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SoCal Fish Report
August 12, 2009
Compiled by Jim MatthewsAugust 12, 2009
Outdoor News Service
JIM MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. A shocker for you. Diamond Valley Lake is again our top pick. You can pick bass or bluegill, both are red hot and providing the best fishing for those two species in the region. The largemouth bass are stacked up in 25 to 40 feet and whacking plastics, and there’s some morning surface action. The bluegill and redear are running up to nearly two pounds and showing off the dams in big numbers. The best action is from boats, but both species can be caught in good numbers from shore. For an update on the action, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
2. Bluegill (and redear) bites are hot all over the region, even in places like Prado Regional Park in Chino, but Lake Perris remains one of the real hot spots for these popular panfish. There was a 2-8 bluegill caught at Perris recently (with photo proof) and a rumor of a five-pound redear (and were still waiting for the proof on that one). You can focus on smaller fish and keep kids busy, or work deeper water with jigs tipped with baits for the bigger specimens. Check with the marina for an update by calling 951-657-2179.
3. Cooler evenings are making the Eastern Sierra already start to look and feel a little more like fall. For fly anglers, Crowley Lake is really starting to turn on with the bigger fish cruising the edges of weed beds eating perch minnows and hammering stripped streamers. There are a lot of quality rainbows, cutthroats and browns being caught right now, and it will just continue to get better as we move into September. Even when this isn’t in the top pick, remember this. Call Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301, The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, or Performance Anglers at 760-924-2181 for an update. There are several web sites that normally have good, updated reports, but apparently everyone has been fishing and they haven’t been updated much lately. Call if you want current info.
2. Bluegill (and redear) bites are hot all over the region, even in places like Prado Regional Park in Chino, but Lake Perris remains one of the real hot spots for these popular panfish. There was a 2-8 bluegill caught at Perris recently (with photo proof) and a rumor of a five-pound redear (and were still waiting for the proof on that one). You can focus on smaller fish and keep kids busy, or work deeper water with jigs tipped with baits for the bigger specimens. Check with the marina for an update by calling 951-657-2179.
3. Cooler evenings are making the Eastern Sierra already start to look and feel a little more like fall. For fly anglers, Crowley Lake is really starting to turn on with the bigger fish cruising the edges of weed beds eating perch minnows and hammering stripped streamers. There are a lot of quality rainbows, cutthroats and browns being caught right now, and it will just continue to get better as we move into September. Even when this isn’t in the top pick, remember this. Call Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301, The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, or Performance Anglers at 760-924-2181 for an update. There are several web sites that normally have good, updated reports, but apparently everyone has been fishing and they haven’t been updated much lately. Call if you want current info.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The local mountain waters are seeing fair to good action. Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Lake Gregory, and Lake Hemet are all worth fishing. Green Valley is getting private plants each week now. In the Eastern Sierra, the bites are good on planted fish from north to south, especially the Bishop Creek drainage and waters around Tioga Pass, and the high elevation waters throughout the region. For fly anglers, the Kirman Lake, the East Walker River, upper Owens River, Hot Creek, and Crowley Lake all have good to excellent bites, with the hoppers now out in pretty good force in the river meadows. Crowley has been particularly good. In the Western Sierra, the Kern River is excellent with a lot of dry fly action now morning and evening.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: The largemouth bass bites are mostly just fair right now, but there are flurries of excellent morning and evening topwater bites. The top picks are again Diamond Valley, Sutherland, Perris, and Casitas. All are producing good average-sized fish, perhaps in the three to four-pound range. Other decent bets include Castaic, Piru, Skinner, and Silverwood. In San Diego County, Barrett remains good, but Upper Otay, Wohlford, Lower Otay, El Capitan, and Hodges are all worth fishing. On the lower Colorado River, the smallmouth bass bite from Lake Havasu downstream through about Palo Verde is good in the main river, and the largemouth bite is starting to really turn on again as the withering heat has subsided a little.
STRIPED BASS: There is pretty good striper action at all of the Southern California striper spots with Pyramid, Skinner, Silverwood, Castaic and Diamond Valley all cranking out fish, mostly on sardines and anchovies. Best fish are showing at Diamond Valley and Castaic, but few reports in the past week. The California aqueduct near Taft is also good (and anglers are reminded there is an 18-inch minimum size here). On the Colorado River, Willow Beach broke open five weeks ago and has been producing quite a few 20-pound class fish since on big, trout-like baits. Lake Mohave is fair on fish to four pounds on sardenes at the dam, while Havasu is slow but has shown some more improvement in the past week. Few reports on wipers at either Elsinore or Hesperia this week.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are good just about everywhere. Diamond Valley and Lake Perris are hot. But just about every water with bluegill are still seeing at least fair to good fishing, even if the fish are mostly smaller now. Crappie bites have lulled most places, including Isabella Lake, which finally seems to be sputtering out. Lake Cachuma is still surprisingly producing fish at the narrows, and some fish are still showing at Lopez and Piru. The tilapia bite at the Salton Sea finally slowed to almost nothing with the heat.
CATFISH: The lower Colorado River flathead and channel catfish action remains fair to good with the Blythe-Palo Verde area to Yuma the hotspot for big fish. Other places of real note include Diamond Valley Lake, Pyramid, Silverwood, Perris, Skinner, and Isabella. The planted water lakes -- Hesperia Lake, Jean’s Channel Cats, Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, and Corona Lake -- are also all pretty good.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: The largemouth bass bites are mostly just fair right now, but there are flurries of excellent morning and evening topwater bites. The top picks are again Diamond Valley, Sutherland, Perris, and Casitas. All are producing good average-sized fish, perhaps in the three to four-pound range. Other decent bets include Castaic, Piru, Skinner, and Silverwood. In San Diego County, Barrett remains good, but Upper Otay, Wohlford, Lower Otay, El Capitan, and Hodges are all worth fishing. On the lower Colorado River, the smallmouth bass bite from Lake Havasu downstream through about Palo Verde is good in the main river, and the largemouth bite is starting to really turn on again as the withering heat has subsided a little.
