Fishing report through Nov. 9

Here is this week's fishing report through Nov. 9 for Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

ADOBE POND, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:

We have until November 15th to fish this fertile piece of private water.
It has been very good lately with some 16 inch plus fish showing on Nymphs. Call for booking info and availability or click on the Adobe Link at www.sierradrifters.com

BISHOP AREA, CALIF:
Rick and Patti Apted - Lake Sabrina Boat Landing (760-873-7425) (www.lakesabrinaboatlanding.com) reports:
Sabrina Lake: The Lake Sabrina Boat Landing is closed for the winter.
 
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water Conditions: Great. Water temps stable.
Fishing Conditions: Keep moving, the fish are quite spread out right now. Stick to streamers mainly along the outskirts of weedbeds.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
I am sorry to say I have not been able to get up here and fish it because the reports I get are very good from tubers trolling streamers. 
Hit the drop-off right near the marina and then towards the launch ramp area working back towards the south. 
Perch fry patterns and leeches are the hot ticket. 
Jeffery at the Marina sells our flies and will be happy to get you on the fish, just say BAAAAAH when you see him.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
Boat and bank anglers are starting to pick up Chinook in the estuary.
Most of the fishing pressure is from the tip of the jetties to the entrance of the boat basin. The Chinook fishery is just getting started and with continued dry weather anglers can expect the estuary fishery to only get better.  
Temporary regulations in effect beginning Aug. 1, 2011:
Mainstem Chetco River upstream of BPA Powerline crossing at river mile 2.2 is closed to all angling including trout through Nov. 4, 2011.
Tributaries to the Chetco River remain open for trout through Oct. 31, 2011 as per Southwest Zone Regulations.

COMINS LAKE, WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
A few bass have been showing up, but no trout due to the pike infestation. Pike fishing has also been poor. There are few if any trout left in the lake also due to the pike infestation.

CONVICT LAKE, CALIF:
Jen Heintzelman of Convict Lake Resort (800-992-2260) (www.convictlakeresort.com) reports:
Catch of the Week: Barbara and Brian Kroells from Chatsworth, California brought in a 3 lb. and a 1.9 lb. tagged Alper's Rainbow Trout  on Lip Ripperz and white jiggs along the North Shore. The tagged trout was part of the Morrison's Bonus Derby Weekend and brought the couple $50 bucks in cold hard cash.  
Derby News: 
There are 162 entrants in the Ambush at the Lake fishing derby and 30 fish 14" or longer registered into the drawing for $6,000 in resort prizes. We have 6 winners so far for this weekend Morrison's Bonus Derby Weekend, five $50 cash prizes and one $500 cash prize winner James Grasmeyer from Norwalk, California. 
Weather:
The weather is still looking great this coming week in the 60's and sunny mainly dropping to the 50's over the weekend. 
This has been the most temperate fall that I recall since '99 when I moved to  the Eastern Sierra. A small chance of showers on Friday. Monday could be a bit breezy but the rest of the week looks like low winds.  Here is a local site that is usually quite accurate www.mammothweather.com.

Tactics/Bait: The lake is still producing some 3+ pounders and full stringers.  Fish are being caught all around the lake on nightcrawlers and Power Bait.  A few people have had luck with LipRipperz and orange/yellow Needlefish.  If trolling go 6 or 7 colors. 
Fish are being caught all around the lake this week. Locations to try are the Inlet, Outlet, North Shore, South Shore, Creek, Jetty, Handicap Pier and Hangman's Tree.  
Here is a list of other baits/lures that can be productive:
TroutKrilla, Trout Teasers, Midges, Panther Martin, Needlefish, Thomas Bouyants, Green Woolly Bugger, White Mini Jig and Power Bait.

Stocking: DFG has stocked again this week.  

Sunrise - Sunset: Sunrise this week 7:18 am - 7:24 am and Sunset 6:01 pm - 5:55 pm.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water Conditions: Fair to Good. The algae is pretty much a non-issue.
Lake continues to drop and is down about 6 feet from high water point.
Cold nights are killing weeds quickly but still more weeds this time of year than I have ever seen.
Fishing Conditions: Good. I never thought I'd say the words "too many weeds" this late in the season but the combination of lots of good temperature water and lots of great weeds have the big fish spread out from McGee to the Owens mouth.
Small fish are everywhere including the 280,000 fingerlings just dumped in at the Fish Camp. With some more bigger Rainbows and Cutthroats scheduled before the end of the season the grand total will be over 500,000. 'Back to the good ol' days!
Leighton, Sandy and the west side of McGee are the prime target areas. Add just off the stream channel in 11 ft of water with some big ones in the mix. Stripping is working particularly well all over McGee. Mostly small guys but every once in awhile . . . Bam!
Six Bays is also starting to produce.

