SOCAL FISH REPORT 30 JUNE 2010. Jim Matthews

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SOCAL FISH REPORT -- ONS-matthews -- 30jun10

Compiled by Bo Matthews and Jim Matthews - Outdoor News Service

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net.
This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in Southern California each week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is posted on the Outdoor News Service web site (Outdoor News Service). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning. The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.
The Outdoor News Service is also on Facebook with updated reports and photos posted throughout the week. The new Twitter account name is MatthewsOutdoor. For our latest fishing information, use these sites.
The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG’s Internet web page is located at the following address: California Department of Fish and Game.

MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. Go fishing on the 4th of July -- and take a friend or neighbor who’s never been before and a bunch of kids. Sunday the 4th is “Free Fishing Day,” which means the Department of Fish and Game is waiving its fishing license requirement for the day. Anyone can go without the need to buy a license. With bluegill bite’s off the hook a lot of places, and simple gear with bobber-suspended baits should lead to quick action. The best bite is likely to be first thing in the morning or late evening. Maybe fishing for a couple of hours at a country or city park lake before a fireworks show is just the thing for the whole family.
2. There are a pile of really good ocean bites right now, but the fishing pressure is light all along the coast. Inexpensive and a lot of fun (remember free fishing day) would be a twilight sand bass trip out of any landing from San Diego to Los Angeles. You can rent gear if you don’t have it. And then you can have a barbecue with fresh fillets the next day. Check with any of the Landings listed in our ocean report for an update on this bite or to book a trip.
3. The catfish bites are pretty much wide open all along the Colorado River. Yes, it will be 115 during the day at the river this weekend, but you can lay in the river and nap. The best fishing is late evening, at night, and early in the morning. You’ll need the daytime nap to keep up with the good fishing at night. The lower river below Lake Havasu is probably the best bet with good action in the main river and all the agricultural irrigation drains in region. Best place to get an update or tips for fishing is B&B Bait in Blythe at 760-921-2248 or Walter’s Camp south of Palo Verde at 760-854-3322.


FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

TROUT: Top trout bets in Sierra continue to include Bridgeport Reservoir, Lake Crowley, Silver Lake, and most of the Bishop Creek and Rock Creek drainages, which are getting heavily planted each week. Virginia Lakes has also been wide open on fish to two pounds. Flows are still up on most of the creeks and rivers in the region, making for difficult fishing, but those flows are finally starting to come down and things are improving. For fly guys, the East Walker River and Kirman Lake are probably the best bets. In Southern California, there continues to be good action at just a handful of waters. Top bets are Green Valley Lake, Big Bear Lake, and Lake Hemet with all three fair to good, especially for trollers.
BLACK BASS: The largemouth bass action has been generally fair to good throughout the region. Top bets again have been Diamond Valley Lake, Casitas, Castaic, Skinner, Sutherland, El Capitan, Wohlford, Otay, Irvine, Perris, Silverwood, Piru, Pyramid, Cachuma, and Puddingstone. The smallmouth action on the Colorado River has been very good in the river stretches, but slowish in Lake Havasu. Further up on the Central Coast, Santa Margarita and Lopez are both pretty good for largemouths and the spotted bass are pretty fair in Nacimiento. Isabella is also fair to good with a lot of four to six pounders.
STRIPED BASS: Striper bites are good everywhere. San Antonio Lake on the Central Coast wasn’t quite as good this past week, but it’s still a decent bet, especially for six to 10-pound fish with some bigger. On the Colorado River, the lake bites are all pretty dismal, but the river stretches are good. Willow Beach didn’t crank out any hogs this week, but is probably worth prospecting. The stretch immediately below the Palo Verde Diversion dam is also a good bet for fish to five pounds. Other good bets include the California Aqueduct near Taft, Pyramid, Castaic, and Silverwood. All have been producing a lot of fish. Skinner slowed.
PANFISH: While no crappie bites are wide open, Lopez and Santa Margarita are both producing bigger fish in fair action. Cachuma seems to be getting better with a lot of good catches this week in the Narrows, and Lake Isabella still is pretty decent in deeper water on live minnows. Piru and Henshaw have fair crappie bites. Redear and bluegill bites are hot just about everywhere -- with Diamond Valley, Perris, Casitas, Otay, Sutherland, and Puddingstone some of the top picks. The tilapia bite at the Salton Sea has remained excellent.
CATFISH: Simply good to excellent action just about everywhere. Henshaw, Elsinore, Santa Ana River Lakes, Corona Lake, and Hesperia Lake have been the hottest spots in Southern California with a lot of fish landed at all five. There were trophy fish plants in the last three this past week. Skinner, Silverwood, and Diamond Valley are also good with a lot of cats to eight pounds at all three. Isabella has been very good for cats from 1-8 to three pounds, and the California aqueduct near Taft has also been good, too. Irvine started its catfish season and it’s also very good. The channel and flathead action is also breaking wide open along the whole lower Colorado River, especially in the warmer backwaters and irrigation ditches. This is the top bet for a quality fish over 20 pounds and big stringers of channels.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: The striped bass and catfish bites are both very good, with anchovies probably the best bet for both. Some stripers are also showing on swimbaits. Quality fish of both species are being landed. Top action on the stripers has been at the spillway and in Chemise Cove, while the cats are best in Chemise with some fish showing in most coves. The best striper reported was a 14-pounder landed by Raul Marrufo, Apple Valley, on a nightcrawler in Miller Canyon. Art Gutierrez, Alta Loma, landed a seven-pound striper on a Z-Plug, while Michael Davies, Apple Valley, had a 6-4 striper to top off his eight striper catch fishing at the spillway with both swimbaits and anchovies. Olindo Viola, Apple Valley, caught a 5-8 striper. Aeron Stokes, 10, Lawrence, Kansas, here visiting caught a mixed stringer of eight cats and stripers that weighed 27 pounds fishing anchovies. Jose Garcia, Fontana, caught an 8 1/2-pound catfish to top off his six-fish stringer of cats. There is still a fair trout bite, but the fish have moved into deeper water and are showing in both Cleghorn and Miller canyons on Power Bait, Power Worms, and inflated nightcrawlers. Andrew Miller, Phelan, had a limit of rainbows to 3-4. The largemouth bite is fair to good with swimbaits working well at the points. Carp are just fair for anglers fishing dough baits or nightcrawlers. Bluegill action is starting to improve with the best bite on nightcrawlers. Slow other species. Miller Canyon Creek (just above the lake) was planted with DFG trout again this week and the bite should be decent this weekend. The park is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Little change here with continued good trout action for trollers working 20 to 25 feet of water in the Trout Triangle to Papoose Bay (three colors of leadcore line) on brass or copper spoons of just about any variety. Shore and bait action is tougher, but a slip-bobber rig set at 15 to 25 feet and baited with Power Bait or nightcrawlers is the best bet. The trout have moved into deeper water. DFG trout plant last week. The panfish and catfish bites are slowly improving as the weather warms the lake, and the smallmouth and largemouth are both in a spawning mode in the shallows. Carp are stacked in the shallows and providing very good bowfishing with some real bruisers being stuck. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: There continues to be a fair to good trout bite with some limits posted. There were DFG plants last week and this week. The best action has been on floating baits or small lures and the warm weather has the trout in deeper water. The bite on small crappie is very good early and late in the day. The boat house is open. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Fair to good trout action with a few limits reported. Most of the fish around around 1-8 with some to four-pounds reported. Trout plant slated for this week which should include at least a few trophy fish. Anglers win a fee Green Valley Lakes tee-shirt if they land a trout over six pounds. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant this week and last week.
JENKS LAKE REGION: DFG plant slated for this week after more than a month between plants. Action has been slow to fair action on small jigs, trout plastics, and floating baits. Both the Santa Ana River in the Seven Oaks area and the South Fork were planted by the DFG this week and last week, but the bite has been just fair. Brown trout anglers are also doing pretty good in the streams, however, but most fish are under 10 inches long. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

