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SOCAL FISH REPORT
June 10, 2009
Compiled by Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service
JIM MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
June 10, 2009
Compiled by Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service
JIM MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. We’re sticking with Diamond Valley Lake as the No. 1 pick mostly because of the excellent topwater action during this June Gloom. The cloudy weather has had the fish all over the surface on topwater baits and then continuing to hammer plastics and other baits when going deeper once – if -- the sun comes out. Many anglers have had 30-plus fish days and while the big fish reported was just a 5-8, you know a lot of quality fish are just not being discussed. If you get bored with the bass, the catfish and bluegill bites are also pretty much wide open. For an update on this action, check with the marina staff at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410.
2. The catfish bite at Hesperia Lake is excellent, and it’s one of the few places where you can get out of this gloomy, coastal overcast. The lake is planted with 2,200 pounds of cats each week and some of the fish in each plant are whopper broodstock fish. In the past week there were three cats over 20 pounds caught and three others between 16 and 18 pounds. For an update, check with the tackle shop at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
3. The Salton Sea is another spot where you can see some sunshine and warm temperatures and fill an ice chest full of great-eating fish. The tilapia bite is still pretty much wide open. An increasing number of boat anglers are fishing the sea again, and they are finding more quality tilapia just beyond where shore-bound anglers can cast. While most of the fish are still half to three-quarter pound, more tilapia to two pounds have been caught this past week. For an update, check with the Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station at 760-393-3052.
2. The catfish bite at Hesperia Lake is excellent, and it’s one of the few places where you can get out of this gloomy, coastal overcast. The lake is planted with 2,200 pounds of cats each week and some of the fish in each plant are whopper broodstock fish. In the past week there were three cats over 20 pounds caught and three others between 16 and 18 pounds. For an update, check with the tackle shop at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
3. The Salton Sea is another spot where you can see some sunshine and warm temperatures and fill an ice chest full of great-eating fish. The tilapia bite is still pretty much wide open. An increasing number of boat anglers are fishing the sea again, and they are finding more quality tilapia just beyond where shore-bound anglers can cast. While most of the fish are still half to three-quarter pound, more tilapia to two pounds have been caught this past week. For an update, check with the Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station at 760-393-3052.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The local mountain waters are starting to turn on with good action at Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Lake Gregory, and Lake Hemet. Green Valley cranked out a new lake record at nearly 15 pounds this past week. In the Sierra, a lot of places are just fair, but there continues to be an excellent bite at Kirman Lake, the East Walker River, the Virginia Lakes, and South Lake. In the High Desert, Jess Ranch is still a good bet.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: The largemouth bass bites are turning back on with a lot of excellent morning and evening topwater bites. Top picks are Diamond Valley and Casitas. Both are producing great average-sized fish, perhaps in the three to four-pound range. Other good bets including Santa Margarita on the Central Coast, Castaic, Piru, Skinner, and Silvewood. In San Diego County, the Barrett remains awesome with nearly 2,900 bass reported, but that is way off from last week. Sutherland, Wohlford, El Capitan, Hodges, and both Upper and Lower Otay are all worth fishing. On the lower Colorado River, the smallmouth bass bite from Parker downstream is very good in the main river, and the largemouth bite is pretty darn good all in the backwaters and in Lake Havasu.
STRIPED BASS: There is pretty good striper action at all of the Southern California striper spots with Pyramid, Skinner, Silverwood, and Castaic all cranking out fish, mostly on anchovies. The California aqueduct near Taft is also excellent (and anglers are reminded there is an 18-inch minimum size here). On the Colorado River, Lake Mohave is good on fish to five pounds on anchovies, but most are one to three, and they are now in a deep water bite. Havasu also has a fair to good deep-water bite. Willow Beach remained slow with a 25-pounder was speared. Near Blythe, the action is still fair at the diversion dam above town with fish over eight pounds again this week. A few big wipers are being caught at Elsinore each week.
PANFISH: The Lake Isabella crappie bite is still going but the fish have moved off into deeper water and the fish are getting smaller. Casitas remains a spot for a chance at a bigger crappie to three pounds, but this is a live shad-only bite and it is tough. Elsinore and Henshaw slowed for crappie. The bluegill and redear bites are wide open just about everywhere this week. Diamond Valley and Lake Perris are hot. But just about every water with bluegill is really cranking. Take the kids bluegill fishing this weekend. Also the tilapia bite at the Salton Sea just won’t go away. Still excellent action. Tilapia are also being planted each week now at Corona Lake.
