Hello fellow fishermen. Be careful what you wish for: In my last report, I wished for enough snow to fill our lakes and streams by the new year; Well, we made it!
It has been an exhausting few weeks for all of us here in the Sierras. We got six months of rain and snow in a two week period. I personally have been plowing and snow plowing, then back to sandbags and just plowed last week.
It’s nice to live in the countryside, but Mother Nature sometimes makes you work overtime to enjoy it. This was the first year I can remember not going to Topaz for the New Years celebration and fishing.
This was due to the three and a half days without power and what Mother Nature threw at us all.
This will be a New Years celebration we won’t soon forget.
For those who have not yet purchased your California license, the new 365 day fishing license begins this year and is valid for one year from the day of purchase.
In this short report you will see why I have tried unsuccessfully to get out and fish in our local Carson Tahoe area.
LAC PLATA DE LA CARRETERA 88: The parking area has not been cleaned. The only thing you can see from the road are the top of the bathrooms. The lake had about 5-8 feet of snow on it.
CAPLES LAKE: The lake had berms about 6-10 feet along the roadway. The lake has 5 to 10 feet of snow on it. No fisherman had tried to get out. I received a photo from my friends David Fuentes and Karen Houdesheldt from last weekend. As they crested the Rojo Lake climb, it looked like a large RV had stopped at the rest stop and got stuck in the snow or had engine trouble. The picture they sent me only showed the top 18 inches of the roof sticking out of the snow. It may be a while before we can go ice fishing this year, unless you want to shovel a lot of snow.
RED LAKE: Since last week, they had plowed behind the dam just to get in to use the snow cannon. The lake had 8-10 foot berms around it. I don’t know how much was in the lake. I saw a photo of Karen Houdesheldt sanding next to one of these berms. He is about 5’10’ and the snow was almost twice his height.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The paved road is only slightly plowed halfway through. The dirt road is only partially plowed for residents who live at the top of the road.
TOPAZ LAKE: The lake has risen 5 to 8 feet. The California side still has too much snow on the bank to drive down. I saw where someone had driven down to the coast at the far north end and got stuck in the snow and mud. A couple of people had parked on the road and walked down to the fish bank. The Douglas County boat ramp is completely frozen over the entire cove area and goes over the rock and into the campground area. No shore fishing for a while for that side either. The boat park still had a foot of snow last weekend.
ROAD CLOSURES: Highway 208 between Wellington and Yerington due to a landslide. Monitor Pass between Hwy 395 and Hwy 4/89, Ebbetts Pass Hwy 4 from Alpine Lake to Hwy 89.
Be careful on all roads in the Sierras right now. Night temperatures drop to 10 degrees and make black ice. Always bring water, warm clothes, a warm hat, a cell phone charger that you can plug into your vehicle, a flashlight, and food.
You never know what might happen so you could be stuck for a while.
Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return or arrive at your destination, and never rely on Google Maps to show you a shortcut. Most of all, good luck and enjoy your next fishing adventure, whenever that may be.
Hope to see you on the water soon. Good fishing and tight lines