Fishing Report (11/18/09)

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR/TULLOCH LAKE — Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported good numbers of large trout to nearly 4 pounds have been taken from the banks near the mouths of Angels or Glory Hole coves with Berkley Power Eggs, Power Bait or crawler/marshmallow combinations. Trolling improving with the fish moving up in the water column. Shad-patterned Needlefish or ExCels or smaller Countdown Rapalas are working at 30 feet. Brown trout have been taken on Trophy Stick or Countdown Rapalas in rainbow trout or rolled shad at 20 to 40 feet near structure. Adriane Reimer of San Andreas reeled in a 4-pound, 6-ounce rainbow on a shad-patterned Rapala on the surface under the Stevenot Bridge. A trout plant is scheduled at Melones this week. Bass fishermen have been targeting large schools of shad in the main lake with Carolina-rigged creature baits in green pumpkin or similar crawdad imitation colors. Baby Brush Hogs or Reaction Innovation Sweet Beavers are also working at 30 to 40 feet with a ½-ounce weight. Alex Niapas caught and released a 9-pound, 12-ounce largemouth on a Lunker Punker on a windy day while fishing a main lake point in Mormon Cove. He also released a pair of 6-pounders caught on the same lure. Catfish have moved into deep water, but some are still going after anchovies, mackerel, sardines, chicken liver or a ball of night crawlers. Randy Miller landed a 10-pounder on a live minnow near the spillway. Monte Smith of Gold Country Fishing has been targeting Tulloch for limits of rainbows to 3 pounds at depths from 20 to 27 feet trolling 2 to 2.5 mph with shad-patterned Vance's Slim Fins or ExCels. He switched to lures as blade/crawler combinations or rolled shad weren't working. 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 jumbo and extra-large minnows have been hard to find due to interstate import restrictions. And though he found some minnows, fishing on the main lake was slow. The Fresno CSBA striper derby had over 25 anglers who found a tough bite over the weekend. Only two big fish were caught — a 20-pound striper followed by a 16 pounder, both on minnows. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported lake levels are back to normal after water had been released for dam repairs. Trollers have been scoring limits with blade/crawler combinations or chartreuse Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger or blade/crawler combinations at depths from 12 to 15 feet from Gilligan's Island to the Floating Restrooms. Bank anglers have been soaking lemon-lime, chartreuse or Sunries Power Bait or Power Eggs, or marshmallow/night crawler combinations at the Handicapped Docks or the Brush Pile. Trout will be planted this week. Call: 378-2534

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Manny Basi of the Bait Barn reported an improved top-water bite with PopRs in the coves, but the top baits have been the Reaction Innovation plastic worm in Bad Shad Green, the Pro Worm 300 small redflake or Senko in color 330. Diana Mello said live minnows or crawdads are producing bass from the banks along Barrett's Cove or McClure Point. Crappie have been showing up from the banks with small minnows under a bobber. Catfish have moved into deeper water to seek out warmer temperatures for the winter. Trout fishing continues to be slow, but things will improve with plants continuing through the next couple of weeks. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505, Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222, Bub Tosh 404-0053.