Posted by: John_Hamilton on 08/29/2013 10:04 PM
Updated by: John_Hamilton on 08/29/2013 11:28 PM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
:
New Melones Fishing Report ~from Glory Hole Sports
Angels Camp, CA...Greetings! We have been getting a few calls in regards to the fire and the smoke on the lake. Most days the smoke has not been to bad and seems to clear up mid-morning. The evenings have been clear and cooling off to a very comfortable temperature. Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,098,977 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped two feet this week, and is currently at 956 ft. above sea level and 130 ft. from full. The water temperature is cooling a bit but still a fairly warm 76-81 degrees. The lake is stained with mud lines forming near the shore in the afternoon.
Stephanie Liechty with a quality fish caught on the surface.
Trout: Slow. There haven't been many anglers targeting trout. Best bet would be to fish the main lake by the Dam, spillway, and near the 49 bridge. The trout are hanging around the old river channel in deeper/cooler water. The shad are starting to school up near the mouths of major creek channels. The intersection where a major creek channels meets the old river channel is great area to target the trout. Night fishing anglers are still catching a few limits of chunky 2-pound plus rainbows while fishing under a submersible light. Try using night crawlers and Power Bait to target these quality fish. Trolling anglers try using shad patterned baits that have a large profile. Shad Raps, Rattle Traps, Speed Traps, and Apexs are a few good choices. Trolling in dingy/stained water it is a good time to use a large string of flashers. Ford Fenders, Cow Bells, Lake Trolls, and Ball Trolls will create a lot of commotion and draw fish from a distance.
Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest goes to Bob Trambley of Twain Harte. He caught a nice 4-pound, 5-ounce rainbow trout while fishing under a submersible light near the marina. Bank fishing has been very slow and usually is during the summer months. Best bet for shore anglers is to head to the high country lakes. Fly fishing local streams has slowed a bit but is still worth while. During the day try stripping streamers and buggers and in the evenings try using a Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, or a Light Cahill for rising fish.
Kokanee: Fair. The kokanee are working their way upriver for their annual spawn and die. We have reports of a few fish being caught in the dam spillway area, but the majority of fish are being caught near the 49 bridge and up toward Parrots Ferry Bridge. The fish are starting to get a little color with some having a little hook mouth showing. The bite has been fairly good for most. The fish that are being caught are extremely feisty and very fun to catch. The kokanee have been schooling in deep water for the last few months. Try targeting fish from 70-100' of water. There are a few different setups that have been producing limits. The most popular seems to be a micro hoochie trolled behind a small teardrop dodger. Pink, green, and orange are good color choice for both the blade and the lure. It is very important to add plenty of scent to the blade and lure. Garlic, anise, kokanee special, and bloody tuna are a few favorites. Don't forget to tip your baits with dyed and scent shoe peg corn.
Bass: Fair. The bite has been pretty good in the morning and evening. Generally the top water bite is good at this time of year but right now we are getting very few surface blow ups. Most fish are being caught on a variety of soft plastic presentations. A Carolina rig, Texas rig, dart head, and drop shot are all good ways to catch them. The fish are in deep/cooler water throughout the day and move shallow early and late to feed. A very effective way to target fish in deep water is with a ¾ oz. football head jig. With a heavy jig you can cover a lot of water while keeping contact with the bottom. The idea is to hit under water cover and structure with your jig. Most of the strikes will come after you pull the bait over a rock, tree, or limb. Also, if you do locate shad try using a vertical jigging spoon. If you do keep a bass, please keep the small spotted bass and release the big female (largemouth) black bass. Glory Hole Sports can teach you the difference, so you can practice good conservation of the species.
Catfish: Very good. Most anglers are catching multiple catfish on each outing. The average size catfish is 4-8 pounds, with fish over 10-pounds considered to be better than average. We have had many reports of different baits that are working. Night crawlers, liver, shad, and anchovies seem to be producing the majority of fish. It is very important to use a sliding sinker or no weight at all. The fish will drop the bait if they feel any weight. It is a good idea to leave your bail open while waiting for them to bite. Let the fish run with the bait for a few seconds then set the hook. For bigger cats try using a whole mackerel or sardine fished on a double hook rig.
Crappie: Slow. Few fish being caught at night under a submersible light. Try using minnows or a red/white crappie jig.
Guide Report from John Liechty on New Melones
The bass fishing on the lake has been a bit slow throughout the day. The evening bite has been pretty good. Plenty of little spotted bass to be caught and a few nice fish on each outing. My wife Stephanie and I spent a couple hours on the water and caught a bunch of fish on soft plastics. We fished around some wood and standing timber so I set her up with a Pop-R on the surface. I showed her how to work the bait and on her first cast a nice 3-pound large mouth exploded on it. Fairly close to the boat, and startled us a bit. It was an exciting moment and the fish put up a good fight.
Stephanie Liechty with a quality fish caught on the surface.
See ya on the water- John
Xperience Fishing Guide Service
xperiencefishing@yahoo.com
John Liechty (209) 743-9932
Dan Liechty (209) 890-3397
|
