The heat wave of the past two weeks has sent many Central Valley and Bay Area anglers to the high country of the Sierra Nevada to get relief from the blistering weather and to catch some fish. One of the best areas to catch rainbow, brown and brook trout, along with some black bass and catfish, is the Ebbetts Pass region along Highway 4 in Calaveras and Alpine Counties.

My favorite place to fish in this region is Union Reservoir, located off Spicer Reservoir Road, because you have a chance of catching tasty brown bullhead catfish and rainbow trout at the same time. This is one of the better bets for shore anglers in the region now.

“The DFG planted Union with catchable rainbows a couple of times this year and the fish can be taken in 12 to 20 feet of water,” said Marla Allison at Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods. “The boat ramp and dam areas are producing the top action, but you can take the fish throughout the lake.”

Using Power Bait and nightcrawlers can produce both catfish and trout, but you can expect to hook most of the rainbows on Power Bait and other prepared baits and the bulk of the cats on mini-crawlers.

The brown bullheads aren’t big, averaging around 8 to 10 inches long, but they are very plentiful and willing to bite. A big catfish here will go 12 to 14 inches.

You want to use a short leader, 6 to 10 inches long, with a sliding sinker above it. It’s best if you hold your rod, rather than put it into a holder, because you should set the hook the moment you get a bite. For some reason, the catfish here bite real light and lots of anglers probably get their baits stripped without realizing it. Set the hook right away and you will catch most of your cats.

I use a 2 to 3 foot leader, also on a sliding sinker rig, when fishing Berkley Power Bait, Crave Nitro Bait, P-Line Strike and other prepared baits here. However, fishing a variety of flies early and late in the day or tossing out Rooster Tails, Kastmasters and other lures is also worth a shot. Most rainbows here go 11 to 14 inches, but this lake produces some gorgeous holdovers to 19 inches.

Adjacent Utica Reservoir produces catfish in good numbers also. However, it only has a small wild rainbow population and isn’t planted with trout or other salmonids.

The trout are much deeper now at Spicer Reservoir, about 30 to 40 feet, so it’s best if you fish from a boat, according to Allison. The rainbows here are beautiful, square tailed fish averaging 10 to 12 inches along. “The largest I’ve heard of this year measured 14 to 15 inches long,” said Allison.

Troll minnow imitation lures, plastic grubs and nightcrawlers behind flashers or dodgers in the main body near the dam for the best success. If you’re bank bound, fish inflated nightcrawlers off the bottom near the dam, advised Allison.

If it’s a large trout you want, Lake Alpine is the place, since Alpine County and the Lake Alpine Lodge stock the lake with trophy rainbows. Melinda Cole caught a 5.10 lb. rainbow while trolling a Midge Wobbler to take first place during the annual Alpine Trout Derby. This lake receives the most pressure of any of the local lakes because of the size of the fish found in this high elevation gem.

“The fish taken lately have ranged from 1 to 5 pounds, but there are much larger trout found at Alpine,” she said. “Shore fishing is good for anglers fishing worms and Power Bait and lures, while trolling with lures and nightcrawlers is best at 15 to 20 feet deep.”

Not only does the lake put out large rainbows, but trophy brookies also lurk in its cold waters. One lucky angler bagged a 3 lb. brook trout recently while trolling a worm.

Further up on Highway 4, anglers can nail planted rainbows at Mosquito Lakes. Kastmasters and Power Bait are a good bet here, as are both wet and dry flies.

The North Fork of the Mokelumne River in Hermit Valley can also yield good rainbow and brook trout fishing, though this beautiful stream is still relatively high from snowmelt, according to Allison.

Kinney Reservoir, nestled on the other side of Ebbetts Pass, was scheduled for another plant of rainbows by the DFG at press time. This is one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever fished – and the fishing can be excellent for rainbows. If it's Lahontan cutthroats that you desire, you can make the short hike from Kinney Reservoir to lower Kinney Lake and toss out spinners and flies.

If you’re really adventurous, you can make the drive off Highway 4 to the Highland Lakes Road and target brook trout in the Highland Lakes themselves or, better yet, the streams flowing from each lake.

Back closer to Arnold, the North Fork of the Stanislaus River in Calaveras Big Trees State Park and off Boards Crossing Road is in great shape for fishing.

“Fly casters are catching rainbow and some brown trout with dries like black gnats, caddis, Adams and hoppers or wets like prince nymphs, hares ears and stoneflies,” advised Allison. “Baitcasters are having luck with crickets, worms and salmon or Power Eggs, while lure tossers are picking up fish with silver or gold spinners.”

For largemouth bass and bluegill, give White Pines Lake near Arnold a try. You can fish top water lures early and late in the day from a float tube for the bass, then switch to plastic worms and grubs as the day proceeds. Target the bluegill with mealworms and small jigs in the brush and cover. Anglers are also pulling out some limits of rainbow trout here early and late in the day.

There are few areas in California with more diverse fishing opportunities than those found in the Ebbetts Pass/Highway 4 Corridor. For more information, call Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods, (209) 795-1686.

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