Mike and I enjoyed a slow but excellent Saturday at Melones. A dozen or so bass and no trout.

Crazy deer swim meet spotted.

With all of the recent rains Mr. T and I were both chomping at the bit to see what was happening at the waterfalls way up river. We stopped at Glory Hole Sports for breakfast burritos that were promptly gobbled down as we were launching.

Bright skies, 32 degrees and a very cold wind made for a brutal 65 MPH run all the way up river where we had the lake to ourselves for 10 hrs.

The meter was blacked out at the first falls stop.

The sun topping the ridge was a welcome site as it was freezing fingers time  back in the canyon.

The fish were deep all day between 20-30 feet which forced me to adopt Turhans ultralight rigs (FUN!) and put down my usual setups. We had a very good day. NOT A BOAT IN SIGHT the entire time.

No wood, not good LOL.

I LOVE this lake and my buddy T is starting to develop a pattern here. There was water coming in everywhere but the lake is hardly stained at all.

We put 30 fish on board and quite few were slab crappie. Not one sign of any trout action and I tried.  I can’t wait until the water warms up  and the bass move up the bank.

I went bass fishin with Mr. T to Melones yet again. Cold start it was.

Had a great time but fishing was pre-frontal, bluebird tough. Throw in a week previous of freezing weather and we really had to work for the few fish we got. Water temp 52 degrees. Not much water in the creeks. Turhan is the master at micro tackle free lining in 10-30 feet of water. I cannot for the life of me get this technique down.

I love this lake. Where do you get mile after mile of scenery like this?

We were treated to a primordial aerial battle. It makes me lust after an even larger telephoto lens.

Nice of them to fly  right by the moon for me! I will be back at it Saturday with Delerium Tremens.

5D Mk II, 50 MM Compact Macro primary  with a Canon Life Size Extender EF Intermediate

We spent a few well-needed days off on the North Coast. I could retire there!

Yes it is plenty exhilarating to fly on the water at 70 MPH. Got a rare chance with Mr. T aboard his rocketship. I enjoyed showing him around New Melones. Fishing was so so. Scenery and company was fantastic. Thanks T!

Randy and Mike and I made the long drive to Pyramid Friday night and checked into the Nougat. Saturday we made a  pre-dawn start, minimal wind, some cloudcover  30 degrees. We started at Blockhouse

Randy wore my Dad’s doofus hat

LIghtshow as usual

We hucked spoons, beetles, flatfish etc. We saw maybe 3 fish caught for 10 guys so  we headed north after a couple of hours. I picked up some popcorn beetles at Crosbys and we continued to the mushrooms. SLOW there as well but I managed a nice Pilot Peak strain on that beetle. Helluva fight.

We stayed until the sun hit the ridge.

Mike giving the Fullspeed salute

We rejoined the ladies back at the Nugget for  drinks, dinner, a Warriors game and some adult play on the casino floor. Good times. I felt really bad that MIke and Randy were fishless after 8 hrs;……NOT!

Buck up Bitches the Beetle Master is in da house!

Solo run to my home lake. A brisk 32 degree start. Caught a mess o bass but could not find the trout.
I have been stalking this guy Tuttletown at twilight

Mr. T and Randy in the Rocketship and Dangerous and I in Bauxite Betty hit Melones again. Chilly ride but great weather.  A pattern was found by some.

I think it will be a good year for Melones.