Water Conditions:?? New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,436,983 acre-feet of water.?? The lake dropped about 1 ?? feet this week, and is currently 996 ft. above sea level and 90 ft. from full capacity.?? Surface water temperature is about 68-74 degrees. Water is stained in the main lake with around 4-6 ft. visibility.?? All ramps are in the water.??

Caution!?? Falling water levels expose rocks, trees and island tops, which the Bureau of Reclamation may not have marked. Please use caution, and watch out for obstacles!

Trout:???? Bank anglers should head to local creeks and rivers (such as Angels Creek).?? Bank fishing at Melones should pick up around Thanksgiving.?? Hopefully we will have another great year!?? Berkley Power Bait or Power Eggs, or Pautski's Salmon Eggs are your best bet.??

Trollers are picking up mixed limits of kokanee/trout.?? Troll 50-60 feet deep- trout will move shallower as the water temperature cools.?? Most trout that we have seen have come from the main lake, but usually, upriver is great in late fall.?? Tie on a shad-patterned Apex, or a spinner/crawler combo.?? Use ball troll flashers such as Vance's Slim Willies.?? Rolling shad may get you a rainbow or a big, beautiful brown trout, especially upriver.

Night fishing under a submersible light is another way to target trout at this time of year.?? Anchor in the deepest water you can- 80-100 feet deep is ideal.?? The area in front of the spillway is the most productive spot, but under the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge, over the islands between the spillway and Glory Hole Point, and in front of the dam are all good places, too.?? 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.?? Jared Yamasaki of Sacramento caught a nice rainbow while night fishing.??

Kokanee:?????? We are still seeing limits. Kokanee are starting to look the way they should this time of year- pink, and hook-jawed.?? At this stage the meat is only good if you smoke it.?????? Fish are tightly schooled, so once you find the kokanee, double-hook-ups are common.?? Fish 65 feet deep, to as deep as 100-110 feet during the day, over submerged islands and points in the main lake, especially around the spillway and Rose Island.?? Pink or red are your best colors right now.?? Preferred lures include Uncle Larry's or Glitter Bugs Spinners, or Apex.???? Sling Blades, Wild Things, and Sep's Sidekicks in pink, watermelon or chrome were used as dodgers.?? ProCure scents in garlic, freshwater shrimp, or Kokanee Special are all good choices, with a little Bang crawdad scent added to the corn, too.?? Matt and Daniel Perkins and Sam Leary went fishing with guide Bill Dunn.?? They caught limits of kokanee while trolling chartreuse and green splatter Rocky Mountain UV squids behind Sep's green and watermelon dodgers, 85-105 feet deep by the spillway.??

Bass:???? tough fishing out there, especially with the full moon last week. Fish are sluggish, and the bite is soft.?? Pay attention- it's easy to miss the opportunity to set your hook.?? Trout trollers are catching big bass, since many are chasing shad in the main lake. It's hard to target these fish, but look for bass in coves and creek arms that are holding bait. If you find a school of shad, chances are there will be a school of bass chasing it.?? Many bass are targeting crawdads as well, so jigs are a good choice.?? Drag a jig in rocky areas.?? Drop-shot rigged or Carolina-rigged 6" worms or Baby Brush Hogs in crawdad colors such as Roboworm's Aaron's Magic or Zoom watermelon or green pumpkin fished in the same areas are another good choice.???? There continues to be a top-water bite when the sun is off the water (dawn and dusk) or in a shady spot near deep water, such as upriver next to steep rock walls or next to the bridge pilings.?? Shad-patterned Zara Spooks, Pop-R's or any other topwater bait will work. Work your bait, and then let it sit, to entice the lazy bass to strike.???? Fall is a good time to throw a buzzbait.?? 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:???? we saw a lot of cats again this week.?? 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.?? Catfishing is best at night.???? Bill Harvey of Reno, Nevada wins the Glory Hole Sports' Big Fish of the Week Contest (catfish) with an 11-pound, 7-ounce catfish caught on a nightcrawler under the Hwy 49 Stevenot Bridge.?? Tom Dutil and Joe Barra fished with chicken livers by the spillway and caught a couple of cats weighing 5 and 7 pounds.?? Pat Martin and Solomon Irving used anchovies to catch a 6-pound, 11-ouncer and a 4-pound, 14-ouncer while fishing near Big Oak campground.??

Crappie and bluegill:?? Night fishing under a light is best. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 15-20 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.?? Bluegill are plentiful, and are great for keeping the kids entertained.?? A large bobber with a piece of a nightcrawler under it thrown into the back of a cove or cut where there is lots of structure will catch little sunfish almost the second it hits the water.?? Bend down the barb on the hook to make releasing the little fish easier.