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SOCAL FISH REPORT
July 29, 2009
Compiled by Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service
JIM MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
July 29, 2009
Compiled by Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service
JIM MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. Diamond Valley Lake’s bluegill and redear action continues as the No. 1 pick with excellent action. The best bite is for boat anglers fishing along the dams with jigs, crickets, wax worms, and nightcrawler pieces, and fish over a pound are still showing each week. If the panfish don’t pan out, there is an excellent largemouth bass bite and the catfish action is also top-rated. 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. While the striped bass bite at Willow Beach on the Colorado River is specialized fishing, there were again a number of quality fish from 10 to 30 pounds caught here in the past week on cast or trolled A.C. Plugs or similar trout-like baits. The best action was at Mike Marker 50 upriver to the hatchery at Willow Beach. For an update on this bite, call Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
3. Want to get out of the heat? Grab the fly-gear and head to the upper Kern River in the Wild Trout stretch from the Johnsondale Bridge upstream. These are mostly wild and native Kern River rainbows and the action has been good to excellent with the best dry-fly action during morning and evening hatches. For an update, check with the folks at the Kern River Fly Shop at 760-376-2040 or the shops web site at Fly Fishing the Kern River.
2. While the striped bass bite at Willow Beach on the Colorado River is specialized fishing, there were again a number of quality fish from 10 to 30 pounds caught here in the past week on cast or trolled A.C. Plugs or similar trout-like baits. The best action was at Mike Marker 50 upriver to the hatchery at Willow Beach. For an update on this bite, call Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
3. Want to get out of the heat? Grab the fly-gear and head to the upper Kern River in the Wild Trout stretch from the Johnsondale Bridge upstream. These are mostly wild and native Kern River rainbows and the action has been good to excellent with the best dry-fly action during morning and evening hatches. For an update, check with the folks at the Kern River Fly Shop at 760-376-2040 or the shops web site at Fly Fishing the Kern River.
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 bites, with the hoppers now out in pretty good force in the river meadows. 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, especially as we move into the full moon later this month. On the lower Colorado River, the smallmouth bass bite from Lake Havasu downstream through about Palo Verde is good in the main river, but the largemouth bite is just fair in the backwaters and major reservoirs thanks to scalding heat again this week.
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 anchovies. Best fish are showing at Diamond Valley with fish topping 20 pounds in recent weeks, 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 three 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 anchovies in the coves by the power lines, while Havasu is slow. Few reports on wipers at either Elsinore or Hesperia this week.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are fair to 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, but Isabella Lake has been consistent on quality fish, and the bite at Lake Cachuma is also surprisingly good, 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 with the Blythe-Palo Verde area to Yuma the hotspot for big fish, but this bite has been off during the recent warm spell. Places of real note include Diamond Valley Lake, Hesperia Lake, Jean’s Channel Cats, Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, and Corona Lake. Also a lot of catfish showing at Pyramid, Silverwood, Perris, Skinner, and Isabella.
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, especially as we move into the full moon later this month. On the lower Colorado River, the smallmouth bass bite from Lake Havasu downstream through about Palo Verde is good in the main river, but the largemouth bite is just fair in the backwaters and major reservoirs thanks to scalding heat again this week.
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 anchovies. Best fish are showing at Diamond Valley with fish topping 20 pounds in recent weeks, 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 three 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 anchovies in the coves by the power lines, while Havasu is slow. Few reports on wipers at either Elsinore or Hesperia this week.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are fair to 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, but Isabella Lake has been consistent on quality fish, and the bite at Lake Cachuma is also surprisingly good, 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 with the Blythe-Palo Verde area to Yuma the hotspot for big fish, but this bite has been off during the recent warm spell. Places of real note include Diamond Valley Lake, Hesperia Lake, Jean’s Channel Cats, Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, and Corona Lake. Also a lot of catfish showing at Pyramid, Silverwood, Perris, Skinner, and Isabella.
