Water Conditions:?? New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,429,484 acre-feet of water.?? The lake water level has been steady for the past couple of weeks, and is at 995 ft. above sea level and 91 ft. from full capacity.?? Surface water temperature remains 61-63 degrees. Water is still stained, with around 8-12 ft. visibility.?? All ramps are in the water.??

Trout:?? Typical for this time of year: fishing is slow as the lake is in transition.?? As the water temperature cools, rainbows move into the shallows, and bank fishing turns on.?? The Department of Fish and Game has begun regular plantings at New Melones, so action should start picking up.?? Bank anglers should try the major coves, such as Glory Hole or Angels Cove, or off of Glory Hole Point.???? Use worms/marshmallows or chartreuse or rainbow glitter Power Bait.?? Fishing off the bottom with a 18"-24" leader is preferable to fishing under a bobber.?? Be sure your bait floats off the bottom- use small (#12 or#14 hooks) and light line, and inflate your worm with a worm inflator.?? The marshmallows work as a float, too.?? As the water temperature cools, fish will move to the surface.???? Trollers should target the main lake, and the entrance to major coves, such as Glory Hole Cove.?? Fish are being found fairly shallow now, despite the warm water.?? Fish 15-25 feet deed.?? Successful trollers seem to have the best luck with shad-patterned lures such as Apex or Rapala Countdowns, and they are not using additional attractors such as dodgers or flashers.?? 12-year-old Rocky Rozadilla caught a nice trout while trolling a Rapala in the main lake.?? Loren Monsen and Art Schwoerer caught 4 nice trout while trolling an Apex in the main lake.?? Night fishing under a submersible light is another way to target trout at this time of year.?? Anchor in the deepest water you can near the spillway- 80-100 feet deep is ideal.?????? 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.?? Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (trout) was won by Tom Dutil, and Michael and Robert Porovich, who went night-fishing with a crawler/green Power Bait combo.?? They caught 9 nice rainbows, including a 4.4-pounder and a 3.5-pounder.?? They also had a nasty, ugly spawned-out kokanee!?? That's an unusual catch for night fishing. I'm not sure which angler caught the big rainbow, but they win a free deli lunch from our delicious deli!?? Congratulations!

Kokanee:???? Done for the season.?? Tom Dutil, and Michael and Robert Porovich caught a nasty, ugly spawned-out kokanee while night-fishing under a submersible light, so you may be able to see them spawning in Rose Creek, Angels Creek and other areas.?? They are no good to eat at this point, but it is fun to see them.?? After spawning, the kokanee die.?? This is a normal part of their life-cycle.

Bass:?? Very difficult. The bite appears to be typical of September instead of November. The bite is mushy so pay attention- it's easy to miss the opportunity to set your hook. Look for bass on main lake points and up into the creek channels.?? Split-shotting seems to be a good bet with 4" Roboworms in crawdad colors, although the bigger fish have been caught on swimbaits, such as the Huddleston. Anglers are finding the bigger bass at 25' to 35' depth. 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:?? 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.?? Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (catfish) was won by John Sowell JR., who landed a 13-pounder while soaking a worm from the bank near the Tuttletown boat ramp.?? Don York caught a 7.4-pounder in an anchovy while fishing in Angels Cove.?? Leonard Lane caught a 7-pound, 4-ouncer on chicken liver in Glory Hole Cove.?? Jim Smith caught a 5-pound, 13-ouncer and a 6-pound, 12-ouncer on crawlers while fishing off of Glory Hole Point.?? All of these catfish were caught very shallow and near shore.

Crappie and bluegill: Slow.?? Night fishing under a light is best. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 25'-35' 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.??