20 May 26- June 9, 2017 VOL. 36 • ISS. 12

I agree, so possibly this will be a limited edition. The Highway 395 corridor from Topaz Lake south to somewhere in the

What appear to be lonely sage flats and jagged peaks peering down on the traveler just isn’ t the real 395. The real 395 includes visual wonders, visits back to the 1800’ s, memorial sites, ghost towns, mining operations, stream and lake angling, hunting opportunities, small throw back towns, antique shops, down home eateries, larger towns that really don’ t say to invited seasonal visitors,“ thanks for coming and

spending money, now go home,” historical plaques along the highway, two track dirt roads leading off to somewhere towards the foothills, a plethora of public land to explore, really serious hiking trails, museums, ATV trails in the Poleta Open Area and rock climbs that exhaust most of us who just watch. WHEW!

For many years, the“ other side of the hill” was noted for its trout fishing. Opening day was a must do for many anglers, regardless of any other commitments.

Did my wife really have to give birth on the day before? Why didn’ t my daughter get married in June instead of the last weekend in April? I did send a card.

Weather often played a factor, in that all 3 passes were snowed in and we trekked to Reno in order to return to California for this almost religious ritual. So, where did we go? The number one destination was Crowley Lake. Two hundred plus boats on opening morning with the sunrise temperature sitting on 29 degrees, like it did this year, deterred no one.

Campsites popped up in places where there weren’ t even places. Some folks preferred other venues, like Convict, Pleasant Valley or Bridgeport. Many hit opening day on the Owens or Walker Rivers while a few located other small drive in lakes as long as the snow pack didn’ t halt their journey in mid stream, so to speak.

If you’ re lucky enough these days to draw an X9 deer tag and don’ t mind a bit of hiking, all uphill of course, a positive change in the weather will drive down deer to a manageable elevation. The amount of public land on the other side is enormous and some even accessible by 4-wheel drive, right up to where the climbing starts. Moving on.

So you don’ t fish or hunt. Photographers and artists are in visual heaven. Of course, seasonal changes offer completely varied options. Right now the air is clear and cold, but doable. Photos are clean and crisp.

You’ ve got Buttermilk Country, Mt. Whitney and Death Valley within an easy drive of each other, the Alabama Hills where so many old cowboy movies and TV shows were filmed, the museum of western film history in Lone Pine, Bishop Creek Canyon, the ancient,( not me), Bristlecone Pine Forest, the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery, Laws Railroad Museum in Bishop, volcanic petroglyphs and the Manzanar War Relocation Center, where more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were confined during WWII.

Rock climbers enjoy hundreds of areas to explore. From beginner hikes to Mt. Whitney, go for it. The Owens River gorge just north of Bishop provides over 500 routes, so be prepared that at the end of the day, you still gotta climb out.

The Pine Creek Crags aren’ t for the faint of heart or those with weakened ankles. This area is kinda for the avid mountaineer.

And certainly right at the top of any visitors agenda is the mining ghost town of Bodie State Park. Bodie rose to the heights of a lawless town about 1877 and supported 60 saloons and dance halls. Who knows what went on upstairs? This is at least a half-day experience in itself.

As you head south from Nevada, tiny older communities like Coleville and Walker are but a blip on the map, but hidden gems and treasures abound. The larger communities like Bridgeport, Lee Vining and Bishop are next, then back to the fantastic smaller communities such as Big Pine, Independence and Lone Pine.

A final note, there’ s a secret deli and bakery in Bishop, known to but a select few, that’ s a must stop for any traveler who’ s not on a diet. Check them out on the Internet at least. You’ ll be amazed at the opportunities that abound on the“ other side of the hill.” Next time we’ ll get back to some serious fishing. Seeya then and Tight Lines!

FRESHWATER REPORTS:

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

STAMPEDE / BOCA RESERVOIR cont. so we gave it a try on our way to Bridgeport Reservoir,” said Guy Howes, who was fishing with Kerry Andrews in his Jet Craft.“ We beach launched our boat due to the Dam Road being closed.”

“ I caught and released a 5 lb. brown. The big brown hit a white hoochie behind a dodger,” he noted.

“ The Dam Road access from the Hirschdale Road is closed,” confirmed James Netzel at Tight Lines Guide Service.“ The opening is yet to be determined,”

‘” I don’ t recommend entering the back way from Prosser,” he emphasized.“ The six mile road took me 45 minutes to drive, due to big holes and being very bumpy. I drove this without my boat to check it out; it’ s a very rough road, so we’ re going to have to launch from the east shore.”

“ If we get any thunderstorms, 4x4 would be highly recommended, as the access points are large washouts full of water 2 to 3 foot deep. Luckily, I have a 4-wheel-drive duelly, so it should not pose a problem. Self mussel inspection is still enforced,” he advised.

“ At Stampede, the entrance from Hirschdale Road is closed and will be closed until October. Enter in from Highway 89 north from Interstate 80. Follow to Dog Valley Road. They pea graveled and oiled the road and widened it, so it is an easy way to get to the boat ramp. The dock is in the water.”