CATFISH: The lower Colorado River flathead and channel catfish action remains good. The Blythe-Palo Verde region to Yuma is hot for the big flatheads, and the channels are showing from Mead to Mexico. Other places of note include Hesperia Lake (which is getting double loads of catfish plants each week), Jean’s Channel Cats, along with Corona Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes and Irvine Lake. Irvine is getting a big bonus plant this week to kick off its catfish season.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: The largemouth bass bites are turning back on with a lot of excellent morning and evening topwater bites. Top picks are Diamond Valley and Casitas. Both are producing great average-sized fish, perhaps in the three to four-pound range. Other good bets including Santa Margarita on the Central Coast, Castaic, Piru, Skinner, and Silvewood. In San Diego County, the Barrett remains awesome with nearly 2,900 bass reported, but that is way off from last week. Sutherland, Wohlford, El Capitan, Hodges, and both Upper and Lower Otay are all worth fishing. On the lower Colorado River, the smallmouth bass bite from Parker downstream is very good in the main river, and the largemouth bite is pretty darn good all in the backwaters and in Lake Havasu.
STRIPED BASS: There is pretty good striper action at all of the Southern California striper spots with Pyramid, Skinner, Silverwood, and Castaic all cranking out fish, mostly on anchovies. The California aqueduct near Taft is also excellent (and anglers are reminded there is an 18-inch minimum size here). On the Colorado River, Lake Mohave is good on fish to five pounds on anchovies, but most are one to three, and they are now in a deep water bite. Havasu also has a fair to good deep-water bite. Willow Beach remained slow with a 25-pounder was speared. Near Blythe, the action is still fair at the diversion dam above town with fish over eight pounds again this week. A few big wipers are being caught at Elsinore each week.
PANFISH: The Lake Isabella crappie bite is still going but the fish have moved off into deeper water and the fish are getting smaller. Casitas remains a spot for a chance at a bigger crappie to three pounds, but this is a live shad-only bite and it is tough. Elsinore and Henshaw slowed for crappie. The bluegill and redear bites are wide open just about everywhere this week. Diamond Valley and Lake Perris are hot. But just about every water with bluegill is really cranking. Take the kids bluegill fishing this weekend. Also the tilapia bite at the Salton Sea just won’t go away. Still excellent action. Tilapia are also being planted each week now at Corona Lake.
CATFISH: The lower Colorado River flathead and channel catfish action remains good. The Blythe-Palo Verde region to Yuma is hot for the big flatheads, and the channels are showing from Mead to Mexico. Other places of note include Hesperia Lake (which is getting double loads of catfish plants each week), Jean’s Channel Cats, along with Corona Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes and Irvine Lake. Irvine is getting a big bonus plant this week to kick off its catfish season.
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. 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. 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: Fair to good trout action after a DFG plant last week. The boat dock and other county facilities opened the end of April. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Jimmy Bon, Green Valley Lake, caught a new lake record rainbow at 14.7 pounds. Bon was using a tube jig. Very good trout action with a lot of limits reported here this past week on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, Thomas Buoyant lures, jigs, and Power Worms. Kevin Schellenberger, Highland, caught an eight-pound rainbow on a green crappie jig. Jason Steiger, San Bernardino, landed a nine-pound trout on a Thomas Bouyant. Plants of 2,000 pounds of Calaveras rainbow trout went in last week, and will go in the weeks of June 15 and June 29. Each plant will have fish to six pounds and better. There is also a fair catch-and-release bite on largemouth bass. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plants this week and three weeks ago. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Good to excellent catfish action with a lot of limits caught early in the morning and late in the evening. 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 planted with 2,200 pounds of cats every Thursday and each plant includes some trophy broodstock fish. Top cat this week was a 28-8 blue caught by Casey Thomas, Fullerton, on shrimp. Larry Hawk, Fontana, landed a 23-4 blue cat on a nightcrawler, while Randy Armstrong, Riverside, caught a 21-4 catfish on shrimp. Richard Birch, Ventura, reeled in an 18-pound catfish, and Gene Clark, Los Angeles, caught a 16-pounder on the M&M combo. Ling Ku, Ahaheim, hooked into a 16-pound catfish on mackerel. Ralph Blake, Covina, caught a 13-8 channel cat 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: Trout action was good this past week despite the weather. The best bite has been on Power Bait, especially in colors salmon peach, chartreuse, and rainbow. Nightcrawlers, and a variety of jigs and lures are also working for trout. Most fish are around two pounds with some bigger. Roland Garcia, West Covina, caught a limit of rainbows to 4-4. The bass bite is good with anglers reporting success using Senkos or nightcrawlers. Bluegill are biting on mealworms, nightcrawlers, and small jigs with many fish near one pound showing. Catfish are showing on nightcrawlers and mackerel with the average fish weighting around two pounds. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Fridays from its own hatchery. The lake will also be stocking catfish every Thursday all summer long. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or Jess Ranch Lakes-The Official Site.
