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FISH REPORT -- ONS-matthews -- 26may10
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 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. Unless you follow the Forum section on FishingNetwork.net, you probably haven’t heard about the excellent striped bass bite at San Antonio Lake, but it has been excellent for the past two weeks. The average fish are three to six pounds and fish to 20 pounds or better have been landed. The action is best on live or frozen shad, but trollers and anglers tossing topwater baits are also scoring. For an update on the bite and more information, call the marina at 805-472-2818.
2. While the Colorado River is going to be mobbed with recreational boater traffic this holiday weekend, this could be one of the best weekends of the season for a night catfish bite. The flathead action has been getting steadily better the past few weeks, and fishing a live bluegill, tilapia, or goldfish in the bottom of a big pool while the full moon comes up could be a perfect way to land a trophy fish over 30 pounds. Maybe a lot more. The channel cat bite is also good. In fact, just about everything is good at the river right now. For an update on the flathead action, call Walter’s Camp (south of Palo Verde) at 760-854-3322 or B&B Bait in Blythe at 760-921-2248.
3. Closer to home, Diamond Valley Lake stays in our top picks because it still has an excellent bite on largemouth bass, bluegill and redear, and now catfish. Your pick. The bluegill and redear have been running up to a pound or better and once you find a school of fish, you are going to get a pile of fish on small jigs tipped with meal worms or wax worms or on half a nightcrawler. Rawson Cove and the saddle dam are the most popular spots, but the fish are literally showing all around the lake in the shallows -- less than 10 feet of water. For an update, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Improving fishing in some Eastern Sierra spots this week with good action at Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoir, mostly for boat anglers trolling or fishing bait, Virginia Lakes for ice fishermen (yes, the ice is still 18-inches thick) where limits are easy, and the East Walker River and upper Owens River for fly anglers. In Southern California, there continues to be good action at just a handful of waters, but most plants are over for the season at lower elevations. Top bet is Big Bear Lake which is very good, and Green Valley Lake is getting better with each plant and each warm day.
BLACK BASS: The largemouth bass action has been generally good throughout the region coming into the full moon on Thursday this week. 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 also picking up. Further up on the Central Coast, Nacimientio, Lopez, and Santa Margarita all are good, too, with spotted bass are particularly good at Nacimiento. Isabella has been producing fewer bass but a few quality fish have been landed.
STRIPED BASS: San Antonio Lake on the Central Coast and the California Aqueduct near Taft are the two top bets this week. The aqueduct cranked out a 30-pounder this past week -- and that was after producing a 34-pounder the week before. The San Antonio catches have been kept quieter. Diamond Valley, Castaic, Pyramid, Silverwood, and Skinner are all fair to good bets for stripers. DVL and Castaic continue to have the biggest fish. But Pyramid, Skinner, and Silverwood are all producing better volume of smaller fish. 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. They stripers are also moving up into the river from these lakes to spawn. The bite has also been very good at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam with fish to nearly 20 pounds reported this past week.
PANFISH: Crappie bite is still very good in Lake Isabella with a good volume of fish and some fish topping two pounds. Nacimiento (on the Central Coast) slowed, however, while nearby Santa Margarita improved. Elsinore’s crappie have continued to be inexplicably slow. Piru has been pretty good, and there is a decent bite at Cachuma. Redear and bluegill bites are starting to go again a number of places, too, including Diamond Valley, Casitas, Perris, and Puddingstone. The tilapia bite at the Salton Sea has been excellent.
