Fish Report (9/30/09)

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NEW MELONES RESERVOIR -- Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service reported fine action for large rainbow trout to 3 pounds trolling the channel from Shipwreck Island to the dam and back or in the deep water from Bear Cove to the mouth of Peoria Cove at depths from 40 to 60 feet. There are large schools of threadfin shad in the south part of the lake, and shad-patterned spoons, ExCels, Vance's Slim Fins, Triple Teasers, Wiggle Hootchies, Needlefish or rolled shad are all working. For browns, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods advised trolling Rapala Countdowns or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or rolling shad near structure at depths from 50 to 60 feet deep. Night fishing for trout under a submersible light continues to be solid, with the light at depths of 20 feet and crawlers or crawler/Power Bait combinations 10 to 20 feet. No change in the bass bite, which is rated fair to slow by Lewis with a good topwater bite going on at dawn and dusk with Zara Spooks, buzz baits, or Pop-Rs. With the sun up, crawdad or shad-colored Carolina-rigged 6-inch worms, rip-baits, spinnerbaits, Zoom Baby Brush Hogs, or Senkos are working along the mud lines. Catfishing is good with anchovies, night crawlers or mackerel from the banks. Crappie and bluegill action is slow. 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 there are loads of undersized stripers in the forebay with the live freshwater or saltwater grass shrimp. Local anglers either purchase their bait or catch the freshwater shrimp in the grass. Live mudsuckers are also working. There is a topwater bite with Ricos or PopR's in the morning or evening. The grass in the forebay will die off with the cooler water temperatures, and the pumping of water in and out of the Forebay causes the grass to ly down. In the big lake, anchovy fillets are still working for stripers in the 18- to 24-inch range at depths from 60 to 80 feet near the trash racks. Call: Wind conditions (800) 805-4805; Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711

McSWAIN RESERVOIR -- Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported limit fishing at the brush pile or handicapped docks with Kastmasters in split chrome, corn yellow or chartreuse Power Bait combined with a white marshmallow or Power Egg. Trollers have been picking up early-morning limits with green Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger from Gilligan's Island to the dam to 30 feet. There will be several trout plants in the next couple of weeks in preparation for the big Merced Irrigation Trout Derby on October 17/18th. Call: 378-2534

McCLURE RESERVOIR -- Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported a great bass bite with shad-patterned plastics or brown/purple Bass Patrol jigs. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said Cottonwood Creek has been the top location with heavy concentration of threadfin shad. The shad are schooling, and the bass are pushing up the baitfish. He found great fishing Sunday with small PopR's for spots to 2 pounds. Drop shotting with a ProGold 300 red flake 4LEE is also a good choice, as the leech pattern approximates the size and color of the shad. Live crawdads smeared with Smelly Jelly or minnows are also working near the launch ramp at Barrett's Cove or McClure Point. Trout fishing has been slow, but one boat put in two mixed limits of king salmon and trout at depths to 100 feet on shad-patterned ExCels near the dam. Under lights at the houseboats is producing a few fish. The lake dropped 2021 acre-feet this week. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505, Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222, Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053.