Fishing Report (12/30/09)

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — The Tuttletown Launch Ramp has been crowded with shore anglers pulling easy limits of planted rainbows on Berkley Power Bait in chartreuse or green glitter, Power Eggs, marshmallow/crawler combinations or small Kastmasters in firetiger, rainbow trout or silver/blue. The Glory Hole launch is also a hot area. The best action has been close to the shoreline at 5-20 feet deep. Bass anglers are targeting the shad schools suspended in the middle of the lake or upriver at 20-50 feet deep. A slow presentation is a must in the 55-degree water. Jason Taylor landed a 4.5-pound largemouth in Angels Creek on a live minnow. Steep drop-offs with deep water access have been the best areas. Larger fish are coming on Huddleston swimbaits in rainbow trout dragged across windy points. There were a few large catfish, including a 21-pound, 12-ounce whiskerfish landed by Leon Atkins off Glory Hole Point on a Roostertail/crawler combination. Chicken livers are also working, as well as anchovies, mackerel, sardines, or a ball of night crawlers. Crappie and bluegill action has been slow, but Ellery Stevenson of Fresno continues to pound the slabsides, landing a 25-pound crappie on a jig from the bank near Carson Creek after dark. The lake rose to 48 percent capacity. 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 the best striper bite has been with top-water lures such as Rebel Jumbo Minnows, Lucky Craft Sammies or RatLTraps from the banks in the early morning near Goosehead Point or the left side of the Dinosaur Launch Ramp for 22- to 24-inch fish, with a few up to 15 pounds. The bite turns on and off quickly. Minnow drifting has been slow, with only a few small fish taken off of the Trash Racks and Portuguese Cove. In the Forebay, bank anglers have been plugging with white Flukes or small swimbaits for stripers to 20 inches. There have been a few catfish landed near Check 12 with clams, mackerel or anchovies. 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 has rebounded and bank anglers have an advantage over trollers. Limits have been landed at the Brush Pile on Sunrise or Bubble Gum Power Eggs and also at the Marina Docks on blue/chrome Kastmasters. Trollers are working from the dam to the floating restrooms for decent action on Kastmasters or Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger. McSwain Marina said a trout plant is scheduled later this week. Call: 378-2534.

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Diana Mello at A-I Bait in Snelling reported limits of bass in the slot limit have been taken in Cottonwood Creek on brown/purple jigs on a football head or the Keeper Worm in color 411 (dark green/purpleflake) on the drop-shot. There is an early morning crank bait bite. Live crawdads are working best on overcast days off the banks at Barrett's Cove. Manny Basi said the bass bite has been tough, with drop-shotting Reaction Innovations Bad Shad Green or brown jigs with a green pumpkin trailer at 20-50 feet deep the best bets. Mello said limits of trout have been located at 35 feet deep near the dam on shad-patterned Needlefish. The bank bite has been good with rainbow glitter Power Bait or gold Kastmasters. The crappie bite is picking up with red/white minijigs or medium minnows in the submerged trees or under the Houseboat docks. No catfish report. The lake is holding at 40 percent capacity. McClure Point and the Barrett's Cove south ramp are the only launches open. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505; Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222; Bub Tosh 404-0053.