With the start of the turning of the leaves, the fishing remains hot at Convict Lake. It's a great time of year to be in the Eastern Sierra. The smoke from the Rough Fire is no longer an issue now that it is over 75% contained. Autumn brings not only fall colors but monstrous trout. This week's "Catch of the Week" has tied the record of largest fish checked in at the store over several years.

Catch of the Week: Chuck Nelson from Bakersfield, CA had a very productive time at the lake. His largest fish was a colossal 9 pound 6 ounce Rainbow. The second fish in the photo is a 4 pound 6 ounce Rainbow. Both fish were caught with a Nightcrawler while fishing at the Inlet. Chuck also hooked a 4 pound 12 ounce Rainbow (not in photo) with a cricket. Way to go Chuck!!

Other notable catches this week:
Mike Parmley from Poway, CA caught two solid fish. One was a 7 pound 3 ounce Rainbow and the other was a 4 pounder. Both lunkers were caught with Nightcrawlers while fishing along the North Shore.

Sue and Jim O'Brien from Placerville, CA caught a stout 6 pound 14 ounce and 6 pound 5 ounce Rainbow. They were using Nightcrawlers and were fishing near the Jetty.

Don Toporek from Claremont, CA caught a 6 pound 11 ounce Rainbow while fishing at the Outlet. Don was using Powerbait.

Dan Barton of Ladera Ranch, CA landed a fat 6 pound 6 ounce Rainbow using Salmon Eggs. Dan was posted up along the North Shore.

Matt and Teri Pyles from Corning, CA with a hefty stringer. The two largest fish were a 5 pound 15 ounce and a 2 pound 9 ounce Rainbow. They filled their stringer while fishing with Nightcrawlers at the South Shore.

Tactics/Bait:
A variety of baits and lures worked this week. Nightcrawlers remained king by catching some of the largest fish of the week. Other top choices that were hooking the fish were Salmon Eggs, Garlic Powerbait, Berkley Mice Tails, Thomas Buoyants and Powerbait. The top Powerbait colors were garlic yellow and garlic rainbow. Some of the most productive spots on the lake were the Inlet, the Outlet/Jetty area and the North Shore. The "Catch of the Week" was caught at the Inlet. Other locations to try would be the South Shore and Hangman's Tree.

Here is a list of other baits/lures that can be productive:
Sierra Slammers, Tasmanian Devil, green or brown Marvel Flies , Trout Teasers, Panther Martin, NeedleFish, Rooster Tails, and Bite-On Fury Shad on Powerbait.

I would suggest using some type of added attractant. Pro-Cure, Bite-On, Lip Ripperz and Berkley all make excellent attractants, which are sold at the general store.