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FISHINLINES
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New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,354,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 56 percent capacity. Lake elevation dropped one foot this week, to 987 feet above sea level, and 101 feet from full capacity. Water temperature is approximately 74-77 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 30-60 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. Bite has been best in the early morning, so plan to hit the lake early. 15-year-old Casey Schoenhoven wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest. He caught a 3.2-pound rainbow on a blue/silver Needlefish without dodgers or flashers trolled 30-35 feet deep near the spillway. 10-year-old Naomi Raymond caught a 2.2-pound rainbow while still fishing from a boat with pink Power Bait 40 feet deep near the spillway. 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.

Kokanee action is better, with more limits being caught. Fish are still scattered, so you will have to work for a limit. Try the main lake along the steep banks near the spillway, dam and Rose Island over 120-150 feet of water, 50-70 feet deep. Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing took out client Warren Cooper. He says they had best luck near wind-blown banks with smaller lures and dodgers, and they found bottom bouncing in the early morning around Rose Island effective, with the kokanee moving out to deeper water during the day. Their best kokanee weighed almost 2.3 pounds! We have seen quite a few kokanee over 2 pounds, although we are seeing more small (10") kokanee being caught, too. Other anglers who had luck this week were Rob Randall, Bret Nycum, Casey Schoenhoven and Joe Hallett. Red, pink and firetiger Uncle Larry's Spinners, Apex, Father Murphys Bugs and Killer B's are catching the most fish. Use a dodger or a Sidekick to add action to your lure. Tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in ProCure oil - garlic is working well. It is very important to troll slowly (1.2 mph) to catch kokanee.

Bass fishing has been fair, with plenty of smaller fish providing action. Bigger fish are harder to come by. Night fishing is a good way to see some big-bass action. 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. Be sure to sign up for Glory Hole Sports' third annual "Just For Fun" evening bass tournament on August 7, 2004. We are expecting a good turnout this year. Call or e-mail the store for details.

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. 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 occasionally 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.

Eric Henson at Don Pedro Marina said a lot of anglers came in with 5-to 6 1/2-pound bass caught from the shore with night crawlers. Also, 5-pound catfish were caught in the middle bay with chicken liver in the middle of the afternoon. Kokanee are still running 60-80 feet deep, but in the morning they stay around 50 feet. Trollers catch them using wedding ring spinners. Crappie are hanging out in brushy areas. To the east side of the marina, bank anglers are throwing spinners and catching trout. A 24-inch rainbow was biggest; average is 10-14 inches.

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

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

Crappie are the hot ticket, and minnows are the bait to use - either small or medium. Trout bite is slow. Fish have gone down to 40-50 feet. Smallmouth bass bite has slowed some, but anglers are still getting them to bite 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 bass fishing was good, and crappie fishing is picking up steadily. One and 2-pound crappie have come out of Horseshoe Bend. Trout have gone deeper, try 35-40 feet with a flasher/crawler combo or Needlefish and Kastmasters. Bill Duncan caught two German browns, one 5 3/4 pounds and the other 5 1/2, at Merced Falls.

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 a plant came Thursday, but the fish were pretty small. There were a lot of limits. The handicap dock and the brushpile are the best spots, and bank anglers are throwing rainbow Power Bait and Power Eggs.

378-2534.