Socal Fish Report June 9 2010. Jim Matthews

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FISH REPORT -- ONS-matthews -- 09jun10

Compiled by Bo Matthews and Jim Matthews

Outdoor News Service

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net.

This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in Southern California each week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is posted on the Outdoor News Service web site (Outdoor News Service). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning. The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

The Outdoor News Service is also on Facebook with updated reports and photos posted throughout the week. The new Twitter account name is MatthewsOutdoor. For our latest fishing information, use these sites.

The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG’s Internet web page is located at the following address: California Department of Fish and Game.

MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. While there was a lull early this week, the striped bass bite at San Antonio Lake on the Central Coast is staying as our top pick because we are heading into a new moon on Saturday night and this bite should just be ripping through this period. The bite has continued to be wide open and the average size has been from six to 12 pounds, with a few 18 to 20-pounders in the mix. Check out the Forum section on FishingNetwork.net for more information on this bite, and note there is at least one guide taking anglers on this bite (Trout Only Guide Service -- who also does stripers). The action has been best for trollers this week, but the live shad is also a good bet with some topwater action on boils. For an update on the bite and more information, you can also call the marina at 805-472-2818, but the web information is far better.
2. There are two really excellent catfish bites of note that were battling for spots, so we’re just including them as a single pick. The first was here last week: The flathead action on the lower Colorado River is just getting better with each day and temps over 110 in some places didn’t hurt things at all. The biggest fish were could find reported was a mere 45-pounder. The second is the hot channel and blue catfish action at Lake Henshaw. While there haven’t been a lot of fish over five or six pounds, some of the stringers have been staggering. One angler caught and released over 55 catfish over a couple of days. For updates on the Colorado River bites, the two best sources are B&B Bait in Blythe at 760-921-2248 and Walker’s Camp south of Palo Verde at 760-854-3322. For and update on Henshaw, call the store at 760-782-3501.
3. The first ripper ocean bite of the year is breaking wide open along the San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles coastline as big schools of barracuda move into this region en masse. This bite has been building off San Diego for a couple of weeks, and there were some hints of this action all along the coast for a month. But with a solid week of good weather, excellent tides this week, and nothing on the horizon to mess this up, this is the week to jump on a half- or three-quarter day boat to catch a bunch of barracuda. All the landing will be running trips, call your favorite or check by region from the complete list at the end of our ocean report below.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

TROUT: Lower Twin cranked out a 16-7 brown two weeks ago and we’ve since learned there was a 25-pound class fish hooked and lost at the same water the day before that bruiser was landed. Overall, the Eastern Sierra is breaking wide open with this weather change, and there is improved fishing in most Sierra spots this week with good action at Bridgeport’s Twin Lake, Bridgeport Reservoir, Lake Crowley, and all of the Bishop Creek drainage. If you have a Sierra trip planned this weekend, great timing. For fly guys, the East Walker River, Hot Creek, Crowley, and upper Owens River are good. In Southern California, there continues to be good action at just a handful of waters with plants over for the season at lower elevations. Top bets are Green Valley Lake and Big Bear Lake. Green Valley Lake is getting another trout plant this week and produced bigger trout than Big Bear.
BLACK BASS: The largemouth bass action has been generally good throughout the region. Top bets again have been Diamond Valley Lake, Casitas, Castaic, Skinner, Sutherland, El Capitan, Wohlford, Otay, Irvine, Perris, Silverwood, Piru, Pyramid, Cachuma, and Puddingstone. The smallmouth action on the Colorado River has been very good in the river stretch, but died in Lake Havasu. Cachuma’s smallmouths are fair. Further up on the Central Coast, Nacimientio, Lopez, and Santa Margarita all are good, too, with spotted bass particularly good at Nacimiento. Isabella continued to improve this week and has been producing a few quality fish to nine pounds.
STRIPED BASS: San Antonio Lake on the Central Coast is the hands-down top striper pick, but the stretch of Colorado River immediately below the Palo Verde Diversion dam might be as good if it was getting any kind of fishing pressure. Both spots are producing a lot of six to 12 pounds fish with some bigger. Other good bets including, the California Aqueduct near Taft, Pyramid, Castaic, and Silverwood. Skinner saw light pressure and was off a little this week after being closed to fishing last weekend. Elsewhere on the Colorado River, things are improving in Mead, Mohave, and Havasu with the fish up ripping shad early in the mornings at all three reservoirs but still not hot yet. They stripers are also moving up into the river from these lakes to spawn, and the Topoc Gorge stretch above Havasu has been a bright spot.
PANFISH: Crappie bite lulled at Lake Isabella but still pretty fair for boat anglers. Piru has been pretty good, and there is a decent and improving bite at Cachuma that is probably a sleeper pick if you want crappie. Henshaw is also producing a few crappie. Redear and bluegill bites are hot just about everywhere thanks to two weeks of warmer weather -- with Diamond Valley, Perris, Casitas, Otay, Sutherland, and Puddingstone some of the top picks. The tilapia bite at the Salton Sea has remained excellent.
CATFISH: Henshaw, Elsinore, and Hesperia Lake are the hottest spots in Southern California with a lot of fish landed at all three. Hesperia and Elsinore have more quality fish than Henshaw, which has better volume. Isabella has been very good for cats from 1-8 to three pounds over the past week, and the California aqueduct near Taft has also been red hot again this week. Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake are also both excellent. Irvine starts it catfish plants this week. Diamond Valley has also been very good. The channel and flathead action is also breaking wide open along the whole lower Colorado River, especially in the warmer backwaters and irrigation ditches. A lot of flatheads to 45 pounds have been reported on the river this past week. This is the top bet for a quality fish.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: Very good striper action. Chamise Bay and the spillway have been the top spots with anchovies and chicken liver top baits. Gabe Sanchez, Fontana, caught eight stripers to eight pounds using swimbaits fishing the coves. Raul Marrufo caught a 14-pound striper in May on a nightcrawler in Miller Canyon, while Olindo Viola, Apple Valley, caught a 5-8 striper on a nightcrawler off the dock this past Saturday. Fair to good trout action with Miller's Canyon and the dock the hot spots. Best action has been on Power Bait, Power worms, inflated nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs and plastics. The largemouth bite is good with plastics and trout-like lures working well. The catfish bite is good. Carp are moving shallow and anglers fishing dough baits or nightcrawlers are getting a few. Bluegill action is starting to improve with the best bite on nightcrawlers. Slow other species. Miller Canyon Creek (just above the lake) was planted with DFG trout two weeks ago, and the stream bite is fair on salmon eggs. The park is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Overall fair to good trout action on Power Bait and inflated nightcralwers from shore or for trollers working 15 to 20 feet of waters with Needlefish or similar lures and flasher rigs. Most fish are one to two pounds with trollers getting some holdovers or recent trophy plants that are bigger. Largest trout in the Fishin’ for $50K Trout Tournament was a 5.54-pounder caught by Kim Bray, Colton, that won the largest trout category and was also the largest trout caught on Berkley Power Bait, which won her $1,000 total. Ray Pulsipher, Big Bear Lake, caught a 3.77-pounder. Elijah Jandrisevits, Wisconsin, has the largest trout for a junior at 3.18 pounds, while Ian Carter, Ontario, landed a 2.72-pound rainbow. Two of the 10 tagged trout were caught, but neither was wearing the $50,000 tag. The event drew 539 participants. The crappie and largemouth bass bites are also starting to pick up in the backs of the coves, with most of the crappie hand-sized and bass to two pounds showing. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: There continues to be a fair trout bite even though the last DFG plant was May 27. There was also a county plant May 20. The best action has been on floating baits or small lures and the warm weather is starting to push the trout deeper. Four rainbows over two pounds reported in the past week, but most are in the one-pound class. The boat house is open. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Good trout action on 1-8 to 2-8 rainbows with a few even better quality fish showing. There will be another plant of Jess Ranch trout this week. Top rainbow reported was a 7-8 rainbow landed by Fred Carmona, Corona, on red Power Bait off the north shore. Nick Perez, La Puente, caught a seven-pounder on a Lip RipperZ, while Carl Smith, Redlands, landed a six-pound rainbow on rainbow Power Bait. Anglers win a fee Green Valley Lakes tee-shirt if they land a trout over six pounds. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant two and four weeks ago.
JENKS LAKE REGION: DFG trout plants two and four three weeks ago in Jenks Lake, but there is still a fair bite. Best action on small jigs, trout plastics, and floating baits. Both the Santa Ana River in the Seven Oaks area and the South Fork were both planted with rainbows by the DFG two weeks ago, and the bite has slowed since. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

