Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 272,870 acre-feet of water. The lake level came up one foot this past week. It is currently at 800 ft. above sea level and 286 ft. from full. The water clarity is clear in most of the lake and stained in some of the creek arms. The water temperature continues to cool, with the average being 53-56 degrees. The dam area remains buoyed off due to current that is created when releasing water. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a one 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. The DFG has recently planted fish in New Melones. With the recent rainfall and the cold weather in the forecast, we will hopefully start to see the trout in shallow water. Each year, as the surface temperature cools the trout move up in to the cooler water. This makes the winter months a great time to target trout from a boat and from shore. The trout will move up in waves and there will be areas of the lake that will fish better than others. Boating anglers should try checking the mouths of major creek channels. Trolling with a top-line will help to avoid snagging trees. With the use of electronics you will be able to establish a trolling route that is void of any standing timber. Generally the center of the creek channels is a good place to troll deeper. New Melones has a large population of trout and they feed daily, finding them is the key. Try fishing an area for an hour and then moving to the next. Switch depths and lure presentations until you find a setup that gets bites. Try using Rapalas, Needlefish and Rattle Traps in natural shad patterns and in bright patterns. Also, tipping the hook with a chunk of crawler or soft plastic will add appeal. Bank anglers are limited to just a few access areas. Glory Hole Point is an excellent spot to fish for trout. It is the longest point on the lake and the main river swings into the side and around the front. The trout will use main lake points and the river channel to move from deep water to shallow water. Another area that can be easily accessed is under the 49-bridge. This is also a good area that has deep water nearby. Lastly would be the Glory Hole Cove, which is the cove where the marina is located. Some years there are huge schools that migrate into this main lake pocket. 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: Done. Generally we will start seeing a few fish caught in April.

Bass: Good. The bass have moved to deeper water and can be found holding on structure. With the water temperature cooling each week, the bass will be slowing down. This doesn't mean the bite will be tougher, it just means the fish will not be willing to chase fast moving baits. Try using soft plastics that can be crawled across the bottom. A crawdad colored Baby Brush Hog fished on a Carolina Rig will represent a sluggish crawdad and will entice nearby bass. There is an abundance of shad, which makes a shad patterned worm a good choice. A small shad shaped soft plastic fished on a drop shot can be used for suspended fish and fish holding near the bottom. One of the best ways to catch bass in the winter months is with a vertical jigging spoon. Use your electronics to fish areas that have bait and bass. Position the boat directly over the top of the fish and drop the spoon to the bottom. A spoon has a fluttering action when fished on a slack line. Nearby fish will think it is a dying or wounded shad and come over to investigate. It is not a bad idea to add a little scent to your spoon to help the fish hold on to it once they bite. 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: Fair. Some anglers are still catching a few catfish on each outing. Catfish can be caught all throughout the winter, but the action will be much slower. Typically they feed much more when the water is warm. Try using baits that produce a bunch of scent. Find likely holding areas and fish up current from the fish. The scent will draw them out and they will search for your bait.

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Troy Morris of Angels Camp. He caught a 6-pound, 6-ounce catfish on an anchovy while fishing toward the south end of the lake.

Crappie: Slow. Some anglers will catch a few crappie during the winter, but the crappie schools have not been abundant for a few years. Try using live minnow and fish in 25-45' of water.