Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/17/2011 04:59 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/17/2011 05:39 PM
Expires: 01/01/2016 12:00 AM
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New Melones Fishing Report for January 17th, 2011~by Glory Hole Sports
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,525,122 acre-feet of water. The water level still rising with an additional 2 feet this week and is now 1008 ft. above sea level and 80 ft. from full capacity. Water temperature is about 52-56 degrees at the surface- warmer in the south side of the lake. Water is slightly stained. There is about a 6-10 foot visibility.....
Don Noble of Modesto
Trout: We haven't had too many anglers come in with fish, but we have had quite a few anglers report good fishing for rainbows in the 1-to-2 pound range for both trollers and bank anglers. If bank fishing or still fishing from your boat, use Berkeley Select scented Power Bait, Power Eggs, salmon eggs, or a crawler/marshmallow combo, or throw Rapala Countdowns, Roostertails, or Kastmasters in shad-patterns. Good spots to bank fish from are under the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge and Glory Hole Point. Try still fishing from your boat- nose into areas with running water to tor target opportunistic trout feeding of insects that wash down. Trollers should target major coves and creek arms in the top 15 feet of water over deeper water. With the water clearing up after the rains, more natural colors such as shad or rainbow trout patterns are working best for trollers, but it wouldn't hurt to tie on a firetiger as well, if you have two rods in the water. Broken-back or Countdown Rapalas seem to be producing the most fish for trollers. Arctic Fox flies behind a wiggle disc are also working well. Remember- it is very important at this time of year to have plenty of line out when trout are right at the surface, so your lure is away from your boat's chop. 80-100 feet is optimal. It's time to target trophy brown trout- this is the time of year that brown trout are caught regularly. January and February are the hottest months for browns, and most are caught while in the mouths of major creek arms. The New Melones Lake record was caught last February by Jim Harlan, who trolled a firetiger Rapala 31 feet deep by the dam to catch a beautiful brown weighing over 13 pounds. This brown is now on display at Glory Hole Sports. Remember that browns are not pelagic like rainbows, but hold tight to structure, especially near steep drop-offs, where they lie in wait, ready to ambush prey (or your lure!). Most anglers who target big browns troll right next to submerged trees and rocky outcroppings, and are willing to lose some tackle. Use large rainbow trout, shad or firetiger patterned Rapala, Lucky Craft, or Trophy Stick Lures, or roll shad.
Kokanee: Done for the season, although we are seeing the occasional small kokanee caught.
Bass: Bite is tough right now, and seems to be better in the afternoon. Bass are hugging the bottom so tight you can't graph them. Target the leeward side of submerged islands and points, and creek arms with steep walls, 25-40 feet deep. Dragging split-shotted 4" or 6" worms in oxblood or other natural colors will get the most bites. Bass are barely biting, so pay attention, or you will miss the fish. Sometimes when bass are sluggish in the winter, you need to try both finesse fishing with small baits, and big-profile swimbaits to see what the fish are hungry for. Tie on a heavier jig with a bigger trailer such as a Yamamoto grub. California Reservoir jigs have a number in parentheses on the package- that number references the color of Yamamoto grub to use as a trailer. When we get a little weather or if the wind kicks up, throw a swimbait.
Don Noble of Modesto landed a beautiful 5-pound spotted bass on a drop-shotted pearl-colored leech, near the Tuttletown boat ramp. He brought her in to be weighed before releasing her. Don's bass looked really close to spawning. Spotted bass spawn earlier and deeper than largemouths, which is why spots tend to become prevalent in reservoirs such as Melones, where water levels often begin dropping during the largemouth spawn, so their beds get exposed. Remember to practice catch and release. The Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain our bass fishery. If you do decide to keep bass, please keep smaller spotted bass and turn the big largemouth loose.
Catfish: The catfish action seems to have finally slowed. For best success, fish the creek arms where big cats are actively feeding on anything that washes into the lake.
Crappie and bluegill: fair to slow. Target water running into the lake, such as waterfalls and other run-off areas, especially near structure. Bear Cove and Coyote Creek are usually great spots this time of year. Use red and white crappie jigs or small or medium minnows.
Don Pedro Report
By Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service
Hello,
Wow, a week's worth of good weather here in the Mother Lode has put the mostly lethargic trout and King salmon on Lake Don Pedro on a decent bite.
The rainbow action is coming near the power lines at the Flume into Wreck Bay, trolling the top ten feet with Ex-Cel Spoons. "Bows are a solid 16"with some hold-overs to three pounds.
Trolling from Hatch Creek towards Copper Mountain at depths from 60-100 ft. is producing King salmon from 16"-18"falling for rolled shad, Ex-Cel spoons or white Glitterbug Hoochies scented with Pautzke's krill.
Good Luck
11th Annual Trout Bout This Weekend
Need an excuse to go fishing? This Saturday, January 22nd, is a really fun tournament, and the weather is supposed to be nice. It is only $30 to join, so hook up your boat!
Call Jay Winchester at (209) 727-3977 or (209) 346-6464, or Marty Morfey at (209) 570-3345 for more details.
Sign-ups are at Glory Hole Sports from 5:00 to 6:00 am.
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