CATFISH: Elsinore is the hot spot in Southern California with a lot of fish to 15 pounds being landed. 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 hot this week. Hesperia Lake has been good to excellent, and Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake kicked off their catfish seasons last week with big plants and both have been good. 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 30 pounds have again been reported on the river this past week.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: The trout bite is starting to slow down a bit, but the action has still been pretty fair, and the DFG is slated to add trout before the holiday weekend in the lake and Miller Canyon Creek. Best action has been on Power Bait, Power worms, inflated nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs and plastics. The largemouth bite is fair with plastics working best. Striper action is very good with the best action on swimbaits and anchovies at the dam. Teresa Southern, Hesperia, caught a 5.9-pound striper on anchovies near the dock. The catfish bite continues to improve with Outhouse Cove and Quarry Cove the top spots. James Bennett, Fontana, scored a 3.5-pound catfish on chicken liver at Quarry Cove. 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 last week, too, so this stream fishing bite has been pretty good 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: The trout bite has been very good, and the DFG added fish again this week. The best action has been for trollers fishing from the surface down to about 40 feet along the north shore (Trout Triangle area), with the bigger fish deeper. Most of the fish are around 1-8, but fish to four pounds and better have also been landed. Needlefish-type lures have been best. Shore anglers are still seeing the best action along the north shore from Juniper Point to the dam on floating baits. 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. The next event will be the Fishing for 50K event June 5-6, which features a $50,000 tagged trout. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout were planted this week and two weeks ago, and there is a fair to good trout bite with a fair number of limits, mostly on small lures, trout plastics and floating baits. Most are in the one-pound class. The boat house is open. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Good trout action with many fish in the two to four-pound range reported and some bigger. Top fish this past week was a 7.13-pounder. Carl Smith, Calimesa, caught 5.13 and four-pound rainbows on Power Bait. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant this week and two weeks ago.
JENKS LAKE REGION: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago with a pretty good bite for Jenks regulars who know the spots. 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 this week and two weeks ago. Fishing has been generally good in the streams. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Excellent catfish action with quite a few limits reported. Catfish were planted this week and will be going in each week for the remainder of catfish season. The lake is also slated to receive 1,500 pounds of hybrid stripers this week. Top baits for catfish are mackerel, shrimp, and inflated nightcrawlers. Mike Allan, Costa Mesa, caught a 21-pound flathead catfish on a nightcrawler. Larry Shumaker, Riverside, scored a 14-12 catfish on a nightcrawler. Sean Kruz, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 13-8 catfish on shrimp. Trout fishing has slowed way down but a few fish are still being caught. Last trout plant of the season went in over a month ago. No sturgeon were reported this past week. A few wipers make an appearance each week and the plant this week should improve that bite. 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: There will be a stocking of tagged trout for this holiday weekend. Prizes will be awarded to anglers who land these tagged fish. 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 was better in the morning before 10 a.m. or late afternoon hours. Most of the fish have been around two pounds, with a few bigger. A few largemouth are showing on Senkos, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers. 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. 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: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout action has been just fair with the last county trout plant of the season over a month ago. DFG trout plants went in this week and two weeks ago. Pretty good action on small bluegill. Fair action for bass and catfish, and the occasional carp or crappie is also showing. 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: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout fishing is slow. Last DFG plant was four weeks ago and the last county plant was over a month ago. Catfish action is also slow but should pick up once the plants begin later this month. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout action has been slow, but quite a few bass and catfish are already showing, and there’s a decent bite on small bluegill. Jouleen Montoya, Corona, had three bass on worms, all under a pound. Al Hernandez, Whittier, landed a one-pound bass. Carp also pretty good. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. A few cats are already showing, and there has been a decent bite on bass and a lot of small bluegill are being caught. Trout action has been slow. