6-23-14 Fishing Report
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding
739,507
acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped three feet this week and is
currently at 903 ft. above sea level and 182 ft. from full. The water
is stained in most areas of the lake, and fairly clear in others. There
are mud lines forming near the shore throughout the day, especially on
windy days. The average water temperature is 74-80 degrees and rising
daily. Tuttletown launch is closed. Glory Hole Point boat
launch is open, and there are no plans to close it. There will be some
transition periods between launches were launching will be limited to
one or two lanes (more information is included below).
9-year old Travis Wright caught some nice kokanee and rainbows while trolling Assassin Spinners near the spillway.
Trout: Fair. Night fishing
continues to be productive, with anglers catching limits of chunky
2-pound trout. Nightcrawlers and Power Bait are working best, with live
minnow being a good choice as well. The trout will school in
deeper/cooler water during the hot summer heat and move into shallow
water at night to feed. It is a good idea to anchor in 40-60' of water
that is near 100-200' areas. Drop your light 10-20' down and fish your
presentations below that.
Eric and Steve Olson caught trout and kokanee on orange spinners trolled behind Mag Tackle Dodgers.
Trolling anglers
have been doing better each week and bringing in a handful of nice
trout along with their kokanee. The main river channel will have the
coolest water is a good place to locate trout and kokanee. Try trolling
in 30-50' of water at 2.5-3.0 mph. The shad are schooled up and are a
primary food source for trout. Try using baits that best resemble the
natural forage. Bank fishing for trout has been very
slow. Trout season is open for rivers, and streams, it might be best to
try your luck in these areas. If you do choose to target trout from the
bank try using chartreuse or rainbow garlic Power Bait. Fly fishing anglers
try fishing nymphs under an indicator during the day and switching to
mayfly patterns during the evening. Also, try using buggers and
streamers in the high country lakes. We do encourage catch and
release for the brown trout as The Department of Fish and Game will no
longer be planting them. Carefully measure, weigh and photograph trophy
fish and send us pictures and information.
Joe Devriend and Phil Dobson caught two limits of kokanee.
Kokanee:
Good. The kokanee are biting and most anglers are catching limits. The
average size is 11-13" with a few fish measuring 14-16". The fish are
schooling in deep water off of Glory Hole Point and near the dam,
spillway and Rose Island. A variety of colors are producing limits.
Orange has been a favorite for a couple of weeks. Fish will be keying on
baits that disperse water and create vibration. Try using different
blade style on each setup until you find one that works. Try using
spinners, Apex and bladed hoochies. It is also a good idea to modify
your dodgers by adding a little bend to them. This modification will
give the blade and bait more side-to-side swing. Scent is very
important when fishing in water with less visibility. Add a Scent
Chamber/chain swivel to ensure your setup will have plenty of scent.
Garlic, bloody tuna, anise, and kokanee special will work. Don't forget
to tip your presentations with dyed and scent shoepeg corn.
John
Nichols of Sutter Creek caught a limit of chunky kokanee. He reported
fishing near the dam with a pink Apex and a copper dodger.
Bass:
Fair. The bass are done spawning and moving out into deeper water
where they will spend the summer. They will move shallow at night and
in the morning for a short period of time to feed. Then they will head
back to cool water for the hot hours of the day. Try using reaction
baits in the cooler hours of the day and switching slower moving baits
during the heat. A great presentation that works at all depths is a
Carolina Rig. Try using a soft plastic lizard or brush hog and keep
contact with the bottom. Another rig that catches fish especially in
stained water is a Texas Rig worm with a "brass and glass" weight and
bead. With this presentation your can create a Ticking noise by shaking
the tip of the rod. This will attract fish from a distance. If you can
find balls of shad try dropping a shad patterned worm or a small swim
bait down to them. Please practice catch and release. Take
photos and carefully release the fish back into to the lake to maintain a
healthy fish population for generations to come.
Amador Campos hauled in a fat 8-pound cat on chicken liver.
Catfish:
Good. Some big cats are showing up in shallow water. 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.
The
Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Edgar and Edgar Jr.
Cordova of Sacramento. They landed a 12-pound, 6-ounce cat while night
fishing from a boat with worms.
Crappie:
Slow. 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.
