Ok I posted last week about Calaveras and got some great info I thank you guys. I know to go to the right from the boat ramps to the power line area to fish and to the left there should be a jetty I think someone said. I plan to try the powerline area saturday. I'd really like to land some reds or basically whatever I can catch. I'll be using my light action rod with 8lb test and I have a 7ft catstik with 20lb test i'll be taking out as well. Is it best just to anchor in the shallows and cast out and see what I can get? I'd like to get either some bass or reds. So what is the best setup and bait to use? I have plenty of artificial worms and lizards. I'm just not sure how to fish them. Also do I need a net? I don't have a cast net yet since I spent alot of money getting the jon boat ready. Should I fish topwater lures or with a weighted popping cork? I'm basically clueless to calaveras and need advice since I'd like to learn how to catch fish there. I've never fished on lakes much at all before. Thanks for your patience with a noobie like me. Sorry to ask so many questions. I was looking on google maps at the lake trying to find these spots and it's kind of difficult. I assume the boat ramp is right after you drive in the main gate? I'm using that go get my bearings to look for what people tell me to look at. I also have no idea where the crappie wall is.

The reds have been hitting HEAD ON SHRIMP on the bottom Carolina rigged if you are not downrigging. If you have 2 clamp on rod holders. Put them on the transom of your boat and pull some BIG Crank baits (DD22's or some that will get down to 12-15' deep) Maybe pull one Crank bait and one 3/4oz. Rat-L-Trap in chrome/black or chrome/blue. If you got a depth finder stay in about 10-15' of water and just cruise around the banks where I had mentioned to you already. You're liable to get the Calli slam ritenow lol (Bass, Catfish, Reds, Stripers) all on that setup. I would not even know where to tell you to begin fishin for bass cause I aint caught a bass in Calli in many many years lol. If you're trolling with 8# test I hope you got PLENTY on your reels because a big 12-17# red is gona be stretching it's limits. Good luck to ya & Tight Lines!!!!


Rob

Whew...that's alot of questions..lol
first, yes a net would be a big bonus so you can catch tilapia,shad or perch and greatly improve your chances of catching reds.
Usually drifting or anhored up at the crappie wall is best with out down riggers.
If no net, u can use a mutlitude of lures to catch reds on out there from casting or trolling them behind your boat.
1/2 oz to 3/4 oz rattle traps work well in silver and blue
1/2 oz sprite spoons either gold or silver work good as well
Cocahoe minnows in chartruese work good too.
Bass are out there but few and far between, I ouwldn't hold my hopes up too high on the green fish.
If your going to fish the wall (approx 700 yrds due west of the launch) watch how others fish it and ask questions...there are some very knowledgable "regulars" up there that are more than friendly and can help out..might even share some bait or throw a time or two for ya.

If your wanting to catch cats, use the shad or a can of big marvs punchbait with a # 6 treble hook fished on bottom or with a float...
I know this is vague but there's alot of parts to each of your questions..

This shoudl get you in the right direction...
Also slabbing spoons will get yousome action as well..
I dispise the stuff but liver will catch Hybrid bass as well as catfish out there too..
hope this helps..
Cliff

rob's right..forgot about the DD22's and shrimp...
Shrimp and liver...two things you won't find in my boat...LOL...just aint right..lol

Cliff I hate the stuff myself. Seems all my buddies want to use the carp in my boat though. Then YOU GUESSED IT come clean up time???? UH HUH where the he!! you at??? I catch just as many if not more cats on Big Marv's & Shad or Perch/Talapia as any of them on liver. But oh well to each their own. Thank God for pressure washers & car washes!!!!! Them Stripers love that liver though. The shrimp I can deal with cause I buy the head on stuff from HEB and not that little TV Bait pack stuff. My lord those things REAKKKKKKKKK....... I'm gona have to try settin up on that hump by the crappie wall slabbin some spoons though aint tried that yet.

Rob

if no downriggers outta all that mentioned above get some dd22's and bounce them off the bottom.. that's what i'd do ..the wall is too crowded usually if the wind is right and ya got a bunch of knuckleheads...it for sure can be productive tho. ...also if you plan on releasing any reds getcha some bigger line so they aren't belly up from a 40 minute fight

I may sound ignorant but what are DD22's? And where can I get them?

DD22's are DEEP diving crank baits. You can get them at Academy they are made by Rapala. If you want to save a couple of pennies look into the H2O Deep divers. They may be a lil cheaper. You want crank baits that will bounce the bottom as jsb said. So if you plan on runnin in 10-15' of water get cranks that run 15-20' if you plan on trolling shallower 7-10' of water get some that run a lil shallower. With the shallower running cranks even if you get deeper than they will run you're still in good shape if the fish are at the depth the cranks are running. Get you some SHAD COLORED CRANKS AND SOME CRAWFISH COLORES CRANKS and you SHOULD be OK. With your lil aluminum boat I would get some DD22's though or something that says it will dive 18-20' and work the reed bed on the right side as you are headed towards the powerlines. You should do good there.

Rob

OH YEAH ONE more thing....... IF your bait gets hung on something on the bottom (which it probably will) dont start yankin on it. Free spool your reel and make a big circle putting your boat behind the lure. In other words go back where you came from and drive towards the lure. It SHOULD come loose. Might take a lil pullin but it might save you a few $$$$.


Rob

Nevermind searched and found tons of them. Will take a trip out to academy this afternoon.

Al PM sent

I use Norman brand DD22's....another trick if it's a crankbait stuck on bottom...yank on the reel with drag loose as to let slack in there really fast, the crankbait alot of times floats loose...if that fails circle around like Mexicajun says

I used to troll with gold colored rebel deep divers, and don't know if they even make them anymore, but they are a medium sized crankbait, and I'd troll it using 10# line with a high capacity spooled spinning reel.

You needed a good drag and lots of room around your boat to fight the fish when they make those runs.

Used to get cut off by other boats trolling too close while I was fighting the fish though.

The secret if you don't have downriggers is lighter line to get the lure down, and it also helps the action of the lure, and the line isn't as visible to the fish, so you get more hookups.

I've got to dig through my tackle box to see if I've got anymore of those old lures left!