Anatomy of A Kokanee Attack - Melones 06/07/09 Pic Heavy

So I decided to head out to Melones today to check up on the kokanee bite. Was a little nervous about it because of the full moon.  The original plan was to fish bass in the morning then start trolling.  Shoulda stuck to that plan. Stupid fishing reports.

The planning started the day before, tying leaders, etc.




Also learned that I needed a camera.  This will do.


Anyways, hit tuttletown launch at about 7am.

Launch

Fully Rigged

Weapons of choice:


I trolled near rose island for a while, ended up getting one hit but no stick.  This would be the pattern for the day.

I went towards the spillway and trolled along towards the dam.  Very slow until around 10am, then I started to get hits, but no hookups!  grrrr....figured something must be wrong with my hooks so I changed to a new leader and started to get fish on.

First fish was around 10:30am.  No pics of him, just bagged him and iced him
Second fish was about a half hour later.....pretty much a twin of the first one


Third fish in the box around 11:30


Farmed one..

Then the last one around 12:30


After that I trolled back towards the launch.  Had a fish SLAM my lure and pop it straight out the rigger and double over.  But the fish got on top and wiggled free.  Felt like a good one, probably in the 14 inch range.  Woulda topped out my limit.  I was fine with 4 though, packed up and headed home.

They were all the same size, exactly 12.5".


On the way home I saw this...


Kitchen sink shot for prosperity


All in all it was a pretty good day.  the fish really did not get on the bite until around 10am. i had LOTS of missed hits, I counted 9 strikes but no hooks.  Fish were short striking for sure.  I lost two unfortunately.  Trolling all day with a downrigger is tough work.  But I got a really good workout and was happy with the results.  Next time I will be better prepared, as I felt by the end of the day I really had them dialed in.  Not bad for my first time at melones in the kayak.

Lake Lice and PBs were out en force, but everyone seemed to be in good cooperation. The lake lice were really not a problem at all, most kept their distance from me.  The pbs seemed to know what they were doing, with the one exception of a guy toplining with 300ft of line out while everyone else is using riggers.

Weather was excellent, about 80 degrees when I left the water.  Occasional wind gusts up to 15mph but it was very sporadic. 

Oh yeah, stats
All fish caught 45' OTW.  Pink Sling Blade + Pink Radical Glow Tube.  Tipped with corn - garlic pro cure. Average bottom depth where I hooked up was from 90-130ft.  Area of success was between Spillway and Dam.  I also got a hit in the first cove near tuttletown.

Go go gorillapod

WTG Ben! How far was the walk to finally get to the water? It seemed the lake
was very low. I love that place(Melones). It brings a lot of good memories of my
late father in law. We used to fish the Glory Hole every time I came to visit
Twain Harte where they used to live.

Jedmo

The walk was not that bad.  The pic of the launch is where I parked my car. Since i dont have a trailer to worry about I parked pretty much at the closest edge of the lot.

Melones is a nice lake, wish I didnt have to travel to florida next week or I'd probably be out there again on saturday or sunday.

Good job, Ben.
Those are some big sardines in your sink! 

Great report and photos.   

way to go,  Ben.  Good report, and great fishing.

Nice job Ben!

Way to nail the Kokanee!

What a pretty fish!  How did you cook them and how do they taste?

Allen

wish I didnt have to travel to florida next week or I'd probably be out there again on saturday or sunday.

Are you kidding me?  Florida is another fishing Paradise! Just bring a travel rod and rent a kayak there    Thanks for the report and pictures.

Chromy Clones...nice, very nice...I hear a dinner bell!!!

Thanks for the report...U'd think "JackAss" the series would love to shoot a scene on JackAss Hill.....

nice haul ben, thanks for the great report and pics, cameron

What a pretty fish!  How did you cook them and how do they taste?

Allen

havent cooked them yet - will do it tomorrow.  they are best grilled or smoked, of course i dont have a grill or a smoker =)

i will probably just bake them.  they are just freshwater versions of sockeye salmon. the ones i had last year were good.

Great report man!  I need to try mounting a DR this year!

yeah i need to take the sport out for a paddle to see where i could mount a rigger on it.  it doesnt have much mounting space available behind the seat. it has a little tiny area sort of behind the seat but i think it would be too close for me to use properly.