Fish Report (2/17/10)

VALLEY

NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said the trout bite from the banks is slowing, with the best action on small silver/blue, firetiger or rainbow trout Kastmasters or similar spoons with similar colors in Countdown Rapalas also working. Berkley Power Bait in chartreuse or green glitter, Power Eggs or marshmallow/night crawler combinations are working for boaters on the anchor fishing depths at 5-25 feet deep in Carson or Mormon coves. Trolling has also been fair with Wedding Ring/night crawler combinations, Uncle Larry's Spinners or spoons around the mouth of Glory Hole Cove or other major creek arms. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing advised trolling spoons from the surface to 15 feet with spoons on lead core line pulled from 2.5 to 3 MPH from the Spillway north and along the mouth of Mormon Creek. In addition, Saturday's Anglers Choice Bass Tournament winners, Kyle Rasmussen and Joe Menzes, landed a 6-point trout during the event on a plastic worm in the shallows. Lewis said bass fishing continues to be strong with numbers of 2-pound spots and several to 5 pounds. Call: (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne -- Fishn' Dan (209) 586 2383; Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023.

SAN LUIS RESERVOIR/O'NEILL FOREBAY -- Mickey Clements at Coyote Bait in San Jose said anglers are taking off for the Forebay for schoolie stripers with bag anchovies or pile worms. The action at Check 12 is dependent on the pumps being turned on, and limits of small stripers can be taken on RatLTraps or pearl flukes. The top-water bite has been slow. Clements said boaters are starting to work the Portuguese Cove area in the main lake along the drop-offs with jumbo minnows, but reports of success have been scattered. Wind conditions: (800) 805-4805. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

MCSWAIN RESERVOIR -- There was a plant of quality fish from Calaveras Trout Farm last Thursday afternoon, and McSwain Marina reported excellent trout action on Friday and Saturday from the Brush Pile or the Handicapped Docks with lime glitter, sunrise or bubble gum Power Bait or Power Eggs. Felicia Luzek and Mark Lopes of Merced did a combination trolling and still fishing trip Monday for quality limits on firetiger Rapalas from the Chimney to the second fence line and in the cove near the waterfall with rainbow Power Bait. The lake is scheduled to be planted again by the end of February. The Merced Irrigation Tournament is scheduled for April 17-18 with prizes to $3,000 for tagged fish. Call: (209) 378-2534.

DELTA MENDOTA CANAL -- Merritt Gilbert said the Lucky Craft 128 is the top lure in the aqueducts and canals with area tackle shops selling out of these lures in ghost minnow or American shad for targeting stripers in the barely legal to 25-inch range. The anchovy bite has been slow with only a few bags of bait being sold. In the south aqueduct, The best bite has been when the water is running hard from pumping.

MILLERTON LAKE/SAN JOAQUIN RIVER -- Gilbert reported an improved bite for bass to 2 pounds. There is a small window for top-water action in the early morning, but the most consistent bite continues to be drop-shotting shad-imitation plastics at depths to 50 feet. Most anglers are keeping quiet in advance of Saturday's American Bass Tournament. There are still no reports of striped bass. The lake rose three vertical feet to 513.76 feet in elevation and 50% of capacity. The lower San Joaquin is scheduled to receive a trout plant, and fishing continues to be fair in the Lost Lake area with Power Bait, night crawlers, and various spinners and spoons. Avocado Lake is scheduled for a trout plant. Call: 225-1838; 292-3474.