5-21-13
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding
1,360,447
acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped three feet this week, and is
currently at 987 ft. above sea level and 100 ft. from full. Water
temperature is warming daily with the average being 68-72 degrees. The
lake is stained with mud lines forming near the shore in the afternoon.
Trout:
Fair. Most anglers fishing for kokanee are catching a few trout. Early
morning and late in the evening the trout will move toward the surface
to feed. Trolling anglers try long lining a small F5
Rapala, or a small square-billed crank bait 150-200' behind the boat.
As the sun rises drop your baits down to deeper/cooler water. There
have been some really impressive browns being caught. To target them try
trolling 2-3 mph, with shad patterned spoons, or shad patterned jointed
baits. Also, try rolling frozen shad in 30-50' over the main river
channel. We do encourage catch and release of brown trout, as
the Department of Fish and Game is no longer going to plant them in the
lake. Bank anglers have been catching a few trout using a Power Egg/crawler combo or fan casting a Kastmaster. Fly Fisherman,
head to local rivers, streams, and creeks. Try using nymphs and buggers
midday. Switch a dry fly for some evening surface activity.
Kokanee:
Good. Most anglers are finding their limits in a few hours of fishing.
Main lake near the spillway, and the dam have been the most productive
areas to locate schools. The fish will be closer to the surface in the
morning. Try trolling 20-30' until the sun comes up, then drop down to
40-50' throughout the afternoon. Pink has been the hot color with
orange coming in a close second. Uncle Larry's spinners have been
working well, and come in many different fish catching colors. Also,
small micro hoochies, and bugs have been getting bites. Often times when
the fish aren't biting it is a good idea to put on a large sling
blade. The larger blade swinging violently through the school will
aggravate the fish into biting. Be sure to tip your baits with dyed and
scented shoe peg corn. Pro Cure scents that work are garlic, anise, carp
spit, and kokanee special.
Bass:
Fair. The fish are finishing up with the spawn and are in a post spawn
mode. The majority of fish have pulled off the bank due to dropping
water levels. They will move up in the morning and evenings to feed and
then head out to deeper water midday. Early morning top water bite has
been good. Try using a walk the dog type bait such as a Spook, Rover,
or Sammy. Or, twitch a popper near the shoreline. Add a feather tail
to your bait to improve the action and get a few more blow-ups. Once
the top water bite dies, switch to a soft plastic presentation. Try
using a brass and glass Texas rigged worm. With the water being stained
the brass and glass rig will draw fish from a distance, and a Texas rig
won't get hung up as often as other offerings. Also, try fishing a
wacky rig Senko on main lake structure. Natural crawdad colors are
working well and brighter colors will stand out better in stained water.
We have been seeing a lot of big spotted bass being caught and we
possibly have a world record swimming around out there. The current
state record and world record was caught May 3, 2001 out of Pine Flat
Lake. It weighed 10-pounds, 4-ounces. If you catch a fish that is
larger, and want it to be recognized as a state record, it must be
weighed on a certified scale. The post office or the grocery store meat
department has a certified scale.
Annette
Oberson caught a huge largemouth that weighed 14.72-pounds. She
reported catching it on a Keeper 082 green weenie 4"ST worm.
It
is very important to practice catch and release during the spring
months! 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 larger catfish are moving to shallow water to spawn a feed.
Melones catfish tend to be fish-eaters rather than bottom foragers, so
use live minnows, frozen shad, mackerel, or anchovies for best success.
Also while bait fishing, it is a good idea to drag your bait across
the bottom every few minutes to attract nearby fish. Use a sliding
sinker with a bead to create a ticking noise as your bait is moving. In
dark water add murky water it is a good idea to add extra scent to your
bait. Catfish hunt by sound/vibration and smell.
Gary McCoy and Art Smith found a mess of nice crappie.
Crappie:
Good. Some pretty nice slab-sides being caught. Try using a red/white
or chartreuse crappie jig with live minnow, fished under a slip-float.
The crappie will suspend in standing timber and brush. Try casting
past the cover and fishing your presentation into it. The night fishing
bite has started to pick up. Anglers using a drop light in the backs
of coves have been catching some nice crappie, bass, and trout.