MOJAVE NARROWS: No report. DFG trout plants this week and three weeks ago. County catfish plants are weekly now. For lake information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants kicked off two weeks ago and will be planted weekly through the summer. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The county is planting catfish each week and the bite has been very good with a lot of five-fish limits posted over the past week, especially at Lot No. 8 in Basin Two. There is a very good bluegill bite, along with a fair bite on the largemouth bass and carp. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: County catfish plants kicked off two weeks ago and the cats will be planted weekly through the summer. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Excellent catfish action with county catfish plants each week through the summer. The bluegill bite is also good with a lot of smaller fish showing on small worms, meal worms, and crickets fished under bobber. The carp are spawning and a few quality carp have been caught 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: Cloudy weather this week made for great topwater largemouth bass action, but the fish are also showing on plastics and underspins when the sun comes out and they move deeper. Alex Nowrcki, Wildomar, caught three bass with largest weighing 5.64 pounds. Some striper were showing this past week, with trollers reporting some success. Matthew Johnson, Hemet, caught a 14.51-pound striper trolling with a Z Plug near the east dam. Trout action has been slow with the fish moving deep. The few reports have the trout along the west dam in 40 feet of water. Catfish have been good to excellent with a lot of limits for both shore and boat anglers fishing cut baits. The bluegill action is wide open with a lot of nice stringers reported on jigs and worms, and some quality crappie continue to show. The launch ramp remains closed due to low water levels. There is a petition going around to get a launch ramp extension (check with Last Chance B&T). Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or Diamond Valley Marina.
PERRIS: The bluegill and redear bite remains wide open with a lot of 1/2 to 1 1/2-pound fish showing. The marina is good, but the bigger fish are showing in eight to 15 feet of water around deeper water structure all around the lake. Crickets, meal worms, wax worms, or small jigs tipped with a bait are the best bets. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, caught 36 bluegill, including a three-pounder. The bass bite was also very good this past week with several nice fish reported. Chris Williams, Perris, caught a 6.5-pound largemouth on a nightcrawler at the marina. Trout action is fair after a DFG plant three weeks ago. Good carp action at Lots 5 and 6, the east end, Rock Climber's Cove area. A few catfish are also being caught, but mostly by accident by bluegill, bass, and trout anglers. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The striped bass action remains good to excellent with lots of smaller fish at the dam and inlet on anchovies. Most of the fish are under four pounds. Mick Crown, Los Angeles, caught nine stripers to three pounds on anchovies at the inlet. The largemouth bite is good with a lot of fish still whacking dark plastics and nightcrawlers with the best action in the early morning or late afternoon. Carp action is good on dough baits with a lot more fish showing shallow. Doug Moore, Moreno Valley, landed three carp to eight pounds on a dough bait near ramp two. The catfish bite is fair on mackerel and chicken liver. Some bluegill are showing along the south shore and at the east end. Crappie and trout are slow. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Catfish and carp are the best bet here right now, with pretty good bites on both. There is inconsistent action on the older age-class wipers with some fish to six pounds being caught. There is an 18-inch minimum size on the wipers. Crappie are tough now with only a few being caught. Small bluegill are good. Information: Seaport Boat Launch at 951-245-9308, Elsinore West Marina at 951-678-1300.
CORONA LAKE: Very good action on catfish, tilapia, crappie, and bluegill, but most of the fish are showing in deeper water spots, especially around the structure at mid-lake for boat and float tube anglers. Limits of catfish have from 1-8 to two pounds have been common. Top baits have been J.D.’s Mackerel, shrimp, nightcrawlers, or the marshmallow-meal worm combo, and all are improved if doused with Gravy. Quenten and Parker Meeks, Temecula, had eight catfish that weighed 11 1/2 pounds total and their top fish was a 2 1/2 pounder. They were using chicken liver for bait and fishing from a boat. The best crappie reported was a 1 1/2-pounder caught by Earl Pierce, Temecula, while fishing a nightcrawler, and the top catch of the week was a 17 1/2-pound carp landed by Adam Sokoloski, Riverside, on a dough bait. The bluegill and tilapia are best on nightcrawler pieces fished close to brush, and the bluegill have mostly been half- to 3/4-pounders, while the tilapia are running up to two pounds with some a little better. The summer catfish plants are twice a week this season and the tilapia are going in each week. Sturgeon are coming for the big Warm Water Grand Opening June 19-21. 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. Good bluegill action around shoreline structure, rocks, and tules.
