🎣 Johnny Creek Baits Weekly Motherlode Fishing Report: February 10, 2026

Our winter “spring” lasted almost three solid weeks, and while it was fun while it lasted, the last couple weeks have shown a definite shift in the bite. With another set of storms rolling through, expect things to change yet again in the coming days. On New Melones Lake, the swimbait bite has noticeably fallen off, but the lake is still fishing well if you adjust. The finesse and jig bite has remained solid, with reports of good fish coming from all over the lake. While there hasn’t been much chatter about true giants, anglers are consistently finding fish from as shallow as five feet down to around fifty. Wind-blown points, up-river stretches, and submerged islands have been the most productive areas. Our go-to setup has been a G-Money jig in PB&J paired with a Johnny Creek Purple Haze Neko as a trailer, which has been a reliable producer as conditions tighten up.

Lake McClure has been fair, though it hasn’t seen the same shallow activity as Melones. Most of the better bites are coming deeper, with fewer fish being reported above thirty feet. One consistent pattern has been the Johnny Creek green pumpkin creature bait rigged on a dart head, working best in roughly forty feet of water. It’s been more of a grind here, rewarding anglers who are willing to slow down and stay methodical.

Over at Lake Don Pedro, the bass bite has been slower overall, though there is still a decent jig bite and the occasional swimbait fish for those putting in the time. Where Pedro has really shined, however, is the crappie bite. For anglers who can locate the schools, the action has been downright ridiculous and well worth the effort.

As the next storms move in, rising water, added stain, and repositioning fish are all on the table. Staying adaptable, keeping a finesse rod on deck, and leaning into jigs when the bite gets tough will continue to be key over the next couple weeks.

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