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Tiny Craig finds prosperity as outsiders chase trout
CRAIG, Mont.- The midafternoon heat is intense in this little town, and the fishing is a little slow. But Mike Bushly is still upbeat.There's air conditioning inside The Trout Shop, an emporium loaded with cool fishing stuff - flyrods, vests, waders, flies, ventilated clothing and a well-stocked deli offering drinks, sandwiches and chilled salads. Even the thick fleece-lined jackets have a perverse retail appeal.And Bushly has plenty more reasons not to sweat. The shop and the small community that surrounds it are awash in anglers ready to spend cold cash chasing big trout."This is our Christmas right now," Bushly said. .
Area lake/fishing report
New Melones Lake is currently holding 2.16 million acre-feet of water, at 89 percent capacity, at 1,067 feet above sea level and 21 feet from capacity. Surface water temperature is approximately 78-84 degrees. Water is stained, with mud lines forming on main lake points, with high-water ramps.
Trout is excellent for both trollers and for those fishing at night under lights. New Melones is kicking out plenty of big, fat, healthy trout. Most trout have been picked up at around 40 to 80 feet deep, in the main lake near the spillway/dam/Rose Island area, or in the mouths of major creek arms, such as Angels or Carson Creek. John Darroch trolled a shad-patterned Excel spoon 40 feet deep to catch a pretty 2.4-pound brown trout near Glory Hole Point. Michi Marshall landed a 4.6-pound rainbow while trolling a silver Apex.
Fishing the Carson River
Every fisherman will tell you that they have a special trick that works for them. We got up early this morning and met Johnson Lane resident David Small just north of Broken Dam to do a little fishing. David says his trick is a 4-pound test line with a Panther Martin lure that has a gold flasher. He worked with my daughter Jenee and showed her how to cast out and then immediately start reeling the lure back in. If you cast upstream, you reel in kind of fast. If you cast downstream you let the river provide the action and you reel in slower. What a wonderful fishing trip this was. My daughter caught and released three fish. I lost count after David caught and released 15. All the fish they caught were much too little for dinner.
We were fishing with several other fishermen today.
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