At Shaver Lake, the trophy trout have been a big draw, with Dick Gomez of Young's Sporting Goods weighing in eight of the larger fish averaging over 3 pounds this past weekend. Gomez said, "More and more anglers are heading to Shaver once they have caught wind of the size of these gorgeous rainbows." Dick Nichols of Dick's Fishing Charters put his clients on to six of the larger fish, including a pair of 3-pounders landed by Terry Schumacher of Fresno. Bank anglers and trollers are getting in on the big fish, with trollers scoring with a combination of pink and chartreuse Apex lures, Needlefish or Trout Busters tipped with a piece of night crawler or corn behind a Mountain Flasher at depths from 5-17 feet. Nichols said, "The kokanee bite was a bit off during midweek, but it rebounded over the weekend with limits possible." He added that there are a number of small second-year fish, so it is necessary to wade through these to get to the 13- to 15-inch kokanee. Nichols has been scoring with Captain Jack's pink Super Hootchie behind a Shaver Lake or C.J. dodger or Apex lures in pink or chartreuse tipped with corn at depths to 35 feet in the triangle between the Shaver Lake Marina at Edison, to the Point, road No. 2, the Island and Black Rock. Smallmouth bass are starting to wake up, with many found in the Dorabella Cove area. Bob Bernier of Fresno leads the smallmouth division of the Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project summer derby. The project's first sportsman's Aug. 13 has sold out. The surface water temperature has gained to 63 degrees in some areas. At Huntington, the launch is available. Bank anglers are picking up a few rainbows to 13 inches on Power Bait or night crawlers. Shaver has risen to 85% and Huntington to 93%.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout **
Chuck Crane of the Wishon Village RV Park said the lake is nearly full. The ramp is open. The trout bite is "on and off," with the best action near the surface in the early mornings or late evenings with blade/crawler combinations, Thomas Buoyants, or Speedy Shiners. Some are scoring limits; others have been satisfied with one to two fish per rod. There has been some quality rainbows to 3 pounds landed in the past week. Shore fishing continues to be best at the inlet at Short Hair Creek or across from the dam with pink or orange Power Bait or inflated night crawlers. Streams have been dangerously high and very cold, and anglers are advised to pick their locations carefully since the only safe spots have been the deeper pools in Dinkey Creek. Flows are too high for fly fishing. Courtright is nearly full, but it is still inaccessible.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool/Redinger
Brown Trout ** Trout ***
Roads are open to Edison and Florence. Dick Gomez of Young's Sporting Goods in Shaver Lake said a few brown trout to 18 inches have come out of Edison, but most high-country anglers have been focusing on trophy trout at Shaver Lake. Merritt Gilbert said there has been quite a bit of interest in Edison. Fish are plentiful, but no trophies have been reported. Mammoth Pool opened Saturday, and Patrick Movey said there were loads of 12-inch rainbow trout hitting blade/crawler or Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler, and some large brown trout taken on Rapalas and larger spoons. Edison jumped up to 63%, Florence 95%, Mammoth Pool 102% and Redinger 94%.
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