HESPERIA LAKE: Excellent catfish action. Catfish were planted this week and will be going in each week for the remainder of catfish season. Just about anything anglers are using is working for catfish but mackerel, shrimp, and inflated nightcrawlers have been the top choices. Glenn Steele, Fontana, caught an 18-pound catfish on the marshmallow and mealworm combo. Ben Jones, Rialto, caught a 16-8 catfish using mackerel. Kameron Simone, San Diego, hooked into a 12-12 catfish using shrimp. Quite a few wipers were caught once again this week with a few over three pounds. Trout fishing has slowed way down with no plants in over a month but some fish are still showing. A couple big sturgeon were landed this past week. John Salazar, Victorville, caught a 32-pound sturgeon on an anchovy. 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 fair to very good again this week. Power Bait or inflated night crawlers doused with attractant, jigs, and lures have all been producing fish. The bite has been better in the morning before 10 a.m. or late afternoon hours. Most of the fish have been around two pounds, with a few bigger. Paul Duncan, Redlands, caught a 5-5 rainbow from the grassy point. A few largemouth are showing on Senkos, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers. Catfish are hitting chicken liver, nightcrawlers, mackerel, and shrimp near the eastern and northern shores of lake 2 and the northern and western shores of lake three. Keith Hoston, Fontana, caught a 16-11 catfish near the northern shore of lake 2 using a nightcrawler. Quite a few bluegill reports have come with anglers reporting success on mealworms at the north shore of lake 2. The lake is open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Friday from its own hatchery. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or Jess Ranch Lakes-The Official Site.
MOJAVE NARROWS: County catfish plants started last week and will continue to go in each week through the end of catfish season, and the bite has been pretty good. Robert “Cowboy” Roberts, Victorville, landed three cats with the best fish a three-pounder. Pretty good action on small bluegill, and quite a few crappie to a pound are also showing. Also fair action for bass, and the occasional carp is also showing. Trout action has been slow with the last county trout plant of the season over a month ago. DFG trout plants went in two and four weeks ago. Horseshoe Lake is still temporarily closed due to flood damage. Pelican Lake is remains open. For lake information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: No report. County catfish plants are weekly and will continue to go in each week through the end of catfish season. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: County catfish plants are weekly through the end of the summer season, and the bite has been pretty good on nightcrawlers, cut baits, and the marshmallow-meal worm combo. Eddie Contreras, Mire Loma, had a limit of five cats on nightcrawlers at Inlet Cove. There is also a pretty good action on smaller bluegill, and the carp and bass are both pretty fair. Trout have slowed way down with no plants for a month and the water warming up. Catfish baits are also now being sold at the park, and small boats (non-inflatable) under 16 feet with electric motors are now allowed. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Fair to good catfish action with most fish in the two-pound range. County catfish plants are weekly through the rest of the summer season. Shrimp, mackerel, and anchovies have been the best baits. Ryan Krellberg, Yucaipa, landed an eight-pound catfish from the middle lake on a plastic worm while fishing for largemouth bass. Bluegill action is very good on small fish, with small pieces of nightcrawler the best bait. Other species are slow. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: County catfish plants are weekly through the rest of the summer season and the bite has been fair on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and mackerel. Most of the cats are from 1 ½ to two pounds, but Ray Mendez, San Bernardino, landed a three-pounder on worms. Vidal Vega, Fontana, had three cats and two trout, and his best fish was a three-pound rainbows. He was using worms and mackerel. While the bass have all but dried up, the bass, bluegill, and carp have been showing in decent numbers, with quite a few bass to two pounds landed by catch-and-release anglers. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

