Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 392,356 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped three feet this last week. It is currently at 830 ft. above sea level and 258 ft. from full. The water clarity is stained in many areas and will occasionally clear up. The water temperature is warm, with the average being 75-79 degrees. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane dirt road and gravel leading off of the end of the point. There is not a courtesy dock and it is best to launch with a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Trout: Good. The shad are schooling over deep/cool water. The trout are holding below the shad and coming up and feeding on them. Use your electronics to find balls of shad and the trout will be close by. On calm mornings and evenings the trout have been pushing shad to the surface. Trolling anglers should try fishing at 25' in the morning and dropping to 50-70' of water throughout the day, depending on the temperature. A fast troll has been working well. Small billed plugs, lipless cranks and spoons have been working well. A string of flashers with a Rattle Trap or two spoons tied in tandem will mimic a school of fleeing shad. It is also a good time to use ball trolls to add additional flash. An umbrella rig works great as a ball troll. It looks more like a ball of shad than other string flashers. Night anglers continue to catch some really nice 2 to 3-pound trout while fishing below a submersible light. Live minnows or nightcrawlers will work. Also a small artificial minnows fished on a drop-shot has been producing fish. We do encourage catch and release for the brown trout as The Department of Fish and Game will no longer be planting them. Carefully measure, weigh and photograph trophy fish and send us pictures and information.

Kokanee: Fair. The kokanee bite has been okay and the ones that are being caught are thick and healthy. The bite has been very unpredictable. Some days they are easy to find and other days they seem nonexistent. The water is stained, which makes it more difficult for the kokanee to feed by sight. When setting up your presentation be sure to include sound, vibration and scent. Try using large slingblades and baits that wobble. Apex, Wee Tads and Wiggle Hoochies are all good choices. The side-to-side wobble will displace water and create a vibration that will help the kokanee locate the bait. Also, an Oregon Tackle Scent Chamber tied inline will ensure when the kokanee are near they will be able to track the bait down. Many anglers will use ball trolls to add extra flash. Or, run a series of contrasting colored slingblades off of the downrigger ball.

Bass: Good. The bite slowed down a little due to the few extremely hot summer days we had last week. The temperatures have pushed the fish further off the shoreline and out to deeper water. During the morning and evening the bass will move fairly shallow to feed and then move back out. It is best to get on the water early and be in a prime location before the sun rises. Many fish are roaming in wide open water and feeding on shad. Anglers trolling for trout over 100' of water have been catching bass from 25-45' deep. These fish are hard to target with the traditional chuck and wind methods. Try using deep diving rip-baits or counting a swimbait down to the desired depth. Many fish are feeding on bottom dwelling creatures like crawdads and sculpin. Try using jigs and crawdad soft plastics to target these fish. The water is stained so it is a good idea to use baits with large flake or baits that will pop underwater.

Glory Hole Sports employee Sherryl Van Sanden caught and released a beautiful 3-pound largemouth bass. She reported using a green pumpkin/red flake Senko fished on a brass and glass rig to catch her fish.

PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE. The bigger fish are the future of our lake. Take photos and carefully release the fish back into to the lake to maintain a healthy fish population for generations to come.

John Kirkland caught a 7-pound, 12-ounce catfish and a 3-pound, 13-ounce spotted bass near the marina.

Catfish: Great. The catfish are in shallow water and heavily feeding. This has been one of the best years for catfish, and anglers are bringing in some really nice ones. Some anglers are reporting catching dozens of cats on each trip. The bite seems to be best at night, but it is very possible to catch them during the day as well. Frozen shad, anchovies and mackerel have been producing fish. Try using these frozen baits fished weight-less. Use enough bait to make a short cast and let the bait soak lifelessly on the bottom, without being pinned down with a sinker. Remember, many of the catfish are in shallow water and close to the shoreline. Find areas with a slow, tapered shoreline. What happens on shore usually continues into the water. Try casting your bait somewhat parallel on steep banks and more toward the middle of the lake on flat banks and points.

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Della Simons. She caught an 11-pound, 12-ounce catfish while soaking a ball of nightcrawlers near the Parrotts Ferry Bridge.

Crappie: Fair. Some anglers have been catching a bunch of crappie at night with mini jigs fished under a submersible light. They are on the move. You will find them in an area one day and gone the next. We have had reports of 2 to 3-pound crappie being caught. The crappie have been hard to find the last couple of years and they seem to be on the rebound.