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January 04, 2009    Headlines	Mountain & Foothill Lakes
Foothill & Valley Lakes Report January 3rd   New Melones Reservoir Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported easy limits from the banks due to the heavy DFG trout plants in the past few weeks. Glory Hole Point, Angels Cove, Tuttletown and under the Highway 49 Bridge have been the top spots. Yellow Panther Martins, night crawlers or green Power Bait are working with large fish to 20-inches taken on shad-patterned Rapalas. Trolling has been slow, but this should change soon as the fish move into open water. In the meantime, sideplaners to stay close to the shorelines are recommended. Bass fishing is slow due to the cold water temperatures. The larger bass are in shallow water chasing the planted trout. Rainbow-trout swimbaits near points or drop offs have produced a few quality fish. Numbers of fish are most likely located with drop- or split-shot 4-inch shad-colored plastics dragged along the bottom.  Catfishing, crappie and bluegill are all slow at the present time. The lake came up 1020 acre-feet from upstream sources to 47% of capacity. Nearby Lake Tulloch continues to be solid for rainbows to 2-pounds with rolled shad or shad-patterned ExCels at depths from the surface to 12 feet. San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay  Ly Tu of Ly’s Fishing Goods in San Jose said jumbo minnows have produced limits of stripers to 27-inches in the main lake. The s ame regular group of fishermen continue to limit out with anchovy fillets at depths to 80 feet at the edge of the drop off in front of the Dinosaur Point launch ramp. Other than these few reports, the main lake is slow. Buck Deaner said the Forebay is also slow, as the trollers have found other bodies of water to work. Tu added there is some activity around Check 12 with chicken livers or mackerel, but the majority of fishermen are leaving unsatisfied.  The lake has risen 2915 acre-feet to 23% of capacity, but water continues to be released down the Aqueduct. No trout report for Los Banos Creek Reservoir despite recent trout plants. Tu said area anglers are heading to lakes closer to home. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805. Eastman Lake  Buck Deaner said one bass angler tried the lake without success in the past week. The cold and low water continue to be a detriment. There continues to be minimal interest with anglers heading to other bodies of water in search of trout or bass. A trout plant is scheduled for this week. Both boat docks are still in the water with the lake coming up 26 acre-feet to 7% of capacity. Hensley Lake  The lake level is at 5%, but the water is on the concrete at the launch ramp, and boats have been put in the water in the past week. Bass fishing is slow with the cold water with few anglers targeting the planted trout. A trout plant is scheduled for this week. <CF22>Call:</CF> 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151  McSwain Reservoir  Diana Mello of A-I Bait said trout fishing continues to be outstanding for both trollers and bank anglers alike. Trollers are pulling red or green Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler behind a dodger or blade/crawler combinations at depths from 25 to 30 feet from the Dam to the Chimney for fish to 16-inches. Bank anglers continue to score with rainbow Power Bait, red or green Power Eggs or inflated crawlers at the Brush Pile or Handicapped Docks. Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs  There continues to be little interest in the local canals and sloughs in the past weeks with the cold weather and good trout bite on the lower Kings and the San Joaquin Rivers. Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield said striper action in the southern portion of the Aqueduct has also slowed considerably in the past week. Millerton Lake  Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported the bass are shallow early with a decent jig bite before moving out into deep water along steep walls or rocky points from 40 to 60 feet with shad-colored plastics. The better fish are found deep from 50 to 60 feet on shad-colored plastics, brown/purple jigs, spoons, and brass and glass. No striper reports this week. The lake came up 547 acre-feet to 37% of capacity.  