New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,191,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 49 percent capacity. Lake elevation gained one foot this week, now at 968 feet above sea level, and 120 feet from full capacity. Releases from Melones last week averaged at 871 cubic feet per second, while inflow was 670 cubic feet per second. Water temperature has cooled to approximately 57-58 degrees, and the lake has "turned over."
Melones is scheduled for a trout plant during the week of Jan. 16-22, weather permitting. Reports of larger rainbows showing up in the major creek arms such as Mormon Creek, Coyote Creek and Rose Creek upriver (these are accessible by boat only) continue. Bank anglers are doing well in Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, and under the 49 Bridge. Power Bait or Pautski's Salmon Eggs are the best choice for bank anglers. Use a marshmallow to float your bait. You may also want to throw a small silver/blue Kastmaster, a small Rattletrap, or a shad-colored spinner such as a Mepp's or Panther Martin. Amani and Jasmin Gato-Lytle of Sonora had good luck fishing tan-colored plastic worms with sparkles to catch both their rainbow and a bass. They were fishing off Glory Hole Point. Trollers are still reporting easy limits in the top 10-20 feet of water in the main lake, and at the mouths of major creeks. Don Marshall of Mokelumne Hill trolled Carson Cove to catch his trout using needlefish in a rainbow trout pattern. Remember - when fish are on the surface, it's important to have plenty of line out behind your boat (as much as 100-150 feet). Using side planers is a great way to get your lure away from the boat chop and commotion that your boat causes, which scares the fish away from the area behind your boat. Spinner/crawler combos and rainbow trout or shad patterned Apex lures, trolled either alone or behind a dodger have enticed many trout this week. Frozen shad or rainbow or brown trout-patterned Rapalas are your best bet for big browns. The Spro Sliding Hook Rig is an easy way to rig a frozen shad for trolling.
Kokanee are done for the season, although some trollers are picking up a 12-13 inch fish while trolling for rainbows.
Bass fishing has been fair, with smaller fish feeding in the shallows and bigger fish in deeper water and hard to find. Try fishing near main lake points or by steep drop offs. Smaller fish are hitting drop-shotted 4" crawdad-colored worms, such as Roboworm Bold Bluegill or Keeper 411 or 1038 (oxblood). Bass have also recently been caught on Rattletraps, crankbaits, swim baits and spoons. Using a blue/silver spoon over submerged structure and island tops will catch bass as the water temperature falls. The fluttering fall of the spoon imitates the shad that die in the cold water.
The catfish bite has been slow, but recently one angler reported catching a 9-plus pounder while bank fishing near Tuttletown with chicken liver. Try Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, under the 49 Bridge, 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.
Crappie and bluegill are showing up occasionally. 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.
There is solid trout fishing and not a lot of competition for fish. Trollers are finding trout in the dam area and the backs of coves. Some are launching at Moccasin Creek and fishing the river arm. Try trolling from the surface to 20 feet with Uncle Larry's Spinners behind a Sep's Sidekick.
852-2369, 989-2206, 848-2746.
Tulloch Reservoir - The lake is being refilled after reaching its lowest point. The trout bite has picked up, even though the lake is moving. Wedding rings are working for trout from the surface to 20 feet. There hasn't been much of a bass report, but there are launch capabilities. The gap between the launches is covered, but if you want to shore fish, take some boots because it's very muddy. Bank anglers and trollers are both having luck with medium and small minnows. Night crawlers and Power Bait also work.
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 said the trout bite has been solid in the top 20 feet with flashers and Needlefish or Kastmasters and flashers with inflated crawlers. Trout are 14-22 inches, and the best spots for finding them are around the buoy point, the dam and in the creek channels. Bass fishing is a little slow, but there were some nice catches recently. Bob Andrews of Ceres caught a limit of 18-inchers in the early morning with Heddon Torpedoes in shad-imitation colors. Good spots are in the back of Cottonwood Creek, Temperance Creek and around the houseboats at Piney Point.
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.