HESPERIA LAKE: Excellent catfish action early and late in the day, but very slow in the middle of the day due to the heat. If you fish during the day, the best action has been next to the island with little action on the rest of the lake. Top cat this past week was a 16-8 landed by Ryan Maring, Hesperia, on mackerel. Buck Davidson, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a 14-pounder on shrimp, while Jeremy Johnson, Barstwo, had a 12-12 on the M&M combo (marshmallow-meal worm). Steve Smith, Apple Valley, had cats at 12-12, 10, and 5-8, all on nightcrawlers. David Ayala, Fontana, landed a 9-8, while James Works, Redlands, caught an eight-pounder. John Richardson, Long Beach, caught two 7-8 cats and a six-pounder. The lake will get a bonus plant of catfish for the holiday weekend, with 4,500 pounds planted, including more broodstock fish topping 10 pounds.
Quite a few wipers are also showing, and while most one to 1 ½ pounds, Greg Gorgin, Victorville, landed a 2-8 on a white jig, and Shawn Jones, Phelan, had a two-pounder on a meal worm. Sturgeon should be slow, but there was a 48-pounder landed by Bill Cope, Simi Valley, and a 22-pounder caught by Alex Sevy, Rialto. Lake hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the night session from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $15 per angler. There are $2 off coupons available at Bass Pro Shops. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action was fair to good this past week with a few limits reported. Power Bait or inflated night crawlers doused with attractant, jigs, and lures have all been producing fish. The bite has been better in the morning before 10 a.m. or late afternoon hours. Most of the fish have been around two pounds, with a few bigger. A few largemouth are showing on Senkos, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers with fish to five pounds reported. Catfish are hitting shrimp and nightcrawlers near the western and northern shores of lake 2. Catfish plant this week. A few bluegill reports continue to come in with several anglers getting limits. The lake is open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Friday from its own hatchery. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or Jess Ranch Lakes-The Official Site.
MOJAVE NARROWS: County catfish go in each week through the end of catfish season, and the bite has been very good with most fish around 1-8. John Abel, Adelanto, caught four catfish to 3.5 pounds. Pretty good action on small bluegill, and quite a few crappie to a pound are also showing. Also fair action for bass, and the occasional carp is also showing. Trout action remained good after the DFG plant and another plant is slated for this week. Horseshoe Lake is still temporarily closed due to flood damage. Pelican Lake is remains open. For lake information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Good catfish action. Thomas Gonzales, Colton, caught a limit of catfish totaling seven pounds on mealworms fishing the north side, west of the snack bar. County catfish plants are weekly and will continue to go in each week through the end of catfish season. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: County catfish plants are weekly through the end of the summer season, and the bite has been pretty good on the marshmallow-meal worm combo or shrimp and marshmallow combo, nightcrawlers, and cut baits. Sofonias Gomez, San Bernardino, caught a limit of catfish totaling 9.3 pounds while fishing basin No. 2 with shrimp. There is also a good bite on bluegill with wax worms, meal worms, or nightcrawler pieces. A few quality bass are showing on reaction baits and soft plastics. Matt Kramer, Norco, caught a 5.3-pound on a plastic worm in basin No. 2. Catfish baits are also now being sold at the park, and small boats (non-inflatable) under 16 feet with electric motors are now allowed. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Fair to good catfish action with most fish in the two-pound range. County catfish plants are weekly through the rest of the summer season. Shrimp, mackerel, and anchovies have been the best baits. Bluegill action is good on small fish, with small pieces of nightcrawler the best bait. There is a decent carp bite for those targeting them as well. Jaime Diaz, Riverside, got three carp to 14 pounds fishing the middle lake with a dough bait. Other species are slow. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: County catfish plants are weekly through the rest of the summer season and the bite has been good on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and mackerel. Most of the cats are from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Jacob Gregg, Rialto, caught five catfish to 1.25 pounds on mackerel. While the trout are pretty much gone, the bass, bluegill, and carp have been showing in decent numbers. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Good action on small bluegill. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