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Main gate and marina now closed. Fishing is good for float tubers near the mouth of the Owens River.
Hornbergs and olive Matukas on an intermediate or full sink line. General season ends Nov. 15

CROWLEY LAKE, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Better late than never…Crowley is fishing excellent now for both numbers and size. Conditions have improved greatly since the middle of October and weather permitting this bite may last until the closer on 11-15.  Unfortunately the launch ramp closes (10-31) before the fishing season closing for some reason?
So get up here soon, this has been a long time coming. We will continue guiding from tubes after the landing closes so if you need some help give us a call. Tubing and trolling or casting streamers has been right near “epic” recently in a number of areas including the North Arm, McGee Bay (more towards the south shore.), Hilton Bay, and Layton Springs. 
Two Bug Doug at one point said he could not go fifty feet without a hookup this week!  Loebergs and Punk Perch # 10-12, you are done changing flies until they get shredded! 
The DFG has put thousands of sub-catchables in this year so you may have to re-locate if you get into the dinks. 
Next season and the following-Crowley will be back in form.
Still water Nymphing has also picked up as the algae are on its way out in most areas. The water level has dropped significantly enough to allow reasonable setting of your depth below the Under-cator. 10-12 feet is average along the weed lines. The usual Chironomid patterns will work as long as it remains mild, but I suggest you use PT’s and Bird’s Nest patterns. 
I have been using my version of a B Nest bead head pattern all year on Crowley, Bridgeport, and Eagle Lake that is proven deadly and will be available for you to buy this winter.
I call it the Drifters “Assassin” #14-18.  Get this bug, it really works.

DAVIS LAKE, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530-993-4683) reports:
We’ve had good reports from Lake Davis of catching limits using Power Bait (Floral Red and Rainbow).

EAGLE LAKE, CALIF:
Brian Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service (539-283-4103) (www.bigdaddyfishing.com) reports:
The Eagle Lake Trout are finally settling in to a typical fall pattern, or are they? Well on recent trips I have been fishing all over the lake, and usually never the same place twice, in an effort to stay on top of the moving fish.
I have fished both the east and west shores of the south basin as well as the areas in the middle basin for some pretty solid days.
I really hadn't fished up north due to a huge amount of grass on the surface that made trolling all but impossible.
When you get a number of windless days, like we had last week, the grass patties can get pretty dense and choke out areas. I knew there were fish up there, and good quality ones at that, we just couldn't get at them, that is until some wind returned and cleaned the surface up.
Sure enough mid week we started picking up some east and south east wind that pushed all the grass out of the north narrows and the fishing was ON!!
The morning bite has been the best, tapering off as the day goes along.
I had been fishing mostly watermelon grubs down south but up north it is all and orange thing. The 2 inch variety have been my best producers all though I have caught a few on the 3 inch size.
I have been coating the baits with both Trophy Trout Gel as well as Freshwater Shrimp Oil both from Pro-Cure.
Early in the week most of the limit fish were full of Tui Chubs but in the last few days they have been stuffed exclusively with shrimp.
I have been running the gear a long way behind the boat as the conditions up north are shallow and clear, it is not uncommon to spot cruising fish in front or along side the boat once the sun has hit the surface of the lake.
The water depth up in the north runs from 0 to about 7 feet and while the 3 and 4 foot water will kick out a fish or two in the early morning the 7 foot range is where we have been having our best success, fishing 5 feet down.
The fish have been running from the high 2's to the high 3 pound range with a few bumping up to the 4 pound mark which for this year are great fish.
The weather has been cooperating with a few chilly mornings but the days have been warm under mostly sunny skies, all in all some pretty outstanding fall fishing.
If you would like to get in on some of this great fall trout fishing I still have some dates available between now and Thanksgiving, don't miss your chance. Call or Email me today.

EL DORADO DAM FOREBAY, CALIF:
It will be planted this week by the California Department of Fish and Game.

FRENCHMAN RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot (530-993-4683) reports:
The weather was beautiful this past week, and fishing was excellent.
Shore fishing has been good almost anywhere around the lake.
Vaughn Silva of Doyle and Bill Spicer of Rocklin caught their limits of rainbow trout at the northwest end of the lake at Nightcrawler Bay. They were bank fishing and using nightcrawlers. Total fish weight was approximately 10 pounds.
Trolling is good around the dam and near Big Cove. Several different lures are being used. Most are silver, Chartreuse, or black/red.

FT. CHURCHILL COOLING PONDS, LYON COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Closed.

HEENAN LAKE, CALIF:
Closed.