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 this 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. 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 this week. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The trout bite if fair to good with a few limits reported. Anglers are having the most success fishing deeper water. The lake will be receiving a 1,000-pound plant of rainbows each week now, 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. Mackerel, shrimp, inflated nightcrawlers, and the marshmallow-meal worm combo have been the top baits, especially if dipped in Sonny's Catfish Bait. The lake is receiving plants of 2,200 pounds of catfish each week. Wipers, a striped bass-white bass hybrid, were planted over a month ago and action has been best on nightcrawlers for these fish. Some sturgeon continue to show each week. 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: Trout action mostly slow this past week with the best bite in the early morning. Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and a variety of jigs and lures all working for trout. 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. Yoana Mena, Fontana, caught a five-pound bass near the north shore of lake two on a nightcrawler. 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 nightcrawlers and meal worms. Top spot for catfish has been near the boathouse of Horseshoe Lake. Bluegill have been very good 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. For lake information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants are weekly through the summer. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Catfish action is good. There is a fair bass bite and excellent bluegill action. The carp bite is also good. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: County catfish are planted weekly through the summer. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Good catfish action with county catfish plants each week through the summer. Ruth Perkins, San Bernardino, caught a limit of catfish with fish to three pounds. The bluegill bite is also good with a lot of smaller fish showing on small worms, meal worms, and crickets fished under bobber. Carp are fair to good on dough baits. 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. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits in the morning hours, or plastics fished any other part of the day. Trolling along the dams with Rapalas has also been producing largemouth, as well. Stephanie Reschke, caught a seven-pound largemouth on Margarita Multilator Roboworm fishing the southwest corner of the lake. The trout bite is still spotty with the best action for anglers fishing in boats off the two dams. Stripers have been spotty, but a few quality fish are showing on swimbaits. Catfish action slowed considerably but the best action continues to be 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, Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or Diamond Valley Marina.
PERRIS: The bass bite remained 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. The bluegill and redear bite remains good with a lot of 1/2 to 1 1/2-pound fish showing. 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. Amyre Lee, Alta Loma, caught 12 redear totaling 20 pounds on nightcrawlers. One was reportedly a five-pound class fish, which would be just shy of the 5-7 all-tackle world record, but the fish wasn’t weighed on a certified scale. The catfish bite has come alive and is very good 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 catfish bite was excellent again this past week with mackerel and chicken liver fished at the dam or the inlet the best bet. Bigger catfish have started showing in the deep water for anglers fishing from boat. Marcus Smith, Moreno Valley, landed six catfish to six pounds on mackerel at Ramp No. 2. The striped bass action is good and the fish are starting to move into the east end due to the large number of forage fish. Chicken liver has been the top bait for stripers with anchovies also working well. The largemouth bite is best on dark plastics and nightcrawlers but the fish are deeper due to warm weather. Just fair overall. The bluegill bite is good for those targeting them and the best bite is in the late afternoon on mealworms and nightcrawlers. Carp action is fair on dough baits. Crappie and trout are slow. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Fair to good channel catfish action on the public fishing beaches, especially early and late in the day. Carp are also good in these areas on dough baits. The largemouth bass, wipers, crappie and even catfish are working shad, and there can be flurries of good action on shad-like cranks, jigs, or swimbaits, mostly in open water. The bluegill bite has been fair to good. Over 100 people attended George Kramer’s recent talk here. Information: Seaport Boat Launch at 951-245-9308, Elsinore West Marina at 951-678-1300.