DIAMOND VALLEY: Very good largemouth action. Topwater baits have been working well at the points in the early morning, with jigs or drop-shot plastics fished in 15 to 25 feet of water the best bet the rest of the day. Lots of four-pound class fish with some to eight pounds every week. Trout fishing is finally starting to slow down for shore anglers with the heat, but the trollers and drifters fishing from boats are still getting some nice fish on Panther Martins, nightcrawlers, Power Bait, and mini jigs. Striper action is fair, but big fish have been absent. The smaller, schoolies are focusing on shad and silversides with Kastmasters and Scroungers the best bets when tossed into boils. The catfish bite is very good. Cut baits have been working well and the top spot is near the attenuator. Terry Lairson, Huntington Beach, landed two more quality cats this week at 16 and 14.8 pounds. The bluegill bite has been very good. Anglers fishing with minijigs, mealworms, or nightcrawlers along the dams have had the most success. Crappie spotty. For general lake, launch, and fishing information, call 800-590-LAKE, the marina at 951-926-7201 or Diamond Valley Marina, or Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or Last Chance Tackle - Home.
PERRIS: The panfish bite remains good with a lot of smaller fish in the shallows and bigger fish showing from deeper water in the marina, around the island, and off the dam. Wax worms, red worms, nightcrawlers and crickets are all getting a lot of fish. John Finn, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 1.2-pound bluegill at the marina docks on a mealworm. Largemouth action is still fair with most of the reports coming from the east end. John Bagsby, Apple Valley, caught an 8.1-pound largemouth on a redworm near the marina. He also caught a 19.11 pound catfish using a redworm in the east end. Trout action is spotty in spite of a DFG plant last week. Mostly slow other species, but there continue to be a few carp caught for those targeting them. The park is open seven days a week, and hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The lake was closed this past weekend for the Balloon and Wine Festival so fishing pressure has been light over the past week. The catfish bite is good with chicken liver and mackerel the most reported baits. Roy Johnson, Vista, caught four catfish to 7.2 pounds on mackerel at the south shore. Victor Romero, Norco, landed two catfish to five pounds at the dam on mackerel. Good largemouth action. The east end and the south shore have been the top spots with dark plastics and nightcrawlers still the top baits. Carp action has been good for those targeting them. They are primarily being caught in the reeds on nightcrawlers. Striper action has slowed considerably and is just fair. Best bet has still been chicken liver or anchovies fished at the east end channel and inlet. Bluegill are starting to show in the backs of the coves near ramp No. 2 and along the south shore. Chuck Smith, Temecula, caught 13 bluegill to two pounds using nightcrawlers along the south shore. Slow other species. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Catfish and carp providing the bulk of the action here with both in fair to good bites. There is also a decent pick on the wipers. The catfish have been showing on shad, shrimp, and nightcrawlers, with fish up to eight pounds again reported. The carp are three to seven pounds and most anglers are using their homemade dough baits made with a corn meal base and then a variety of other additions. The wipers are mostly showing on live shad, shrimp, with a few on lures with the southwest and northwest ends of the lake best. James Burkhart, Lake Elsinore, caught an 8 1/2-pounder recently on a nightcrawler from shore below the Elsinore Middle School on a nightcrawler. Anglers are reminded the limit on the wipers is two-fish, with an 18-inch minimum size. Crappie are still very slow with almost none reported in the past week. There’s a fair bite on the largemouth bass on plastics and reaction baits. Boat rentals are available through the William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental out of Elsinore West Marina. For more information, contact William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental at 951-642-0640 or Elsinore West Marina at 951-678-1300.
CORONA LAKE: The catfish, tilapia, and sturgeon action has been good during the warm weather this past week, and there has also been a pretty decent pick on the bluegill and bass for anglers fishing around the deeper flooded brush and trees. There were catfish plants on Tuesday and Thursday last week, and the tilapia were also planted on Tuesday. While most of the cats have been from one to three pounds, there have been a number of cats topping that this past week. Robert Hill, Corona, had three cats to six pounds, while Lafayette White, Riverside, landed three cats to four pounds. Best bite has been on cut baits. The bass have been showing on surface baits early and late in the day, with plastics and nightcrawlers working best after that. Ken Hawkins, Ontario, caught a five-pound bass on a nightcrawler. A few sturgeon are being caught by catfish anglers, mostly on shrimp. Mark Wages, Chino Hills, landed a 15-pounder on mackerel Monday. Tilapia are best on nightcrawler pieces. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Information: 951-277-4489 or Indy Lakes Fishing Lakes and Campground.
EVANS LAKE: Bass are showing in fair numbers for the guys tossing small plastics and tiny jerk baits along the rocky shorelines. Also a pretty decent bite on small bluegill and warmouth. Jeff Soto, Riverside, caught and released bass at six-plus, five, and 1 1/2-pounds this past week.
RANCHO JURUPA: Fair to good catfish action since the plant last week. Albert Mares, Rubidoux, caught a mixed stringer of eight catfish and carp, with a 16-2 carp topping the catch. There is also a fair bite on bluegill and carp. Slow other species. There is a new bait and tackle shop at the lake. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-0171.
ANGLER’S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
REFLECTION LAKE: Catfish remain good on cut baits, and plants are every two weeks with 500 pounds planted each time. There are monthly derbies. A few bass are showing. Bluegill fair. Information: 951-654-7906 or Reflection Lake RV Park, a Hemet California RV Park and Family Campground.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Catfish action has been very good with each warm day helping the bite. The best action has been on chicken liver, mackerel, and shrimp. Plants twice a month. The lake is now only open on weekends Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on all Monday holidays. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS

