New Melones Reservoir - Glory Hole Sports sixth annual Fishing Seminar was a huge success! Approximately 450 people attended the seminar on Saturday, and about 500 trips were taken during the on-the-water lessons for bass and downrigger operation on Sunday (many people went on both trips). People came from all over Northern California to attend, some from as far as 500 miles! Everyone learned a lot, and had a lot of fun. Thank you to everyone who attended, and to everyone who helped us make it happen - a big thank you to all of the wonderful, knowledgeable guides and the bass club members who gave the on-the-water lessons, and all of our friends who pitched in to set up, serve food, and tear down.
New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,497,000 acre-feet of water. This is up slightly compared to the 1,425,000 acre-feet that it held at this time last year. Lake is at 62 percent capacity. Lake elevation held steady this week, and is currently at 1003 feet above sea level, and 85 feet from full capacity. Water temperature has cooled considerably, and is approximately 61 degrees, and stained. There is a lot of debris in the water so use caution.
Trout fishing continues to be slow. Bank anglers haven't been having much luck, since trout have moved out to deeper, cooler water. Trollers are having luck in the spillway/dam area as well as upriver. Trollers seem to be having the most luck with small pearl white lures such as a Needlefish, Apex or Sockeye Slammers, trolled behind flashers. Bite has been best in the early mornings. Fish are moving deeper, so fish about 30-50 feet deep. Try varying your trolling speed and doing figure eights while trolling. This will cause your lure to rise and fall, and slow down and speed up. This time of year, doing this will sometimes trigger a strike when nothing else will! Joe Hallett had some luck this week. He caught a 2.8-pound rainbow while trolling in the main lake about 12 to 25 feet deep. Thirteen-year-old Robyn Raker caught a nice 2.3-pound rainbow while surface-trolling a crawler behind a copper flasher near the dam. Eight-year-old Reid Hillemeyer caught a nice trout while trolling a shad in the main lake. Richard Kowski caught three rainbows and a nice kokanee while trolling a crawler/spinner combo behind a chrome dodger near the dam. Many of the people who went out for downrigger lessons caught fish. Dave McGarvey caught a nice rainbow while trolling a white Sockeye Slammer behind flashers near the Highway 49 bridge.
Kokanee haven't turned on yet, but we've seen a few in the 14"-15" range. Use Uncle Larry's spinners in firetiger or Cop Car, or a small lure such as a Kokanee Bug or Sockeye Slammer. Tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in ProCure Kokanee Special or anise scent. Be sure to use a dodger, and troll very slowly. Best kokanee action has been in the main lake near the dam/Rose Island, 30-50 feet deep. Joe Hallett and Richard Kowski both brought in big kokanee this week, and there were a couple caught during the downrigger lessons.
Bass fishing has been great, but a little slower than last week. The bass were cooperative during the on-the-water lessons, and most anglers got to catch at least one fish. Jill Cather was taking a lesson from Tony Serrano when she caught a big 8-pound largemouth! She was using a 4" smoke Senko, which seems to be the number one bait right now. Rig a 4" or 6" green pumpkin, watermelon or smoke Yamamoto Senko with a 3/0 or 4/0 wide-gap hook, and no weight. White, white/chartreuse or shad-patterned spinnerbaits are also catching fish right now. The water temperature has dropped considerably, which seemed to slow down the spawning action a bit. Look for flats near cuts and creek arms that have structure at different depths. We want to remind you - it is vitally important to practice catch and release during the spawn, so that we can continue to have a healthy fishery in the future.
Catfish are warming up with the water. Glory Hole Point or Angels Cove, near Tuttletown or under the 49 Bridge are all good places for bank anglers to fish for cats. Use mackerel, anchovies or sardines, crawlers, chicken liver, or live large minnows.
We are seeing some crappie action! Fish brushy coves and creek arms, near structure adjacent to rocky spawning areas. The south side of the lake has been good. Fish 10-20 feet deep near structure with minnows or red/white or red/chartreuse crappie jigs. Bill Townsend caught some nice crappie on minnows on the south side of the lake, and Mitch Ramsey brought in a 2.3-pounder that he caught near Tuttletown.
Glory Hole Sports, 736-4333.
Lake Don Pedro - Fish around partially submerged trees, near the marina and rocky points.
The bass is solid with spinner bait and four-inch lizards around Schoolhouse Point or Middle Bay. Trout have been hitting about 15 feet deep with Cripplures, Needlefish or Power Bait. And crappie have been hitting small minnows or mini jigs. Trout are up to two pounds. Crappie are reaching 12 to 13 inches long, and bass are averaging two pounds and up.
Lake Don Pedro, 852-2369 or 989-2206.
Tulloch Reservoir - Fish the main part of the lake for the best chance of action.
The bass bite is solid and the trout bite has slowed. Fish the weeds back in the creek arms, in either Black Creek or Green Springs with plastics in watermelon or pumpkin colors for smallmouth bass. A few anglers reported a good bass bite at the rock walls by the bridge.
881-0107, 847-3447.
McClure Reservoir - Fish in Barrett Cove, Horseshoe Bend, Cotton Creek and Temperance Creek for the best luck.
Live bait, crank bait, rubber worms and crawdads and minnows are working. Recent catches have included a 16-inch bass and a 10-inch bass, both on minnows.
Best bet is out almost to the bridge. The bite seems to be holding up all day.
563-6505, 378-2441
McSwain Reservoir - Try your luck at the brushpile, in front of the campgrounds and marina, Gilligan's Island and the handicap dock.