CORONA LAKE: Catfish action has improved over the past week with a pretty good bite after the twice-weekly plants. The mid-lake trees have been the top spots for stringers of fish for boat anglers fishing shrimp, while shore-bound anglers have been having a much tougher go of it. One of the best catches of the week was a stringer of 11 fish reported by Richard and Linda Johnson, Oceanside, that weighed in at 20 pounds. Kevin Ruiz, Riverside, landed 10 catfish that weighed in at 19 3/4 pounds while fishing shrimp from a boat. Chris Elliott, Fullerton, had an 8-8 catfish. Discount coupons available on the web site at fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake. 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 and the lake was supposed to be planted 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: Excellent catfish action on chicken liver, dough baits, and nightcrawlers. 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. 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 with stringers up to 35 pounds reported. John Burdeshaw, Corona, landed a 5-9 carp. The occasional catfish is also showing with Richard Gurling, Idyllwild, hooking into a 5-7 on a nightcrawler while fishing near the marina. 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 last week and three weeks ago. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: An 18 1/2-pound catfish highlighted the good catfish action this past week. Limits and quality cats have been more common, especially for boat anglers working the Levitz’ Corner part of the big lake with shrimp fished with no weight. The big fish was caught by Miguel Moreno, Anaheim, while fishing with a nightcrawler at Levitz’ Corner. Top stringer was a 15-fish, 24-hour pass stringer caught by Benny Batrez, West Covina, that weighed in at 28 pounds with a 6-4 his top fish. Sharon Green, Placentia, caught a 6 1/2-pound cat, while five-pounders were landed by Sean Green, Yorba Linda, and Julian Casillas, Garden Grove. A 7 1/2-pound carp was caught by David Bautista, Long Beach, fishing worms at La Palma Point, but sturgeon are still quiet. Catfish plants are twice a week, with the tilapia going in weekly. There is 24-hour fishing every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. 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 and Santiago Flats were the hot spots again this past week. Donovan "Catfish Slim" Swann, Fontana, caught a limit of catfish totaling 38 pounds with a 20-1 blue catfish topping the catch. Marty Saucedo, Costa Mesa, landed a 10-8 catfish on mackerel at Sierra Cove. Dave and Martin Finkelstein, Anaheim, got a limit of crappie totaling 15 pounds on Atomic Tubes at the flats. Crappie fishing is excellent for anglers using a floating lantern at night. Bass action remained very good, but the bite slowed some for anglers using jerkbaits and improved for those using plastics. 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 and Santa Cruz Bay in two to 20 feet of water. Stringer at 40 to 80 pounds have been reported in the past week with fish to 22 pounds. Crappie are still fair to good 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 in Johnson Bay. 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 and early morning fog at mid-week this week improved the surface action. Most of the fish are showing on plastics, but some trout trollers working Kastmasters and Needlefish are also getting fish. Top fish was a 9-8 bass caught on a Roboworm by Matt Wheatley, Oakview, to top of his four-fish catch. The other were all in the 2-8 range. Chris Burrows landed bass as 8-8 and 5-4 fishing with Thigpin guide service. Kent Reed, Ventura, landed a 5-8 bass fishing a nightcrawler off shore. Roger Snowbarger, Ojai, was trolling and had three trout averaging over a pound each, but he also caught bass at 5-8 and 3-8. The trout are feeding on small shad fry in 35 to 40 feet of water near the dam. Catfish are also fair with some nice fish being caught on cut baits. David Regan, Oxnard, landed fish at 12-4 and eight pounds on mackerel. 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: Continued fair to good action for both largemouth bass and striped bass this past week. The forebay buoy line continues to be the hot spot for the stripers with anchovies the top bait. The bigger stripers have been found in very deep water with the smaller stripers showing in 40 feet of water to the surface. The largemouth bite is 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. Trout slow to fair for trollers working deep water. 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: Catfish action remains good for shore and boat anglers fishing cut baits in the coves with a lot of fish to four pounds. The striper bite has been fair 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. Bass action has been consistent on plastics and nightcrawlers. 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 four to 15 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 141 anglers checked and they reported catching 1,357 bass, five crappie, and 66 bluegill. 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 120 anglers checked and they reported catching 51 bass, five catfish to five pounds, three bluegill, and one crappie. 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 50 anglers checked reported catching 55 bass, 15 bluegill, and three catfish. 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 231 anglers checked who reported catching 116 bass to six pounds, 336 bluegill to 1.8 pounds, 21 catfish to 24.6 pounds, and two carp to 17 pounds. 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 nine anglers checked reported landing 19 bass to 2.95 pounds. 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 63 anglers checked reported catching 40 bass and 70 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 59 anglers checked and they reported catching 24 bass, 27 bluegill, and one 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 49 anglers checked and they reported catching 94 bass, 26 bluegill, 10 catfish, and one carp. Doug Vang, San Diego, caught a 24.1-pound blue catfish on mackerel. Jake Keyser, 12, Ramona, landed a 14.25-pound carp. 