Need help with mother load lakes

[HawgCatcher]

I have never fished the mother load lakes and was wondering if they fish a lot like oroville? I've seen some good pictures from JohnnyC with some big large mouths. I would like to get some ideas so I'm not so blind when I get there.

thanks guys

[acm95301]

The Mother Lode Lakes all have some similarities in that they all are deep clear water man made resevoirs. On lakes Like Mcclure the Spotted bass dominate the regular catch. Don Pedro is more of a mix, with more largemouths.

Right now the lakes are in a fall pattern, with spotted bass busting shad on the surface, while some bass rest in the 35ft range. Topwaters, drop shot, and senkos/ robo worms are typical baits.

The main lake rocky points and shallow flats are likely locations for spotted bass, but with the shad running on top, you may find that mid-lake humps or even open water might produce.

other polular lures on the lake are swimbaits, football jigs, and spinnerbaits.

check Berserkbaits.com for some ideas.

[MT]

Interesting, I was wondering if Oroville fishes alot like the motherlode lakes. I'm sure the ones that have alot of spots like Melones and McClure are very similar to Oroville. My advice is just go and learn them like the rest of us or hire Johnny C. They can all be awesome to fish once you figure some things out. The bass up there behave like bass.

[Johnny C]

Herb, Melones is on fire for spots RIGHT NOW...Caught over 100 keepers today. They are fat and full of shad.

[acm95301]

There is a nice video on oroville by truebass.net with Dave Rush. Oroville looks a little bit like a motherlode lake, but the Largemouth arer supposed to be in one area, and the spotts in another generally. Also on the video he talks abouth hybrids and smallmouth with we are not having to deal with.

Also BAG had a good article on fishing spotted bass recently, on lake nacimento.

Also regarding the original post, Glory Hole sports puts out a fishing report on New Melones thats pretty good.

[bassinDerek]

ya smallmouths arnt bad. i caught my first one last fall on a buzzbait at don pedro i was so happy. but if you want to catch fish id prefer to go to melones or mcclure. ive herad latly a lot of people having a hard time at don pedro.

[HawgCatcher]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Shad*Wizard]

Hey Johnny C, any information you can give out on what the shad do in the Motherload lakes at different times of the year?...

[Johnny C]

Hey shad wizard, where did all these shad come from???..Melones and Pedro are loaded this year. Was at Hogan today and it was thick with shad. Seems like a banner year for shad.

[RMARX]

John - Any striper action at Hogan yet?

[Johnny C]

Just saw some small ones busting. Man there are guys that fish there that just sit and wait all day. I could not do that.I did catch some blacks, spots and meanmouth though.

[Richard - Sonora]

*NM*

[Shad*Wizard]

That's good news Johnny that there are tons of shad up there...Hopefully Clearlake shad do the same...Thanks for the info...