New Melones Lake level has been holding steady for the last 30 days and currently at 1057.20 ft., 30.80 ft. from full. Water temperature is 70 degrees. Water clarity is clear.

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

The end of April and into the new month of May, trout has picked up with anglers landing Rainbows in the 3-7 lb. range from shore and trolling.

Will Cunningham of Vallecito, Ca. had a day fishing from the bank. Will declined to share with us the bait of choice nor where he landed the bows as these are classified questions, however I'm guessin he was using crawlers. Will did mention he was fishin 10 ft. depth and up. Glory Hole Point over to the spillway, 49 Bridge were best for trolling, with anglers using Super Duper/chrome, Blue Fox Vibrax chart. with black stripe. This is a great time of to troll in the upper water column to 30 ft. for trout and kokanee. Needlefish in CopCar is a great go to for trolling following a troll or flasher. Tip your presentation with kokanee corn and apply a scent to the dodger/flasher for optimum performance.

KOKANEE

Kokanee have finally appeared! After a mostly unproductive season last year for the koks, we have been anxiously waiting for a report this year.

Gary Burns of "Take it to the Limits " guide service came thru last week landing a couple koks to get the season off to a start. Identifying kokanee vs. trout can sometimes be difficult as they have similar traits. Notice the definition of the "V" tail, one of the defining marks on a kok, along with the brilliant silver scale. Look for the gill rakers in kokanee to be soft and pliable to the touch and fine, as opposed to trout which are stiff to the touch.

BASS

Bass anglers are finding success on Melones with reports of numerous anglers hooking up 3-7 lb. bass. Double willow skirted jigs, Zman chatterbaits have produced results, but have your other rods setup dropshot, wacky rig when the other action slows.

CRAPPIE

The sunfish continues to be caught and are giving anglers some fun times on the water. Also some nice Bluegill have been landed. By far the most popular bait has been using live medium shiners and crappie jigs.