Fishing Report (1/27/10)

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR / TULLOCH — Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said trout fishing remains good for rainbows to 2 pounds at Glory Hole or Tuttletown Launch Ramps with Berkley chartreuse or green glitter Power Bait, Power Eggs or a crawler/marshmallow combination. The fish are moving into the shallows at 5-20 feet. Boaters are fishing on the anchor with similar baits in the same areas as well as Carson or Mormon coves. Small silver/blue Kastmasters and shad or rainbow trout imitation lures such as a Countdown Rapala are also working. Trolling works for an occasional large fish, such as the 5.5-pound brown taken by Dennis Young on a Needlefish on the surface at the mouth of Carson Creek. Lewis said spotted bass are being landed in large numbers close to wood near steep flats or drop-offs with brown/purple jigs with a trailer, watermelon/redflake or green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or other creature baits on a Carolina-rig or shaky head. Best numbers are taken on 4-inch shad-colored plastics. A few larger fish are taken on Huddleston ROF 12 swimbaits in any trout pattern along windy points at 20-50 feet deep. A few quality crappie continue to be landed on small or medium minnows or crappie jigs at 30-45 feet deep around submerged trees or structure. The lake rose to 50 percent capacity. At Tulloch, an excellent trout bite has been reported on white Power Eggs, Power Bait or night crawlers under a bobber in the running water up the river arm past the Power Lines. 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 the heavy inflow from surface creeks and pumping from the Delta in addition to the high winds, have slowed the striper fishing in both the main lake and the Forebay. Regular anglers have been tossing top-water plugs or soaking frozen bait for minimal results. Eventually, the inflow from the rains should improve the striper bite by turning over the lake and bringing in nutrients. Merritt Gilbert of Clovis reported a big increase in the sales of Lucky Craft 128s in American shad, royal blue and ghost minnow with local anglers heading up to the big lake for top-water action for 18- to 25-inch stripers. The lake rose seven feet. Wind conditions: (800) 805-4805. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Inflow has muddied up the water, and bank anglers have the advantage over trollers. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said various colors of Power Bait and Power Eggs have been working for near limits from the Handicapped Docks or Brush Pile areas. Trolling slow until water clears. Call: 378-2534.

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said bass fishing has been slow, with small limits to 10 pounds winning Saturday's tournament and an 8-pound limit winning Sunday's tournament entered by 70 boats. Drop-shotting with Reaction Innovations Bad Shad Green or the Flirt at 20-50 feet deep is the best technique for numbers. The water is muddy from the inflow, and there is floating debris on the lake. Diana Mello at A-1 Bait in Snelling said bank anglers are scoring with live minnows from Barrett's or McClure Point. She added that the trout bite is good near Bagby with Needlefish or other shad-imitation spoons at 7-15 feet deep on lead core line. Regular crappie fishing families are starting to show up to purchase the live minnows, so there must be an increase in action for the slabsides. The lake came up to 43 percent capacity. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505; Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222; Bub Tosh 404-0053.