CATFISH CONTEST HAS BEEN BUMPED UP TO OCTOBER!

*SUMMER HOURS: *MON-SATURDAY. 6:00-6:30 * SUNDAY 6:00-5:00

New Melones Anglers and Guide Reports
08/20/2018

by Gene Hildebrand, Glory Hole Sports

New Melones Lake level is currently at 1039.05. Water temperature across the lake has been 81-84 d. A smokey haze has been looming over Melones lake for many weeks now, but with the suppression of some of the largest fires in California history blue skies are starting to reappear. Glory Hole Sports would like to acknowledge the human sacrifice in fighting these fires and our thoughts are with families, crew members and friends of the fallen. The enormous amount of work our state, local and federal support in knocking these fires down deserves a big THANK YOU. September 3, labor day we will be open from 6:00 am till 3:00 pm. We are anticipating great weather for the 3 day Labor day holiday, come in and load up with fuel, tackle, lake toys, deli food, drinks and ice before hitting the lake.

We like to promote catch and release on New Melones. If you do so, provide us a picture and bring it in for a copy or email it to us at gloryholesports@yahoo.com so we can put it on the board or in the newsletter.

Anglers FYI: For anyone with a potential lake record please call us at the store and hopefully we can send someone to weigh, photograph and measure the catch at the lake. GHS is the unofficial recorder of lake records for New Melones, and we understand there is sometimes conflicting interest in the welfare of the catch, whether or not to release the potential record, sacrificing your place as a record holder for the lake.
We do promote catch and release. For potential lake records, record the statistics of the fish... length, girth, weight and photographed at the lake before releasing her. If indeed we can verify the information that is provided, such as a witness, comparing the scale used with ours, a photograph with the fish hanging from the scale and can see the scale weight, etc...then we can accept this as proof. If your catch has expired than indeed bring it in to GHS so we can record it here, and you can have it mounted!

TROUT
Trout bite on the lake has been slow the last two weeks, most all anglers without a boat to troll for them are fishing rivers. There is a link on our website that will indicate where Ca. Dept. Fish and Wildlife are planting trout. Trolling anglers are landing a combination of Trout and Kokanee. Rainbow flashers, blue/orange hoochie and Pro Cure scent on your blade. Also Apex lures in a rainbow color will draw strikes.

KOKANEE
The Kokanee can be found on the main lake holding over hill tops in deep water 80-100 ft. Orange scale dodger/flasher with orange hoochie seems to be working along with green frog colors.

BASS
Nice 4-6 lb. largemouth bass are being caught on Melones. Anglers fishing the lake in the evening have been doing well fishing spinnerbaits. If the bass are coming up short, you can add a trailer hook to your bait. Just trim your skirt a bit then add the trailer.

CATFISH
Glory Hole Sports Annual Catfish Contest is on the horizon. This year we are holding the contest in the month of October (AKA large catfish month) We will be holding sign-ups starting in September. Catfish are coming out at night. Drop a line with some cutbait, hang a bell on the end of your pole and go fish. Tuttletown coves and by the dam have been good places to fish cats.

CRAPPIE
Crappie are on the bite feeding in and around coves. Live minnows, top water baits and plastic crappie jigs are productive baits to use.

LOCAL AREA GUIDE REPORTS

Take it to the Limit Guide Service
Gary Burns
209-559-3349
garysfishing.net

"Xperience Fishing Guide Service"

The bass fishing on New Melones continues to be productive. With only a month or so of summer heat left, we can start to anticipate the fall bite, which is one of my favorite times of the year to fish. The thick smoke from all the fires has begun to blow through and it is much clearer than it was a couple weeks ago. Timing has been a very important factor. The fish will move into an area to feed and then move out once they are full. When they are actively feeding the fishing is great when they pull back the bite can get rather tough. The key is to keep moving from area to area to find aggressively feeding fish. First, I will try to coax them with a reaction bait, starting with topwater and moving down in the water column with crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Often times they are feeding but not willing to chase. This is when I will switch to a slower moving bait fished on the bottom. A dropshot has been good for quantity and a shakeyhead or Texas rig will attract larger bites. The evenings and mornings are best. Stick with shad and crawdad patterns and you will be sure to find some fish.
John Liechty (209)743-9932