New Melones Reservoir - New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,299,000 acre-feet of water. Lake is at 53 percent capacity. Lake elevation dropped three feet again this week, to 978 feet above sea level, and 110 feet from full capacity. There is still lots of water in the lake, and all ramps are open. Water temperature is approximately 76-79 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. Another young angler wins the Glory Hole Sports Big fish of the Week Contest. 11-year-old Jacob Willis of Angels Camp landed a 2.7-pound rainbow while throwing a blue/silver Crocodile upriver off of Camp Nine Road (remember - some areas upriver are barb-less hooks only - watch for signs!). 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. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek.
The kokanee bite has picked up quite a bit. Troll 40-65 feet deep (shallower in the early a.m.) in the main lake near the spillway, dam and Rose Island. Some anglers are fishing upriver between the two bridges and having success, although it seems that there are more small fish there. We have seen many limits caught on pink hootchies this week, as well as pink red, or green Apex. Use a silver/green, silver/chartreuse, or silver/blue dodger. 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. Anglers who have caught limits this week include Andrew Stenquist, Joe Hallett, Chase Hawkins, Gary Burns, Jim Franco, Richard Kowski and Aron Davis.
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. 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.
The best bite is on catfish. Two anglers filled their cooler with catfish using anchovies. Another angler was successful using nightcrawlers and minnows. Trout, as well as everything else, is hitting nightcrawlers.
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 it seems like the trout bite is hit and miss. Try fishing 50-to-60-feet deep. Trout are hitting a variety of lures, but the main thing is a No. 2 Needlefish in blue/purple. Killer bees work in orange, pink or purple. Kokanee are hitting in the same depth ranges as trout. The bass bite is decent early and late with green pumpkin Senkos. A lot of people are having fun with smallmouth bass on crickets, minnows and crawdads. Live bait is working best.
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 there were a lot of big fish this week. Scott Pratt of Merced caught a 5-pound rainbow off the bridge using nightcrawlers. George Yansco caught a 3.25-pound Rainbow from Merced River on nightcrawlers. Jack Carrasco also caught a 3.5-pound rainbow there. Chris Blueitt of Ripon caught a 7.5-pound channel catfish on crawdads in the back of Temperance Creek. Stoney Bird of Denair caught a 2.5-pound rainbow off a houseboat in Temperance Creek. The lake is sill producing spotted bass in the 1-to 5-pound range. 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 25-feet deep.
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 bite has really dropped off. The fishing was good for a couple days after the Department of Fish and Game plant. Last week's Calaveras plant should give the bite a boost. The Handicap dock seemed to be the choice spot for bank anglers. The brushpile was slow. But the best spot is on the other side of the lake on Gilligan's Island, for those who can get there. Trollers are having the most luck with fire tiger Rapalas. A few trollers netted limits with them.
378-2534.
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. Another young angler wins the Glory Hole Sports Big fish of the Week Contest. 11-year-old Jacob Willis of Angels Camp landed a 2.7-pound rainbow while throwing a blue/silver Crocodile upriver off of Camp Nine Road (remember - some areas upriver are barb-less hooks only - watch for signs!). 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. Bank anglers should target the creeks, such as Angels Creek.
The kokanee bite has picked up quite a bit. Troll 40-65 feet deep (shallower in the early a.m.) in the main lake near the spillway, dam and Rose Island. Some anglers are fishing upriver between the two bridges and having success, although it seems that there are more small fish there. We have seen many limits caught on pink hootchies this week, as well as pink red, or green Apex. Use a silver/green, silver/chartreuse, or silver/blue dodger. 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. Anglers who have caught limits this week include Andrew Stenquist, Joe Hallett, Chase Hawkins, Gary Burns, Jim Franco, Richard Kowski and Aron Davis.
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. 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.
The best bite is on catfish. Two anglers filled their cooler with catfish using anchovies. Another angler was successful using nightcrawlers and minnows. Trout, as well as everything else, is hitting nightcrawlers.
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 it seems like the trout bite is hit and miss. Try fishing 50-to-60-feet deep. Trout are hitting a variety of lures, but the main thing is a No. 2 Needlefish in blue/purple. Killer bees work in orange, pink or purple. Kokanee are hitting in the same depth ranges as trout. The bass bite is decent early and late with green pumpkin Senkos. A lot of people are having fun with smallmouth bass on crickets, minnows and crawdads. Live bait is working best.
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 there were a lot of big fish this week. Scott Pratt of Merced caught a 5-pound rainbow off the bridge using nightcrawlers. George Yansco caught a 3.25-pound Rainbow from Merced River on nightcrawlers. Jack Carrasco also caught a 3.5-pound rainbow there. Chris Blueitt of Ripon caught a 7.5-pound channel catfish on crawdads in the back of Temperance Creek. Stoney Bird of Denair caught a 2.5-pound rainbow off a houseboat in Temperance Creek. The lake is sill producing spotted bass in the 1-to 5-pound range. 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 25-feet deep.
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 bite has really dropped off. The fishing was good for a couple days after the Department of Fish and Game plant. Last week's Calaveras plant should give the bite a boost. The Handicap dock seemed to be the choice spot for bank anglers. The brushpile was slow. But the best spot is on the other side of the lake on Gilligan's Island, for those who can get there. Trollers are having the most luck with fire tiger Rapalas. A few trollers netted limits with them.
378-2534.
