New Melones Fishing Report

Water Conditions:  New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,950,271 acre-feet of water. The lake level has dropped about 1 ½ feet in the last two weeks, and is currently at 1048 ft. above sea level and 40 ft. from full.  Water temps have reached up to 60 degrees.  The water temperature is really warming up, and will continue to do so with the warm weather.  Lake is slightly stained, with mud lines forming around the shore on windy days.

Trout:  The bite is still good for both bank anglers and trollers, but the sudden heat wave last week slowed the fishing a bit.  The water temperature in the shallows is warming up faster than the main lake, pushing the trout out into deeper, cooler water.  

 

Conner and Manning Louie of Santa Clara caught this limit while bank-fishing off of Iron Horse Point with white Power Bait and Kastmasters.

Scott McPherson on Angels Camp caught these trout on crawlers/marshmallows in Glory Hole Cove.

Bank anglers are still catching 2-3 pound rainbows off of points, using Power Bait and Gulp or Power Eggs.  Nightcrawlers, either alone, or with a marshmallow will usually work even when fishing is tough.  If you have a second-rod stamp, throw a chrome/blue Kastmaster or a white Roostertail with one rod, while soaking bait with the other.  Trolling anglers have been doing much better since the trout have moved off of the bank. 

 

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week contest was won by Robert Gallegos of Oakdale, who rolled shad 48' deep in the main lake to land a huge 11-pound, 7-ounce brown trout. 
 

Trollers are using an assortment of colors and lures. A few of the popular ones includes, Apex, Needlefish, Wedding Rings, Rapalas, Hootchies, and Cripplures. Bright colors such as chartreuse, pink, and orange seem to be triggering more bites in the stained water. Troll 10-5- feet deep in the main lake or upriver.  Night Fishing has been picking up. Drop Power Bait or minnows under a submersible light near the spillway/dam, or under the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge. 

 Guide Tom Dutil caught a limit of 2-pound rainbows, an 8 ½-pound catfish, and a bass while night fishing.   Glory Hole Sports has an assortment of submersible fishing lights.

Kokanee:  They are starting to school up and become more aggressive, but are still on the small side.  Most anglers are picking up 11-14" kokanee along with a couple of trout to fill out their limit.   Kokanee that are being caught are 10-40 feet deep in the main lake- the north side of the lake has been very productive. Some schools of larger fish are showing up from 40-60 feet, but don't seem to be biting yet.  Try a small lure such as a pink or orange Micro Hootchie or tube bug with a small teardrop dodger or Slingblade.  Be sure to add scent to your bait. Garlic, Kokanee Special, and anise have been good choices.  Don't forget your corn soaked in the same scents.

 
Steve and 8-year-old Rylie Vantz of Modesto caught this 11-pound, 4-ounce bass on a green pumkin Senko in Glory Hole Cove.
 

Bass: wide open!  Bass anglers are reporting catching a fish on every cast.  During the Nor-Cal tournament last Saturday, Alex Niapas and Jerry Harvey caught a limit weighing 38+ pounds, including two 12-pounders!  The bass are definitely showing up in shallow water. Bank anglers have been walking the shoreline catching fish on a variety of soft plastics.  It is time for fish to be spawning. The spotted bass spawn in colder, deeper water- 15-30 feet deep, while the black bass spawn in slightly warmer (63 degree) water and shallower- 5-15 feet.  Try using a green pumpkin Senko fished weightless on a wacky rig or a good old fashioned Texas rig. The jig bite has been wide open, too.  Tie on reaction-type baits such as jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.  Remember to practice catch and release!  If you do keep a bass, please keep the spotted bass and release the big female (largemouth) black bass during this important time.  Glory Hole Sports can teach you the difference, so you can practice good conservation of the species.

Catfish:  Picking up, and will only get better with the warm weather. There has been a mud line that forms around the shore line of the lake. This water will be warmer than clear water and is a good place to target catfish. There is a large amount of shad in the lake this year for those large cats to fatten up on. Try using frozen shad on a sliding sinker rig.

David Walsh, Austin Kane and Sean Zeihlke of Angels Camp won Glory Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest with a 16-pound, 8-ounce catfish caught on crawlers in Texas Charlie Cove.
 

Jerry Brown of Angels Camp caught this 5 1/2-pounder on Gulp Trout Biat while fishing in Black Bart Cove.

Crappie: Fishing is good!  There have been some nice 2-pounders caught.  This is prime time to target the crappie. Use Beetle Spins, Mini Jigs, and minnows in 15-25 feet of water. The fish will be staging for the spring spawn. Fish a slip float rig to adjust your depth. Target standing timber, willow trees and water inlets.