Fish Report (6/3/09)

DELTA

• STOCKTON — Wind has been miserable, limiting boaters to back sloughs or locations sheltered from the winds. Fishing in open water has been impossible. The winds were so rough over the weekend that one boat couldn't make it back into Benicia from Grizzly Bay. Shoreline fishing in the Benicia area has been pretty spotty with the exception of one keeper and three shakers under the Benicia Bridge on grass shrimp. Kevin Yost of Lucky Strike Fishing said the Lucky Strike Too was up in Montezuma for action on large, oversized sturgeon with an 81-incher released at the bottom of the outgoing tide on grass shrimp with anise scent. Jay Sorensen of Jolly Jay's Guide Service has been limited to hiding from the winds behind Sherman Island, and he reported two legal fish to 4 pounds out of a total of 25 fish Saturday soaking fresh shad from H and R Bait in Stockton. The trolling bite has been limited by muddy water from the last series of huge tides. Mike Gravert of Intimidator Sport Fishing has been working the upper Delta for stripers to 15 pounds drifting live jumbo minnows or bluegill. The water has been muddy, but it clears up at the top of the tide. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, reported wide-open largemouth action in the central Delta with the Berkley Heavyweight or Hand Pour worms on a Zappu Head on the outside of the weed lines at low tide at depths from 3-14 feet before switching to the IMA Shaker, Pure Poison and Double Diamond in blue gill patterns once the tide came up for fish to 4 pounds. There were fish cruising in the shallows, but they weren't willing to strike at top-water lures. Call: Pringle, 543-6260; Kevin Yost, Lucky Strike Fishing (707) 301-8050; Mark Wilson Sport Fishing, (916) 682-1630; Fin Addict Sport Fishing, 367-4665; Jolly Jay's Guide Service, 478-6645.

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported a red-hot bite for easy limits of 14- to 15-inch kokanee at 40-60 feet anywhere in the main lake. The best bite is early in the morning. Uncle Larry's or Rocky Mountain Tackle spinners and Glitterbug or Crystal Basin hootchies are some of the hot lures. Pautske's Fire Corn, shoepeg corn scented with ProCure Carp Spit or Garlic and Berkley Gulp Waxie's are all working on the end of the lures. Bank trout action has slowed and the best fishing is up in Angels or Murphy's creeks with Power Bait or Pautske's Fire Eggs. Trollers are scoring rainbow trout to 3 pounds about 10 feet above the kokanee schools with shad or rainbow-patterned lures such as Needlefish, Kastmasters, ExCels or blade/crawler combinations. Brown trout are found near structure with Countdown Rapalas or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad-patterns. Lewis reported bass action is good with a top-water bite early and late with Zara Spooks, Pop-R's or buzz baits. Once the sun is up, Senkos, jigs, Carolina-rigged 6-inch plastics, ripbaits, spinnerbaits are all working around submerged wood. The larger fish are in the backs of coves, with numbers located upriver. Catfishing is improving on muddy, sloping banks with anchovies, night crawlers, sardines, chicken livers or mackerel. Crappie fishing is fair to good at 10-30 feet with small minnows or minijigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white in Bear, Mormon or Carson creeks. The lake is holding at 55 percent capacity and 984.52 elevation. Call: 736-4333; Monte Smith 581-4734; Danny Layne 586 2383; Sierra Sport Fishing 599-2023.