Fish Report (9/23/09)

VALLEY

• New Melones Reservoir — Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service said despite a lack of pressure, the bite is good for trollers working the Spillway, Shipwreck and Rose islands with small shad-patterned spoons, ExCels, Vance's Slim Fins, Triple Teasers, Shasta Tackle Matrix Paddle Tails or rolled shad at 40-60 feet deep for trout to 4 pounds. Surface temperatures are starting to cool, in spite of the triple-digit temperatures. For browns, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods advised trolling Rapala Countdowns or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or rolled shad, a 50-60 feet deep (in the same areas, but closer to structure). Night fishing for trout under a submersible light has been great at 20 feet deep with crawlers or crawler/Power Bait combinations. No change in the bass bite, which is rated fair to slow by Lewis with a good top-water bite at dawn and dusk with Zara Spooks, buzz baits, or Pop-Rs. When the sun is up, crawdad or shad-colored Carolina-rigged 6-inch worms, rip-baits, spinnerbaits, Zoom Baby Brush Hogs, or Senkos are working along the strong mud lines. Catfishing remains strong with anchovies, night crawlers or mackerel from the banks. Bluegill action is slow, with the best action at night under lights at 10-30 feet deep around submerged trees with live small or medium minnows, or crappie jigs with jigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white in Bear, Carson or Mormon creeks. The lake dropped to 47 percent capacity.Call: 736-4333; Monte Smith 581-4734; Danny Layne 586 2383; Sierra Sport Fishing 599-2023.

• San Luis Reservoir / O'Neill Forebay — Ly Tu of Ly's Fishing Goods in San Jose said high winds have kept most boats off of the main lake, but there were limits of 18- to 24-inch stripers taken at 60-80 feet near the trash racks on bag anchovies or sardines. Anchovies have been difficult for area bait shops to obtain, so sardines have been a good alternative. There were limits of stripers to 32 inches landed on live grass shrimp by bank anglers willing to take the long walk to the water at Romero Visitor Center. Reminder: Throw nets and seine nets are illegal for harvesting the shrimp — only a legal handled dip net is allowed. In the Forebay, the weeds are still heavy and keeping anglers constantly cleaning their terminal tackle. The area under the Bridge is still the location of choice for an occasional small striper. Catfish are found around Check 12 with sardines or mackerel. The lake has risen to 22 percent capacity. Wind conditions: (800) 805-4805.

Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

• McSwain Reservoir — McSwain Marina reported daily trout limits on blade/crawler combinations on the trolling pattern from Gilligan's Island to the Dam and back at depths 30 feet deep. A 7-pound rainbow was landed on a green Wedding Ring tipped with a crawler near Gilligan's Island. Purple Passion or chartreuse Power Bait is working from the banks near E-Loop, the Handicapped Docks or the Brush Pile. The area near the Dam will be off-limits this weekend, including the Handicapped Docks, due to the Turlock Airplane Club's annual event. A Calaveras Trout Farm plant is scheduled for the latter portion of this week. Call: 378-2534.

• McClure Reservoir — Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said shad-patterned plastics on the drop shot or one-fourth-ounce dart head, brown/purple jigs or Baby Brush Hogs in watermelon/red, shad-patterns or watermelon/purple are working form the banks to 30 feet. Trout fishing continues to be slow, with the best action under lights at night at the Houseboats. Catfishing remains strong with bag anchovies, live crawdads or minnows in Piney Creek or any major creek arm along sloping banks. The lake dropped to 44 percent capacity. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505; Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222; Bub Tosh 404-0053.