RANCHO JURUPA: Good catfish action after a plant May 21, with another plant scheduled for Thursday 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: Fair trout action, but a DFG plant is slated for this week. Fishing pressure was light this past week due to cool weather and winds. Some largemouth bass, bluegill, carp, and catfish have also been showing. Martin Martinez, Desert Hot Springs, caught an 8-8 catfish on a nightcrawler fishing from shore. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Catfish action remains very good thanks to plants twice a week. The fish are mostly in deeper water and boat anglers are posting the quickest limits, but fish are showing from all three lakes and shore anglers just have to be a little more persistent to get their fish. Average size for the cats has been in the 1 1/2 to two-pound range, there have been quite a few fish over that size each week. Top fish this past week was a 9 1/2-pound catfish landed by Annette Ahumada, Bellflower, while fishing with cut mackerel doused with Gravy from a boat. Doug Cherry, Anaheim, had a 6 1/2-pounder fishing with shrimp, also from a boat. Justin Orr, Oceanside, stayed on the shore near the boat docks to landed 14 catfish to 3 1/2 pounds using shrimp, and his total stringer weight was 28 pounds. Steven Schultz, Orange, caught his five-fish limit and his stringer weighed 9 1/2 pounds, while Max Garcia, Fullerton, landed a 3 1/2-pounder on shrimp in Chris’ Pond. Sturgeon will be planted for the weekend of June 20-21, and anglers will now be allowed to keep the sturgeon. Catfish are planted twice a week. There is 24-hour fishing every 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: The bass action was good to excellent this past week but the average fish size was slightly smaller with most fish under four pounds. Plastics worked best this past week. Trout action was fair to good with trollers seeing the best results. Power Bait and the Power Mouse combo continue to be productive as well. The fish are moving deeper with the hot weather and were often found at depths of 20 feet or more by mid-day. Catfish action is very good with shrimp, chicken liver, and mackerel fished down to 20 feet working best. Paul Mitzer, Riverside, caught 17-6 and 10-2 catfish on mackerel on the flats. Crappie action was slow to fair this week with the best bite on white Atomic tubes fished near structure. Good numbers of bluegill are showing for those using meal worms or wax worms in the shallows near the docks. The official kick off of catfish season will be this Friday with a plant of 10,000 pounds slated to go in just before the event. 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. Next plant of catfish will be June 15. 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: Trout action remains pretty good for trollers and bait fishermen at the dam working 20 to 30 feet of water. The fish are running up to two pounds, and the most recent DFG plant was three weeks ago. The bass bite, for both smallmouth and largemouth, has been fair to good with a lot of fish showing on plastics and topwater. There is still a fair crappie bite in the narrows on small jigs and cranks, but more of the fish are under a pound than over now, and this bite is slowing. The bluegill and redear bites are both pretty good, mostly on nightcrawler pieces. Catfish are also starting to show in the narrows on cut baits. For quagga mussel and the new boat launching information, log on at Santa Barbara County Parks. Fishing information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The largemouth bass bite remains good, still mostly on live shad, but also a lot of fish showing on nightcrawlers, plastics, spinnerbaits, and cranks now. Top bass this week was a nine-pounder landed by Steven Lopez, Oakview, on a spinnerbait. Mark Vagan, Seal Beach, landed an 8-8 bass on live shad, while Phil Long, Ojai, has bass at 7-4 and 6-8 on plastics. The catfish bite is improving each day and quite a few fish are showing on mackerel chunks or shad. Ken Tapsch, Ventura, landed a 15-8 catfish on mackerel. The crappie bite is tough, but a few anglers targeting the fish with live shad are still getting a handful of quality crappie. The bluegill and redear bites are both good now on nightcrawler pieces, red worms, or crickets, with the best bite off the Sunken Island and in Station Canyon. 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: There is a good bite on stripers in the three to seven-pound range along the main dam with anchovies, sardines, and nightcrawlers. Some bigger striper have been showing on trout-like plugs and swimbaits along the shoreline near the marina. The largemouth action is good to excellent with plastics, nightcrawlers, and Senkos all working well in the coves. Some catfish are showing in the two to three-pound range on mackerel, shad, and nightcrawlers. Trout were planted two and three weeks ago, and the lagoon was planted last week. The rainbows have been slow to fair. Few bluegill or crappie reports, but there's a good carp bite for anglers targeting them. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Still generally fair to good action overall, with trout highlighting the bite for both trollers and shore anglers fishing floating baits. The bass and crappie are just a notch behind, with the bass showing on nightcrawlers, plastics, and some topwater early in the day. The crappie bite is best on small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles, but there are fewer of the bigger class fish being caught. Lots in the 1/2- to 3/4-pound range. The bluegill and redear are also part of this mix with a pretty good bite on these panfish, along with some fish at 3/4-pound or better. Catfish slow. Information: marina 805-521-1500, x208.
PYRAMID: The bite on the smaller stripers has been fair to good in the channel and Yellowbar on drifted anchovies. Most fish one to four pounds, with occasional bigger fish, Good bluegill action with a lot of fish shallow now. Also improving catfish action on cut baits. Trout were planted last week and the bite has been fair to good. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout and catfish plants three weeks ago. Just fair action on both, but the bluegill bite is very good to excellent on meal worms, crickets or wax worms fished in four to 15 feet of water. Information: 909-599-8411.
SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout and catfish plants three weeks ago. Trout slowish, but the catfish bite is pretty fair on cut baits. Good bluegill bite on wax worms and nightcrawlers. Some largemouth bass on plastics. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant two weeks and a DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
ELIZABETH LAKE: The catfish and bullhead are really starting to bite with fair to good action on cut baits with scent fished in eight to 12 feet of water. DFG trout plant two weeks ago.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plants last week and three weeks ago.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
LEGG LAKES: DFG trout plant two weeks ago and a DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: Excellent bass fishing. This past week there were 203 anglers checked and they reported catching 2,896 bass, 71 bluegill, and seven crappie. Fees to fish here have gone up, making it $20 per angler and $46 for motor rentals. 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 273 anglers checked and they reported catching 170 bass, nine bluegill, and 53 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 36 anglers checked reported catching 93 bass, 24 bluegill, and eight catfish. The lake is open Thursday through Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On Sundays rentals stop at 10 a.m. 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: Fair to good bass and bluegill action with some other fish showing as well. There were 203 anglers checked who reported catching 169 bass to 9.9 pounds, 397 bluegill, and three catfish. Adam Hinkle, La Mesa, caught an 87-pound blue catfish on a Scrounger at Bushlow Cove. Bryan Hunt, National City, caught a 9.9-pound bass on a Power Worm. Stuart Lee, Spring Valley, caught seven and five-pound bass out of Otay Arm. Adam East, San Diego, landed a 7.9-pound largemouth. 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 for walk-in anglers. The 17 anglers checked reported landing 33 bass to 4.15 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is closed to vehicles, but anglers may walk in to fish during lake hours. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water Department. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MURRAY: Slow all species. The 59 anglers checked reported catching 21 bass, five bluegill, one trout, and two catfish. 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: Slow all species. There were 88 anglers checked and they reported catching two rainbow trout, 14 bass, and four 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: No creel checks are being conducted, but the bite is fair for bass and a few cats and panfish are showing. 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: The trout bite disappeared with warming water temperatures, but the catfish action is good for smaller fish all around the lake. Mackerel and chicken liver are the top baits and the top spots are the buoy line areas. The bass fishing is good, mostly for smaller males in an early morning bite. Efrain Lopez, Escondido, caught a 4-11 bass near Bass 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: No DFG plants in over a month.
DIXON LAKE: The bluegill bite is fair to good in the shallows with some fish topping a pound. Slow trout action with the last plant of the season four weeks ago. Bass and catfish are both slow to fair. Pier No. 2 has completed construction and is now open. A daily permit is required for entry. The Fishing Pier No. 1 remains closed until further notice. Fees have increased; adults are $7, seniors are $5 and youths are $5. Boats rent for 17, half boats are $14, motorboats are $35, half motorboats are $30, and bass boat rentals are $46 to $50. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Fishing for all species was slow again this past week, except for bass which remain fair to good, mostly on smaller fish. Chris Roberts, Poway, caught a six-pound bass on a plastic worm at Boulder Bay. The catfish bite is best at the Log Boom and is still mostly slow, but should improve after the plant this week. Some bluegill are showing by the second tank on the Log Boom. Trout action slow. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Catfish action was slow to fair with the best bite around the bird trees and Hermit Cove on nightcrawlers and mackerel, both doused with scent. Catfish will be planted every other week all summer long. Carlos Navarro, National City, caught a 16-pound channel catfish at Hermit Cove on mackerel. Trout action was generally slow but some limits have been reported the fishing float. Best action has been on inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent and fished in the deep waters. Bass are scattered and post-spawn. Plastics are best with some sporadic topwater action. 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: No recent reports. Water temperature 68 degrees. Bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are fair, trout slowing. 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 excellent trout action all over the lake after both DFG and Jess Ranch plants last week. Nightcrawlers, Power Bait, and wax worms have been best with Lone Pine, the dock, and the west jetty being the hot spots. Trout have been planted each of the last three weeks. Bobby Cobo, El Cajon, landed a 6-8 rainbow off the west jetty. Brianna Binns, 10, Desert Hills, caught a five-poun trout at Lone Pine. The largemouth bass bite is really starting to turn on as the bass are moving into the shallows on beds and some bigger fish have been reported. There is also a good crappie bite for those targeting them. 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: Catfish action has been very good along the shoreline on shrimp, chicken liver, and mackerel. William Jefferson and Jeffrey Hunter, both of Moreno Valley, caught 10 catfish to seven pounds. There is a fair to good bass bite at Rocky Point. Michael Castaneda, San Diego, and Herbert Kellener, Carlsbad, each caught a six-pound bass. Some crappie and bluegill are also showing. 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. Fewer fish on artificials. Some catfish action reported on anchovies or shrimp. The largemouth bass action is fair off the points.
