My family spent the last week up in the central Sierra Nevadas, and had an
awesome time on New Melones Lake. It's a large resevoir in Angels Camp (Gold
Country, Frog Jumping). We had a cabin about 20 miles from the lake at the
4000' elevation, so we did "mountainy" things, and boated.

My 8 year old can now stay up on the wakeboard about as long as he wants. He
just stays in the clean water, and occasionally rides over the wake (no
jumping). It's pretty awesome to watch... seein' a little guy out there!

Fishing was fair, but we were doing it in the middle of the day, so no
surprise there. A few blue gills, and some smaller bass... no keepers, but
we don't usually keep anyway.

The lake is currently down over 100' from it's "full" level, but my sounder
still showed depths to 350'. Still plenty of water there. That's what two
dry seasons back to back, will do.

All in all a GREAT time.

--Mike

On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:39:59 -0700, "Mike" wrote:

My family spent the last week up in the central Sierra Nevadas, and had an
awesome time on New Melones Lake. It's a large resevoir in Angels Camp (Gold
Country, Frog Jumping). We had a cabin about 20 miles from the lake at the
4000' elevation, so we did "mountainy" things, and boated.

Mountainy things? Kick sleeping bears? Don't shower or shave for
three weeks?

My 8 year old can now stay up on the wakeboard about as long as he wants. He
just stays in the clean water, and occasionally rides over the wake (no
jumping). It's pretty awesome to watch... seein' a little guy out there!

WHOO HOO!!!

Fishing was fair, but we were doing it in the middle of the day, so no
surprise there. A few blue gills, and some smaller bass... no keepers, but
we don't usually keep anyway.

Middle of the day - good lord.

The lake is currently down over 100' from it's "full" level, but my sounder
still showed depths to 350'. Still plenty of water there. That's what two
dry seasons back to back, will do.

Wow - how big is this place?

All in all a GREAT time.

That's all that counts.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
..

Wow - how big is this place?


I was wondering the same thing. It is 12,500 acres and 100 miles of
shoreline. it is the 5th largest reservoir in CA. Here is a aerial
photo of the lake full.

http://tinyurl.com/5dh37y

Here is a photo taken when the lake was down about 40 ft.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/...44ca29.jpg?v=0

To put that in some perspective Lake Lanier is down 18' from summer
normal and 30' from flood stage.

On the plus side, it is still raining in N. GA, and the forecast is for
rain for the next two days. It has been years since we have had this
much rain in GA.

On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:50:32 -0400, "Earl of Warwich, Duke of
Cornwall, Marquies of Anglesea, Sir Reginald P. Smithers III Esq. LLC,
STP. " wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
.

Wow - how big is this place?

I was wondering the same thing. It is 12,500 acres and 100 miles of
shoreline. it is the 5th largest reservoir in CA. Here is a aerial
photo of the lake full.

Fish heaven from the looks of all the submerged islands and the like.
Deep though - wow, 400 + feet?

On the plus side, it is still raining in N. GA, and the forecast is for
rain for the next two days. It has been years since we have had this
much rain in GA.

WHOO HOO!!!

On Aug 25, 11:39*pm, "Mike" wrote:
My family spent the last week up in the central Sierra Nevadas, and had an
awesome time on New Melones Lake. It's a large resevoir in Angels Camp (Gold
Country, Frog Jumping). We had a cabin about 20 miles from the lake at the
4000' elevation, so we did "mountainy" things, and boated.

My 8 year old can now stay up on the wakeboard about as long as he wants. He
just stays in the clean water, and occasionally rides over the wake (no
jumping). It's pretty awesome to watch... seein' a little guy out there!

Fishing was fair, but we were doing it in the middle of the day, so no
surprise there. A few blue gills, and some smaller bass... no keepers, but
we don't usually keep anyway.

The lake is currently down over 100' from it's "full" level, but my sounder
still showed depths to 350'. Still plenty of water there. That's what two
dry seasons back to back, will do.

All in all a GREAT time.

