Fishing Report (10/14/09)

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VALLEY

• NEW MELONES — Bank anglers looking for trout are not having much luck other than way upriver still-fishing, Melanie Lewis said. Trolling has been fair with shad-patterned lures such as Needlefish or Excel lures, and smaller Rapala Countdowns. Using a small grub like Sep's trolling grubs,as a trailer behind your lure has been effective. Trollers are catching fish 30-50 feet deep, both in the main lake, and upriver. For browns, troll Rapala Countdowns or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or roll shad, 50-60 feet deep (in the same areas, but closer to structure). Night fishing for trout under a submersible light has been good, but it is getting pretty cold. Most anglers are catching limits of 2- to 3-pounders. Sink your light 20 feet and fish at 30-50 feet with a crawler or crawler/Power Bait combo. Lots of small bass but bigger fish are harder to find. Bass are chasing the shad both in the coves and out over deeper water. The shad boils are where the bass are. When the sun is up, throw shad-colored split-shot or drop-shot rigged 4-inch worms, rip-baits, or Senkos. There is a still a good top-water bite going on at dawn and dusk. Zara Spooks, buzz baits, or Pop-Rs are working. Catfishing still good with a few big fish being weighed in.

• TULLOCH RESERVOIR — Big fall rainbow trout are being caught, says Danny Layne. Water level is stable, surface temp is at 63 degrees and there is plenty of bait (thread fin shad) making for some very good action. Most productive areas are Green Spring arm, mouth of Black Creek and off the south shore ramp. Bows are scattered from the surface to 30 feet and are falling for Slim Willies with nightcrawlers, Slim Fin, Ex-Cel or Triple Teasers lures in shad/silver colors or rolling shad or Matrix Paddle Tails. Rainbows from 1 to 5 pounds.

Call: 736-4333, Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne 586 2383, Sierra Sport Fishing 599-2023.

• SAN LUIS RESERVOIR / O'NEILL FOREBAY — Ly Tu says the fishing in the big lake was very good for boiling stripers, using topwater lures, rattletraps or minnows. But the boils are short lived, so quickly following the fish as they come up is key. One 36-inch fish was caught off Dinosaur Point. The Forebay bite has been good on grass shrimp for 22- to 24-inch fish. Catfish at hitting bait at check 12. Brett Phillips of Fresno fished the big lake boils, and used Rattletraps for five fish in the 24-inch range. He warned anglers that vehicles are getting stuck in the mud when trying to launch from the basalt ramp, which has extremely low water. If you don't have 4-wheel drive, don't try it. There's 394,000 acre feet of storage in the lake, which is falling about a half 4 or 5 inches a day. Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711;

• McSWAIN RESERVOIR — Trout fishing has been very good for limits from the bank and by trolling. Wedding rings behind chrome flashers has been a favorite for trollers. Morning has been the best time to get quick limits, Diana Mello at A-1 Bait in Waterford said. The Trout Fishing Derby at McSwain is this weekend, with over 50 tagged fish and one worth $3,000. Entry fees are $10 or $25 for a family. Call: 378-2534

• McCLURE RESERVOIR — Manny Basi said the bite has been very good for nice sized spots taking Rico's in Hollow Shad color, the Gunfish topwater bait, Bad Shad green dropshotted plastics and on brown jigs. Fish at 10 to 35 feet along the shoreline. Trout action is slow with most anglers going to McSwain. Catfish on a fair bite and taking crawdads. Call: A-1 Bait 563-6505, Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222, Bub Tosh 404-0053.