New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,210,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 50 percent capacity. Lake elevation dropped only one foot this week, to 970 feet above sea level, and 118 feet from full capacity. Elevation was 19 feet higher at this time last year. Glory Hole and Tuttletown ramps are open. Water temperature is approximately 79-84 degrees, and slightly stained, with good mud lines.
There is not much action on the trout front, but there may be some rainbow trout upriver between the bridges. 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 places 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 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. Mike Dirks caught a 2.7-pounder while night fishing near the dam with a crawler. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek or Murphy's Creek.
A full moon seemed to slow the kokanee fishing last week. The kokanee have moved to the far south side of the lake and are holding relatively shallow, with most trollers reporting luck at 45-65 feet deep, although one angler found a nice limit of big kokanee 88 feet deep near the dam. Our local fishing guides had no trouble catching fish this week. Booking a guide trip is an excellent way to pick up some tips on successful fishing in difficult conditions - especially when fishing gets tough! Danny Layne of Fish 'n' Dan's Guide Service says he has been finding double hook-ups for his clients on the south side of the lake, around the unnamed exposed island south of Rose Island, near Peoria Cove. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing fished the same area. He said he found easy limits there, and made his customers happy. Pink or red Apex or pink or white Hootchies have been the hot lures, catching almost all the fish we've seen. Uncle Larry's pink, copper pop, or firetiger spinners have also been working. Tip any lure with shoepeg corn. Use a silver/green, silver/chartreuse, or watermelon dodger - any dodger with some green on it. It is very important to troll slowly (1.2 mph) to catch kokanee. Anglers who caught limits this week include Ken Yeates, Dan Whisenhunt, 9-year-old Eric Noble and his dad, David Noble, Perry Fizzel, John Vanunen and Barbara Roscoe.
Bass fishing has been somewhat slow, probably due to the full moon. Night fishing is a good way to see some big-bass action. Bass move into the shallows 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 (this includes shade cast by moonlight at night), 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.
Catfish bite is great! This is the time of year we see the big cats. 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. Glory Hole Sports' Big Fish of the Week Contest was won this week by 11-year-old Brock Kyckman of Graham, Wash., who caught a 6.7-pound cat on chicken liver while fishing at night by the dam. 12-year-old Dillon Kemeny caught a 2-pounder while bank fishing with crawlers. Tom Dutil caught a 5.4-pounder and a 2.8-pounder fishing under the 49 Stevenot Bridge.
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.
Trout and salmon are being caught in the upper bay. Trollers are going deep with downriggers and redworms or Apex kokanee specials. Bass are hitting at Schoolhouse Point and the upper bay by Aqueduct Island. Anglers can catch catfish with chicken liver and anchovies. Best times are evenings and nights all over the lake
852-2369, 989-2206.
Tulloch Reservoir - Fish the main part of the lake for the best chance of action.
The trout bite has been solid at 25-50 feet. Several anglers reported 2,3 and 4-pounders trolling broken-back Rapalas and frozen shad. Some are trolling up the river channel and some by the dam. The crappie buzz has quieted. Bass can be found early mornings and evenings with watermelon, gold or root beer Senkos with red and gold flakes.
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 crawdads still are working in shallow water. Daniel Mocia of Stockton caught a 3.25-pound German brown on a Kastmaster at Merced Falls just below the dam. Mike Wirick of Snelling caught two black bass - one 3-pounder and one 3.25-pounder - on a roboworm Witches Trout are hiding in the shade under the houseboats.
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 from McSwain Marina said the handicap dock has been the spot with rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers. Some anglers are having luck flipping silver and blue Kastmasters. Fish are coming out of the brush pile right after the plant. Trollers are staying with flashers and night crawlers in the slot area between Gilligan's Island and first fenceline. The water level is dropping rapidly.
378-2534.
There is not much action on the trout front, but there may be some rainbow trout upriver between the bridges. 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 places 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 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. Mike Dirks caught a 2.7-pounder while night fishing near the dam with a crawler. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek or Murphy's Creek.
A full moon seemed to slow the kokanee fishing last week. The kokanee have moved to the far south side of the lake and are holding relatively shallow, with most trollers reporting luck at 45-65 feet deep, although one angler found a nice limit of big kokanee 88 feet deep near the dam. Our local fishing guides had no trouble catching fish this week. Booking a guide trip is an excellent way to pick up some tips on successful fishing in difficult conditions - especially when fishing gets tough! Danny Layne of Fish 'n' Dan's Guide Service says he has been finding double hook-ups for his clients on the south side of the lake, around the unnamed exposed island south of Rose Island, near Peoria Cove. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing fished the same area. He said he found easy limits there, and made his customers happy. Pink or red Apex or pink or white Hootchies have been the hot lures, catching almost all the fish we've seen. Uncle Larry's pink, copper pop, or firetiger spinners have also been working. Tip any lure with shoepeg corn. Use a silver/green, silver/chartreuse, or watermelon dodger - any dodger with some green on it. It is very important to troll slowly (1.2 mph) to catch kokanee. Anglers who caught limits this week include Ken Yeates, Dan Whisenhunt, 9-year-old Eric Noble and his dad, David Noble, Perry Fizzel, John Vanunen and Barbara Roscoe.
Bass fishing has been somewhat slow, probably due to the full moon. Night fishing is a good way to see some big-bass action. Bass move into the shallows 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 (this includes shade cast by moonlight at night), 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.
Catfish bite is great! This is the time of year we see the big cats. 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. Glory Hole Sports' Big Fish of the Week Contest was won this week by 11-year-old Brock Kyckman of Graham, Wash., who caught a 6.7-pound cat on chicken liver while fishing at night by the dam. 12-year-old Dillon Kemeny caught a 2-pounder while bank fishing with crawlers. Tom Dutil caught a 5.4-pounder and a 2.8-pounder fishing under the 49 Stevenot Bridge.
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.
Trout and salmon are being caught in the upper bay. Trollers are going deep with downriggers and redworms or Apex kokanee specials. Bass are hitting at Schoolhouse Point and the upper bay by Aqueduct Island. Anglers can catch catfish with chicken liver and anchovies. Best times are evenings and nights all over the lake
852-2369, 989-2206.
Tulloch Reservoir - Fish the main part of the lake for the best chance of action.
The trout bite has been solid at 25-50 feet. Several anglers reported 2,3 and 4-pounders trolling broken-back Rapalas and frozen shad. Some are trolling up the river channel and some by the dam. The crappie buzz has quieted. Bass can be found early mornings and evenings with watermelon, gold or root beer Senkos with red and gold flakes.
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 crawdads still are working in shallow water. Daniel Mocia of Stockton caught a 3.25-pound German brown on a Kastmaster at Merced Falls just below the dam. Mike Wirick of Snelling caught two black bass - one 3-pounder and one 3.25-pounder - on a roboworm Witches Trout are hiding in the shade under the houseboats.
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 from McSwain Marina said the handicap dock has been the spot with rainbow Power Bait and night crawlers. Some anglers are having luck flipping silver and blue Kastmasters. Fish are coming out of the brush pile right after the plant. Trollers are staying with flashers and night crawlers in the slot area between Gilligan's Island and first fenceline. The water level is dropping rapidly.
378-2534.
