Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 608,659 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped two feet this past week. It is currently at 879 ft. above sea level and 206 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 64-70 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: Fair. The trout bite is starting to taper off as the surface temperature rises and the fish move to deeper/cooler water. The trout will hang near the schools of shad and feed on them throughout the warm months of summer. The shad will also favor the coolest water in the lake. The existing river channel and out in the main lake are both good areas to look for bait and fish feeding on bait. Boating anglers have been catching trout in the main lake while trolling shad patterned spoons. Excels, Needlefish and Speedy Shiners are all good trolling spoon choices. The Speedy Shiner will work best at faster speeds and can be used to locate feeding fish. Most anglers have reported catching fish in 40 to 60' of water. It is best to run a kokanee rig as well. Trout will bite a kokanee rig and you will give yourself a shot at some of this year's fat kokanee. Bank anglers should try their luck fishing for crappie or catfish, or head to the local rivers and streams toward the high country. 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.

Gary and Woody caught a really nice limit of kokanee using spinners and hoochies near Rose Island.

Kokanee: Good. We are seeing some really nice kokanee being caught out of New Melones. The fish are much larger than they have been the last few years and measure from 13-15". Kokanee are a great fish to eat and they are very exciting to catch as well. Pink is always a go-to color choice, but blue, copper and gold have been working best recently. Try using a variety of colors and switching throughout the day. The fish will do the same depending on water clarity and light penetration. Spinners and bladed hoochies have been working best. Uncle Larry's and Rocky Mountain spinners trailed behind a slingblade can be a productive choice. Or, try trailing a Glitterbug's or Crystal Basin micro hoochie behind a small spoon. Kokanee are often triggered by scent. Be sure to add scent to your blade and your lure. Another way to ensure your presentation holds scent is by incorporating an Oregon Tackle Scent Chamber inline. Don't forget to stop by the store and pick up some dyed and scent corn.

Bass: Fair. The bass bite has slowed just a bit in the last couple of weeks. The fish are finishing their annual spawning phase. They will pull off the shoreline and start to feed and recuperate. The mornings and evening are the best times to target fish that are feeding. Topwater baits are a good choice and will draw some explosive blow-ups. The fish will be feeding on shad, bluegill and baby bass at this time of the year. Keep this in mind when making color selections. Once the sun comes up the fish will be less likely to feed on the surface. At this point it is best to use a soft plastic presentation to coax fish into biting. Bass become territorial before, during and after the spawn. Bulky baits that pose a threat to their offspring will get bites from fish that are not interested in feeding. Lizards, Brush Hogs and Crazy Flappers are all good choices. Look for areas with both deep and shallow water nearby and use your electronics to locate bait. 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. Each week the water warms and the catfish bite will continue to improve. There are some giant catfish in New Melones and it is common to catch a handful of 8 to 12-pound fish. Many anglers do well fishing with nightcrawlers and chicken livers. Many catfish will feed on shad along with the bass and trout making frozen shad a good choice for bait. The largest cats will eat trout and kokanee. We have heard of some giant fish being caught using a whole frozen mackerel on a double hook rig. Catfish have very poor eyesight and will feed by sound, vibration and scent. Use a bead below your weight to create a ticking sound and add scent to your bait offerings.

Crappie: Great. The crappie are biting! We have seen more crappie and larger crappie this spring than we have in the last few years. It is nice to see them on the rebound and anglers are having a blast catching these chunky slab-sides. The crappie will hold in creek channels and main lake coves. Look for areas with standing timber and shallow water nearby. The best way to locate crappie is to fish with a small Beetle Spin or Road Runner. Make multiple casts and cover water until the fish start to bite. Once you have an area that is holding, try using a live minnow under a slip-float to load the boat.