McSwain Reservoir Report- 4Jan09

"Bassmanben" and I made a early morning trip to McSwain Reservoir today, launched around 8a. Fog was thick up until 12 or so, 1/4 to 1/2 mile visibility. The water temp was around 52 degrees.

Trout action was on 10 minutes after launching and we caught fish right up until getting out, sometime around 1p. I lost count mid-morning, but between the two of us I think we landed 30 or so fish. The largest I landed was around 16"-18", most of the days catch were around 12"-14."

Enjoy.
RR

Great report - way to hookup and get it done.   

well done.  I think I'll have to give that lake a try

Great spot close to the Valley, 45 minutes from the Modesto. It is closed to gas engines which makes it even more attractive on foggy days like today. From what I hear, they have been stocking it fairly frequently.

Depending on the weather, I am going to head back up there next weekend. (with a cooler this time)

RR

Nice work gentlemen, ah, but you can't fool me.   That doesn't look like McSwain but rather the Merced River below McSwain.  Sounds like the fish cooperated, much more so than when Ben and I ventured out Thanksgiving morning.

Michael

It is below the dam. It is that little spot between the dam and the Merced falls.

WTG on the trout action gatorjit. BTW, were you trolling for these guys
or sitting still?

Jedmo

yes, the spot was the merced river below mcswain dam.  don't fault gatorjit for the misnomer as he's originally from florida. the cold weather must have messed up his brain =)

we started out around 8ish, trolled around for a while with no luck.  we did a lot better casting spinners towards the shoreline.  there are a lot of fish in there still from heavy dfg plants in december. 

we each landed approximately 15 fish, ranging from 12-15 inches.  hooking those rainbows in the shallow water was a blast as many of them would immediately go airborne or blasting across the flats.

we found that most of the fish were feeding in shallow flats above the weedline, so a spinner worked above that would nail em.  found two distinct groups of fish that were feeding. 

a pretty good day and we took off at 1pmish. thanks for joinin me out there RR!

oh and one more thing - it was RR's first freshwater trout!  they don't have those back home in florida i guess!

Great report, nice fish.

Great report BMB.  You mentioned the weedline, was it any better or worse than a month and a half ago?

Michael

Michael, i would say significantly better, but still plenty of weeds around. I would think they will die off significantly by the end of the month if we keep these cold temps.  it was 32 degrees leaving home sunday and 35 when we hit the water.

the weeds don't seem as thick though, so my lures would get stuck in them but would pull out easier.  also the water level was up about 6 inches (big whoop i know)