Fishing Report (8/18/10)

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — Jeff Boyle, of Manteca's Bass Pro Shops, reported limits of kokanee by 10:30 a.m. on his past four trips, fishing at 40-50 feet near the spillway. He suggests using Glitterbug hootchies or Uncle Larry's spinners in Copper Pop, white, pink/white/blue, behind a Shasta Tackle UV Sling Blade or Rocky Mountain Tackle Bahama Mama dodger. He said the key has been to switch your lures if you don't get bit within a few minutes. The fish are starting to hook their jaws, but they are still in good shape. Danny Layne reported a slowdown in the kokanee bite, with the best fishing at the dam pocket, the south corner of the spillway, and the structure off Glory Hole Point at 35-55 feet. The fish holding near Glory Hole Point are hugging the bottom. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said the best bet for trout is at night under submersible lights at 20-30 feet near the dam or under the Highway 49 bridge. Bank anglers should head to streams or the small lakes up Highway 4. For bass, Lewis recommends 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 afternoon. Catfishing is outstanding, using anchovies, mackerel, sardines, chicken liver or a ball of night crawlers. Ryan Lamberton of Oakland used night crawlers to subdue a 16-pound catfish under the Stevenot Bridge from a boat. For crappie, try fishing live small or medium minnows, or crappie jigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white. Bluegill are hitting king mealworms or a piece of night crawler under a bobber. 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 striped bass are coming to life in the main lake, chasing anchovies or sardines off the banks at Dinosaur Point or Basalt Recreation Area. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait in San Jose confirmed the improved bite. Merritt Gilbert said an occasional lineside is taken on a Lucky Craft 128 in the early mornings. Under the Highway 33 bridge anglers are standing shoulder-to-shoulder at night and wading out to pick through the rocks for live mudsuckers to use for bait. A few catfish are found near check 12 with sardines, anchovies, or blood worms. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — McSwain Marina said trout fishing has been strong from the banks and for trollers. A 7-year-old landed a 5-pound rainbow on green/yellow Power Bait Nuggets from the banks adjacent to the E-Loop. Darren Newell of Clayton brought in a limit of rainbows averaging 2 pounds at depths of 40 feet on Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler. The lake level remains high and stable. Call: 378-2534

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said there is a topwater bass bite in the mornings and evenings, but not much in between. Diana Mello of A-I Bait in Snelling reports crappie fishing is turning hot in Cottonwood Creek on minijigs, and the catfish are biting chicken livers or anchovies from the banks. Trout limits were reported up the river arm near Bagby on Needlefish or blade/crawler combinations. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505, Bub Tosh 404-0053.

• LAKE DON PEDRO — Danny Layne reported great action for rainbow trout to 2 pounds, some nice kokanee, and a few small king salmon in Fleming Bay and the Rogers Creek arm at 35 feet. He was using small threadfin shad or shad-imitation lures such as ExCels, Vance's Slim Fins or Triple Teasers. Kings to 4 pounds have been found in Fleming or Middle bays at 150 feet with rolled shad or anchovies. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing plans to fast-troll Chucker T spoons at 35 feet for rainbow trout on his next trip. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said bass fishing has slowed with the best action on Zara Spooks or Super Spooks in the mornings or evenings. Call: Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne 586-2383, Bait Barn 874-301