We had a few high clouds this morning that made for a nice sunrise. But, shortly after sunrise the clouds actually got a little thicker and were able to block the sun several times before they moved on or dissipated. The SW wind picked up pretty quickly around 10 AM.

Wednesday is predicted to be mostly sunny with southwest winds 8 to 15 mph with gusts possible to 26 mph.

Water Temperature

Official CDFG water temperature of the South basin: 65.12 degrees F to 25 feet. Drops to 63.68 F, pH 9.35 Clarity of the south basin was 24 feet last week but reduced to 18 feet this week. North basin: 66.38 F to 10 ft, pH 9.43 Middle basin: 68.50 F. PH of 9.47. The dissolved oxygen is in good amounts to 25 feet this week, below that it does decrease slightly. We have seen some slight changes in the water this week, the summer "turn" is beginning. The new criteria set by CDFG for posting the "voluntary catch and keep recommendation" is a uniform pH of 9.4 as this lake rarely goes below 9.2. The north and middle basins are typically higher in pH than the south basin so when the south basin is at 9.4, most likely the recommendation will be posted.

Lake Conditions

Algae Locations: Small pieces of algae are pretty scattered. There are some areas between Miners Point and Pelican Point where there is some drifts of algae but it was still pretty good water for trollers as long as you periodically checked your lines. The west side of the south basin from Shrimp Island north to Pelican Point was fairly clean for trollers. The middle of the south basin had quite a bit of algae yesterday.

There is some algae not to far from the Springs and the water tower that has been getting a little worse every day. There is still plenty of good water to fish but the clean locations can change quickly.

We have some years that are worse than others for the algae bloom. But on a bad year it can wreak havoc until it is over. We try to keep up with it's location (the south basin is usually the worst by far) but on a lake with 100 miles of shoreline and three basins we can't be everywhere. At this point we haven't seen a whole lot of it compared to some years.

Buoys are on the lake. But, this being a natural lake not all the hazards are marked. The west side of the south basin all the way to and around Pelican Point is notorious for rock piles several hundred feet from shore. Miners Point and the Youth Camp as well as the channel between Buck Point and Little Troxel Point will also hazardous areas. We will lose between 2 and 3 feet of water by fall (and maybe a little more depending on the type of summer we have) so expect the water level to drop below 5100 this season. Be careful this year.

Fishing Locations and Depths

The bite was pretty slow for some anglers this morning while others were at the right place at the right time. We did catch and release 4 fish 2 to 3 pounds and missed 7 strikes. Limits have been obtainable, someday's it might take a little longer but we have had some good solid bites come on well after sunrise. Timing is important for fishing the 8 to 10 ft deep ledges right now, but there are plenty of fish on the west side of the south basin in 15 to 32 feet of water 8 to 12 feet deep and quite a few folks have caught some nice fish to 4 pounds the last couple of days.

Fish in the shallows are pretty much heading south to the cooler water. Usually the fish that move out of the shallows stage at the Youth Camp and Biology Station (and Pelican Point) for a few weeks before heading down south to the deep summer haunts.

Between Pelican Pt and the Youth Camp had quite a few fish feeding on the bottom early this morning in 14 to 25 feet of water. They came up towards the end of the caddis hatch where we were able to catch them on brown leeches running 5 ft deep in 15 to 22 feet of water.

Most the action from the Youth Camp to the Biology Station was several hundred feet out from shore one day, and close in on the next. But, there appears to be quite a few fish there but they can move ?? mile (or more) on you in one day. I often find them out on one side or the other of the "plateau", if they have a lot of pressure on the inside. (see my map) As more algae starts showing up, the fish will also look for cleaner water. We are still catching fish 5 to 10 feet deep but we are finding some deeper. The dissolved oxygen in the water is well mixed and in good amounts to 25 feet.

Miners Point was pretty dirty in places today. There is algae in all directions from this area so the wind could play havoc and move it around. A lot of boats do move the fish from one side of these ledges to the other quite often. Sometimes you have to chase the fish daily.

Between Wildcat Point and Shrimp Island; the rocky ledges on the west side provided some action for trollers using nightcrawlers, flies and lures as well as the bait fishermen. The fish seem to be hanging out in 15 to 32 feet of water even though a few have run in a little closer for a quick bite. Temps are starting to go up close to shore. We did see some fish off Slough Point in 18 to 30 feet of water today. Many of the fish we are catching have sore lower jaws from flipping rocks and eating snails, shrimp and leeches. When they do that, you have to get your line right in front of them.

Eagles Nest has a few fish but the large schools are not congregating there yet. The "springs" area always has fish hanging out along the ledge and usually provides some action. Free lining nightcrawlers (no weight) is a good way to go until the water temperatures rise in summer, driving the fish to the 25 to 35 ft levels.

