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Updated January 8, 2026

DON PEDRO — Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported interest in bass fishing has slowed down due to the weather but dragging jigs remains the best bet. Suspended fish are taken on by shaking a minnow or fluke using Live Scope, and there is a jerkbait bite. The inlets are muddy, and the off color water is also in the main lake. The spoon bite has slowed. The winning weight during Saturday’s Manteca Bassin’ Buddies tournament was 11.25 pounds. Rainbow trout are the best option for trollers working shad patterned spoons or blade/’crawler combinations at depths from the surface to 20 feet. Adding scent to nightcrawler and hardware will help entice strikes in the stained water. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake held at 790.66 feet in elevation. There are no remaining tournaments in December. A self-inspection is required for launching. There are five bass tournaments scheduled in January including two from Best Bass Tournaments.

EAGLE LAKE — Snow fell in the area over the New Year, and interest in trout trolling slowed to a crawl. Once the weather clears, trollers should be back out there looking for two-fish limits with a variety of trolling flies or red/gold spoons from the surface to 10 feet. The trout season ends on February 28 before reopening during the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.

FOLSOM LAKE —Bass fishing remains the best bet, and the fish are oriented to the bait fish schools which are primarily holding on the bottom with umbrella rigs with shad patterned swimbaits. The bass are much shallower than anticipated with good action at depths to 10 feet. All boats must be either quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated, and there is a decontamination station at Mello Marine by appointment only at https://www.folsomlakedecon.com/. The lake rose to 422.92 feet in elevation and 57 percent. Granite Bay Stage 1 and Browns Ravine-Hobie Cove are the only open launch ramps for motorized boats with trailers. Only one dock is available at Granite Bay. Only one club tournament is scheduled at the end of January.

McCLURE LAKE — Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported jigs have been the key along with jerkbaits, and he said, “If you can find them schools up, shaking a fluke or a minnow will work.” The spoon bite has slowed down. Trout trolling has slowed in the stained water, and scenting hardware or nightcrawlers as the fish are near the surface. The lake rose to 807.86 feet in elevation and 65%. There is one bass tournament remaining in December. The lake will be very busy with 8 club tournaments scheduled in January.

LAKE McSWAIN — The lake is at 81%, and there hasn’t been a trout plant since December 2. Bank action has slowed with a few fish possible on scented Power Bait or inflated night crawlers from the Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile, and the peninsula near the marina. Trollers continue to find their best action up the river arm above the Second Fence Line with Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a dodger or blade/’crawler combinations, but the action is slow.

NEW MELONES — Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Sport Fishing continues to find limits of planted rainbow trout running a variety of spoons including Speedy Shiners, T-Spoons, or Papa G Spoons, and he said, “The Papa G has a larger wobble, and it has been producing the most fish. The bait has come up to around 30 feet in depth since the lake has been rising, and the trout are holding around the bait.” The inlets have been muddy, and even the main lake is off color. Aaron Jones reported jigs have also been the story for bass at Melones along with jerkbaits, but he added, “50% of the reports are on jigs.” All boats must be quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated at the New Melones Marina. Downstream Lake Tulloch established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed, but bass fishing is reported to be strong. The lake rose to 1023.62 feet in elevation and 71% with downstream Tulloch also rising to 88%. The Lake Tulloch RV Park and Marina is closed, effective immediately.

LAKE OROVILLE — The lake has risen tremendously within the past two weeks of heavy precipitation in the watershed. Joseph Orozco of Bass Union said, “Wintertime spotted bass fishing remains very good around the creek inlets, main lake points, and secondary points leading to the backs of pockets. I have been scoring with 3/4th-ounce Bass Union football head jigs with a green pumpkin Yamamoto twin-tailed grub on a 3/0 Matte brown hook, and the key is to drag the jigs slowly and let the skirt to its work.” Rainbow trout trolling has slowed as interest has been minimal, but blade/’crawler combinations are effective from the surface to 10 feet in the clearest areas in the lake. Boat inspections for golden mussels are required at the North Forebay at Garden Ave and Highway 70 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Spillway and Loafer Creek ramps close at 6:30 daily with Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle closing at 6:30 pm from Monday through Thursday and at 8:00 pm on Friday through Sunday. If the boat is wet, a decontamination must occur, and it takes around 10 to 15 minutes depending upon the size of the boat. Owners have the option to have a vessel decontaminated at a DWR-designated decontamination station where they will receive a blue Oroville seal and may launch immediately. The lake rose close to 80 feet to 825.99 in elevation and 70%. There are six bass tournaments scheduled in January.

LAKE PARDEE — The lake closed for the season on November 9 and will reopen in mid-February. There is no plan similar to Lake Camanche where private boats will be allowed to launch. The lake is at 90 percent.

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