Fishing Report (8/11/10)

VALLEY

• New Melones Reservoir — Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service reported an excellent late summer kokanee bite at depths from 35-70 feet off the spillway, the dam pocket, or the mouth of Mormon Creek with Uncle Larry's spinners or Glitterbug hootchies tipped with corn scented with garlic, vanilla, shrimp, or anise. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said the best bet for trout continues to be at night under submersible lights at depths from 20-30 feet near the dam or under the Highway 49 bridge. For bass, Lewis recommended tossing reaction baits to the banks, in between and over wood structure, particularly in the shade. Carolina-rigged creature baits, such as green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs, cast into deeper water across main lake points, are effective in the heat of the afternoon. Catfishing is excellent with anchovies, mackerel, sardines, chicken liver or a ball of night crawlers. Crappie and bluegill is best at night under a submersible light around submerged trees in Bear Creek, Mormon Creek and Carson Creek, or upriver. Bluegill are hitting king mealworms or a piece of night crawler under a bobber. The lake has dropped to 56 percent of capacity. Call: 736-4333, Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan 586 2383, Sierra Sport Fishing 599-2023.

• San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay — Anthony Lopez of Coyote Bait in San Jose said the best action for schoolie stripers or catfish remains in the forebay with sardines, anchovies, pile worms, or blood worms from check 12 or the Highway 33 bridge. In the main lake, there was a report of a limit of 20-pound stripers taken off Dinosaur Point on sardines. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711

• McSwain Reservoir — Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling said the bank trout bite has been slow despite the regular trout plants of 1,000 pounds from Calaveras Trout Farm prior to each weekend. However, trollers have been scoring limits at depths to 20 feet with a Wedding Ring tipped with a crawler, blade/crawler combinations, or small spoons in the normal pattern from the dam to the second fence line. The lake level remains high and stable.

Call: 378-2534

• Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs — Merritt Gilbert said local anglers continue to head north to the O'Neill Forebay, and sales of the larger 7-inch Magnum Flukes have been high the past week. In the south aqueduct, the water flows are very high, and striper action has slowed in the past week. The bait bite is still the best, with blood or sand worms with sardines and anchovies also working.

• McClure Reservoir — Diana Mello of A-I Bait in Snelling said catfish have been on a tear with chicken livers or cut anchovies from the banks near the boat launch at McClure Point. Limits of trout, including brookies, have been taken up the river arm to Bagby at depths from 15-35 feet with Needlefish or blade/crawler combinations. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said bass fishing continues to be strong with Yamamoto Twin-Tail Hula Grubs in color 301 or 330 on a half jig head at depths to 20 feet. During daylight hours, use the Reaction Innovation Flirt in Bad Shad Green on the drop shot. Five-inch Senkos in watermelon/red or green pumpkin continue to be effective. There is a topwater bite in the early mornings or late evenings with PopR's, Zara Spooks, or Lunker Punkers. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, Bub Tosh 404-0053.