WILLOW BEACH: A little slow for the stripers, especially the bigger fish, but a 24.92-pound striper was speared by kayak angler Peter Anderson, Tuscon. Trout action remains good after the Friday plants. Small spinners, salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, and floating baits best for the rainbows. A few catfish are starting to show in the bigger pools down river. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: Just fair stripers this past week, mostly on fish from two to five pounds. Most of the fish are still showing in deep water from all areas, with the Cottonwood Cove region, Arizona Bay, Katherine's Landing, the Power Lines, and the dam areas all decent spots. A 3.61-pound striper was caught by Emilio Vicente, Bullhead, near dam. It was his first striper. Most of the fish are showing in 20-plus feet of water and most of the bite has been on anchovies. A spotty largemouth bass bite. 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: Spotty action right now with only a few stripers showing in this stretch of the river, mostly on anchovies drifted in the deeper pools. A few catfish are also being caught on the same baits striper anglers are using. Even though there hasn’t been a trout plant since March, there are still a few rainbows to 15 inches showing, mostly on small spinners and nightcrawlers. The bluegill bite is very good with the fish in a full-spawn mode along the river margins, around docks and ramps, and in backwaters. Information: Riveria Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: Fair striper action downriver, with the best bite early in the morning on fish under three pounds. A few catfish showing. Fair largemouth bass action. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The striped bass bite has been just 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. Quite a few catfish to 15 pounds are showing up in this bite, too. Topoc Marsh has been fair for catfish, spotty for largemouth bass, but good for bluegill. River margins and backwaters are also good for the small bluegill. 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: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good for anglers flipping jigs, tubes, Senkos, or plastics worms around structure and there has been a pretty good topwater bite on frogs or buzz baits early and late in the day. Most of the largemouth are around two pounds. The stripers are scattered and the action is just fair with the best bite in 40 to 50 feet of water south of the island on cut anchovies. Most of the stripers are in the two-pound range, but a few bigger fish continue to show. Some fish are also moving up into the river on the upper end of the lake to spawn. Smallmouth bass are fair to good on the main lake’s rocky points, including an early morning topwater bite. Redear are in full spawn in most coves and the bite very good. Catfish are fair, mostly showing in deep water. 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 very good this past week and the smallmouth bass in the main river along the rip rap are good. Bluegill and redear are both spawning in backwaters and quiet water in the main river and the action is good. Flatheads are also pretty good on goldfish and shiners.
BLYTHE: A little bit of a lull over the past week except for the night catfish anglers who had good action. The largemouth bass action is fair in the main river, canals, and backwaters, and the striped bass bite is still fair at the diversion dam north of town with fish to six pounds. The stripers are best early and late in the day or at night on Vaca Jigs or live bluegill, goldfish, or tilapia fished in the white water just below the dam. The flathead action best on live bluegill or goldfish with fish to 20 pounds each week now. The area backwaters and ditches have pretty good for largemouths. The bluegill action is excellent all along the lower river, backwaters, and ditches. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: The flathead and channel catfish bite is good with a lot of quality fish being caught, mostly on live goldfish or bluegill in the area backwaters and ditches. The largemouth bass bite slowed a little this past week, but it’s still fair to good in the river backwaters and main river. Pretty Water and Cibola Lake are still both top areas. Smallmouth pretty good in the main river along the rip rap. Spotty action on small stripers in the river with fish to five pounds reported. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
PICACHO AREA: Good largemouth bass action on plastic worms or nightcrawlers, with a topwater bite early and late in the day, wind allowing. The channel catfish action is good on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Fish from one to three pounds, with only a few better ones. The flathead action is also taking off with some quality fish showing 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 each week now. Channel catfish and flatheads are both good. The crappie bite has lulled, but the bluegill action is very good in all the backwater lakes and along the tules in the main river. 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 now. Both channel catfish and flathead action is good in the main river with some quality flatheads showing on live minnows, bluegill, or big crawdads each week. The Gila Main Canal area in East Yuma continues to good for channel catfish action with some bass, redear and bluegill.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: The tilapia bite is still good but off from the blistering pace of the past couple of months. Still not uncommon to have 30-plus fish days all along the east shoreline (the Highway 111 side) from Bombay Beach to Mecca Beach to Salt Creek and up to the state park headquarters fishing jetty, where most of the fishing pressure is concentrated. Still no reports from the other side of the sea. The fish are running from half-pound up to nearly two pounds, but most remain in the 3/4-pound to one-pound range. The action is still on nightcrawler pieces fished on the bottom. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052.
ALAMO RIVER: Few reports, but the catfish action has improved in the past two weeks with quite a few fishing showing on nightcrawlers and cut baits. COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports, but the catfish action has improved in the past two weeks with quite a few fishing showing 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, Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or Bishop, Mono County Tourism 760-924-1743.
COLEVILLE-TOPAZ REGION: The West Walker River remains tough because of runoff but fishing is still fair for persistent bait anglers. Little Walker River is also high, but still fair for brookies and rainbows. Kirman Lake is still very good on brookies to 19 inches, shaped like footballs, and weighing up to four pounds, and cutthroat trout to 24 inches and in the six- to eight-pound range. Twenty-fish days are not uncommon. Best action on scud and streamer patterns for float-tubing fly anglers with small jigs working for shore-bound lure anglers. Information: Toiyabe Motel at 530-495-2281.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Weather has been problemative, but the East Walker River remains one of the top spots in the Sierra with excellent action on 12 to 22-inch browns. The best bite has been on midge pupae patterns and caddis nymphs, but there’s also a good streamer bite early and late, and more and more dry fly action each day (mayfly and caddis). Flows have been consistently in the 200 cfs range over the past two weeks. Bridgeport Reservoir has been fair with the best action mid-day on inflated crawlers and Power Bait, with a few on trolled lures in hot colors. Fish to four pounds. Also a daily callibaetis hatch for the fly anglers. Twin Lakes are both fair to good on planted rainbows for trollers, bait anglers, or fly-bubble fishermen. The West Walker River and most of the smaller streams in the region are still blown out with runoff, high and muddy. The Virginia Lakes -- Big Virginia, Little Virginia, and Trumbel -- have all been excellent, with the best bite on small jigs and lures, but also fair action on floating baits or inflated nightcrawlers. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or Ken's Sporting Goods - Home.
