VALLEY
• LAKE DON PEDRO — Guide Monte Smith is still finding limits of rainbows to 3 pounds by pulling heavy spoons at 48 to 65 feet in the early mornings near the dam. "We didn't find many bait balls on Saturday, and the bait was scattered," he reports. The bite shut down after 11 a.m. Many guides are saying they expect a great fall bite for rainbows. For bass, top-water lures such as PopR's or Super Spooks in Okie Shad are working in the early mornings or at dusk. After the sun comes up, the fish are dropping to 30 and 40 feet, and shad imitations plastics are effective on the drop shot. Reaction Innovations Flirts in Bad Shad Green or Pro Worms Purple Shad pattern 124 remain top patterns. Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011
• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Trout and king salmon reports have been scarce with the hot temperatures. Bass, catfish and crappie are providing the best action. Jason Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling said bass fishing has been strong at night with the full moon with one fishermen landing a limit in the slot, including an 8 pounder on Senkos. Bait fishing with live crawdads has produced catfish to 4½ pounds and bass to 4½ pounds from the banks near McClure Point. A few crappie are taken on live minnows near Maxwell Creek in the Horseshoe Bend area. Catfish are hitting The Robo Worm Hologram Shad or similar shad imitation plastics in the mornings or evenings. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505; Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053
• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Jason Mello of A-1 Bait reported excellent trout action after the double-plant in the past week. Limits have been taken in a lots of places, including the campground loops and the handicapped docks using gold Kastmasters or chartreuse/garlic Power Bait. Trollers are picking up fish near the chimney with night crawlers behind cowbell flashers. McSwain will host the Fall Trout Derby on Oct. 6-7, starting at 7 a.m. Saturday and ending at noon Sunday. Find out more at lakemcclure.com or by calling (855) 800-2267. Registration is $12 for individuals or $28 for families. The lake will be planted by Thursday. Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534
• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR / TULLOCH RESERVOIR — Trout fishing continues to be slow with the best action at night under submerged lights. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods said trollers have landed a few limits during the days by fishing at 30 to 90 feet in the main lake or at the mouth of major creek arms. She suggested shad patterned ExCel lures. She said using a pair of lures in tandem has been effective. Lewis said there has been a good bite on the Stanislaus River with salmon eggs, night crawlers, Rooster tails and Panther Martins. The Kokanee have just about quit biting as they attempt to spawn. Bass fishing is good with spotted bass ambushing balls of shad along main lake and in main lake pockets. Lewis suggested using top-water lures such as the Lucky Craft Gunfish or PopR's in the mornings before switching to jerkbaits and flukes by mid-morning. She said some largemouth bass can be found in the shallows in the morning before moving out from 25 to 45 feet later in the day. Super Spooks are working in the mornings around wood and rock, before using brown, brown/purple, or greenpumpkin jigs on a ½ to › ounce football head with a matching Yamamoto twin-tail trailer. Catfishing is excellent on frozen shad, mackerel, wads of night crawlers, chicken livers or anchovies. 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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