Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,978,950 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped three feet again this week and is currently at 1047 ft. above sea level and 41 ft. from full. Levels will continue to drop, as room needs to be made to accommodate upcoming winter rains. Water temperature is really dropping now, and is currently 67-69 degrees. The lake will "turn over" when surface water cools to the same temp as the deeper water- around 53-54 degrees. This usually happens around Thanksgiving, and then the trout bite really turns on for bank-anglers and trollers alike.
Trout: Pretty good. Most anglers who are willing to put in the time are catching limits of 1-2 pound holdovers. Bite is best in the morning. Trollers have been doing well fishing over the main river channel, in the main lake and at the mouths of major creek arms, 35-50 feet deep. Varying your trolling speed and making figure-S patterns will often catch a hungry trout's attention.
Trout are feeding heavily on schools of shad. Try a variety of shad-patterned lures such as Excel, Apex, Needlefish, or Rapala Countdown. Use Bang or ProCure threadfin shad scent on your lures. According to guide Danny Layne, rainbows are most active at the mouth of Carson Cove, Bear Cove, and near the spillway, 35-50 feet deep, and are hitting Excels, Cripplures, and Speedy Shiners. Check out the "school-of-shad rig" sample we have tied up at Glory Hole Sports- it is a great rig to use when trout are feeding on schools of shad. We are expecting the shore-fishing to turn on soon. Tie on a slip float rig with a minnow, crawler or a shad-patterned mini jig, and fish 20-40 feet deep under your bobber. Casting a chrome/blue Kastmaster or Krocodile from the bank may also get you a nice rainbow. Glory Hole Point and under the 49 Bridge are good places to bank fish.
Brad Foppiano shows off some 2-pounders that he caught trolling a Cop-Car Sockeye Slammer 30-50 ft deep in Carson Cove.
Bob Thorne caught these rainbows trolling Humdingers and Needlefish near the dam/spillway, and he got four more the next day.
Sean O'Gradey and Chris Masselas caught these fish on a Cop Car Needlefish trolled 15-30 feed deep near the dam.
Kokanee: Done for the season.
Bass: fair to slow.Spotted bass and smaller largemouth are biting.John Chiarpotti has been catching fat football spotted bass on California Reservoir Lures Jigs. Fish are moving into deeper waters and pulling off shore due to falling water levels. Fish are feeding heavily on shad right now, so shad-imitation lures are a good bet, too. Tie on a split shot rig with 6" Roboworm Hologram shad or Prism Shad. Also, hard and soft jerkbaits work well sub-surface. If you find a ball of shad on your graph, try dropping a vertical jigging spoon and ripping it through the bait. This will often create a feeding frenzy. There have been many reports of trout trollers catching nice bass way offshore on shad-patterned trolling spoons. If you want to fish from shore try using a wacky rig Senko. Cast out away from the bank and let it fall slowly. Remember to practice catch and release.
Catfish: Still seeing some big cats being caught.
Al Judnich of Jamestown wins Glory Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest with a 10-pound, 14-ounce cat he caught on a crawdad while bank-fishing in Angels Cove.
Adrian Cayabyab caught a 9-pounder on anchovies. Catfish are in coves and in shallower water. A sliding sinker rig, and a ball of crawlers or a piece of anchovy or shad 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.
Crappie and bluegill: slow. Night fishing under a light is the most productive right now. Your best bet is to use minnows, red worms, or crappie jigs on a slip-float rig fished 15-25 feet deep. Also try crappie jigs with spinners such as a Beetlespin. Fishing on light line can be a fun way to catch them.
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