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October 30, 2002
Fall frenzy
High Sierra lakes bustling since there has been no early freeze
LAST CHANCE: Fishermen and fisherwomen are taking advantage of the late season fishing in the High Sierra. Fishing is still brisk at Alpine Lake (above). Record photos by PETE OTTESEN
Dave Kirby looked with amazement this week at the garden that rims his Woodford Station store. The flowers are still blooming and it's almost November.
''We haven't had a freeze yet,'' said Kirby, who has lived in the high Sierra the past 37 years. ''It has been a hell of a two-year drought. The air is so incredibly dry, there is absolutely no moisture.''
The lack of rain has reduced the Carson River east and west forks to a trickle, but autumn fishing for trout remains exceptionally good in many of the upper elevation lakes above 7500 feet. In fact, the trout fishing is so strong that Caples Lake Resort and marina has extended its season through Sunday.
''Anglers with a boat can easily launch at Silver or Caples lakes right off Highway 88 and hook good-sized rainbows, 14 to 16 inches, just under the surface,'' Kirby said. ''All they have to do is haul flashers and nightcrawlers in the top 10 feet and hook fish.''
Fishing aside, the continuing Indian summer and the fall colors make the Highway 88 corridor a good destination for an overnight or a day trip. The aspen are particularly gorgeous to an artist's eye and the canyons and gullies are literally striped with crimson and yellow. The approximately 100 mile drive from Stockton to Caples is simply stunning.
As a bonus, mackinaw are starting to show, crashing the surface of the lake and giving notice that some very large fish -- upwards of 15 pounds -- are a possibility for anglers who troll or jig in the deepest part of the impoundment from Woods Lake Creek to the boat ramp. Large minnow-immitating lures and jigs are particularly effective on the macks that hold at 25- to 30-foot depths.
''If the weather only cools a bit, this could be a wonderful late-season for mackinaw,'' Kirby said. ''Locals claim they are seeing the larger fish rolling. Many of them are using depth finders and jigging.''
Nearby Silver Lake is yielding a mix of rainbows and browns, again preferring flashers and garden hackle for boaters who put in a small craft. The water level here is low so launching is dicey.
''Trout fishing is really great, but there is more shore fishing than anything else because the lake is down a bit,'' said Linda Thorbjornson at Kay's Resort, a year-around operation. ''Our restaurant, store, accommodations and marina are open. It has been a wonderful late fall season.''
Both Caples and Silver lakes offer very good access for shoreline anglers who wish to sit, toss Power Bait or an inflated nightcrawler and while away the day. They can pick a likely looking cove or hike to a secluded spot over the exposed granite, at least until the first winter storm hits.
Another good lake for land-locked anglers is Burnside Lake, a very pretty small-sized lake located just south of the Highway 88-89 junction. Inflated nightcrawlers or Power Bait does the trick here. There are very few people and the trout are hungry, mainly pan-sized rainbow to an occasional 14 incher.
Action for brook trout at Red Lake is much slower, but anglers that fish from the dam with rainbow-colored Power Bait do pretty well.
For adventurers who tow a boat, another option is going a little higher to Upper and Lower Blue Lakes. Be aware the road is under construction and there are short delays. But the inconvenience is worth it. Trolling at either lake is so good, you could almost rate it a cinch.
Kirby said the remaining six miles of Blue Lakes Road all the way to the water's edge will be completed next summer. ''They are working hard to be in position to pave the entire road,'' he said. ''It's a project many of the visitors want to see happen.''
This time of year there's no reason to be fishing too early in the day. It seems like when the daytime temperature is warmest that the trout bite best. Field scout Grady Lee has found mid-day fly fishing to be best at Lake Alpine, another high Sierra jewel located off Highway 4. Rich Davis at Pinecrest Sports off Highway 108 believes trout are actively feeding when the sun is high, so heading for the mountains about 8 a.m. will put you at your favorite lake just at the right time.