STRIPED BASS: There is pretty good striper action at all of the Southern California striper spots with Pyramid, Skinner, Silverwood, Castaic and Diamond Valley all cranking out fish, mostly on sardines and anchovies. Best fish are showing at Diamond Valley and Castaic, but few reports in the past week. The California aqueduct near Taft is also good (and anglers are reminded there is an 18-inch minimum size here). On the Colorado River, Willow Beach broke open five weeks ago and has been producing quite a few 20-pound class fish since on big, trout-like baits. Lake Mohave is fair on fish to four pounds on sardenes at the dam, while Havasu is slow but has shown some more improvement in the past week. Few reports on wipers at either Elsinore or Hesperia this week.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are good just about everywhere. Diamond Valley and Lake Perris are hot. But just about every water with bluegill are still seeing at least fair to good fishing, even if the fish are mostly smaller now. Crappie bites have lulled most places, including Isabella Lake, which finally seems to be sputtering out. Lake Cachuma is still surprisingly producing fish at the narrows, and some fish are still showing at Lopez and Piru. The tilapia bite at the Salton Sea finally slowed to almost nothing with the heat.
CATFISH: The lower Colorado River flathead and channel catfish action remains fair to good with the Blythe-Palo Verde area to Yuma the hotspot for big fish. Other places of real note include Diamond Valley Lake, Pyramid, Silverwood, Perris, Skinner, and Isabella. The planted water lakes -- Hesperia Lake, Jean’s Channel Cats, Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, and Corona Lake -- are also all pretty good.
WATER BY WATER REPORTS
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
BIG BEAR LAKE: Fair trout action with the best bite for trollers working deeper water or still fishermen fishing 20-plus feet of water. DFG trout plant last week. Bass action is fair on spinnerbaits and spoons in the shallows, with quite a few smallmouth reported this past week. Crappie are spotty in the east end. A few catfish are showing, especially in the evenings and at night. Excellent bowfishing for carp. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or Big Bear Boat Rentals Fishing Big Bear Marina.
GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Excellent trout bite with many limits reported. Anglers are having the most success fishing deeper water. Nina Santala, 13, Aliso Viejo, landed a 3.8-pound rainbow. The lake will be receiving a 1,000-pound plant of rainbows each week, and there was a DFG plant last week. Anglers who catch a rainbow over six pounds get a free "Green Valley Lake Six-Pound-and-Over Club" tee-shirt. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month.
JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: There continues to be a good catfish bite with a lot of limits and many quality fish showing, with the best bite morning and evening. Inflated nightcrawlers, the marshmallow-meal worm combo, or mackerel and shrimp dipped in Sonny's have been the top baits. The lake is receiving plants of 2,200 pounds of catfish each week. Top fish this past week was an 18-pound channel cat caught by Aaron Hunter, Rialto, on mackerel. Gene Thomas, San Bernardino, hooked into a 10-pound blue cat on the marshmallow-meal worm combo while fishing the north shore. Manny Thompson, Barstow, Joseph Garcia, Hesperia, and Patrick Simpson, Highland, all caught catfish around the eight-pound mark. Wipers, a striped bass-white bass hybrid, were planted over a month ago and action has been best on nightcrawlers. Ryan Shea, Phelan, landed a two-pound wiper on a mealworm. Some sturgeon continue to show each week, but the bite is slow. Raqhael Camarillo, Hesperia, caught a 15-8 sturgeon on mackerel. 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. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Cooler temperatures have led to much better trout action. Power Bait, especially in colors Garlic, Salmon Peach, and Orange has been the best bet for trout with nightcrawlers, and a variety of jigs and lures also working well. Best trout bite continues to be before 10 a.m. The catfish bite is still good on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and shrimp. The bass bite is fair with the best action on Senkos and tubes. The bluegill bite is good on mealworms and small jigs. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Fridays from its own hatchery. The lake has put the stocking of catfish on hold due to a hatchery conflict. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or Jess Ranch Lakes-The Official Site.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Good catfish action with weekly county plants. Most of the fish are around two to 2 1/2 pounds and the best action has been on mackerel and shrimp. Bluegill action has been very good on small jigs with most fish hand-sized. A few largemouth bass in the one-pound range have been caught on dark plastics off the island, but the carp and trout are slow. The catfish season has been extended, and the lake will continue to receive plants each week through September 19. For lake information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants are weekly through September 19. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Fair catfish action with the best bite off lots one, six, and eight, especially off the points. Excellent bluegill action all around the lake. The largemouth bass have been fair at Lot eight. No carp catches reported this past week. Catfish season has been extended an additional week to September 19. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Good catfish action with the best bite on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and chicken livers. County catfish are planted weekly through the September 19. There is also a good bluegill bite. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Good catfish action with county catfish plants each week through September 19. Salvador Navarro, San Bernardino, caught a limit of catfish with fish to two pounds on stink bait. The bluegill bite is also good with a lot of smaller fish showing on small worms, mealworms, and crickets fished under bobber. Carp are fair to good on dough baits. Alfredo Perez, Fontana, landed a 7-3 carp on Power Bait. 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: No DFG plants in over a month. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The bluegill bite remains excellent with the best action along the dams on jigs, crickets, wax worms, and nightcrawler pieces. There have been quite a few fish in the one-pound class. The largemouth bass bite remained very good to excellent. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits in the morning hours, or plastics fished at about 35 to 40 feet of water, especially on rocky points, any other part of the day. Trolling along the dams with Rapalas has also been producing a few largemouth. Nick Vestal, Lake Elsinore, landed a four-pound largemouth on a Rapala from shore. Richard Laughery, Perris, caught a 3.1-pound largemouth from the western shoreline on a spinnerbait. The trout bite is still spotty with no fish reported this past week. Best trout action has been for anglers fishing in boats off the two dams. No stripers reported this past week but there has been a few big fish reported, some up to 20 pounds, in recent weeks. Windy afternoons and evenings on the windward shorelines have been the top times and places to troll Z-Plugs or BBZs. Top spots for stripers have been Rawson cove, near the rock quarry, and by restroom no. 2. Catfish action fair with the best bite on cut baits. The saddle dam, Rawson Cove, near the quarry, and along the east dam have been the top areas. The launch ramp remains closed due to low water levels. A launch ramp extension project is expected to begin in October and be completed by February. Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201 or Diamond Valley Marina, and Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or Last Chance Tackle - Home.
