By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
FISHINLINES
Placeholder Image
New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,154,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 48 percent capacity. Lake elevation dropped almost three feet this week, to 963 feet above sea level, and 125 feet from full capacity. Glory Hole and Tuttletown ramps are open. Water temperature is approximately 79-84 degrees, and slightly stained, with good mud lines. With school back in session in most areas, the lake has been quiet and peaceful during the week.

The trout bite has been slow. Night fishing under a submersible light is an excellent way to catch fish in the summer. The best places to anchor to night fish are near the spillway, the exposed islands between the spillway and Glory Hole Point, the dam, or under the 49 Stevenot Bridge. Drop your submersible light in the water and fish 10-15 feet below the light. For bait, use a worm-threader to thread a nightcrawler onto your line, and put a piece of Power Bait onto your hook, below a small split-shot. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek or Murphy's Creek. Robert Souza caught a 2.2-pound rainbow while trolling 100 feet deep near the dam with a blue/green Needlefish behind flashers.

Kokanee action has been slow. Most successful anglers have been targeting the southernmost part of the lake, 47-61' deep, although it may be time to try fishing deeper. Kokanee seem to have finally moved deeper. Usually, at this time of the year, kokanee are hanging close to the bottom, around 80-100 feet deep. Bottom bouncing is usually very effective in late summer. Bottom-bouncing means dropping your downrigger ball until it hits the bottom, and letting it bounce along as you troll - this creates a lot of movement and commotion, which attracts the fish. Unfortunately, it also creates a lot of lost tackle! At any rate, you should fish close to the bottom, around 80-100 feet deep. The main lake by the dam/spillway is a good place to try. Robert Souza trolled 100 ft. deep near the dam and caught a limit of kokanee. Other good areas to target are the mouths of major creek arms, such as Angels Creek, Coyote Creek and Mormon Creek. Pink or red Apex, pink Hootchies, or Uncle Larry's pink, copper pop, or firetiger spinners have caught almost every fish we've seen in the last few weeks. Tip any lure with shoepeg corn. Use a silver/green, silver/chartreuse, or watermelon dodger - any dodger with some green on it. It is very important to troll slowly (1.2 mph) to catch kokanee.

Bass fishing has been fairly slow, except for smaller fish. During the day, most bass are in 5-25 feet of water on main lake points, near structure, such as trees or brush, as well as near steep rock walls near the dam and upriver. If there is a mud line or shade, there will be bass hiding in it. Dart-headed salt/pepper grubs or drop-shotted 4" shad-colored or crawdad-colored worms or Tiny Brush Hogs are best for catching numbers of fish. Throw a top-water bait such as a spook or Pop-R in the early morning before the sun hits the water, or right at sunset.

The catfish bite is great! We are seeing lots of big cats. If you are in a boat, fish the coves at the south side of the lake. For bank anglers, try Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, or near Tuttletown. Use mackerel, anchovies or sardines, crawlers, chicken liver, or live large minnows. The action is always best at night for catfish, when they move into the shallows to feed. Will Darby of Angels Camp, who landed a 14.2-pond catfish while night fishing off the Tuttletown Boat Ramp while using anchovies for bait, won Glory Hole Sports' Big Fish of the Week Contest this week. Congratulations, Will - come in for your free deli lunch!

Bluegill and pumpkinseeds are very active right now, so tie on a large bobber and a small piece of crawler and go have some fun! Fish tight to structure in the back of brushy coves and cuts. Crappie are showing up occasionally as well. The south side of the lake has been good, and near Tuttletown is another good choice. Best crappie bite has been at night under a submersible light, with minnows or red/white crappie jigs.

Glory Hole Sports, 736-4333.

Lake Don Pedro - Best spots to try are around partially submerged trees, near the marina and rocky points.

Lures and night crawlers seem to be the best bet for bass. Catfish are biting liver, anchovies and sardines. One angler caught a 10-pounder with liver. Troll lures at 50 feet for salmon and 30 feet for trout. Bright-colored Needlefish are the hot lures for trout and salmon.

852-2369, 989-2206.

Tulloch Reservoir - Fish the main part of the lake for the best chance of action.

Don Jason of Oakdale Bait and Tackle said the trout bite is a little slow but should be improving. There are some small crappie near the docks hitting small minnows. The smallmouth bass bite is perking up a bit. It's improving on spinner bait and Senkos. Crawdads, crickets and minnows are good live baits. Jason suggested a top-water lure in the early morning or evening. There aren't any big bass. Catfish are 1-3 pounds.

881-0107, 847-3447.

McClure Reservoir - Fish in Barrett Cove, Horseshoe Bend, Cotton Creek and Temperance Creek for the best luck.

Diana Mello of A-1 Bait and Tackle said the catfish and crappie bites are excellent near the dam. Night crawlers are working for catfish, but minnows are getting both catfish and crappie. Shelby Tanachion of Atwater caught a 3 3/4-pound bass on a Robo green Weenie. Rick Howard of Atwater caught a 21-inch rainbow on crawlers between the bridge and the dam below McSwain.

563-6505, 378-2441

McSwain Reservoir - Try your luck at the brushpile, in front of the campgrounds and marina, and at Gilligan's Island and the handicap dock.

John Kemper from McSwain Marina said after a recent plant by Calaveras, the fish that came out had a 2-pound average. The handicap dock and the brush pile were the spots for bank anglers, and the slot area was the best for trolling. Rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers are mainstays from shore, and flasher/crawler combos work for trolling. There was another Calaveras plant last weekend.

378-2534.