He is currently booking kokanee salmon trips on Stampede and Boca. For more information, contact James Netzel, 888) 975- 0990, http:// www. fishtightlines. com /

-By Dan Bacher

LAKE TAHOE

Spring Anglers Boat Mack Limits

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE-“ Lake Tahoe is great right now,” reported Captain Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters.“ Spring has finally arrived and Lake Tahoe is filling up. Sand Harbor is now open for motorized boat launching 6 am to 8 pm. Cave Rock is open 6 am to 8 pm and Lake Forrest Boat Launch is now operating from 6 am to 7 pm.”

“ We are getting limits of quality mackinaw lake trout from 3 to 9 pounds along with some additional double digit monster macks to keep everything exciting. They are stuffed full of shrimp, crawdads, and kokanee,” said St. Denis.

“ Cal Neva Point, Tahoe City Shelf, and Sugar Pine Point are heavily loaded with

mature mackinaw. Bouncing the bottom in 90 feet to 230 feet has been effective. We are using dodgers and minnows, flashers and minnows, and Flatfish in white or chrome,” tipped St. Denis.

Mickey Daniels of Mickey’ s Big Mack Charters has been enjoying solid action at the north end of the lake. Mickey’ s clients have been hooking mackinaw up to 7 pounds. Some fish are being kept for the table while the others are tagged and released.

Mickey hooks his fish on a variety of offerings including Shasta Tackle Kok-A-Nuts teamed with Sling Blade Dodgers..

TRINITY RIVER / LAKE

Bureau Ramps Up Spring Flows To 5,400 Cfs

LEWISTON- The Bureau of Reclamation ramped up releases into the Trinity River below Lewiston Dam to 5,400 cfs on May 10. The releases will start ramping down on June 4 until the summer base flow of 450 cfs is reached on August 11.

The releases for this“ extremely wet” 2017 water year will result in an annual total volume of 815,000 acre-feet. The releases meet“ extremely wet” water year objectives of the Trinity River Record of Decision and“ efficiently promote additional geomorphic change in the river by increasing hydrologic variability,” Reclamation said. More information www. trrp. net / background / rod /.

With the high flows on the river, local anglers have been concentrating on black bass and rainbow trout at Trinity Lake.

“ Bass anglers are hooking a mixture of largemouths and smallmouths throughout the lake,” said Tim Brady of Trinity Outdoors.“ The lake level is higher than it’ s been for the last years, so there are a lot of submerged willows and brush where the bass are holding.”

Anglers need to adjust to the changing water conditions; a“ favorite” bass spot for the past few years will likely now be under 100 feet of water. Many fishermen are having to relearn the lake, noted Brady.

“ The fish are on a pre-spawn bite,” he advised.“ They’ re hitting Gitzits, Senkso,

3516

Sacramento and Feather River Stripers Stripers Stripers

Book a Striper Trip Today! swimbaits, crankbaits and other lures in the shallows.”

For rainbow trout, Brady advised tossing out PowerBait, salmon, eggs, marshmallows and nights at the mouths of the tributaries. Trollers are also picking up some fish while trolling Kastmasters and worms in the same areas. Trinity Lake is holding 2,365,6997 acre feet of water, 97 percent of capacity and 115 percent of average.

-By Dan Bacher

WEST DELTA

Stripers And Sturgeon Continue To Provide Sport Out West

BBRANNAN ISLAND- It seems like just about everyone fishing the West Delta is banging stripers and anglers that try for them are hooking sturgeon too.

Captain James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service has been battling stiff winds in recent days to put his clients on quality San Joaquin River stripers. Netzel has been trolling with Yo- Zuri Crystal Minnows and drifting with live baits for stripers that top out at about 8 pounds. His trips are

These anglers booked an early May trip with Captain James Netzel and nailed limits of stripers while trolling the San Joaquin River.

Photo courtesy of TIGHT LINES GUIDE SERVICE, Penryn.

SAN PABLO RESERVOIR

( 510) 223-1661

LAKE DEL VALLE

( 925) 449-5201

Offer valid on all boat rentals Monday- Friday

For more information about Boating, Camping & Recreation Visit WWW. ROCKYMOUNTAINREC. COM All other boat rental terms and conditions still apply. Offer subject to boat rental availability. Offer expires on 12 / 31 / 2016 and is not valid with any other coupon / discount.

3303 producing limits and near limits depending largely on the conditions.

Captain David Hammond of Delta Pro Fishing has been working on both stripers and sturgeon on the Sacramento River side of the lower Delta.

Hammond’ s clients have been boating stripers that range into the 7 to 9 pound class while pulling worm tipped Yo-Zuris.

“ The sturgeon bite remains really good in Suisun Bay and when folks go out and target them they are hooking a mix of keepers, shakers and oversize fish. If you want to fill a sturgeon tag now is a great time to book a trip. The crowds are light and the sturgeon are biting,” said Hammond.

The best sturgeon baits as of press time were eel and salmon roe with eel.

SHADOW CLIFFS LAKE

( 925) 426-0197

LAKE RANCHO SECO( 209) 748-2318