11-19-20
New Melones Report
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,485,541 acre-feet
of water. The lake level actually rose a little this week, and is
currently at 1001ft. above sea level and 87ft. from full. Water
temperature has cooled a bit and is 58-61 degrees. The lake is clear,
to slightly stained. The lake will "turn over" when surface water cools
to the same temperature as the deeper water- around 53-54 degrees. This
usually happens around Thanksgiving, and then the trout bite really
turns on for bank-anglers and trollers alike. Good news, the middle ramp
on Glory Hole Point is open, which makes for an easy walk.
Trout: Department of Fish and Game is now planting rainbow trout weekly at New Melones. Trolling anglers
had some luck this week fishing in main lake creek arms and over the
main river channel. The trout seem to be in transition from deep to
shallow water. We have had reports of fish being caught from 5-35 feet
of water. With the water temperature dropping we should start seeing
more fish being caught toward the surface. With the fish coming to the
surface, try top lining 100-150 feet behind the boat with a modified
Jointed Rapala. To modify a Jointed Rapala replace the rear hook with a
Sockeye Slammer tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler. Shad patterned
trolling spoons will also catch some quality fish. Try using a tandem
spoon rig. The two spoons swinging back and forth represent a small ball
of fleeing shad. Be sure to and some shad scent to your baits. Bank fishing has been
slowly picking up. There are fish feeding on the surface near the shore
line, in the early morning. For bait, garlic scented Power Bait is
hard to beat. Also, try fishing small feeder creeks and inlets whenever
we get some rainfall. Cooler running water attracts fish, and also
washes nutrients and insects into the lake.
Dale
Knight of Angels Camp caught a 4-pound 4-ounce rainbow on a
nightcrawler and is this weeks winner of The Glory Hole Sports Big Fish
of the Week Contest.
River and stream season ended on November 15th.
Kokanee: Done for the season. The schools are heading in the back of creek arms, and upriver for their annual spawn and die.
Bass:
Good. There are large schools of spotted bass chasing balls of bait. To
catch a bunch of these keeper size spotted bass, try using a spoon in
the major creek channels. 1/2oz and 3/4oz are both good choices. Stick
with a shad pattern black/silver or blue/silver. Another good way to
target these fish is with a drop shot rig. Try using small hand poured
worms, leaches and leafs. There is always a jig bite and right now it is
a good way to catch better than average fish. Brown/purple,
brown/brown, and green pumpkin are all good choices. This time of the
year can be good for cranking. Crawdad and shad patterned baits fished
from 5-15 foot of water can be a great way to locate fish. 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:
Good. The catfish are moving shallow and feeding on cloudy/rainy
days. The weather forecast for the next couple weeks shows we might be
seeing some of these kinds of days. This would be a good time to get out
your umbrellas and rain gear. Hit the water and soak some bait for a
chance at a lunker cat. Melones catfish tend to be fish-eaters rather
than bottom foragers, so use live minnows, frozen shad, mackerel, or
anchovies for best success. Move/drag your bait slowly across the
bottom to cover more water and target fish that are aggressively
feeding. Generally cats will feed in shallow flats or areas with large
chunk rock near deep water.
Glory
Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week contest goes to Matt Seldon and Dennis
Kavie of Sonora. They caught four fat cats, with their biggest one
weighing 9-pounds, 8-ounces. They caught all four of these fish on
chicken liver, while bank fishing near the 49 bridge.
Crappie:
Slow. There are fish in 15-40 foot of water, in the backs of creek
channels near submerged timber. Live minnows or red worms fished under a
slip-float, with a bobber stop is a good way to target these fish.
Also, try using red/white mini jigs, small grubs, and 4" soft plastic
worms. Crappie too, will gorge themselves on shad. Try to locate the
bait in shallow areas and the fish shouldn't be far.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
