Modesto area fish report (2/17/16)

Lake Don Pedro

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported incredibly slow trout action during a recent trip, stating, “The fishing is really tough, as we had a strike back in a shallow cove that didn’t stick, and we landed a smallmouth bass while trolling spoons at a fast pace. I then slowed things down and used blade/crawler combinations for around an hour of so without even a nibble. Some areas of the lake have lots of debris and murky water, and in other places, the water clarity is fairly clear with the water temperatures ranging from 53 to 55 degrees.” Bass fishing remains tops at the lake, and 19 limits out of 25 teams were weighed in during the recent Sonora Bass Anglers tournament. Most fish were taken on jigs at depths from 20 to 30 feet. The majority of fish were landed in the afternoon hours when the water warmed slightly. The lake is full of floating debris ranging from small vegetation to fence post-sized logs, despite the debris barrier in the upper portion of the lake. The lake rose 4.5 feet to 711.25 feet in elevation and 43 percent of capacity. Call: Monte Smith, 209-581-4734; Danny Layne-Fish’n Dan, 209-586-2383; Gary Vella, 209-652-7550; Bait Barn, 209-874-3011.

McClure Reservoir

The North Barrett Cove launch ramp is open, but the lake is still stained the color of red clay from the rapid runoff from previous storms. Maintenance work is being completed on one of the gates at the dam. The lake rose 5 feet in the past week to 653 feet in elevation and 17 percent of capacity. Call: A-1 Bait, 209-563-6505.

McSwain Reservoir

Interest in trout fishing has been spurred by the recent plant of 1,500 pounds from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the banks were lined with fishermen during the President’s Day weekend. The lake remains heavily stained due to water releases from upstream Lake McClure, and the action has been fair with garlic or cheese trout dough bait or nightcrawlers. A 7-pound brown trout was landed on a blue/silver Kastmaster near the campgrounds. The lake is down a few feet as work on the Exchequer Dam at Lake McClure continues. Call: McSwain Marina, 209-378-2534.

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

For the first time this winter at New Melones, trout limits were brought into Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp by bank fishermen. John Liechty reported limits of catchables taken on Kastmasters arrived at the shop from the banks near the Visitor Center. The fish are starting to move into shallow water, and there are trout breaking the surface throughout the day. The best bank areas remain near the Highway 49 Bridge and off the end of Glory Hole Point with nightcrawlers or trout dough bait floated off the bottom with the assistance of a marshmallow or power egg. Trollers are working spoons or minnow-imitation plugs near the surface, and most of the limits by boat are coming out of the main river channel. The main channel is devoid of standing timber, and it’s a safe area in which to troll on the downrigger. Gary Burns of Take It To the Limit Guide Service took out client Tyson Enzweiler for a limit of rainbows trolling Cop Car Needlefish at a depth of 10 feet and a speed from 2.8 to 3.2 mph above the Highway 49 Bridge. Liechty operates Xperience Bass Fishing, and he took out client Peter Haskins of Escalon on a search for a double-digit largemouth bass. Throwing swimbaits throughout the day, Haskins got his wish with one bite producing a personal-best 11.02-pounder that was released quickly. Liechty and Glory Hole Sporting Goods recommend the release of all largemouth bass and large spotted bass to keep the lake’s population stable. Said Liechty, “The majority of fish are still at depths from 35 to 45 feet, but there are some in the 15- to 25-foot range. Plastic worms on the Texas-rig are working near wood with heavier weights in deeper water and weightless in the shallows. Senkos, Roboworms or Zoom Trick Worms are working, particularly in greens and browns. It feels like fishing season, and there is the opportunity for bass in the shallows.” Catfishing remains slow, but a few quality crappie to 2.9 pounds have been landed at the lake near submerged trees or rock. Trollers have even located crappie while targeting rainbow trout near the dam. The lake continues to rise, up 45.5 feet to 841.04 feet in elevation and 18 percent of capacity within the past week. Downstream Lake Tulloch is scheduled for trout plants this week. Call: Glory Hole Sports, 209-736-4333; Monte Smith, 209-581-4734; Danny Layne-Fish’n Dan, 209-586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing, 209-599-2023.

Delta/Stockton

Sturgeon remain the top species in the Delta, and the action has ranged from spectacular to slow, depending upon the location and tides. Striped bass are starting to either make their move into the Delta to spawn or are responding to the clearing of the river by showing up at both ends of the Sacramento River Delta. In the San Joaquin River, the water is starting to clear in certain locations, and the largemouth bass are responding in kind. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, reported, “There is a small window for topwater lures on specific tides and locations, but the window is very short. We have been scoring with the ima Little Stick in shad patterns such as bone, white or chrome, and all of these fish have been close to the bank. The key is to pitch the worm along the bank and work it back with a slow presentation. The Berkley 10-inch Power Worm in blacks or blue on a Texas-rig is another good option, and we have landed largemouths in the 6- to 7-pound range pitching this up tight to the bank. Dan Mathisen of Dan’s Delta Outdoors said, “Sturgeon fishing is still good, and the black bass bite is starting to erupt. The largemouth bass bite is improving, and a 15-pounder was landed on a white spinnerbait on Wednesday afternoon. Reaction baits such as Alabama rigs or swimbaits are working for the big largemouth bass.” Jim Pickens of the Fishermen’s Friend in Lodi reported, “If you can get away from the dirty water, you can get some good action for largemouth bass with plastics on the drop-shot, Senkos, or jerkbaits are working in clean water. In the stained water, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and jigs do better, and King Island, Mildred Island and Franks Tract are decent areas, specifically if you can get a ripple on the water.” Steve Santucci of Steve Santucci’s Fly Fishing Guide Service said, “Delta fishing is heating up. We are catching good numbers of fish with a few nice ones mixed with most of the fish taken on a sparse unweighted three-inch fly. The fish seem to want a small offering. This could change tomorrow. The water is still in the 52- to 55-degree range and slightly off color.” Call: Randy Pringle, 209-543-6260; Captain Stan Koenigsberger – Quetzal Adventures, 925-570-5303; Intimidator Sport Fishing, 916-806-3030.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Modesto area fish report (2/17/16)."