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VALLEY
• Lake Don Pedo — Big limits of bass were the rule during Saturday's Best Bass Tournament, and Randy Pringle, tournament director, reported the largest fish came on jigs, on the bottom or on spinnerbaits when the wind came up. There are already some fish on the beds, but the larger bass remain cruising the shorelines. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported large and medium minnows continue to fly out of the shop. The top artificials are the Berserk Purple Hornet jigs at depths from 20 to 30 feet, the 8-inch Huddleston swimbaits in rainbow trout with a ROF of 12 or 16, or the Berserk Mad Shad swimbait in light holographic shad on Spinntrix swimbait head on the bottom with a slow roll. The key is to drag the baits on the bottom, releasing plenty of line and bouncing back slowly towards the boat like a jig. For trout, kokanee, and king salmon, Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing has been finding kokanee to 13-inches at depths from 40 to 60 feet with Excel spoons tipped with corn behind a Rocky Mountain Tackle dodger in the area around Big Oak Island, Raymus Creek, Jenkins Hill, and Copper Mountain. Threaded night crawlers behind a dodger or heavy spoons are working for rainbows from the surface to 40 feet. Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service confirmed the good rainbow action, and he has been producing limits from 14 to 16-inches trolling ExCel's Kokanee Killers, or Uncle Larry's spinners at depths from 15 to 45 feet in the open water near Fleming Bay. A trout plant will take place this week. The lake is currently at 772.17 feet in elevation and 68 percent of capacity. Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011
• McClure Reservoir — Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported continued great bass action on live minnows or crawdads. Limits have been taken on the live bait or with the 6-inch 082 Keeper worms. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn confirmed the excellent minnow bite, and he added Purple Hornet jigs, 8-inch Huddlestons in rainbow trout, or the Berserk Mad Shad light holographic shad swimbaits as good options when worked slowly on the bottom. Spinnerbaits have produced spots to 3-pounds in Horseshoe Bend. Sales of medium minnows continue to be high for crappie, and Mello has had to submit increased orders for the live bait. Trout and king salmon have been taken by trollers up the river arm near Bagby. The bass size limit dropped to 12-inches at McClure on Monday. The lake rose nearly a foot to 761.97 feet in elevation and 45 percent of capacity. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505; Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053