LEE VINING REGION: High water in most of the creeks in this region as runoff is peaking. Lee Vining Creek is just fair for bait anglers fishing baby nightcrawlers, chartreuse Power Bait, or salmon eggs. Lure anglers are fishing spinners, while fly anglers are fishing weighted nymphs under and indicator. The areas between the campgrounds are best. Lower Rush Creek in the special regulation section has been fair to good on small caddis dries or a two-fly rig. Tioga Lake is just fair with the best bite on the usual baits, gold spoons, or wooly buggers, olive leeches, or hare’s ears for fly anglers. Ellery Lake is good at the inlet for both bait, lure, and fly anglers. Saddlebag Lakes was still opening up, but the action was expected to be good near the outlet. Lundy Lake’s water level is coming up very quickly and the bite is just fair for bait, lure, and fly anglers. Information: Untitled Document.
JUNE LAKE LOOP: The action has been improving at all of the lakes in the June Lake Loop with more of the quality Alpers’ trout showing this past week in June and Gull on nightcralwers and garlic Power Bait. Silver and Grant also fair to good on floating baits and flies in the evening. Walker and Parker lakes are both fair to good, and most of the trails to higher elevation waters are open. Still quite a bit of snow up high. Weather unseasonably cool this past week. Information: Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Convict Lake has been fair with limits hard to come by this past week, but some quality fish continue to come in. The Convict Spring Derby with over $8,000 in prizes continues through June 15. Entry fee is $15. Crowley Lake has been continued tough over the past week for fly anglers with the fish widely scattered. Diligent tubers fishing midges under indicators are still getting fish. Bait and lure anglers also facing tougher conditions, but overall fair action. Several browns up to four pounds were reported this week, but most rainbows in the two to three-pound class. The upper Owens River remains good, but Hot Creek has been tougher because of runoff. In the Mammoth Lake, all the lakes are ice-free and fishing fair to good. Good action on planted trout in Rock Creek. 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: South Lake received its first DFG plant of last week and is on the list again. Good action on nightcrawlers floated with an orange or red Gulp Egg. South Fork Bishop Creek still slow to fair but most folks were able to scratch a few fish on salmon eggs or mini-jigs in Parcher’s Hole, Willow Camp, and Weir Pond. North Lake was again outstanding this week with both shore anglers and float tubers enjoying a solid bite on fish to three pounds. Lake Sabrina has been on the slow side, but it was also planted with Alpers’ trout last week. Best bite was at the inlets on nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Bishop Creek Canyon Summer Classic Derby is ongoing on South Lake, Sabrina, North Lake, Intake II, Weir Pond and both forks of Bishop Creek. All waters receive tagged fish for the derby which runs through the end of the month. Registration is $5 per person, and you can register at Parchers Resort, South Lake Landing, Bishop Creek Lodge, Lake Sabrina, Cardinal Village, Creekside RV Park, Culver’s Sporting Goods, Mac’s Sporting Goods and the Bishop Chamber of Commerce. Anglers catching a tagged fish will win prizes worth up to $300. The lower Owens River remains good. Fly anglers are seeing some caddis and mayfly surface activity, but most of the action is subsurface on midge and baetis nymph patterns fished pretty deeply (like right on the bottom) under strike indicators or streamers swept along the undercuts and tailouts. 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 slow action this past week, but all the streams were slated for stocking by the DFG this week. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.
