Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,969,728 acre-feet of water. The lake level has been steady for the last few months, but it dropped two feet this week. It is currently at 1049 ft. above sea level and 39 ft. from full. The water temperature really warming up- it has been up to 60 degrees this past week. Lake is clear with mud lines forming around the shore on windy days.
Trout: Bite has been good this week, with plenty of 3-pounders showing up on anglers' stringers. The water temperature in the shallows is warming up faster than the main lake, pushing the trout out into deeper, cooler water.
Sven Camenzind and Ryan and 3-year-old Brody Burnett of Valley Springs, caught these limits of trout while bank fishing with chartreuse Power Bait at Glory Hole Point.
Bank anglers have had most of their success using Power Bait. Rainbow/garlic has been the most popular color and scent, and has caught many of the weekly big fish. Gulp or Power Eggs have been hot, too. Nightcrawlers, either alone, or with a marshmallow, or Berkley Power Eggs, behind a lure are a good choice during and immediately after a rain. Trolling anglers have been doing much better since the trout have moved off of the bank, although the most successful boaters are bellying up to the bank and throwing a line in the water like the bank anglers, but upriver between the two bridges.. Most anglers 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. They have been fishing from 5-45 feet deep, and catching them at depths in between. The dam/spillway area is a good place to start, and is notorious for having bigger than average fish, like the one Adam Kamikaha caught.
Adam Kamikawa from Reno, NV, wins Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest with a beautiful 8-pound, 12-ounce brown trout (29 ¼ inches long) that he caught trolling a nightcrawler about 20 feet deep by the dam/spillway.
Kokanee: They are starting to school up and become more aggressive. Most anglers are picking up a 13-14" kokanee or two in their trout limits, but anglers who are specifically targeting them can put a limit in the boat, although the bite isn't wide open yet. Target the kokanee10-30 feet deep in the main lake with 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. In the past Nightcrawler is a good early season scent. Garlic is working well, too. Don't forget your corn.
Bass: Glory Hole Sports employee John Liechty caught (and released) the 2nd biggest bass ever to come out of Melones this week! Weighing 17-pounds, 4-ounces, he caught her on the south side of the lake on a Senko. She was full of eggs and sore-tailed, proof that spawning season is at hand, and the fish are moving into shallow water. He caught her last Friday when there was a full moon- very important to spawning bass. The next full moon is May 5th, and the bite should be awesome then. 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. The jig bite has been wide open, too. With the water warming up, the fish will become more active, so 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.
5-year-old James Oh of Reseville is all smiles showing off his 1-pound, 7-ounce bass. This is what fishing is all about!
*This is a spotted bass- note that the corner of the mouth is in front of the eye. A largemouth bass' mouth ends farther back on the head, level with or slightly behind the eye. It is preferable for the health of the lake if you keep the smaller (must be 12" long) spotted bass like this one, and turn all big bass, especially the largemouth, free so they can reproduce, since bass are not a planted species.
Catfish: Fair. The water temperature is rising so those big cats should start to move shallow. There has been a mud line that forms around the shore line of the lake. This water will be warmer than crystal 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.
Chris Limas wins Glory Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest with a 9-pound, 1-ounce cat he caught on crawlers by the spillway.
Crappie: 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. We have heard of a few nice one's being caught.
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