LAKE HEMET: Good trout action continues with quite a few limits reported. DFG trout plant went in two weeks ago. The fish are showing for trollers and shore anglers using Power Bait or similar baits along the south shoreline. Fish are mostly smaller but a few in the two-pound range are showing. Al Campbell, Hemet, caught a limit of trout trolling with Roostertails. The odd bass and panfish is also showing but it's mostly slow for other species. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent DFG trout plants. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Double plants of catfish and a big plant of tilapia have made the action as hot as the weather. Add in a lot of holdover sturgeon and a few trout, and anglers are reporting great mixed-bag action. The big fish was a 135-plus pound sturgeon caught and released by James Barnett, Rancho Palo Verde, while fishing mackerel from the sandy beach. Most of the sturgeon are by-catches to nice stringers of catfish. Gilbert Ahumada, Bellflower, had a 15 1/2-pound sturgeon and an 8 1/2-pound catfish on shrimp. The catfish action has been excellent on shrimp, nightcrawlers, or the M&M combo -- marshmallows and meal worms -- and many anglers are adding scents to whatever bait they’re using. Most of the cats are running one to three pounds. Eric Huston, Irvine, had five cats that weighed 15 pounds total, including a 7-8. Victor Bolanos, Bonnie Perez, and Anthony and Teresa Gomez, all Brea, landed 20 catfish that weighed 25 1/2 pounds fishing Louie’s Landing with nightcrawlers. Erwin Mandani and Gina Eugenio, Anaheim, caught nine cats for a 10 1/4-pound stringer, while Darnel Hurst, Elsinore, landed 15 cats to 3 1/2 pounds. Eddie Garcia, Corona, had eight cats to 3 1/2 pounds, and Alfredo Alvarado, Santa Ana, used shrimp to catch 12 cats for a total weight of 14 1/2 pounds. The top trout caught this past week was an 8 1/2-pounder landed by Al Hull, Carson, fishing chartreuse floating boat in Chris’ Pond. Rainbows at 7 1/2 pounds were caught by Joyce Woodall, Norwalk, and Jesus Valdez, Los Angeles, and a seven-pound trout was caught by Daniel Fernandez, Carson. The tilapia have been best on mealworms or half a nightcrawler fished on a small single hook and light line in three to six feet of water. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Private boats are no longer allowed at Santa Ana River Lakes due to fears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the water system. Information: 714-632-7830.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or fishinglakes.com, Santa Ana River Lakes - Corona Lake - Anaheim Lake.
IRVINE LAKE: Catfish season kicks off here this week with a plant of 10,000 pounds of catchable-sized fish for the Friday opener and the facility will now be opne on Friday and Saturday nights until midnight. Starting next week, the lake will be closed on Tuesdays and open until 11 p.m. on Thursdays. The top bite this past week has been for anglers chasing boils of wipers around on the lake. One angler found a “foamer” and landed and release over 80 fish to three pounds while the action was hot. The action has been hot under balls of shad for anglers fishing surface baits or dropping under the shad schools with jerk baits or Scroungers. Bob Calhoun, Rancho Santa Margarita, landed a 3-8 wiper. Crappie have been fair to good with the best bite drifting in the afternoons or fishing under lanterns after it gets dark. Atomic Tubes, two-inch Gulp! Minnows, or similar lures are the hot baits. Dave Finkelstein, Anaheim, landed a 2-1 crappie on an Atomic Tube. Catfish are already fair with the best action on mackerel strips or prepared baits with fish to three pounds pretty common. Soon Lee, Garden Grove, caught a 15-pound blue. Largemouth bass remain pretty fair on structure with some school fish on shad in open water. Quite a few decent catches of two to three pounder with some bigger fish. Chris Mason, Irvine, landed a 6-1 largemouth on a Senko. Trout are slowing down quickly, but a few are showing from deep water at the dam. The road to Trout Island may re-emerge sometime this month, but the Kids Lagoon is not expected to be its own entity until mid-July. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or Irvine Lake - Fishing and Camping in Orange County, Southern California.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: No report. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or Laguna Niguel Lake.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES

