This October has been a gift of pleasant weather and excellent fishing results all over the state. Sure, we need rain but it’s fine to enjoy what we have. There hopefully be plenty of weather to keep us inside in the not too distant future. That brings us to another promising weekend with plenty of choices for NorCal anglers. Here are this week’s Best Bites:
HEENAN LAKE cutthroat trout: Bite turned on last week. Float-tubers throwing Prince Nymphs and Wooly Buggers last week scored more than a dozen brood-stock cutthroat per day. Lake closes to fishing Oct. 28. Carson Valley Resort (877) 694-2229
LEWISTON LAKE trout: Trout fishing is excellent. Lake was stocked this week by DFG. Not that it needed it, this is stuffed with trout. Best bait is nightcrawlers. Some are trolling with Sep’s Dodgers and long leaders because of the clear water. Blue Cripplelures have been productive as have black Panther Martins. Larger trout are near the Power House. Fly fishers are doing well near Lakeview. Pine Cove Marina (530) 778-3770
PYRAMID LAKE cutthroat trout: This continues to produce large cutts despite warm water. Should only get better. A 19.8 pound cutthroat was caught Sunday from shore at Popcorn. That same evening a 14.8 pounder was caught from the shore at Block House. Surface temperature is 68 degrees. Schools of chubs are cruising the shore and cutts are keying on those. (775) 476-0400
CARSON RIVER trout: The East and West Carson have been stocked like no other streams in the north state. Alpine County Fish and Game this week will be planting 1,800 pounds of rainbows, split equally among the East and West Carson. State also is planting both rivers with 1,000 pounds split between the two. Water levels have been stable for the last six weeks. Carson Valley Resort (877) 694-2229
LOWER SACRAMENTO RIVER trout: This is the best time of year to fish the lower Sacramento. Fish are fat from feeding on protein and quite active. Great combination of numbers and size. The Fly Shop (530) 222-3555
FRANK'S TRACT stripers, salmon and black bass: Fishing has been very good in Frank’s Tract and Big Break. Stripers, salmon both are being caught. Most of the stripers are schoolies and they are eagerly attacking swimbaits or live bluegill. Salmon are hitting hard on Silvertron spinners. Black bass fishing is good for big bass. Average fish is four pounds. Spinnerbaits, Buzz baits (early) and punching (afternoon) are all successful tactics. Hook, Line & Sinker (925) 625-2441
SAN PABLO BAY striped bass: The Happy Hooker out of Berkeley on Sunday had 17 limits of striped bass. Jackpot fish was an 11 pounder. The boat has been getting limits on each trip. Red Rock, the Brothers and Point Pinole have been good. Large evening tides may muddy the Bay until the weekend when better conditions return. (510) 223-5388
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