Water Conditions:?? New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,447,233 acre-feet of water.?? The lake water level has been steady or risen very slightly for the past few weeks, and is at 997 ft. above sea level and 89 ft. from full capacity.?? Water in the main lake is approximately 52-54 degrees.?? Water is stained in the creek channels, with around 8-12 ft. visibility.?? The main lake is gin clear, with approximately 15-20 ft. visibility.?? All ramps are in the water.??

Trout:?? fair to good.?? With water temperature falling, bank fishing has been picking up..?? The Department of Fish and Game has begun regular plantings at New Melones, so we are seeing planters caught from shore, as well as by trollers.?? Bank anglers are starting to have good success.?? Bankies should head to the major coves, such as Glory Hole or Angels Cove, or off of Glory Hole Point.???? Use worms/marshmallows or chartreuse or rainbow glitter Power Bait.?? Fishing off the bottom with an 18"-24" leader is preferable to fishing under a bobber.?? Be sure your bait floats off the bottom- use small (#12 or#14 hooks) and light line, and inflate your worm with a worm inflator.?? The marshmallows work as a float, too.?? Anglers are reporting best action close to shore.?? Throwing a silver/blue Kastmaster or small spinner from shore is also working.???? Bill Martin of San Andreas wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest and a free deli lunch with a beautiful hooked-jaw 5-pound, 5-ounce brown trout.?? He threw a silver/blue Kastmaster from shore off of Glory Hole Point, and landed the big brown, as well as a smaller brown.?? Trollers should concentrate on the main lake in the dam/spillway area, or in the mouths of major coves such as Angels Cove, Glory Hole Cove, or Mormon Cove.?? Fish are being found fairly shallow- troll from the surface to 15 feet deep.?? Successful trollers seem to have the best luck with shad-patterned lures such as Apex, Needlefish or Rapala Countdowns, and they are not using dodgers or flashers.?????? Danny Layne of Fish ???n' Dan's Guide Service says that adding a nightcrawler on you lure (he recommends Apex, Excel spoons, or Vance's Slim Willies) is working well right now.?? He also stresses the importance of using a side planer to get your lure away from your boat's wake, or at least run a minimum of 100 feet of line behind out your boat.???? Danny has been catching 14"-16" rainbows, with a few bigger fish thrown in, while trolling upriver between the South Fork and Parrotts Ferry Bridge.?????? Night fishing under a submersible light is another way to target trout at this time of year, although it is pretty cold out there.?? Anchor in the deepest water you can near the spillway- 80-100 feet deep is ideal.?????? Drop your submersible light into the water, as deep as you can get it.?? The light attracts plankton, which attract shad, which attracts trout.?? This takes some time, so be patient.?? Use a worm threader to thread a nightcrawler up your line, and tip your hook with some glitter Power Bait Select.

Kokanee:???? Done for the season.

Bass:?? Tough bite, which is typical for this time of year. The bite is mushy so pay attention- it's easy to miss the opportunity to set your hook. Look for bass on main lake points, submerged islands, and up into the creek channels.?? Split-shotting or drop-shotting seems to be a good bet with 4" worms in crawdad or shad colors, and on brown jigs.?? These techniques seem to be catching fish at 20-40 foot depths.???? Bigger fish have been caught on swimbaits, such as the Huddleston.?? Remember to practice catch-and-release.?? The Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain the bass fishery!??

Catfish:?? Finally slowing down.?? Use anchovies, mackerel, sardines, or a ball of nightcrawlers.?? Leave your bail open so the cats can pick the bait up and swim with it- you will be more likely to hook them that way. Also, be sure to use a sliding sinker weight

Crappie and bluegill: Slow.?? Night fishing under a light is best. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 25'-35' feet deep.?? Bear Creek, Mormon Creek and Carson Creek are all good bets.?? Plenty of people have good luck near the marina tire breakwater.?? For crappie, try fishing live small or medium minnows, or crappie jigs with jigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white.?? Remember- 25 is the limit for crappie.??