New Melones Reservoir's current lake level is 1059.10 and 28.90 ft. from full, water levels rising 6 ft. in 14 days. Snow melt in the Sierras will continue to feed New Melones well into the summer months from deep drifts still in the mountain forests. Water temperatures are hoovering around 68-70 degrees and water clarity is good. The Tuttletown, Glory Hole Point and Angels Cove ramps are all operational.

We like to promote catch and release on New Melones. If you do so, please provide us a picture and bring it in for a copy or email it to us at gloryholesports@yahoo.com so we can put it on the board or in the newsletter.

Anglers FYI: For anyone with a potential lake record please call us at the store and hopefully we can send someone to weigh, photograph and measure the catch at the lake. GHS is the unofficial recorder of lake records for New Melones, and we understand there is sometimes conflicting interest in the welfare of the catch, whether or not to release the potential record, sacrificing your place as a record holder for the lake.
We do promote catch and release. For potential lake records, record the statistics of the fish... length, girth, weight and photographed at the lake before releasing her. If indeed we can verify the information that is provided, such as a witness, comparing the scale used with ours, a photograph with the fish hanging from the scale and can see the scale weight, etc...then we can accept this as proof. If your catch has expired than indeed bring it in to GHS so we can record it here, and you can have it mounted!
 
TROUT
Anglers off the bank are scoring in the Angels Cove area, hiking the trail from Black Bart day use area. Night crawlers was the bait used by Miles and Kelly of Mountain Ranch to land their limit of Rainbow trout.

KOKANEE
Kokanee has been the buzz on Melones for the last month with anglers landing limits by mid morning most days despite pressure from lots of boats trolling the main lake.

Headhunter Sportsfishing of Angels Camp has been doing successful guide trips with clients landing limits of koks, with an occasional trout mixed in.

BASS
Reports from anglers using different techniques from top water action although slow, produces awesome smash and grab excitement from spots and largemouth.

CATFISH
Anglers targeting Catfish are having good luck with cut baits.

CRAPPIE
Live minnows and crappie jigs are the go to's. With the high water levels, look for trees that will be going into the water or already partially submerged trees that the crappies seek out for cover from the sun.

NEW MELONES GUIDE REPORTS

"Take it to the Limit Guide Service"

New Melones has to be the hottest spot in California to put fat healthy Kokanee in your boat.

The koks are starting to school up and going a little deeper (38' to 46') which makes it nice to see the koks on your screen.

The fish are bigger this year and seem to be really really fat, most ranging 16" down to 13".

We have been putting koks in the boat in over 200 and 300' of water going all over the lake from the dam to the north parts of Melones.

Most days we are off the water by 12 noon with limits and some days a little longer. The koks are spread all over the lake so when ya find them stay there and fish the area for a while.

Watermelon colors in blades, Hoochies in pink and green or pink and purple and pink and green Assassin work well for us this week.
15 fat Kokanee 16" down to 13" caught on New Melones this week.

See Ya On The Water
Take it to the Limit Guide Service
Gary Burns
209-559-3349

"Xperience Fishing Guide Service"

The bass fishing on New Melones has been good all spring long and it looks like heading into the warmer weather we are going to continue to see some awesome fish catches. Once the rain subsided, we had a couple of post frontal days and the reaction bite was a little slower. Finesse techniques were the ticket and a NED rig seemed to produce more bites and better fish. As the week progressed and the surface temperature stabilized, we began to find some larger bites and fun patterns to fish. We have been alternating between topwater baits, swimbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits depending on the location, conditions and time of day. Over the weekend we were able to land some big largemouth and spotted bass and witness some amazing take downs. The fish are holding on a variety of different structure type. Submerged islands, long points, grassy cuts and bluff walls from the south end to the end of the river there are quality fish to be caught. Want to learn new areas and techniques, target giant bass or just Xperience fishing, give me a call.

Xperience Fishing Guide Service
www.xperiencefishing.net
xperiencefishing@yahoo.com
John Liechty (209)743-9932