Located a short drive north of Truckee off highway 89, Prosser Reservoir provides local anglers with great angling opportunities year-round. It provides great fishing opportunities in the spring, summer and fall, as well as a short, winter ice-fishing season.
Prosser Reservoir. | Bruce Ajari
Anglers enjoy this lake because of the 5 mph boating restriction in place that limits it pretty much to fishermen. A good launch ramp is available near the campgrounds on the south side of the lake. Another launch area is located on the north end in the Alder Creek arm of the lake accessed by Prosser Dam Road. Car top boats, kayaks and other floatation devices can be launched at either. Small trailer boats are best launched at the one near the campgrounds.
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“The fish typically available in this lake include rainbow, brown, cutbow and smallmouth bass.”
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The fish typically available in this lake include rainbow, brown, cutbow and smallmouth bass. This combination makes this lake a good one any time of the season for the angler.
The trout fishing is great in the spring, fall and even during the ice fishing season. During the hottest time during the summer, the trout tend to go deep due to warm water temperatures. It is during this time that the smallmouth bass fill the void for anglers.
The smallmouth had been illegally introduced in Stampede, Boca and Prosser reservoirs sometime in the late 90s or early 2000 timeframe. They have now established themselves and are providing a great fishery in both Stampede and Prosser, and Boca to a lesser extent.
This year the lake is quite full at more than 20,000 acre feet, so it will take a bit of time to relearn the productive areas for fishermen. The last several years the level has been less than 10,000 acre feet.
For fishermen, this is a nice lake to fish. Fishermen can troll, bait fish, fish with lures, or fly fish. All methods can be productive depending on the time of the year and species that are targeted.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife plants this lake during the regular trout season. It appears that this year they are planting sub catchable and fingerling Lahontan Cutthroat and Rainbow for grow out. Information on the planting schedule can be found at nrm.dfg.ca.gov.
For more information on camping, visit the Truckee Ranger District Web site at fs.usda.gov/tahoe or call (530) 587-3558.
FISHING REPORT
Boca Reservoir | Inflow is at 139 cfs and the outflow is 145 cfs. Powerbait, nightcrawlers and lures are all working. Fly-fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet with nymphs, streamers and dries.
Donner Lake | Fishing has been fair to good. Kokanee fishing has been good although the fish are small. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main bait. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishers are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is highly recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore anglers use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | The flow is at 139 cfs. Be prepared to share the water with a lot of anglers. This section has been busy this season. With the water at this level, nymphs and dries have both been working. Hatches are similar to the main Truckee. In addition, green drakes should be showing.
Martis Lake | Zero kill. Catch and release only with barbless, artificial lures or flies. Fishing is the best early in the season and again in the fall. Smallmouth bass are now part of the fishery.
Prosser Reservoir | Fishing has been fair to good. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishers have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been fair.
Stampede Reservoir | Fishing has been fair to good from shore. The ramp is available to launch most boats. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Anglers have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. The Kokanee fishing has been fair to good for those getting out. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | It is not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. The flows through Truckee are at 197 cfs. Fishing has been good. Keep an eye on water temperatures. On July 4, it was 67 degrees in the evening. Caddis imitations, PMD, Little Yellow Stones and streamers are working. This is special-regulation-artificial-only-with-barbless-hook water. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged, but an angler may keep two fish with a minimum size of 14 inches during the regular trout season.
Davis and Frenchman lakes | Both are in full swing. Boat-, shore- and fly-anglers are catching fish. Reports from Davis are only fair. The damselflies still going well, but the fish have become selective. Blood midge and Callibaetis imitations are producing. Frenchman fishing has been good. Try the same hatches as in Davis.
Bruce is a long-time area fly-fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.