Trollers are doing well anywhere from the surface to 20 feet with cop-car colored Needlefish and trout-colored Kastmasters. Bank anglers are using night crawlers and Power Bait. Limits are coming out of the brush pile and from the handicap dock.
378-2534
Melones is scheduled for a trout plant during the week of Jan. 16-22, weather permitting. Reports of larger rainbows showing up in the major creek arms such as Mormon Creek, Coyote Creek and Rose Creek upriver (these are accessible by boat only) continue. Bank anglers are doing well in Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, and under the 49 Bridge. Power Bait or Pautski's Salmon Eggs are the best choice for bank anglers. Use a marshmallow to float your bait. You may also want to throw a small silver/blue Kastmaster, a small Rattletrap, or a shad-colored spinner such as a Mepp's or Panther Martin. Amani and Jasmin Gato-Lytle of Sonora had good luck fishing tan-colored plastic worms with sparkles to catch both their rainbow and a bass. They were fishing off Glory Hole Point. Trollers are still reporting easy limits in the top 10-20 feet of water in the main lake, and at the mouths of major creeks. Don Marshall of Mokelumne Hill trolled Carson Cove to catch his trout using needlefish in a rainbow trout pattern. Remember - when fish are on the surface, it's important to have plenty of line out behind your boat (as much as 100-150 feet). Using side planers is a great way to get your lure away from the boat chop and commotion that your boat causes, which scares the fish away from the area behind your boat. Spinner/crawler combos and rainbow trout or shad patterned Apex lures, trolled either alone or behind a dodger have enticed many trout this week. Frozen shad or rainbow or brown trout-patterned Rapalas are your best bet for big browns. The Spro Sliding Hook Rig is an easy way to rig a frozen shad for trolling.
Kokanee are done for the season, although some trollers are picking up a 12-13 inch fish while trolling for rainbows.
Bass fishing has been fair, with smaller fish feeding in the shallows and bigger fish in deeper water and hard to find. Try fishing near main lake points or by steep drop offs. Smaller fish are hitting drop-shotted 4" crawdad-colored worms, such as Roboworm Bold Bluegill or Keeper 411 or 1038 (oxblood). Bass have also recently been caught on Rattletraps, crankbaits, swim baits and spoons. Using a blue/silver spoon over submerged structure and island tops will catch bass as the water temperature falls. The fluttering fall of the spoon imitates the shad that die in the cold water.
The catfish bite has been slow, but recently one angler reported catching a 9-plus pounder while bank fishing near Tuttletown with chicken liver. Try Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, under the 49 Bridge, 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.
Crappie and bluegill are showing up occasionally. 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.
There is solid trout fishing and not a lot of competition for fish. Trollers are finding trout in the dam area and the backs of coves. Some are launching at Moccasin Creek and fishing the river arm. Try trolling from the surface to 20 feet with Uncle Larry's Spinners behind a Sep's Sidekick.
852-2369, 989-2206, 848-2746.
Tulloch Reservoir - The lake is being refilled after reaching its lowest point. The trout bite has picked up, even though the lake is moving. Wedding rings are working for trout from the surface to 20 feet. There hasn't been much of a bass report, but there are launch capabilities. The gap between the launches is covered, but if you want to shore fish, take some boots because it's very muddy. Bank anglers and trollers are both having luck with medium and small minnows. Night crawlers and Power Bait also work.
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 said the trout bite has been solid in the top 20 feet with flashers and Needlefish or Kastmasters and flashers with inflated crawlers. Trout are 14-22 inches, and the best spots for finding them are around the buoy point, the dam and in the creek channels. Bass fishing is a little slow, but there were some nice catches recently. Bob Andrews of Ceres caught a limit of 18-inchers in the early morning with Heddon Torpedoes in shad-imitation colors. Good spots are in the back of Cottonwood Creek, Temperance Creek and around the houseboats at Piney Point.
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.
Trollers are doing well anywhere from the surface to 20 feet with cop-car colored Needlefish and trout-colored Kastmasters. Bank anglers are using night crawlers and Power Bait. Limits are coming out of the brush pile and from the handicap dock.
378-2534
