This weeks big bow was a monster 12 pound 6 oz. rainbow, caught by Bill Atkins of Fresno near Black Rock. The fish was weighed in at Sierra Marina. Atkins was still fishing from his boat with night crawlers when he hung the big guy. Another big fish was caught by Bill Alves of Tulare. Alves big rainbow weighed in at 9 pounds 6 ounces at Shaver Lake Sports. Shaver Lake resident and historian, Lee Gates, has had a great week limiting each trip, but on Sunday he caught three trout all at 6 pounds and had a double on with the same size loosing the 4th big fish while collecting a six pounder. He released all but one six pounder. Gates says he was fishing with chartreuse and orange Trout Busters, tipped with crawler behind a Mountain Flasher at about 10 feet deep. Gates has been fishing the island and Black Rock mostly, using the same set up all week.

Guide Dick Nichols, of Dick's Fishing Charters, says most of the big fish have been caught still fishing in boats with Power Bait, Power Balls, crawlers and Gulp! Others have come from the bank using the same. He says he trolls with clients and has caught limits all week with the big fish of 4 pounds 2 ounces, caught by Russell Gundlund from Caruthers. Gundlund and his friend Christopher Frith both limited with quality trout. Nichols uses Trout Busters tipped with a crawler behind Mountain Flashers on all of his poles. The down riggers have Shaver Lake Dodgers in front of the Trout Busters. At the same time Gundland was catching his trophy, Captain Jack Yandell in a boat nearby, with his friend Tad Haroldson, of Clovis, was netting Haroldson's near 6 pounder. Haroldson was getting down rigger lesson's from the Captain. They were using a Captain Jack's orange Super Hoochie, tipped with crawler, behind a C.J. Dodger.

But many of the trophy fish caught this past few weeks are from still fishing and the bank. He expects that the fish will acclimate more and start to descend the waters of the lake giving trollers a better shot at the big fish. Most of the fish he has cleaned this week contain flies and other insects indicating that the fish are finding feed and getting used to the lake.

The trolling for most has been hit or miss with some trollers coming up empty while others are doing great. He likes the island and Black Rock and fishes the side poles and down riggers at 10 to 15 feet deep.

Shore fishermen are connecting at Roads #1 and 2, the Point, and both marina's. Boaters still fishing are doing well in the Stevenson area and Black Rock.

Approximately 3,500 of the trophies have been planted with another 1,000 to be planted in the near future. Nichols says most of the smaller trout have been fat and feisty. Many of his catch go to 16 and 17 inches.

Main Photo Above:
Dick Nichols buddy Lee Gates, of Shaver has been knocking them dead. This is one of his big guy's he caught trolling with a Chartreuse and orange Trout Buster, with a tip of crawler behind a Mountain Flasher.