Bait
In some areas, you might notice that bass respond well to live bait, such as herring or minnow, but the bass in Calaveras Lake are different. The best type of bait here are chicken livers, especially those that are fresh. Frozen bait doesn't work as well, and if you plan on using it, you need to defrost it and let it sit in the cooler first. Shad is another common type of bait that bass respond to in the lake.
Artificial Lures
Artificial lures work well on largemouth bass in Calaveras Lake, but not as well with the hybrid striped bass. Plastic worms are one of the better options since you can jiggle the line and force the worm to respond in a lifelike way. You also have the option of spinner bait and crank bait. If you're after the striped bass, try rattle traps or spoons, which look more lifelike than some of the other artificial lures.
Best Spots
There are two places in Calaveras Lake that provide the best bass fishing. The first spot is along the dam where the water reaches a depth of 15 feet, though you will need to pull your boat back since right beside the dam, the water is shallower. The other spot is the crappie wall, and once again, you want a water depth of at least 15 feet and more if you can find it.
Season
If you plan on bass fishing in Calaveras Lake, then you need to decided on the type of bass you want, as each one has a different season. Largemouth bass are spotted from May to August, with earlier in the season being the best. If you're more interested in hybrid striped bass, then you'll want to visit during the high season, which runs from April to June.