Ottesen cover the outdoors for The Record. Mail: P.O. Box 900, Stockton, CA 95201; Fax: 547-8187; E-mail: pottesen@recordnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Sierra fall trout fishing
* Alpine Lake -- 795-1686
* Caples Lake -- 258-2222
* Pinecrest Lake -- 965-3637
* Silver Lake -- 258-8598
* Woodford Station -- (530) 694-2930
Fall frenzy
High Sierra lakes bustling since there has been no early freeze
LAST CHANCE: Fishermen and fisherwomen are taking advantage of the late season fishing in the High Sierra. Fishing is still brisk at Alpine Lake (above). Record photos by PETE OTTESEN
Dave Kirby looked with amazement this week at the garden that rims his Woodford Station store. The flowers are still blooming and it's almost November.
''We haven't had a freeze yet,'' said Kirby, who has lived in the high Sierra the past 37 years. ''It has been a hell of a two-year drought. The air is so incredibly dry, there is absolutely no moisture.''
The lack of rain has reduced the Carson River east and west forks to a trickle, but autumn fishing for trout remains exceptionally good in many of the upper elevation lakes above 7500 feet. In fact, the trout fishing is so strong that Caples Lake Resort and marina has extended its season through Sunday.
''Anglers with a boat can easily launch at Silver or Caples lakes right off Highway 88 and hook good-sized rainbows, 14 to 16 inches, just under the surface,'' Kirby said. ''All they have to do is haul flashers and nightcrawlers in the top 10 feet and hook fish.''
Fishing aside, the continuing Indian summer and the fall colors make the Highway 88 corridor a good destination for an overnight or a day trip. The aspen are particularly gorgeous to an artist's eye and the canyons and gullies are literally striped with crimson and yellow. The approximately 100 mile drive from Stockton to Caples is simply stunning.
As a bonus, mackinaw are starting to show, crashing the surface of the lake and giving notice that some very large fish -- upwards of 15 pounds -- are a possibility for anglers who troll or jig in the deepest part of the impoundment from Woods Lake Creek to the boat ramp. Large minnow-immitating lures and jigs are particularly effective on the macks that hold at 25- to 30-foot depths.
''If the weather only cools a bit, this could be a wonderful late-season for mackinaw,'' Kirby said. ''Locals claim they are seeing the larger fish rolling. Many of them are using depth finders and jigging.''
Nearby Silver Lake is yielding a mix of rainbows and browns, again preferring flashers and garden hackle for boaters who put in a small craft. The water level here is low so launching is dicey.
''Trout fishing is really great, but there is more shore fishing than anything else because the lake is down a bit,'' said Linda Thorbjornson at Kay's Resort, a year-around operation. ''Our restaurant, store, accommodations and marina are open. It has been a wonderful late fall season.''
Both Caples and Silver lakes offer very good access for shoreline anglers who wish to sit, toss Power Bait or an inflated nightcrawler and while away the day. They can pick a likely looking cove or hike to a secluded spot over the exposed granite, at least until the first winter storm hits.
Another good lake for land-locked anglers is Burnside Lake, a very pretty small-sized lake located just south of the Highway 88-89 junction. Inflated nightcrawlers or Power Bait does the trick here. There are very few people and the trout are hungry, mainly pan-sized rainbow to an occasional 14 incher.
Action for brook trout at Red Lake is much slower, but anglers that fish from the dam with rainbow-colored Power Bait do pretty well.
For adventurers who tow a boat, another option is going a little higher to Upper and Lower Blue Lakes. Be aware the road is under construction and there are short delays. But the inconvenience is worth it. Trolling at either lake is so good, you could almost rate it a cinch.
Kirby said the remaining six miles of Blue Lakes Road all the way to the water's edge will be completed next summer. ''They are working hard to be in position to pave the entire road,'' he said. ''It's a project many of the visitors want to see happen.''
This time of year there's no reason to be fishing too early in the day. It seems like when the daytime temperature is warmest that the trout bite best. Field scout Grady Lee has found mid-day fly fishing to be best at Lake Alpine, another high Sierra jewel located off Highway 4. Rich Davis at Pinecrest Sports off Highway 108 believes trout are actively feeding when the sun is high, so heading for the mountains about 8 a.m. will put you at your favorite lake just at the right time.
Ottesen cover the outdoors for The Record. Mail: P.O. Box 900, Stockton, CA 95201; Fax: 547-8187; E-mail: pottesen@recordnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Sierra fall trout fishing
* Alpine Lake -- 795-1686
* Caples Lake -- 258-2222
* Pinecrest Lake -- 965-3637
* Silver Lake -- 258-8598
* Woodford Station -- (530) 694-2930