PERRIS: The bass bite was very good this past week. Best action has been on plastics and nightcrawlers. The marina and the back side of the island have been the top spots. Jim Skeen, La Sierra, caught five bass totaling 15 pounds with fish to five pounds on Rapalas at the dam. The bluegill and redear bite remains good with a lot of 1/2 to 1 1/2-pound fish showing. Jim Simpkins, Pomona, caught a 2-8 bluegill this past week. The best bet for bluegill continues to be in deeper water for boat and float tube anglers, but the marina is also a good bet. Best action on crickets, meal worms, wax worms, or small jigs tipped with a bait. The catfish bite fair with most fish in the one to two-pound range. Good carp bite at Lots 5 and 6, the east end, and Rock Climber's Cove area. Some trout are still showing, but all from deep water off Sail Cove and along the dam. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The striper action slowed to fair this past week. The inlet, near the buoy line, and east end early in the morning continue to be the best spots and anchovies was the bait of choice. The catfish bite was good with mackerel and chicken liver fished at the dam or the inlet still the best bet. Larry Summers, Riverside, caught six catfish to three pounds on shrimp at Ramp No. 2. The largemouth bite is fair on dark plastics and nightcrawlers but the fish are deeper due to warm weather. The bluegill bite really picked up and is very good for those targeting them. Ty Nolan, Murrieta, caught 13 bluegill totaling 10 pounds at the south shore. Carp action is fair on dough baits. Crappie and trout are slow. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Very light fishing pressure with a fair number of carp and catfish reported off the public fishing beaches. Few other reports. Information: Seaport Boat Launch at 951-245-9308, Elsinore West Marina at 951-678-1300.
CORONA LAKE: The catfish bite has been very good with the best action for boat anglers fishing JD’s Mackerel or shrimp doused with shrimp Gravy. Sang Dang, Moreno Valley, weighed in 10 cats that tipped the scale to 29 pounds fishing nightcrawlers and mackerel from shore, and his best fish was the top cat reported this week at six pounds. Earl Stephanie III and Earl IV, both Riverside, caught 11 catfish for 27 1/2 pounds total, while Nick and Jimmy Davelle, Inglewood, also caught 11 cats and their total was 28 1/2 pounds. Dwayne Ward, Compton, had a typical five-fish limit that weighed in at 16 pounds. Tilapia are also pretty good for the anglers targeting them, and they are running from one to nearly three pounds. Gilbert Garcia, Los Angeles, landed three tilapia that weighed in at seven pounds total -- better than a two-pound average -- and he also had nine catfish at 21 1/2 pounds. Catfish and tilapia plants are weekly. Web site coupons available for more than 50 percent discounts for Friday fishing. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Information: 951-277-4489 or fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
EVANS LAKE: Slow to fair bass action on plastics and small reaction baits. Fair to good bluegill action around shoreline structure, rocks, and tules.
RANCHO JURUPA: Good catfish action after a plant this week. Plants are now every other week, and the best bite has been on mackerel. Also the odd bass and carp showing up. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-2411.
