Fish report for June 1, 2016

Lake Don Pedro

Trout fishing at Don Pedro remains fair at best with a few quality rainbows available on blade/’crawler combinations, but the big story of the week was the fire that consumed the Visitor’s Center and another 6.3 surrounding acres last Wednesday night, May 25. The loss of the historic building, featuring a round shape and peaked roof, will not affect recreation at the lake since all boat ramps, marinas and campgrounds are open, and the Turlock Irrigation District will be bringing in an educational trailer until a more permanent visitor center is built. The former Visitor’s Center displayed memorabilia from the Gold Rush and history from the early mining days of the area. The Visitor’s Center’s normal phone line – 209-852-2396 – remains operational. Gary Vella of Vella’s Fishing Experience reported an overall slow trout bite on a recent trip, but he was able to coax four quality rainbows to the net, stating, “I could only get them to go on blade/’crawler combinations at depths from 30 to 40 feet.” There is an early morning topwater bite for bass before working the bottom for post-spawn fish on plastics or jigs. All three launch ramps are open with the lake at 75 percent of capacity and 787.02 feet in elevation. 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 lake rose slightly to 57 percent of capacity, and bass action continues to dominate the lake. There were five gold-tagged trout released into the lake, and anyone who lands one of these rainbows by Dec. 31 will receive $250. Topwater lures are best for bass in the early mornings before working the bottom with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot or dart head. The McClure Point and Barrett Cove South launch ramps are open with the Barrett Cove North ramp under construction. The Bagby and Horseshoe Bend ramps remain closed and most likely be closed for the rest of the season. Call: A-1 Bait, 209-563-6505.

McSwain Reservoir

A trout plant of 1,750 pounds was released before Memorial Day weekend, and the bank action came alive in response. The Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks and Marina are the top bank locations with trout dough bait, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters. Five rainbows were tagged with gold tags, and anglers who catch one could receive $250. Call: McSwain Marina, 209-378-2534.

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

The inconsistent weather pattern over the past few weeks has resulted in slower action for trout and kokanee at New Melones, but the hot temperatures arriving Memorial Day weekend should bring out the summer pattern with the kokanee finding a comfort zone in deep water. Gary Vella of Vella’s Fishing Adventures found quality rainbows but not many with two trips resulting in a high of four trout within the past week. He said, “And we could only get them on nightcrawlers. I had a couple of rods down for kokanee, but we didn’t get a touch.” Gary Burns of Take it to the Limit Guide Service confirmed the slow action at the start of the week, but he took a solo trip to prepare for clients, resulting in three rainbows and a kokanee with a total weight of 6 pounds, 4 ounces at depths from 15 to 25 feet. He said, “Believe it or not, I also saw plenty of fish in the 10-foot range. Pink and blue hoochies or gold spinners with pink and blue beads with pink blades topped off with garlic corn were the best setups.” Bass fishing continues to be solid with John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service switching to sold plastics on the bottom and mid-column after finding slow action on topwater lures in the early morning. He said, “We were faced with some post-front conditions, but the bite ended up being really good. We ended up with spotted bass at 4 and 5 pounds using bluegill-patterned worms near structure, and we ended up with over 20 fish during a morning half-day trip.” Catfishing and crappie remain very good. The lake is starting to release water again, and it dropped to 881.94 feet in elevation and 26 percent of capacity after receding the past few weeks. Glory Hole remains the only launch available on the lake with two lanes and a courtesy dock. 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

