Full menu available at Melones

New Melones Reservoir - Angels Camp, CA


by Nor Cal Fish Reports
5-6-2015

Trout: Good. Many anglers have been finding some nice trout up near the surface. The shad have moved shallow to spawn and the trout have moved up to feed on the shad. Trolling anglers try top-lining a shad patterned spoon 150'-200' behind the boat. Speedy Shiners are a good choice of spoon because they can be trolled at a faster speed, which really seems to trigger fish into biting. Also, apply some shad, threadfin shad or garlic bloody tuna scent to your spoon. The scent helps the fish locate the bait and they tend to grab the bait more aggressively when it smells like the real thing. If the surface bite tapers off try dropping your presentations down to 20'-40' where the water is a bit cooler. Night fishing anglers are starting to have some luck fishing under a submersible light with live minnows. The fish are near the surface so you can drop the light just a few feet down and watch the trout swimming around chasing bait. Bank anglers are catching a few fish while making multiple casts with heavy shad patterned spoons. Also, nightcrawlers and Power Bait will pick up a handful of bites. Kokanee: Good. Anglers are starting to catch a few nice kokanee. We have had reports of some larger than average kokanee being caught. Please send pictures or stop by the store to have a photo taken of your catch. To target kokanee try trolling in 40-60' of water. Pink and orange have been working well. Anglers have been finding luck trolling with hoochies, spinners and small spoons. Use a short leader, between the dodger/slingblade and lure to get more action out of your presentation. Watermelon is a good color choice for dodgers. Be sure to tip your lures with dyed and scented corn. Bass: Good. The bass in Melones have been biting and can be caught on a variety of presentations. For those who prefer fishing with soft plastics, try using a bullet weight and fishing your favorite plastic rigged Texas style. Baits that continually produce nice fish include, brush hogs, beavers, Senkos and Roboworms. Natural crawdad, shad, bluegill and baby bass colors work well. Many anglers have also reported having luck with reaction baits. Try using a Lucky Craft Pointer or cranking a square-billed crankbait to target the more aggressive fish. In the mornings and evening there has been a good topwater bite. Spooks, Rovers and Gunfish are good choices for walk the dog type baits. Also, a small popper fished on a spinning rod can be really fun to fish and catches some surprisingly big fish. The swimbait bite has slowed, but it only takes one fish to make your day one for the books. Catfish: Very Good. Some really big cats are up in shallow water feeding and spawning. We have had reports of giant fish seen cruising the shoreline and have had tales of unstoppable fish breaking heavy line.


< Previous Report Next Report >




< Previous Report Next Report >


More Reports

Nor Cal Fish Reports Reports
for Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

Lake Almanor: Blood midge hatch on at Almanor
Lake Amador: Amador trout plants continue
Anderson Reservoir: Small bass entertain at Anderson
Antelope Lake: Full lake, tough bite at Antelope
Bear Lake: Bear River trout bite just fair
Lake Berryessa: Berryessa bass solid, Kokes starting
Donner Lake: Kokes showing at Donner
Bucks Lake: All quiet at Bucks Lake
Butte Lake: Butt Lake producing smallies
Calero Lake: Calero crappie bite improves
Lake Camanche: Camanche warming, trout still biting
Lake Chabot: Chabot trout bite solid
Chesbro Reservoir: So-so crappie bite at Chesbro
Clear Lake: Bass in post-spawn at Clear Lake
Collins Lake: Trout, bass active at Collins Lake
Contra Loma Reservoir: Big fish coming out of Contra Loma
Convict Lake: Solid trout action at Convict
Coyote Lake: Coyote crappie good, bass fair
Crowley Lake: Crowley trout remain willing
Lake Davis: Davis trout action improving
Del Valle Lake: Del Valle prospects bright
Frenchman Lake: Good bite at Frenchman
Gold Lake: Sardine Lake the star of Gold Lake Basin
June Lake: Slow go at June Lake
Gull Lake: Wind hurting Gull Lake action
Kirman Lake: Little action at Kirman
Lafayette Reservoir: Solid trout bite at Lafayette
Lexington Reservoir: Lexington worth a try
Lewiston Lake: Big surge of water through Lewiston
Lopez Lake : Lopez bass, panfish worth a try
Los Vaqueros Reservoir: Trout remain focus at Los Vaqueros
Mammoth Lakes : Good results in basin lakes
Lake Mendocino: Stripers boiling at Mendo