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: Catfish action is good and should only improve with a plant slated for this 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. 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. 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 plant last 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. The bluegill action is good in the shallows with some fish up to a pound. 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. The lake is now open for night fishing on Thursday and Friday nights 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: Good catfish action all over the lake with limits being reported from many areas. Marrion Seitz, Poway, landed an eight-pound catfish on mackerel at the Log Boom. Alecksandr Yermakov, San Diego, caught a 5.4-pound catfish on mackerel at Boulder Bay. The bass action has slowed with the warmer weather. Some bluegill are still showing in Hidden Bay. Trout action slow. The annual midnight catfish craze will be held from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday July 31. The lake will be closed for boating and fishing on Friday prior to the event and plant of 1,500 pounds is slated to go in as well. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: There has been a good bass bite for anglers drop-shotting plastic worms at Eagle Point and Half Moon Cove in 25 to 30 feet of water. Catfish has been fair with nightcrawlers or mackerel with scent 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. 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 catfish bite is fair on mackerel, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers. Anglers are requested to release any blue catfish they catch under five pounds. Bass action is slow to fair with the best bite on crawdads. The bluegill bite is good on meal worms, crickets, and wax worms. 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: Good trout action with many limits showing for trollers. Power Bait and nightcrawlers have been the best bet for rainbows and the hot spots have been the dam area, Lone Pine area, and the buoy line at the dam. The largemouth bass bite is fair. The crappie action is good for those targeting them. The occasional catfish is also showing. DFG trout were planted each of the last two weeks. 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: Continued good catfish action. The best bite has been all along the shoreline using shrimp, chicken liver, and mackerel. Sam Wooley, Valley Center, caught five catfish on chicken livers with fish to four-pounds. The bluegill bite has really turned on with several limits reported 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 to good 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. Top fish this past week was a 23-6 caught by Pam Goulet, Kingman, on an A.C. Plug off the fishing pier. Allan Cole, Henderson, landed stripers at 20 and 15 pounds on his A.C. Plugs, while Paul Hines, Henderson, caught a 14-pounder on a SPRO trout swimbait. Justin Schester, Henderson, landed fish at 12, 11, and nine pounds on A.C. Plugs. 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: Little change here in the heat. Fishing for stripers is fair in the southern portion of the lake, especially in the coves around the power lines with a lot of three to five pounders showing on cutbaits, mostly anchovies, in 15 to 25 feet of water. Best action at night under lights. Also still fair action in the Cottonwood Cove region, Arizona Bay, Katherine's Landing, and the dam areas. Bass spotty, but some topwater action early and fish on plastics around structure the rest of the time. Catfish are improving and the shoreline areas 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: Overall, the bite is tough with few anglers fishing in the heat (119 on Tuesday). There is a slow to fair catfish bite 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 very hot and very fisherman few. The striped bass bite has been slow 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 mostly 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: Catfish action has been good 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. There has finally been some improvement in the striped bass action 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: Hot and muggy here this week. 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 heat has slowed the fishing pressure and there have been fewer reports the past week with catfish fair at night. Both channel and flatheads are still showing but in fewer numbers. Tony Hernandez, Jr., Blythe, landed a 19-pound channel cat on a live goldfish this past week. The largemouth bass action is fair in the main river, canals, and backwaters, while the smallmouth are still pretty good in the main river, especially along rocky rip-rap. The striped bass bite has lulled for quality fish at the diversion dam north of town, with no reports in the past week. The bluegill action is still fair to good all along the lower river, backwaters, and ditches. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: It’s been in the 100-and-teens this week, and almost no one is fishing. The few anglers venturing out are going for catfish at night and not fishing past 10 a.m. in the morning. The temperature at dawn has been between 85 and 90 and usually breaks 100 by 7:30 a.m. That said, 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 slowed with just fair action on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Fish from one to three pounds, with only a few better ones. The flathead action is also just fair on goldfish, shiners, tilapia, and bluegill.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action fair 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 been slow and temperatures have been from 110 to 116 much of the past week. 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), Ken's Sporting Goods - Home (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. Information: Toiyabe Motel at 530-495-2281.