CACHUMA: Crappie may be the best bet here in a fair overall bite that is also producing quite a bass and a smattering of catfish. The crappie are showing in 25 to 30 feet of water of white Trout Traps and similar jigs with fish to two pounds reported this past week. The bass action is best on nightcrawlers and spinnerbaits, and many anglers have reported five to 15-fish days in 15 to 40 feet of water with some topwater action early. Cats have been best on cut baits in the coves and flats. Mike Deuring, Santa Barbara, had a nice 25-fish mixed stringer that included crappie, bass, and catfish. Trout and bluegill-redear are slow. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at Santa Barbara County Parks Department Home. The marina is closed and boat rentals have ceased. The marina isn’t expected to be reopening in the near future, but the boat launch is still open. For fishing information updates, anglers should now call the general store at 805-688-5246.
CASITAS: The bass bite remains pretty good in 18 to 25 feet of water on live shad, if you can dip net some early in the morning, or nightcrawlers and plastics with fish to 6-8 reported this week. The shad still are not massing and easy to dip, but most anglers have been getting them if they’re on the water early. Jacob Calloway, 7, Oxnard, landed a five-pound bass on shad, while Jayden Mescado, Santa Paul, had a four-pounder on a plastic. Phil Emery, Ojai, landed a 13-8 catfish on a Senko fishing for bass, and there continue to be a few catfish showing in 20 feet of water of less, mostly on nightcrawlers or mackerel. The redear and bluegill bite is still pretty good on nightcrawler pieces and red worms and a few more crappie are starting to show off the fishing docks and around the marina, mostly on live shad. The odd trout is still being caught on Needlefish fished on leadcore or downriggers in the 30- to 40-foot range. Those being landed are in the three-pound class or better. Bud Rowe, Ojai, caught a 4-8 rainbow on Needlefish behind eight to nine colors of leadcore. Private boats will be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: Striper action continued to be best near the buoy line and Kong Island on anchovies and sardines. The swimbait bite was still very slow, but some fish are showing on artificials. Largemouth action is good with the best bite on plastics, nightcrawlers, and shad-colored crankbaits. The best bite has been in the late afternoon into the evening. Some crappie and bluegill are showing on jigs and small nightcrawler pieces. A few trout were reported this past week on Power Bait and small spinners but the bite is mostly slow with no plant in a couple of weeks. Information: 661-775-6232 or Castaic Lake | Home.
PIRU: Good overall action with a nice mix of largemouth bass, , crappie, bluegill and redear. The best bass bite has been on plastics fished in 10 to 25 feet of water with some fish on swimbaits and nightcrawlers. Brandon Chewning, Fillmore, had an eight-pounder, and Mark Torrez, Camarillo, landed a seven-pound largemouth last week. The crappie are showing in 12 to 20 feet on small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles with few topping a pound. Also generally good redear and bluegill action on nightcrawler pieces. Catfish still very slow. Trout have not been planted since Jan. 18 and few reports. Information: front gate at 805-521-1500, x500 or Lake Piru Recreation Area.
PYRAMID: The striper action remains good for anglers drifting with anchovies or sardines, and they are averaging from 1 1/2 to four pounds, with some bigger fish up feeding on the trout. Largemouth bass action is also good with a lot of one to three-pound fish on nightcrawlers and plastics. Also quite a few smallmouth in this bite. Trout were planted last week and three weeks ago by the DFG. The bite has been just fair with trollers seeing the best action on flashers with nightcrawlers, Rapalas, and Needlefish at three to four colors around the dam. John Powell, Santa Ynez, caught a 3.5-pound rainbow on a flasher and nightcrawler combo. The redear and bluegill still haven't started showing in good numbers but a few crappie are being caught on small jigs tipped with bait. Catfish are still mostly slow. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth, 661-295-7155, concession 661-257-2790, or Forest Service 661-296-9710.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Just fair action on largemouth bass on plastic worms around structure, with some topwater action starting early and late in the day. Bluegill action is very good on crickets, wax worms and meal worms. Most are hand-sized and smaller and anglers have to find a school of fish. Some bigger redear showing in a little deeper water than the bluegill. Carp are in the shallows. Little fishing pressure but anglers targeting them are getting some nice fish. The last DFG trout plant was three weeks ago, and that bite is fading fast with the warm weather. Catfish still slow. Information East Shore RV Park: 909-599-8355 (ask for the market).
SANTA FE DAM: Last DFG trout plant three weeks ago. The bass action has improved, but only a few bluegill and catfish reported. 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: DFG trout plant two weeks ago.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent DFG plants.
ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
ELIZABETH LAKE: 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: There were 156 anglers checked and they reported catching 625 bass and 113 bluegill. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: Fair to good bass action. This past week, there were 172 anglers who landed 205 bass and six catfish. Will Smith, Escondido, caught a 5.65-pound largemouth on a plastic worm in the narrows. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: No report. The lake is open Thursday through Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
LOWER OTAY: There were 324 anglers checked and they reported catching 137 bass, 340 bluegill, one crappie, and 10 catfish to 15 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. The lake only has boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
UPPER OTAY: There were 19 anglers checked and they reported 25 bass to five pounds and 14 bluegill to 0.6 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for catch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single, barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is open. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
MURRAY: No report. No DFG trout plants in over a month. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind.
MIRAMAR: There were 45 anglers checked and they reported catching three bass, 31 bluegill, and four catfish. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind, and the launch ramp is closed due to low water levels. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water.
SUTHERLAND: There were 69 anglers checked and they reported catching 111 bass, 83 bluegill, six catfish, and 42 carp. Lake is only open Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: Good largemouth action again this past week. Shad Raps, dark colored plastics, and crankbaits are all working well. Garrett Lorenzen, Escondido, caught a 10.85-pound largemouth on a spinnerbait at the west buoy line. Trout fishing has slowed as the water continues to warm up. The last trout plant was over a month ago. Top trout was a 7.6-pounder caught by David Lopez, Escondido, on orange Power Bait west of Senior Shoreline. The crappie bite is good for anglers fishing the submerged reeds or willows trees with small jigs or shiners. Catfish action is also good with quite a few limits reported at the east end and southern shore. The lake is open seven days a week. There are four bass boat-type rentals available. The lake will now be offering a couple new discounts on motor boat rentals. Seniors will be able to rent motor boats for $20 every Tuesday. Active military will get the same $20 motor boat rentals on the first and third Saturday of every month. Quagga mussel fears still have a private boating ban. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: The trout bite slowed with the warm weather this past week. Best times to get trout has been in the early morning or late evening. Nightcrawlers, rainbow and green Power Bait, Power Worms, Kastmasters, Roostertails, and Thomas Buoyant lures are still all producing fish. Bass action is fair but it's mostly smaller fish in the three to four-pound range showing. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: First catfish plant of the season this week (nearly 1,400 pounds), and night fishing kicks off Friday and Saturday nights with the lake open until 11 p.m. these nights with shoreline access until 11:30 p.m. The lake opens at 7 a.m. in June. Overall, the bite has been slow but the bluegill bite is fair to good in most coves, and some catfish starting to show at the Log Boom and in Boulder Bay. Bass and trout have slowed way down. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Catfish action is good with many fish hitting chicken liver in the shallows and backs of the coves. A plant this week should keep the bite good. Largemouth action has moved into deeper water around 15 to 25 feet with very little surface activity. The odd trout is still showing caught by anglers trolling for bass. Night fishing kicked off last week. The last trout plant of the season went in over a month ago. Information: 619-390-1300 or Lake Jennings - Helix Water District Drinking Water Reservoir.
