New Melones Lake level is currently at 1056.00 ft. and 32 ft. from full. With recent rains we soon hope to see water levels exceed last years level of 1068.55. and are anticipating seeing water levels at 95% of capacity by early summer. Water temperature is between 65 and 68 degrees.

We like to promote catch and release on New Melones. If you do so, provide us a picture and bring it in for a copy or email it to us at gloryholesports@yahoo.com so we can put it on the board or in the newsletter.

Anglers FYI: For anyone with a potential lake record please call us at the store and hopefully we can send someone to weigh, photograph and measure the catch at the lake. GHS is the unofficial recorder of lake records for New Melones, and we understand there is sometimes conflicting interest in the welfare of the catch, whether or not to release the potential record, sacrificing your place as a record holder for the lake.

We do promote catch and release. For potential lake records, record the statistics of the fish... length, girth, weight and photographed at the lake before releasing her. If indeed we can verify the information that is provided, such as a witness, comparing the scale used with ours, a photograph with the fish hanging from the scale and can see the scale weight, etc...then we can accept this as proof. If your catch has expired than indeed bring it in to GHS so we can record it here, and you can have it mounted!

TROUT

Matt Kain of Twain Harte landed a nice rainbow trout on March 28. Matt was trolling Angels Creek arm at 30 ft. with a Kastmaster on the line, hooking into a 7 lb.7oz. beauty. Trout has been off the last few weeks. Look for trout in the creek arms being fed by streams coming into the lake. Trolling speedy shiners, apex and Pro Troll lures have brought success to some anglers.

BASS

Its been a bass attack on New Melones with the bass on their beds spawning. Josh Parris of Angels Camp had an awesome day slamming the bass on Melones. Josh tantalized the 12.98 lb. female just off of her spawn with a not often heard of Balam 300 swimbait. Watching her swim up to the bait a couple times but not getting her to strike, Josh set up the go pro and the next cast, she slammed his bait, capturing the scene on video. Hope to share it with you soon!

Anglers are having success using the Strike King XD crankbait with 12 lb. flourcarbon allowing the bait to dive deep. Strike King/Booyah spinner baits and buzz baits are also getting the attention of the spawning bass protecting their beds.

Glory Hole Sports own veteran angler Sherryl VanSanden was on Melones April 5 tossing a 5" Senko in Green Pumpkin and had this 3.7 oz. bass inhale her bait. Sticking to Bass Anglers Code of Ethics, Sherryl declined to say where she was fishing on the lake.

CRAPPIE

Eric Ochos came to fish and blasted last months newly crowned crappie record for New Melones with this 3 lb. 4oz. beefcake. Eric was fishing off shore in a Tuttletown cove using live minnows and was fishing 20 ft. deep. Congratulations!

Crappie has just been off the charts the last two weeks with 25 count stringers of fish coming into Glory Hole Sports for pictures. The pudding is in the pictures!

Andrew Beard and 1st mate above from Benicia, Ca.

Bill Heinle and Ethan Rector of Arnold above.

Crappie Jigs, flukes, live minnows, artificial minnows, small spinnerbaits are all getting the attention of Crappie on Melones.