Sacramento River-Delta fishermen are concentrating on American shad in the upper stretches of the Delta from Clarksburg to Freeport. There are still stripers to be found, but they are moving quickly from the Feather and Sacramento Rivers to San Francisco Bay. Sturgeon fishermen are mostly absent, but the diamondbacks are still in lower Suisun Bay. Alan Fong of the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Sacramento said, “Shad fishing is off the hook from Freeport north, and there are boats who are landing over 100 fish per trip using 1-inch red shad grubs. We have been selling out of our supply of 10,000 grubs per week. It has just been unbelievable.” Johnny Tran of New Romeo’s Bait and Tackle in Freeport confirmed the excellent shad bite with bank fishermen tossing out curly-tailed grubs on a 1-ounce egg sinker while boaters are using a drop-shot rig with shad grubs or darts. Stripers are still around, and there are a few fish to 15 pounds landed on sardines or pile worms coated with garlic spray. James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service confirmed the slowdown on the striper front, and it took five dozen minnows to put together four limits of stripers on a trip at the beginning of the week. Sturgeon fishermen have gone on hiatus, and Pam Hayes at Benicia Bait said, “It is hard to judge the sturgeon bite here since there are so few anglers trying for the diamondbacks, but there were three sturgeon hooked under the Benicia/Martinez Bridge this week – a legal, an oversized and one that broke off.” In the San Joaquin Delta, the wind keeps blowing, but the arrival of hot weather Memorial Day weekend will continue to improve the largemouth bass bite. Striper fishing has slowed, but there are still stripers to be taken in the main San Joaquin Delta with swimbaits or spoons. Fly fishermen will be arriving on the Delta out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton on June 3 and 4 with the Bass N’ Fly sponsored by Costa Del Mar. Dan Mathisen of Dan’s Delta Outdoors in Oakley said, “Most largemouth anglers are sticking with three-quarter-ounce jigs or Tail Slapper swimbaits paired with a Fat Sack swim jigs, and the winds and overcast conditions in the past week brought out the spinnerbait and crankbait bite with Fat Sack Tackle’s blades or Strike King Squarebills along ledges with sparse tule flats. Frank’s Tract is proving a consistent but tougher than normal bite with Sweet Beavers in Hematoma on overcast days along with Chartreuse Sixth Sense baits or DDO Custom Craws. The largemouth bass bite remains good for those willing to adjust to the conditions, and a 10-pounder was taken on a wacky-rigged Senko with the Tsuyoi wacky hook this week. The best bass fishing is taking place in the central Delta near Frank’s Tract and Sandmound Slough. Vibrating jigs or swim jigs are the bait of choice for most professionals, and the everyday guys are using Senkos and still running into some large fish. The Wild West Trail will be bringing over 100 anglers to Big Break Marina the weekend after Memorial Day Weekend.” H and R Bait in Stockton confirmed the slowdown in the striper action in the south Delta, and fresh shad has been difficult to obtain. They received 10 pounds Saturday, and it was gone within 10 minutes. Call: Randy Pringle, 209-543-6260; Intimidator Sport Fishing, 916-806-3030; Captain Steve Mitchell – Hook’d Up Sport Fishing, 707-655-6736.

San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay

The O’Neill Forebay has been the top location for Central Valley striper fishermen with the winds plaguing boaters on the main San Luis Reservoir. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, “The Highway 33 side of the lake is picking up with a number of undersized fish necessary to put in a limit of keepers, and jumbo minnows and jumbo blood worms are the top baits. Everyone wants the jumbo blood worms, as pile worms have only been working so-so. Casters are throwing flukes or swimbaits with an underspin, and this is best in the early morning or late afternoon before switching to bait around 10 a.m. when the sun gets hot.” Meng Xyong of the Fishaholics out of Fresno and Nick Xjool of Speed Lures Tackle found great action on a recent trip, leading Xyong to state, “It was on fire! My wrist couldn’t keep up with the action. They were on the jerkbaits most of the day with periods of down time. The schools kept moving around so once you find them, catching multiple fish was easy. SpeedLures and DuoRealis 120 were the lures of choice. The best times were early morning and mid-day, and most fish were just under 18 inches to just over 19 inches.” Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said the big lake was falling fast, causing the fish to suspend as well as move around a lot. “I fished with Fresno State Athletic Director Jim Bartko and his son A.J. for several nice fat fish going 25 inches, losing another four fish as well,” George said. “The mid-day bite is tough in the heat, but the morning bite was decent after the wind settled down. Jim had to leave at noon, so I continued fishing and picked up a nice 28 1/2-inch, 10-pounder a few hours later. The water is going down a good foot or more a day, so it’s going to be tough to get any consistency now.” In the main lake, the wind has been a limiting factor, but during the times when boats can make it out, drifting live minnows near the mouth of Portuguese Cove has been the best bet. The main lake continues to recede quickly, and it’s currently at 34 percent of capacity. Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle, 408-463-0711; Roger George of rogergeorgeguideservice.com, 559-905-2954.

Half Moon Bay

Salmon action has been sporadic out of the Pillar Point harbor, but there have been some solid days north of the harbor off Pillar Point. The Riptide out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing put in a fish per rod for six anglers earlier in the week, but the action slowed to a solo salmon Saturday. Rockfishing has been best for bottom dwellers, and Second Captain Michael Cabanas on the Huli Cat took crab/rockfish combination trips Saturday and Sunday with lings to 13 pounds landed by Juwen Wang of Sunnyvale along with bottom-dwelling rockfish and crab. Shrimp flies tipped with squid have been the best setup. Out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, the Queen of Hearts is taking rockfish trips for a few lings and near limits of rockfish with eight anglers Saturday fishing south of the harbor. Once again, the school fish have been scarce. Further north in Pacifica, striped bass action has heated up from the Pacifica Pier and along the beaches. Rob Chaney of the Rusty Hook in Pacifica said, “There were 11 stripers between 12 and 15 pounds landed off of the pier within the past week, and most pier fishermen are using blood worms or pile worms while beach anglers are tossing sand crabs or lures.” Surf perch are also steady, but crabbing has slowed. Crab season ends June 30. Call: Happy Hooker, 510-223-5388; Captain Roger Thomas, Salty Lady, 415-760-9362; Emeryville Sport Fishing, 510-654-6040.

