Glory Hole Sports , Lake Melones Report 1-28

[Fishing Report]

GLORY HOLE SPORTS

2892 HIGHWAY 49

ANGELS CAMP, CA. 95222

(209) 736-4333 FAX (209) 736-0802

P.O. BOX 1195

MAIL ghs@goldrush.com

Check out our web site at www.gloryholesports.com

New Melones camping reservations:

(877) 444-6777 or www.recreation.gov (enter New Melones, then Glory Hole or Iron Horse area)









We are seeing amazing numbers of quality rainbows caught out of Melones this year- what fun! Take a look at the pictures below (you can see more our www.gloryholesports.com).



These are not planters- they are beautiful hold-overs. But the Department of Fish and Game is still planting, as well. There is another plant scheduled for both Melones and Don Pedro the week of the 6th.



We are definitely in a good fishing cycle at Melones.



In the 16 years we have owned the store, we have seen good years and bad years, as far as the fishing goes. When the fishing is tough, so many people want to blame it on something... the bass are eating all the trout.. the kokanee are eating all the plankton... I think it is just Mother Nature making fishing more interesting! If if was always easy, where would the challenge be?



I sent John and Gary to a trade show without me, to do some purchasing- uh oh! I hope they don't go crazy! But you can count on seeing some funnew fishing tackle on our shelves in the next couple of months.





Be sure to read the update on Patrick Rowe and his fellow Marines. We are continuing to send boxes of goodies to them, so they know those of us back home are keeping them in our prayers and our hearts. You can help by dropping off or sending donations (items on the list, below, or money and we will do the shopping).





Melanie



New Melones Report
Coming soon: Glory Hole Sports online store!



Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,973,564 acre-feet of water. The lake level has been steady and slowly rising for the last few weeks. It is currently at 1050 ft. above sea level and 38 ft. from full. The water temperature is 52-54 degrees and crystal clear.



Brianna Bloom of Columbia shows off the first fish she ever caught- a 2+ pound rainbow, caught on orange Power Bait while bank-fishing off of Glory Hole Point. Now is the time to take a kid fishing!



Lisa Ditlerson and Steve Camilleri from San Mateo caught two limits on Power Eggs dipped in Procure Threadfin Shad while bank-fsihing off of Tuttletown.



Linda and Mel Taguinod of Lockeford caught these trout on pink Gulp while bank-fishing off of Glory Hole Point.



Trout: Continues to be amazing! Still seeing a lot of nice, colorful holdovers as well as planters- DFG is planting again next week. Trout are right up in the shallows, spawning. Bank anglers have been using Berkley Power Bait (the scented kinds are working great), Power Eggs, or Gulp Bait- pink, chartreuse and rainbows are the best colors. A Marshmallow/nightcrawler combo or a crawler inflated with a worm blower is also a good choice. It is important that your bait floats. Use small hooks and light leader, and test your bait in the shallows before tossing it out. To catch bigger fish try using minnow-like lures such as Rapala CD7 or CD9, or a shad-patterned spoon such as a Kastmaster or Excel. On overcast days, gold and brightly painted lures will generally attract more fish than silver and natural colored baits- these work better on clear days.



Kyle Wise and Scott Kirkman of Angels Camp show off two limits (and a duck) they caught trolling Rapalas scented with ProCure Bloody Tuna near Long Gulch (south side of lake).



Trolling anglers have been catching nice fish upriver beyond Parrotts Ferry as well as in the south side of the lake. Tie on small flashers or dodgers such as a Sep's Sidekick with a nightcrawler 3-5 feet behind. Try using a small spinner in front of the crawler, like a Wedding Ring. It is very important to use light line when the water is so clear. Light line is good because the fish don't see it and your lures will have better action. A 3-5 foot piece of 4-6 pound fluorocarbon will do the trick. The smaller fish are biting on the surface and the bigger fish are down at 15-25 feet.

Lots of nice browns this week!



Darwin Parrish of Murphys wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest with a big brown he caught trolling crawlers/flashers 20' deep way upriver. The brown weighed 7-pounds, 11-ounces...cleaned! It was probably closer to 10 pounds before he cleaned it. It was 39" long.



Ed Grossman of Wallace caught a 7-pound, 6-ounce brown while trolling shad on the surface upriver above Parrotts Ferry Bridge.



John Stewart of Sonora caught a 4-pound, 12-ounce brown on a shad-patterned jointed Rebel trolled 10' deep near the dam.



Kokanee: Too early to be targeting them, and yet we have seen limits of 15" fish caught already. April is when the kokanee really start biting.



Bass: Pretty good. The fish are in their winter haunts. Most fish are being caught on main lake structure from 25-65 feet deep. The fish are very fat and full of shad. The average size spotted bass in 2-pounds. Most anglers are catching fish using shad-patterned worms on a drop-shot rig. We have also had reports of a pretty decent jig bite. Try using Yamamoto hula grubs in natural crawdad colors. Try targeting the big fish with large swim baits, like a Spro BBZ or a Huddleston if the weather turns. Remember to practice catch and release, especially largemouth bass as we are seeing fewer each year.