MORENA: The warming water temperatures have turned on the bite was bluegill with a pretty good bite on smaller fish. Best action has been on small, bobber-suspended baits, with meal worms, wax worms, crickets, and red worms all working pretty well. A few catfish are starting to show on cut baits, and the odd trout is still being caught as the surface water temperature creeps above 65 degree. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or *Lake Morena, Fishing,Camping, picnics, hiking, Real Estate, Insurance, Lake Morena, Campo.
CUYAMACA: Good trout action with quite a few limits reported. Power Bait and nightcrawlers are working best and the top spots have been Lone Pine, the dam and Pumphouse Cove. Rod and Tom Knochenhauer, both San Diego, each had limits of rainbows at the Lone Pine Tree on Power Bait. There is also a good crappie bite with a lot of 25-fish limits of small fish reported. Rob and Rose Arnold, National City, both collected 25-fish crappie limits on red and green tube jigs in Pumphouse Cove. No recent DFG trout plants. A few catfish reports are coming in each week as well. Private boats are allowed on the lake again, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or Lake Cuyamaca Home Page.
HENSHAW: Catfish action is good with a lot of nice stringers reported. Top fish weighed in at the store was a 9-4 blue caught by Kevin Burnett, Santa Ysabel. Jerry Quillin, Ramona, had eight cats to six pounds, while Anton Neuman, San Diego, had 13 cats to five pounds. John Jolly, Ramona, caught and released 55 catfish to 4-8 over three days on stink bait and marshmallows. The crappie are suspended in deeper water (accessible by boat or on the fishing pier) but a few are showing on small jigs and most are about a half-pound. Gary Parker, Chino, had five crappie, including a two-pounder. Bass are fair, but few anglers are targeting them. Raymond Easley, San Diego, and Bill Wulfert, Fallbrook, both had five-pound largemouths. Carp are excellent but seem to all to be four pounds or under. Lonnie Esterline, Vista, was bowfishing and arrowed 50 carp to three pounds. Fishing with dough bait, Aleksandr Shapovalov, San Diego, had 10 carp to four pounds. Henshaw is open to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, dusk the rest of the week. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releases for the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web site with information updated hourly: Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado Region - Lower Colorado River Operations Schedule.
LAKE MEAD: Slow to fair striper action under schools of shad in 40 to 50 feet of water in the main channel and mouths of most of the coves on cut anchovies, sardines, shad-like lures. Most fish under four pounds and wind has hampered the action much of this week. The largemouth bass are fair to good with a lot of fish in eight to 25 feet of water on plastics. Improving catfish action, but still just a fair number of fish showing in the coves on cut baits. Improving panfish action.
WILLOW BEACH: Trout bite is fair to good with weekly plants. Best action on salmon eggs, Power Bait, worms and Super Dupers. Stripers have been improving with the best action at night with fish from five to 12 pounds reported in the past week. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The bass bite has been fair on plastics with some reaction bait and topwater fish. Trolling with anchovies in 30 to 50 feet of water has been producing some stripers, while catfish are on the bottom. While the number of stripers in Mohave has been decreasing, the quality of the fish caught has increased. The night time bite has begun to pick up. Submersible lights fished during the new moon is an effective way to catch stripers. Cut anchovies usually work the best. The next new moon is this coming weekend. Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife with the help of volunteers, National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation personnel have continued to install fish habitat in Carp Cove, Box Cove, and Shoshone. Fish habitat consists of PVC structures, wood pallets, tamarisk bundles, and some Christmas trees. The largemouth, smallmouth, bluegill and catfish are really utilizing the new structures. Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: The striper bite is still mostly tough, but the smallmouth are fair to good along rip-rap on small cranks. Still a few rainbows showing with a couple at 4 1/2 and 2 1/2-pounds weighed in Wednesday this week. Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: There is fair to good smallmouth action in the main river from Needles south to the I-40 bridge and on down into Topoc Gorge, mostly on small cranks. Slowly improving striper action, but this bite still very spotty above Needles. Catfish improving on cut baits, but still just fair. Still a few rainbows showing with a couple at 4 1/2 and 2 1/2-pounds weighed in Wednesday this week. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The smallmouth and striper bites are good throughout Topock Gorge. The striper number have climbed every week and there are now quite a few two to five-pound fish in the region in 10 to 12 feet of water with anchovies the best bait. The stripers are best on small plastics and nightcrawlers with the fish running from dinks to four pounds. Also some topwater for both species. The bluegill redear action is still good but fewer big fish are showing. A few cats are showing in both the main river and marsh. Largemouth bass fair in the marsh, with some decent topwater action early and late in the day. Topock Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Phil’s Western Trader at 928-768-4954 or Capt. Doyle’s Fun Fishing at 928-768-2667.
HAVASU: The redear and bluegill are showing in very good numbers with a lot of fish still on beds in coves all over the lake. Nightcrawlers are the best bet with a lot of quality redear over a pound and up to three pounds. The largemouth action is fair to good along tules on Senko-type baits resembling bluegill or crawdads, while the smallmouth are just fair on rocky points on crawdad cranks or jigs. Stripers are spotty with some topwater action early in the morning on schools of shad, but most of the bite is in 35 to 40 feet of water on main lake drop-offs or river channels. The stripers being landed are mostly three to five pounds. Channel catfish improving but flatheads still mostly slow. Information: Bass Tackle Master (formerly Angler’s Pro Shop) at 928-854-2277.
PARKER STRIP: Fair to good catfish and smallmouth bass action. The cats are showing in most of the pools on cut baits, while the smallmouth bass are along the rip rap and starting to whack small cranks and swim baits. Bluegill and redear are good in the backwaters and quiet water in the main river. Few flathead reports.
BLYTHE: Overall very good action on most species with air temps cracking over 100 degrees this week. The catfish action has been particularly good in both the main river and local canals. Mindy Collins, Blythe, caught a 45-pound flathead on a goldfish at off McIntyre Park on the main river. Colin Page and Drew Craney, Phoenix, had a 10-pound flathead on goldfish, a 10-pound and 3-8 carp on bread dough, a six-pound channel, and a 2-8 bass. Lots of bass to five pounds showing on plastics, cranks, and even surface baits now. The smallmouth bite is also very good in the main river, especially around rip-rap. Also good panfish action. Darick Roney, Pinon Hills, arrowed a nice stringer of huge tilapia bowfishing near the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. His best was a six-pounder. The most neglected bite on the river is the decent action on striped bass from six to 15 pounds at the diversion dam. The best action has been out of the main current and close to the shoreline rocks. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: All the bites have broken wide open in the Palo Verde Lagoon and the main river on this part of the river, and there continues to be a lot of eight to 15 pounders flathead on live bluegill, goldfish and tilapia. The channel catfish bite is also very good. Excellent action on bluegill and the largemouth bass bite has also been good, with morning and evening topwater and a lot of crankbait fish. Few reports on smallmouth and stripers in the main river, and still no crappie reports. Air temperatures are supposed to crack 105 this weekend. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
PICACHO AREA: Good largemouth bass action in the backwaters and river margins, and the catfish -- both flatheads and channels -- are very good with some quality flatheads being caught. Bluegill good, too.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action has been good with some flurries of excellent action on topwater. Flatheads are really good on live bluegill and goldfish. Channel cats are good on cut baits in both the main river and backwater lakes. Bluegill also showing in excellent numbers, but most are small. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or Martinez Lake Resort.
YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action is good in the whole region with the fish whacking plastics, cranks, and spinnerbaits. There is also a good topwater bite early and late in the day. The catfish bite is also good with some good catches on channels on cut baits and a flurry of quality flatheads on live goldfish and bluegill.