--Mike

Harry will tell you that you should have child protective services
called on you for allowing your kids to wakeboard, hike in the woods,
etc.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:39:59 -0700, "Mike" wrote:

My family spent the last week up in the central Sierra Nevadas, and had an
awesome time on New Melones Lake. It's a large resevoir in Angels Camp (Gold
Country, Frog Jumping). We had a cabin about 20 miles from the lake at the
4000' elevation, so we did "mountainy" things, and boated.

Mountainy things? Kick sleeping bears? Don't shower or shave for
three weeks?


Messing with Saquatch??

p.s. Sounded like an awesome time. Glad you enjoyed it and posted a
boating related thread!!!

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:50:32 -0400, "Earl of Warwich, Duke of
Cornwall, Marquies of Anglesea, Sir Reginald P. Smithers III Esq. LLC,
STP. " wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
.

Wow - how big is this place?

I was wondering the same thing. It is 12,500 acres and 100 miles of
shoreline. it is the 5th largest reservoir in CA. Here is a aerial
photo of the lake full.

Fish heaven from the looks of all the submerged islands and the like.
Deep though - wow, 400 + feet?

On the plus side, it is still raining in N. GA, and the forecast is for
rain for the next two days. It has been years since we have had this
much rain in GA.

WHOO HOO!!!

Deep. Average. Oroville is down about 200' and there is still 4-450' of
water. Most of these lakes are in the foothills of the Sierras. so they
get some deep valleys to dam. Melones is known for the great Kokanee
fishing in the spring and summer.

Calif Bill wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:50:32 -0400, "Earl of Warwich, Duke of
Cornwall, Marquies of Anglesea, Sir Reginald P. Smithers III Esq. LLC,
STP. " wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
.
Wow - how big is this place?
I was wondering the same thing. It is 12,500 acres and 100 miles of
shoreline. it is the 5th largest reservoir in CA. Here is a aerial
photo of the lake full.
Fish heaven from the looks of all the submerged islands and the like.
Deep though - wow, 400 + feet?

On the plus side, it is still raining in N. GA, and the forecast is for
rain for the next two days. It has been years since we have had this
much rain in GA.
WHOO HOO!!!

Deep. Average. Oroville is down about 200' and there is still 4-450' of
water. Most of these lakes are in the foothills of the Sierras. so they
get some deep valleys to dam. Melones is known for the great Kokanee
fishing in the spring and summer.



How the heck to they keep the boat ramps or the marinas available with
100 ft. drop?

How the heck to they keep the boat ramps or the marinas available with 100
ft. drop?


In the case of ramps, you grade and pour concrete to the water's edge when
the reservoir is on the way down. When the reservoir is on the way back up,
you have a fully functional ramp. In extreme cases, a temporary cofferdam
is built to allow construction/extension of the ramp.

In the case of marinas, they all float. Everything floats. Slips, ship's
store, restaurant, fuel dock, everything. The floating marina is tethered
to the ground by cables that are attached to large winches on the floating
docks and large anchors at the bottom of the reservoir. As the reservoir
rises and falls, the cables are adjusted with the winches. In extreme
cases, the marina may need to be relocated to deeper water. In that case,
everything is moved laterally and then re-secured to the bottom. It's done
that way every day in the western reservoirs and lakes. No big deal.

RG wrote:
How the heck to they keep the boat ramps or the marinas available with 100
ft. drop?


In the case of ramps, you grade and pour concrete to the water's edge when
the reservoir is on the way down. When the reservoir is on the way back up,
you have a fully functional ramp. In extreme cases, a temporary cofferdam
is built to allow construction/extension of the ramp.

In the case of marinas, they all float. Everything floats. Slips, ship's
store, restaurant, fuel dock, everything. The floating marina is tethered
to the ground by cables that are attached to large winches on the floating
docks and large anchors at the bottom of the reservoir. As the reservoir
rises and falls, the cables are adjusted with the winches. In extreme
cases, the marina may need to be relocated to deeper water. In that case,
everything is moved laterally and then re-secured to the bottom. It's done
that way every day in the western reservoirs and lakes. No big deal.



It is if you are the one moving the docks and marinas.