DIAMOND VALLEY: Very good largemouth action. There has been a very good topwater bite in the early morning until about 10 a.m. Plastics have been working well all day long and spinnerbaits have been good in the afternoons. Shad or bluegill pattern swimbaits are still producing some fish as well. Trout fishing has been slow with only a few catches made by anglers fishing 10 to 20 feet of water in the coves. Striper action is slow to fair with few catches reported this week. Trolling Kastmasters, Needlefish, or Rapalas has produced some stripers between two and seven pounds. The catfish bite is very good with many fish in the seven to 15-pound range. Cut baits have been working well and the top spots are near the attenuator, the inlet, and Rawson Cove. The bluegill bite has been very good. Anglers fishing with mini jigs, mealworms, or nightcrawlers along the dams have had the most success. Crappie spotty. For general lake, launch, and fishing information, call 800-590-LAKE, the marina at 951-926-7201 or Diamond Valley Marina, or Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or Last Chance Tackle - Home.
PERRIS: Fair to good overall fishing, with a very good bite on smaller bluegill along most shorelines areas, especially spots with weeds or rip-rap. Bigger ‘gills and redear are showing in deeper water at the island and off the face of the dam with fish to two pounds showing. Wax worms, red worms, nightcrawlers and crickets are all getting a lot of fish, but the bigger fish are mostly showing on jigs tipped with bait. The largemouth bite is fair with most fish showing on plastics or nightcrawlers (especially garlic), but some swimbait, crankbait, and topwater action early and late in the day. Ray Coleman, Rialto, caught an 8.6-pound bass on a Power Worm, while Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, had a four-pounder on a garlic nightcrawler. Trout action is spotty. Mostly slow other species, but there continue to be a few carp caught for those targeting them. Catfish are mostly slow, but Joe Jackson, Riverside, landed a 19.9-pounder on a red worm in the east end. The park is open seven days a week, and hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The catfish and bluegill bites are both very good. The catfish are showing both from shore and boat. Top catfish spots are the inlet, the dam, and around the marina on chicken liver, mackerel, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Rich Jackson, Riverside, had five catfish with his best fish a six-pounder all caught on mackerel at the inlet. Bluegill to two pounds have been reported in pretty good numbers from the backs of the coves, apparently in a second spawn, and east end. Best action on baby nightcrawlers or garden worms. Michael Nossett, Buena Park, had a two-pound bluegill from the east end, while Brandon Dockings, Temecula, landed five bluegill to a pound, also in the east end. Both were using worms. Stripers and largemouth both have been slowish. Carp action has been good for those targeting them. They are primarily being caught in the reeds on nightcrawlers. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: The best action here is still for catfish from three to eight pounds on cut baits, especially shrimp, nightcrawlers, or shad. The wipers are best early and late in the day on the same baits with some action on jerk baits or live shad, if you can dip net some. Anglers are reminded the limit on the wipers is two-fish, with an 18-inch minimum size. The carp remain fair to good with a lot of three to seven pounders on homemade dough baits. Crappie are still very slow but some fish are showing on the west end by the old marina in five to 17 feet. There’s a slow to fair bite on the largemouth bass on plastics and reaction baits. Boat rentals are available through the William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental out of Elsinore West Marina. For more information, contact William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental at 951-642-0640 or Elsinore West Marina at 951-678-1300.
CORONA LAKE: Good to excellent catfish action since the massive plants last week.Rodolfo Barrera, Riverside, caught the best cat of the week, a nine-pounder that was also wearing a $50 tag. Barerra was fishing with a nightcrawler off the sandy beach when he hooked the big fish. Trac Nguyen, Loma Linda, topped off his stringer with an eight-pound cat. Ben Hernandez Sr. and Ben Jr., both Los Angeles, had five catfish for 19 pounds -- nearly a four-pound average -- and their top cat was a five-pounder. Billy Brown and Eric Williams, both Los Angeles, had seven fish for 25 pounds and their best was a 5 1/2-pounder. Daryl Handry, Los Angeles, caught 10 cats for a 19 1/2-pound total weight. A nine-fish catch that weighed in at 27 pounds was made by Les, Suzanna, and Dan Harfold, all Chino, and the best fish was a 4 1/2-pounder. John and Joseph Torres and Michel Marquez, all Pacoima, had nine fish for 22 pounds with a 3 1/2-pounder top on the stringer. Alex and Alder Ruiz, Bloomington, caught 10 fish for 21.8 pounds and a five-pounder was their top fish. All were caught on shrimp from a boat. Top baits have been J.D.’s Catfish Bait, the marshmallow-meal worm combo, and nightcrawlers or shrimp doused with Eagle Claw’s Catfish Gravy. Catfish plants are at least twice a week and tilapia once a week. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Information: 951-277-4489 or Indy Lakes Fishing Lakes and Campground.
EVANS LAKE: Bass are showing in fair numbers for the guys tossing small plastics and tiny jerk baits along the rocky shorelines early and late in the day with some fish to two pounds. Also a pretty decent bite on small bluegill and warmouth. Anglers targeting carp are also seeing a decent bite on dough baits.
RANCHO JURUPA: Fair catfish action. There is also a fair bite on bluegill and carp. Slow other species. There is a new bait and tackle shop at the lake. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-0171.
ANGLER’S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
REFLECTION LAKE: Catfish remain good on cut baits, and plants are every two weeks with 500 pounds planted each time. There are monthly derbies. A few bass are showing. Bluegill fair. Information: 951-654-7906 or Reflection Lake RV Park, a Hemet California RV Park and Family Campground.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: The lake has been heavily stocked with 1,900 pounds of catfish, but suppliers can’t provide any more catfish this summer. So this is the deal -- the cost is just $2 a pound (until trout season when regular plants and prices return). The best action has been on chicken liver, mackerel, and shrimp. The lake is only open on weekends Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on all Monday holidays. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS

LAKE HEMET: Good trout action continues with a few limits reported once again. DFG trout were planted this week and two weeks ago. The fish are showing for trollers and shore anglers using Power Bait or similar baits along the south shoreline. Fish are mostly smaller, but a few from 1-8 to two pounds showing. Michael and Linda Chormicle, Palm Springs, had five rainbows to two pounds on nightcrawlers from shore near the marina. Remi Develter, 4, Murrieta, caught four rainbows to 1-8, while Rhihav Wong, 8, Murrieta, had three trout and a bluegill. The bluegill bite has been pretty good with few anglers targeting them, and the odd bass is showing up. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent DFG trout plants. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY

SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Tagged catfish worth up to $100 and three plants, including trophy fish, went in last week. The bite has been excellent since. A 20 1/2-pound, $100 tagged catfish caught and released by Sothoeuth Lem of Santa Ana while fishing shrimp and mackerel near the boat dock. The area around the boat dock was the hot spot this past weekend for catfish, with a lot of nice stringers coming from this area, but fish are showing from all around the complex. Overall, the bite has been best on either nightcrawlers or shrimp doused with Eagle Claw catfish Gravy. Craig Lumpkin, Riverside, caught a 12-pound cat and one at six pounds fishing shrimp with garlic Gravy at the Bubble Hole, while Doug Cherry, Placentia, landed a nine-pound cat on shrimp at the Toad Road. Ron Cameron, Claremont, had a 7 1/2-pounder on shrimp in the Catfish Lake. Will Gooden, Compton, and Eric Weldon, Bellflower, topped off their stringer with a seven-pounder fishing shrimp at the boat dock. Lanny Savage, San Bernardino, had a rather typical catch for the weekend -- he had a five-fish stringer that weighed 12 pounds topped with a four-pounder on nightcrawlers at the boat dock. While the water is getting a little warm for good sturgeon action, there was one 17-pounder sturgeon landed by Chris Yakinian, Orange, while he was fishing shrimp in Chris’ Pond. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Private boats are no longer allowed at Santa Ana River Lakes due to fears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the water system. Information: 714-632-7830.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
IRVINE LAKE: Just fair to good catfish action this past week. The facility will now be open on Thursday until 11 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday nights until midnight. Night fishing has been the best time to score limits of catfish. Many fish in the two to six-pound range were reported. Chris Hagopian, Redondo Beach, caught a 6-1 catfish on mackerel fishing the flats. Largemouth action is still very good with quite a few quality fish showing. The red clay cliffs and Rocky Point have been the top spots for largemouth with jigs and plastics the top baits. James Urioste, San Clemente, got a 4-3 largemouth on plastics in the flats. The panfish bite is good for those targeting them with many bluegill and redear showing in the brushy areas on mealworms and crickets. A few anglers also had success for crappie fishing white Atomic Tubes under floating lights with many fish around the one-pound mark. Several wiper reports came in again this past week. Anything shad-like was the ticket to score quick strikes on these fish when you find a school. The lake will now be closed on Tuesdays. The road to Trout Island may re-emerge sometime this month, but the Kids Lagoon is not expected to be its own entity until mid-July. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or Irvine Lake - Fishing and Camping in Orange County, Southern California.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: No report. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or Laguna Niguel Lake.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES

CACHUMA: Big news is a 2,500-pound trout plant on Tuesday this week. The trout action has been slow before this delivery, and these fish will probably end up in deeper water very quickly. Very good crappie bite for anglers drifting around the island and in the narrows with small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. Some of the fish are running up to 1 1/2 pounds, but most are under a pound. The largemouth and smallmouth bite is also pretty decent on plastics, cranks, and top water baits with the best action early and late in the day. Catfish have been best on cut baits in the coves and flats with pretty good action on fish to three pounds. Tauch and Tauchy Paulovic, Huntington Beach, had a four-pound cat on a nightcrawler. Bluegill are pretty good, but most of the fish are small. Few redear reported. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at Santa Barbara County Parks Department Home. The marina is open again with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass bite remains pretty good in 18 to 25 feet of water on live shad, if you can dip net some early in the morning, or nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs if you can’t. There is also a pretty good topwater bite early and late in the day. Top bass this week was a nine-pounder caught by Randy Westbury, Ojai, on a topwater plug. Andy Avalds, Santa Paula, landed an 8-10 bass on live shad, while John Boudin, Byron, Ill., caught a 7-1 on live shad fishing with guide Rich Tauber. Joseph McGuire, Palmdale, had bass at 6-3 and 6-1 on surface frogs. Simon Drape, 9, Santa Clarita, landed a 5-8 on a nightcrawler. There is a pretty good redear bite on red worms and nightcrawler pieces with fish to 1-8 or better reported, and the fish are showing from shallow water out to 25 feet. There continue to be a few trout showing for trollers working eight to 10 colors of leadcore and Needlefish or by bait anglers drifting in deep water near the dam. Private boats will be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The lagoon has been excellent for largemouth bass with the best bite on small swimbaits, plastics, or nightcrawlers early and late in the day or at night with fish to six-plus pounds reported in the past week. In the big lake, the striper bite improved this week but the best action is still at the buoy line on sardines. More and more four to six-pound fish showing and some bigger specimens, too. Iestyn Mullins caught five stripers for a total weight of 27.8-pounds and the big fish was a 10 1/2-pounder, all on ‘denes at the buoy line. Largemouth action in the main lake is also good with the best bite on plastics and nightcrawlers. There has been a lot of boils first thing in the morning and then the bite slows down until the late afternoon into the evening. Jackie Nichols, Valencia, landed an 8.9-pounder on a nightcrawler. Some panfish are showing on wax worms and mealworms. Slow trout action with no plant in a few weeks. Information: 661-775-6232 or Castaic Lake | Home.
PIRU: Just fair action on bass and crappie, and the bluegill and redear bites are slow to fair. The best bass bite has been on plastics fished in 10 to 25 feet of water with some fish on swimbaits and nightcrawlers. The crappie are showing in 12 to 20 feet on small jigs with few topping a pound. The best action on redear and bluegill has been on nightcrawler pieces or crickets. Catfish still very slow. Information: front gate at 805-521-1500, x500 or Lake Piru Recreation Area.
PYRAMID: The striper action remains good for anglers drifting with anchovies or sardines, and they are averaging from 1 1/2 to three pounds. Vang Thao, Long Beach, and two buddies landed 15 stripers from one to three pounds. Gnaro Gonzalez, Mexico, landed a three-pound striper. Largemouth bass action is fair to good with a lot of one to three-pound fish on nightcrawlers and plastics. Also quite a few smallmouth in this bite. No recent trout plants and the action is very slow with only a few fish showing for trollers fishing flashers with nightcrawlers, Rapalas, and Needlefish around the dam. The bluegill are showing in pretty good numbers with quite a few fish to half-pound. Crappie spotty on small jigs tipped with bait. Catfish are still mostly slow, but a few to five pounds reported this week. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth, 661-295-7155, concession 661-257-2790, or Forest Service 661-296-9710.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Just fair action on largemouth bass on plastic worms around structure, with some topwater action early and late in the day. Bluegill action is fair to good on crickets, wax worms and meal worms with the fish up in four to five feet of water early and late in the day, and deeper once the sun gets up. Most are hand-sized and smaller but some bigger fish also showing. There’s also a pretty good surface bite early and late in the day for fly rodders. Some bigger redear showing in a little deeper water than the bluegill. Carp are in the shallows. Little fishing pressure but anglers targeting them are getting some nice fish on dough baits. Catfish improving after the first DFG catfish plant of the season two weeks ago. Information: East Shore RV Park: 909-599-8355 (ask for the market).
SANTA FE DAM: DFG catfish plant last week -- first plant of season. Slow to fair bass and bluegill action. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant this week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant this week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plan this week.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
ELIZABETH LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG catfish plant this week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant this week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
LEGG LAKES: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant this week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES

