Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,906,220 acre-feet
of water. The lake level is dropped 3 feet this week and is currently
at 1044 ft. above sea level and 44 ft. from full. Water temperature is
in the low 60s and rising. 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 best bite time has been in the
early morning of in the late afternoon. Mid-day the fish will be in
deeper/cooler water or near shade. 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. We have had reports from several
anglers targeting kokanee and catching some nice trout. The shad
patterned Apex, have been working well for both species. 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 Richard
Kowski of Angels Camp. He caught a 3-pound 9-ounce rainbow while
trolling a crawler on the main lake.
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 25-60 feet deep in the main lake- the north side of the
lake has been very productive. Try using a Rocky Mountain Assassin
spinner on one rod, and a Glitterbug Micro Hootchie on the other. This
way you will have one presentation that has a lot of vibration, and one
presentation that is subtle. Watermelon, silver, and pink have been the
most productive color choices for dodgers, and sling blades. 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 have been in shallow water
for the last few weeks, and are starting to move back out to deeper
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. 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. There weren't any fish weighed this week for The Glory Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest.
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. Target shallow coves, that have rock piles, and
scattered wood.
Bryan Matthews and Brody caught some nice slab-sides using Berkley Gulp Maggots.
