04/16/08
last updated: April 16, 2008 12:54:33 PM
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LAKE CAMANCHE
Water temperatures have risen quite a bit in the last two weeks, and trout are now holding down about 20-30 feet deep. They are closer to the surface early and late in the day, or on a cloudy day. The big trout of the week was caught at the South Shore Pond by Paul Gritzmacher of Prunedale. He caught a 10.8-pounder with an inflated night crawler. There will be weekly trout plants until water temperatures rise above 70 degrees. ... Eddie and Robin Neeld of Cameron Park caught a 7.9-pound bass while fishing from shore at Chevron Point near South Shore harbor. They used night crawlers. Bass are in pre-spawn or spawn mode, so catch-and-release is encouraged. (Northshore Store 763-5166, Southshore Store 763-5915).
DELTA
Jim Smith of the Happy Hooker out of Martinez had a great Saturday with four legal sturgeon, five shaker sturgeon and four sturgeon dropped on the way to the boat while fishing in Suisun Bay with ghost/grass shrimp combinations. Kevin Yost of Lucky Strike Fishing landed two legal sturgeon to 53.5 inches on the outgoing tide in deep water on salmon roe. Both captains reported sturgeon activity all over the place. Yost said the fish are stuffed with clams -- a good sign of feeding fish. Jeff Boyle of Fisherman's Warehouse in Manteca found a good striper bite on west bank of the Sacramento despite heavy boat pressure and a big outgoing tide. They pulled the shallow-running Bombers in red/white or rainbow trout for 13 fish to 12 pounds, with four 7-12 pounds. Stripers are found from the Benicia Bridge up to Colusa in the Sacramento River; a few have moved into the San Joaquin River. (Fishermen's Warehouse in Manteca 239-2248; Randy Pringle 543-6260; Kevin Yost, Lucky Strike Fishing 707-301-8050; Jay Lopes, Right Hook Sport Fishing 916-374-9226).
McSWAIN RESERVOIR
Diana Mello at A-I Bait in Snelling reported good trout fishing trolling from the Dam to the Second Fence Line with Wedding Rings (with or without a flasher) or Needlefish in Cop Car. Bankies have been tossing blue Kastmasters near the Dam or soaking white or Nymph Power Bait or inflated 'crawlers near the Brush Pile or the Handicapped Docks. Water is fluctuating due to releases for dam repair and downstream usage. (378-2534).
MONTEREY
Todd Arcaleo of Chris' Landing reported good action on mackerel and sand dabs on their combination trip. Rockfishing starts below Pigeon Point in San Mateo County on May 1. Ly Tu reported slow perch fishing throughout the Santa Cruz County beaches. (Chris' Landing 831-375-5951).
McCLURE RESERVOIR
Mike Van Guilder Jr. reported lots of fish are cruising the banks, preparing to spawn with some already on their beds. Fish averaging 1-2 pounds can be taken by split-shotting, drop-shotting or using a darterhead from the shoreline to 20 feet with 4- to 6-inch plastics in shad or craw patterns. Weightless Senkos wacky-rigged are also effective. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported good trout fishing with shad-patterned ExCels or Needlefish in Cop Car, rainbow trout or red/yellow/orange at 35 feet near the Dam and up the river arm near Barrett's for fish to 3 pounds. Crappie fishing continues to improve early in morning 30-40 feet deep around rock piles or submerged islands with small minnows or minijigs for fish to 2 pounds. Catfishing excellent at 15-20 feet on muddy, sloping banks with weightless anchovies or cut baits. (A-1 Bait 563-6505, Fishwrangler's Guide Service 604-8222, Bub Tosh 404-0053).