ANGLER’S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
REFLECTION LAKE: Good catfish action with nightcrawlers working well. Catfish are planted on Thursday every other week. The lake's hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: 951-654-7906 or Reflection Lake RV Park, a Hemet California RV Park and Family Campground.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Very good catfish action on chicken liver, dough baits, and nightcrawlers. Catfish plant slated for this week. Kris Walker, Riverside, caught a 1-10 catfish on chicken liver. The lake is open Wednesday 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 with a few limits reported. DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago. Most of the rainbows are pan-sized, but some over two pounds were reported in past week. Good bluegill action continued this week with a few nice stringers reported. Fair to good bass action. There is also a very good carp bite for those targeting them. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: There have been a lot of quality catfish stringers with many having cats from five to seven pounds. The hot baits have been the marshmallow-meal worm combo doused with shrimp-flavored Gravy, but cut mackerel and shrimp have also been mainstays. While fish have been showing all around the Lakes’ complex, anglers fishing at Three Pipes, off Levitz’ Cornerm or from boats in the big lake have been getting the quickest limits. Top catches this week included a seven-pounder that topped off a 13-pound, five-fish stringer posted by Santiago Palacios, West Covina, while Andrea Palacios landed a six-pounder. Jose Rios, Santa Ana, had a five-fish catch that weighed in 18 1/2 pounds and included a five pounder. Bob and Sally Marley, Norwalk, had 10 cats totaling 26 3/4 pounds and their top fish was a 5 1/2-pounder. Todd Jensen, Corona, had a 15-fish catch that weighed in at 31 pounds and included a 5 1/2-pounder, while Justin Wyndham, Irvine, had 15 cats and tilapia that weighed 27 1/2 pounds. Bo Homistek, Los Angeles, had 15 fish at 26 pounds. Jesus Valdez, Los Angeles, caught 15 cats that weighed 23 3/4 pounds. Brad and Valerie Dew, along with Joe Emerson, all Huntington Beach, caught 21 cats and the total stringer weighed in at 39 1/2 pounds. While sturgeon remain slow with the warm water conditions, Oscar Malone, Long Beach had a 5 1/4-pounder fishing nightcrawlers and meal worms near the Pump House. Catfish plants are twice a week, with the tilapia going in weekly. There is 24-hour fishing every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. Web site coupons available for more than 50 percent discounts for Friday fishing. Information: 714-632-7830 or log on at fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
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: Catfish action is very good with mackerel, shrimp, Gulp!, and DuMong's still the best bets. Boat Dock Cove, the west shore, and Santiago Flats were the top spots this week. Mitch Gray, Orange, caught a limit of catfish totaling 21-4 on mackerel at Santiago Flats. Ken Lee, Irvine, landed a limit of catfish at 20-5 pounds on mackerel fishing Santiago Flats. Trevor Jackson, Long Beach, got an eight-pound channel cat. Crappie fishing is excellent for anglers using a floating lantern at night. There is also a good crappie bite in the early morning and late evening on white Atomic Tubes. Bass action was good with many fish in the one to four-pound range reported and some over six pounds showing. Tom Matsanuga, Los Angeles, hooked into an eight-pound largemouth on a mini-jig at Rocky Point. Good numbers of bluegill are showing for those using meal worms or wax worms in the shallows near the docks. The lake will be open until 11 p.m. Thursday nights and until 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night all summer long. 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: Excellent catfish action on mackerel and nightcrawlers for shore anglers fishing off the Loop Trail and in Harvey’s Bay, and boat anglers are getting fish behind the island, narrows, Jackrabbit Flat and Santa Cruz Bay in two to 20 feet of water. Stringers at 40 to 80 pounds have been reported in the past week with fish to lots of sevens, eights, and bigger. Jack Lundy, Lompoc had an 11-8 on Tuesday, and fish to 22 pounds have been weighed in the past week. Crappie are still fair in the narrows on shad-colored cranks, but this bite is off from the blazing pace of early this summer. Trout are good in 50 to 80 feet of water at the dam and Johnson cliffs. This is all a boat-fishing deal with the action on drifted Power Bait or slow-trolled nightcrawlers or Needlefish behind flashers. Rainbows up to two pounds are showing. Just a few redear and bluegill showing in the east end and Stork Flats on nightcrawler pieces, and the largemouth and smallmouth bites are both slow to fair with the best action on drop-shotted plastics. For quagga mussel and the new boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. Fishing information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass action remains fair to good with the best action on plastics, nightcrawlers, jigs, and cranked fished early and late in the day. Also some topwater action during this time frame. Mid-day action has been tough. There also continues to be a fair number of bass caught by trollers fishing for trout. Doug Frasco and Don Northern, both Ventura, caught 13 bass total to 8-8 fishing cranks and plastics. Randy Westbury, Ojai, landed an eight-pounder on a topwater plug, while Colt Pulley, Ojai, had a 7-8 on a jig. Dante Carnessale, San Diego, landed a seven-pounder on a Rapala. Six-year-old Tykes Riley, Santa Barbara, caught a four-pounder on a plastic. The trout are feeding on small shad fry in 35 to 40 feet of water near the dam and fish to two pounds are showing for trollers working Needlefish, mostly near the dam. Catfish are also fair with some nice fish being caught on cut baits. Israel Olmos, Oxnard, landed a 15-8 cat, while David Regan, Oxnard, had an eght pounder. Both were fishing nightcrawlers. There are still a pretty fair number of bluegill and redear showing in the backs of coves and edges of weed beds on nightcrawlers and red worms. Private boats are being allowed at Casitas, but boats will be inspected and face a 10-day dry dock requirement because of fears of quagga mussel infestation. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The striped bass bite has been good for anglers dipping live shad or fishing sardines or blood worms in 40 to 60 feet of water. The stripers are running up to 12 pounds with the best area at the buoy line, but shore anglers are also getting fishing just to the right of the launch. Largemouth bass remain good on nearly any bait or presentation but nightcrawlers have been working best. Elizabeth Canyon on the east walls has been a good spot for largemouth. Some catfish are showing in the two to three-pound range on mackerel, shad, and nightcrawlers with the occasional bigger fish reported. The trout are slow with only a few holdover fish showing for diligent trollers or bait anglers. Very good bluegill action on wax worms and meal worms. Also good carp action. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Fair to good bass action on plastics, nightcrawlers, and surface baits early and late in the day. Top fish was an 11-8 bass caught by Miguel Alonso, Piru, in Cow Cove on a Robo worm, while a 10-5 bass was landed by Jose Ramos, Piru, in the Narrows on a nightcrawler. Trout pretty good for the trollers working deep water with limits not uncommon on fish to nearly two pounds. The crappie bite is still fair on small jigs with most three-quarter pounders. The fish are off most shorelines in 12 to 18 feet of water. The bluegill and redear are also part of this mix with a pretty good bite on these panfish, along with some fish at 1/2-pound or better. Catfish slow to fair. Information: marina 805-521-1500, x208.
