• VALLEY
• LAKE DON PEDRO — Trout are biting and most of them are full of shad when reeled in. Guide Monte Smith putting three clients onto limits of rainbows by trolling heavy spoons from 48 to 65 feet in the open water. "The key is finding the bait since the trout won't be far behind," said Smith. For bass, Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said an improved top-water bite is coming on PopR's or Super Spooks in Okie Shad in the early mornings or at dusk. After the sun comes up, the fish are dropping to the bottom (from 30 to 40 feet) with Basi saying the two top plastics are the Reaction Innovations Flirts in Bad Shad Green or Pro Worms Purple Shad pattern 124. Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011
• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Bass fishing has been hit or miss with the best action on live minnows at 20 to 30 feet near McClure Point. Jason Mello at A-1 Bait in Snelling fished the banks Monday with a Robo Worm Hologram Shad but got only one small bass. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford recommended going for a top-water bite with the Heddon Spitting Image in Tennessee Shad in the mornings then drop shotting at 30 feet with Reaction Innovation's Bad Shad Green Flirt or Pro Worm's Purple Shad color 12. Trout fishing is picking up with Excel spoons in blue/silver or similar lures at 60 feet on downriggers near the dam. Catfishing is good on live minnows, cut baits or night crawlers along shoreline access areas with sloping, muddy banks. Crappie fishing is fair in Horseshoe Bend with anglers picking up a few slabsides on small minnows. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505; Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053
• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Stephanie Powell at the marina said trollers are getting good action from the floating restrooms to the Chimney with blade/crawler combinations or by tossing Kastmasters in the coves. She said the campground area was the top spot from the banks over the weekend with garlic Power Bait or night crawlers. McSwain will host its Fall Trout Derby, Oct. 6-7 starting at 7 a.m. Saturday and ending at noon Sunday. go to lakemcclure.com or call (855) 800-2267. Registration is $12 for individuals or $28 per family. The lake will get a trout plant Wednesday or Thursday from Calaveras Trout Farm with a double plant next week. Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534
• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR / TULLOCH — The trout bite has slowed, but trollers are picking up a few limits at 70 to 90 feet in the main lake using small shad-patterned lures such as ExCel spoons, Needlefish and Vance's Slim Fins. Melanie Lewis reported that night fishing under a submersible light is really good and should stay that way for a couple months. Several limits of fat 2- to 3-pound rainbows have been caught by the dam or spillway. Lewis said there is a good bite on the Stanislaus River using salmon eggs, night crawlers, Rooster tails and Panther Martins. Jack Starr of Angels Camp landed a 3¾-pound rainbow from the bank near the spillway. Kokanee fishing is only fair as the fish are losing their scales as they prepare to spawn. A few limits of dark fish have been taken. The fish are holding tight to structure, so bouncing downrigger balls on the bottom stir up a few fish, but you can lose your gear. Bass fishing is fair, as the water has been dropping at least 2 feet a week for the last four months and the fish are being pushed out of shallow water haunts. Catfishing is excellent with frozen shad, mackerel, balls of night crawlers, chicken livers or anchovies. James Quick of Sonora landed a 12½-pound whiskerfish on a Kastmaster. Call: Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne (209) 586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing(209) 599-2023
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