7-31-12
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,643,098 acre-feet
of water. The lake level has dropped two feet this week and is
currently at 1018 ft. above sea level and 70 ft. from full. Water temperature is in the upper 70's to low 80's. Lake is stained, with mud lines forming around the shore on windy days, and days with a lot of boat traffic.
Trout: Good. We are seeing a surprising number of trout caught, for this time of year.
Adam Werle, Debra and Pet
Jugopulos show off three limits of rainbows taken while night-fishing
under a submersible light by the dam.
Joshua Felts and Dave Reed caught these limits while night fishing with crawlers by the dam.
Night
fishing is really good right now, and should be for the next couple
months. Most anglers that are targeting fish at night are bringing in
limits of fat 2-3 pound rainbows. Try fishing the main lake by the dam
or spillway. Anchor your boat in 35-50ft of water and drop the light
15-25ft down. Power Bait, Gulp Eggs, and nightcrawlers have been working
well. It is a good idea to add extra scent to the bait while fishing at
night. Try using Pro Cure garlic, anise, or garlic/night crawler.
Remember to be patient- it takes time for the light to draw plankton,
baitfish, and trout to it.
Bank anglers should
head to the high country lakes and rivers. Try using spinners such as
Panther Martins and Rooster Tails with 4# test on an ultra light
spinning rod.
Doug Campbell caught his limit while trolling a pink Apex near Tuttletown.
Trolling anglers did very
well this last week using Rapalas, Needlefish, Apex, and Speedy Shiners.
It is a good idea to tip the bait with a crawler or a trolling grub
(attached by using a Hitch Hiker) to enhance the action of the bait.
Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of
the Week Contest goes The Limas Clan who caught a nice 3-pound rainbow,
along with a mess of catfish. I'm pretty sure the barracuda did NOT
come from Melones... that should get some rumors started though!
Jacob Ainsworth caught these kokanee on pink/purple Apex trooled by the spillway.
Kokanee: Good,
with most anglers getting easy limits of fat 13-14" fish. The fish are
growing quickly now, more in girth than length. Troll 40-65 feet deep in
the spillway/dam area or near the 49 Bridge. Try using a bladed
hootchie behind a sling blade or dodger. The water is stained, so it is a
good idea to use bright colors such as, pink, orange, and chartreuse.
Also, try using scented dye pens to mix and match different color. You
can add a chartreuse tail to a purple hootchie, or a blue back to a pink
hootchie (stop by the store to see a sample). To target larger fish try
trolling in deep waters with big dodgers, and larger baits, like an
Apex or a Rocky Mountain Super Squid. Remember, when trolling deeper water, use darker colors. Be
sure to add plenty of Pro Cure Scent to your dodger and your bait.
Garlic, carp spit, and kokanee special have all been producing. Don't forget to bring corn soaked in these same scents.
Bass: Good. The fish are a little harder to find on these hotter days but they are still biting. Most fish are 12-15 inches with a few 3-pound plus fish caught. Bass
are feeding shallow on top water baits early and late, and move out to
main lake structure as the sun warms the water. To catch them when they
move out try using a brown or green pumpkin football head jig with a
matching trailer, or drag a large worm or lizard on a Carolina Rig.
There is also a pretty good crank bait bite. Try using shad and crawdad
colored crank baits that dive to different depths. Remember to practice catch and release! If you do keep a bass, please keep the 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: Wide open. Melones
cats tend to be fish-eaters rather than bottom foragers, so use frozen
shad, mackerel, chicken liver, or anchovies for best success. Larger cats will also feed on natural bait like crawlers, so to target large cats try using a big ball of crawlers. Target
shallow flats or areas with large chunk rock, these are prime locations
for big cats to hang out. Larger fish are smarter, so use a
fluorocarbon leader to entice more bites. Generally these
fish will feed at night, but anglers have been hooking them at all
hours, day and night. The Limas Clan wins The Glory Hole Sports Big Fish
of the Week Contest. They brought in an 8-pound 9-ounce cat which was
the biggest out of the 10 they kept. They also released another 10 cats!
Crappie: Good, especially for those fishing at night under a submersible light. This
is prime time to target the crappie. Use Beetle Spins, Mini Jigs, and
minnows in. Try a live minnow in tandem with a mini jig. The color of
the jig will draw fish to it, and the live minnow triggers the bite.
With the water warming up the fish will suspend in the middle of main
lake creek channels. Try to find trees and flooded timber in 25-40 feet
of water.
