The New Melones Reservoir has one of the most productive trout fisheries in the western United States. Project Kokanee hosted a tournament for adults on the lake last weekend. James Franco won the tournament and Rich Collins was second. Rich caught the largest fish of the derby.
The fishing report for New Melones Lake gets updated every week. The information is obtained from fishing guides, marinas, and bait shops. A fishing guide is available for hire in case you don’t know what to do. A fishing guide with over thirty years’ experience can help you identify the best spots and lures to use to land a trophy.
Rainbow trout and bigmouth bass can be found in the lake. These fish can be caught in the deep and cold waters near the dam by anglers who cast and troll. It has been known to produce five-pound rainbows, although the average size is three to four pounds. Many anglers also catch trout from the bank in Angel’s Creek and Murphy’s Creek.
In New Melones Lake, crawfish-imitating jigs work well. Red jigs are also effective. New Melones, located in central California is easily accessible from any part of the state. The best time to fish the lake is in the spring.
Kokanee fishing in New Melones Reservoir continues to be excellent, with large numbers of fish weighing up to fifteen inches. Larry Edwards, Candace Edwards and Lucas Edwards caught three limits of the species on a recent trip with Gold Country Sportfishing. Monte Smith guided the trip.
New Melones Lake is about two-thirds full and continues to rise. The water is clear in some parts but is slightly stained in others. Its temperature can reach 57 to 58 degrees during sunny days. The lake is also prone to floating debris. This is a great place to catch a spotted Bass.
New Melones, located on the border of Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, is a great spot to fish for a day. Its 12,500-acre body of water is home to rainbow and brown trout, as well as bluegill, channel catfish, and crappie. It also has 100 miles of shoreline.