BARRETT: There were 111 anglers checked and they reported catching 1,505 bass and 33 bluegill. Reservatins are available for July by calling Tickemaster at 800-745-3000. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: This past week, there were 79 anglers who landed 57 bass, six catfish, and five crappie. The lake is open to fishing Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with rental boats only available on the weekend. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: There were 34 anglers checked this past week and they reported catching 39 bass, 36 bluegill, six blue cats, two channel cats, and two crappie. The lake is open Thursday through Saturday and on Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
LOWER OTAY: There were 146 anglers checked and they reported catching 145 bass to 8.65 pounds, 316 bluegill to 1.1 pounds, eight channel cats to 8.5 pounds, and one blue cat at 16.8 pounds caught by Dwayne Ivey, San Diego. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. The lake only has boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
UPPER OTAY: There were 21 anglers checked and they reported 29 bass to 3-3 and 16 bluegill to .8 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for catch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single, barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is open. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MURRAY: No report. No DFG trout plants in over a month. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind.
MIRAMAR: There were 37 anglers checked and they reported 22 bluegill, six channel cats, and one bass. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind, and the launch ramp is closed due to low water levels. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water.
SUTHERLAND: There were 61 anglers checked and they reported catching 167 bass, 62 bluegill, 23 channels, 16 crappie, and five carp. Lake is only open Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: Good largemouth action again this past week. Dark-colored plastics or crawdads fished around the submerged rock piles has been the best bet. Crappie action is slow to fair with the best bite on small jigs or live golden shiners. Wendell Jackson, Escondido, caught several crappie with the biggest fish weighing two pounds. Bluegill bite is good in Oakvale Cove and Boat Dock Cove. Catfish action is also good with quite a few limits reported at the east end and southern shore. First catfish plant of the season is slated for July 1. Jacob Erpelding, El Cajon, caught a 30.6-pound blue catfish on a plastic worm near Twin Peaks. Trout fishing has slowed as the water continues to warm up. The last trout plant was over a month ago. The lake is open seven days a week. There are four bass boat-type rentals available. The lake will now be offering a couple new discounts on motor boat rentals. Seniors will be able to rent motor boats for $20 every Tuesday. Active military will get the same $20 motor boat rentals on the first and third Saturday of every month. Quagga mussel fears still have a private boating ban. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant again this week.
DIXON LAKE: Night fishing and catfish plants are set to begin July 1. The trout bite slowed to a crawl with no recent reports. Bass action is fair but it's mostly smaller fish in the one to four-pound range showing. Bluegill are starting to show for anglers fishing the along piers near weed covered areas. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Fishing is slow to fair for the most part. Some nice sized bass and catfish are showing but the numbers are down. Janae Thomas, San Diego, caught a nine-pound bass on a swimbait. Joseph Shamos, San Diego, scored a 7-12 catfish on chicken liver at the log boom. The panfish bite is slow. The lake is now open for night fishing Friday and Saturday nights until 11 p.m. with shoreline access until 11:30 p.m. The lake opens at 7 a.m. in June. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Catfish action really turned on this past week. Hermit and Cloister Coves produced a number of limits. John Visser and Jake Alirez, both of Lemon Grove, caught 10 catfish in 45 minutes of fishing. Pat Flynn, El Cajon, scored a 5-8 catfish on mackerel at Hermite Cove. Largemouth action is best in the early morning with a decent topwater bite in the backs of the coves. The first anglers in have been seeing the most success for bass. Night fishing will continue every Friday and Saturday until Labor Day. The last trout plant of the season went in over a month ago. Information: 619-390-1300 or Lake Jennings - Helix Water District Drinking Water Reservoir.
MORENA: No report. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or *Lake Morena, Fishing,Camping, picnics, hiking, Real Estate, Insurance, Lake Morena, Campo.
CUYAMACA: Good trout action. Nightcrawlers are working best and the top spot has been the T-Dock. There is also a good crappie bite with a lot of small fish reported. DFG trout plant this week. A few bass and catfish reports are coming in each week as well. Private boats are allowed on the lake again, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or Lake Cuyamaca Home Page.
HENSHAW: Catfish action is very good with a lot of nice stringers reported and quite a few limits. Most fish in the one to two-pound range with some bigger. William Jefferson, Moreno Valley, and John Seniguar, Perris, teamed up to catch 20 catfish to 10 pounds. Jason Beny, Ramona, caught the top catfish at 12 pounds. Crappie are fair to good and they are suspended in deeper water (accessible by boat or on the fishing pier). Bass are fair, but few anglers are targeting them. Excellent carp action. Henshaw is open to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, dusk the rest of the week. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releases for the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web site with information updated hourly: Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado Region - Lower Colorado River Operations Schedule.
LAKE MEAD: Slow to fair striper action under schools of shad in 40 to 50 feet of water in the main channel and mouths of most of the coves on cut anchovies, sardines, shad-like lures. Most fish under four pounds. The largemouth bass are slow to fair in eight to 25 feet of water on plastics, and the smallmouth have also been fair. Improving catfish action, but still just a fair number of fish showing in the coves on cut baits. Improving panfish action but still slowish.