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout action has slowed since there have been no plants in over a month, and very few are still being caught. Catfish, bass, bluegill, and carp are all showing in decent numbers. Rene Errriquez, Riverside, landed three trout, a bass, two catfish, and one bluegill fishing nightcrawlers in the big lake this past week. Leonard Goodloe, Rialto, had four trout and two cats on Power Bait and chicken liver. Salvador Navarro, Fontana, landed three cats to a pound on stink bait, while Rory Frezze, Rialto, had three trout and three cats on nightcrawler at the spillway. 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 this week and three weeks ago. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: Largemouth action was excellent this past week. Anglers were posting 20 to 40 fish days with many quality fish using just about anything in their tackle box. Trout fishing has been good for boaters and shore anglers alike. Nightcrawlers, spinnerbaits, and mini jigs have been working best for the rainbows. Jake Altamirano, 7, Fontana, caught a seven-pound trout using Power Bait. Striper action was slow again this week but a few big fish were still reported. Louie Rabadi, Lake Elsinore, caught a 9.26-pound striper on a plug. The catfish bite continues to improve with many fish over eight pounds reported. Mackerel and anchovies are working very well with shrimp and chicken liver also been producing a few fish. The top spots have been the saddle dam, Rawson Cove, and near the attenuator. The panfish bite broke wide open this week with anglers reporting good numbers of bluegill, readear, and crappie. Anglers fishing with minijigs, mealworms, or nightcrawlers along the dams have had the most success. 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 is good. Anglers reported excellent action around the island on redworms and crickets, and the marina has seen pretty good action as well. Some of the redear are topping 1 ½ pounds. Also some crappie mixed in with the redear and bluegill. Largemouth action is still fair with most of the reports coming from the east end with several fish up into the six-pound and better range reported. Trout action remains just fair, but the DFG added fish this week and three weeks ago. Mostly slow other species but there was one big carp caught. Kevin Pierce, Ontario, caught a 18.2-pound carp on a nightcrawler fishing near the marina. The park is back 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 largemouth action was excellent this past week. The east end and the south shore have been the top spots with dark plastics and nightcrawlers still the top baits. Andrew Clark, Wildomar, caught two largemouth to 8-8 on a plastic worm at the south shore. Catfish action continues to improve with the warmer weather. Chicken liver and mackerel have been the most reported baits. There was also a catfish plant this past week so that should only help improve the bite. Alex Garcia, Moreno Valley, caught three catfish to 7.2 pounds on mackerel at the south shore. Carp action has been good for those targeting them. They are primarily being caught in the reeds on nightcrawlers. Glen Fischer, San Diego, caught a 22-pound carp on a nightcrawler at the east end. Striper action has slowed considerably and is just fair. Best bet has still been chicken liver with fish to four pounds showing. A few trout are still showing but the bite has been mostly slow. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: The catfish and carp action has continued very good. The cats have been best on shrimp, shad, and nightcrawlers, and the quality remains excellent with a lot of fish topping five pounds. The carp are stacked up in the shallows and anglers fishing dough baits or prepared carp baits are getting a lot of fish. Bowfishermen for the carp is also legal here now. The wiper action has been improving this week with several fish to 21 inches, well over the 18-inch minimum size, and these keeper fish are mostly over four pounds. Rat-L-Traps and live shad are best. Roy Easley, Elsinore, had three keeper wipers and lost several others. Still very few crappie are being taken with only a handful reported this past week, but they are mostly nice fish from 1-8 to two pounds. Light fishing pressure on the largemouth, but that bite has been pretty fair. 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 bite really took off this past week after the first major plants of the season last Thursday, and the trout action has continued very good even though the final plant of the season was two weeks ago. Most of the catfish are in the two to three-pound range, and the bite has been best on cut baits with mackerel the initial front runner. Armanda Gonzales and Luis Osnaya, Riverside, had six catfish that weighed 13 1/2 pounds, including a five pounder, while John Smith, Corona, and Charles Knott, Palmdale, had nine cats for 26 1/2 pounds with a four-pounder their top fish. Samantha Mickschl, Pico Rivera, landed a pair of cats at 3 1/2 and two pounds. All were using mackerel. The best trout of the week were seven-pound and 6 1/2-pounder caught by Matt Rodrigues, Chino, fishing chartreuse Nitro Bait at the rocks. He also had fish at 5 1/4 and 4 1/2-pounds on a different day fishing at the dam shoreline. There has also been a fair to good bite on bluegill, bass, and sturgeon for the anglers targeting these fish. 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.