Nor Cal Fish Reports Reports
for Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Lake Almanor: Trout, smallmouth hot at Almanor
Lake Amador: Amador trout, cats willing
Anderson Reservoir: Anderson bass bite solid
Lake Berryessa: Berryessa trout slow, bass hot
Bucks Lake: Fair prospects at Bucks
Bullards Bar Reservoir: Bass bite is on at Bullards
Calero Lake: Calero bass bite improving
Lake Camanche: Camanche trout trollers score
Caples Lake: All ramps open at Caples
Lake Chabot: Trout bite slow at Chabot
Chesbro Reservoir: Chesbro crappie bit fair
Clear Creek: Bass, catfish and crappie biting at Clear Lake
Collins Lake: Collins continues to kick out big trout
Crowley Lake: Crowley trout bite hot
Lake Davis: Davis trout scattered
Del Valle Lake: Del Valle trout remain active
Gold Lake: Gold, Sardine producing trout
June Lake: June Lake trout near the surface
Lafayette Reservoir: Lafayette bite on
: Power Bait gets trout at Alpine
Lexington Reservoir: Lexington bass bite fair
Lewiston Lake: Lewiston ready for water surge
Lopez Lake : Lively action at Lopez Lake
Los Vaqueros Reservoir: Los Vaqueros trout bite solid
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Mary and George are basin stars
Lake Mendocino: Panfish bite solid at Mendo
Bon Tempe Reservoir: Bon Tempe
New Melones Reservoir: New Melones trout bite hot
Lake Oroville: Largemouth spawning at Oroville
Pardee Reservoir: Pardee trout and kokanee biting
Pyramid Lake: Pyramid cutthroat spawn over
Quarry Lakes: Quarry Lake trout bite slow
San Luis Reservoir: San Luis Forebay bass active
San Pablo Reservoir: San Pablo trout bite good
Santa Margarita Lake: Plenty of choices at Santa Margarita
Shadow Cliffs Reservoir: Shadow Cliffs well stocked
Shasta Lake: Crappie join hot Shasta bass bite
Siskiyou Lake: Siskiyou trout bite slow
Spicer Meadow Reservoir: Spicer low, trout bite good
Trinity Lake: Wind, low water slows Trinity bass
Twin Lakes (Bridgeport): Big browns highlight Twin Lakes opener
Uvas Reservoir: Good crappie bite at Uvas
American River: No shad yet on the American
Deer Creek: Slow opener on Deer Creek
Hat Creek: Early bite on Hat Creek
Napa River: Napa River striper bite tepid
McCloud River: McCloud in ideal shape
Russian River: Shad trickling into the Russian
Sacramento River - Upper: Excellent condition on Upper Sac
Sacramento River - Lower: Lower Sac trout worth chasing
Sacramento River: Stripers near Colusa
Sacramento River: Shad arrive in Butte County
Stanislaus River: North Fork a solid trout destination
Truckee River: Truckee River trout challenging
Sacramento Delta: Antioch striper bite on
Sacramento Delta: Benicia shoreline action remains solid
Discovery Bay: Black bass bite on in Disco Bay
Sacramento Delta: Frank's Tract bass bite strong
Sacramento Delta: Striper, shad in Freeport
Sacramento Delta: Wind stalls action in Pittsburg
Sacramento Delta: Rio Vista striper bite hot
Sacramento Delta: Stockton striper bite picks up
Sacramento Delta: Tracy kicking out big bass
: Striper continue to entertain Bay anglers
: Wind slams Fort Bragg salmon bite
: Stripers in Pacifica surf
: muddy water bedevils Bay anglers
: San Pablo Bay anglers hoping for clear water weekend
: Ozol holds Suisun sturgeon