North Freshwater Fish Report
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Updated October 2, 2025
DON PEDRO — Largemouth and spotted bass are on a rampage as Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle said, “Pick your technique as they are chasing shad in the main lake and in the coves. Walking baits such as the Berkley Choppo are working along with flukes, spoons, or umbrella rigs. If you don’t have sonar, work mid- or deep-diving crankbaits to locate the bass.” The bait schools are thick, and Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing is working to get his lures deep enough to stay out of the bass to get to the trout and king salmon. His custom shad-patterned spoons or Trinidad Tackle’s Optimizer Jr. spoons are working at depths from 45 to 70 feet, and he said, “The kings are at 45 feet in the early morning, and we are going through stacks of shad that are at least 10 feet thick at depths from 20 to 30 feet. The bass are higher in the water column, and they will load up every rod when you pass through the schools.” Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake dropped around a foot to 791.30 feet in elevation. Two club bass tournaments remain in October with four more club events in November. A self-inspection is required for launching.
EAGLE LAKE — Trout fishing remains slow, but there are still quality fish to be landed, mostly by trolling with spoons in red/orange. The minnow bite hasn’t turned on, but as the water cools further, action may improve by mid-October. The Department of Fish and Wildlife planted a total of 106,000 Eagle Lake strain trout two weeks ago, and these fish will grow for the coming years. The Gallatin launch ramp is open with the dock in the water, and the Eagle Lake Marina Store is open.
FOLSOM LAKE — Bass fishing is improving as the fish are loading up on pond smelt in preparation for the coming cooler temperatures. Find the bait in the coves and toss a variety of jigs, plastics, crankbaits, or jerkbaits for numbers. Holdover rainbow trout to 16 inches are found at depths to 40 feet with shad patterned spoons or blade/’crawler combinations. King salmon overall is slow, but there are quality fish to be had at depths from 40 to 70 feet with Brad’s Cut Plugs loaded with tuna or anchovy behind an 8-inch 360 dodger at speeds from 1.3 to 2.1 mph. When you find fish, stay on them.. 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 dropped slightly to 409.14 feet in elevation and 45 percent. Granite Bay Stage 1 and Browns Ravine-Hobie Cove are the only open launch ramps for motorized boats with trailers. Only one bass tournament is scheduled through the end of November.
McCLURE LAKE — Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported like Don Pedro, the spotted and largemouth bass are feeding heavily on shad in the main lake and in the coves. Topwater lures, flutter spoons, umbrella rigs, or flukes are all effective along with plastics on the drop-shot or jigs. He said, “A 7-pounder was landed on a jig this week so there are some larger fish in the lake.” The lake dropped to 801.03 feet in elevation and 62%. The lake is seeing lots of action in the next two months with 5 club tournaments in October with six more in November.
LAKE McSWAIN — The Merced Irrigation District’s Fall Trout Derby took place on October 4/5th, and the derby format is changed this year with no derby registration, and no FishDonkey. A $20 vehicle entry fee applies on Oct. 4 and covers all passengers for derby participation. The recent trout plant has spurred on the bank bite with Power Bait, inflated nightcrawlers, or Kastmasters from the Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile, or the peninsula between the Marina. Another trout plant is scheduled for this week. The lake is at 90 percent.
NEW MELONES —Trout and bass are taking center stage here, and the key is finding the bait schools in the main lake and in the coves. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service is finding quick limits of quality rainbow trout with hand-painted Speedy Shiners or T-Spoons in red/gold or pink/purple at depths from 45 to 65 feet. He said, if you get up to 40 feet, your lines will get attacked by the spotted bass.” The shad schoolos are thick, and bass are taken on ‘whatever you want to throw at them,’ including topwater, crankbaits, spoons, flukes, or umbrella rigs. All boats must be quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated for golden mussels. A decontamination unit is available at the New Melones Marina. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the Glory Hole and Tuttletown ramps are open from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. From Monday through Thursday, only the Glory Hole ramp is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The hours are subject to change. Downstream Lake Tulloch established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed. The lake dropped slightly to 1016.29 feet in elevation and 68% with downstream Tulloch at 91%.
LAKE OROVILLE — Similar to Folsom Lake, king salmon action is bound to improve as the water cools and the kings move up to feed on the bait schools. Holdover rainbows are possible for trollers pulling a variety of shad-patterned spoons at depths to 40 feet. Bass fishing remains solid as the spotted bass are feeding heavily on the pond smelt, and a variety of techniques are effective. Boat inspections for golden mussels are required at the North Forebay at Garden Ave and Highway 70. 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 dropped 15 feet within the past two weeks to 792.42 feet in elevation and 59%. Four club tournaments are scheduled through the end of October with three more club events in November as major circuits are avoiding the lake due to restrictive fees.
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