There is heavy angler interest on the weekends and holidays on the lower San Joaquin with trophies and planters falling to Thomas Buoyant spoons, white Roostertails, Little Cleo’s working, in addition to rainbow Power Bait. Pine Flat Reservoir  Buck Deaner reported “wide open” trout fishing for holdover and planted fish at depths from 15 to 25 feet in the main lake from Lombardo’s to the Powerlines. Trollers are scoring with night crawlers behind a Vance’s Dodger or Sling Blade, shad-colored ExCels or Cop Car Needlefish. King salmon have been few and far between. This is the best area trout option at the present time. Bank fishing at Lombardo’s Marina is also producing limits on Power Bait or night crawlers. Bass fishing is limited to small fish from 12 to 13-inches at depths from 40 to 60 feet along steep walls or rocky points with Hologram Shad in pearl, Prism Craw or ProGold redflake. The lake has risen to 17% of capacity. Doyal’s Store reported weighing in 35 trophy trout to 7-pounds over the weekend with Kastmasters, RoosterTails, Power Bait or night crawlers all working. Buck Deaner said a new technique is to float a firecracker minijig under a bobber in the current, as well as using gold/orang e Thomas Buoyants or Little Cleos. There is heavy angling pressure on the weekends or holidays. Lake Kaweah  Sierra Sport Fishing in Exeter reported trout fishing is the top story with anglers tossing Power Bait or night crawlers from the banks. A trout plant is scheduled for this week. Bass fishing has been fair with spoons, brown/purple jigs, or shad-colored plastics at depths from 35 to 40 feet. There are numerous small fish, but quality fish are difficult to locate. The lake has risen 330 acre-feet to 8% of capacity. Lake Success  Ranger Sylvia Guerrero reported trout fishing from the banks has been the top option due to the recent trout plants.  Power Bait or night crawlers are working for the planter fish. A trout plant is scheduled for this week. Bass fishing continues to be slow with minimal angler interest. This should change with a tournament coming up in mid-January. The Rocky Hill launch is open with the Tule Point ramp also available but without a courtesy dock. The lake came up 117 acre-feet to 8% of capacity. A trout plant is scheduled for this week. McClure Reservoir  Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported slow bass action with similar results to the past week as the fish are holding in deep water from 30 to 35 feet around main lake points. Dropshotting with purple/green worms or jigging with brown/purple Pacific Catch or Hopkins spoons have been pulling out the 12 to 14-inch fish in either Piney or Cottonwood Creek. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported excellent trout fishing along the Buoy Line to the Dam for quick limits to 20-inches. One group of three anglers boated limits in two hours with shad-patterned ExCels at 10 feet on the downrigger. The better cut of fish are deeper in the water column. Crappie fishing is slow as the crappie have scattered with a few fish found up in the river canyons at depths to 45 feet with small minnows or red/white minijigs. Catfishing is also slow with the cooling water temperatures. The lake dropped 148 acre-feet to 24% of capacity. There are launch ramps open at McClure Point or Barretts Cove. Lake Don Pedro  Planted trout are the headliner with easy limits from the banks near the Marina and Fleming Meadows. Manny Basi said shore anglers are limiting with Kastmasters, Roostertails, or Panther Martins and also with rainbow glitter Power Bait. Bass fishermen have also been catching trout while throwing spinnerbaits, rip baits or drop shotting shad-colored plastic. The bass bite is slow as the fish are scattered and roaming at depths from the banks to 40 feet. The majority of fish are found from 10 to 20 feet with shad-colored plastics. The best technique for large fish remains holding your boat in 10 to 20 feet of water and tossing 6 or 8-inch Huddlestons in rainbow trout away from the shoreline and keeping the lure in contact with the bottom. The lake is at 51% of capacity. Basi added that the small local Turlock Lake has been producing trout limits on Power Bait near the inlet. Bass Lake  Anglers will need to check for launch ramp conditions; as of the weekend the ramp and the parking lot were still covered with snow. Trollers should still be able to pick up trout limits with either Wedding Rings, Shasta Scorpion Spinners or Double Whammy Wedding Rings with ½ crawler or Gulp! Worms pulled far behind the boat from the surface to 15 feet once access to the lake is available. Bass fishing is minimal with  committed bass fishermen keeping things quiet. The20lake came up slightly to 50% of capacity. Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake  Captain Jack Yandell said the launch ramp was covered with snow as of Monday afternoon, but interest anglers can view a regularly updated image of the launch ramp on the webcam at Sierramarina.com. He said a total of 40-inches of snow has fallen in the past couple of weeks. Once the ramp is cleared, the same techniques of running the pink or orange Super Hootchie without a dodger at 44 feet near the Dam should continue to produce kokanee with trout hitting the Gulp! Minnow in rainbow behind a Vance’s Dodger or Sling Blade, Needlefish in red dot frog or metallic perch, Apex lures or Wedding Rings tipped with ½ crawl er or Gulp! Worm should all work from the surface to 25 feet for trout to 16-inches. Huntington at 7700 feet in elevation has received a significant amount of snow, and access to the lake is limited. Shaver is holding at 68% of capacity with Huntington dropping to 79% of capacity. Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita Will Hesch of Central Coast Bass said the best area bite has been at Santa Margarita with bass to 10-pounds taken on watermelon jigs. Nacimiento has gotten a b it tougher with colder water temperatures, but anglers can find spotted bass with Texas-rigged or split-shot plastics anywhere from 3 to 40 feet. The best concentration of fish has been in the 20 to 35 foot area around main lake points. The lake has risen to 27% of capacity. San Antonio is reported to be very slow with minimal angler interest, and it is holding at 53% of capacity. Department of Fish and Game Gives Holiday Present To Anglers The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will stock rainbow trout and catfish in the San Francisco Bay Area this month. More than 37,000 pounds of rainbow trout -- some as large as one pound each -- and catfish up to two pounds each will be stocked in lakes during December. In addition to trout stocked from DFG hatcheries, DFG’s Fishing in the City program will contribute catchable fish purchased from private fish rearing facilities to Bay Area lakes. “We want to create opportunities for families to spend quality time together enjoying each other and the time-honored tradition of fishing,” says Eric Larson, Biological Programs Manager for DFG’s Bay Delta Region. “Fishing, like most other outdoor pursuits, helps keep people connected to the natural environment. This is a simple, inexpensive way to enjoy time together.” A fishing license is required of all anglers age 16 or older and all fishing regulations apply. Some lakes may require a daily fishing permit. The enhanced stocking is coordinated through DFG’s Fishing in the City (FIC) program. Since 1993, FIC has worked to increase fishing opportunities near where people live and work. This is accomplished though enhanced stocking, habitat improvement and holding learn-to-fish clinics with community partners. FIC is funded by the National Sportfish Restoration Fund, through an excise tax on the sale of fishing tackle and motor boat fuel. The following lakes will be stocked as a part of this special program (listings include county, lake and number of pounds planted): Dec 1-5 DFG Hatchery Trout (1/2 pound per fish) Alameda: Chabot Reservoir 2,000 Contra Costa: Los Vaqueros Reservoir 2,000 San Francisco: Merced Lake North 2,000 Santa Cruz: Pinto Lake 1,000 Sonoma: Ralphine Lake 1,000 Dec 8-12 DFG Hatchery Trout (1/2 pound per fish) Alameda: Arroyo Del Valle 2,000 Alameda: Horseshoe Lake 2,000 Contra Costa: Contra Loma Reservoir 500 Santa Clara: Campbell Perc Pond 500 Santa Clara: Cunningham Lake 500 Santa Clara: Sandywool Lake 500 Dec 15-19 DFG Hatchery trout (1/2 pound per fish) Alameda: Lake Shore Park Pond 300 Alameda: Quarry Lake 300 Alameda: Shadow Cliff Lake 2,000 Contra Costa: Heather Farms 200 Contra Costa: Hidden Valley Pond 100 Contra Costa: Los Vaqueros Reservoir 2,000 San Francisco: Merced Lake North 2,000 Santa Cruz: Pinto Lake 1,000 Sonoma: Ralphine Lake 1,000 Dec 15-19 1.5-2 Pound Catfish FIC Santa Clara Lake Cunningham 750 Contra Costa Heather Farms 500 Marin Scottsdale 500 Marin Stafford Lake 1,000 Dec 15-19 1 Pound Trout FIC Sonoma Lake Ralphine 1,000 Contra Costa Don Castro 500 Contra Loma Contra Loma 500 Alameda Shadow Cliffs 500 Alameda Lake Temescal 500 San Francisco Lake Merced 750 Santa Clara Campbell Perc Ponds 750 Santa Clara Lake Cunningham 1,000 Santa Clara Spring Valley Pond 300 Dec 22-26 DFG Hatchery Trout (1/2 pound per fish) Alameda Arroyo Del Valle 2,000 Alameda Chabot Reservoir 2,000 Dec 27 1 pound Rainbow Trout FIC Alameda Lakeshore Park 500 Alameda Lake Elizabeth 500 Contra Costa Hidden Valley Pond 500 Alameda Horseshoe Lake (Quarry Lakes) 500 Contra Costa Heather Farms Pond 500 Solano Lake Chabot Vallejo 1,000 Upcoming Events: USAFishing proudly supports the many fishery and wildlife organizations that benefit anglers and hunters throughout Northern California. Does your organization have an upcoming event? Contact us at fishsite@aol.com and we will gladly post the information on our reports pages. CWA Saturday, February 14, 2009 – Gold Rush Banquet Held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley CA.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner served at 7:00 p.m.  $60 per person, $100 per couple, $35 per life member, and $35 per sprig.  Contact Jeff Bucher at (530) 269-1338 or Craig Ferrari at (530) 268-1661 for more information.  Please visit www.calwaterfowl.org and click on events calendar to view all CWA’s upcoming events. Fish & Game Trout Plant Schedules and Updates Caught Fish? Looking for timely informative updates? Check out a FREE trial to the Northern California Hotsheet, California's fastest growing fishing newsletter. The Hotsheet is emailed three to four evenings per week direct to your desktop. No hunting the web for information or waiting on an outdated magazine to arrive in the mail. These in-depth reports keep you on top of what is happening TODAY so you can catch more fish tomorrow! Just $3.50 per month when you subscribe for one year. You can receive a free week's trial copy by e-mailing a request to fishsite@aol.com