Fishing Report (10/21/09)

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VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported a few smart trout boaters are still-fishing way upriver, rather than trolling. Bass anglers report catching plenty of trout while fishing in the creek arms and upriver with small shad imitation lures. Trout are feeding heavily on the small threadfin shad that are plentiful right now. The rainbows are starting to move up as the water temperature cools. Trollers have been having success with shad-patterned lures such as Needlefish or Ex-Cels and smaller Rapala Countdowns from the surface to 20 feet, both in the mouths of coves and upriver. Brown trout anglers are trolling Trophy Sticks or Countdown Rapalas at depths of 20-40 feet near structure. Night fishing under lights is still producing limits at depths of 30-50 feet, but it is getting much colder. Bass are chasing the shad both in the coves and out over deeper water. There are numerous smaller fish with large bass difficult to come by. Anglers have been searching for shad boils and tossing top-water lures into them. Still a good top-water bite going on at dawn and dusk with Zara Spooks, buzz baits or Pop-Rs. Bass can also be taken on drop-shot plastics in shad imitations and Senkos in green pumpkin, watermelon or shad colors. Catfishing is slowing with the cooler weather, as the fish move into deeper water. Crappie and bluegill action continues to be slow with the best action at night under lights at depths of 10-30 feet 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 rose to 958.01 feet and 46 percent capacity. The Angels Cove Launch Ramp is closed, Tuttletown is on the low-water ramp and Glory Hole is still at the mid-ramp. The lowest ramp at Glory Hole is usable until the lake hits 860 feet. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing touts nearby Lake Tulloch as a solid trout option, particularly during the week when there are fewer wake boarders and jet skiers. He has been pulling shad or Vance's Slim Fins at 13-17 feet in the main lake. The water temperature is 64 degrees, and Smith expects the bite to really take off once the lake dips below 60 degrees. Call: 736-4333, Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne 586 2383, Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023.

• SAN LUIS RESERVOIR / O'NEILL FOREBAY — Ly Tu of Ly's Fishing Goods in San Jose said that before the last storm there were stripers boiling on the surface of the main lake chasing shad, with anglers seeking out diving birds and tossing Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers for fish to 26 pounds. But the Fresno CSBA striper derby Saturday found the fish had moved down to around 50 feet and the bite had slowed, probably due to the low pressure. Most fish were taken in 30-50 feet on minnows, with most boats scoring only one or two fish. Boaters have had to launch at Basalt instead of Dinosaur Point. In the forebay, bank fishermen are using dip nets for freshwater shrimp which are used for stripers 22-24 inches. Throw nets or seine nets are illegal, and wardens are on the lookout. The grass in the Forebay is lying down with the increased pumping of water in and out of the lake. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644, Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — The McSwain Marina reported great action in the Merced Irrigation Trout Derby over the weekend with the $3,000 trout landed by James Marshall of Groveland. Richard Lee of Stockton picked up one of the $1,000 fish. There were 18 additional tagged fish paying $140 each. Victor Gomez of Turlock caught the big fish at 5.47 pounds for $200. The lake was heavily planted prior to the derby. Bank anglers are scoring with Kastmasters in split chrome, corn yellow or chartreuse Power Bait combined with a white marshmallow or Power Egg at the Brush Pile or Handicapped Docks. Trollers have been picking up limits in the early morning with green Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger from Gilligan's Island to the dam and back at depths to 20 feet. Call: 378-2534.