Take your pick of rainbows, Eagle Lake strain rainbow, silver and king salmon or an occasional brown trout when sampling Lake Don Pedro. This is another extensive, sinuous lake where trolling will be your best chance to find fish in any volume.
Start by pulling lures in the main bay in front of the marina heading towards the dam. Troll the face of the dam and then circle back to Ramos Creek.
Or, try another variation and drag the shorelines of the north and south bays. In the summer, cooler water can be found in the Tuolumne River Arm.
The center channel the traverses the lake is also another prime choice for sustained trolling action. It is very important to monitor the schools of Shad at Don Pedro.
Electronics and fish finder usage at Lake Don Pedro hinge on triangulating thermoclines where trout and salmon align with the shad migration path, so deploy a high-resolution CHIRP sonar and set the screen to a narrow scroll speed to track bait pods in real time. Watch for the 60-120 foot depth markers during early morning and late evening pushes; adjusting the sensitivity to avoid clutter keeps focus on the dense arcs that signal active schools.
A precise downrigger setup begins with a cannonball weight just heavy enough to hold the line stable in windy conditions, and swapping in a 7-inch aluminum ball as the water warms prevents drag-induced depth fluctuations. During spring and fall turnover, run the rigger at 20-40 feet; when summer stratification occurs, push deeper to 70-110 feet where the cool, oxygenated layer holds the trout and salmon.
Lure color choice must match water clarity—opt for bright pearl or holographic purple when visibility exceeds six feet to mimic gleaming shad, then switch to deep-contrast blues or chartreuse with a purple back as turbidity rises. Time of day also matters: dawn and dusk call for subtle greens or smoke patterns that blend with low light, while the bright afternoon sun demands high-contrast finishes to pierce glare and trigger aggressive strikes.
Speed control and trolling patterns revolve around keeping the lures in the strike zone without overworking them. Maintain 1.8-2.2 mph when running full harnesses and edges, then slow to 1.5 mph when only a few lines are deployed for a more seductive presentation.
Vary your path with slight arcs and zig-zags off points and drop-offs so you sweep new ground while the electronics trace the school movement, maximizing coverage without losing the lures’ natural sway. The trout or salmon will follow these migrating baitfish around the lake.
Speedy Shiners, blue/silver Kastmaster, Silver Z-Rays, Triple Teazers, Phoebes, and blades’n crawlers are standard fare. Locals prefer to use smaller flashers with nightcrawlers in the summer months.
Fish this rig at 40 to 60 foot depths. Lead core aficionados using Dave Davis or Ford Fender lake trolls can also score high marks with the popular Needlefish patterns.
Visual spottings of surface-feeding boils will help, but proper usage of electronic fish finders will give more accurate results. This is especially true when the bait is schooled deep.
If the fish come up to the surface, cut your engine and make long casts to the commotion. Kastmaster and Super Duper spoons will work.
Or, throw a small white Mini-Jig on the light line for these top-water trout. There is a modest still fishing bite at Don Pedro.
Fish the shorelines across from the south marina with eggs, nightcrawlers and marshmallows. Give night fishing a shot, soaking some bait primarily at the marina.
For shore anglers around Lake Don Pedro, the marina area and nearby south bay hold the most consistent trout action, with rocky points and boat slips offering structure where fish stack up. Bank fishermen will do well to focus on the western side of the south bay where deeper water lies close to shore, and to keep moving until they locate the active schools near the marina’s breakwater.
Presenting bait carefully makes all the difference, especially with PowerBait, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs, which all have slightly different needs for still-fishing success. Keep PowerBait molded into small doughy balls on a light jighead, let nightcrawlers wiggle freely beneath a bobber, and thread salmon eggs through a small needle hook so they stay on the point of the drift without slipping off.
Night fishing at the marina can be especially productive when you combine calm, focused drifts with strategic lighting to keep your gear in view and spot cruising trout. Fish slowly along the inner marina lanes, watch your line carefully under glow sticks or led light, and change to slightly heavier sinkers so your presentations stay in the strike zone despite gentle currents.
Salmon anglers at Lake Don Pedro dial in kings and silvers by trolling spread rigs with a mix of hoochies, dodgers, and chrome spoons in the deeper basin swing where the river current meets the reservoir’s main lake. Watching your fishfinder for bait balls near the thermocline and adjusting lines to stay just above the drop-off keeps your presentation in the strike zone for big chrome hooks.
Brown trout at Don Pedro lurk in the shade of steep, rocky shoreline points and around submerged structure where cooler, oxygen-rich water holds the baitfish and crayfish they favor. Casting small, flashy spinners or drifting scented soft plastics across those seams just before sundown triggers their aggressive response to anything that looks like a quick meal.
The best time to chase kings and silvers is in the spring through early summer when the migrating runs pile into the lake, so plan for long trollers and steady retrievals during those early morning and twilight pushes. Brown trout become more active in late fall and winter when the water cools, but you can still coax bites in summer by targeting deep, cold-water pockets and staying patient as the light fades.
Lake Don Pedro is located in the Sierra foothills east of Modesto. There are fully developed camping and boating facilities at the lake.
Camping facilities at Lake Don Pedro include a mix of developed campgrounds with flush toilets, showers, and picnic areas as well as more primitive sites for those seeking solitude, and reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends. The marina offers boat launch ramps, pump-out stations, and fuel along with rentals for pontoons and fishing boats, plus a small store stocked with essentials.
Plan visits for late spring or early fall to avoid summer crowds and to enjoy mild weather while still benefiting from full water levels, keeping an eye on release schedules from upstream reservoirs that can affect boating conditions. Bring layered clothing, plenty of water, sunscreen, and boat safety gear, and pack extra supplies in case services at the marina are limited on slower weekdays.
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