PYRAMID: While wind has hampered the action much of the past week, the striper bite has been fair to good with boils along the swim beach and main channel, sometimes with large areas of fish chasing bait. The fish are mostly under two pounds, but some bigger reported again this week. Catfish action remains good for shore and boat anglers fishing cut baits in the coves with a lot of fish to four pounds. Bass action has been consistent on plastics and nightcrawlers, and shad have continue to be available for bait for anglers dipping them early and late. Trout have slowed way down with few fish reported in the past week. Good bluegill action, but most fish small. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth, 661-295-7155, concession 661-257-2790, or Forest Service 661-296-9710.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Just slow to fair action on cats and largemouth bass, but the bluegill bite is good on meal worms, crickets or wax worms fished in eight to 25 feet of water. No recent DFG plants. Information: 909-599-8411.
SANTA FE DAM: Catfish bite is pretty fair on cut baits. Good bluegill bite on wax worms and nightcrawlers. Some largemouth bass on plastics. No recent DFG plants. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent DFG plants.
ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
ELIZABETH LAKE: The catfish and bullhead are fair on cut baits with scent fished in eight to 12 feet of water. No recent DFG plants.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LEGG LAKES: No recent DFG plants.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: Excellent bass fishing. This past week there were 59 anglers checked and they reported catching 501 bass, two bluegill, and one crappie. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: There were 200 anglers checked and they reported catching 73 bass, eight bluegill, and one crappie. Mack Taylor, Vista, caught a 4.55-pound largemouth on a Senko. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule with boat rentals on the weekends only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: The 63 anglers checked reported catching 124 bass, five bluegill, and four crappie. The lake is open Thursday through Saturday and Monday for fishing. There are no boat rentals during June, July, and August. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
LOWER OTAY: There were 214 anglers checked who reported catching 160 bass, 302 bluegill to 1.5 pounds, and 11 catfish to 13.58 pounds. Ryan Ransom, San Diego, caught a 6.8-pound bass on a plastic worm in Otay Arm. Kelly Salmans, San Diego, landed a 6.7-pound bass on a plastic worm fishing Harvey Arm. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
UPPER OTAY: Good bass action. The 16 anglers checked reported landing 32 bass to 3.25. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is open. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MURRAY: The 77 anglers checked reported catching 15 bass and 54 bluegill. The lake is open for fishing and boating seven days a week. Boat rentals are available Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MIRAMAR: Mostly spotty action on all species. There were 133 anglers checked and they reported catching 28 bass, eight bluegill, and 17 catfish. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Boat rentals are available on Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
SUTHERLAND: There were 40 anglers checked and they reported catching 56 bass and nine catfish. Leonard Jones, San Diego, caught a 29.7-pound blue catfish and a 9.15-pound largemouth bass. Ted Becharas, San Diego, landed a 23.65-pound blue cat on a crawdad. Greg Leroy, Ramona, got a 19.85-pound blue catfish. The lake is open on weekends only, but will not have rental boats available. Water level is very low and boat launch is allowed at your own risk. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: Very good catfish action this past week. Mackerel and chicken liver are the top baits and the top spots are the buoy line areas. Catfish will be planted every other week through August. Felix Lopez, Escondido, landed a 15-9 catfish using mackerel at Bass point. The bass fishing is fair to good, mostly for smaller males in an early morning or late afternoon bite. Crawdads have been working best for bass, with some showing on dark plastics and anything shad-like. Charlie Lott, Oceanside, caught a 6-9 bass on a Senko off Lusardi Point. Crappie can now be found around submerged willows and the fish are averaging better than a pound each. Bluegill are hitting red worms or meal worms in good numbers. Trout are slow with only a few showing in deep water at the mouth of the canal or along the west buoy line. Carp action has been good on dough baits. There are four new bass boat-type rentals available. Quagga mussel fears still have a private boating ban. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plants this week and three weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: The catfish bite is good after plants each week. There is another catfish plant slated for this week and it is the last catfish plant of the season. Tim Hinds, San Marcos, landed an 8.7-pound catfish on anchovies near Trout Cove. Wandell Jackson, Escondido, pulled in a 7.12-pound cat on shrimp near Pier No. 4. The bluegill action is good in the shallows with mostly smaller fish reported. Redworms, mealworms or small nightcrawler pieces have been the best bet for bluegill. The bass bite is just fair but the bass are moving all along the shoreline in the early morning. This is the lake's last week for night fishing this season. The lake will be open once more this Thursday and Friday night until 11:45 p.m. for shore anglers and 10:45 for boaters. Pier No. 2 has completed construction and is now open. A daily permit is required for entry. Motorboats with trolling motors cost $20 and rowboats can be rented for $14. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Very good catfish action again this past week. The Log Boom, Boulder Bay, and along the shorelines have all been good bets for catfish. Jim Lawson, San Diego, and Mike Madrid, San Diego, each caught six-pound catfish on mackerel at the Log Boom. Amanda Flores, Imperial Beach, landed a five-pound catfish. The bass action has slowed with the warmer weather. Some bluegill are still showing in Hidden Bay. Trout action slow. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Catfish has been just slow to fair despite the plant last week. Nightcrawlers or mackerel with scent has been working best. Hermit Cove has been the hot spot, but the fish are starting to spread out with some being caught deep and others very shallow. The bass bite is fair and the best bet has been to fish deep. Some redear are still showing on mealworms and wax worms. Upcoming events: Free fishing class on bait fishing for rainbow trout 1 p.m. Sunday hosted by Ranger Hugh Marx. For information call 619-443-2510. Lake information: 619-390-1300 or Lake Jennings - Helix Water District Drinking Water Reservoir.
