Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 05/12/2008 05:31 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 05/12/2008 05:41 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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New Melones Lake Fishing Report for 5/12/08~From Glory Hole Sports
Angels Camp, CA....Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,396,344 acre-feet of water. The lake water level dropped almost two feet last week and is at 991 ft. above sea level and 97 ft. from full capacity. Water in the main lake is approximately 68-70 degrees. All ramps are in the water. Angels Boat Ramp is the shallowest ramp......
Trout: slow for trout- most anglers are catching kokanee instead, although are seeing the occasional big brown trout. Trollers should head to the main lake near Glory Hole Point or near the spillway and Rose Island, or head upriver between the two bridges. Tie on a pink Hootchie, a firetiger or shad-patterned Apex lure, a firetiger or copper pop Uncle Larrys Spinner tipped with a piece of nightcrawler, or a larger Trophy Trout in any color. Use ball-troll flashers on your downrigger ball when fishing for rainbows in deeper water in warm weather. Big browns are still being caught on rolled shad, or big shad or rainbow colored lures such as Rapala Countdowns, Rebels, or Trophy Sticks. Rhonda Bedegrew of Pine Grove wins The Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest and a free deli lunch, with a 3-pound, 11-ounce brown trout that she caught while trolling a green Apex 60 feet deep in the waters off of Glory Hole Point. John Darroch also caught a brown trout. Bank fishing is over at the lake, but rivers and creeks are open, and have been planted with catchable rainbows. Power Bait, Pautzkes Eggs, or small spinners such as Rooster Tails or Mepps are all good choices for local stream fishing. 2-year-old Brayden Wyrick of Lodi caught three nice rainbows while fishing with Power Bait in Murphys Creek. Scott Silva of Angels Camp fished Angels Creek with a silver Mepps Spinner and caught a limit of rainbows.
Kokanee: Getting better all the time! Kokanee are large for this time of year- weighing up to two-and-a-half pounds, and measuring up to 161/2 inches. Trollers should try their luck 50-60 feet deep in the waters off of Glory Hole Point, near the spillway and Rose Island, or upriver beyond the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge. Start off shallower in the early morning, and fish deeper as the sun rises. Pink Hootchies by R & K Spinners, Glitterbugs, or Rocky Mountain Tackle are all hot right now. Other lures to try include Apex, Uncle Larrys Spinners, and Sockeye Slammers. Choose pink, green, or firetiger colors. Use a dodger, Wild Thing, or a Sling Blade in watermelon, nickel/chartreuse, nickel/pink, or nickel/silver prism. Pro Cures new UV Flash garlic, Carp Spit, and anise are good scents right now. Remember- scent is very important when fishing for kokanee. Kokanee are very soft-mouthed right now, so be gentle when setting the hook and reeling them up! Many anglers use a rubber snubber to increase the number of fish they get to the boat. Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing says that limits of giant kokanee can be found in the main lake while trolling 40-65 feet deep, but recommends watching out for submerged islands, especially in the waters in North Bay between the spillway and Black Bart Cove- those islands eat downrigger balls! Anglers who caught kokanee this week include 4-year-old Robert Lydon, John Darroch, Daniele Taylor, Richard Kowski, Lyn Green, and Dale Weston, Fred Eberle, Galen Young, and Bruce Barron (all with Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing).
Bass: good, despite falling water levels. With the warm 65-68-degree water, bass have moved into the shallows and are pre-spawn or post-spawn. The upcoming full moon next week should encourage spawning activity. Bass can be found in less than 5 feet of water on windy flats, using shakin worms such as Zoom Shakin worms or Roboworm Shakin Worms with shaky heads or brass n glass, or weightless Senkos. Crawdad colors such as green pumpkin, watermelon, or oxblood are good color choices. Most of the bigger fish are being caught on swimbaits- especially in the wind, and jigs. Please remember to gently release any bass that you catch during this time, so that they may complete their spawn and keep the lake populated with fish. Remember- the Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain our bass fishery. Taking one big female out of the lake also removes thousands of fry.
Catfish: slow, which is normal this time of year. Use anchovies, mackerel, sardines, or a ball of nightcrawlers. Leave your bail open so the cats can pick the bait up and swim with it- you will be more likely to hook them that way. Also, be sure to use a sliding sinker weight.
Crappie and bluegill: Picking up with the warm weather. Night fishing under a light is best, although anglers are catching crappie during the day, too. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 10-20 feet deep. Bear Creek, Mormon Creek and Carson Creek are all good bets. For crappie, try fishing live small or medium minnows, or crappie jigs with jigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white. Remember- 25 is the limit for crappie.
Melanie
Glory Hole Sports
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(209) 736-4333
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