Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 313,379 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped three feet this last week. It is currently at 812 ft. above sea level and 276 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. The dam area has been buoyed off due to current that is created when releasing water. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane dirt and gravel road 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: Slow. A few anglers tried their luck and went out in search of the trout. Most of them reported a slow bite and catching bass suspended in the main lake. The shad are holding in the main lake where the water temperatures are cooler. The trout are holding near the shad along with any other species that will use the shad as their food source. Trolling anglers should try fishing in 70-90' of water. The deep/cool water will attract baitfish and the trout will be near. A lure that has worked in the past when fishing the deep water, late summer pattern, is the Rattle Trap. This lure has a violent wiggle that produces a constant rattle and creates a bunch of commotion. Be sure to add scent when fishing in water with low visibility. Night anglers are still catching trout while fishing under a submersible light. Try anchoring the boat in 40-60' of water and dropping the light down to 15' of water. Bank anglers should head to the high country to target trout. 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. There are very few anglers targeting kokanee and the last month the bite as been slow. Generally during August and September the kokanee will hold in much deeper water. Try trolling in water from 80-100'. There are still portions of the main lake where the water exceeds 200' in depth. It is important to stay over the main river channel and the main lake when trolling deep to avoid snags. Use your GPS or purchase a topographical map to locate the old lake and to avoid island tops. Dark colors and vibration will be the key to success. We have some pre-rigged bladed hoochies that are designed to attract fish in deep/dark/stained water. Use plenty of scent and tip each hook with shoepeg corn.

Kevin Dye of Arnold caught a nice spotted bass while tossing a spinnerbait from his kayak.

Bass: Okay. The bass are feeding in the evening, at night and during the earlier morning. Once the sun comes up they will move out to deeper water and wait for the next best time to feed. The shad will also be suspended over deep water, occasionally the bass will feed on them throughout the day. During low light conditions and at night, try throwing topwater baits to draw the fish to the surface. A great choice is a Whopper Plopper. These baits are extremely effective, are easy to fish, and create a ton of commotion. Try fishing the smaller size when the water is calm and switching to the full size if there is a bit of wind. During the midday heat it is best to slow down and fish soft plastic baits on the bottom. Try using bulky baits that move water. Brush Hogs, lizards, Crazy Flappers and Hula Grubs are all good choices a will draw the attention of nearby bass. Many bass will roam the open water and suspend near the balls of shad. These fish are a little tougher to locate and catch. Try finding them by fan casting a lure that can be fished fairly fast. A lure that is often overlooked for bass is a Kastmaster. The heavy sizes can be used to make extremely long casts and cover water quickly. Count them down to your desired deep and vary retrieve speeds. 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.

Samantha Smith caught a 4-pound, 11-ounce catfish while fishing near the 49-bridge.

Catfish: Good. Many anglers continue to catch nice catfish. The catfish are near the shoreline and can be caught on a variety of different baits. Frozen fish bait has been working well. Mackerel, sardine and anchovy will work, but the frozen shad seems to be out fishing all the other frozen bait. One reasons shad works well, is it is a natural food source in New Melones. Another setup that will produce bites is a mallow/crawler combo. This is typically considered a trout rig, but many experienced cat fishing anglers will incorporate it in their arsenal. The bottom of the lake is littered with wood and rock. The mallow will float up off the bottom making it easy for the fish to locate. Try adding additional scent to your presentations.

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Parker Barrington of Lathrop. He caught two nice catfish with his biggest weighing 7-pounds, 4-ounces. He reported catching his fish while fishing from the shore in the evening.

Crappie: Good. The last time the lake was this low the crappie fishing in the mid to late summer was really good. There is a bunch of standing timber that is lining the lake. The crappie will hold in the timber and ambush schools of small shad as they come by. Try finding an area where the timber is near deep water. Anchor and drop a submersible light to attract nearby crappie. Live minnows and crappie jigs work best.

The Campaign to Save the Stanislaus River - 1969 to 1982 and its Historic Importance.
Fight for the Stanislaus