Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,953,758 acre-feet of water. The lake level has been steady for the last two weeks, and is currently at 1048 ft. above sea level and 41 ft. from full. Water temperature is really dropping now, and is currently 58-61 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: We had another good week of fishing! The Department of Fish and Game is planting Melones every week now, plus we are seeing some beautiful 2-to-3-pound holdovers. Bank fishing is really picking up. Bite is best in the morning. Trollers have been doing well fishing over the main river channel from upriver under the bridges into the main lake (the spillway/dam area) from 20-50 feet deep with any small shad-imitation lure such as Needlefish, Excel, and Rapala Countdowns. Trout are feeding heavily on schools of small shad. The tandem spoon rig continues to produce some beautiful holdovers. Also the Tasmanian Devil works as a good bait to troll or cast.
Team Mc Fishing Guide Service went out on Tuesday and caught some nice fish. They trolled silver Shasta Tackle hum dingers behind U.V. sling blades. Others who caught fish while trolling include, Jim Monroe, Sharron Monroe, and Allan Monroe. Bank anglers have been bringing in some big holdover trout while fishing in the shallow waters in the backs of Angels and Glory Hole Cove, while throwing spoons such as Kastmasters and Krocodiles in chrome/blue and rainbow patterns. Power Bait and Power Eggs fished on a sliding sinker rig and a 24" leader seems to be the most popular bait setup.
Dale Knight of Angels Camp caught a hefty limit, including the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week- a 2-pound, 7-ounce rainbow trout. Other successful bank anglers this week include William Lease, Geronimo Whorton, and Nels Niemi.
Kokanee: Done for the season.
Bass: Fair.The spotted bass are gorging on shad and are shaped like fat little footballs. Fish main lake points, humps and islands. Drop-shotting is producing a good number of fish. Tie on a double drop-shot rig using two Roboworm Alive Shad or two Berkley Power Minnows, or a combination of both. We have had multiple reports of anglers catching these fat spotted bass on California Reservoir Lures Jigs also. With weekly trout plants and trout moving into shallows, it is time to start throwing swimbaits. Try throwing a Mother Lode Toad Thrasher or a Huddleston rainbow trout or holdover pattern. 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: We didn't have any cats weighed in this week. But some of the biggest fish on our wall of fame were caught in November, December, and January. 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. Soaking your bait in Pro Cure garlic/nightcrawler scent will make it even more appealing to those lunker cats. 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 to fair. Try using small minnows, red worms, and meal worms on a slip-float rig fished 15-25 feet deep will work. Generally 4-6 pound test line will get you more bites and fishing light tackle can be a fun way to catch them.
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