After a great break with one of my college buddies and his wife in Klamath Falls, my daughter and I were back on the road headed north. With no agenda, we drove and decided to give the float-tubes that we had been causing us the most space issues a try.
On the way, we stopped at a U.S. Forest Service Station and I picked-up a Senior Interagency Access Pass for $10. I would highly recommend any seniors who camp do this. It will save you half-price at USFS campsites and allow you access to National Parks for free, among other benefits. We may stop at Crater Lake National Park on the way home just to play tourist.
We decided to try Crane Prairie Reservoir. It was a great thought, but who knew the weather was going to be so hot. It was in the mid-90s. We found that it is a difficult lake to fish with float-tubes, as well. There really aren’t many roads along the lake, as we discovered.
We tried a location called the Quinn River area. There is a boat launch there and the kick was only about a half mile to some decent fishing grounds. Crane Prairie is noted for its large Rainbow Trout and we found some large Kokanee Salmon. It also is known as a lake with a lot of downed timber and provides great habitat for dragonflies and the vegetation holds Callibaetis mayflies, some caddis and damselflies.
Water temperature in the lake was an inhospitable 65 degrees when we put in and the fishing reflected it. I managed to get two bites and had one fish take one jump and it came off.
Because of the slow fishing, we decided to move to a different location. One of the guys that I talked to told me that they did well at East Lake. We arrived late in the afternoon, and the fish were rising on callibaetis. It also was a good 8 to 9 degrees cooler than at Crane Prairie.
Callibaetis were everywhere and Leslie hooked up first with a large No. 12 Parachute Adams. I then landed one on an emerging soft-hackle pattern. Fish were rising everywhere and we both landed and lost some others. The prize of the night was a nice fish landed by Leslie of around 16 inches. What a great evening. The full moon rose over the tree canopy and provided an excellent backdrop to the end of another very memorable day.
We ended up fishing there one more day and landed fish to 18 inches. This lake is a must stop location for the stillwater fisherman. I know that I will be back.
FISHING REPORT
(See Sightseeing for water levels.)
Boca | Inflow is at 64 cfs and the outflow is 63 cfs. Try powerbait or nightcrawlers. Throwing lures from shore has been working. Fly fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet mostly nymphing.
Donner | Fishing has been good. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the bait of choice. Mackinaw and Kokanee fishing has been fair. It beat the current record by more than a pound at more than 5 lbs. Fly fishermen are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is highly recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore fishermen use inflated nightcrawlers. A state record Kokanee was recently landed by an angler out of Nevada City in Lake Tahoe.
Little Truckee River | The flow is now at 64 cfs. This is still a low flow for this water, but better than last week. It is barely a subsistence flow for this fishery. Fishing will be tougher at this level. Try a hopper dropper set-up, now that grasshoppers are active.
Martis Lake | Zero kill. Catch and Release only with barbless artificial lures or flies. Some small cutthroats and an occasional large brown and rainbow can still be caught here. Smallmouth bass have been introduced in this water.
Prosser | The lake is fishing fair to good. Powerbait and nightcrawlers are the best bait. Smallmouth Bass are beginning to bite well with the warming water. Lure and fly fishermen are taking some fish from shore and near the inlets.
Stampede | Fishing has been fair to good from shore. Kokanee fishing has been fair. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Smallmouth Bass are beginning to get active. Fly fishermen have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers for trout and in the coves for Smallmouth Bass.
Truckee River | Flowing out of the lake at 366 cfs at Tahoe City. The flow through Truckee is at 390 cfs as of July 29. Fish have been caught on nymphs, emergers, dries and streamers. The main hatches now are Caddis and terrestrials, ants, beetles and grasshoppers. Flies imitating these have been the most productive. Streamers also have been good. Crayfish patterns should produce some nice fish this time of year. A hopper dropper setup also is a good combination. Warm weather is causing the water to warm into the 70s by the evening. Carry a thermometer and limit your fishing to cooler periods. Try and fish early in the morning to mid-day for the best results while the water temperatures are acceptable. Fishing from Boca downstream should be your best bet now.
Other Waters | Davis and Frenchman have been fair to good. Damselflies are now beginning to show is good numbers with the recent warm weather. Fish also are being caught on blood midge patterns and Callibaetis imitations. Water is now warm at these lakes and fish have gone deep as in most of the area.
Bruce is a long-time area fly fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers.
