Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 07/21/2009 07:55 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 07/21/2009 08:20 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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New Melones Lake Fishing Report~by Glory Hole Sports
Trout: bank angling at Melones is done for the season- head to local creeks, or better yet, to higher elevation lakes such as Alpine or Spicer. Night fishing for trout under a light has started this week. Try dropping a submersible light 20 feet deep and fish 30-50 feet deep with a crawler or crawler/Powerbait combo. Mark Imperial and Ryan Gonzalez from Stockton have this method down to a science, including using the moon phases as well as hitting the creek channels at the right time to catch both their limits at 36 feet deep with......
crawlers this week. If you are trolling and wanting to target trout you might have better luck fishing far up the river channel above the Parrots Ferry Bridge. Trollers at Melones are mainly catching kokanee right now, but we are seeing nice rainbows in mixed trout/kokanee limits. Most have been caught on kokanee rigs. As a rule, trout are 10 feet shallower than kokanee in the main lake, and are hitting brightly colored lures. For browns, troll Rapala Countdowns or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or roll shad, 50-60 feet deep (in the same areas, but closer to structure).
Kokanee: Is red hot for early birds, and easy limits of fat 14"-16" fish are being caught. Right now during this heat wave the key to catching kokanee is to definitely get out as early as possible. The main lake is the best trolling spot near the spillway, the dam or Rose Island, and target the windward side of the lake for best luck- the wind pushes plankton towards the banks, and the kokanee follow the plankton. Kokanee are moving deeper, and can be found 45-70 feet deep- deeper in the hottest part of the day. Glitterbugs tiny hootchies, wiggling Hootchies Things, R & K Hootchies, Uncle Larry's or RMT spinners, Sockeye Slammers, kokanee bugs, and Apex will all invite a bite from an aggressive kokanee right now. Best colors have been pink, orange, green and Kevorkian. All lures should be trolled behind dodgers, Crystal Basin or Glitter Bug trolling blades, or Sling Blades in chrome, gold, pink, or chartreuse. Tip your hooks with shoepeg corn soaked in scent- garlic, anise, corn and herring, and Kokanee Special, or a mixture of any of those are all working. Pautski's Fire Corn has also been working well, in any color.
Bass: bite is fair. Please gently release any bass that you catch. Remember- the Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain our bass fishery. There is a good top-water bite going on at dawn and dusk. Throw a Zara Spook, buzz bait, or Pop-Rs. When the sun is up, throw crawdad or shad-colored Carolina-rigged 6" worms, rip-baits, spinnerbaits, Zoom Baby Brush Hog, or Senkos. Bass love the strong mud lines that are forming on the lake right now, so target main lake points with a good mud line. Fish the shaded side of coves and against steep drop-offs and cliff faces during the heat of the day, as well. Night fishing with a dark colored power worm right now is also a good way to target bass.
Catfish: good and will continue to improve. Use anchovies, mackerel, sardines, chicken liver, 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. Be sure to use a sliding sinker weight.
Crappie and bluegill: Fair-to-good. Night fishing under a light is best. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 10'-30' 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.
Report From Danny Layne
As you know the bite on kokes is wide open.
Early last week the fish came off South Island from 40' to 55' and the later part of the week limits were taken in Carson Creek area at depths from 50' to 70'. I might add that I found bigger fish in the Carson area.
Surface temps 80 plus degrees are driving the fish deeper along with the kokes preparing to spawn. We are seeing a few fish that are turning pink.
My most productive lures this past week were Glitter Bug pink or Chartreuse Hootchies, Uncle Larry's Mad Cow, Uncle Larry's Pink Vee Pink Tiger scented with Vanilla, Anise or Garlic-flavored Shoepeg. Also here is a new trailer( in place of corn) that last week was a killer, Berkley Gulp's "Maggots" in either pink or natural.
Water Conditions:
New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,255,975 acre-feet of water. Water level dropped two feet this week and is at 975 ft. above sea level and 113ft. from full capacity. Water temperature is about 74-79 degrees. Water is slightly stained, with strong mud lines forming near shore. With falling water levels, beware of unmarked island tops!
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Seminar News
We have a great series of Sunday Afternoon Seminars planned. Call or come into the store for a schedule of events. They will be just as fun and informative (with great raffles!) as our Annual Seminar is. Come and join us! Next seminar is Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 3 pm:
Using a Light at Night to Catch Fish in The Lake, by Tom Dutil of Dutil Fishing Charters.
On many local lakes, night fishing with a light is legal. This is a great technique for summer trout and crappie. It's fun to spend the evening under the stars while still-fishing from your boat, and the bite is usually great! Raffle to follow seminar. Call Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333 for more details.
Learn how to use your electronic sonar, fish finder, GPS, and mapping to its full potential!
Sign up now for our free hands-on electronics seminar! Class will be on Saturday, August 15, at 10 a.m., will last approximately 3 hours, and will cover all levels from ba
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