WILLOW BEACH: The action on big stripers slowed this week after the full moon, but most anglers expect this action to pick back up again going into the new moon the second weekend in July. The best bite had been on the big swimbaits that look like rainbow trout and the Mile Marker 52 region seemed to be best. The trout action remains pretty good after the weekly plants with the best action on salmon eggs, Power Bait, worms and Super Dupers. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The bass bite has been fair on plastics with some reaction bait and topwater fish. Trolling with anchovies in 30 to 50 feet of water has been producing some stripers, while catfish are on the bottom. While the number of stripers in Mohave has been decreasing, the quality of the fish caught has increased. The night time bite has begun to pick up. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: Air temperature hit the 100 and teens in this region this week. Light fishing pressure. For those going out, there is still a decent bite for trout for anglers targeting the bigger holdover rainbows in this stretch of river. The hot spots have been at the Laughlin Bridge and in front of the casinos, but they are showing all the way down river into Topoc Gorge. Some of these fish are running up to five pounds. The striper bite is still slow to fair but the volume of fish does seem to be increasing. Most are showing on anchovies or crankbaits, with the Rio Lomas area the best stretch. And most are just under two pounds with an occasional bigger fish. Smallmouth are fair along rip-rap on small cranks. Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: There is fair smallmouth action in the main river from Needles south to the I-40 bridge and on down into Topoc Gorge, mostly on small cranks. Slowly improving striper action, but this bite still very spotty above Needles. Catfish probably the best bet on cut baits, but still just fair. Still a few rainbows showing but most are nice quality fish up to four pounds. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The smallmouth bass bite in the main river and the catfish action in the river and marsh have been the best bets in this region. There was a 16.68-pound catfish caught by Greg Blanchard, Golden Shores, on anchovies at the pipeline. The striper bite is still just muddling along with a fair bite at best. The fish showing are mostly two to five-pound fish in 10 to 12 feet of water with anchovies the best bait. The smallmouth are best on small plastics and nightcrawlers with the fish running from dinks to four pounds. Also some topwater for both species. The bluegill redear action is still fair to good but fewer big fish are showing. Largemouth bass are slow to fair in the marsh, with some decent topwater action early and late in the day. Topock Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Phil’s Western Trader at 928-768-4954 or Capt. Doyle’s Fun Fishing at 928-768-2667.
HAVASU: There is a pretty decent largemouth bass bite early and late in the day on topwater buzzbaits and spook-type lures with flipping Senkos and crawdad-type baits into shady pockets. The smallies are tough with some topwater early on rocky banks in the morning. The redear are still very good on shallow flats and off points in big schools with some fish topping two pounds. The catfish action has been fair to good with the best action in the evening and into the night on cutbaits for the channels and bluegill for the flatheads. Stripers are tough but some quality fish from four to eight pounds are showing on trolled baits in the main basis before 10 a.m. most mornings. Air temps have been from 112 to 115 this week. Information: Bass Tackle Master (formerly Angler’s Pro Shop) at 928-854-2277.
PARKER STRIP: Fair to good catfish and smallmouth bass action. The cats are showing in most of the pools on cut baits, while the smallmouth bass are along the rip rap and starting to whack small cranks and swim baits. Bluegill and redear are good in the backwaters and quiet water in the main river. Few flathead reports.
BLYTHE: Heat really knocked back the fishing pressure and warming water conditions have lulled some of the bites, but overall the action is still pretty good for those going out. Channel cats are good in the main canals, backwaters, and main river on cut baits and the flatheads are also pretty good on bluegill and goldfish. Some flatheads topping 20 pounds are caught each week. The smallmouth bass bite is excellent in the main river along the rip-rap and in the canals. Most are small, but the action is very good on surface baits, cranks, and small plastics. Largemouth have slowed in the backwaters and ditches except where cooler water from the main river enters. Still pretty good action there on plastics, cranks, and surface baits. Also good panfish action. There is still a pretty good striper bite on three to five-pound fish at the Palo Verde Diversion dam on cut baits, mostly chicken liver, and most anglers are getting good mixed stringers of stripers and catfish. The best action has been out of the main current and close to the shoreline rocks. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: The flathead action has continued to been good to excellent with a lot of fish from eight to 20 pounds and a few bigger fish each week. The best baits are live bluegill, goldfish and tilapia. The channel catfish bite is also very good. Good action on bluegill and the largemouth bass bite has also been good, with morning and evening topwater and a lot of crankbait fish. Most of the day the bass are back in the tules with high water levels. Few reports on smallmouth and stripers in the main river, and still no crappie reports. This is the first week of the season where air temperatures hit 110 in this region. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
PICACHO AREA: Fair largemouth bass action in the backwaters and river margins with the best bite early and late in the day, and the catfish -- both flatheads and channels -- are very good with some quality flatheads being caught. Bluegill good, too.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action has been fair with some flurries of good action on topwater, mostly at backwater entrances. Flatheads are really good on live bluegill and goldfish. Channel cats are good on cut baits in both the main river and backwater lakes. Bluegill also showing in excellent numbers, but most are small. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or Martinez Lake Resort.
YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action is fair in the whole region with the fish whacking plastics, cranks, and spinnerbaits. There is also a good topwater bite early and late in the day. The catfish bite is also good with some good catches on channels on cut baits and continued decent action on quality flatheads with live goldfish and bluegill.

