New Melones Lake
California Crappie, Salmon, Trout, Bass, Catfish
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New Melones Lake Bite Meter

1 week ago
Kokanee Salmon
Hot
Bass
Good

New Melones Lake Fishing Overview

Water Description

Resting in the Sierra foothills are the deep and scenic waters of the New Melones Lake, expanding 12,500 acres with over 100 miles of shoreline. Due to the large size and plush sloping landscape, the fishery is primarily only accessible by boat or watercraft. New Melones Lake is renowned as one of the best lakes in California for kokanee salmon fishing. However, fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown trout, and crappie can also be exceptional during certain times of the year. The Department of Fish and Game consistently stocks 10-12...

Resting in the Sierra foothills are the deep and scenic waters of the New Melones Lake, expanding 12,500 acres with over 100 miles of shoreline. Due to the large size and plush sloping landscape, the fishery is primarily only accessible by boat or watercraft.

New Melones Lake is renowned as one of the best lakes in California for kokanee salmon fishing. However, fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown trout, and crappie can also be exceptional during certain times of the year.

The Department of Fish and Game consistently stocks 10-12 inch rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. The rainbow trout become naturalized quickly, feeding primarily on shad and growing upwards of 6+ pounds. The kokanee growth rate is rapid as well, reaching 18 inches within their first two years. Trolling is the preferred fishing method for these cold-water species. During winter and early spring, they tend to stay in shallower waters (especially the rainbows), but they dive deeper as the weather warms.

New Melones Lake also supports a robust fishery for largemouth bass and crappie in the spring and summer. Anglers often find most success by targeting submerged tree groves in the vast lake's extended arms.

Species:
Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie
Stocked Date:
Trout stocked 7 months ago - View Schedule
Trophy Fish:
  • Brown Trout: 13.4 lb - 2011
  • Rainbow Trout: 14.4 lb - 2018
  • Largemouth Bass: 18.11 lb - 2010
  • Spotted Bass: 10.48 lb - 2014
  • Catfish: 36 lb - 1998
  • Crappie: 3.47 lb - 2019
Boating / Access:
Open to all boating
Geography:
Max Depth: 565 ft
Surface Area: 12,499.2 acres
Surface Elevation: 1,049 ft
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Latest Fishing Reports

Hot Kokanee Salmon bite
Bass, Kokanee Salmon
72°F Clear

The kokanee bite at Melones is still firing, with quick limits coming primarily from the main lake. Similar to our last report, 40 to 70 feet is where they're at, but when boat traffic picks up, they are sliding deeper and stacking along the channel edges. Bladed setups pulled behind gold dodgers are the go-to right now. Bass action is picking up...

The kokanee bite at Melones is still firing, with quick limits coming primarily from the main lake. Similar to our last report, 40 to 70 feet is where they're at, but when boat traffic picks up, they are sliding deeper and stacking along the channel edges. Bladed setups pulled behind gold dodgers are the go-to right now.

Bass action is picking up across the lake with a good topwater window early. Crankbaits, jigs, and drop-shot plastics are all in play, but white and chartreuse chatterbaits have been extremely hot lately for quality fish in the 3-4 pound range. The Angels Creek zone has been very productive.

5 anglers found this report useful
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Hot Kokanee Salmon bite
Trout, Bass, Kokanee Salmon
72°F Clear

The kokanee bite at New Melones is about as good as it gets right now. Fish have pulled off the flats and are stacking along the edges of the main river channel in 40 to 70 feet. Most are topping out around 17-18 inches, and limits are coming quick... sometimes within a couple hours of lines in. Pink and gold dodgers paired with light pink or...

The kokanee bite at New Melones is about as good as it gets right now. Fish have pulled off the flats and are stacking along the edges of the main river channel in 40 to 70 feet. Most are topping out around 17-18 inches, and limits are coming quick... sometimes within a couple hours of lines in. Pink and gold dodgers paired with light pink or purple hoochies are doing the heavy lifting, especially when trolled with short leaders to give the rigs more erratic action. Speeds right around 1.5 mph are working, with hookups often coming on turns. Mornings remain the best window. A few rainbows are still mixing in, but this is all about kokanee right now. Bass action’s decent for those chasing it... mostly smaller post-spawn fish eating jerkbaits and drop-shots in 10-20 feet of water.

5 anglers found this report useful
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Latest Stockings

Trout CDFW
Trout CDFW
Fingerlings
Kokanee Salmon CDFW

Other Nearby Reports

Camanche is wide open for shore anglers who know how to reach deep water. The holdover rainbows have pushed out with the warming surface temps and are holding in cooler...

At McClure, folks are finding quality bass action deep. Fish are keyed in on rock structure from 20 to 50 feet, but the best quality is coming from deeper ledges in the 40 to...

New Melones Lake Weather

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Guides & Tackle Shops

New Melones Lake Map

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