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FISHINLINES
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New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,381,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 57 percent capacity. Lake elevation dropped two feet this week, to 990 feet above sea level, and 98 feet from full capacity. Water temperature is approximately 74-76 degrees, and clear with good mud lines forming.

Rainbow trout is showing up in mixed limits with kokanee, and nice browns are being caught from time to time. Trollers should target the main lake near the spillway/dam and Rose Island. Fish are gradually moving deeper, and are about 40-50 feet deep. Trout are feeding on small shad, so tie on a small shad-imitation lure such as a Cop Car Needlefish or a shad-patterned Apex or Rapala Countdown behind flashers. Bite has been best in the early morning, so plan to hit the lake early. Night fishing under a submersible light is a fun way to catch fish in the summer. The best place to anchor to night fish is near the spillway, the exposed islands between the spillway and Glory Hole Point, or the dam. Drop your submersible light in the water (we have lights available with a 20 foot cord) and fish 10-15 feet below the light, depending on water clarity. 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. The light attracts plankton, which attracts shad, which attracts trout. It takes some time for all that attracting to take place, so plan on slow action for the first couple of hours. If you have been there for two hours and you don't see shad in the water, you may want to relocate. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek.

For some reason, this week we have seen more small kokanees in the 1 to 1 1/2 pound range. We are still getting mixed reports - some anglers report good fishing, while others say the bite is tough. They don't seem to be schooled up yet. Anglers who had the best luck hit the water in the very early morning. You should be on the water with your rods out at sun-up. Once the water temperature warms up a little more, the kokanee will school up in big schools, and limits will be easy. The main lake is the place to be - target the wind-blown side of Rose Island, or in front of the dam. Troll 50-65 feet deep. Red or pink Apex or Father Murphys Bugs are the two top-producing lures. Use a dodger or a Sidekick to add action to your lure. Richard Kowski, Dave Holohan, Brian Burley, John Darroch and Joe Hallett all caught limits this week, and they all agree - early a.m. bite, fish the main lake, use Apex or Kokanee Bugs behind silver dodgers or sidekicks. Be sure you tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in ProCure oil. It is very important to troll slowly (1.2 mph) to catch kokanee. This early in the season, kokanee are very soft-mouthed, and because of this you will tend to get a lot of bites and not too many fish in the boat, since they come off the hook so easily. It will help to get fish into the boat if you use an R & K stinger hook, or a lure with two hooks. This helps get a secure hook-up, and they won't come off so easily.

Bass fishing has been fair, with plenty of smaller fish providing action. Bigger fish are harder to come by. Tom Taylor reports good night fishing. He landed an 8-plus pounder while throwing a black/blue spinnerbait during a nighttime guide trip. He says they also had good luck with Carolina-rigged black sapphire Zoom Baby Brush Hogs. Bass are more shallow at night, and are in 1-20 feet of water. 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. If there is a mud line, there will be bass hiding in it. The south side of the lake has been good. Dart-headed salt/pepper grubs are the No. 1 bass catcher right now. Carolina-rigged Zoom green pumpkin or watermelon Tiny Brush Hogs are also working well. Drop-shotted 4" shad-colored worms are producing fish, too. Throw a top-water bait such as a spook or Pop-R in the early morning. White Speed Traps and white or white/chartreuse spinnerbaits are other good lures to throw. Try chartreuse medium diving (8-12 feet) crankbaits for suspended fish off main lake points.

Catfish are good. If you are in a boat, fish the coves at the south side of the lake. For bank anglers, try Angels Cove 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. If you catch a catfish, be sure to stop by the store and weigh it in - you may win the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest and a free deli lunch!

Perch are really starting to be active, so it's time to take your kids fishing! Crappie are showing up as well. Fish brushy coves and creek arms - anywhere there are trees in the water. The south side of the lake has been good, and near Tuttletown is another good choice. Crappie are liking minnows or red/white crappie jigs, and perch are hitting a small piece of crawler under a bobber. Some anglers report finding crappie deep - around 40 feet, on isolated structure.

Glory Hole Sports, 736-4333.

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

Power Bait and night crawlers are working better for trout in the cooler waters 15-20 feet deep. The kokanee hang out in 60-80 feet and hit wedding ring spinners. Bass fishing is good in coves and points with rubber worms and night crawlers, but topwater lures and spinners are working better. Crappie are hitting medium minnows and white jigs in brushy areas near the marina and in coves. Catfish like night crawlers, anchovies and chicken liver.

Lake Don Pedro, 852-2369 or 989-2206.

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

Trout have moved deep, 40-60 feet, with killer bees in pink and orange working well. The crappie bite is so-so on minnows. Crickets seem to be good for smallmouth. Pro gold is still a proven ticket.

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 bass were hitting like crazy in shallow water with crawdads. Reports show that some of them are still spawning. Trout were hitting at Exchecker shallow off the bank with night crawlers.

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 of McSwain Marina said there was a plant last Tuesday by the Department of Fish and Game. "The last time DFG planted, they put nice fish in, but they won't be as good as the Calaveras plant last week," Kemper said. This past week, Kemper said he weighed at least half a dozen 3-pounders. The brushpile was the best spot with rainbow Power Bait. Trollers are working the slot area with flasher/crawler combos.

378-2534.