Shaver Lake Fishing Report - Sept. 15h, 2011

Shaver Lake / Huntington Lake

Kokanee ** Trout ** Smallmouth **

As the window for fishing from a boat on Shaver Lake is coming to a close, Dick Nichols of Dick's Fishing Charters said the fishing was decent but it took until the afternoon to boat two limits. With the rapidly dropping water levels, Nichols had to launch below the end of the Sierra ramp. It is essentially impossible to launch a large boat, but smaller boats should be able to put in from the auxiliary launch at the Sierra Marina until perhaps a week before the end of the boating season. Nichols found the kokanee around the Island and Black Rock at depths to 46 feet on Trout Busters or Captain Jack's No. 2 Super Hootchie in orange. There were a number of participants in Saturday's Kokanee Power Derby with the majority of boats trolling around the Point. Trout fishing has been slow with the lack of plants in the past few months. Bank anglers have caught a few planted rainbows with Power Bait or night crawlers near Roads 1 and 2. The cooler temperatures have shut down the smallmouth bass bite. Launching will be off beginning about Saturday, and the lake will be closed to access around Oct. 1. The lake will be dormant through the winter when the trophy trout will be introduced to Shaver Lake in April 2012. At Huntington, trollers are picking up 13- to 13.5-inch rainbows on Needlefish or blade/crawler combinations from the Gold Arrow Campground to the Dam. Bank anglers are scoring with Power Bait or inflated crawlers near the Auxiliary Dam. Huntington remains stable at 98% capacity. Call: Dick's Fishing Charters 841-2740;

Wishon / Courtright

Trout ***

Chuck Crane of the Wishon Village RV Park said Wishon continues to kick out large rainbows in the 18- to 22-inch range, particularly from the banks near the Headwaters. The lake is dropping steadily, but the boat launch is still on the concrete ramp. Blade/crawler combinations or copper/red Speedy Shiners at two to three colors are picking up quick limits. Crane and a partner put in two limits within one hour on a recent trip. Bank fishing is good with pink or orange Power Bait or inflated night crawlers from the Headwaters or the inlet at Short Hair Creek. Courtright is only 4 or 5 feet from full, and blade/crawler combinations or Needlefish at three to four colors or Rapalas long-lined far behind the boat are working for limits. Bank fishing is merely fair around the Dam with rainbow or pink Power Bait or inflated night crawlers. A trout plant is scheduled for Courtright this week. The creeks are dropping quickly, and it appears that plants are over in Dinkey Creek for the season. There still are plenty of fish holding in the deeper pools from previous plants, including last week's.

Edison / Florence / Mammoth Pool

Brown trout *** Trout ***

There hasn't been much fishing traffic up Kaiser Pass, but Edison has been good for browns and rainbows from the shorelines. Local creeks are slowing down, and the last of the season is coming quickly. Portal Forebay remains good for planters for both bait and fly fishermen. Hunters continue to scout for this Saturday's deer rifle opener. The bow season hasn't been much to talk about with the exception of a few small bucks. The deer appear to be scattered. Both the tree squirrel and mountain quail seasons opened last Saturday, and a number of hunters took their rifles and shotguns into the high country. Merritt Gilbert reported a very good trout bite at Mammoth Pool with blade/crawler combinations or small spoons. All of the lakes are high for this time of year with Edison at 88%, Florence to 84%, Mammoth Pool at 59% and Redinger at 91%.