Trolling

Some trollers are doing better than others but limits are still being caught. We are trolling 5 feet deep with our toplines (130 ft behind the boat) but have dropped our leadcores to 12 to 16 feet late in the morning, especially if the lake is flat. There are quite a few fish all around the channel between Pelican Point and the Youth Camp and the south side of Pelican Point. (it was cleaner today than it has been the last couple of days) The plain Jane brown trolling fly has been providing me with most of the action but the orange fly is starting to get a little more attention.

A couple people did well in the middle of the south basin between the marina and Wildcat Point some fish were caught near the top but most have been at 21 to 24 feet deep in 40 to 65 feet of water. But, the fish are pretty scattered in the deep water. I would run both brown and orange in the deeper water. Sometimes one has to throw the tackle-box at them out in the middle of the lake. Down-rigger users make your adjustments for the lure running depth at 100 ft. IE, if I want my lure 24 ft deep and my lure runs 6 feet deep at 100 ft behind the boat, my downrigger is set at 18.

Hot Lures, Flies and Grubs

Lures: Large "Red Dog" Sure Catch lure is doing well and medium "Goldie locks" (florescent orange and brass) has been working well too. But good old Needlefish were in the top 3 producers. No doubt that florescent orange is a hot color on this lake and various lures of that color often work. Since using the sure catch lures, I am now partial to using them but Needlefish have also been extremely affective on this lake for decades. This week the nickel bikini (3) and rainbow have been working. Florescent orange with nickel or brass back were productive in size 2. Z-Ray's and other florescent orange lures have also been picking up a couple fish. Rainbow Runners have also been known to work well up here. The tiger and perch pattern size 3 has cooled off whereas the orange colors are now being a little more productive. Often, what is hot in one area is not in another. The red dot frog and crocodile patterns in size 2 and 3 have also been productive lures. We have a lot of baby western toads in all the grassy areas of the shoreline right now and don't think the trout have never seen one swimming in the water.

Trolling nightcrawlers is also a favorite and was indeed a very affective method for many anglers. Use of flashers is more productive in late summer and fall than this time of year but there were folks out there catching fish using flashers today. (Flasher tip for Eagle Lake: shorten leaders up to 14 to 15 inches from the flashers. These fish often come from behind so quickly that they can miss your bait and hit your flashers. If you are getting lots of strikes without hooking up, your leader is too long.)

Grubs: The grub trollers are working hard but the brown has bought a few strikes. and root-beer color. Brown, orange and watermelon have caught a few fish this week, but have been working better in deeper water. Some folks prefer to run wiggle or action discs several inches ahead of the grub.

Trolling Flies: The plain Jane dark brown leech is still buying all the strikes. We are starting to get a little more attention on florescent orange, but brown has still been the one. Olive and gold wooly buggers get more attention around the tules but brown is always the ticket in the rock piles. I will continue to run at least one florescent orange fly because these fish will suddenly change flavors and I will be there when it happens. If I only had one rod to run, brown would be the color I would run on it at this time.

Bait Fishing

The bait fishing picked up for the average fisherman today. The ledges on the west side of the south basin between Wildcat and Shrimp Island have produced some nice limits for those putting their time in. We have been seeing a bite come on around 8 AM. We were at Shrimp Island around 8:30 AM yesterday in 19 feet of water using nightcrawlers at 11 feet deep and caught 4 respectable fish.

It is illegal to use minnows as bait on this lake. Nightcrawlers are the most effective bait used. The use of commercial attractants has been working well the last few years. Krill and Garlic Trout Gravy are the most effective.

Shore Fishing

As water temperatures continue to increase, expect the fish to be farther away from shore. There are a few places between the biology station and the Youth Camp where 30 feet of water is reachable by casting from shore. Fish will stage here on their way down south once the water temperatures start hitting the high 60's.

The longest cast off the jetty at the Eagle Lake Marina will only put you in 12 to 14 feet of water. It has been fairly slow just about everywhere for the average fisherman.

The Circus Grounds produced a few trout but not a lot.

Rocky Point: Not a heck of a lot going on from shore.

Fly Fishing

Osprey Management Area is closed to human access from land until September 15, 2007. But the ledges have been providing good fly fishing early in the morning and the early evening hours.

Caddis hatch began at 7:00 this morning. A few trout were rising to the hatch today but not as much as they had been during the last few days. Sometimes the use of indicators is needed to see the slurp. Fish are moving in and out of the shallow rocky ledges.

Pelican Point still has fish, it's just a matter of timing to catch them on the shallow ledges. I did pick up a couple in tight today, but most the action was in 15 to 24 feet of water for me.

My favorite flies are basic. #10 and #12 wooly buggers. For this time of year I prefer brown along Pelican Point and the west side of the south basin. I like olive, gold, orange or black in the tules.

It is advisable to have a float tube or boat so you can reach those trout when they move out. Have a sink tip available too.