Fishing has been excellent on the Highway 4 corridor. Trout plants this week will include the East and West Fork of the Carson River.  Spicer Reservoir was tough this past weekend with limits being caught but fishermen had to work hard for the fish they caught. The lure fishermen have been doing good using Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tails, Blue Fox spinners, flies on a bubble, and Kastmasters. Fly fishermen should try woolly buggers, ants, caddis, bead head nymphs. The fish have been loaded with ants and assorted flies. Bait fishermen should try Gulp Eggs, Gulp Nightcrawlers, Garlic and Salmon Egg scented Power Bait, inflated nightcrawlers, and floating Power Eggs using a cast-a-bubble with a 24" to 30" leader or a sliding sinker rig. Trollers should try Apex, Needlefish, Wedding Rings, Glitter-Bugs, Rapala's, Ex-Cell spoons and Rocky Mountain Lures behind a small dodger, Wild Thing dodger, or the new Glitter Bug dodger,  tipped either with a nightcrawler, Gulp Nightcrawler, Gulp maggots, and Power Minnows. You can also try using just a dodger trailed with the nightcrawler. Make sure to use scent to increase your catch.

Lake Alpine was only pretty good this past weekend as fishermen have been fighting a full moon. Bait caster's should try inflated nightcrawlers, Gulp Eggs, the new Garlic and Salmon Egg Scented Power Bait and Gulp Power Bait, Floating Power Eggs, and Power Bait on a 24" to 30 " leader. Fly fishermen should try woolly buggers, ants, and sparrow nymphs on a intermediate sink line. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin's, Rooster Tails, Blue Fox Spinners, Kastmasters, and Thomas Buoyant. Trollers should try using the new Glitter Bug dodgers, and Wild Things by Crystal Basin Lures, with a new Glitter Bug Hoochie, Wedding Rings, Apex, Needlefish, Ex-Cell Spoons, and Rocky Mountain Hoochies and Spoons behind a small dodger tipped with either a nightcrawler, Gulp Nightcrawler, Gulp Maggots, or Power Minnows.

White Pines Lake located near Arnold was still the hot spot over the weekend with the Dept. Of  Fish and Game  planting this past week.  Bait fishermen should try floating Power Eggs, Gulp Eggs, new Salmon Egg scented power bait, new Garlic scented Power Bait, Gulp Power Bait, Gulp Nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and nightcrawlers using a cast-a-bubble and a 30" leader or a sliding sinker rig. Fly fishermen should try bead head woolly buggers, ants, blue wing olive, adams, stimulators, and sparrow nymphs on a intermediate line or try using a small split shot to get down to the fish. Lure fishermen have been using Panther Martin's, Kastmasters, and Rooster Tails. 

The North Fork of the Stanislaus River has been tough due the lack of plants. The Dept. Of Fish and Game is scheduled to do the pre stocking evaluation sometime this month and will be placed on the plant list at that time. You can check the flows at dreamflows.com. Bait casters should try crickets, nightcrawlers. Power Bait has just released their new scents for 2010. They now have salmon egg scent, and garlic in the popular colors, along with the new hatchery pellet scent, and green pumpkin. Lure casters should try Panther Martin's, Rooster Tails, Kastmasters, Blue Fox spinners, and Rapalas. Fly fishermen should try bead head nymphs,adams, female parachute adams, ants, woolly buggers, stimulators, and caddis flies. There are still holdovers and beautiful Brown Trout to be caught.  

Make sure to check with the Forestry Department at Lake Alpine 209-753-2811 or at Hathaway Pines 209-795-1381 for current campground information.

Highland Lakes is now accessible by vehicle and is red hot. Lure fishermen should try Panther Martin's, Kastmasters, and Rooster Tails. Bait fishermen should try crickets, inflated nightcrawlers, Gulp Power Eggs, and the new Garlic and Salmon Egg scented power bait. Fly fishermen have been doing excellent using woolly buggers, adams, mosquitoes, caddis, and bead head nymphs.

Beaver Creek and the North Fork of the Stanislaus inside Big Trees State Park is now open.  It is also a wonderful place to take your family and enjoy the magnificent Trees that we have in our backyard  Big Trees State Park is located on Highway 4 approximately three Miles above Arnold. You can contact them at 209-795-2334 or their website www.ca.gov and go to Calaveras Big Trees. There is also Golden Pines RV Resort for additional RV camping. Their website is www.goldenpinesrvresort.com. The campground at Sourgrass is now open along the North Fork of the Stanislaus.

Thanks to all of our customers for your patronage. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Bill Reynolds - Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods