Central Sierras

EAST CARSON RIVER CUTTHROATS/BEAR RIVER RAINBOWS & BROWNS
by Dan Bacher
(Markleeville) The hot spot on the opening weekend of trout season in the Carson Pass area was the East Fork of the Carson River, where anglers nailed quality rainbows and Lahontan cutthroats.
The fishing was terrible the first 2-1/2 hours on opening day, said Todd Sotaro at the Carson River Resort. Then the action busted loose around 9:30 a.m. and anglers found spectacular fishing all day. We saw multiple limits, including Lathontan cutthroat averaging 14 inches planted by the DFG and rainbows ranging from 2 to 2-1/2 stocked by Alpine County.
The water temperature was 40 to 42 degrees, so the fly fishing was slow. Anglers experienced the best action on Pautzke green label salmon eggs and other baits, Kastmasters and spinners, he tipped.
Flows down the East Carson were 680 cfs. and a nice green color at press time. The West Carson also produced cutthroats and rainbows on opening weekend, but the water there was murkier.
The DFG stocked 2400 pounds of cutthroats and Alpine County planted 1800 pounds between the East and West Carson.
Trollers and bank anglers are also nailing rainbows in the 2 to 4-1/2 lb. class on Indian Creek Reservoir.
The boat ramp opened at the Bear River Resort on Sunday April 29 and boaters and bank anglers started fishing for trout, according to Janette Frazier. The resort officially opened on May 1. Before the ramp opened, Rich Spears landed an 8 lb. brown while trolling.
Caples Lake has started thawing at the edges, so ice fishing isnt safe there now. John Voss at Caples Lake Resort expects the lake to have fully thawed between May 10 and 15. The resort will open on Memorial Day weekend or possibly earlier.

Lake Alpine: Closed due to snow.

Spicer Res: Closed due to snow. I will let everyone know when they plow the road.

White Pines Lake: Located near Arnold, will be planted the week of 4/22. Bait casters should try using Garlic Power Eggs, Garlic Power Bait, Gulp Eggs, Gulp Power Bait, inflated,nightcrawlers, on a sliding sinker rig with a 30" leader. Lure fishermen should try Kastmaster's, Panther Martin Spinners, Rooster Tails, or try a fly and Cast-a-bubble combination. Fly fishermen should try woolly buggers, sparrow nymphs, ants, adams, female adams, or bead head nymphs. It is best if you use an intermediate sink line. You will have better success.

North Fork Stanislaus: Will be planted the week of 4/22. Water could be high due to snow melt. Lure casters should try Rapala's, Daiwa Minnows, Kastmasters, Panther Martin Spinners, Rooster Tails, Blue Fox, Thomas Bouyant's, and Mepps. Bait fishermen should try nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and crickets using a splitshot rig. Fly fishermen may have a tough time fishing due to the current. Try bead head woolly buggers, and bead head nymphs. The campground Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo is closed until the projected opening day of May 18th.

Beaver Creek: Will be planted the week of 4/22. Water levels could be higher than normal but still fishable. Fly fishermen should try ants, woolly buggers, bead head nymphs, and humpy's. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin's, Rooster Tails, Blue Fox spinners, and Mepps spinners. Bait fishermen should try split-shotting nightcrawlers, crickets and salmon eggs.


Make sure you have your license on your person and purchase your license before you get here as we are the license agent from Arnold up, and there is always the chance for problems with the machine.

Make plans now to attend our Annual Father's Day Derby, June 17 2012. It is the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime and fun for all.