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Flows have been up and down on the East Walker again this past week, but fishing is still good, despite crowds. Lots of 12 to 20-inch browns on streamers, caddis, and trios. 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 with browns to 6-8 reported. 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 -- got a little tougher this past week due to heat, but float tubers have still bee seeing pretty good action. Tougher from shore. 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 good 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 midges 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 fair to good, and all higher elevation waters are generally good. Information: Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley Lake has heavy mats of weeds and algae, but the bite is still pretty good for fly anglers fishing midges under indicators in 12 to 15 feet of water, especially in McGee Bay. Bait and lure anglers also facing tougher conditions, but overall fair action, with troller working the dam area scoring on some bigger quality browns to five pounds. 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 pretty high, but still good. North Lake good with shore anglers and float tubers enjoying a very good bite on fish to three pounds. 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 with some stones coming off now. 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 catfish derby with the largest cat weighed in during July winning a $100 cash prize. The current leader is Jose Vidal, Bakersfield, with a 23-pounder caught from the aqueduct on chicken liver. The catfish derby will be followed by a striper derby in August. For information, call Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The largemouth bass action remains good with fish to six pounds reported and 20-plus fish days not uncommon. Best action on plastics, Senkos, cranks, minnows, and early morning topwater. The crappie bite has been fair to good this past week for boat and float tube anglers fishing in the trees in the North Fork arm. No more limits, but the five to 10 fish persistent anglers are getting are all in the 1 1/2-pound range. Best bite on live minnows. The catfish action has been 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. Trout fishing remains good at the auxiliary dam and near the cemetery. 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 20 mile roadside section of the upper Kern has been good for fly anglers fishing small dries early and late in the day during hatches and and egg-laying flights. On the lower Kern, the water is still high and the fishing is best from Erskine Creek to the dam, but quite a few smallmouth bass and a few catfish are showing now. 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 very good with the best bite on the sand worms, blood worms, Gitzits, and shad-like cranks. Unfortunately, most of the fish are now 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 now into August while repairs are made, but the lake remains open to fishing during this time.
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. Also very good carp action on Powder Bait, and the bluegill bite is good to excellent on wax worms and meal worms. Bass and crappie are slow to fair, but Ricky Franklin, Bakersfield, had four crappie to 1-8 and two bass to three pounds fishing white mini jigs. The ticket for the bigger crappie has been to use larger minnows. Stripers 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 a few 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 at about 50 percent of full pool, and the action is very spotty right now. Catfish probably 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: Lake is only at 23 percent and the action is tough overall with the falling water level. 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: Overall slow fishing, but for the dedicated bass anglers hitting it hard, they can still get a few fish on plastics and topwater early and late in the day. The catfish bite is pretty fair, but only a very few bluegill, redear and crappie are being caught. The 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. Best action on nightcrawlers with fish to 1-8 reported in recent days. Also quite a few bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, showing on plastics, with some surface action early and late in the day. Jeremy Scudder, Lopez, caught an 11-1 largemouth on a pink crappie jig. Doug Griffen, Bakersfield, had a 5.6-pound largemouth on a plastic off Strawberry Flats, while James Phitwood, Maricopa, landed a 4-8 largemouth on a plastic at the dam. Catfish also remain fair to good with some quality fish showing. A 21-8 catfish was landed by Robert Ruddel with crawler in Cottonwood Cove, while Paco Willard, Santa Paula, had a 2-4 catfish on a meal worm in Cottonwood Cove. Odd-ball catch of the week was a six-pound rainbow trout landed by Chris Mielke, Nipomo, on a crankbait. 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.
SAN BERNARDINO: Jenks Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River South Fork.
SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Lake.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Intake II, Bishop Creek Lower, Bishop Creek (Middle and South Forks), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Owens River (Section 2), Rock Creek Lake, Sabrina Lake, Sheperds Creek, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and 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) and West Walker River (Sections 2 and 3).
FRESNO: Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Manzanita Lake.
TULARE: Balch Park (eastern and western lakes), Hedrick Campground Pond, Middle Fork Tule River, North Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Wishon Campground, Peppermint Creek, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Camp Nelson, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Ceder Slopes.
TUOLUMNE: Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Middle Fork Tuolumne River, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork Tuolumne River, 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.
