Peddle Grubbing New Melones Tuesday 1/5/09

Looks like New Melones trout were lurking and saw ppickerell's post. 
Ater a foggy ride up to the lake we stopped at Glory Hole Sports and picked up brown grubs.  Glory hole has a fantastic selection of plastic baits and lures.  They also sell many plastics individually (39 cents each) to avoid a $6 purchase just to try a specific type or color.  Glory Hole Sports is big supporter of fishing, anglers, and the lake.
The fog was lifting as we arrived.  The lake was flat calm with no wind.  Air temp was a balmy 35*.  I took a buddy and both of my Hobies.  We started pedding/trolling the brown grubs--nada.  I finally picked up one nice trout (about 14”) and two barely keeper spotted bass.  All of my fish hit a jointed shad rap.   My buddy picked up one bass on a wacky rigged senco.   
The fog cleared and the weather warmed up to a beautiful sunny day on the lake.   

Hi Doug,

I fished there all day Monday for one small trout. Mostly I just worked along the bank casting a watremellon grub. This was the first time I actually went after and caught a fish I saw on the FF which was kind of interesting. I also tried trolling a couple different spinners and a grub with no results.

I spoke to a couple guys in a pb who had ~8 fish between them. They were using downriggers with wedding rings and apex lures.

How deep were you trolling?

Thanks for the report.

Ben

Ben,

We were using a 1/4 oz bullet weight in front of the grub and lots of line out =/-100 ft.  Trooling speed was between 1 and 1.5.  I think the grubs were running about 4-5 ft.  We also tried casting.  The lure I was using is a fairly deep diver and it would bump the bottom at 8-10 ft. when I was trolling.  I snagged it in trees twice at about the same depth.  I talked with several power boaters who were bass fishing or trying for both.  No one was having a great day although they were marking suspended fish they couldn't get to bite.  One boat was out from daylight to dark.  They started on the Angels side worked over to the Carson area and around the main lake.  They only had one trout but caught and released about 10 small bass, some keepers.  We got in at dusk and talked to bank fishermen near the ramp.  They had only caught 1 trout until about 30 minutes before dusk.  In the next 30 minutes they caught four.

Nice looking water!  Too bad the fish was not in biting mood.  Thanks for the report and pictures Doug.

That's essentially what I was doing, though I don't think I had 100' of line out... probably half that. I also tried deeper, maybe 15', with a weight release.

Also interesting was all the surface activity ~2-3:00. Just quietly at the surface, like they were sipping bugs, or possibly chasing small fish just below the surface. All I could see floaing were some very tiny flies.

Thanks for the info.

Ben

Wierd! They were ALL OVER those grubs Sunday. Fishdit is hella fishy though. He switches colors, presentation etc every 5 mins until he finds out what works. I wait for him to dial it and bum gear from him!

Hey Doug!    Great report!!!  I've never tried grubbing except for perch!  That looks like a lot of fun and cheap on the tackle too!  Think I'll have to give it a shot     Oh, and how you like the new ride???? 

Al,

I love the new Revo ride.  It is fast and manueverable--6.3 mph in a spring, by gps.  I will probably be selling the Outback. But, after watching my buddy fishing two rods and selecting baits from the two side trays, I am having second thougths.  With four rod holders vs two, two bait trays, two cup (or equipment) holders, and the extra room, the OB is a far better lake/river boat.  I do most of my fishing/diving on the North Coast in kelp and swells.  I need the ability to paddle without the fins, and rudder, down.  The Revo is the clear winner there.  I don't think I have the WAF points to keep both.

I hope to see you at New Melones next month.  We can compare our new rides.

Doug