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’ Landing in Monterey reported limits of rockfish are possible, but you have to work for them since the school fish aren’t biting. The Check Mate went south to the Twin Rocks area for 23 limits of bottom fish along with 35 ling cod, and they jigged up live squid in the morning for the larger rockfish and lings. The Caroline stayed local for 37 lings for 20 anglers along with three rockfish per fishermen. The krill is thick on the Santa Cruz side of the canyon, and there are 30 to 40 blue whales in the bay in addition to gobs of humpbacks feeding on the krill. Stripers are plentiful on the beaches on the Santa Cruz side of the bay but less abundant on the Monterey side. They have room throughout the week with the exception of this coming Saturday, June 4. Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing said, “Fishing for king salmon takes top billing as usual.” While not “on fire,” salmon fishing has at least been consistent across the bay, with fish scattered from Soldier’s Club near Monterey to the Davenport area north of Santa Cruz. Bayside Marine’s Todd Fraser notes salmon are following the bait, saying, “Sardines and mackerel have moved into the shallow water. There are huge schools in 150 feet of water to the beach. There is a good chance of trolling up some salmon in the shallow water where the bait is.” Fraser also fielded an increasing number of reports this week of halibut caught near Lighthouse Point, the Mile Buoy and near the Pajaro Pipeline. The Santa Cruz Harbor’s new dredge will be arriving in a couple weeks. Construction of the dredge will take place at the harbor launch ramp, which will be closed for two weeks as a result. The Port District anticipates the arrival of its new dredge June 13. Staging and assembly of the new dredge will take place in the launch ramp area. Adjoining parking areas also will be closed for the duration of the build. As a result of the launch ramp closure, the Port District will be offering a “Dredge Delivery” visitor berthing special to all trailerable vessels. For $150, berth your vessel on an end-tie for the duration of the closure, which is expected to last 10 days. If the closure is extended, your berthing is extended, too, for no additional cost. Launch fee and parking are included. Call 831-475-6161 or email scpd@santacruzharbor.org. Call: Chris’ Landing, 831-375-5951; Bayside Marine, 831-475-2173.

San Francisco Bay

The salmon bite slowed during the start of the Memorial Day weekend with the Salty Lady out of Sausalito scoring a single salmon to 14 pounds for nine anglers Friday. They went whale watching over the weekend but were back on the water trolling on Memorial Day for two salmon to 14 pounds before working the rocks for 14 limits of rockfish and nine ling cod to 12 pounds. The Sundance out of Emeryville Sport Fishing put in a fish per rod for six anglers Saturday, so they found a bit better action. Inside the bay, the rockpiles were loaded with striped bass, but the infusion of party boats working the rocks Sunday put the fish off the bite. Combined with the rough weather in the bay, the action slowed for stripers on most party boats Sunday. There were six party boats working one rock in the central bay, and the stripers scattered from all of the pressure. Captain Jim Smith of the Happy Hooker was able to put in 15 limits of stripers and two halibut Sunday for a small charter and said, “We picked up the stripers in a number of locations since everyone piled up on the rocks. The key to fishing the rocks is being there first at the right tide, and if you missed your window, it is not happening.” Using his extensive knowledge of the bay, Smith was able to pick here and there for limits of bass. Saturday’s trip resulted in 37 stripers and five halibut, and they were able to fish the rockpiles without the pressure. Son Chris Smith on the Captain Hook found limits of ling cod Saturday along with a halibut in the big tides before putting in seven halibut and a striped bass, releasing more than 60 shaker halibut Sunday. This confirms the consistent reports of the loads of shaker halibut in the bay. The New Huck Finn out of Emeryville Sport Fishing stayed in the bay Sunday for six halibut and four striped bass for their 29 anglers. Shark fishing has been incredible in the bay, and there are some six packs focusing on seven-gill and leopard sharks. Captain Anthony Langes of Help-U-Fish out of Vallejo has been putting the hurt on both species, including soupfin and cow sharks. He’s working the north bay exclusively for sharks at the present time.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Fish report for June 1, 2016."