Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,491,181 acre-feet of water. The lake water level has been dropping slowly for the past few weeks and is at 1002 ft. above sea level (down from 1006 ft. on March 1st), and 86 ft. from full capacity. Water in the main lake is approximately 55-58 degrees. Water has greened up a bit, lowering visibility somewhat. All ramps are in the water.

Trout: slow to fair. Bank fishing has been slow. Bank anglers should head to main lake points such as off of Glory Hole Point, or under the Hwy 49 Stevenot Bridge. Try fishing off a steep point in those areas. Use worms/marshmallows or chartreuse, pink or rainbow glitter Power Bait. Trollers have been picking up mixed limits of trout/kokanee, along with the occasional nice brown. The main lake near Rose Island and the dam/spillway area, and the river channel up to Parrotts Ferry Bridge have been the hot spots. Most anglers had luck fishing 20-40 feet deep, over deepest water. Red or pink Apex lures, firetiger or copper pop Uncle Larry's Spinners tipped with a piece of nightcrawler, and Trophy Trout in any color all brought in limits this week. Rolling shad is working for the big browns. The Spro Shad Rig is an easy way to set up for rolling shad, or you can use a Roto-Chip Shad Rig. Most successful anglers are using dodgers, Wild Things, or Slingblades instead of flashers. Mike Ford of Modesto wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest and a free deli lunch with his huge 8-pound, 13-ounce, 28 ??" long brown trout, caught while trolling an Uncle Larry's Copper Pop behind a dodger 25 feet deep near the spillway. What a beautiful fish! He had a mixed limit that included the brown, two rainbows and a kokanee. Scott Key and his kids caught some nice kokanee weighing up to 2-pounds, while trolling a firetiger spinner behind a watermelon Wild Thing. Mike Scadden (with Gary Burns of Take it to the Limit Guide Service) caught a mixed limit while trolling Uncle Larry's Spinners and Cripplures near the mouth of Mormon Creek.

Kokanee: picking up! The cooler weather may slow the bit a bit, but we are seeing some great early action for the kokes. The fish are big, too- up to two pounds, and 14-15" at the tail fork! Trollers are targeting the main lake around Rose Island, near the spillway/dam, and upriver between the two bridges. Fish have been caught from 15 feet deep to as deep as 50 feet. Apex, Uncle Larry's Spinners, Sockeye Slammers, Cripplures, and Crystal Basin's or R & K Spinners' Hootchies are all good lures for the kokanee. Choose red, pink, or firetiger colors. Use a dodger, Wild Thing, or a Sling Blade in the same colors. Garlic or anise are good scents right now. Anglers who caught nice kokanee this week include Greg Branson, Robert Porovich, William Heinselman, Mike Scadden, Scott Key and his children, and Mike Ford.

Bass: great! The bite is soft, and easy to miss, so pay attention and watch your line. Bass are holding to points both upriver and in the main lake. While bass are holding close to the bottom in 25' of water, look for areas with structure both shallow and deep, so fish can move up and down to different depths. Try brown jigs, green pumpkin Brush Hogs, drop-shot or dart headed crawdad-colored worms and Senkos. Throw a weightless Senko, or a Zoom Trick Worm with little or no weight, rigged wacky-style. Allow it to sink slowly through the water column and watch your line as the worm floats to the bottom. The slow presentation triggers a bite from sluggish fish. Swimbaits continue to bring in the big monster bass. Nicolle Linn went fishing with her dad. They caught an 8-pound, 7-ounce largemouth bass on a green Brush Hog, while bank fishing in Glory Hole Cove. Please remember to practice catch-and-release. This is very important at this time of year, as bass prepare to spawn. Taking one big female out of the lake also removes thousands of fry. The Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain the bass fishery!

Catfish: slow, which is normal this time of year. 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: Picking up with the warm weather. Night fishing under a light is best, although anglers are catching crappie during the day, too. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 10'-20' feet deep. Bear Creek, Mormon Creek and Carson Creek are all good bets. 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.