New Melones Reservoir - Please take a minute to let the Department of Fish and Game know how important New Melones Lake is to you! With recent budget cutbacks, they are looking to concentrate planting efforts on the lakes that see the most angler demand. By letting them know that we anglers fish Melones, we will insure that Melones continues to get regular plantings. This is especially important because we may not get regular creel surveys (where DFG biologists ask anglers how the fishing was at a particular lake) since we are not close to any DFG office. Don't let them close our Moccasin Creek Hatchery! Please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/fh/hatcheryplan.html and insert your comments. Thank you.
New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,997,100 acre-feet of water, and is at 83% capacity. The lake is full and beautiful. The lake elevation is now at 1,052 ft. above sea level and only 36 ft. from full capacity. Surface water is approximately 69-72 degrees. Water is fairly clear.
Ramp update: All ramps are open. We are now using the uppermost ramp at Glory Hole and at Tuttletown.
Trout: Trollers are still bringing in limits of kokanee with rainbows. We tend to see a lot of mixed limits of fish from boaters right now. If you are fishing from the bank for trout, you will have the most luck from the shores of the rivers and creeks- the trout in the lake have moved to deep water, so a downrigger is a necessity. Trollers are catching rainbows and browns in the main lake (dam or spillway area) or by Rose Island, anywhere from 45 to 55 ft. deep. Night fishing with droplights should really pick up now that the trout are deeper. Night fishermen tend to use large nightcrawlers with Berkley Select Power Bait, and drop their bait close to the submersible lights for best results.
Kokanee: Red-hot! Count on catching easy limits of 15-17 inch long, 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 pounds. Troll slowly (1.2 m.p.h.), 40-60 feet deep, near the spillway/dam area, or near Rose Island. All successful anglers agree- the bite is best in the early a.m., so get up and get out on the water early. Pink seems to be the preferred color for lures, with chartreuse green, red, and purple also working. Hootchies and Apex lures have provided the most action, as well as Glitterbugs Fat Fish and Spinner Hootchies, Scorpions and Father Murphy's Bugs. All should be trolled behind a dodger, Kone Zone, or Sling Blade. Don't forget to tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in Pro-Cure Scent. Garlic or a combination of garlic and Kokanee Special seems to be working best right now. A few of the lucky anglers who landed limits this week (asterisks denote anglers who caught kokanee over 2-lbs.) include Marty Morfey*, Stan* and Delores Blanchard, Mike Alloti, Joe Hallett, John Darroch*, Mike Vandyke, Don Myshrall, Richard Kowski, Lee Fitzgerald*. Jeff Warner and Bill Rodriguez and Doug, Judy and Pastor Ray all had successful trips with Fish'n' Dan's Guide Service. Warren Cooper caught a nice limit with Sierra Sportfishing. Ralph Mitchell and Don Swank, Wilbur Beckwith, Sharon and John Poof, Gordon Beckwith, Glen Paddack, and Don Smith all got their limits while fishing with Gold Country Sportfishing. Remember- booking a trip with one of the excellent guides who service New Melones is an excellent way to learn how to fish the lake, or to just get out and have some fun!
Bass: Good fishing! Concentrate on areas with lots of structure. There is a good top-water bite going in the early morning and late evening, when the sun is off the water, so throw a buzz-bait, a Pop-R, or Zara Spook. During the day Senkos, Spinnerbaits, 6" crawdad-colored worms, lizards and green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs have been the best producers, with Zoom Flukes working well, too. Many anglers report large numbers of 1-2 pound spotted bass upriver, in the area between the two bridges. Bass fishing guide John Chiarpotti found a couple of lunker spotted bass for lucky Carl Santa Maria.
Catfish: Getting better every day as the water warms. We are hearing good reports from anglers who fish at night. Tuttletown, Angels Cove, or under the 49 Stevenot Bridge are all good spots to try for big cats. Use mackerel, anchovies, or sardines, a sliding sinker, leave your bail open, and be sure your hooks are sharp. Night fishing is always best for catfish, but we see plenty caught during the day, too.
