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Fishing Lines (cont)
Last week we spoke about different lines and their characteristics. To choose the appropriate line for each presentation you must consider all the variables.
One variable to consider is line diameter. Line diameter is very important when fishing baits that dive or sink. The smaller the diameter is, the quicker the lure will sink. Large diameter line will create resistance and slow the baits sink rate or limit a lures diving range. With this in mind you can use diameter to your advantage, and reach desired depths. Also, when choosing diameter, consider how it will affect the baits action. A limber, light line will let the lure move freely and a stiffer, heavy line will hinder the lures movement and take away from the action.
Another factor that needs to be considered is line buoyancy. Does it float, or does it sink? Monofilament floats, fluorocarbon sinks and braid is neutrally buoyant (or sinks very slow). Obviously, when fishing topwater baits monofilament or braid would be the best choice. Fluorocarbon will drag a topwater lure below the surface. When fishing in deep water fluorocarbon or braid would be a better choice. Fluorocarbon and braided lines cut through the water and monofilament does not.
With all this information it may seem like you would need 20 rods and reels with each line type and size. This is where splicing line comes into play.
With braid spooled onto a reel as your main line you can splice in many different diameters of fluorocarbon and monofilament or, run straight braid. With a handful of leader spools you can use the same reel for many different applications. Just splice in the appropriate line for the presentation.
A good knot for this is the Alberto Knot, here is a link to learn to tie it.
How To Tie A Fishing Knot/ How To Tie An Alberto Knot/Fluoro To Braid/Mono To Braid
30# braid works great for spinning gear and easy to cast. Splice in 4# mono to fish a Kastmaster just under the surface for trout. Splice in 6# fluorocarbon to dropshot in 60′ of water for finicky spotted bass or run straight braid to a topwater frog for largemouth in heavy vegetation. This can all be done with one reel.
For casting reels 50# braid works well. Troll for kokanee with a Rubber Snubber and a 10# monofilament leader. Splice in 6# fluorocarbon and long-line a Shad Rap for rainbows or splice in 12# fluorocarbon and roll shad for big brown trout. It is a great system once you get familiar with it, and using the right line will help you catch more and bigger fish.
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Fishing Report
Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding
717,442 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped four feet this week and is currently at 899 ft. above sea level and 186 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 where launching will be limited to one or two lanes.
Trout: Fair. Night fishing has been good. Most anglers using submersible lights at night are catching some really healthy 2 to 3-pound trout. Try using nightcrawlers and Power Bait to target fish that feed at night. It is also a good idea to use baits that resemble the shad that are being drawn to the light. Live minnows work well and soft plastic worms and swim baits will work too. It is very important to apply scent to your baits when night fishing. This will help fish locate your bait. Trolling anglers have been 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 schooling up, and are a primary food source for trout. Try using baits that best resemble the natural forage. Bank fishingfor 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.
The Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest goes to Mike Jones and 8-year old Abigale Jones of Stockton. They caught a nice 2-pound rainbow trout near the spillway.
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.
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 styles 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 scented shoepeg corn.
Rick Bordon and Stan Wallace of Escalon catch two limits of Kokanee south of Rose Island.
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. 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.
Mary Podesta of Soulsbyville caught this big dawg last Friday on the Glory Hole side of the lake. It weighed in at 7.54 lbs. She released the fish unharmed after taking pictures. She reported catching it on a Berkley Power worm.
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 and 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 Evan O’Shea of Sonora. He landed a massive 20-pound, 1-ounce catfish while fishing near Tuttletown with chicken liver.
Bob Trambley of Twain Harte caught two nice cats that weighed close to 12-pounds each.
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.
Guide Report From Guide John Liechty
The summer heat has set in, and the lake is down a bit. The bite has become a bit tough but we are still catching plenty of fish, and some pretty nice ones. The best bite time is in the early morning or late in the evening. I would suggest being on the water before 5:00 am if you plan on throwing topwater baits. Once the sun comes up it is best to switch to slow moving soft plastic baits. It is a good idea to rig your baits weedless because there is a lot of wood to get an exposed hook snagged on. The late afternoon and evening we have been doing well.
16-year old Tristan Brown and his 13-year old younger brother Jamie joined me for a half day evening trip. They started catching fish right off the bat. Between the two they landed 14-18 fish with a handful weighing 2 to 3-pounds. We had a blast and these guys got to Xperience some New Melones bass catchin’ action.
Xperience Fishing Guide Service
xperiencefishing@yahoo.com
John Liechty (209)743-9932
Dan Liechty
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