Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 524,089 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped just over one foot this week and is currently at 863 ft. above sea level and 215 ft. from full. The water is stained in most of the lake. There are mud lines forming near the shore throughout the day, especially on windy days. The average water temperature is 76-82 degrees.


Trout: Slow. It is hard to establish a report with such few anglers on the lake. Late summer/early fall in years past has been a good time to troll deep water and catch some hefty trout. Trolling anglers it is time to start trolling shad patterned plugs or rolling shad. The trout feed on the shad that are schooling in the main lake. Rattle Traps, Speed Traps and Shad Raps work well when targeting large rainbows and browns. These baits are the same size and shape of the bait fish and the rattles will draw fish from a distance, especially in stained water. Be sure to add plenty of shad flavored scent to your presentation. Night fishing has slowed down but could get good with some cooler evenings on the way. Bank fishing has been very slow and usually is during the summer months. Best bet for shore anglers is to head to the high country lakes.


Fly fishing anglers the bite has been pretty good fishing local streams and rivers. Try using a Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, or a Light Cahill for rising fish. Also try using a hopper/dropper setup with a Stimulator and a Copper John.


Kokanee: Almost Done. The season is winding down and very few anglers a targeting the kokanee. The fish are heading upstream for their annual spawn and die. Some fish will migrate later than others. To target these fish try trolling in 70-90' of water. Darker colors will work best and larger baits and blades will get more strikes. Be sure to add scent to your presentations.

Please practice catch and release. Take photos and carefully release the fish back into to the lake to maintain a healthy fish population for generations to come.


Catfish: Good. With the water being low there are areas of lake that can be accessed from the shore that have been underwater for years. The Angels Creek channel on the main lake is a short walk from Glory Hole Point. This is a good time of the year to fish for catfish. The lake is really nice in the evenings and through the night and this is when the big cats come to the shoreline and search for food. Try using shad, anchovies and nightcrawlers for bait. It is a good idea to use an ample amount of scent to help the fish locate your bait.


Crappie: Very Slow. It's been a tough year and we have seen very few crappie. They have been hard to find. Your best bet would be to target them at night with a submersible light. Try using a mini jig with a live minnow on the back.