Hello fellow anglers. It is hard to believe it is May, especially with most of the higher lakes still with snow on them. Many of our back country lakes will be not be accessible until mid to late June and possibly into July.  But there is one thing you can always count on. June is the month for kids fishing derbies to commence.

On June 3rd the Lake Tahoe Optimist club will be hosting the annual Sawmill Pond Kids Free Fishing Derby in South Lake Tahoe. The pond is located on the corner of lake Tahoe Blvd and Sawmill Rd. It will start at 8 am and run until noon time. There will be plenty of volunteers on hand to help kids with loaner poles to bait and tackle. There is no preregistration need for this derby.  Age limit is 14 years and younger to attend. There will be prizes, hot dogs and drinks available. For more information call The Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters at 530-541-8208.

Down here in the valley on June 3-4 will be the annual Lampe Park Free Kids Fishing Derby. For this event you will need to preregister at the Douglas County Parks Department on Waterloo Lane in Gardnerville NV. The derby is open to kids ages 3 to 12 years old.  They are always looking for volunteers to help set up and take down the event, as well as river help, fish cleaning and the loaner pole and bait tables.  For more information you can contact Heather Gertsch at 775-684-9018 or Tiffany Ellis at  [email protected] or [email protected]. I hope to see you at both events.

CAPLES LAKE:  As of last Friday. The lake still had 7 feet of snow covering the lake. The resort is scheduled to be open by mid June. The Eldorado Irrigation District boat launch and day use facility has not specified a  date they will be opening.

RED LAKE: The lake had a couple feet of snow on it as of last weekend and is melting quickly.  But with the weather we experience, there may some snow flurries in the area this weekend.

BLUE LAKES: Road closed and has no schedule date to open.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The campground is scheduled to open May 12th. The lake level is still high and the fishing has been spotty. I have had reports from anglers shore fishing. One day only  a few bites, while two days later The bite was good and hard. Most have been using rainbow or green Powerbait. There have been a few in the 2 to 5 lb class but most have been in the 12 to 14 inch class. Renee and I tried to fish the lake last weekend. That was until we saw over 20 vehicle at the lake. It looked like a family reunion or a small burning man gathering. On our way out approximately 1/2 mile from Diamond Valley road I saw in my rear view mirror a 1967 Corvette convertible with the top down coming up behind us. All the while eating our dust from the road. That will tell you the dirt road in, is passable by any vehicle.

CARSON RIVER WEST FORK CALIFORNIA SIDE: Fishing was good in the Hope Valley area. Most anglers were using salmon eggs or Powerbait. A few were throwing spinners. Water was flowing smoothly but high. As you get to the canyon area the flows picked up to dangerous levels. Alpine county planted the river last week with 900 pounds of catchable trout with some up to 6 pounds. For more information stop by the Creekside Lodge.

CARSON RIVER EAST FORK CALIFORNIA SIDE: The flows have picked up and are running very high and muddy. Due to the intensity of the flows they were not planted with trout last week. Both Ebbetts and Monitor passes were closed as May 3rd when I checked with Cal Trans. For more information stop by the Carson River Resort.

TOPAZ LAKE: The lake level is starting to come back up a few feet  over the last week. Fishing has been fair for shore and boat anglers. Green or rainbow Powerbait  has been most productive from shore. Anglers trolling Rapala's early or late evenings have picked up a few in close to the shore area. During the afternoons  most fish have been caught in the 30 to 50 foot depths. Flashers and a night crawler have been more productive. For more information stop by the Topaz Landing Marina.

PYRAMID LAKE: The fishing has been slow to fair. Last weekend Jerry and Jennifer Dow from Carson City were fishing for big Cutthroat trout  by Windless bay. As the story was told to me by Jerry, Jennifer was throwing torpedo spoon and had a good bite. Jerry instructed her to play the spoon a little the fish may come back and hit it again, as well it did. When Jerry reach over the side he said what the heck is that? As you can in the photo, Jennifer is holding a 4 pound  16 inch long Sacramento Perch.  When they went into the Crosby lodge they noticed a trophy Sacramento perch mount on their wall. The fish that Jennifer had caught was larger than the one they had on their wall.

JUNE LAKE LOOP  Most lake were fishing very well from shore to boats. Many fish in the 14 to 18 inch class were caught. June and Gull lake has been fishing well for trollers using Rapala's  with 4-5 colors of lead core line. Taz Devils and Needle fish were also productive. Grant lake was productive for trollers fishing Rapala's 100 feet off the shore for big browns and  rainbows. Best bite has been the evening hours. For more information stop by Ernie's Tackle and Ski Shop.

NDOW FISH PLANTS:  Rye Patch reservoir, Wilson Common, Mitch Pond, Martin Slough, Davis Creek and if water conditions are good, east Walker River with Brown trout.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure!