New Melones Lake in California offers excellent fishing opportunities for trout, bass, and catfish. The lake is surrounded by beautiful scenery and there are plenty of activities to enjoy nearby, such as hiking, camping, and watersports. Anglers should try fishing with live bait or lures near the dam or near the rocky banks. The best time to visit is in the spring or fall, when the temperatures are mild and the fish are more active. In the spring, temperatures average around 70°F and in the fall, around 80°F.

Featured Fish - Apache Trout

iving in lakes and streams, this fish will eat insects, invertebrates and small minnows. They are typically targeted using very light spinning or fly tackle using nymphs, wet or dry flies, worms or salmon eggs. These fish may also strike small spinner baits or spoons but some areas where these fish can be found have enacted policies where anglers may only use artificial lures so check all regulations before targeting these fish. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: The body coloration is golden-yellow or olive yellow, with a golden belly, and Parr marks (vertical bars) can be seen on juveniles, but these marks typically disappear in larger individuals. Spots can be seen in an even distribution of pronounced, moderate-sized, rounded or oval black spots on the sides of the body and on top of the head. These spots may sometimes extend below the lateral line and onto the dorsal and caudal fins. The top of the Apache trout’s head and back is typically dark olive to brown and a black stripe appears to go through each eye because of the presence of two small black dots on either side of the pupil. Below the lower jaw, there is a dash of color that will range from yellow to darker gold. The dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins are tipped with a white to orange color and the adipose fin is usually bordered with a black margin.