Woodward 1-28

I planned to hit Melones this morning, but after checking the radar at 6 AM, it was clear that there were going to be some rain at the lake in the morning.  I waited until after 9 when the weather reports suggested that it was raining at Melones so around 10 I decided to hit Woodward Reservoir since it is only 5 miles from my house.  Woodward is not my first choice of lakes, in the warmer months the lake can be shoulder to shoulder with PWC and in summer since the lake is mostly shallow, the water gets disturbingly warm.

I was on the water by 10:30 and had two freshly planted trout on by 12:30.  The rain started around noon and by 1 PM when I made it back to the launch it was raining heavily and cold with a surface water temp around 44F.  Both of my hookups came on diving rebels trolled in shallow water.

I might head back next Sunday and sneak in a little troll before the super bowl.

Brian 3Dog

nice looking Stokers!

what size Rebels were you using?


 

I opted to stay in bed this morning after waking up to rain at my house.

Nice catch on those bows. I have heard that Woodward is kicking out some nice fish. I think the lake is doing so well this year because if I am not mistaken, the lake was partially drained to do some type of conversion to drinking water and then refilled. This creates lots of feed for the newly planted trout!

Congrats!

-Brian G

GD!!  If they've got stockers that look like that, the holdovers must resemble Pamela Anderson!

nice pair.

I think the lake is doing so well this year because if I am not mistaken, the lake was partially drained to do some type of conversion to drinking water and then refilled. This creates lots of feed for the newly planted trout!

Your right, the lake sat mostly dry for a summer so they could expand something on the outlet side for greater drinking water capacity.  I don't think there were many holdovers since there was very little water during the process.  The lake started filling up last winter, so most of the fish are relatively new.  That said, the two that I caught both had pink meat which I have never seen in a freshly planted trout.

GD!!  If they've got stockers that look like that, the holdovers must resemble Pamela Anderson!

what size Rebels were you using?

NICE looking FULL-FINNED trout you hooked! I've got a few of those PINKIES before and was thinking STEELHEAD? they sure did taste better that the regular trout though.
Maybe our in-house FISH I.D. guys can help in that area?
thanx for the pics&port and lure of destruction! keep it up

NICE looking FULL-FINNED trout you hooked! I've got a few of those PINKIES before and was thinking STEELHEAD? they sure did taste better that the regular trout though.
Maybe our in-house FISH I.D. guys can help in that area?
thanx for the pics&port and lure of destruction! keep it up

After talking with my father, I think the fish were probably kokanees.  Either way, they made for a great dinner.

I don't think woodward has koke's in there. I don't think It gets over 60ft deep and usually koke's like deeper water.

Judging by the photos they look like nice bows.

-Brian G

Wow nice catch,

 I haven't been to Woodward for years, spent every weekend there as a kid. I remember they drained the lake, and I vaguely remember an article in the news paper. Trying to figure out what to do with the fish, as it was drained totally dry.

I never caught a trout in it, just perch. 

Guess I'll have to try it again.

Craigh