Fishing Report (7/20/11)

VALLEY

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR — Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported a slowdown in kokanee action in response to the bright full moon. Kokanee are congregating in the main lake and moving in the main lake. The best quality fish are holding at depths from 75 to 110 feet, hugging the bottom structure. With the kokanee action so hot, few anglers are targeting trout, but the occasional rainbow is thrown in with a limit of kokanee. Trout are found at depths from 40 to 50 feet in the deepest part of the lake with shad patterned lures such as Apex, Needlefish, or Rapala Countdowns scented with Bang or ProCure threadfin shad. Night fishing under lights remains very good, and Lewis advised dropping nightcrawler/Power Bait combo or a live minnow under the light and waiting for an hour or two for the baitfish to come around the light. Bank anglers are advised to head to local creeks like Angels Creek. Lewis said bass fishing is only fair in the stained water conditions. As a result, noise making baits are working best with chartreuse being the most visible color. Top water lures are effective in the mornings and evenings with Rattletraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs with rattles and Senkos working better in the heat of the day. There were a number of big catfish landed this week, as the whiskerfish are moving into the shallows with the warmer water. The best action is at night, but quality fish are also found during daylight hours. Call: (209) 736-4333, Monte Smith (209) 581-4734, Danny Layne -Fishn' Dan (209) 586 2383, Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023.

• SAN LUIS RESERVOIR/O'NEILL FOREBAY — The main lake is still the best thing going in the area with the occasional huge striper taken at night on 6-inch Magnum Flukes. Ly Tu at Ly's Fishing Goods in San Jose said the best area has been around Romero Point with swimbaits or top water lures for stripers to 10-pounds. The forebay is limited to small stripers under the bridge or catfish at Check 12 on cutbaits, clams, or blood worms. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Stephanie Powell of McSwain Marina reported the trollers experienced the best scores on Sunday with blade/crawler combinations or Roostertails tipped with a night crawler around the Chimney. Shore fishing was slower over the weekend, but limits have been taken on white Power Eggs across from the Dam, orange/red Gulp! Eggs at the Brush Pile, or grasshoppers behind the 2nd Fence Line. Trout plants are occurring on a weekly basis from either Calaveras Trout Farm or the Department of Fish and Game. A Calaveras plant is scheduled for this week. Call: (209) 378-2534

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Mike Van Guilder Jr. of Berserk Baits reported a good top water bite in the mornings, afternoon, and also at night with PopR's or Zara Spooks for spotted bass to 4-pounds. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling said they had a big run on large/medium minnows over the weekend which is a sign of a hot bass bite. Crappie fishing has picked up in Cottonwood Creek and Bagby with small minnows or blue/white jigs. Trout, king salmon, and kokanee fishing continues to be slow. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053.

• LAKE DON PEDRO — Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing went searching for rainbow trout on Monday, and they covered a variety of areas within the lake for 6 rainbows of average size using his Chucker T spoons on a fast troll. He reported that a bass angler was landing trout drop shotting along the steep drop offs. There is a continued strong top water bass bite throughout the day with Super Spooks or the Lucky Craft Gunfish in white or chartreuse/shad in the mornings with the fish close to the banks in the submerged grass before the fish drop to the bottom once the sun hits the water. Drop shotting with the Reaction Innovations Bad Shad Green, Robo Worm's Morning Dawn, or Pro Worm Pro Gold have been effective, in addition to twin-tailed Hula Grubs in colors 208, 221, and 301 on 1/2-ounce jig head. Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734, Danny Layne (209) 586-2383, Bait Barn (209) 874-301.