I continued "hog-calling" with big, stinky plugs for another two hours without a touch, so I cut my trolling speed in half and spent the rest of the day catching 10 to 15 inch rainbows and brookies on light spinning tackle, long-lining a silver Sep's dodger trailing half a nightcrawler. If you're new to trolling nightcrawlers, I strongly suggest you pick up a worm threader (available at many shops in Tahoe), or use a sewing needle to achieve the same result- a worm that is lined up straight on the hook shank, with the leader going through its center, only the hook point protruding from the worm's side, and a short, flapping flag of a tail extending from the hook, like the twister-tail on a plastic bass-fishing grub. I seldom use more than half a nightcrawler either (tail preferred), to eliminate bunching of the crawler's body on the leader. Use just enough worm to hide the hook eye. This doesn't sound like much, but large fish will hit this rig as well.

Look for the rainbows offshore from the rocky outcroppings by the Woods Creek inlet. The brookies are staging near the dam to spawn in the gravel. I caught one male, fourteen inches long, that was wearing his bright orange spawning colors, had the pronounced "kype", or hooked-jaw of a salmon, and squirted milt all over my hand when I held him. Soon these horny devils will be visible in the shallows as they get it on, but by then, they will be preoccupied and reluctant to bite.

I also took some time to play with my new Cannon mini-downrigger when the topline bite slowed in the afternoon. Trolling a silver Flatfish plug at 35 feet produced a skinny, 18 inch mackinaw (released), a large stick (also released to fight again), and another Flatfish someone had lost on the bottom, with corroded hooks, a sinker, leader and 30 feet of leadcore-line (kept- I'll replace the hooks). Apparently, it's Flatfish spawning season as well.

I stayed well into the afternoon, just to irk my wife further, before picking up a final brookie for my limit. Please stop fishing when you reach your limit, especially if you're fishing bait, as I was. Not only is it impossible to be sure you won't wound or kill the next fish you catch, but what if you have five fish on the stringer and you catch the trophy of a lifetime? When I keep fish, I stop before my limit if the bite is good, then release some that are not hooked deeply. Although it is a common practice, it is also illegal to "combine" limits, adding your seven trout to your buddy's three to keep five each.

I had a wonderful "pointless", day then a delicious "stupid" barbecue of pink-fleshed, holdover trout last night. Thinking back, I realized I caught four species (brown trout, rainbows, brookies and mackinaw) in one trip, all from one beautiful mountain lake. The aspen are turning brilliant gold, adding to the scene. I wasn't the only slacker enjoying Sierra autumn either. A dozen other boats were trolling and I saw several stop to net fish. I even received an email from one reader, D.C. Tomiakov, who was bank fishing and recognized my big, red canoe bristling with equipment, as described in my articles. He told me of a good-sized brown caught on a gold Rapala by the spillway early in the morning, then more browns and brookies on bait from the East side of the lake later on. Thanks, D.C.

Shallow water action is picking up on Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe, as well. My friend Jeff Keyser caught and released a four pound Fallen Leaf brown trout on a toplined jointed Kwikfish plug last week, and another friend told me of big rainbows caught on Tahoe, trolling Rapalas at the surface along the rocky shoreline north of Emerald Bay.

Next week, wife permitting, I'm taking another vacation day for a fly-fishing trip to the East Walker River's California section for some of those "Egg Laying Brown Trout and the Rainbows Who Love Them." Tune in for the shocking details. Until then, I'd like to say thank you to all the readers who take the time to send me emails. Your appreciation of my stories encourages me to endure and ignore the comments of those that would rather have me home cleaning the kitty litter box, instead of stealing the cat's food to bait my minnow trap. You also have shared some great stories and information as well. I try to answer all letters, but I respond first to ones that request information for the next fishing trip. Two recent letters deserve special note, though.

First, I'd like to thank Adam Howard (Big Sinus) for actually sending me a treasure map of Fallen Leaf Lake with an "X Marks The Spot", and issuing me a challenge to look for and catch some of a school of large fish he found at that spot but was unable to hook. I know just the spot you mean, Adam, and I'll check it out next week. If any other readers want to dare me to catch fish they found but couldn't entice, feel free to send me maps, secret directions, or GPS coordinates.

Finally, I've been corresponding with reader Francis Fortier about float tubing in area lakes. I own a float-tube, but I must admit that I'm not a very skilled user, slumping down until water ships into the back of my waders, losing my kick-fins, and after a day on the water, having nightmares about being a Cheerio, adrift in a giant bowl of milk. Francis requested more coverage of float tubing in my articles, so I turned the assignment back to him, and he gave me a great list of waters he has fly-fished from his tube this season, including size and type of trout caught. He comments that he has visited each of these spots at least a couple times, and that a canoe would be great on most of them as well. Thanks Francis! For all you tubers looking for good waters to ply your craft, here you go!

• Virginia Lakes south of Bridgeport: rainbows and browns, 14" to 3 - 4 pounds.
• Twin Lakes out of Bridgeport: rainbows and browns, same size as Virginia Lakes.
• Green Creek Beaver Ponds and Power Pond out of Bridgeport: browns, 12 to 24" out of the power pond; brooks, 10 - 14" out of the beaver ponds.
• Wrights Lake in the Crystal Basin recreation area off Highway 50: rainbows and brooks, 10 - 14".
• Summit Lake above Indian Creek Reservoir outside Markleeville: rainbows, 10 - 18".
• Round Lake up Big Meadows Trail off Highway 89 south of Tahoe (3 mile hike): Lahontan cutthroat, 10 - 18".
• Kirkwood Lake, Crater Lake, Woods Lake, off Highway 88 near Caples Lake: brookies to 14" at Crater, brooks and rainbows to 16" at Woods, and to 18" at Kirkwood Lake.
• Martis Creek Reservoir outside Truckee on Highway 267 (catch and release only): rainbows 12 - 24".

Until next time!
Mark (Never stand in a canoe) Wiza