Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,928,223 acre-feet of water. The lake level is dropping slowly and is currently at 1047 ft. above sea level and 41 ft. from full. Water temperature is in the upper 50s, and exceeding 60 degrees on warm days. 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 slowed down a bit for the bank anglers, and continues to get better for the trolling anglers. The water temperature in the shallows is warming up faster than the main lake, pushing the trout out into deeper, cooler water.
Dustin Brant of Mountain Ranch shows off a 3-pound, 6-ounce rainbow, caught on a nightcrawler while bank-fishing in Glory Hole Cove.
Bodie Johnson, Carson Weibe, Ashlee Weibe and Jesse Johnson of Vallecito caught these nice 'bows on Kastmasters while still-fishing out of their boat in Angels Creek.
Bank anglers
should target deeper water near the main lake. Try making a long cast
with a slip float rig. Adjust the bobber stop 15-25 feet from the
bobber, and fish with nightcrawlers or live minnows. Power Bait has
caught some really nice fish this year and will continue to do so. Try
Power Eggs with a nightcrawler trailer or rainbow/garlic trout dough. Trolling anglers have been doing better since the trout have moved off of the bank. But the bite is definitely not wide open. Most
trolling anglers are using an assortment of colors and lures. A few of
the popular ones includes, Apex, Needlefish, Wedding Rings, Rapalas,
Hootchies, and Cripplures. Shad patterned baits work well, but bright
colors such as chartreuse, pink, and orange seem to be triggering more
bites in the stained water. Troll 10-50 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.
Winner
of the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest goes to Ted Self
of Angels Camp. He was night fishing upriver and caught 4-pound 2-ounce
brown trout, on a big ball of crawlers.
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. Also,
with the trout bite being good, try using spinners that will attract
both trout and kokanee. Uncle Larry's Spinners and Wedding Ring are both
good bets to caught kokanee and trout. 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.
Bass: wide open! Bass
anglers are reporting catching a fish on every cast, and plenty of nice
2 to 3-pound fish. 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 toward the end of the spawning season and more of a post-spawn bite. The
fish are in transition from shallow back to deep water. They are
fattening up and starting to recuperate from the spawn. Try using top
water in the mornings and switching to soft plastics as the sun comes
up. The jig bite has been good, as well. 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 or a ball of crawlers fished on a
sliding sinker rig. Also catfish feed on smell more than most other
fish. Try soaking your bait in Pro Cure, garlic and catfish cocktail are
both good scents.
Winner of the Glory
Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest goes to Nathan Bousfield.
He caught a 12-pound 11-ounce cat on Power Eggs in Black Bart Cove.
Picture sent to us by John Fenger- this is what he said:
"This cat was caught last sunday off lake 4/29/12 By James "snail" Fenger. Boat Captain was Johnny BUCK Fenger.
Didn't weight but figured about 10-11 lb.
Good eating with light breading and pan fry.
We were out going to bass on the lake off boat and hooked into this beauty accidently around 2 pm.
Took about 25 minutes to land the fish. Thanks to my new bass rod (Scimmitar Shimano Medium/light) I just bought from you guys last week with 8lb test, I was impressed how well it handled it. Using a rubber tailed spinner jig with #6 hook."
"This cat was caught last sunday off lake 4/29/12 By James "snail" Fenger. Boat Captain was Johnny BUCK Fenger.
Didn't weight but figured about 10-11 lb.
Good eating with light breading and pan fry.
We were out going to bass on the lake off boat and hooked into this beauty accidently around 2 pm.
Took about 25 minutes to land the fish. Thanks to my new bass rod (Scimmitar Shimano Medium/light) I just bought from you guys last week with 8lb test, I was impressed how well it handled it. Using a rubber tailed spinner jig with #6 hook."
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.
