Water Conditions:?? New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,859,488 acre-feet of water.?? The lake dropped about 2 feet again this week, and is currently 1039 ft. above sea level and 48 ft. from full capacity.?? Surface water temperature is now 65-68 degrees upriver and in major creek arms, and 70-75 degrees in the main lake and in coves. Water is fairly clear with around 15 ft. visibility with mudline forming due to falling water levels.?? We are still at the high-water ramps.

Trout:?? Bank anglers are having a tough time finding trout now, since the rainbows have moved out into deeper water.?? The local creeks and rivers (such as Angels Creek) have received trout plantings from DFG, so bank anglers can head to the creeks for good luck.?? Berkley Power Bait or Power Eggs, or Pautski's Salmon Eggs are your best bet.

Trollers are having better luck as the trout move deeper.?? Troll 30-50 feet deep- deeper when the sun is out, and shallower in overcast/rainy weather.?? The water up Angels Creek and upriver is colder, so you may find better trout fishing there.?? Tie on an Apex, or a spinner/crawler combo.?? Bright colors seem to be working well- firetiger has been a popular choice.?? Use ball troll flashers, or flashers on your line.?? Many anglers are having luck with a dodger.?? Rolling shad will get you a rainbow or a big, beautiful brown trout.?? Kim Cockshott of Arnold took his mother, Nancy Cockshott out fishing.?? She wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (salmonids) and a free deli lunch with a nice rainbow trout that weighed 3-pounds, 5-ounces after cleaning. What a nice Mother's Day Present!?? They trolled 30 feet deep upriver by the Parrotts Ferry Bridge with a Rapala to catch the fish.?? Joceline Stickney caught a pretty 3 1/4 ???pound brown trout on a green Apex and ball-troll flashers trolled 23 feet deep in the south side of the lake. Don Myshrall also caught a 3+-pound brown trout.?? He trolled a red Apex behind a watermelon dodger 30 feet deep near the dam/spillway to land his fish.?? 8-year-old Lucas Dement of Stockton had a great day of fishing with Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing.?? He landed a nice rainbow trout that weighed almost 3-pounds, while trolling an Uncle Larry's Spinner 40' deep near Glory Hole Point. Bruce said that Lucas set the hook and landed the fish all by himself, as well as a big 15.5" kokanee.?????? They caught fish in the Angels Creek arm, too, and also had luck on Sockeye Slammers.???? Joe Hallett caught a limit of trout while trolling crawlers 15-20 feet deep in the main lake.?? Richard, Sarah, Katie, and Curtis Kowski, as well as T.J. white, caught two mixed limits of kokanee/trout while trolling a crawler/spinner combo 34 feet deep near the dam.

Kokanee:?? Picking up, although limits are still rare.???? Fish are 13-14 inches on average, and weigh -1-to- 1-?? pounds.?? Kokanee are being picked up 20-40 feet deep off of Glory Hole Point.?? Scent is important- Freshwater Shrimp, krill or Carp Spit are good choices right now. It's best to scent your corn the night before, and refrigerate it.???? We have fresh pre-scented corn available at Glory Hole Sports.?? 8-year-old Lucas Dement of Stockton (with Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sportfishing) caught a 15.5-inch kokanee.??

Bass:?? red-hot!?? Bass are spawning and some are in post-spawn.?? The backs of coves, cuts and creek arms that hold a lot of lay-down wood or rocks are holding big bass.?? Any lure that stays in the strike zone is a good choice.?? Senkos and Zoom Trick Worms, crawdad imitations and jigs, and Zoom Lizards and Brush Hogs are all working great.?? Top-water bite has really picked up, too.?? Baits such as a Zara Spooks are a good choice for the early morning or evening bite, when the sun is off the water.???? Mitch Ballard caught a nice 4.4-pound spotted bass.?? Remember to practice catch-and-release, especially now, during the spawn.?? Removing a big bass out of the lake not only kills that fish, but all of her future offspring as well. The Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain the bass fishery!??

Catfish:?? Use anchovies, 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.?? Ron Thomas of Garden Valley wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (catfish) and a free deli lunch with his 14-pound, 11-ounce catfish, caught on an anchovy while bank-fishing off of Glory Hole Point.?? Jim Clough caught an 8-pounder on a yellow crappie jig, while fishing near Bear Creek.??

Crappie and bluegill:?? We have had the best crappie bite Melones has seen in years.?? Limits are common, and crappie are huge!?? Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, especially near running water or adjacent to spawning areas (flat areas with lots of fall-down wood or gravelly bottoms), about 5-15 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.?? Jim Clough of Columbia found a limit of crappie while throwing a yellow/white crappie jig near Bear Creek.