Water Conditions: New Melones Lake is currently holding 452,563 acre-feet of water. The lake level dropped two feet this last week. It is currently at 847 ft. above sea level and 241 ft. from full. The water clarity is fairly clear in most of the lake, with a few areas having some stained water. The water temperature will continue to warm, with the average being 68-74 degrees. Glory Hole Point boat launch is a two lane dirt road leading off of the end of the point. There is not a courtesy dock and 4-wheel drive is recommended.

Trout: Fair. Anglers targeting trout and kokanee are catching some respectable fish of each species. The main lake between Glory Hole Point and the Dam has a large population of fish. Much of the main lake is deep with cool water. During the hotter months the fish will stack up in the cool water areas. To find deep water use your electronics and GPS or purchase a quality topographical map. Trolling anglers are catching rainbows and browns while trolling down 35-55'. A handful of baits are working well. Shad patterned plugs and square-billed crankbaits are a good choice for both browns and rainbows. To get a reaction bite, try trolling at a faster speed. The erratic wobbling action at a high trolling speed will trigger some aggressive strikes. Night anglers are catching limits of trout while fishing under a submersible light. This is a great way to catch quality fish. The light will draw baitfish near and the big trout will follow. Try using live or artificial minnows fished under a slip-float to catch these feeding fish. Bank anglers can find better fishing in the local lakes and streams in the high country.

Kokanee: Good. The kokanee at New Melones are very clean, fat and healthy. They just keep getting bigger and each week we are seeing some nice fish being caught. The kokanee are starting to school in depths ranging from 40-60'. Many anglers have found luck trolling a variety of different baits. Glitterbugs Micro Hoochies, Uncle Larry's Spinners and Simon Baby Wobblers have been working well. The fish seem to be biting pink and orange baits or, purple and blue in deep water. A large dodger is a good choice when fishing in deep water. The bigger size will create a disturbance that will attract fish from a distance. Also, try fishing a short leader between your dodger and lure. This will allow the dodger to move the bait side-to-side and will draw more strikes. Tip your lures with scented and dyed shoepeg corn. Garlic, anise and bloody tuna are a few favorites.

Bass: Fair. With the warming weather the bass will continue to pull offshore and find deeper areas to hold in for the hot summer months. The bass just finished their annual spawn and are in the process of recuperating. They will still be guarding bass fry and chasing away smaller fish that pose a threat to their offspring. Baby bass and bluegill baits work extremely well at this time of the year. A bass will chase, bite and eat any small fish that come near the area they are guarding. With this in mind, try using baits that resemble baby bass and bluegill. Some mornings the topwater bite has been on, and other mornings it has been a slow go. It is a good idea to have a topwater lure tied on and keep trying it throughout the day. For those who prefer fishing soft plastics, try using a 6" straight tail fished on a shakey head. The shakey head makes the bait appear to be feeding on eggs on the bottom, which will drive bass crazy. PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE. The bigger fish are the future of our lake. Take photos and carefully release the fish back into to the lake to maintain a healthy fish population for generations to come.

Catfish: Very Good. The biggest cats in the lake are heading toward shallow water and scouring the shorelines for small fish to feed on. Frozen shad is a great choice because they are accustomed to feeding on shad in their natural environment. Many anglers will let the bait soak for a few minutes and the drag it slowly across the bottom. The movement of the bait will attracted any nearby catfish. When dragging the bottom it is a good idea to use a sliding sinker and a glass bead. The bead will create a ticking sound that will help bring attention to your bait. Also, catfish have poor eyesight and will feed primarily by smell. Add plenty of scent to your bait.

Crappie: Fair. The crappie will be holding in the standing timber that lines the lake. The best way to catch crappie is with live minnows. A few anglers are dropping submersible lights and catching a bunch of crappie doing so.