along Highway 50, but the rain deterred me from climbing down the hills to some of my old spots.

We did stop at Apple Hill just east of Placerville for a few days and had a blast. I can recommend High Hill and Boa Vista Farms. For those that want to combine a fishing trip and Apple Hill, I have the answer. At High Hill, they have a trophy trout pond that is full of 2- to 8-lb. rainbow trout. The only catch is—it will cost you. They charge $5 a day to fish and $12 a lb. for each fish you keep. They also offer cleaning and bagging services for an additional fee.

I was tempted to toss out a Panther Martin spinner, but then we would have to go back to the room and put it on ice, so I opted not to. But if you have never visited Apple Hill in the fall, I highly recommend it. You can take a daily trip or stay a couple of days in Placerville. It’s only an hour from Tahoe and an hour and 45 minutes from the Carson City area.

Now let’s check out our local fishing waters.

TOPAZ LAKE:

The water level is still high, and the fishing has been good. Shore anglers have been fishing in the cove area by the campground with green or salmon peach PowerBait. Trollers have been doing well along the north end using blades and half a crawler or toplining Rapalas—the F5 perch or hot steel pattern. If the fish are a little finicky, put on a J7 perch pattern. The boat launch is open in the park. Use caution early in the morning, as the ramp may be a little slippery with ice.

BLUE LAKES:

The road is still open as of today but can close at any time. The fishing has been fair for average rainbows, and the browns are now starting to appear as well. I recommend dressing very warm because the mornings are in the low 20s up there. Inflated night crawlers 18 inches off the bottom have been very successful, as well as Kastmasters or small spinners.

RED LAKE:

The lake is now very fishable; most of the algae has gone away. Salmon eggs or night crawlers work well for bait anglers. For those that want to cast a line, use a gold Kastmaster for the brook and rainbow trout.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR:

The campground is still closed to all. BLM is asking anglers not to venture past the gate due to unsafe trees in the area. Fishing by the dam with green or salmon peach PowerBait has been very successful for rainbows 1 to 3 lbs. If all goes right, the campground may be open next year.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR:

The fishing has been great for trollers. You do have to launch down by the dam at the bathtub.T he Bridgeport Marina is open for camping until November 11, but the marina is closed. Jointed Rapalas have been the best ticket on the lake, while inflated crawlers have worked best for shore anglers.

CARSON RIVER EAST FORK, ALPINE COUNTY:

The fishing has slowed down a little. Some anglers have had success with one salmon egg drifting into the deeper pools. Panther Martin spinners have also been productive. The Carson River Resort is open all year for tent and RV camping, but if you want to stay a little warmer, they do have cabins available.

CARSON RIVER WEST FORK, ALPINE COUNTY:

The water level is very low and slow. There are a few good spots out in the meadow, but you need to sneak up and drift downstream so as not to spook the fish. There are also some good holes in the Woodfords Canyon.

Now that the marina at Gull Lake has closed and the backcountry has seen some snow, we turn our sights to the Upper Owens River and Lower Owens Wild Trout Section below Pleasant Valley Campground for the remainder of fall and into winter. Both are open to fishing all year—barbless flies and lures only, catch and release.

After the general season closes on November 16th, there are many creeks that remain open, switching to barbless flies and lures only, catch and release. Be sure to check the CDFW Regulations’ alphabetical listing of waters with special regulations thoroughly.

UPPER OWENS:

The past six weeks or so have seen a rotation of browns and rainbows in the 18” to 22” range coming and going from Lake Crowley. The past week has seen the largest quantity, resulting in 5- to 6-big-fish days along with a smattering of smaller fish. We’re targeting those bigger fish by nymph (mainly beaded Yellow Spots and Flashback Pheasant Tails), fishing the deeper, slower bends. Hopefully, these bigger fish will hang around awhile.

LOWER OWENS:

We made one recent trip here mainly to see what’s up after not fishing it since spring, resulting in a good number of browns and rainbows up to 18” while lure fishing Panther Martins. The brush and reeds are thick in some spots after their summer growing season, making it difficult to access some of the sweet bends. However, there’s still plenty of open areas to fish. As we get into winter, the brush and reeds will go dormant, making access easier, and we’ll fly and lure fish more as a warmer, milder option to the Upper Owens.

NDOW FISH RECENT TROUT PLANTS:
Desert Creek, Onion Valley Res, Topaz Lake, Seeman Pond, Mitch Pond, Boulder Res, West Walker River, James Kinney Pond.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you get a photo of your catch, send it to sports@recordcourier.com