MORENA: The bluegill bite is very good on meal worms, crickets, and wax worms. The catfish bite is good on mackerel, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers. Anglers are requested to release any blue catfish they catch under five pounds. Bass action is fair. Price of boats and permits has been reduced Monday through Thursday. Permits are $3.50 and boat rentals just $20 for the whole day. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101.
CUYAMACA: Continued good trout action with Power Bait and nightcrawlers working best. The hot spots have been the T-Dock, the south end, and Lone Pine. The largemouth bass bite is fair with a few nice fish reported this week. Kenny Veles, Spring Valley, caught an 11.3-pound bass on a smoke shad zoom. The crappie action is very good for those targeting them. The occasional catfish is also showing. DFG trout were planted two and three weeks ago. Upcoming events: Supervising ranger Willard Lepley offers a free fishing class every Saturday at 10 a.m. 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: Very good catfish action. The best bite has been all along the shoreline using shrimp, chicken liver, and mackerel. Isain Garcia, Ramona, caught three catfish to seven-pounds. Aaron Sparlan, Oceanside reeled in twenty-eight catfish but only kept his limit of five. The bluegill bite has been good near the dock. The crappie action is also picking up with fish averaging around a pound each and some bigger. There is also a fair bass bite. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: Stripers fair to good over much of the lake, with Hemenway, Boulder Bay, Gypsum Wash, the 33 Hole, and dam all producing fish on cut anchovies or live shad. Fair catfish action reported on anchovies or shrimp. The largemouth bass action is fair off the points, with some surface action early in the mornings.
WILLOW BEACH: The action has continued good on the bigger stripers from the dam all the way down to Mile Marker 52 and 50 with fish to 25 pounds reported in the past week. Best action on A.C. Plugs or similar baits. The trout action is also very good right after the Friday plants on worms and Super Dupers. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: Fishing for stripers has continued to improve, but still just fair action in the southern portion of the lake, especially in the coves around the power lines and at the dam with a lot of three to five pounders showing on cutbaits, mostly anchovies and sardines in 15 to 45 feet of water. More 10-pound class fish. Best action at night under lights. Bass spotty, but some topwater action early and fish on plastics around structure the rest of the time. Catfish are fair on cut baits. Bluegill are also showing in good numbers in most coves and around structure. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: Tough bite with slow to fair catfish action through this whole stretch of river, with the Big Bend area having the best action on cats to three pounds. Stripers very slow with no fish reported this week. The bluegill bite is fair. Information: Riveria Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: Slow striper action downriver, with the best bite early in the morning on fish under three pounds. A few catfish showing, but a tough bite. Slow largemouth bass action. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: Still hot but more fishermen are venturing out. The striped bass bite has been slow to fair with the best bite early in the morning from the I-40 bridge down into Topoc Gorge for anglers drifting anchovies or anchoring up in the bigger pools and fishing the bait. Most of the stripers are small, in the one- to two-pound range. Anglers are getting more catfish in this bite than stripers right now, but the cats are slow, too. There’s a fair bite on the cats in Topoc Marsh for anglers braving the mosquitos at night or early morning. The largemouth and smallmouth bass bites are pretty fair in Topoc Gorge with some topwater, crankbait, and plastic action, and a fair number of bluegill are showing along the river margins and backwaters. Topoc Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Park Moabi at 760-326-3831 or Phil’s Western Trader at 928-768-4954.
HAVASU: Still relatively light fishing pressure. There continues to be good catfish action with a lot of four to 10 pound fish showing on frozen sardines and mackerel in most of the bays and coves at night and early and late in the day. A few flatheads over 10 being caught on live bluegill. The redear are good around the grass beds with a lot of fish topping a pound on nightcrawlers. Both the largemouth and smallmouth bass are pretty good, especially early and late in the day along weed beds and cattails on surface baits, especially frogs in the evening, Senkos the rest of the time. The striped bass action continues to improve with fish boiling between California Bay and Windsor, but the shad are all very small, so it takes small baits to entice the fish. Most of the stripers are small with a few in the three to five-pound range. Information: Angler’s Pro Shop at 928-854-2277, Black Meadow Landing at 760-663-3811, or Havasu Springs Resort at 928-667-2205.
PARKER STRIP: Channel catfish have been fair this past week and the smallmouth bass in the main river along the rip rap are also good. Bluegill and redear are good in backwaters and quiet water in the main river. Flatheads are also pretty good on goldfish and shiners.
BLYTHE: The catfish bite has been very good over the past week with flatheads and channels to 20 pounds reported with lots of smaller fish. Both the main river and area canals, ditches, and backwaters have been good. The largemouth bass action is fair in the main river with a 12-8 largemouth the top fish reported this week. The canals and backwaters are also pretty decent. The smallmouth are still pretty good in the main river, especially along rocky rip-rap. The bluegill and tilapia action is good all along the lower river, backwaters, and ditches. Austin Wadley and Nate Vasquez, Blythe, caught 43 tilapia to three pounds on dillies and nightcrawlers in the local ditches. No reports on stripers in recent days, but a number of fish were reported at the diversion dam north of town going into the full moon week before last. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Still very light fishing pressure. The few anglers venturing out are going for catfish at night and not fishing past 10 a.m. in the morning. There has been a good bluegill bite at first light, and pretty fair catfish action at night. The largemouth action is tough with only a few fish showing early in the morning, often on topwater baits. Stripers are very slow. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
PICACHO AREA: Fair largemouth bass action on plastic worms or nightcrawlers, with a topwater bite early and late in the day. The channel catfish action is fair to good on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Fish from one to three pounds, with only a few better ones. The flathead action is just fair on goldfish, shiners, tilapia, and bluegill.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action fair to good on plastics cranks, and spinnerbaits, with more and more topwater action early and late in the day. Channel catfish and flatheads are both just fair with the heat. Few crappie, but the bluegill are still fair with some flurries of good action early in the morning. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or Martinez Lake Resort.
