Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 339,965 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped four feet this last week. It is currently at 819 ft. above sea level and 269 ft. from full. The water clarity is stained in many areas and will occasionally clear up. The water temperature is warm, with the average being 76-81 degrees. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane dirt road and gravel leading off of the end of the point. There is not a courtesy dock and it is best to launch with a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Trout: Fair. This last week we received many reports of successful trout outings. The trout are holding in the main lake where there is deep/cool water and an abundance of food. The shad are the primary food source and trout will move to wherever the shad go. The heat of the hot summer sun will drive fish to deeper water throughout the day. Trolling anglers try fishing in 40-60' of water over 100-200' of water. The water is much cooler at these depths and the trout will be comfortable and more likely to feed. Spoons and spinners have been working well. Try using baits the move and displace water. The Colorado blade on a spinner will produce a pulse that will attract fish in dark and stained water. One trick that works well is trolling in an S-like pattern. Each time the boat turns it will cause the lure to make a direction change and a change in speed. This will often coax nearby fish into biting. Applying scent has also been a key factor, since the water clarity is stained. Night anglers have been few and far between. The ones that have spent the night targeting trout under a submersible light have been doing rather well. Nightcrawlers and live minnow are the best choice for targeting trout under the light. Bank anglers try heading to the high country lakes to fish for trout.

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Bob Scruggs of Valley Springs. He caught a limit of nice rainbow while fishing with Take it to the Limit Guide Gary Burns. His biggest weighed 1-pound, 14-ounces. They reported using Uncle Larry's Spinners and a variety of spoons to catch their fish.

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: Slow. Some anglers continue to target the kokanee and are catching a few. Generally the bite should remain throughout August and September. Then it will taper off as they move upriver to spawn. We expect to see a few more good weeks before the bite completely shuts off. The main body of water is still plenty deep and can be trolled without getting snagged. It is best to have a good topographical map or use the contour map on your GPS to find any submerged island tops. The water clarity is stained and dark colors have been working best. Black, blue and purple are all good choices. Also, try to use contrasting colored beads. This will make your bait more visible for the fish. It is a good idea to use an ample amount of scent when trolling in deep and stained water. Garlic, anise, bloody tuna and carp spit are all proven to attract fish.

Bass: Okay. The bass bite has been a little unpredictable. Some days they have been easy to find and other days they are tougher to locate. The lake level has been dropping each day. This will make the fish a little finicky, and many will pull offshore and suspend making them difficult to target. The morning topwater bite has slowed, but it's always a good idea to have one tied on. Most fish are being caught on the bottom using soft plastic baits. It is best to use a weedless presentation to avoid getting snagged in the wood. Crawdad and shad patterns will continually produce bites. To target suspending fish, try using deep diving crank baits or fishing a shad patterned paddle tail swimbait. Keep in mind that anglers trolling for trout are catching nice bass in the middle of the lake. It is a good idea to make occasional casts out in deep water. 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: Great. The catfish bite has been really good this year and last week anglers hauled in a handful of nice ones. The catfish will swim along the shoreline in search for food. Traditionally catfish are considered bottom feeders, but they are actually fairly aggressive and will hunt for their prey much like a bass would. They also have very poor eyesight and rely on smell and vibration to track down each meal. Keep this in mind and be sure you add scent and movement to your setup. Most of the time the natural scent of frozen fish will be enough, but it's not a bad idea to add additional scent. To create movement and vibration try using a bead below the weight. Lightly shake your rod to make the weight and bead tick. On a calm night or in stained water this will help fish locate the bait. Also, try using a rattle in-line below a slip float. The motion of the waves will cause the rattle to shake. Just a little sound can go a long way.

Crappie: Slow. Some anglers have been catching a few crappie at night with mini jigs fished under a submersible light.