Bass, catfish get top billing at Melones

New Melones Reservoir - Angels Camp, CA


by Nor Cal Fish Reports
4-15-2015
Website

Most of the trout are schooling in deeper/cooler water. They will hold near the main river channel and the major creek channel as the water warms and lake levels drop. However, there is a handful of trout that are still shallow and can be found feeding on the surface throughout the day. Trolling anglers should try trolling in 25-45' of water near the existing river channel. Some areas have a little stain and dingy water. Baits that have rattles and produce vibration will work well. Rattle Traps are a very good choice and can be trolled a various speed and depths. Also, this is typically a good time of the year to target the brown trout. To target big browns try trolling with a large jointed plug, or rolling frozen shad. Bank anglers have been having a little success, but the bite has definitely slowed a bit. Kokanee: Very Soon. Each week we are seeing a few more kokanee being caught. This warming trend in the weather should jump start the kokanee bite. In the week or so, we will start seeing some limits being caught. To target kokanee try trolling in 40-60' of water. A small blade trailed by a small hoochie is a good setup that works every year. Last year many anglers did well on tiny spoons such as Sockeye Slammers and Simon Baby Wobblers. Don't forget to tip your lures with dyed and scent corn. Bass: Good. The bite this spring has been really good and there have been a bunch of really nice fish caught. There are fish in both deep and shallow water. In the spring months the bass will go through different stages of the spawn. There are pre-spawn bass, spawning bass and post-spawn bass. If you want to fish in deeper water you can catch pre-spawn and post-spawn fish or you can move shallow and find fish that are trying to spawn. Many different techniques have been working. The key is to adjust appropriately to the conditions. Try fishing a variety of soft plastics. The fish will be somewhat territorial even if they aren't spawning. Baits that propose a threat will get plenty of bites. Try using bluegill and bass baby patterns. Also, creature baits and lizards seem to trigger fish into biting. Catfish: Good. The cats are moving shallow and many anglers have been hooking into some real nice ones. Typically catfish are known as bottom feeders. On New Melones they tend to feed on small bait fish and can often be caught roaming, suspended off of the bottom. Try using frozen shad, mackerel and sardines to target these fish eaters. Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333




More Reports

Nor Cal Fish Reports Reports
for Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

Lake Almanor: Almanor ready to launch
Lake Amador: Lightning trout on tap at Amador
Anderson Reservoir: Anderson opens to boating
Baum Lake: Steady trout bite at Baum
Lake Berryessa: Berryessa bass back at it
Bullards Bar Reservoir: Big spots at Bullards Bar
Calero Lake: Fair crappie at Calero
Lake Camanche: Camanche trollers score trout
Caples Lake: Caples macks waking up
Lake Chabot: Slow bite at Chabot
Chesbro Reservoir: Chesbro not worthy
Clear Lake: Sight fishing time at Clear Lake
Collins Lake: Collins big fish parade continues
Coyote Lake: Tough bite at Coyote
Lake Davis: Davis trout bite shows life
Del Valle Lake: Del Valle trout good, striper fair
Donner Lake: Donner macks on the prowl
Don Pedro Reservoir: Evening bass bite good at Don Pedro
Jackson Meadows Reservoir: Strong bite at Jackson Meadow
Lafayette Reservoir: Steady trout action at Lafayette
Lewiston Lake: Dirty water foils Lewiston trout action
Lopez Lake : Lopez Lake panfish hitting
Los Vaqueros Reservoir: Wind at LV spoils the fun
Lake McSwain: Big trout plant sparks McSwain action
Lake Mendocino: Mendo smallmouth in shallows
Bon Tempe Reservoir: Bon Tempe gets bonus plant

Nor Cal Fish Reports Reports
for Wednesday, April 8th, 2015

Lake Almanor: Early bite at Almanor
Lake Amador: Big trout highlight Amador action
Anderson Reservoir: Small bass entertain at Anderson
Lake Berryessa: Berryessa bite tough
Boca Reservoir: Access sloppy at Boca
Bullards Bar Reservoir: Snow draws spots shallow
Calero Lake: Calero continues productng
Lake Camanche: Trout, bass hooked at Camanche
Lake Chabot: Chabot gets first cat plant of spring
Clear Lake: Cold halts Clear Lake bite
Collins Lake: Torrid trout bite at Collins Lake
Contra Loma Reservoir: Steady action at Contra Loma
Coyote Lake: Crappie biting at Coyote
Del Valle Lake: Del Valle trout bite weathers storm
Donner Lake: Donner trout plant sparks mack bite
Lafayette Reservoir: Lafayette trout slow, bass so-so
Lopez Lake : Lopez bass bite steady
Los Vaqueros Reservoir: LV shore anglers pull hefty trout
Lake Mendocino: Mendo crappie bite continues
Bon Tempe Reservoir: Bon Tempe gets trout plant
New Melones Reservoir: Trout fair, bass good at New Melones
Lake Oroville: Bass anglers busy at Oroville
Pardee Reservoir: Pardee action tapers
Pyramid Lake: Spawn on, bite down at Pyramid
Quarry Lakes: Slow bite at Quarry Lakes
San Luis Reservoir: Trollers get striper at San Luis
San Pablo Reservoir: Weekly plants continue at San Pable
Santa Margarita Lake: Anglers have choices at Santa Margarita
Shadow Cliffs Reservoir: Shadow Cliffs planted again
Shasta Lake: Weather not a factor in Shasta bass bite
Lake Sonoma: Sonoma bass tough opponent
Stampede Reservoir: Precarious conditions at Stampede
Trinity Lake: Trinity bass bite on hold
Uvas Reservoir: Hit Uvas for crappie
Feather River: Feather steelies still biting
Napa River: Napa striper, sturgeon bites slow
Sacramento River - Upper: Wait a bit for Upper Sac
Sacramento River - Lower: Trout bite continues on Lower Sac
Sacramento River: Colusa striper bite fair
Sacramento River: Chico area draws little pressure
Truckee River: Truckee trout worth chasing
Yuba River: Yuba trout bite red hot
Sacramento Delta: Small stripers crowd Antioch
Sacramento Delta: Jack smelt crowd Benicia shoreline
Sacramento Delta: Little action in Disco Bay
Sacramento Delta: Mixed action in Franks Tract
Sacramento Delta: Pittsburg anglers waiting for weather break
Sacramento Delta: Rio Vista trollers score stripers
Sacramento Delta: Stockton striper taking bluegill
Sacramento Delta: Tracy bass biting
: Point Pinole striper taking swim baits
: Capitola rock cod yet to take off
: Fort Bragg salmon scattered
: Little action in Pacifica
: South Bay halibut, striper taking live bait
: No slowing San Pablo Bay striper bite
: Suisun sturgeon taking eel