Fish Report (7/22/09)

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VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir — Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service said the "wide-open" kokanee bite is still on, with fish in the 13- to 14-inch range and an occasional 15-incher. He had been scoring at 40 to 55 feet before the hot weather, and as deep as 70 off of South Island and Carson Creek as the fish drop down in search of cooler water. The fish are also starting to turn a bit pink in their preparation for the spawn attempt. He has been using the Glitter Bug pink or chartreuse hootchies, Uncle Larry's Mad Cow, UV Pink Vee or Pink Tiger scented with vanilla, anise or garlic-flavored Shoepeg corn. Layne touts the Berkley Gulp! Maggots in pink or natural as a new and effective product. A few rainbows are found in the top 30 feet of the water column before the sun rises with rolled shad or ExCel shad-patterned spoons. Lakeside, bank trout fishing is over, and anglers are recommended to head up Highway 4 to Spicer or Lake Alpine. Bass continue to hit top-water lures early or late before switching to crawdad or shad-colored Carolina-rigged 6-inch plastics, ripbaits, spinnerbaits, Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or Senkos. Catfishing improving from the banks or on the anchor with mackerel, chicken livers or night crawlers. Night fishing for crappie is fair to good at 10-30 feet in Bear, Mormon or Carson creeks with small minnows or minijigs. Call: 736-4333; Monte Smith 581-4734; Danny Layne 586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing 599-2023.

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay — Ly Tu of Ly's Fishing Goods in San Jose has been selling blood worms, pile worms and grass shrimp for bank anglers in the Forebay. There is heavy interest under the bridge in the evenings. Most stripers undersized. Anglers are tossing Rebel Jumbo Minnows or Lucky Craft 128s in the Forebay. Most consistent bite has been for catfish around Check 12 with chicken livers, mackerel or clams. In the main lake, the lower water levels have concentrated the stripers around the Trash Racks, and mooched anchovies are bringing in fish to 25 inches. Most striper fishermen are continuing over to the beaches to participate in the best striper fishing in the past several years from Monterey to San Francisco. Lake level continues to drop. Wind conditions: (800) 805-4805. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

McSwain Reservoir — Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling said trout fishing has slowed. Fish have dropped in the center channel in deeper water. Best action on chrome Ford Fenders trailed by a night crawler. Bank action slow with a few fish taken early in the morning or at dusk with rainbow, Chunky Cheese or corn yellow Power Bait at the Brush Pile or Handicapped Docks. Call: 378-2534.

McClure Reservoir — Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said small bass bite is decent with top-water lures such as PopR's early or late before changing to ¼-ounce dart-head or drop-shot with 5- to 6-inch plastics in shad-patterns similar to the Pro Worm 300 small gold/red flake from the banks to 20 feet deep. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said anglers are finding trout upriver and near the dam on nightcrawlers behind a chrome Ford Fender. There have been a few kokanee in the past week, and perhaps this is the start of the great kokanee fishing experienced late in the season two years ago. Catfish are responding to hot weather with strong bite on live jumbo minnows or anchovies near muddy, sloping banks in 15-20 feet. Crappie fishing is fair at best in the evening near the Houseboats in Barrett's Cove with live minnows. The lake has dropped to 796.99 feet elevation. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505; Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222; Bub Tosh 404-0053.