Fishing Report

VALLEY

NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing got great rainbow trout action trolling on the surface and to 15 feet with heavy spoons on lead-core line with a fluorocarbon top shot at speeds of 2½ to 3 mph. He has been running the lures 120-150 feet behind the boat. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods reported plenty of 'bows averaging 2 pounds from the banks from the Tuttletown Launch Ramp and Glory Hole Point with Berkley Power Bait in chartreuse or green glitter, Power Eggs, marshmallow/crawler combinations or small Kastmasters in firetiger, rainbow trout or silver/blue. Boaters anchoring nearby and at Carson or Mormon coves are also scoring with the same baits. For the occasional brown trout, Rapala Countdowns, Trophy Sticks or other large plugs in rainbow trout or shad patterns, trolled fast from 10-30 feet near structure are the best options. A near-lake record 7.51-pound spotted bass was caught and released this week on a green plastic worm up the river arm by Rod Byers. The bass are targeting the bait schools in open water in the middle of the lake. Lucky Craft Pointer 100s in rainbow trout, watermelon/redflake or green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or other creature baits on a Carolina-rig or shaky head, brown/purple jigs with a trailer or drop-shotting a 4-inch shad-patterned plastic at depths from 20-50 feet are the top techniques. A few large bass went for Huddleston ROF 12 in trout patterns along windy points. Catfish are moving into deeper water, but whiskerfish to 15.75 pounds have been landed on mackerel near Glory Hole launch ramp. Anchovies, chicken livers, mackerel, sardines or a ball of night crawlers are all working. Quality crappie continue to be taken weekly with the best fishing at night under lights around submerged trees at depths from 30-45 feet in Bear Creek, Mormon Creek or Carson Creek with live small or medium minnows. The lake rose a vertical foot to 965.88 in elevation and 48 percent of capacity. Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service said nearby Lake Tulloch has been drawn down to wintertime levels -- about 10 feet from the spillway. He reported good action for rainbows 14-16 inches off the resort from the surface to 20 feet on blade/crawler combinations, Humdingers, ExCels, Triple Teasers or Shasta Tackle Matrix Paddletails. A few larger trout are holding near a large bait ball near the Powerlines in the Green Springs Arm. Water temperature is perfect at 52 degrees, and the water is clear. 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 striper fishing in the big lake continues to be very slow with the best action in the Forebay with top-water lures or anchovies near Check 12. The key has been timing the water movement when the dam opens at Check 12. Tu said boaters in the main lake are landing a few fish to 5 pounds, but few limits. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle reported trollers in the main lake have been dragging X Raps at depths to 60 feet near the Pumps when the water is moving. Moochers continue to drop jumbo minnows or pile worms near the Trash Racks with some top-water action in the early morning in Portuguese Cove with Zara Spooks or pearl Flukes. Clements confirmed Tu's report with most anglers in the Forebay hanging around the bridge in the dam area or near the Highway 152 bridge when the water is moving. The bass bite at Los Banos Creek Detention Reservoir has been slow. The lake rose to 447.22 vertical feet with an influx of Delta water. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644, Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.