Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 558,123 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped three feet this last week. It is currently at 867 ft. above sea level and 212 ft. from full. The water clarity is fairly clear in most of the lake with a few areas having some stained water. The water temperature has warmed, with the average being 59-66 degrees. Tuttletown launch is closed. Glory Hole Point boat launch is open with a two lane concrete ramp and a dock. 4wd is not needed to launch.

Trout: Fair. Some anglers that are targeting trout have been catching quite a few nice rainbows. The surface temperature has warmed and the trout are seeking deeper/cooler water. Cooler water can be found on the main lake and in the center of the channel upriver. Trolling anglers are doing best fishing in 25-40' of water. There are areas were the water is over 200' feet deep. These are places that will continually hold fish as the water levels drop. The water has a little stain to it. Try using baits that create sound and vibration to attract fish. Plugs that are commonly used for bass will also work well for trout. Try using small, square-billed crankbaits or Rattle Traps trolled at a moderate speed. Before letting your bait out behind the boat, it is a good practice to set your bait in the water and see how it will react to different trolling speeds. The bite for the bank anglers has slowed quite a bit. Some fish can be caught by floating Power Bait off of the bottom or using a worm blower to inflate a nightcrawler. Also, many anglers have found that small minnows fished under a slip-float work extremely well for trout. Try finding areas on the lake that have a steep shoreline and deep water nearby.

Kokanee: Very Soon. It is still a little early to be catching limits of kokanee but, we expect the bite to take off in the next few weeks. This warming trend in the weather should jump start the kokanee bite. In the next couple weeks we should start seeing a few limits. To target kokanee try trolling in 40-60' of water. A small blade trailed by a small hoochie is a good setup that works every year. Don't forget to tip your lures with dyed and scent corn.

Bass: Good. The lake level has been dropping and the fish that wanted to be shallow for the spring are being pushed back to deeper water. The bite is still good and most anglers are catching a bunch of fish on each outing. Dragging soft plastics has been the most productive approach for most anglers. Senkos, lizards, Brush Hogs, Beavers and straight tail worms have all been working. A good rule of thumb would be, when fishing in stained water use bright colors and when fishing in clear water use natural colors. Also, in stained water bulky-bait will push water which makes it easier for fish to locate them. As far as rigging methods are concerned, use a weedless approach when fishing around wood and an exposed darthead or wacky-rig will work on dirt and rock areas. With the water temperature warming there will be a reaction bite and a top water bite that should be happening soon.

Catfish: Good. The cats are moving shallow and many anglers have been hooking into some real nice ones. Typically catfish are known as bottom feeders. On New Melones they tend to feed on small bait fish and can often be caught roaming suspended off of the bottom. Try using frozen shad, mackerel and sardines to target these fish eaters. Use a large slip-float to float the bait and target your desired depth. Catfish will typically hunt by sense of smell, so it is a good idea to add plenty of scent to your offerings.

Crappie: Good. Early spring is a great time to get into some big crappie. With the lake being lower than normal there are a bunch of trees that the crappie will hold in. The best way to catch the crappie is with a live minnow fished under a slip-float. Another good trick is to put the minnow on a mini jig. The color of the jig will attract fish and the action of the minnow will make the bite.