New Melones Fishing

If you’re looking for a great fishing experience, New Melones is the place for you. Fishing at New Melones is open year round and the lake is open to boaters all night too. There are Numerous Fishing Tournaments and Derbies with catches of ten pound Largemouth Bass and many Rainbow & Brown Trout exceeding 10 lbs.

A small fee is now required for boat launching. The four boat ramps are Tuttletown, Glory Hole, Angels Cove and Old Highway 49 at the Visitors’ Center.

Shore anglers toss out nightcrawlers and Powerbait, trollers use Rapalas in shad colors, a Spook can catch big Bass but the Bass can be small and are not planted. Kokanee Salmon were introduced into the lake in spring of 1997, and are thriving. Kokanee can be caught by trollers during the Summer months. Summer and fall also bring catfish, Perch and crappie.

Trout are regularly planted by Department of Fish and Game. Remember most local rivers and streams are closed to fishing in November.