New Hogan Reservoir

Warm months of July, August and September are best for Stripers feeding on top.

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Reservoir Info

For most fly fishers this is a top water Striper fishery. It is best in the warmer months of July through September. August is a prime time month on New Hogan. Here you need a boat with an outboard motor to fish this larger open body of water. At any time from daylight till dark you can see schools of Stripers chasing schools of tiny Threadfin Shad to the surface. It is very exciting fishing but it is not real easy catching for most. It is something you need to see for yourself because it is as close to wild salt water fishing as you can get.

Most normally go out in different areas on the lake and wait for the Stripers to start surfacing after the Shad. You then motor over in that direction shutting down and drifting to the outside edge of the school and then casting into it with a larger tropical floating line and a small light colored Shad imitation. The fish run 3 to 6 pounds and seem to be stunted. Some fish get bigger but most are in this size range. The limit is 10 fish and it is a great place to keep and kill fish to eat. You are actually helping out the situation and these fish are very 'clean' not being subject to the agricultural pollution of the Delta and river fish. The North and South Fork of the Calaveras River flow into New Hogan.

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Tackle

You need a powerful 9 foot # 7, 8 or 9 weight fly rod. It is best to get a stiffer tropical weight forward floating line because when it is hot and the line is lying on the deck of a boat they works best. You can over-line your rod one or even two sizes so you can make one false cast and shoot the line very quickly before the school goes down. Use a 7.5' 0x stiff Rio leader with 2' of 0x Seagar Grand Max fluorocarbon tippet with a small 2.5" x #2 - #1/0 Threadfin Shad imitation. I think we will be trying the new 'Gummy Minnows' and 'Crease flies' up there this summer. We have some new floating Puglisi streams now too.

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Camping

There are lots of camp grounds right on the lake. Some regulars to the lake like Dan Williams go up in the afternoon and make a camp. Then he goes out and fishes till dark coming back for a nice summer evening on the lake. He gets up and hit them hard in the early morning and then quits and goes home at noon.

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New Hogan Reservoir Map

• Courtesy Fish Sniffer site.

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• Kiene's New Hogan Reservoir Guide recommendations.