YUMA AREA: Bass action is fair to good in the main river and river backwaters on minnows and plastics and there’s a morning topwater bite. Both channel catfish and flathead are just fair in the main river with the flatheads showing on live minnows, bluegill, or big crawdads. The Gila Main Canal area in East Yuma continues to fair to good for channel catfish action with some bass, redear and bluegill.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: The tilapia bite has continued slow with light fishing pressure due to the heat. The few tilapia that are showing have mostly been small. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052.
ALAMO RIVER: Few reports, but the catfish action is fair with quite a few fish showing on nightcrawlers and cut baits.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports, but the catfish action has been fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut baits. A few stripers, largemouth, and bluegill.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: Last No report. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No Report.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No report. Information: 760-564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: For updated road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222. 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: Trout Water Reports | Eastern Sierra Fishing (whole region), www.KensSport.com (Bridgeport region), 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. Full service outfitter for Hot Creek, Uppe (mostly flyfishing), and Crowley Lake , the legendary home of the monstrer trout in the Eastern Sierra! (Crowley Lake only). All of these sites generally have reports updated each week.
COLEVILLE-TOPAZ REGION: The West Walker River has been very good for planted and wild trout with a lot of fish on hopper dries now. Little Walker River is good for brookies and rainbows, but fish are mostly small. Kirman Lake is excellent on brookies weighing up to four pounds, and cutthroat trout in the six- to eight-pound range. Best action on scud and streamer patterns for float-tubing fly anglers or small jigs and spinners for spin fishermen. Shore fishing tough because of tules and weed beds are making spin and fly fishing tough for even tube anglers. Two big plants of fingerling brookies in recent weeks should keep this fishery thriving. There have now been brook trout plants each of the past four years. Information: Toiyabe Motel at 530-495-2281.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Flows have been consistent on the East Walker in the 160 to 170 cfs range, and the fishing has been good to excellent with 20-plus fish days still pretty common for good fly anglers. Lots of 12 to 20-inch browns on streamers, caddis pupae, and tricos, but topwater action morning and evening. Bridgeport Reservoir has been good for float tube and boat anglers fishing mid-lake right off the marina and near Rainbow Point, but also some action near the dam this week. Power bait and gulp eggs as well as crawlers are all doing well for the bait fishermen. For fly anglers, it's been the best with streamers, but midging under an indicator has also been good. Twin Lakes have been good to excellent this past week for bait, lure, and fly anglers on pan-sized fish. The Virginia Lakes -- Big Virginia, Little Virginia, and Trumbel -- all excellent again. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or Ken's Sporting Goods - Home.
LEE VINING REGION: Lower Rush Creek in the special regulation section has been just fair on small caddis dries or a two-fly rig with fish to 16 inches reported, but water level is getting low. Below 395, Rush is good but the fish are very small. Tioga, Saddlebag, Ellery and Lundy lakes are all excellent for bait, lure, and fly anglers. Lots of fly-bubble fish now thanks to an excellent mosquito crop. Remember the bug juice. Information: Untitled Document.
JUNE LAKE LOOP: Good action throughout the loop, especially for fly anglers fishing streamers around weed beds or midge pupae under an indicator. June is producing a few cutthroat topping three pounds, and Gull has been cranking out a lot of rainbows for bait and lure anglers, too. Silver and Grant a little less consistent, but still good early and late in the day. Walker and Parker lakes are both good, and all higher elevation waters are generally good. Information: Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley Lake’s algae bloom is dying back and the weed beds are in defined beds, and the fishing has improved with good to excellent action for anglers fishing midges under indicators in 12 to 15 feet of water or perch streamers along the weed beds. The best numbers of fish seem to be in the inlets, but fish are showing around much of the lake. Some good surface action most mornings. The upper Owens River and Hot Creek are both very good for fly anglers, with a lot of hoppers on the banks now. In the Mammoth Lake, all the lakes are good with regular trout plants weekly, or nearly so. Shuttle access to Red’s Meadow is running. Good action on planted trout in Rock Creek and Rock Creek Lake. Information: The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, Performance Anglers at 760-924-2181, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800, Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301, Tom’s Place at 760-935-4239.
BISHOP AREA: Sabrina Lake fair with some fish in the two-pound class. South Lake is now full and very good at the dam and inlets in the upper lake. Bishop Creek is generally good on planted trout, with some wild fish. North Lake good for shore anglers and float tubers with a very good bite. The lower Owens River remains good. Fly anglers are seeing good midge, caddis and mayfly surface activity, but most of the action is subsurface on nymph patterns fished deeply under strike indicators. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been very good for lure, jig, bait, and fly anglers, especially for float tubers fishing near the inlet. Owens Gorge good for small browns on small dries. 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 regular DFG plants. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.
