Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 646,219 acre-feet of water. The lake level came up three feet this past week. It is currently at 886 ft. above sea level and 199 ft. from full. The water clarity is clear in most of the lake. There is some debris floating on the surface. The water temperature is gradually rising, with the average being 60-68 degrees. The dam area is still buoyed off. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane concrete ramp with a courtesy dock in place.

Trout: Good. The last few weeks, many anglers have been out on the water catching limits of trout. Generally the trout bite will slow down when the water gets warm. The lake continues to rise and the trout have been responding well to the fresh water that has helped fill the lake. Throughout the day trout can be found feeding near the surface down to 30'. Boating anglers have been having luck fishing on the main lake with trolling spoons and a flasher/crawler combo. Also, many anglers are fishing for kokanee and catching trout on brightly painted kokanee gear. Early morning try fishing a top-line on the surface and then switching to leadcore and downriggers once the sun is over head. Bank anglers are catching very few trout from shore. Try using baits that appeal to multiple species. A crawler/mallow combo or a live minnow under a slip-float are both good choices.

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Jordan Coromelas of Orange County. He caught a nice 1.5-pound rainbow on a live minnow.

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: Fair. The kokanee bite has started. A handful of anglers have hit the water in search of kokanee and they are picking up a few. May through August, are prime months to target the kokanee. For those who want to start targeting kokanee, try trolling a pink spinner or hoochie trailed behind a slingblade or teardrop dodger. Be sure to add corn to each hook.

Bass: Good. The lake level continues to rise each week which is great for the bass that are trying to spawn. The last few years the water was dropping and leaving many of the bass nests dry. Also, anytime a lake drops and then rises again it will provide flooded vegetation. This creates a great habitat for the bass and their forage. Plus, the vegetation will provide that lake with nutrients that will help all species thrive. The bass can be found near the flooded grass holding on rocks and submerged wood. With the water temperatures warming the bass have become very active and will feed on reaction baits and topwater. If the reaction bite seems to slow, try switching to a soft plastic presentation. Baits that can be rigged weedless and fished on the bottom and around brush will work best. A standard Texas rigged worm is hard to beat. Be sure to add a bead to create additional sound and vibration. Cast near under water structure and shake the rod tip to create a ticking sound. This will call bass out of heavy cover. Try using creature baits, crawdads and lizards in natural colors. Bass will move a great distance to eat a bulky meal. Add scent to further entice fish to bite.

Kevin Dye and his wife Felicia had a great week of fishing! They reported catching and releasing a bunch of nice bass. They also mentioned that New Melones is made for kayaks and it is really cool to start seeing so many more people yak fishing.

VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE. The spawn is here and many fish are holding eggs. 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 water has warmed to a very optimal temperature for the catfish to become active. Many catfish are moving into shallow water and feeding often throughout the day. Catfish are commonly mistaken as bottom feeders, but they will actually hunt and feed on other fish and creatures much like a bass would. Try using shad or nightcrawlers to offer a presentation they would naturally feed on. Catfish have very poor eyesight and feed by scent as well. Add scent to help the fish locate your bait.

Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week goes to Conner Stutzman of Waterford. He caught two hefty catfish while fishing in Mormon Creek with a nightcrawler. His biggest weighed 10-pounds and 1-ounce.

Crappie: Great. It has been a great spring and anglers are catching a ton of crappie. To locate the crappie, try fishing in main lake coves near timber. It is best to use a small reaction bait to find where the fish are hanging and then switch to a live minnow to load the boat. Beetle Spins, small square bills and small Rapalas are all good search baits. Use a slip-float to adjust the depth of your presentation. The crappie population is on the rebound so it is best to only keep what you can eat and catch and release the rest for fun.