Fishing Report (9/12/12)

• LAKE DON PEDRO — Mike Gomez of the Bait Barn in Waterford said bass fishermen are struggling for bites. Those trying for trout are having better luck. Guide Monte Smith "finding the balls of shad" is the key to finding the rainbows. He has been running heavy spoons at 35 to 60 feet in open water. He expects fall fishing to get better as the water cools and the recreational boaters disperse. Guide Danny Layne recommended fishing Big Creek Arm and Graveyard Bay with Cop Car lures at 35 feet. Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; The Bait Barn (209) 874-3011.

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Diana Mello at A-1 Bait in Snelling said bass to 5 pounds have been taken by drop-shotting Pro Worms in cinnamon/blue up the river arm while Mike Gomez in Waterford added that Pro Worms 124 and 300 color patterns are good choices for drop shotting in addition to Reaction Innovation's Bad Shad Green. You'll find the bass at 35 feet with brown/purple jigs. The top-water bite has slowed in the past week. Mello said fishing for king salmon has gotten better, with limits taken on chrome Needlefish at 65 feet near the dam. Catfishing is still outstanding at 15 to 25 feet along muddy, sloping banks with anchovies, chicken livers or live crawdads. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053.

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Stephanie Powell at the marina said there has was heavy interest in the free fishing day Saturday. Anglers reported limits by 9 a.m. with green Power Bait in garlic or plain near the brush pile. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling also reported limits at on night crawlers topped with a Power Egg. Trollers are working the area from the floating restrooms to the second fence line with copper Wedding Rings, blade/crawler combinations or silver/blue Kastmasters at 25 feet. A Department of Fish and Game plant is expected by mid-week. Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR/TULLOCH — John Gray of Sonora caught a rainbow trout weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces, breaking the lake record. He was fishing with guide Gary Burns using a silver/blue Excel spoon while trolling the main lake at 2.4 mph at 76 feet. Guide Monte Smith confirmed the excellent action, saying his clients have released trout in the 2½- to 3-pound range while keeping those over 4 pounds. For the big fish, fast troll heavy spoons or run ExCel spoons behind an 18-inch leader on a slow troll at 45 to 70 feet. Smith said they're gorging on shad. Guide Danny Layne confirmed that there are trophy rainbows out there, especially off of the dam, spillway, Carson Creek and the river channel around the 49 Bridge. He recommends Triple Teasers in blue or hammered silver, Needlefish or ExCel lures without flashers or dodgers at 20 feet behind the downrigger ball trolled at 1½ mph. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said night fishing under a submersible light is really good, too, and should be for the next couple months. She advised anglers to "drop the light down as far as it will go," and use Power Bait, Gulp Eggs, and nightcrawlers on the hook. Try using spinners such as Panther Martins and Rooster Tails with 4# test on an ultra light spinning rod. Kokanee fishing has shown little change with easy limits, but interest has been minimal due to the excellent trout bite. The fish are rapidly transitioning to fall spawning colors. With the schooling shad, there are wolf packs of fish boiling on the surface, and Pop R's, Spooks or Lucky Craft Gunfish are working. Lewis asked that any female largemouth bass be released. Catfishing is excellent, too, with Jose Reyes of Angels Camp landing a 10¼-pound whiskerfish on a night crawler. Call: Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne (209) 586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023.