RANCHO JURUPA: The trout bite has slowed way down with no plants since March 26. Other species also slow. Catfish were slated to be planted last Thursday. No reports. 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 season has kicked off with good action now that the weather is warming up. The best bite has been on chicken liver, mackerel, and shrimp. Plants twice a month. Still the odd trout showing up in the catch, too. 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 plants went in this week and three 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. The odd bass 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: The catfish bite kicked into high gear after the season’s first major plant last Thursday and the bite has been very good ever since, and the trout action has remained pretty good in spite of no plants for two weeks. The best catfish action has been on shrimp or nightcrawlers doused with Eagle Claw Gravy, and there have been some impressive stringers reported with the fish averaging between two and three pounds. One of the best catfish reported was a 6 1/2-pounder caught by Tanya Apelian, Lakewood, fishing shrimp at the boat dock. Eric Apellian, Lakewood, and Bryan Gemoll, Moreno Valley, landed 12 catfish that weighed a total of 48 pounds, including a six-pounder, fishing shrimp near the dock. Ulises Rojas and Jerry Ortega, both Anaheim, landed 10 cats that weighed 27 1/2 pounds fishing nightcrawlers at the Bubble Hole. Dave Beaver, Anaheim, had a five-catfish, 17 1/2-pound stringer with his top fish at 5 1/4 pounds while fishing shrimp at the boat dock. Gilbert Ahumada, Bellflower, landed five cats that weighed 17 pounds and his best cat at 4 1/2 pounds and he was also fishing shrimp near the dock, dousing his with Gravy. The trout bite has also continued pretty good with some quality rainbows and a few brown trout showing. The top rainbow was a 9 1/2-pounder caught by Derrick Kash, Carson, fishing a krill dough bait at Levitz’ Corner. Udayan Sarma, Tujunga, landed an 8 1/4-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler at Three Pipes, while George and Harry Tebelekian, both Los Angeles, landed five rainbows to eight pounds fishing lures at Three Pipes. More and more sturgeon are also showing in the catch with more anglers fishing shrimp and other cut baits. Steve Anna, Trabuco Canyon, landed and released a 34-pounder on a dough bait. Daniel Henley, Norco, caught a 7 1/2-pound sturgeon on dough bait, while Joshua Woodall, Long Beach, landed a five-pound sturgeon on a nightcrawler. 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: Fair to good trout action. The trout have started to move deeper with anglers trolling in 20 to 30 feet of water having the most success. Most of the trout have been in the one to five-pound range with not as many big fish reported as in recent weeks. Randy Garcia, Long Beach, scored a 5-12 rainbow on nightcrawlers in the flats. The bass action has been very good with 20 to 30 fish days pretty common. Plastics, jigs, jerkbaits, and topwater lures all working well. Jim Eaves, Irvine, caught a 4-8 largemouth on topwater at the red clay cliffs. Good crappie bite in the submerged trees at Santiago Flats on white Atomic Tubes with a mealworm trailer. Bluegill and redear numbers are steadily increasing for anglers offering mealworms or waxworms. A few hybrid striper catches were reported once again around Santiago Flats. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 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: Trout action has been fair with nightcrawlers and crankbaits producing fish. Bass action is just fair with plastics, topwater, and nightcrawlers all producing fish. Jason Christmann, Moorpark, caught six bass on topwater lures. The crappie bite slowed considerably this past week with very few reports. Slow other species. 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 20 to 30 feet of water on live shad, if you can dip net some early in the morning, or nightcrawlers and plastics. The shad have been showing in bigger schools on the surface, but still not a lock. Top bass this week was a 10-pounder caught by Jennifer Lovell, Box Canyon, on a live shad. Robert Davis, Newberry Park, landed a 9-8 while