The brushpile seems to be the most popular spot for bank anglers right now with Rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers. They're fishing at the handicap dock also. Some fish are up to four pounds, but most are in the pound to pound-and-a-half range. Trollers are going from Gilligan's Island to the first fenceline with flashers and crawlers.
378-2534.
New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,497,000 acre-feet of water. This is up slightly compared to the 1,425,000 acre-feet that it held at this time last year. Lake is at 62 percent capacity. Lake elevation held steady this week, and is currently at 1003 feet above sea level, and 85 feet from full capacity. Water temperature has cooled considerably, and is approximately 61 degrees, and stained. There is a lot of debris in the water so use caution.
Trout fishing continues to be slow. Bank anglers haven't been having much luck, since trout have moved out to deeper, cooler water. Trollers are having luck in the spillway/dam area as well as upriver. Trollers seem to be having the most luck with small pearl white lures such as a Needlefish, Apex or Sockeye Slammers, trolled behind flashers. Bite has been best in the early mornings. Fish are moving deeper, so fish about 30-50 feet deep. Try varying your trolling speed and doing figure eights while trolling. This will cause your lure to rise and fall, and slow down and speed up. This time of year, doing this will sometimes trigger a strike when nothing else will! Joe Hallett had some luck this week. He caught a 2.8-pound rainbow while trolling in the main lake about 12 to 25 feet deep. Thirteen-year-old Robyn Raker caught a nice 2.3-pound rainbow while surface-trolling a crawler behind a copper flasher near the dam. Eight-year-old Reid Hillemeyer caught a nice trout while trolling a shad in the main lake. Richard Kowski caught three rainbows and a nice kokanee while trolling a crawler/spinner combo behind a chrome dodger near the dam. Many of the people who went out for downrigger lessons caught fish. Dave McGarvey caught a nice rainbow while trolling a white Sockeye Slammer behind flashers near the Highway 49 bridge.
Kokanee haven't turned on yet, but we've seen a few in the 14"-15" range. Use Uncle Larry's spinners in firetiger or Cop Car, or a small lure such as a Kokanee Bug or Sockeye Slammer. Tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in ProCure Kokanee Special or anise scent. Be sure to use a dodger, and troll very slowly. Best kokanee action has been in the main lake near the dam/Rose Island, 30-50 feet deep. Joe Hallett and Richard Kowski both brought in big kokanee this week, and there were a couple caught during the downrigger lessons.
Bass fishing has been great, but a little slower than last week. The bass were cooperative during the on-the-water lessons, and most anglers got to catch at least one fish. Jill Cather was taking a lesson from Tony Serrano when she caught a big 8-pound largemouth! She was using a 4" smoke Senko, which seems to be the number one bait right now. Rig a 4" or 6" green pumpkin, watermelon or smoke Yamamoto Senko with a 3/0 or 4/0 wide-gap hook, and no weight. White, white/chartreuse or shad-patterned spinnerbaits are also catching fish right now. The water temperature has dropped considerably, which seemed to slow down the spawning action a bit. Look for flats near cuts and creek arms that have structure at different depths. We want to remind you - it is vitally important to practice catch and release during the spawn, so that we can continue to have a healthy fishery in the future.
Catfish are warming up with the water. Glory Hole Point or Angels Cove, near Tuttletown or under the 49 Bridge are all good places for bank anglers to fish for cats. Use mackerel, anchovies or sardines, crawlers, chicken liver, or live large minnows.
We are seeing some crappie action! Fish brushy coves and creek arms, near structure adjacent to rocky spawning areas. The south side of the lake has been good. Fish 10-20 feet deep near structure with minnows or red/white or red/chartreuse crappie jigs. Bill Townsend caught some nice crappie on minnows on the south side of the lake, and Mitch Ramsey brought in a 2.3-pounder that he caught near Tuttletown.
Glory Hole Sports, 736-4333.
Lake Don Pedro - Fish around partially submerged trees, near the marina and rocky points.
The bass is solid with spinner bait and four-inch lizards around Schoolhouse Point or Middle Bay. Trout have been hitting about 15 feet deep with Cripplures, Needlefish or Power Bait. And crappie have been hitting small minnows or mini jigs. Trout are up to two pounds. Crappie are reaching 12 to 13 inches long, and bass are averaging two pounds and up.
Lake Don Pedro, 852-2369 or 989-2206.
Tulloch Reservoir - Fish the main part of the lake for the best chance of action.
The bass bite is solid and the trout bite has slowed. Fish the weeds back in the creek arms, in either Black Creek or Green Springs with plastics in watermelon or pumpkin colors for smallmouth bass. A few anglers reported a good bass bite at the rock walls by the bridge.
881-0107, 847-3447.
McClure Reservoir - Fish in Barrett Cove, Horseshoe Bend, Cotton Creek and Temperance Creek for the best luck.
Live bait, crank bait, rubber worms and crawdads and minnows are working. Recent catches have included a 16-inch bass and a 10-inch bass, both on minnows.
Best bet is out almost to the bridge. The bite seems to be holding up all day.
563-6505, 378-2441
McSwain Reservoir - Try your luck at the brushpile, in front of the campgrounds and marina, Gilligan's Island and the handicap dock.
The brushpile seems to be the most popular spot for bank anglers right now with Rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers. They're fishing at the handicap dock also. Some fish are up to four pounds, but most are in the pound to pound-and-a-half range. Trollers are going from Gilligan's Island to the first fenceline with flashers and crawlers.
378-2534.
