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FISHINLINES
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New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,299,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 51 percent capacity. Lake elevation dropped four feet this week, to 974 feet above sea level, and 114 feet from full capacity. Angels Boat Ramp is out of the water now, but Glory Hole and Tuttletown ramps are in good shape. Water temperature is approximately 77-81 degrees, and clear.

Rainbow trout is showing up in mixed limits with kokanee. Trollers should target the main lake near the spillway/dam and Rose Island. Fish are gradually moving deeper, and are about 45-60 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. Once again, the adults have been out-fished by the younger set this week. Fifteen-year-old Kevin Woodhouse of Murphys wins Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest. Kevin trolled a pink Apex behind a green dodger 65 feet deep by the dam to catch two nice rainbows. His biggest was 2.6 pounds. Congratulations, Kevin! Come in for your free deli lunch! 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. Chris and Jordan Poe, Rob Smoot and Tim Jetton all had a great time night fishing. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek.

For the kokanee bite, what a difference a week makes! Bite is red-hot, with easy limits coming to those who hit the lake in the early morning. Fish have moved deeper, and are at 40-65 feet deep in the main lake near the spillway, dam and Rose Island. Use pink or red lures such as Apex or Hootchies, or spinners such as Wedding Rings or Uncle Larry's, all tipped with scented shoepeg corn. Use a silver/green, silver/chartreuse, or silver/blue dodger. It is very important to troll slowly (1.2 mph) to catch kokanee. Anglers who have caught limits this week include Bill Shanley, Joe Hallett, Stan Blanchard, Scott Heliotes, Jim Franco, John Darroch, Sam Vassey, Mike McLaughlin, Guide Warren Worthington, Rob Randall, Kyle Hunt, Frank Souza, and Bob, Elaine and Jim (clients of Fishin' Dan's Guide Service).

Bass fishing has been fair, with plenty of 2-pounders being caught, as well as the occasional lunker. Night fishing is a good way to see some big-bass action. Bass are shallower at night, and are in 1-20 feet of water. Use dark (blue or black) lures such as a spinnerbait. 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 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. White Speed Traps and white or white/chartreuse spinnerbaits are other good lures to throw. It's time to sign up for Glory Hole Sports' third annual "Just For Fun" evening bass tournament on August 7, 2004. Remember - if you sign up early, you will get free raffle tickets. We are expecting a good turnout this year. Call or e-mail the store for details. Payback is great, and the tournament raises money for the Florida-strain bass plant on Melones.

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, 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.

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.

Laura Johnson at Don Pedro Marina said trout are at 45 feet, and catfish are hitting anchovies and minnows. Bass are biting mainly chartreuse lures and roostertails. Crappie have been hitting small nightcrawlers. Rogers Creek has been a hot spot. Lake Don Pedro, 852-2369 or 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 has improved. Anglers are trolling frozen shad at 25-50 feet and catching limits, including one who limited up to 5 pounds two days in a row. The crappie bite is good with small to medium minnows. The bass bite is tough, but the best chance is either very early or very late. Smallmouth bass are hitting minnows, crickets and crawdads.

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 lake is producing 1-to-5 pound spotted bass, but the action slowed a lot over the weekend. Topwater baits, crawdads and minnows are working. The evening bite seems hottest on Aaron's Magic rubber worms. Bass are hanging around rocky main lake points at 25 feet. Night fishing between McClure Point and Barrett Cove has been favorable. Minnow sales are down, but nightcrawler sales are up.

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 the planters put in by Calaveras a week ago averaged 2 pounds. Another Calaveras plant was expected soon. The best place from the shore was the handicap dock. Bank anglers are getting lucky there with rainbow PowerBait and nightcrawlers. Trollers are using flasher/crawler combos and firetiger Rapalas in the slot area.

378-2534.