T.J. Hanna, Ojai, had an 8-8 bass, both catches on live shad. Steve Virtue, Ventura, used shad for his 7-12 and 7-8 bass, while Sara Morosan, Glendora, had a 7-8 on shad. Paul Baradat, Oxnard, caught a 7-4 on a Robo worm. Bass at seven pounds were caught by Travis Walters, Oakview, Shawn Flaherty, Oakview, and Joey LeSeur, Ojai. The catfish bite is slowly improving and quite a few quality fish are being reported on mackerel and nightcrawlers. Cody Smith, Oxnard, caught an 11-pound cat, while fishing buddy Leman Harmon, Oxnard, caught a 10-8 cat. Both were fishing nightcrawlers. The trout bite slowed with just a few nicer quality fish to three pounds showing for trollers working 30 to 40 feet of water at the dam, creek channels and off main lake points with Needlefish or similar baits. A few rainbows are also showing on drifted nightcrawlers fished in the same depths. Redear really improving in the backs of most coves with a lot of fish still on beds. Quite a few fish to nearly two pounds on nightcrawler pieces, and most are in less than 15 feet of water. Crappie are still mostly slow. Private boats will be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The upper lake will be stocked with rainbows this week. The striper action has been very good. Anchovies and sardines have been the top baits with very few showing on swimbaits but this week's trout plant could change that. Sharron's Rest, Kong Island, and Elizabeth Canyon have been the best spots if you want to score a big striper, and the top spots for striper numbers has been the buoy line or the dam. Largemouth action is excellent with the best bite on plastics, crankbaits, nightcrawlers, and shad colored minnow. The best bite has been in the late afternoon into the evening. Jon Salkeld, Castaic, caught five largemouth totaling 16 pounds with a seven-pounder topping the catch. Jimmy Yu, Valencia, scored four largemouth totaling 15.5 pounds with a 5.8-pounder topping his catch. Some crappie and bluegill are showing on jigs and small nightcrawler pieces. Information: 661-775-6232 or Castaic Lake | Home.
PIRU: Fair to good action with a nice mix of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and redear all showing for anglers. The best bass bite has been on plastics fished in six to 25 feet of water with some fish on swimbaits and nightcrawlers. 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 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 trout action has been pretty good after DFG plants last week and three weeks ago with the best action in and around the marina. Most are pan-sized and showing on floating baits and small lures. 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. The redear and bluegill bites are improving but not getting much pressure, yet. 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: There were DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago, and anglers are still getting decent numbers of fish on floating baits from deeper water, mostly off the ends of the fishing piers. 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 with fish on spawning beds. Most are hand-sized and smaller and anglers have to find an area of beds. Some bigger redear showing in a little deeper water than the bluegill. Carp are spawning and in the shallows. Little fishing pressure but anglers targeting them are getting some nice fish. Also a few crappie up to 1-8 showing. Catfish slow. Information East Shore RV Park: 909-599-8355 (ask for the market).
SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago. The bass action has improved, but only a few bluegill and catfish reported. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
LEGG LAKES: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: There were 180 anglers checked and they reported catching 795 bass in good bite. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: Just fair bass action. This past week, there were 77 anglers who landed 34 bass, 20 crappie, and one catfish. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: There were 26 anglers checked who reported 42 bass, 22 bluegill, 10 crappie, and 10 catfish. 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 246 anglers checked and they reported catching 216 bass to 7.1 pounds and 222 bluegill to 1.1 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 16 anglers checked and they reported 14 bass to six pounds and 17 bluegill. 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: DFG trout plant four weeks ago. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind.
