Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/05/2010 04:21 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/05/2010 04:21 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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New Melones Lake Fishing Report for January 4, 2010.....Happy New Year and Keep On Fishing!~by Glory Hole Sports
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,159,528 acre-feet of water. The water level rose 1 foot this week, to 963 ft. above sea level and 125 ft. from full capacity. Water temperature is about 54-57 degrees at the surface. Water is gin-clear and has about a 10-foot visibility in the main lake. Trout: Still plenty of big rainbows being caught this week. The colors on these fish are beautiful, and they are fat and healthy- 2 ½ pounds is the average size. In addition to the great holdovers that are being caught, the DFG has been regularly planting catchable-sized rainbows- many of these are bigger than normal, too. Glory Hole Cove and Tuttletown ramp have been the top spot for shore anglers, as well as those still-fishing from their boats. Fish are coming into the shallows, so target 5-20 feet of water. Use Berkley ....
chartreuse or green glitter Power Bait, Power Eggs, or a crawler/marshmallow combo. Throwing a small silver/blue, firetiger, or rainbow trout patterned spoon such as a Kastmaster or shad or rainbow trout imitation lure such as a Rapala Countdown is another good choice. Bill Anberg of Burson wins Glory Hole Sports Big (trout) Fish of the week contest with a 3 lb. 4 oz. rainbow, which he caught in Glory Hole Cove with green/glitter Power Bait. Among others who caught nice trout off the bank are: Kristopher Momyer of Angels Camp/Arnold with a fat 2 lb. 13 oz. while fishing Glory Hole Cove with orange power eggs; Brian Campfield of Angels Camp had a 2 lb. 7 oz rainbow from Glory Hole Point caught on a nightcrawler; Jeff Palatini of Angels Camp with his 2lb. 7 oz rainbow caught on chartreuse Powerbait/crawler combo; Michael of Santa Clara caught 2 trout fishing marshmallows off the Tuttletown shoreline; Marquiz and Mason Mendoza of Manteca caught their rainbows while fishing rainbow glitter Powerbait near the Tuttletown Ramp and Sarah Dennison of Ravensdale, Washington caught her rainbow fishing rainbow glitter Powerbait off Glory Hole Point. Those with boats would be better off pulling into the bank and still fishing. If you would rather troll, tie on a shad-patterned or rainbow trout patterned lure such as Needlefish or Excel lures, or a smaller Rapala Countdown. Target the mouths of coves such as Glory Hole Cove, and major creek arms such as Mormon Creek. For browns, troll Rapala Countdowns, Trophy Sticks or other lures in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or roll shad, 10-30 feet deep in the same areas, but closer to structure.
Kokanee: The season is over. The kokes will be biting again in spring, although we typically see a few or next years fish caught in the winter. We have had several trollers report catching some silver kokanee while surface trolling.
Bass: are targeting the schools of small shad- if you find the shad you will find the bass. Unfortunately, most are in the middle of the lake or upriver and not oriented to structure, so trout trollers are catching them, rather than bass anglers. Try using several jig combos and slow ripping (Luck Craft Pointer 100 in Rainbow Trout), or darter head rigged green pumpkin tube. Bites are generally 20-50 feet deep, and slow presentation will encourage sluggish fish to bite. Look for areas with steep drop offs such as main creek channels upriver. Throw brown/purple jigs, or a watermelon/red flake or green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or other creature baits, either Carolina rigged or on a shaky head. Drop-shotting a 4 shad-color worm or minnow imitation is also a hot bait right now. Swimbaits are catching the big ones when the wind picks up. Huddleston ROF12 in any trout pattern is the top swimbait right now. Drag the swimbait across windy points. 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. It is time to carry a bass-popping needle to get the air out of the air bladder before you release any deep-caught bass. We have directions available at Glory Hole Sports if you dont know how to do this, as well as good fizzing needles.
Catfish: James and Greg Walker of Twain Harte win this weeks Glory Hole Sports Big (catfish) of the week contest with his 10 lb. 6 oz. cat caught off of Heron Point in the Tuttletown area on Rainbow Glitter Powerbait while trout fishing. Catfish will move out into deeper water at this time of year. 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: Ellery Stevenson with Steven Ridlay of Fresno again caught 23 large crappie while night fishing near Angels Creek. Ellery says he is catching the crappie 12 to 15 deep, while fishing from shore. Night fishing under a light is best. 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.
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