Fishing reports for New Melones Lake

Melones had been the hot spot for Kokanee over the last month, but the bite has cooled off substantially as of late. Bigger kokes can still be had, trolling the bottom of the lake in over 100 feet of water, although bites are becoming much harder to come by.

Bass action has been fairly good, and shad imitation baits have been best. A topwater bite in the morning has produced the biggest fish, while flukes and spinnerbaits deeper are getting the most action the rest of the day.

Bass anglers are getting a lot of action using flukes and smaller swimbaits, as most fish are actively targeting spawning shad. Focus on fishing far back in quiet coves and inlets. Big Kokanee are still drawing plenty of attention at New Melones, although catch numbers have dropped a bit. Most trollers are targeting Kokanee, but the rainbow trout bite has been proving much more consistent.

Big Kokanee are the talk at New Melones. Anglers have been finding 15-17 inch fish trolling 30-50 feet... and few 18 inchers have been caught this year. Quality-sized trout have also been reported at similar depths. Bass fishing is about to turn on with the upcoming warm spell. Try flukes and light finesse.

Anglers are finding decent Kokanee action trolling up to 30 feet. Rainbows are also being caught by trollers, but in shallower depths. Both spotted and largemouth bass are starting their early springtime patterns in prep for prespawn. The Spots remain deeper, but the largemouth are starting to push up creek beds. Rainbow trout patterned swimbaits are getting the most attention, especially for bigger fish.