Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 536,196 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped two feet this last week. It is currently at 865 ft. above sea level and 214 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 58-66 degrees. Glory Hole Point boat launch is still open with a two lane concrete ramp and a dock. We expect the concrete ramp to come out of the water soon and to be launching off of the dirt ramp again.

Trout: Fair. Most of the trout are schooling in deeper/cooler water. They will hold near the main river channel and the major creek channel as the water warms and lake levels drop. However, there is a handful of trout that are still shallow and can be found feeding on the surface throughout the day. Trolling anglers should try trolling in 25-45' of water near the existing river channel. Some areas have a little stain and dingy water. Baits that have rattles and produce vibration will work well. Rattle Traps are a very good choice and can be trolled a various speed and depths. Also, this is typically a good time of the year to target the brown trout. To target big browns try trolling with a large jointed plug, or rolling frozen shad. Bank anglers have been having a little success, but the bite has definitely slowed a bit. The best time to catch trout from the shore is in the early morning. Some large trout have been seen and caught swimming just below the surface in search of insects that have landed on the surface. This is a great time to fish a bubble and fly combo. Make long casts and retrieve the bubble and wet fly at a very slow/steady pace.

Kokanee: Very Soon. Each week we are seeing a few more kokanee being caught. This warming trend in the weather should jump start the kokanee bite. In the week or so, we will start seeing some limits being caught. 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. Last year many anglers did well on tiny spoons such as Sockeye Slammers and Simon Baby Wobblers. Don't forget to tip your lures with dyed and scent corn.

Bass: Good. The bite this spring has been really good and there have been a bunch of really nice fish caught. There are fish in both deep and shallow water. In the spring months the bass will go through different stages of the spawn. There are pre-spawn bass, spawning bass and post-spawn bass. If you want to fish in deeper water you can catch pre-spawn and post-spawn fish or you can move shallow and find fish that are trying to spawn. Many different techniques have been working. The key is to adjust appropriately to the conditions. Try fishing a variety of soft plastics. The fish will be somewhat territorial even if they aren't spawning. Baits that propose a threat will get plenty of bites. Try using bluegill and bass baby patterns. Also, creature baits and lizards seem to trigger fish into biting. Remember bass don't always bite because they are hungry or trying to eat. Sometimes they bite to protect an area or because they are aggravated or curious. Some reaction baits have been producing fish. Try using chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and small square-billed crankbaits ot catch the fish that are more aggressive. PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE. The bigger fish are the future of our lake. Take photos and carefully release the fish back into to the lake to maintain a healthy fish population for generations to come.

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. Live minnows and mini jigs are both good choices for catching crappie.