VALLEY
• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods said the best option is trolling for trout with bright-colored or shad-patterned spoons such as Apex, Needlefish, ExCels or Kastmasters at 10-20 feet deep in the mouths of coves or major creek arms into the main lake. She advised targeting Glory Hole Cove, Mormon Creek or Carson Creek, and at the steep walls near the dam and spillway. Brown trout are in the same areas, but deeper and closer to structure and hitting Countdown Rapalas or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad-patterns. Ed Lima of Stockton landed a 4.75-pound rainbow trolling a shad-patterned Rapala at 15 feet near the spillway. Trout fishing from the bank continues to slow, but a few rainbows to 3.5 pounds can be taken on Power Bait in chartreuse or green glitter, Power Eggs or marshmallow/night crawler combinations. Garrett McBride of Angels Camp picked up a 3.5-pound rainbow off the bank at Glory Hole Point with chartreuse Power Bait. Lewis reported fair action for spotted bass to 2 pounds; Texas-rigged plastics or jigs work best, with larger fish taken on swimbaits. Catfishing improving with fish found in deeper water with anchovies, mackerel, sardines, chicken livers or night crawlers. Call: 736-4333; Monte Smith 581-4734; Danny Layne 586 2383; Sierra Sport Fishing 599-2023.
• SAN LUIS RESERVOIR / O'NEILL FOREBAY — Ly Tu of Ly's Fishing Goods in San Jose said striper action in the main lake is very slow though a few 20- to 22-inchers have been found in the Forebay with pile worms. The best action is under the Bridge or near Check 12 when the water is running. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.
• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said trout action is best from the banks at the handicapped docks or brush pile with Power Bait in Bubble Gum or Sunrise Power Eggs. Trollers are working from the Chimney to the Second Fence Line with Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler or minnow imitation plugs. The lake is scheduled to be planted by the end of this month. Call: 378-2534.
• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling said there is a good crappie bite near Horseshoe Ben on live medium minnows. Live crawdads are also in demand. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said it's easy to find bass, but size is another matter. The small profile brown Bass Patrol one-half or three-eighths jigs are working best. He advised setting up over 40 to 50 feet and tossing toward the banks and working back to deeper water. One boat landed three salmon by rolling shad behind a three-blade chrome Ford Fender at 30 feet from Barrett's Cove to McClure Point. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505; Bub Tosh 404-0053.
• LAKE DON PEDRO — Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported decent trout fishing throughout the lake from Moccasin, Blue Oaks and Schoolhouse Point. Shad-imitations spoons from the surface to 20 feet deep are working best, including: Needlefish, ExCels, Vance's Slim Fins or Shasta Tackle Cripplures. One boat reported landing a limit of rainbows, losing three hookups and several hits without sticking. Smith advised patience and moving off the shorelines into open water along drop-offs for the rainbows, as the fish are moving into the deeper regions of the lake. Small king salmon to 14 inches are biting near Jacksonville-Stent Bridge. Rolling shad or anchovies will produce the larger salmon at 50-80 feet in open water. Manny Basi said the smallmouth bite has improved near the banks with RatLTraps, jigs or crankbaits. Call: Monte Smith 581-4734; Danny Layne 586-2383, Bait Barn 874-3011.
E-Mail
Print