WESTERN SIERRA
BAKERSFIELD AREA CATFISH DERBY: Bob’s Bait is having a month-long striper derby with the largest streiper weighed in during August winning a $100 cash prize. Current leader is J.R. Apodaca, Bakersfield, with a 4-8 from the aqueduct. For information, call Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The catfish action has remained very good, especially for anglers fishing frozen shad, but Sonny’s Dip Bait and clams are also good. Some fish over four pounds, but most smaller. Best action at French Gulch and Camp 9. Trout fishing remains good at the auxiliary dam and near the cemetery. The largemouth bass action slowed with the best action on plastics, Senkos, cranks, minnows, and early morning topwater. The crappie bite also slowed this past week with fewer and fewer fish showing for boat and float tube anglers fishing in the trees in the North Fork arm. The few fish being caught are still quality slabs in the 1 1/2-pound range. Best bite on live minnows. There is also very good action on bluegill, mostly on wax worms. Carp fair to good in shallows. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: The roadside section of the upper Kern has been good for fly anglers fishing small dries early and late in the day during hatches and egg-laying flights. Colby Curten, Bakersfield, landed an eight-pound cat in the river on a nightcrawler this past week. On the lower Kern, the water is still high but finally dropping and more and more smallmouth bass and a few catfish are showing now. The Richbar area has been best. The South Fork of the Kern from Rockhouse upstream has been very good for fly anglers. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
TULE RIVER: All of the usual stocking areas, including the lakes at Balch Park, were planted this week by the DFG and the action has been good on crickets, salmon eggs, and Jake’s lures. Information: California Land Management - CLM, operator of outdoor recreation facilities, campgrounds, RV, recreational vehicle, cabins and related hospitality services, ca, calif. or Balch Park Pack Station Home.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Stripers remain good with the best bite on the sand worms, blood worms, Gitzits, and shad-like cranks. Most of the fish are in the two to three-pound range, which means many are under the 18-inch minimum size. Lots of moss in water now, so anglers doing the walk-drifting method are the most successful. The catfish bite is also good on the same baits and cut baits. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill bite remains good to excellent on wax worms, meal worms, or red worms. The carp action is also still good on Powder Bait. Slow bass action, with the best action early and late in the day.
TRUXTUN LAKE: The carp action remains good on dough baits and Powder Bait. Bluegill are also good on wax worms or crickets. Slow bass action on nightcrawlers and plastics early or late in the day.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is very good on crickets, wax worms, and meal worms. Bass are very slow with a few on plastics, nightcrawlers, and small swim baits early and late in the day.
MING LAKE: Good carp action on fish to 10 pounds. Best action has been on Powder Bait, but most dough baits are working. Bluegill very good to excellent on wax worms, crickets, meal worms, and red worms. The bass and crappie bites are very slow. The lake is closed to boating while repairs are made, but the lake remains open to fishing.
BRITE LAKE: No report. No DFG trout plants for over a month.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Still good catfish action on Sonny’s Dip Bait, but the plants have ceased and there’s no longer a fishing fee, just a lake entrance fee. Lots of cats to four pounds reported. Jaishawn Fergerson, Bakersfield, landed a 10-pounder. Also very good carp action on Powder Bait, and the bluegill bite is good to excellent on wax worms and meal worms. Bass, stripers, and crappie all slow. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.
SUCCESS LAKE: There is an excellent bluegill bite, but other species are mostly slow with the odd bass showing on topwater early in the day. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Good bass bite on live bait and plastics, but the bite is almost all at night. Bluegill are good to excellent. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Lake level is low and falling, and overall the fishing is very spotty. Catfish the best bet for anglers fishing anchovies or chicken liver in the coves and off the points in five to 20 feet, with the best action very early and late in the day. There have been a few early morning boils on stripers at the dam and in the marina areas with a few fish to 10 pounds in the past week. Also some largemouth and smallmouth showing early on shad-like swim baits, plastics, and nightcrawlers. Crappie and bluegill slow. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: Very low lake levels. The white bass are schooled up off the points and in open water, but little action. Still some fair spotted bass action on rocky points on plastics with a morning topwater bite for both largemouth and spots. Slow crappie, but the catfish are fair on cut baits, mostly early and late in the day. Carp remain pretty fair in the marina area on dough baits. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: Fair bluegill and redear action, but overall still pretty slow fishing. A few catfish are also coming out and the dedicated bass anglers are getting some fish early and late in the day, especially on topwater. The odd crappie showing continue to be one to two-pound fish, but again, it’s a tough bite. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Continued good action on bluegill and redear on structure around much of the lake. Earl Webb, Bakersfield, landed a 1-8 bluegill, the top fish in a nice stringer of bluegill and redear. Best action on nightcrawlers with fish topping a pound. Both largemouth and smallmouth are fair on plastics, with some surface action early and late in the day. Catfish also remain fair to good with some quality fish 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: Bouquet Canyon Creek, Jackson Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO: Jenks Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River South Fork.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Intake II, Bishop Creek (Middle & South Forks), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, North Lake, Sabrina Lake, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vining Creek South Fork, Little Walker River, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, Mary Lake, McGee Creek, Owens River (Section 3), Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Sections I and II), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Tioga Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport (Lower and Upper), Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Creek, Virginia Lake (Lower and Upper), West Walker River (Sections 2 and 3).
FRESNO: Dinkey Creek, Huntington Lake, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, Shaver Lake.
KERN: Isabella Lake.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Manzanita Lake.
MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir, Merced River downstream of Redbud Bridge.
MERCED: Merced River from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls.
TULARE: Balch Park (eastern and western lakes), Bone Creek, Dry Meadow Creek, Hedrick Campground Pond, lower Peppermint Creek, Middle Fork Tule River, Nobe Young Creek, 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, upper Peppermint Creek.
TUOLUMNE: Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River Clark Fork.
CATFISH PLANTS
The following waters, listed by county, will be planted by the Department of Fish and Game with one-pound channel catfish this week.
No plants this week.