LOWER DESERT WATERS

SALTON SEA: The tilapia bite has been excellent again this past week. The average size of the fish is mostly from 3/4 to 1 1/2-pounds with an occasional bigger fish. The best bite has been at the state park headquarter’s jetty and the newly reopened Yacht Club jetty. All of the action is still on nightcrawler pieces. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052.
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: No reports.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: No reports. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No reports.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No reports. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA

For up-to-date road and campground information can call the following U.S. Forest Service offices: For the Big Pine to Lone Pine region, call 760-876-6222; for the Bishop Region, call 760-873-2500; for the Mammoth Lakes region, call 760-924-5500; for the Lee Vining region, call 760-647-3044; and for the Bridgeport region call 760-932-7070. Lodging and guide information: Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or Bishop, Mono County Tourism 760-924-1743. Top Eastern Sierra fishing report web sites are: Ken's Sporting Goods - Home (Bridgeport region), The Trout Fly Mammoth Lakes, California, and Sierra Drifters Fly Fishing Guide Service, Mammoth Lakes. Flyfishing Guide Service for Trout. Fly Fish Owens River from guided driftboats in Bishop. Flyfish Crowley Lake and Bridgeport in guided flats boats named the Trout Magnet. Full service outfit.
WEST WALKER RIVER REGION: The West Walker River is blown out with run-off with muddy condition and tough fishing. The Little Walker River up high and other area creeks are high, but very fishable and have pretty good fishing. Kirman Lake in excellent on brookies to 18 inches (and four pounds or more) and cutthroats to 25 inches mostly on scud patterns and seal buggers. Float tubes needed because there is little shore access. Won’t be long before the damselflies start hatching. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: There’s an epilog to last week’s story about the 16-7 brown caught from Lower Twin Lake, the best fish in several seasons here. Jim Bringhurst, one of the famous Brownbaggers who used to live in Apple Valley, was in Bridgeport fishing Lower Twin the same weekend Barrett Steward, Yorba Linda, caught the 16-7. Bringhurst told a story of hooking, battling and then losing at the net a fish he estimated to weigh 25 pounds. That fish might have been the next state record brown trout. Overall, the trout action has been improving at both Twin Lakes with a lot of pan-sized fish to two pounds showing on Power Bait, Gulp! Eggs, and nightcrawlers for the bait anglers, and trollers are getting fish on a wide variety of lures. The East Walker River has been very good this week for most anglers, with a lot of surface fish to 18 inches now on caddis patterns. Flows have been just under 200 cfs. Bridgeport Reservoir is still excellent for still fishing or trolling, but the boat bite is still better than from shore. The usual baits and trolling lures are working. The midge bite for fly anglers is also starting in the flats near Buckeye Bay. While there was still ice on Virginia Lakes early this week, it was getting pretty rotten and is likely gone by now. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or Ken's Sporting Goods - Home, Twin Lakes Resort (Lower Twin) 760-932-7751, Annett’s Mono Village (Upper Twin) 760-932-7071.
JUNE LAKE LOOP REGION: Fishing is pretty good on all four lakes, June, Gull, Silver and Grant, on the usual floating dough baits (salmon egg glitter and salmon peach have been the hot Power Bait colors) and inflated nightcrawlers, especially at the stream mouths and outlets. Silver Lake is really starting to turn on with a lot of holdover fish being caught again this week and the insects are finally starting to show in good numbers, mean the fly anglers and fly-bubble guys will be seeing a lot of fish on top early and late in the day. Mike Newell, Las Vegas, landed a 3-10 rainbow, while Pat Gale, June Lake, landed a 2-3 cutthroat, both from Silver Lake. The Silver Lake Resort and The Federation of Fly Fisherman's annual Rush Creek Cleanup and Free Hotdog Roast starts 9 a.m. Saturday, June 19. Rush Creek is good between Silver and Grant on planted trout, and the lower stretches just fair on wild fish. Higher elevation waters are still mostly inaccessible due to ice and snow, but that is going fast now. Information: Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley Lake is pretty good on floating baits, inflated nightcrawlers, with improving fly action on midge pupae. Also still some nice cutthroats and browns showing. Convict Lake is good for planted fish. Fair action in Twin Lakes out of Mammoth but no plants yet. Most everything is completely ice free in this region now, except at the highest elevations. Information: The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800, Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301.
BISHOP AREA: Most of the upper Bishop Creek drainage is fair to good with weekly plants. Sabrina’s water level is still coming up, more rapildly now with the warmer weather. Generally good action in Bishop Creek and its forks. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is good for planted rainbows on floating baits and small lures. Lower Owens just fair. Information: Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Culver’s 760-872- 8361, Brock’s 760-872-3581,
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Generally fair to good action after DFG plants again this week on all the creeks and Diaz also got fish last week. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.