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR
Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service reported kokanee averaging 1.5 pounds are holding off Glory Hole at 8-15 feet in the morning before they move to 25 feet after the sun hits the water. He has been scoring with Uncle Larry's spinners or Vance's Slim Willies early, then switching to pink Sockeye Slammers behind a Vance's gold dodger or green Shasta Tackle Kok-A-Nut behind a Sling Blade. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing landed fish to 18 inches using Glitter Bugs or Uncle Larry's Copper Pot spinners. He expected heavy boat pressure in anticipation of a good kokanee season. Layne also reported good rainbow action at nearby Tulloch for fish to 4 pounds at 12-15 feet with rolled shad or at 20 feet with ExCels in the river arm from the South Shore Marina to the Bridge and also above the Power Lines in the Green Springs Arm. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports in Angels Camp reported excellent bass fishing with brown jigs, green pumpkin Brush Hawgs, crawdad-colored plastics or weightless Senkos with a slow presentation. Bass holding at 5-25 feet near structure. Catfish, crappie still slow. (736-4333, Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan 586-2383, Fishwranglers Bass Guide Service 604-8222).
LAKE PARDEE
Best area for trolling still the River Arm and the area between the Rock Wall and Columbia. Trollers are still doing well, catching kokes and trout. Look for the fish to go a bit deeper as the water warms up. Small Sep's, Uncle Larry's pinkies, Wedding Rings, Midge Wobblers, hoochies and needle fish in pinks and reds, all tipped with scented corn or night crawler, are working well. Don't forget that big dodger. ... Bank fishermen: As the water warms in the "Mud Hole," the fish are likely to concentrate in the deeper channel that winds through the Recreation Area about 20 to 30 feet off Rainbow, Blue Herron, and Stony Creek Landing. Power Bait, Power Eggs, maggots, night crawlers are all working well. (772-1472).
LAKE DON PEDRO
Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sport Fishing reported a slowdown in the king salmon bite. The fish are at 80-90 feet on the south end of Jenkins Hill near Ramos Creek. He landed fish by rolling shad injected with ProCure Shad Gel, shad-patterned ExCels, Vance's Slim Fins and Arctic Fox trolling flies. Monte Smith advised anglers to pay attention to their rod tips, as the bite is very light. Kokanee are plentiful at 40-50 feet. They're hitting Uncle Larry's Blue Tiger tipped with Pautske's FireCorn behind a Vance's Green Metalflake Dodger. Trout are from the surface to 40 feet. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported an improving bass bite with Senkos in green pumpkin with pepper (color 194j) and green pumpkin purpleflake (color 330). A few larger fish were taken on Huddleston or Spro BBZ slow-sinking swimbaits. (Monte Smith 581-4734, Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan 586-2383, Bait Barn 874-3011).
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Halibut fishing continues to be the big story following the closure of the salmon season. There were approximately 100 boats trolling from the Alameda Rockwall to the Berkeley Flats both Saturday and Sunday. Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sport Fishing, a 6-pack out of Berkeley, posted an excellent score Saturday with 14 legal halibut, a 5-pound striper and a bonus 18-pound white sea bass on frozen anchovies behind a Seps 6-inch dodger on a hootchie rig. James Smith of the California Dawn had two great days with more than a fish per rod for 20 anglers working the deeper water off the Alameda Rockwall. Halibut are located from the San Bruno Shoals up to Paradise in outstanding season numbers. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait in San Rafael reported a 40.5-pounder landed at Paradise on a live shiner. There has been steady action for stripers and sturgeon on the anchor with ghost or mud shrimp on either tide. The sturgeon have been jumping and actively feeding. (Roger Thomas 415-674-3474).
SAN LUIS RESERVOIR
Ly Tu of Ly's Fishing Goods in San Jose reported the 3.5- and 7-ounce Shimano Lucanus jigs in green/gold have pulled up stripers to 27 inches at depths to 130 feet near the Trash Racks. O'Neill Forebay is still putting out small stripers on pile worms or Flukes under the bridge. No trout report for Los Banos Creek Retention Reservoir, but bass fishing has been tough
with the best action on Senkos. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805. (Coyote Bait and Tackle 408-463-0711, Ly's Fishing Goods 408-629-9644).