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New Melones camping reservations: (877) 444-6777 or www.reserveusa.com- You must ask for the campsite you want to stay at, instead of New Melones Lake (for instance, ask for Glory Hole Recreation Area, Tuttletown Recreation Area, Big Oak or Ironhorse).
Check
out the new New Melones Reservoir website May 5, 2008
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,407,482 acre-feet of water. The lake water level dropped one foot last week and is at 993 ft. above sea level and 95 ft. from full capacity. Water in the main lake is approximately 66-69 degrees. All ramps are in the water. Angels Boat Ramp is the shallowest ramp.
Kokanee Power released the brown and rainbow trout out of the holding pens at New Melones Lake last week. The trout had been held in the pens and fed all winter long, allowing them to grow big and fat. Many of the fish were in the 3-4 pound range when released, so we should see an increase in quality trout coming out of Melones in the next few months. Thank you to Kokanee Power and New Melones Marina for sponsoring this great project!
Trout: slow for trout- most anglers are catching kokanee instead, although we did see several nice big brown trout this week. Bank fishing is over at the lake, but rivers and creeks are open, and have been planted with catchable rainbows. Power Bait, Pautzke’s Eggs, or small spinners such as Rooster Tails or Mepp’s are all good choices for local stream fishing. 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 Larry’s Spinner tipped with a piece of nightcrawler, or a larger Trophy Trout in any color. As trout move deeper and the lake stratifies, tying flashers onto your downrigger ball becomes productive when fishing for rainbows. Big browns are still being caught on rolled shad, or big shad or rainbow colored lures such as Rapala Countdowns, Rebels, or Trophy Sticks. However, all the browns we saw this week were taken on tiny pink kokanee lures! Steve Collett of Galt wins The Glory Hole Sports’ Big Fish of the Week Contest and a free deli lunch, with a 5-pound, 14-ounce brown trout that he caught while trolling a pink Hootchie 50 feet deep under the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge. He had a full limit that included the big brown, two kokanee and two rainbows. James Plunkett of Sacramento caught a limit of one rainbow, three kokanee and a 5-pound, 2-ounce brown trout. He also trolled a pink Hootchie, 40 feet deep near Rose Island. Mike Shanahan of Boulder Creek trolled a pink Rocky Mountain Tackle Kokanee Assassin 40 feet deep near Glory Hole Point to catch a 5-pound brown trout. Kokanee: fair, except for days with a falling barometer- that really seems to give the kokanee lockjaw. Kokanee are large for this time of year- weighing up to two pounds, and measuring up to 16 inches. Trollers should try their luck 40-50 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 baits right now. Other lures to try include Apex, Uncle Larry’s Spinners, and Sockeye Slammers. Choose pink, green, or firetiger colors. Use a dodger, Wild Thing, or a Sling Blade in the same colors. Garlic 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. Danny Layne of Fish ‘n’ Dan’s Guide Service says Melones is the premier kokanee lake in California right now, with all the big kokes that have been showing up. He recommends green Shasta Tackle Kok-a-Nuts, pink Sockeye Slammers, or pink and green Glitterbugs Hootchies. Anglers who caught fat kokanee this week include John Darroch, Steve Collette, James Plunkett, Judy Olson, Richard and Curtis Kowski, and Chris Ezell and Allan and Chris (with Big Al’s Guide Service). Bass: great, despite falling water levels. With the warm 65-68-degree water, bass have moved into the shallows and are pre-spawn or post-spawn. 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.
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