Fishing Report (12/23/09)

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported plenty of rainbows to 2.5 pounds can be caught from the banks near the Tuttletown or Glory Hole Launch Ramps with Berkley Power Bait in chartreuse or green glitter, Power Eggs, marshmallow/crawler combinations or small Kastmasters in firetiger, rainbow trout or silver/blue. The best fishing continues along the shoreline, with the warmer water on the north slopes in the afternoon. Zach Porterfield of Riverbank landed a 3.5-pound rainbow on chartreuse Power Bait near the Tuttletown ramp. Trollers are working the shoreline with blade/crawler combinations. The bass are hanging around the shad balls in the middle of the lake at 30-60 feet. The fish are not oriented to structure, so they are biting trolling lures intended for trout. Lewis advised looking for steep drop-offs such as the main creek channels up the river arm. Numbers of smaller fish can be taken on 4-inch plastics on the drop shot. There have been some quality catfish taken. Chicken livers are also working as well as anchovies, mackerel, sardines or a ball of night crawlers. Crappie and bluegill action has been slow. Crappie can be found hanging around submerged trees at 30-45 feet deep in Bear, Mormon or Carson creeks with live small or medium minnows. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported slow fishing at Lake Tulloch on recent trip in cold 52-degree water. The recently planted brown trout have been reluctant to bite. 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 27-pound striper was landed on chrome/blue back RatLTrap off Goosehead Point near the Basalt Recreation Area in the early morning. The angler also caught and released a few stripers to 6 pounds. Jumbo minnows drifted near the trash racks or Portuguese Cove have been working for small legal stripers to 5 pounds. Anglers have to work hard for limits. In the forebay, bank anglers have been plugging with small swimbaits or live mudsuckers for legal fish to 20 inches. The area under the bridge has been the top spot. A few small catfish have been taken on cut baits. The lake rose to 38 percent capacity. 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-I Bait in Snelling said trout action was slow, with anglers complaining about catching only a few fish per rod. The McSwain Marina reported the lake is full, but there has been little interest. A trout plant from Calaveras Trout Farm is scheduled for this week. Call: 378-2534.

• McCLURE RESERVOIR -- Jay Graham of the Fresno Bass Club reported 14 limits out of 19 anglers at Sunday's Tournament of Champions. There was an early top-water bite on Zara Spooks, with jigs, tubes, Texas-rigs or drop-shotting all working. The majority of fish were spotted bass. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said the bass bite continues to be slow, with the best action at 40-55 feet with Bad Shad Green on the drop shot or brown jigs. Diana Mello at A-I Bait in Snelling said live crawdads have been working at McClure Point, near the Dam and in Piney Creek. Watermelon/redflake Baby Brush Hogs are also working. Trout fishing has been slow, with only a few fish per rod landed on shad-patterned Needlefish at 20 feet deep near the Dam. Catfish have moved into deeper water to seek out warmer temperatures for the winter. The lake is holding 40 percent capacity. The only two launch ramps open are McClure Point and the Barrett's Cove south ramp. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505; Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222; Bub Tosh 404-0053.