Lake Fishing Report Week of September 11, 2016

Mountain Hardware & Sports, Lake Fishing Report Week of September 11, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Boca Reservoir
Donner Lake
Jackson Meadows
Lake Tahoe
Stampede Reservoir

*Designates best areas to go fishing now.

 

Kokanee fishing has hit the wall as most of these landlocked salmon are turned and thinking about their spawn. Just a reminder that all moving water, rivers and creeks, are now open and for the LT between Boca and Stampede, Lower Prosser Creek, Sagehen Creek west of 89, and the Truckee from Trout Creek to Stateline is Barbless Artificial and Catch & Release Please! Lakes are under General Regs and are open year round unless designated. IE: Martis, Mitlon to name a few. If unsure, look up the regs on the DFG Website!

WEATHER FOR THE WEEK:Cool mornings but daytime temps will be comfortable in the 70’s WITH possible showers on Tuesday and breezy!

**DONNER:
WAS STOCKED the WEEK of 8/14/16, and will be stocked again 9/11/2016! Lake is at 60% capacity. Boat inspections are required here! This lake is getting a much needed stocking of Rainbow trout this week, so get out this week before all the other bankies take them home and stuff their freezers! Some Big Macks being caught recently and those fish have been taken on light Kokanee tackle! When this happens you know they're looking for food and this are getting tough! Throw everything you have at the trout now, ie: powerbait, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs and combinations of these baits, spoons and spinners of different varieties. By casting closer and then working your way out a little further one can detect what depth the trout are cruising and having patience is key to success now. Kokes are on the tail end of their season and like most the summer they have been small ones but fat. Don’t fish for the Kokes that are school up but the ones that are scattered at 25-50 feet. Bite will be more of an aggressive short strike rather than a feeding strike so you’ll have to bring your lure closer to your dodger now. Fish are still silvery and not turned yet and James from Tight Lines Guide Service is getting limits as he has turned his attention from Boca to here. Humdingers, Needlefish, Speedy Shiners, and similar lures are getting most of the hookups. Kokanee fishing has been decent on the South side of this lake in 40-60 feet of water but Kokes are small ranging from 8-11 inches. Get a guide for this lake and learn the ropes! Guides listed on bottom of this page and all are highly recommended! This lake was last stocked the week of 4/24/16, 7/3/2016, 8/14

***BOCA:
Lake is at 27% capacity now and is dropping quickly as the release has been a consistent 304 CFS that is being dumped below the Dam. Launching of boats larger than small 17 footers is done as the boat launch is out of the water and the shoreline being like quicksand! If you have to launch please use caution as some have gotten axle deep in the soft stuff! Report of a stocking of Cutthroat a couple of weeks ago as one of my reps saw a stocking truck dumping fish here! Okay, with the significant drop in water level the Kokanee fishing is done here for the year it looks like. Guides are stating that they are targeting large amounts of fish by the dam but can’t coax them to bite. If you want to give it a last go more power to you and you’ll use the same lures for these guys as you would be using at Stampede but depths are 45-50 early and 50-60 later. Shore fishing has been sporadic at best as this lake hasn't received a stocking of fish this year except for the unannounced Cuttie stocking. Always good fishing here for Browns and Rainbows around the inlet and by the dam, but you'll have to work hard for them! Bait of choice is an inflated nightcrawler right now and any lure that will represent small chubs, minnows, and kokanee such as a Kastmaster.

***STAMPEDE:
Lake has come down from 41% to 38% currently and has stabilized at this level as the flow going out has decreased to 30 CFS. Concrete slab for boat launch is still in the water. Launching boats should not be a problem, but soon the concrete pad will be out of the water. Kokanee fishing is in its last stage of the season and you’ll have to work to catch these guys now. Depths for these guys are anywhere from 45-60 feet suspended in schools. Bring your offerings closer to the dodger, about 9 inches or so, as the bite will be anything but an annoyance now. Anything in Pink or combos of Pink, Chartreuse, and Orange have been great in spinner, Squids and micro squids. We have Shasta tackle in stock now in Humdingers, Wiggle Hoochies, Kokanuts, and Flashers. Bite will continue even when the sun is completely on the water just fish a little deeper and with Blues or Purple or combos of these colors! Surface temp is still okay at 72 degrees. Most Kokes are being targeted well outside the LT arm or in spots between the boat launch and the LT, and even back into the Davies Creek Arm. Mack fishing has been good also below the Kokes and around the dam in 50-75 feet. This lake has slowed down for the Kokanee fishing but there are still some nice ones being caught in the 14-16-inch range. May have been a stocking of Cutthroats here recently as some have been pulling out a few big Cutties as of late.

**PROSSER:
Has bumped down to 50% and we had an anonymous tip of a stocking of Cutthroat. Smallmouth bite has picked up east side of dam with the bass feeding on small minnows in the weeds and vulnerable crayfish around the face of the dam. Find imitations that mimic these small baitfish and you'll be successful. Don't forget that Smallies like Crayfish, so don't discount lures that mimic these guys too!

**DAVIS LAKE:
Nothing really going on here as this lake is in limbo until water temps come down. Best early morning and after that forget about fishing! Lake is sitting at 56% capacity. This lake will come into its own once water temps come down, so hold off until about mid-month or so. Check out Jon Baiocchi’s updates on his website about this water if you’re an ethical fly fisherman please. For the gear and bait guy’s I would say that waiting until mid-month would also help catch rates and the general enjoyment of the catch.
Call our Blairsden store for an up to date report, ask for Mark! 530-836-2589.

***FRENCHMANS:
Lake is at 46% capacity and main boat launch open but dock is out of water. Trollers across from main boat launch doing well 15 feet down with Pearl/Bikini needlefish and Copper/Redhead Dick Nites. Turkey Point is fishing well with Powerbait but Gulp! floating eggs have been the go to.
Call our Blairsden store for an up to date report, ask for Mark! 530-836-2589.

***LAKES BASIN:

GOLD LAKE
Boat ramp is closed. Only smaller aluminum boats (12-14’) can launch from unimproved ramp at the outlet entrance.

SNAG LAKE
Flyfishing from tubes stripping nymphs have produced fish. This lake gets overlooked, but can be a sleeper.

SALMON LAKE
Starting to slow a bit. Back cove by outlet and by swim dock fishing alright.

PACKARD LAKE
Best fishing in area. Fishing off big rock by lodge best place to fish. Power bait or crawlers and marshmallow off bottom 3ft. Float tubers stripping wiggle tails or buggers (olive rust black) intermediate sink line having luck.

SARDINE LAKE
Trolling flashers and crawlers 20’ down the middle lake producing limits. Shore fishing slowing. Need to throw out a long way with 3’ leader and corn yellow power bait working best.

PYRAMID LAKE
Will open October, so get ready for another great season here!

TRUCKEE RIVER
(GENERAL REG SECTION FROM TAHOE CITY TO TROUT CREEK) Done here as there is really no water. Same as last years scenario.

LITTLE TRUCKEE RIVER
(ABOVE STAMPEDE 89 NORTH TOWARDS SIERRAVILLE) Well, they dumped fish here around the bridge below the campground despite the low flows. These stockers will be eager to bite but the size of the trout will be small. Good place to take the kids who don’t care about the size of the fish just the catching part! Same as what one would use on the General reg section of the Truckee above. Stocked the week of 6/29/2016, 7/3/2016, 8/28/2016

***JACKSON MEADOWS:
Stocked the week of 8/21 but with the pressure this lake is seeing this year the fishing recently has been difficult for the novice. Meat bees (ground dwelling hornets) and paper wasps are everywhere around this lake so use caution while recreating! Fishing better from the boat but still one of the nicer lakes to get away from all the crowds! Lake is sitting at 66% capacity and launching of larger boats can be problematic. Small trout ranging in the 10-12 inch range here mostly as the larger fish are deep and tough on the bite. Stocked the weeks of 7/1/16, and 6/5/16, 8/21/16!

 

Local Lake Guides

*Each of these guys are highly recommended for Donner Lake and Stampede!

FISH TALES GUIDE
SERVICE-ED FISK
(530)559-7175

CHRISTOPHEL's GUIDE SERVICE
MARC CHRISTOPHEL
(530)680-1492

TIGHT LINES GUIDE SERVICE
CAPTAIN FISH JAMES
(888)975-0990

SHAUN'S GUIDE SERVICE
SHAUN PATRICK RAINSBARGER
(530) 802-4484

 

Tahoe Lake Guides

 

MICKEY's BIG MACK CHARTERS - 530-546-4444

TAHOE SPORT FISHING - 530-541-5448

CHUCK's CHARTER FISHING - 530-546-8425

CAPTAIN CHRIS' FISHING CHARTERS - 530-583-4857

HOOKED UP SPORT FISHING - 530-546-2221