Black Butte's larger bass typically stick to the backs of coves, where shad-pattern crankbaits and ripbaits work well when fish are active. Try Texas-rigging a chartreuse grub when the fishing is slow, working your way from shallow to deep until you locate bass. When all else fails, tie on a drop-shot rig and target the submerged trees on the south side of the lake.

For information, call Black Butte Lake at (530) 865-4781.

Lake Oroville (Butte County) -- Spotted bass are king at Oroville, where 50- to 100-fish days are commonplace. The problem is that there are so many fish that they all look like they came out of the same small-bass mold. However, if it's non-stop action that you're after, this is where you want to be. The lake also has largemouths and smallmouths, but they're tougher to find.

Spots will eat 4-inch straight-tail worms rigged on dart heads throughout the year, but the best times are from early March through May. Soft plastics with some blue seem to out-fish worms without. Target shoreline cover with jigs or lizards for largemouths, and deepwater ledges with small grubs for smallies. Oroville has a 12- to 15-inch slot limit.

For information, call Huntington's Sportsman's Store at (530) 534-8000.

SIERRA FOOTHILLS
The best way to describe this region, especially during summer, is hot, hot, hot! The fishing can be red-hot too, but the key to catching bass is understanding how they relate to less-than-ideal conditions.

New Melones Reservoir (Calaveras and Tuolumne counties) -- The water level at Melones frequently fluctuates, although changes are gradual because of its sheer size. You can catch largemouths here regardless of whether the lake is rising or falling, as long as you base your decision about where to look on which way it's going.

When the reservoir is filling up, you'll find an abundance of bass in newly flooded brush and trees. Coax them out with white-on-white spinnerbaits or trout-pattern ripbaits. When the water level is heading south, use crankbaits or drop-shot worms off steep points and along ledges.

For information, call Glory Hole Sports at (209) 736-4333.

Lake Tulloch (Tuolumne County) -- The number of water-skiers and personal watercraft enthusiasts who flock to this relatively narrow reservoir is enough to boggle the mind, but that's no reason for you to stay away. Lake managers have done a good job of setting aside plenty of no-wake areas that provide relatively peaceful fishing.

Tulloch is loaded with smallmouths and largemouths averaging 2 to 4 pounds. Start your search for smallies in the Green Springs arm or upriver, casting spinnerbaits, ripbaits and small crankbaits. The back of Black Creek gets choked with submerged weeds, creating ideal habitat for largemouths; try topwater poppers or soft plastics.

For information, call Fisherman's Warehouse at (209) 239-2248.

Lake McClure (Stanislaus County) -- McClure is home to both largemouth and smallmouth bass, but it's the prolific spotted bass that make this one of the region's best year-round lakes. You shouldn't head here with the hopes of catching a wall-hanger, but if you're looking for fast action, this is a place for it.

The only baits you'll need for McClure's spotted bass are a variety of 4-inch worms and 3-inch grubs -- cast each on dart-heads using light line. If you have your heart set on largemouths, try bulkier plastics or jigs during late spring and summer. For smallies, try downsized crankbaits in early spring. McClure has a 12- to 15-inch slot limit for all bass.

For information, call Lake McClure Marinas at (209) 378-2441.