Hello fellow anglers. As many of you know, I have been going to Oregon each summer to fish with my cousin Steve for many years. I learned how to fish the Rogue River with very good success. Every year Steve has asked me to come up in the late fall or winter for the big steelhead run. I have hesitated because of the winter driving conditions up and over the Siskiyou mountains and a few other areas  along the way. I just returned a week ago from Oregon to say goodbye to my cousin. Steve was fishing with his friends in Bandon Oregon while on vacation. They had come in the night before from the greatest fishing day they ever had. The next morning while sitting with friends at their campsite, he suffered a heart attack and passed away. This is an ache we will live with for a very long time. Many anglers can say they have fished big rivers.  But not many can say they have floated a drift boat down a pristine river with family and can tell you every inch and every bend of the river as Steve has taught me. Steve worked for 40 years at the local lumber Mill in Rogue Valley. He told me how took his drift boat to work, and after work he would fish the river all the way back home when the salmon were running. He told me stories of the many friends he had living in a small town, but I met only a few over the years. Until last week, when I got to meet each one of them at his celebration of life. I saw how many people he had touched in his life. The front of his property was filled with as many cars as you might see at a Walmart parking lot the day before Christmas, and this was only from word of mouth.  I had the privilege to watch his son grow up to be the good man he is today. Now they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, this is a true statement. I remember getting a picture from Steve of Chris ( his son ) the year he won the "King of the Rogue '' fishing derby. I will continue to live on Steve's legacy with his son each year by continuing my journey to Oregon and reliving his stories while fishing Rogue River. But one thing I have found out, his son Chris is a little more energetic than his dad was. Next year I have been invited to go 25 mile out on the ocean to fish for halibut and possibly Tuna. Anglers are a different type of people, they have a zest for life, family and friends.  Let me explain the angler's oath. "I am an angler for life, I will always be an angler. it is not something I do, it is who I am. Fishing is not an escape, it is where I  belong, where I am supposed to be. It is not a place, But a lifelong journey. It is a passage my father showed me, and that I will show others. When you understand all of this, you will know me, and we will fish together".

Here is a local report for our early wintery season.

CAPLES LAKE: the resort is closed for the season. The lake level is low and they had some snow last week, and will probably get a good blast this weekend. Fishing before ice up can be very rewarding. The browns come in closer to shore to feed. Night crawlers or Gold Kastmasters around the dam or spillway area are most productive.

RED LAKE: Fishing has been very slow. Not many angler up this time of year. I will be waiting for ice over at the end of December. Use caution around higher elevation lakes this time of year. Ice may form, but is very unstable.

WOODS LAKE: Closed for the year.

BLUE LAKES: The road was still open to the 4th gate. The lake is closed for the season.

BURNSIDE LAKE: The road was open as of this week. But it is scheduled to close any day. Recommended to stay out of the area due to winter conditions.

WEST FORK CARSON RIVER CALIFORNIA SIDE: The river is up a little and the flows are moving. The fishing has been slow. If you fish the Woodfords canyon area, use caution. This time of year the water levels fluctuate and can be dangerous.

CARSON RIVER EAST FORK CALIFORNIA SIDE: The river is running good and the fishing has been very good. Alpine County just planted 1800 lbs of rainbow trout from the higher bridge down to the Carson River Resort. Small spinners are working well. A few anglers have been using green powerbait or mice tails with good success. Remember that the area from the Carson River resort to theNevada state line is closed due to the  Tamarack fire and the BLM closures in the area.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The entire area is still closed by BLM due to the Tamarack Wildfire. The area is scheduled to open on the east side of the lake on November 30th. If it opens sooner, I will let you know. The area is dangerous due to many burned out trees that have yet not fallen. Roads are closed at Diamond Valley and Airport Rd.

HEENAN LAKE: The lake is open seven days of the week, but due to winter conditions. Monitor Pass may close for a period of time. Check with Cal/Trans.

TOPAZ LAKE: reminder of the new regulations this year. The lake will not close to fishing and is open all year long now. I have a message into the Topaz Lodge to see if they will be holding their annual fishing derby on January 1st 2022.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR: The lake level is down. The Bridgeport Marina is still renting fishing boats. Boat launching is only available down by the dam area. Tom Blotter fished last weekend and caught a couple nice 22 inch fat brown trout trolling rapalas. The lake was recently planted with rainbow trout. For more information stop by the Bridgeport Marina and say hi to Chase.

NDOW FISH PLANTS: Baily Pond, Mitch Pond, Marilyn Pond, Seaman Pond, Wilson Common Pond, Sparks Marina, EF Walker River, Liberty Pond, Paradise Pond.

Good luck on your next fishing adventure. If you get a photo of your catch, send it to sports@recordcourier.com. I hope to see you on the waters soon. I hope every angler has the chance to meet someone that has changed and enriched their lives like my cousin Steve Hacker did for me. Good fishin' and tight lines.