Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 489,048 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped two feet this last week. It is currently at 855 ft. above sea level and 224 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 63-68 degrees. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane dirt road leading off of the end of the point. There is not a courtesy dock and 4-wheel drive is recommended.

Trout: Good. Many anglers have been finding some nice trout up near the surface. The shad have moved shallow to spawn and the trout have moved up to feed on the shad. Trolling anglers try top-lining a shad patterned spoon 150'-200' behind the boat. Speedy Shiners are a good choice of spoon because they can be trolled at a faster speed, which really seems to trigger fish into biting. Also, apply some shad, threadfin shad or garlic bloody tuna scent to your spoon. The scent helps the fish locate the bait and they tend to grab the bait more aggressively when it smells like the real thing. If the surface bite tapers off try dropping your presentations down to 20'-40' where the water is a bit cooler. Night fishing anglers are starting to have some luck fishing under a submersible light with live minnows. The fish are near the surface so you can drop the light just a few feet down and watch the trout swimming around chasing bait. Bank anglers are catching a few fish while making multiple casts with heavy shad patterned spoons. Also, nightcrawlers and Power Bait will pick up a handful of bites. The creeks and rivers are now open and would be a good choice for angler who fish from land. We do encourage catch and release for the brown trout as The Department of Fish and Game will no longer be planting them. Carefully measure, weigh and photograph trophy fish and send us pictures and information.

Kokanee: Good. Anglers are starting to catch a few nice kokanee. We have had reports of some larger than average kokanee being caught. Please send pictures or stop by the store to have a photo taken of your catch. To target kokanee try trolling in 40-60' of water. Pink and orange have been working well. Anglers have been finding luck trolling with hoochies, spinners and small spoons. Use a short leader, between the dodger/slingblade and lure to get more action out of your presentation. Watermelon is a good color choice for dodgers. Be sure to tip your lures with dyed and scented corn.

Bass: Good. The bass in Melones have been biting and can be caught on a variety of presentations. For those who prefer fishing with soft plastics, try using a bullet weight and fishing your favorite plastic rigged Texas style. Baits that continually produce nice fish include, brush hogs, beavers, Senkos and Roboworms. Natural crawdad, shad, bluegill and baby bass colors work well. Many anglers have also reported having luck with reaction baits. Try using a Lucky Craft Pointer or cranking a square-billed crankbait to target the more aggressive fish. In the mornings and evening there has been a good topwater bite. Spooks, Rovers and Gunfish are good choices for walk the dog type baits. Also, a small popper fished on a spinning rod can be really fun to fish and catches some surprisingly big fish. The swimbait bite has slowed, but it only takes one fish to make your day one for the books. 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: Very Good. Some really big cats are up in shallow water feeding and spawning. We have had reports of giant fish seen cruising the shoreline and have had tales of unstoppable fish breaking heavy line. New Melones has some crazy big cats that are usually spread out. Due to low water levels we expect to see a handful of 20-pounders caught this summer.Each week we are seeing some really nice cats. 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. Catfish will typically hunt by sense of smell, so it is a good idea to add plenty of scent to your offerings.

Crappie: Fair. The crappie will be holding in the standing timber that lines the lake. The best way to catch crappie is with live minnows. Try using a small minnow fished under a slip-float or casting a Beetle Spin into the brush. Creek channels are a good place to look for crappie and will often have large schools of them. It is also time to drop a light and do some night fishing.