Fishing Report (12/9/09)

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR / LAKE TULLOCH — Trout fishing from the banks continues to be the top option for holdover and planted rainbows to 3 pounds at Glory Hole Cove, Tuttletown and Angels Cove at 5-25 feet with rainbow or chartreuse glitter Power Bait, Power Eggs or a crawler/marshmallow combination. Boaters have been drifting live minnows in the coves for decent action. The best fishing is along the shorelines with the warmer water on the north slopes in the afternoon. This week's rains will provide run-off and nutrients, and the fish will be hanging along the banks waiting for easy meals. Shad-patterned Kastmasters or Rapala Countdowns tossed from the shoreline are also effective. Bass fishermen continue to target the schools of small shad in the main lake around lake points or humps holding wood 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 depths from 30-40 feet with a heavier weight of ½-ounce. Numbers of smaller fish can be taken on 4-inch plastics on the drop shot. The lake came up nearly a vertical foot to 958.76 in elevation. Lake Tulloch got 1,000 pounds of brown trout due to low flows at Hetch Hetchy affecting the Moccasin Creek Hatchery. Another plant of 1,000 pounds is coming soon. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said bass fishermen are seeing the huge trout rolling around in the shallows in the cold, clear water. 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 a few stripers have been taken on jumbo or extra-large minnows near the trash racks or Portuguese Cove. The overwhelming majority are from 18-22 inches. There are still bass fishermen working the back of Portuguese Cove near the inlet with topwater lures or 7-inch Senkos. In the Forebay, anglers have been plugging live mudsuckers or pearl swimbaits for schoolie stripers. Overall, fishing has been pretty slow. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644, Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Trout fishing continues to be steady with Sunrise Power Bait, orange/yellow Power Eggs, or marshmallow/night crawler combinations from the banks at the Handicapped Docks or the brush pile. The lake got a dusting of snow Monday. Trollers continue to score with red Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler behind a dodger at depths from 10-12 feet in the normal pattern from Gilligan's Island to the floating restrooms. Call: 378-2534.

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Randy Pringle said there were 81 boats in the weekend's Western Rookie League tournament, and all but two weighed in fish. Plastics or jigs produced the majority with the larger fish taken in deep water on spoons. Jay Graham of the Fresno Bass Club said jigs or plastics in various colors dragged along the bottom at depths from 3-35 feet on a Texas or Carolina rig worked best in their weekend tournament. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said the bass bite was very tough with the majority of quality fish found in 60 to 70 feet. Recent plants sparked trout fishing near the dam from the banks with lures or from drifting boats in Cottonwood Creek with Kastmasters in chrome or chrome/blue. Catfish have moved into deeper water to seek out warmer temperatures for the winter. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505, Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222, Bub Tosh 404-0053.