Crappie and bluegill: Fair. Try fishing live minnows or trying to entice them with jigs in red/white or purple/white. Best spots on the lake are the south side of the lake near Bear Cove, the back of Coyote Creek, Black Bart Cove, and especially cuts upriver near the Parrotts Ferry Bridge that have a lot of stand-up trees in them. As always, fish tight to structure. Bluegill and sunfish are biting in the coves, especially behind the marina. A piece of crawler under a bobber is the best way to catch bluegill. They are great fun for the kids to catch!
Glory Hole Sports, 736-4333
Lake Don Pedro - According to Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service, the bite on Lake Don Pedro remains very good for rainbows, kokanee, and king salmon. Rainbow trout are there for fishermen willing to target these bows. Work depths from 20 feet to 35 feet with flashers trolled off the downriggers with grubs, nightcrawlers or small spoons. Kokanee bite is wide open. From Buzzard Point to Big Oak Island, Jenkins Hill, and Copper Mountain the kokes are here and willing at depths from 40 feet to 55 feet. Vance Sockeye Slammers, Killer B's spinners and Apex lures will all produce when tipped with your favorite scented shoepeg corn.
King Salmon bit improved this past week. Work the face of the dam, open water off Jenkins Hill and the channel near the Flume, rolling shad or anchovies at depths of 55 feet or 70 feet.
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said of Lake Don Pedro, the kokanee fishing at Don Pedro remains on fire, and limits are the norm. These fish are running from 14 to a fat 16.5 inches and in great shape. The best areas are from Flemming Bay to the Jenkins Hill area and on out to the graveyard area. The fish are biting at depths of an early morning 48 feet down to 70 feet later in the day. The best lures are Apex or E-chip lures in pinks and flame reds, Hootchies in pink, purple, ghost and greens and Uncle Larry's Spinners in pink tiger, copper and blue, and copper pop. The trout fishing remains solid. Trout are in the same areas as the kokanee, many anglers fishing for kokanee are picking up the rainbows. These fish are running from one to four pounds. The trout are hitting Apex lures and Excel spoons in blue flake and shad imitations.
The king salmon are still biting, but beginning to get very deep, such as depths of 75 feet on down to 120 feet. The best areas have been by the face of the dam to Flemming Bay. Try trolling anchovies and shad.
848-2746; 586-2383
New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,997,100 acre-feet of water, and is at 83% capacity. The lake is full and beautiful. The lake elevation is now at 1,052 ft. above sea level and only 36 ft. from full capacity. Surface water is approximately 69-72 degrees. Water is fairly clear.
Ramp update: All ramps are open. We are now using the uppermost ramp at Glory Hole and at Tuttletown.
Trout: Trollers are still bringing in limits of kokanee with rainbows. We tend to see a lot of mixed limits of fish from boaters right now. If you are fishing from the bank for trout, you will have the most luck from the shores of the rivers and creeks- the trout in the lake have moved to deep water, so a downrigger is a necessity. Trollers are catching rainbows and browns in the main lake (dam or spillway area) or by Rose Island, anywhere from 45 to 55 ft. deep. Night fishing with droplights should really pick up now that the trout are deeper. Night fishermen tend to use large nightcrawlers with Berkley Select Power Bait, and drop their bait close to the submersible lights for best results.