HOBART RESERVOIR, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports: Closed.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Water flow at 15 CFS. Nymph fishing is the best bet right now. Try small WD-40's Miracle Nymphs and Pheasant Tails. Some surface action with hopper patterns and Caddis.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
The water conditions are very good for this time of year.
With the mild weather so far this fall we are still seeing some excellent hatches and opportunities to fish hoppers & dries on the surface.  Dry dropper bead head combos work well in the riffle water and tailouts.

HOT CREEK, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water Conditions: Great, Flows at 29 CFS as of 10/28
Fishing Conditions: Good. Fish very small Midges and Caddis for best results on the sunny days and fish your Baetis patterns on overcast or cloudy days.
Caddis still around too, but not in the numbers we were seeing last week!
Fish at the near bank, and the lanes in between the weeds.

JENKINSON LAKE, CALIF:
It will be planted this week by the California Department of Fish and Game.

JUNE LAKE LOOP, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Grant – Gull – June – Silver Lakes and Rush Creek: Rush Creek flow is 109 CFS. Fishing is good with hoppers, black ants and Humpies. Try Grant Lake near the Rush Creek inlet with Doc's Twin Lake Special, olive Matukas and olive or black Zonkers. Fishing closes Nov. 15.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
George Lake - Mary Lake – Mamie Lake – Twin Lakes: Try George Lake with a black Doc's Twin Lake Special with a Hares Ear or Prince Nymph trailer. Season ends Nov.15

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
George Lake - Mary Lake – Mamie Lake – Twin Lakes:
Water conditions: Great.
Fishing conditions: Great. Water is getting colder, and the fish are more active in the middle of the day especially now with the days getting shorter. Stripping streamers working best with a Nymph trailer.

MARLETTE LAKE, CARSON CITY & WASHOE COUNTIES, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports: Closed.

MASON VALLEY W.M.A., LYON COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Hinkson Slough: Closed.
North Pond: Closed.
West Walker River: Closed.

OREGON PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The Recreational ocean salmon fishery is now closed.
On Oct. 1 anglers will be able to fish bottomfish at all depths. 
Anglers are reporting that bottomfishing has been spotty.
Anglers fishing from boats may no longer retain Cabezon because the quota of 15.8 metric tons will have been met.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
Upper Owens River: Water flow 76 CFS. Fishing is picking up above the Benton Crossing Bridge. Try Buckskin Nymphs,WD-40'S and Prince Nymphs.
Fishing below the bridge ends Nov 15
Lower Owens River: Water flow 598 CFS. Still too high to fish.

OWENS RIVER, CALIF: 

Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Upper Owens: The bigs are finally on the move and we are seeing increasing numbers of fall run trophy sized fish moving into spawning areas. 
The numbers of browns remain on the skinny side due to the warm weather, however it will not be long until their maternal alarm goes off and we see good numbers move upstream out of Crowley Lake.
The flows have come down for the time being and water conditions are excellent both above and below the confluence of Hot Creek. 
The section DOWNSTREAM from the fishing monument (third dirt turn-off south of the campground on Hwy 120) to Crowley will remain open until November 15th with special regulations. 
The section from the Benton Bridge down to this monument is now CLOSED to all fishing. 
Upstream from the bridge will remain open year around with special regulations. Debarb your hooks, NO BAIT, and don’t keep any fish and you will be fine in the open areas.
This time of year it is possible to fish streamers, Nymphs, and dries here.  Loebergs, leeches, Punk Perch, and Spruce-a-bu’s will all get grabs when used with a light to moderate sinking tip line. 
Flashback PT’s, Bird’s Nest, broken back Midges, crystal olive Caddis larva, San Juan Worms # 14-20 are all solid  patterns for Nymphing with or without an Under-cator. 
Para Midge adults, hoppers, and BWO imitations are also good choices when you see the hungry little snouts poking up late morning and mid-day.
 I believe this to be an absolute outrage! 
The annual occurrence of cattle ranchers blocking and bypassing the many irrigation canals along the Upper Owens stranding and killing hundreds, if not thousands of “wild” juvenile trout and allowing cattle inside the fences during spawning periods or at any other time as they spread mud snails by trampling the stream bed is beyond me. 
I have contacted both local & state DFG biologists, and a LADWP supervisor to look into this matter and resolve it before we lose these valuable wild fish. 
I will keep you posted as to the outcome of this matter and if need be ask you all to contact the necessary agencies and demand this and other areas be policed for the protection of wild trout and the streambeds they inhabit.
There are pictures on the website Fish’n Conditions page of one of the many “de-watered” irrigation canals on the Upper Owens River above the Benton Crossing Bridge.
I estimated in this one pool alone that 200 TWO HUNDRED juvenile rainbow and brown trout are stranded and destined to die without continuous flow. Wild trout are a valuable and precious resource that needs to be enhanced in fisheries that are managed as such. 
How can this be allowed to happen? 
Makes me sick. What the hell good is this fence? 
Cattle trample streambeds spreading MUDSNAILS and causing bank erosion especially during the spawn. 
All of Long Valley to graze and they have to use the riverside as well!
Lower Owens:
Flows continue to be very high; however they appear to have settled in just below 600 CFS.  Not good news for wading and accessing the LO on foot. 
There are areas that can be reached in the wild trout section and fishing is actually pretty good in some limited sections, but crossing and positioning can be dangerous and difficult in much of the river at this time. 
Sorry to report that these high flows will remain for much of the fall and perhaps into early winter this year.
Drifting is the best way to fish the river currently and it has been pretty good using streamer patterns with heavy sinking tip lines. 
We see some big fish in the fall and early winter from the drift boats and with the mild weather pattern setting in we will see some fine “catching” going on this season.

PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
Too much water moving in the river inlet to PV right now as power generation is going full blast. 
The rez is fishing ok near the inlet and launch ramp, use streamers and still water Nymph the drop-off on the west side across form the road. 
Lots of rainbow stockers and the brown bite is picking up near the inlet.
The Gorge is still very over grown but should thin out here by mid-November. It is fishing very well in the areas that can be easily accessed.  Still some hoppers and Caddis around as well as a decent Mayfly hatch. 
Dry dropper bead head combos are the ticket.

PYRAMID LAKE, WASHOE COUNTY, NEV:
George and Carla Molino of the Pyramid Lake Store (775-476-0555) (www.fishpyramid.com) reports:
Everyone has been catching lots of fish, but nothing big.
It is cold and breezy today (Tuesday), and I expect that the fishing is going to change with the change in the weather. The boats have been doing the best as they can cover a large area, but the shore fishermen and the fly guys have also been doing well.

ROLLINS RESERVOIR, CALIF:
It will be planted this week by the California Department of Fish and Game.

SAN JOAQUIN, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
Water Conditions: Flows are low but stable.
Fishing Conditions: Good. Flows are low and fish are spooky, approach the water slowly.
Dry dropper rigs are producing the best results.
 
SAN JOAQUIN AND RED’S MEADOWS, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
The road has reopened and fishing is good. Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis and pale evening duns.
Call 760-924-5500 for current conditions.

SMITH RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:
The Smith is open to striped bass year-round, two fish per 24 hours, 24-inch minimum size.
The Smith is now closed for trout fishing. However, fall Chinook are starting to arrive and should provide some good fishing opportunity. Adipose fin clipped Coho can be harvested in the Smith.

LAKE TAHOE:
Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbons Charters (530-544-6552) (www.blueribbonfishing.com) reports: Mackinaw trout fishing has been very good, especially early mornings. Trolling with Dodgers and minnows at the north end of the lake. The Macks are running up to the 10-pound class.

TOPAZ LAKE:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports:
Closed.

WALKER LAKE, MINERAL COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (www.ndow.org) reports: No fish have been reported or seen at Walker Lake so far this fishing season. Mineral County Road Dept. has done some work on the State Parks Launch. Launching is improved but you still need four wheel drive.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service (760-935-4250) (www.sierradrifters.com) reports:
East Walker River: Flows remain great for the fall season but should begin to fall some in the near future. The EW has been a popular destination lately especially in the miracle mile section immediately below the dam. 
All methods of fly fishing are proving to get grabs currently but you will get a better shot at a trophy fish staying below the surface using Nymphs and streamers. I suggest you use patterns that have some red in them this time of year on the EW; they can incite aggressive behavior with the browns. Perch fry imitations are good choices for streamers.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Kent of The Trout Fly and Troutfitter (760-934-2517) (www.thetroutfitter.com) reports:
East Walker River Water Conditions:   Good. Flows moving downwards quickly and at 134 CFS as of 10/28.
Fishing Conditions: Good. Mostly small Midges and Baetis.
If you're fishing closer to the dam, make sure you have a crayfish or a leech pattern on as your top fly and hang on for the ride.
Crayfish are starting to give way to leeches as the water starts to cool.
Air temps up there were in the teens last night.

WALKER RIVERS, CALIF:
Steve Osterman of Performance Guide Service (760-934-6101) (www.performanceanglers.com) reports:
East Walker River: Most recent flow n/a. Fishing here is still good. Try red or black Midge pupa, Buckskin Nymphs and Prince Nymphs.
Good Mayfly hatch in the a.m.

Photo information: Barbara and Brian Kroells from Chatsworth, California bring in a 3 lb. and a 1.9 lb. Tagged Alper's Rainbow Trout  on Lip Ripperz and white jiggs along the North Shore. 
The tagged trout was part of the Morrison's Bonus Derby Weekend and brought the couple $50 bucks in cold hard cash. 
— Photo courtesy of the Convict Lake Resort