LOWER DESERT WATERS

SALTON SEA: The tilapia bite is still pretty good with most of the fish from a half-pound to a pound, with an occasional bigger fish. The best bite has been at the state park headquarter’s jetty and the newly reopened Yacht Club jetty. All of the action is still on nightcrawler pieces. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052 or visitor center at 760-393-3810.
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: No reports.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: No reports. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No reports.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No reports. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA

For up-to-date road and campground information can call the following U.S. Forest Service offices: For the Big Pine to Lone Pine region, call 760-876-6222; for the Bishop Region, call 760-873-2500; for the Mammoth Lakes region, call 760-924-5500; for the Lee Vining region, call 760-647-3044; and for the Bridgeport region call 760-932-7070. Lodging and guide information: Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or Bishop, Mono County Tourism 760-924-1743. Top Eastern Sierra fishing report web sites are: Ken's Sporting Goods - Home (Bridgeport region), The Trout Fly Mammoth Lakes, California, and Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service, Mammoth Lakes. Flyfishing Guide Service for Trout. Fly Fish Owens River from guided driftboats in Bishop. Flyfish Crowley Lake and Bridgeport in guided flats boats named the Trout Magnet. Full service outfit.
WEST WALKER RIVER REGION: The West Walker River is still high with run-off but finally starting to come down. Improving action. The Little Walker River is still high, but pretty good fishing. Kirman Lake slowed a little this past week and 20-fish days have turned into five-fish days. This is still pretty good when you’re talking about brookies to four pounds or more and cutthroats to five to seven pounds, scud patterns and flashback streamers. Float tubes needed because there is little shore access. Still no reports on damsels. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: The trout action continues to improve at both Twin Lakes with a lot of pan-sized fish to two pounds showing on Power Bait, Gulp! Eggs, and nightcrawlers for the bait anglers, and trollers are getting fish on a wide variety of lures, but no trophy browns this week. The East Walker River has been very good this week for most anglers, with a lot of surface fish to 18 inches now on caddis patterns in the evenings, and a wide variety of nymphs during the day. Flows have been around 220 cfs again this week. Bridgeport Reservoir is still excellent for still fishing or trolling, but the boat bite is still better than from shore with rainbows to four pounds and browns to five pounds reported. Best bait action in Buckeye Bay and off Rainbow Point. Virginia Lakes remain excellent with a lot of fish to two pounds on just about everything and anything. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or Ken's Sporting Goods - Home, Twin Lakes Resort (Lower Twin) 760-932-7751, Annett’s Mono Village (Upper Twin) 760-932-7071.
JUNE LAKE LOOP REGION: Fishing is fair to good on all four lakes, June, Gull, Silver and Grant, on the usual floating dough baits (salmon egg glitter and salmon peach have been the hot Power Bait colors), inflated nightcrawlers, and the fly-bubble combination, especially at the stream mouths and outlets. Evenings have been best with the warmer weather. One of the week’s best fish was a 3-8 cutthroat caught by Dottie Milhom, La Verne, in Grant Lake trolling a Speedy Shiner. Theo and Olivia Clausen, San Francisco, had three and two-pound rainbows out of Silver on Tasmanian Devils. Alper’s Trout to be stocked in the region this week for the holiday weekend. Rush Creek is good between Silver and Grant on planted trout, and Brandon and Emily Campos, Fontana, caught their first trout limit ever from Rush this week. Lower Rush (below Grant) has very low flows and tough fishing. Higher elevation waters are still mostly inaccessible due to ice and snow, but that is going fast now. Information: Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley Lake is pretty good on floating baits, inflated nightcrawlers, with improving fly action on midge pupae. Also still some nice cutthroats and browns showing. Convict Lake is good for planted fish. Fair action in Twin Lakes out of Mammoth but no plants in basin yet. Rock Creek drainage planted again this week and the action has been very good. Most everything is completely ice free in this region now, except at the highest elevations. Information: The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800, Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301.
BISHOP AREA: Sabrina Lake is just fair with the best action off the face of the dam and in the creek inlets. Chase Cracraft, Ridgecrest, landed a 3-4 Alpers’ rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant in Sabrina. All the forks of the Bishop Creek have been good for knowledgeable stream anglers. Intake II has been excellent, getting the North Lake stockings, which may not get trout plants until August. All three forks of the creek were also planted again this week. South Lake has been good at the seasonal stream inlets and main inlet at the back of the lake with the fish still in a spawning mode. Trollers are getting a few browns from 11 to 14 inches. Most of the back country still has a lot of snow and ice. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is good for planted rainbows on floating baits and small lures. Lower Owens just fair. Information: Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Culver’s 760-872- 8361, Brock’s 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Generally fair to good action after DFG plants again this week on all the creeks. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.

