Mac The Naw: Fall brings color and haze to Sierra area fishing spots

Hello fellow anglers. The season is changing just like the leaves in Alpine County. Renee and I took a drive up to Apple Hill located in Placerville, Calif., last week and were planning on doing some fishing in the higher lakes.

But as we approached Caples Lake, we were engulfed in a heavy cloud of smoke from the Caples Fire. The smoke was so heavy, we could not see either Caples or Silver Lake.

As we approached Hams Station on Highway 88, the smoke started to clear. needless to say, there was not any fishing involved on the trip up. We enjoyed the Placerville area and Apple Hill when the power came back on. On our way home back to Nevada, we took the Mormon Immigrant Trail.

From there we could see where the fire was actually located. It was a little south west of Silver Lake about five miles as the crow flies from the highway in the Caples Creek area. A reminder of why fire restrictions are so important, even as we go into the fall and winter season.

Although it was a cool 35 degrees at around 4 in the afternoon on Mormon Trail, the fuels in our forest lands are like a tinder box waiting for an unattended campfire or just off roaders driving over dry brush. We need to stay vigilant to protect our forest lands.

The smoke had cleared for our return trip and we could enjoy the fall colors throughout Highway 88 into the Carson Valley area. If you want to enjoy the fall colors, I would recommend to take a trip up this week before they are all gone until next year.

SILVER LAKE: The water level is down a few feet. Small boats can launch at the ramp. Use caution when venturing out to the main lake. Watch for the prop eating rocks and stay in the channel.

CAPLES LAKE: The water level is still high for this time of year. The Caples Lake Resort is open for boat rentals and lunching. The E.I.D. public launch and day use facility is open. Fishing has been fair for small rainbows. Reports of anglers using flashers and a worm by the dam area or the Woods Creek area. Most shore angler shave been fishing by the spillway. With the cooler temperatures, shore fishing should be picking up for the browns.

RED LAKE: No fishing is advised at this time due to algae.

BLUE LAKES: The road is open to the lower lake. Fishing has been slow over the last few weeks. Shore anglers have caught some rainbows using salmon eggs or inflated night crawlers.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The campground is now closed for the season. Fishing has been fair for shore anglers. I do not recommend float tubing for awhile, until the lake has turned over. Remember to rinse and clean your fish with fresh water from home.

CARSON RIVER WEST FORK CALIFORNIA SIDE: The water level is very low. I would recommend to take a hike to fish the deeper pools. There is still a lot of nice rainbows holding throughout the river from blue lakes road area to the Woodfords area.

CARSON RIVER EAST FORK CALIFORNIA SIDE: The water level is great, fishing has been good. Most angler shave been using salmon eggs or Powerbait, a few have had good luck with mice tails. I personally like to throw small silver spinners across the faster moving waters. Alpine County will be planting the river soon with 1800 pounds of 1 to 5 pound rainbows. For more information stop by Creekside Lodge.

TOPAZ LAKE: Closed for the season until Jan. 1, 2020.

WEST WALKER RIVER: The NDOW planted the river recently with rainbow trout. Fishing has been good to fair depending on your location. I personally like to fish the Wilson Canyon area.

CARSON RIVER EAST FORK NEVADA SIDE: The area south of the Lahontan Fish hatchery has produced some rainbows. Anglers have been drifting salmon eggs with a split shot.

JUNE LAKE AREA: Fall colors are pretty much kicking in now throughout The Loop in varying degrees. This week and next week will probably see the apex of nature’s annual display. Coincidentally, Fall fishing has improved also in varying degrees depending how and where one is fishing.

ERNIE’S TACKLE AND SKI SHOP: (760) 658-7756, Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday into November. Fully stocked for all your fishing needs including the “Fly Shop Inside."

RUSH CREEK: October is typically when large Brown Trout migrate up from Grant Lake and down from Silver Lake to spawn. Have heard no reports of these being sited or caught as of today. During my drive through stopped at a couple choice locations along the creek seeing none. I would expect that to change beginning next week and continuing into Nov. As these thoroughbreds are the sires and mares of the future Brown population please employ catch and release methods.

GULL LAKE: Gull Lake Marina: (760) 648-7539, Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. May close Oct. 26 or remain open through Oct. 31. Public boat ramp will remain open. Cameron at the Marina said fishing has been great since they put in a load of 2 to 3 pound trout. Oregons along with this weeks CDFW plant. He also said some nice 2 plus pound Cutthroats have been showing up. Evening fly fishing has been going off from a boat, tube, kayak, etc. This is the time of year that while I’m fishing those popular floating baits I also toss out a night crawler on a cast-a-bubble as the big trout that have been hiding deep all summer start cruising the shorelines.

JUNE LAKE: June Lake Marina: (760) 648-7726, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Big Rock Resort: (760) 648-7717. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both plan on closing by Oct. 28 along with the adjacent private boat ramps. Mitch at June Lake Marina claims the fishing and catching had been "excellent."

CDFW released last week a 1,000 pounds of brood-stock from jointly managed pens in the 4 to 12 pound range. In talking to some of the lead core trollers a lot of fish are still down deep including the Cutthroats at 45’ to 50’. Greg, one of the usual suspects out there, has been trying a different approach partly because he’s tired of dragging and reeling so much lead core line and other partly because it works. In the evenings trolling Taz Devils and Thomas Bouyants on spin gear about 10’ deep. He said any green color is getting plenty of grabs.

SILVER LAKE: Silver Lake Resort: (760) 648-7625. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closing after this coming Sunday. The nearby public boat ramp will remain open. The store and tackle shop’s fish book reveals plenty of nice Rainbows brought in using all those popular floating baits from shore and boat. The largest I see is a 3 pound, 10 ounce caught by Nohlan from Simi Valley trolling a night crawler with a flasher. That’s an effective tactic that not many use these days.

GRANT LAKE: Grant Lake Marina and Campground along with the boat ramp are closed for the season. There are some spots along the Upper Grant shoreline that a trailered boat can be launched taking care of course. The only reliable report I have is from Dan of Dan’s Guide Service. His boat has been getting consistent good catches of nice Browns up to 20” trolling 6’ to 10’ in the evenings with Rapalas on spin gear and Rainbow Hornburg streamers with fly rods. He said lately a newly tried Chub Minnow streamer has been getting bit. Otherwise I’d be working the Upper lake area from the Narrows into the Rush Creek inlet and up the creek itself for those migrating Browns.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure, If you get a picture of your catch, send it to editor@carsonnow.org. I hope to see on the waters as I will be out in the Alpine County area this weekend. Good fishin' and tight lines.