New Melones 3.26.13

I guess the Kokanee bite is pretty good. It's a little tentative, but I plan on launching about 7:30 under the 49 bridge. Company's welcome.

I'm planing to be there at 6am 

See you otw! Will you have a radio?

I will now

So wish I could join ya guys!  Thought the full moon would have made it hard to catch a bite, but guess not!  I've been prepped and ready to go for the kokes for days now, lol!  Hopefully be able to get out next week and try for some befor the salmon opener!

Nice thing about kokes. They aren't going anywhere. Just got to figure out what they want to eat!

Are u guys using downriggers for the New Mel kokes?

I smell good times a commin'....... and it smells like Garlic and Anise!

Are u guys using downriggers for the New Mel kokes?

This time of year this is the set up I use. I tie a second leader with a swivel on both ends. My main line off my rod has a very long surgeons loop in it that I feed beads and steel bullet weights  over. With that set up I can get down about 20'-25' which should be fine. On One rod I will have 1/2 oz. weight and a spinner the other 1.5 oz. weight and a pink hootchie. Shallow rod might only get rainbows but I don't mind. Hope the Taloras go bendo in the morning.

This combo will definitely be getting some quality time in the drink too

With that set up I can get down about 20'-25' which should be fine. On One rod I will have 1/2 oz. weight and a spinner the other 1.5 oz. weight and a pink hootchie.

If going that deep, why not a DR?  I mean, who wants to drag around that much weight?  You lose so much of the fight with the fish.

I don't even notice the weight and because they slide on the line I feel the fish no problem. I used a downrigger the end of last year and while it works I felt like one side of my body was doing 4X as much work as the other arm. Dealing with the rigger and letting out line with a paddle SUCKS! If you can peddle a Hobbie that's a whole different ball game I'm sure.

Bring your wheels last time I was at 49 the gate was closed.

FishFarmer nice meeting you out there. Of course they finally opened the gate for the season after I launched and was then forced to walk up hill past the nice close parking lot  Kokes came pretty fast and furious starting around 7:45. I was on the water at 6am but could have slept in. Started off the day with one set up Orange/Copper and the other all Pink. Orange got hit several times in a row and I switched both rods to the same Orange/Copper dodger and a Orange/copper spinner. I easily lost 5 or 6 other fish including one that felt like a toad. Saw a couple cool sights including a pair of turkeys flying clear across the lake about a foot off the water. I swear about 3/4 of the way across they looked like they were running out of steam. Also had a Osprey hit the deck about 20' in front of me. Got it all on the GoPro just have to see what came out.

I marked lots of fish 10'-20' deep and two giant schools 35'-45' down. I ended up using 1/2 oz. on one rod and 3/4 oz. on the second. Had a few SNAFU's with trying to troll two rods. Couple times I snarled the second rod and while trying to get it untangled got hit on the first rod and ended up losing the fish in the process. Great way to spend the day and made it home in time for my dentist appointment.

Wholy Cow!!!  That'a a freeking solid result!!!  Kokayak, you have excellent taste in gear as well.  I love those reels for trout/koke trolling!  I've heard NM fish seem to like orange, guess that confirms it!  Was it overcast today??  Tying up some more of those orange spinners for sure now!