WESTERN SIERRA

BOB’S BAIT CARP DERBY: The month-long Bob’s Bait Carp Derby kicked off June 1 with a $100 cash prize going to the angler who weighs in the biggest carp during June at Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield. The leader as of Wednesday was Polo Cantu, Bakerfield, with a 16-pounder caught from the aqueduct. There were 300 entrants. The catfish derby, also with a $100 cash prize, starts July 1. For more information, call Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie action has moved deeper water and got a little tougher this past week, but there’s still a decent bite on small minnows in Brown’s and Jauchin’s coves in the South Fork arm. Most are half- to three-quarter pounders. The largemouth bass bite has been pretty good with quality fish from four to six pounds and some bigger showing on Senkos and deep-diving cranks. The catfish action also remains very good in Stein and Robinson coves on frozen shad and clams with lots of fish from two pounds and up. Trout action is still good at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Bluegill finally starting to improve. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Flows have dropped in the upper river and it’s much more fishable this week. The upper stretch nearly to the Johnsondale Bridge was cleared for stocking and received fish this week. All the other stretches were also planted in both the upper and lower river. The bite has been fair to good on salmon eggs and crawlers. The lower river is still pretty high and tough to fish, but careful anglers are getting trout. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The catfish and striper action remains very good. Lots of cats showing on cut baits, and the striper bite continues to be mostly on blood worms. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Very good action on small bluegill with wax worms or crickets. Most hand-sized. The carp are good on homemade dough baits or Powder Bait. Bass very slow.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Good bluegill bite, and the carp bite has been good on Powder Bait. Fair catfish bite on nightcrawlers and shad. Bass and crappie spotty.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is good on wax worms, meal worms, and crickets, and the carp action is good on homemade dough baits and Powder Bait. There are a few bass showing on minnows, nightcralwers, and plastics, but this bite is very slow.
MING LAKE: The carp bite is very good on Powder Bait and other dough baits. There has also been a very good bite on bluegill, mostly on wax worms and meal worms, and the bass action is slow with a few on plastics.
BRITE LAKE: No reports.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Continued good catfish action on frozen shad, dip baits, or green garlic nightcrawlers, with most of the cats running from two to five pounds and showing from the small lake. The lake is being planted with catfish every couple of weeks, and there is a five-fish limit on the cats here. A fair number of stripers on bloodworms, minnow, and Zoom Flukes or similar surface swim baits. The bluegill action has been very good on wax worms. Very slow crappie action. Carp good. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: The bluegill bite is good on red worms, meal worms, or wax worms, and a few bass are showing on plastics. Pretty good carp action, too.
SUCCESS LAKE: Pretty good bass action Senkos and plastics, and some bluegill and catfish also starting to show. Water level coming up. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good with a lot of fish on plastics and some on topwater and reaction baits. The redear and bluegill are really starting to take off in the shallows. Some catfish beginning to show. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

SAN ANTONIO: There continues to be a fair striped bass bite here with a lot of six to 10-pound fish and some in the 12 to 20-pound class each week. The best action has been on trolled shad-like swim baits or live or frozen shad. Also some topwater action for anglers throwing to boils early and late in the day. While the action is off from recent weeks, this is still a decent bet. The catfish action is also improving and there has been a fair crappie bite, especially if you can get live shad. Few other reports. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: Both the smallmouth and largemouth bites are fair with some topwater early and late in the day and then better action in deep water after the dawn-dusk flurries on top. The white bass action is slow to fair on slow-trolled Roostertails and silver spoons. The crappie bite has slowed down with spotty action on live minnows or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The catfish bite is improving, and anglers targeting carp are seeing excellent action. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: There is generally a pretty good bite on bass, crappie, and bluegill/redear here. The bass are showing on topwater and live shad, if you can dip a few at dawn, with a slightly lesser bite on Senkos, jigs, and Creature baits. Most are two to three pounders with some up to five. The crappie bite has been fair to good, and what they lack in numbers, they’ve been making up in size with a lot of two to three-pound fish. The best bite is in the back of the narrows on the small jigs or live shad. The bluegill and redear are good in most coves on bobboer-suspended baits, but the fish are mostly hand-sized with a few bigger ones. Catfish are slow. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Fair to good largemouth and crappie action, and the bluegill bite is also good. The bass have mostly been showing off Strawberry Flats early in the morning on topwater, cranks, and plastics. The crappie bite has been best off the F Dock and at the dam with catches of five to 10 fish pretty common, but some of the fish are up into the two-pound range. Best action has been on small jigs tipped with meal worms or Crappie Nibbles. Smaller bluegill and redear are showing in most coves and off the F Dock on red worms and meal worms. Some catfish showing. Information: 805-489-1006.

TROUT PLANTS

Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFG's web site at California Department of Fish & Game Fisheries Fish Planting Schedule by Regions.
LOS ANGELES: Jackson Lake.
RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Jenks Lake, Lake Gregory, Miller Canyon Creek (above Lake Silverwood), Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Santa Ana River, South Fork of the Santa Ana River.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
INYO: Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Dam Intake No. 2, George Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, lower Owens River below Tinemaha Reservoir, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Middle Fork Bishop Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Shepherd Creek, South Fork Bishop Creek, South Lake, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, lower Twin Lake near Bridgeport, lower Virginia Lake, Lundy Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek, Rock Creek from French Camp to upper bridge at Rock Creek Lodge, Rock Creek from Paradise Lodge to Tuff Campground, Rush Creek, Sherwin Creek, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport, upper Virginia Lake,
Virginia Creek.
KERN: Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville.
TULARE: Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, Middle Fork Tule River, North Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Wishon Campground, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Camp Nelson, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Ceder Slopes.
FRESNO: Big Creek near Huntington, Courtright Reservoir, Dinkey Creek, Rancheria Creek, Tamarack Creek.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, lower Chiquito Creek, North Fork of Willow Creek, Upper Big Creek, West Fork Chiquito Creek.
TULLUMNE: Lyons Canal, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork Stanislaus River, Stanislaus River Clark Fork.

CATFISH PLANTS

The following lakes, listed by county, will be stocked this week with one-pound catfish by private hatcheries under contract with the Department of Fish and Game.
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Park Lake, Echo Park Lake, Hansen Dam, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Lincoln Park Lake.