WESTERN SIERRA
BAKERSFIELD AREA CARP DERBY: Bob’s Bait is having a month-long carp derby with the largest carp weighed in during June winning a $100 cash prize. The current leader is Edward Granillo, Bakersfield, with an 11-0 carp out of Hart Park Lake on Powder Bait. There is no entry fee. This will be followed by a catfish derby in July and a striper derby in August. For information, call Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie bite is hanging on, but the fish are in deeper water on jigs and Nibbles and minnows. So the bite is not over year and the unseasonably cool weather might be keeping it going. The largemouth bass bite seemed to be improving, but slowed again this past week during the full moon. Trout action is still very good, with a lot of limits reported on spinners and Power Bait, with fish up to two pounds. Best action has been at the auxiliary dam area. Catfish are also fair to good, mostly on frozen shad and other cut baits. Good action on small bluegill, too. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Runoff subsiding in the upper Kern, and the wild trout action is fair to good with an excellent palm morning dun hatch each evening at 7:30 p.m. The South Fork has been excellent and all of the upper elevation tribs are also good on the wild trout for catch-and-release anglers. Anglers are reminded this part of the river is not being stocked any longer and catch-and-release fishing is prudent. Lower Kern River has been spotty with only fair action on small bass. Few trout. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Stripers remain good with the best bite on the sand worms, but blood worms and shad-like cranks are also decent bets. Most fish under five pounds. The catfish action has really improved in the past week with some good catches on nightcrawlers, blood worms, and cut baits. Malina and Al Nolasco, both Bakersfield, had five cats on bloodworms and nightcrawers. The stringer weighed 31 pounds total. Bluegill also good on wax worms, crickets, and meal worms. Crappie slow. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill carp bites remain good to excellent. The ‘gills are best on wax worms, meal worms, or red worms, while the carp are best on Powder Bait. Edward Granillo, Bakersfield, caught an 11-pound carp on Powder Bait. Slow to fair bass action on minnows, nightcrawlers and plastics 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 excellent. Lots of good stringers reported on wax worms or crickets. Slow to fair bass action on nightcrawlers and plastics, but the bite is good only early and late in the day.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is very good on crickets, wax worms, and meal worms. Bass are spotty with the best action on plasics, nightcrawlers, and small swim baits early and late in the day.
MING LAKE: Little change here with very good carp action on fish to 10 pounds. Best action has been on Powder Bait, but most dough baits are working. Bluegill are very good on wax worms, crickets, meal worms, and red worms. The bass bite is slow to fair on nightcrawlers, minnows, and plastics early and late in the day. The crappie bite is 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: The catfish and bluegill bite are both very good, and a few striped bass are showing. Carp also good. Stripers are 12 and nine pounds were caught by Mike Meacano, Bakersfield, on a Castaic Swim Bait. Monita Waterfield, Bakersfield, had four cats that weighed 15 pounds total on nightcrawlers. Carp are best on dough baits and Powder Bait. The cats are showing on frozen shad and Sonny’s Dip Bait, nightcrawlers, and cut baits. The bluegill bite is best on wax worms and crickets. The bass action has slowed to just fair with the best bite still on minnows and plastics early and late in the day. Crappie slow. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.
SUCCESS LAKE: Bass fair, bluegill good, and the crappie bite slow. No DFG trout plants in over a month. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Fair to good bass bite on live bait and plastics. Bluegill are good. No DFG trout plants in over a month. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Few reports, but a few stripers are showing on topwater early in the day. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action is fair to good with the fish moving out of the shallows and on to outside points. Some topwater early and late in the day. Slow to fair crappie bite with fish from 3/4 to a pound, mostly on crappie jigs in Harris Creek. Fair to good catfish action on anchovies, mackerel or shrimp. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: Fishing is slow to fair overall. The white bass have spawned and scattered all over the lake. Water level is dropping and the largemouth and spotted bass are tougher with falling water levels. Slowing crappie bite in the Heritage area and Dip Creek. Lots of big carp in the marina for the few anglers fishing them. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: Fair to good largemouth bass action on plastics, cranks, with a little evening and morning topwater action. The catfish action is also still fair, but improving. There have only been a few crappie reports, and the bluegill and redear bites have also been fair over the past week. Trout slow. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Fair crappie bite on Strawberry Flats reported on red worms and jigs. Bass remain fair to good on swimbaits, plastics, nightcrawlers, and jigs fished on main lake points. Bluegill are good with a lot of fish on red worms, crickets, wax worms and small jigs. A few catfish. 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.
RIVERSIDE: Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake, Strawberry Creek.
SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake, Jenks Lake, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River South Fork.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Intake II, Bishop Creek Lower, Bishop Creek (Middle & South Forks), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Owens River (Section 2), Rock Creek Lake, Sabrina Lake, Sheperds Creek, South Lake, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vining Creek South Fork, Little Walker River, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, North Lake, Owens River (Section 3), Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Sections I and II), Rush Creek, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Tioga Lake, Twin Lake Bridgeport (Lower and Upper), Virginia Lake (Lower and Upper) and West Walker River (Sections 2 and 3).
FRESNO: Big Creek (near Huntington), Dinkey Creek, Hume Lake, Huntington Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Reservoir, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, Shaver Lake, San Joaquin South Fork, Tamarack Creek, Tenmile Creek, Ward Lake.
KERN: Isabella Lake.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, Lower Chiquito Creek, Manzanita Lake, Starkweather Lake, Upper Big Creek, San Joaquin Upper Middle Fork, Chiquito Creek West Fork.
TULARE: Balch Park (east and west lakes), Big Meadows Creek, Hedrick Campground Pond.
TUOLUMNE: Beaver Creek, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Stanislaus River (Middle and Clark Forks), Tuolumne River (Middle and South Forks), Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream,
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.
SAN DIEGO: Chollas Lake, Lindo Lake, Murray Lake.
