Montana Fish Report

New Melones rose six feet this week and is currently at 1070 ft. above sea level and is 18 feet from full capacity.  Water temperature is 69 to 74 degrees.  Water is lightly stained with mud lines near shore. Wide-open kokanee fishing, with most trollers picking up limits in an hour or two.  Kokes are 15-16.5", and very fat and healthy.   Troll 35-50 feet deep in the main lake, especially over shallower water around islands and humps.   Try a pink, orange, green or Kevorkian Apex, regular or micro hootchies, Wiggle Hootchies, or Uncle Larry's Spinners behind a dodger or Slingblade.   Always tip your hooks with shoepeg corn and apply scent liberally.  Scents that are working now include ProCure Kokanee Special, garlic, Carp Spit, vanilla. For bass, throw top-water lures in the morning and evening hours.  Spinnerbaits, jigs and Senkos will work better in the heat of the day.  Target the backs of creek arms and protected pockets off the main lake in the early morning, with swimbaits such as Lunker Punkers, Toad Thrashers, Super Spooks, and Pencil Poppers.  Later in the day, target main lake points with Senkos, jigs or other larger-profile soft plastics.  (209) 736-4333, (209) 586-2383