Kokanee: Red-hot! Count on catching easy limits of 15-17 inch long, 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 pounds. Troll slowly (1.2 m.p.h.), 40-60 feet deep, near the spillway/dam area, or near Rose Island. All successful anglers agree- the bite is best in the early a.m., so get up and get out on the water early. Pink seems to be the preferred color for lures, with chartreuse green, red, and purple also working. Hootchies and Apex lures have provided the most action, as well as Glitterbugs Fat Fish and Spinner Hootchies, Scorpions and Father Murphy's Bugs. All should be trolled behind a dodger, Kone Zone, or Sling Blade. Don't forget to tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in Pro-Cure Scent. Garlic or a combination of garlic and Kokanee Special seems to be working best right now. A few of the lucky anglers who landed limits this week (asterisks denote anglers who caught kokanee over 2-lbs.) include Marty Morfey*, Stan* and Delores Blanchard, Mike Alloti, Joe Hallett, John Darroch*, Mike Vandyke, Don Myshrall, Richard Kowski, Lee Fitzgerald*. Jeff Warner and Bill Rodriguez and Doug, Judy and Pastor Ray all had successful trips with Fish'n' Dan's Guide Service. Warren Cooper caught a nice limit with Sierra Sportfishing. Ralph Mitchell and Don Swank, Wilbur Beckwith, Sharon and John Poof, Gordon Beckwith, Glen Paddack, and Don Smith all got their limits while fishing with Gold Country Sportfishing. Remember- booking a trip with one of the excellent guides who service New Melones is an excellent way to learn how to fish the lake, or to just get out and have some fun!
Bass: Good fishing! Concentrate on areas with lots of structure. There is a good top-water bite going in the early morning and late evening, when the sun is off the water, so throw a buzz-bait, a Pop-R, or Zara Spook. During the day Senkos, Spinnerbaits, 6" crawdad-colored worms, lizards and green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs have been the best producers, with Zoom Flukes working well, too. Many anglers report large numbers of 1-2 pound spotted bass upriver, in the area between the two bridges. Bass fishing guide John Chiarpotti found a couple of lunker spotted bass for lucky Carl Santa Maria.
Catfish: Getting better every day as the water warms. We are hearing good reports from anglers who fish at night. Tuttletown, Angels Cove, or under the 49 Stevenot Bridge are all good spots to try for big cats. Use mackerel, anchovies, or sardines, a sliding sinker, leave your bail open, and be sure your hooks are sharp. Night fishing is always best for catfish, but we see plenty caught during the day, too.
Crappie and bluegill: Fair. Try fishing live minnows or trying to entice them with jigs in red/white or purple/white. Best spots on the lake are the south side of the lake near Bear Cove, the back of Coyote Creek, Black Bart Cove, and especially cuts upriver near the Parrotts Ferry Bridge that have a lot of stand-up trees in them. As always, fish tight to structure. Bluegill and sunfish are biting in the coves, especially behind the marina. A piece of crawler under a bobber is the best way to catch bluegill. They are great fun for the kids to catch!
Glory Hole Sports, 736-4333
Lake Don Pedro - According to Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service, the bite on Lake Don Pedro remains very good for rainbows, kokanee, and king salmon. Rainbow trout are there for fishermen willing to target these bows. Work depths from 20 feet to 35 feet with flashers trolled off the downriggers with grubs, nightcrawlers or small spoons. Kokanee bite is wide open. From Buzzard Point to Big Oak Island, Jenkins Hill, and Copper Mountain the kokes are here and willing at depths from 40 feet to 55 feet. Vance Sockeye Slammers, Killer B's spinners and Apex lures will all produce when tipped with your favorite scented shoepeg corn.
King Salmon bit improved this past week. Work the face of the dam, open water off Jenkins Hill and the channel near the Flume, rolling shad or anchovies at depths of 55 feet or 70 feet.
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said of Lake Don Pedro, the kokanee fishing at Don Pedro remains on fire, and limits are the norm. These fish are running from 14 to a fat 16.5 inches and in great shape. The best areas are from Flemming Bay to the Jenkins Hill area and on out to the graveyard area. The fish are biting at depths of an early morning 48 feet down to 70 feet later in the day. The best lures are Apex or E-chip lures in pinks and flame reds, Hootchies in pink, purple, ghost and greens and Uncle Larry's Spinners in pink tiger, copper and blue, and copper pop. The trout fishing remains solid. Trout are in the same areas as the kokanee, many anglers fishing for kokanee are picking up the rainbows. These fish are running from one to four pounds. The trout are hitting Apex lures and Excel spoons in blue flake and shad imitations.
The king salmon are still biting, but beginning to get very deep, such as depths of 75 feet on down to 120 feet. The best areas have been by the face of the dam to Flemming Bay. Try trolling anchovies and shad.
848-2746; 586-2383