WESTERN SIERRA

BOB’S BAIT CARP DERBY: The month-long Bob’s Bait Carp Derby kicked off June 1 with a $100 cash prize going to the angler who weighs in the biggest carp during June at Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield. The current leader is Polo Cantu, Bakerfield, with a 16-pounder caught from the aqueduct this week. For more information, call Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The largemouth bass bite has really started to take off with a lot of fish, and some quality fish to eight pounds, showing on cranks, Senko-type baits, and plastics. The catfish action also remains very good at Engineer Point and the Camp 9 region with the best bite on frozen shad with lots of fish from two pounds and up. The crappie action is still pretty fair with the best bite for boat anglers on live minnows with fewer fish coming from shore or on jigs, but this bite continues to slow. Most are 3/4-pounders. Trout action is still fair to good at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Bluegill finally starting to improve. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Flows have ramped waaaaaay up with peak flows in recent days of over 6,500 cfs. This past weekend there were 16 river rescues (but no drownings). Can you say “blown-out”? Yes, there were plants in the river this week, but fishing is tough. The lower river is at 2,500 cfs and nearly as bad as the upper river as far as fishability. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The catfish action remains very good. Lots of fish showing on cut baits. Billy Holmes, landed and 11-pound cat and a four-pound striper fishing nightcrawlers. Good action also on stripers with most fish in the three to four pound class. Blood worms and sand worms the best bet, but a few more fish are finally showing on swim baits. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Very good bluegill action on wax worms with a lot of hand-sized fish showing, and the carp are good on homemade dough baits or Powder Bait. Only a few bass are showing on plastics and nightcrawlers.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Fair to good catfish bite on nightcrawlers and shad. Also a decent bluegill bite, and the carp bite has been good on Powder Bait. Bass and crappie spotty.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is good on wax worms, and the carp action also is good on homemade dough baits and Powder Bait. There are a few bass showing on minnows, nightcralwers, and plastics.
MING LAKE: The carp bite is very good on Powder Bait and other dough baits. There has also been a good bite on bluegill, mostly on wax worms and meal worms, and the bass action is slow with a few on plastics.
BRITE LAKE: No recent DFG plants and the trout action has slowed with only a few fish showing on dough baits or nightcrawlers.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Continued good catfish action on frozen shad, dip baits, or green garlic nightcrawlers, with most of the cats running from two to five pounds and showing from the small lake. The lake is being planted with catfish every couple of weeks, and there is a five-fish limit on the cats here. The stripers kicked into gear here this week in the big lake with a good number of fish from five to 14 pounds reported on bloodworms, minnow, and Zoom Flukes or similar surface swim baits. The bluegill action has been very good on wax worms, but the crappie have been very slow. Carp good. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: The bluegill bite is good on red worms, meal worms, or wax worms, and a few bass are showing on plastics. Pretty good carp action, too.
SUCCESS LAKE: Pretty good bass action Senkos and plastics, and some bluegill and catfish also starting to show. Water level coming up. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good with a lot of fish on plastics and some on topwater and reaction baits. The redear and bluegill are really starting to take off in the shallows. Some catfish beginning to show. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

SAN ANTONIO: There was a little bite of a lull in the excellent striped bass action here early in the week, but the bite of five to 12-pound fish has been wide open for a month. The best action has been on trolled shad-like swim baits or live or frozen shad. Also some topwater action for anglers throwing to boils early and late in the day. Some bigger fish in the 15 to 22-pound class reported each week. Guide Bob Caffey (troutonly@msn.com) is really plugged into this striper bite, and the best reports on this action have been on the Forum section of FishingNetwork.net. The catfish action is also improving and there has been some pretty good crappie action, especially if you can get live shad. Few other reports. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: The white bass action is fair in the Dip Creek area on slow-trolled Roostertails and silver spoons. Both the smallmouth and largemouth bites are fair with some topwater early and late in the day and then better action in deep water after the dawn-dusk flurries on top. The crappie bite has slowed down with spotty action on live minnows or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The catfish bite is improving, and anglers targeting carp are seeing excellent action. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: There is generally a pretty good bite on bass, crappie, and bluegill/redear here. The bass are showing on live shad, plastics and reaction baits with some surface action early in the day. Dave Widger, Atascadero, landed a 7-3 Wednesday morning to top off a three fish catch and he had a 6-9 the evening before. The crappie are scattered, but when you find a school you can slam fish up to 2 1/2 or three pounds. Live shad have been the best bait, but you have to get at the lake early -- 5 a.m.-ish -- to get the candy bait. The bluegill and redear are good in most coves, but the fish are mostly hand-sized. Catfish are slow. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: The crappie bite has been pretty good at the dam and around the marina docks with fish up into the two-pound range. Best action has been on small jigs tipped with meal worms or Crappie Nibbles, and 10-fish to full limits (25 fish) have been reported. Also good action on small bluegill and redear. The largemouth bite is also fair to good with a lot of fish to 3-8 on plastics, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers. Some catfish showing. Steve Hourigan, Oceanio, had a 15-4 cat on a nightcrawler. 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.
SAN DIEGO: Chollas Reservoir, Lindo Lake, Murray Reservoir.
INYO: Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Dam Intake No. 2, Diaz Lake, George Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, lower Bishop Creek, Middle Fork Bishop Creek, Shepherd Creek, South Fork Bishop Creek, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, lower Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Lundy Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek from French Camp to upper bridge at Rock Creek Lodge, Rock Creek from Paradise Lodge to Tuff Campground, Rush Creek, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Virginia Creek, Walker River Little, West Walker River Section 2.
FRESNO: Big Creek near Huntington, Big Creek near Kings, Courtright Reservoir, Dinkey Creek, Hume Lake, Huntington Lake, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, Shaver Lake, Tamarack Creek.
KERN: Kern River from Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park in Kernville, Kern River from Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, lower Chiquito Creek, Upper Big Creek, West Fork Chiquito Creek.
TULARE: Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge.
TUOLUMNE: Beardsley Lake, Lyons Canal, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork Stanislaus River, Stanislaus River Clark Fork.

CATFISH PLANTS

No Department of Fish and Game catfish plants this week.