The lake level dropped three feet this last week. It is currently at 812 ft. above sea level and 276 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 76-81 degrees. The dam area has been buoyed off due to current that is created when releasing water. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane dirt and gravel road 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: Slow. A few anglers tried their luck and went out in search of the trout. Most of them reported a slow bite and catching bass suspended in the main lake. The shad are holding in the main lake where the water temperatures are cooler. The trout are holding near the shad along with any other species that will use the shad as their food source. Trolling anglers should try fishing in 70-90' of water. The deep/cool water will attract baitfish and the trout will be near. A lure that has worked in the past when fishing the deep water, late summer pattern, is the Rattle Trap. This lure has a violent wiggle that produces a constant rattle and creates a bunch of commotion. Be sure to add scent when fishing in water with low visibility. Night anglers are still catching trout while fishing under a submersible light. Try anchoring the boat in 40-60' of water and dropping the light down to 15' of water. Kokanee: Slow. There are very few anglers targeting kokanee and the last month the bite as been slow. Generally during August and September the kokanee will hold in much deeper water. Try trolling in water from 80-100'. There are still portions of the main lake where the water exceeds 200' in depth. It is important to stay over the main river channel and the main lake when trolling deep to avoid snags. Bass bite is fair. The bass are feeding in the evening, at night and during the earlier morning. Once the sun comes up they will move out to deeper water and wait for the next best time to feed. The shad will also be suspended over deep water, occasionally the bass will feed on them throughout the day. During low light conditions and at night, try throwing topwater baits to draw the fish to the surface. A great choice is a Whopper Plopper. These baits are extremely effective, are easy to fish, and create a ton of commotion. Try fishing the smaller size when the water is calm and switching to the full size if there is a bit of wind. During the midday heat it is best to slow down and fish soft plastic baits on the bottom. Try using bulky baits that move water. Brush Hogs, lizards, Crazy Flappers and Hula Grubs are all good choices a will draw the attention of nearby bass. Catfish: Good. Many anglers continue to catch nice catfish. The catfish are near the shoreline and can be caught on a variety of different baits. Frozen fish bait has been working well. Mackerel, sardine and anchovy will work, but the frozen shad seems to be out fishing all the other frozen bait. One reasons shad works well, is it is a natural food source in New Melones. Another setup that will produce bites is a mallow/crawler combo. This is typically considered a trout rig, but many experienced cat fishing anglers will incorporate it in their arsenal. The bottom of the lake is littered with wood and rock. The mallow will float up off the bottom making it easy for the fish to locate. Try adding additional scent to your presentations. Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333