Catfish: The catfish are still biting. Try fishing 35-70 feet on deep ledges and main lake points. The catfish will feed at any time during the day- you just have to be patient. It is best to use two rods with two different baits. This way if the fish don't go for one offering they might go for the other. Using baits that are natural such as nightcrawlers or shad will often trick the bigger ones into biting. Soaking your bait in Pro Cure scent will make it even more appealing to those lunker cats. Leave your bail open so the cats can't feel the line if still-fishing. Another way to catch them is to fish a weightless rig. Put enough bait on your hook to have enough weight so you can make a long cast. This rig will sink slowly and drift and roll along the bottom.



Winner of the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest goes to Bill Heinle of Arnold (again!). He caught an 11-pound, 9-ounce cat on shad soaked in Pro Cure Catfish Cocktail.



Crappie and bluegill: Slow. Using small minnows, red worms, and meal worms on a slip-float rig fished 15-25 feet deep will work. Generally 4-6 pound test line will get you more bites and fishing light tackle can be a fun way to catch them.



Guides' Reports




Help us Support a Local Marine



From Patrick Rowe's mother (comments in blue are from Melanie):



Here's a short summary of what Patrick and his misfits have been up to. They are on base at a forward operating base in the Helmand Province, the place we keep hearing about in Southern Afghanistan. More on that later. Here are some excerpts from his emails:





Christmas Eve: "we are somewhat celebrating Christmas by watching "Bad Santa" which is hilarious. The assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps is coming to say Hello to the Marines here on FOB XXXX, always interesting what the higher-ups have to say about what's going on in the Marine Corps these days.



January: "Officially past the halfway point! Time sure is flying by even with the monotony."

"What I do every day here on base is not really newsworthy. I get up, do the morning MWR (that's where the computers are) shift for 3 hours, then work out, and then check to see what Gunny needs to be done, ear, then go to by 1800-0000 watch rotation."

"I feel like what I'm doing is actually kind of boring to talk about, since I'm on base almost all the time."



What to send: Shaving Cream! The cheap, white, Barbasol type. The patrols use it the most. (sending two boxes of shaving cream in this shipment, and will continue to send- they need lots! They use it for marking trails)



Thanks to the Microwave, we can use anything that can be microwaved, like noodles and Easy Mac. It's hard for me to make suggestions, but anything that is like backpacking food, or microwaveable is highly desired. Canned Tuna, and Canned Chicken. Also powdered drink mix, and Tea, Hot Chocolate, Hot Cider, Coffee are also great to have.

(sending canned tuna and chicken, chili, and powdered drink mixes in this weeks' shipment)



Of course tobacco is always prized! (we are trying to encourage our smoking, chewing customers to buy an extra pack/can, for us to send)



We have a huge amount of Jerky, so we are good with that. Also we are overflowing with Candy. (We use penny candy as packing to stuff every inch of the boxes full, since they are charged by size, no matter what they weigh, so we end up sending a lot of candy)



Warm socks, and hand warmers are nice for the cold temperatures. (hand warmers in this weeks' shipment)



Please continue to support our effort to show Patrick and his fellow Marines that we appreciate what they are doing for our country!







Help us support a local Marine and his platoon. We are accepting donations of items (see list, below) or cash (which we will use to make purchases and for postage). We will be sending packages weekly.

Local Marine Patrick Rowe is 24 years old- he will turn 25 on November 18.



An Angels Camp- Bret Harte High School graduate of 2005, He Joined the Marine Corps in April of 2008. He and Kate Beckmen were Married last April. She is from Arnold and also a Bret Harte Grad.





Patrick was an Infantry Machine Gunner his first deployment to Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor during his last deployment.





Here is a link to a news report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5YbxZsp2-I



Support the Troops Care Package

"Wish List"

FOOD ITEMS (High nutritional value types)
Beef Jerky
Protein Bars (like athletes use)
Backpacking food, such as Dried Fruit, Clif Bars, Trail Mix
Nuts, Sunflower seeds, in smaller size packages
Peanut Butter, Nutella
Non-perishable, individual packaged snacks
Individual-sized Powdered Drink Mix, like Gatorade or Crystal Light
Coffee, ground or instant, Tea Bags
Tuna- the ones in foil bags are easiest to ship
small packaged seasonings
Gum and candy
TOILETRIES
Barbasol or cheap Shaving Cream, the white kind (for use on patrol)
Q-Tips (very important for cleaning self and guns- highest priority)
Lip Balm in a tube, such as Burt's bees, or Carmex
Disposable Razors (Multi-blade for shaving rough beards)
Sunscreen, non-stinging, "Faces", Sport-types
Baby Wipes (Thickest type), hand sanitizer,
Shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste, disposable toothbrushes
Foot care products, spray, powder, insoles, creams
PERSONAL CARE
Winter Socks ( merino wool, polypropylene; Brown, Green, Black)
Thermals (dark colors)?
Gloves, Hand warmers (like Hot Hands)
T-shirts (OD Green)
Writing Materials (Paper, pens)
Magazines (appropriate materials)
Computer Flash drives
Small toys to give to the local children