New Melones Anglers Report

NEW HOURS IN PLACE TILL FURTHER NOTICE CURRENT STORE HOURS MONDAY-SATURDAY 6:00-5:00 SUNDAY 7:00-4:00   GRAB N GO SANDWICHES READY FOR PICKUP   DELI HOURS: MINIMAL DELI MENU ITEMS (Temporarily) TUESDAY-SUNDAY: 6:00-2:00 MONDAY: CLOSED (PLEASE CALL YOUR ORDERS IN....AND IF RUNNING LATE CALL US BEFORE 2:00 AND WELL HOLD IT FOR YOU) CALL-IN DELI ORDERS: 209-736-4339

Fish Report January 7, 2022New Melones Reservoir BY : Gene Hildebrand New Melones Reservoirs' current water level is 935.30 and is up from the low of 916.5 posted mid October. Melones is down 152.70 ft. from full, leaving the lake sitting about 39 % of capacity. With the recent rains in Northern California, there may be some debri floating on the water. We should anticipate the middle ramp at Glory Hole Point to open up for launching boats sometime in mid March with the current inflow.  Please keep your family, dogs, and crew safe with safe boating practice. ANYONE 35 years old or younger is required to have a California Boating Card on board any vessel they are navigating. Water temperature is 53d. For the weekend warrior planning to camp out, Tuttletown has Acorn open and Glory Hole Point has Ironhorse and Big Oaks campgrounds open. Dump stations @ Glory Hole and Tuttletown are also open. Reservations are required for camping. Contact www.recreation.gov. New Melones Lake Marina is closed for the season. Glory Hole Point Boat Ramps: Highest ramp is in water from 1088.00 to 1025.00 (CLOSED) Middle ramp is in water from 1028.00-to 940.00 (CLOSED) The concrete lower ramp at the end of Glory Hole Point is now set up with two courtesy docks and operational. Driving down to the ramp, the road is slightly bumpy, but manageable. This ramp is in the water from 940.00 to 900.00 Tuttletown Boat Ramps:  Highest ramp in water from 1088.00 to 1031.00 (CLOSED) Middle ramp in water from 1036.00 to 942.00 (CLOSED) Lower concrete ramp is NOW OPEN 945.00 to 900.00 (Courtesy docks in place) Angels Cove Boat Ramp and parking lot: (CLOSED)

 

TROUT     Moccasin fish hatchery has completed several trout plants on New Melones in the last two months with a estimated 20 thousand pounds, along with Brown Trout. The plants have had time to spread out on the lake, trolling and bank fishing will bring action. To target Browns and holdovers, rolling shad is a great way to troll. An easy way to rig shad is using a double hook rig with one hook in the mouth and the treble hook in the side of the bait. Dan Holly and Don Cady showing their two limits from New Melones.   KOKANEE Done for the season BASS In the late fall and early winter is one of the best times to hook up on some lunkers. Anglers watch your side scan, and down scan on the water looking for the shad the bass are targeting this time of year. The bass are generally between 7 ft. and 40 ft. Spoons and other lures in a shad-patterned should work. Anglers are also doing well drop shot style. With nearly 20 thousand pounds of trout plants coming from Moccasin fish hatchery in the last 6 weeks, make sure you have a swim bait tied on your rod.   CATFISH None reported   CRAPPIE Look for Crappie in coves with some kind of cover, stumps and rocky ledges. There are a variety of Crappie Cranks that work well. Using a Kalins 1/8 oz. jighead with a Seps grub on a slow retrieve should produce strikes.

Other New The Bureau of Reclamation administration office and visitors center is now opened and selling annual passes for the lake. Opened from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends only.