Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 2,180,884 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped two feet this week and is currently at 1068 ft. above sea level and 20 ft. from full. Water temperature is 80-83 degrees. Water is green-stained (lots of plankton) with strong mud lines near shore. Watch for floating debris and unmarked island tops.
Trout: The bite is starting to pick up. Fishing at night under a submersible light can be a great way to some nice holdover trout. We have a selection of submersible night-fishing drop lights at Glory Hole Sports. The light attracts plankton, which attracts the baitfish, which attracts the rainbows and brown trout. Drop a nightcrawler/Power Bait combo or a live minnow under the light. Allow an hour or two for the baitfish to come around the light- then the action starts! Also use a vertical jigging spoon below the light to draw a reaction strike. If you wish to troll for trout, fish 50-60 feet deep over the deepest water in the main lake or creek channels with shad-patterned lures such as Excel, Apex, Needlefish, or Rapala Countdowns, and use Bang or ProCure threadfin shad scent on your lures. If you are in the mood for a beautiful boat ride, head upriver and still-fish under the logjam. Bank anglers should head to local creeks like Angels Creek, although we have the occasional trout caught by bank anglers in Angels Cove. William Heinle of Arnold, George Lindsey of Murphys, and Ben Baier and John Glick of Sonora all brought in nice limits of trout this week.
Kokanee: Haven't heard too much lately. Fish close to structure such as submerged humps and points, 70-120 feet deep near the dam/spillway. Kokanee are congregating in the main lake 70-100 feet deep near the bottom- bottom bouncing (dragging your weight along the bottom) is the preferred technique by successful kokanee anglers in the late season- there are narrow downrigger weights made just for this purpose, which get caught less. With the kokanee running deeper and the water so stained, darker colors such as blue and purple and green are working best. R & K Micro Hootchies, Apex, RMT Assassins, Wiggle Hootchies, Wedding Rings and Uncle Larry's Spinners have all been mentioned by successful anglers. Run your lures behind Slingblades or Vance's dodgers in the same color family. Bigger lures will have good action from now till the kokanee are done. Some anglers tie a hootchie behind an Apex (remove the hooks that come with the Apex and thread the hootchie leader in its place) to present a bigger profile to late-season kokanee, or tie two Slingblades or dodgers in tandem. Always tip your hooks with shoepeg corn and apply scent liberally. Vanilla, garlic, anise, and Kokanee Special, are all working. Try spraying a little Bang Crawdad scent onto your lures and corn in addition to the Pro Cure. Crawdads eat kokanee eggs when they are spawning, so the crawdad scent gets the mature kokanee angry and ready to bite.
Bass: Fair action. Water is very stained, so noisy baits are your best bet. Fish a Lucky Craft LV500, Luhr Jensen Speed Trap, or a Strike King Red Eye Shad close to the bank and on the outside edge of the mudlines. Morning and evening are a good time to throw top water baits. Throughout the day the fish will move to deeper water, 30-50 feet. Use a ½ oz football head jig in a crawdad pattern and fish offshore structure. Also is a great time to fish at night. Be very quiet and move your baits slowly. Dark colored baits work best. Remember to practice catch and release.
Catfish: Very good catfishing right now. Catfish are in coves and in shallower water. A sliding sinker rig, and a ball of crawlers or a piece of anchovy or sardine is your best bait. Leave your bail open so the cats can't feel the line if still-fishing. Successful catfish anglers move their bait often, even dragging it along the bottom and bouncing it into rocky nooks and crannies, rather than letting it sit still. Fishing for cats is usually best at night, but plenty of anglers catch them during the day as well.
Steve Olley of Sonora wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest with an 11-pound, 14-ounce cat that he caught on night crawlers while bank fishing Tuttletown.
Crappie and bluegill: Look for crappie holding close to submerged trees in creek arms such as Bear Cove and Coyote Creek. The submerged trees upriver are also a good spot. Night-fishing under a submersible light is the most effective way to target crappie in the summer. Use Beetle-spins, red and white crappie jigs or small or medium minnows under a slide-rig bobber.
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