Fish Report

last updated: August 20, 2008 05:14:04 AM

LAKE CAMANCHE

Some very nice trout action last week. Randy McCutcheon and Tim O'Connor of Fremont caught two fine limits Sunday drifting with Power Bait in their boat near the dam and buoy line, fishing about 40 feet deep. They had several trout 17-18 inches long, and had their limits by 8:30 a.m. Pardee has been releasing water to Camanche during the week, and that's drawing some trout to that area. Dike 3 continues to produce trout for anglers who anchor in 40-45 feet of water and fish Power Bait or Power eggs off the bottom. ... Bass bite still strong. ... Big fish of the week was a 26-pound catfish caught on a whole anchovy by Cheryl Boring, with assistance (net) by Jody Way -- both are from Camanche. The fish was 36 inches long and 24 inches around the belly. They were fishing in the upper lake area, in rocky areas 10-15 feet deep. (Northshore Store 763-5166, Southshore Store 763-5915).

DELTA

Sturgeon activity has been slow with little interest from anglers despite good morning outgoing tides. There have been large numbers of fish marked from Port Costa to Ozol Pier in upper Suisun Bay. Bat rays and the occasional striper continue to be taken off the Benicia shoreline. Stripers starting to show signs of life in Pittsburg area with live jumbo minnows. Mark Wilson of Mark Wilson Sport Fishing put Rodney Kiehm and grandson Rodney on to 18 stripers to 20 pounds trolling shallow and deep running lures Monday in Sacramento River. They located three separate schools of fish in area. Central Delta bait shops starting to offer fresh shad, but supply is inconsistent. (Jolly Jay's Guide Service 478-6645; Randy Pringle 543-6260; Kevin Yost, Lucky Strike Fishing 707-301-8050).

LAKE DON PEDRO

Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said live crawdads or minnows fished close to shore in 10-15 feet of water have been the top producers. The bite happens early or late with a lull mid-day. The 4-inch double-tailed Hula Grub color on half- or three-eighths jig head is still working as well as Baby Brush Hawgs in watermelon/red or Water Candy Red. The BuzzJets top water lure is the best surface bait. No kokanee or trout reports with area kokanee anglers heading to New Melones and trout fishermen hitting the high country lakes. (Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan 586-2383, Bait Barn 874-3011).

McCLURE RESERVOIR

Diana Mello of A-I Bait in Snelling reported fair bass fishing with the lake dropping quickly. There is a decent top water bite in the mornings and evenings with the fish moving into deeper water during the day. Purple/brown jigs or Camo Brush Hawgs have been the most consistent, also live crawdads or minnows at 30-35 feet deep. Best locations Barretts Cove, Piney Creek and near rockpiles close to the dam. Trout fishing has been fair at 35 feet deep from Barretts to Horseshoe Bend and also at the first Buoy Line to the dam with Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler behind a dodger. Crappie fishing excellent at night at depths of 45 feet in the trees or rockpiles near the houseboats with small minnows or minijigs. Trout holding at 30 feet in the same areas and hitting medium minnows. Catfish to 14 pounds are biting anchovies or cut baits in 12-15 feet of water near muddy, sloping banks with best fishing in the mornings or evenings. No kokanee reports. Lake dropped 2,013 acre-feet to 34 percent capacity. (A-1 Bait 563-6505, Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222, Bub Tosh 404-0053).

McSWAIN RESERVOIR

Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported the water fluctuation to generate electricity in the middle of the day affects the trout bite with best action in the early mornings or evenings for trollers on the normal pattern with small Apex lures, blue/chrome Kastmasters or blade/'crawler combinations. Bank fishing has slowed with the hot weather, with a few fish landed off the brush pile or handicapped docks with rainbow Power Bait. (378-2534).

• Comments
• Add Comment
• Disclaimer