MIRAMAR: There were 37 anglers checked and they reported catching seven bass, 16 bluegill, and one rainbow trout. 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 43 anglers who landed 82 bass, 25 bluegill, six crappie, and 14 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: Very good largemouth action again this past week. Lots of bigger fish continue to show from the south shore. Shad Raps, dark colored plastics, and crankbaits are all working well. Efrain Lopez, Escondido, caught a 10.35-pound largemouth on a spinnerbait at the west buoy line. Ben Williamson, Ramona, caught a 9-1 largemouth on a swimbait at Lusardi Point. Trout fishing slowed some but Willow Cove and Senior Shoreline continue to be the hot spots with green Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers the top baits. The last trout plant of the season went in two weeks ago. 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 plants this week and two weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: Excellent trout action with many of the trophy fish that went in two weeks ago still being caught. Nightcrawlers, rainbow and green Power Bait, Power Worms, Kastmasters, Roostertails, and Thomas Buoyant lures all produced fish this past week. Top catch this past week goes to Ben Cabling, Temecula, who scored a 9-10 trout on green Power Bait and Power Worm combo fishing Whisker Bay. Some of the smaller bass are starting to move into the shallows as the weather warms up and the spawn should kick off soon. One anglers reported catching and releasing 20 bass to four pounds in one day of fishing. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: No report. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Night fishing kicked off this past week with only fair action. The backs of the coves were the top spots with mackerel and nightcrawlers the top choices for bait. A few trout were caught by accident by anglers fishing for catfish. The last trout plant of the season went in over a month ago. The largemouth bite has been slowish with the fish now in post-spawn. Some males are still in the shallows but the bigger females have moved into deeper water. Information: 619-390-1300 or Lake Jennings - Helix Water District Drinking Water Reservoir.
MORENA: No report. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or *Lake Morena, Fishing,Camping, picnics, hiking, Real Estate, Insurance, Lake Morena, Campo.
CUYAMACA: Good trout action with quite a few limits reported. Power Bait and nightcrawlers are working best and the top spots have been Lone Pine and Pumphouse Cove. There is also a good crappie bite with a couple limits reported. DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. 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: No report. 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 slow, but Rich Loura, Las Vegas, landed fish at 17 and 18 pounds last Friday at Marker 52. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The largemouth bass bite is fair to good. Also improving striper action over the past week with the fish mostly in 30 to 50 feet. Best action in the Cottonwood area and main lake upstream from the dam. Best bet is to slow-troll or drift with anchovies or sardines. Catfish are slow on cut baits. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: More and more stripers are being landed with a lot of fish in the four-pound range, including one reported at just over eight pounds this past week by local guide Del Oden. Smallmouth fair to good along rip-rap and the smallies might be the best bet right now. Trout are still showing in surprisingly decent numbers. 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 one into Topoc Gorge, mostly on small cranks. Improving striper action, with the best bite early in the morning on fish under two pounds on cut bait. Catfish improving on cut baits, but still just fair. The striper action has also been starting to turn on with more fish in the river this past week. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The smallmouth bite is good throughout Topock Gorge with a lot of fish in the three-pound range, and the redear action is still good but waning with fish to 2-8. Most anglers are using nightcrawler pieces for the redear. Stripers are finally starting to improve with some consistent action in the river and gorge. Frank and Ailean Scott, Sun City, Ariz., caught four stripers from two to three pounds, a three-pound channel cat, and four rainbow trout to three pounds in the gorge. The crappie bite has slowed down and is likely over for the season. Catfish are fair in both the main river and marsh on cut baits. 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 threadfin shad are spawning throughout the main basin and Bill Williams arm and the stripers are up on the surface boiling on the shad most mornings before 6:30 a.m. The stripers drop deep after that, showing in 40 to 55 feet of water on the main dropoffs on anchovies. Most stripers under four pounds, but a few over, and the bite is fair to good. The smallmouth bite has slowed way down, but the largemouth are in a pretty good post-spawn bite on buzz baits or frogs on top early and then slow-fall plastics later in the day. Redear are showing in good numbers again after a lull last week between the moon phases. Nightcrawlers are the best bet with a lot of quality redear over a pound and up to three 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. The catfish bite has broken wide open for both channels and flatheads, with a lot of quality flatheads to 25 pounds reported. Area backwaters and ditches are pretty good for catfish, bass, and panfish, too. 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. Quite a few stripers showing at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. James Smith, Victorville, landed stripers at 12, 16, and 17 pounds, and largemouth bass at 4-8 and three pounds fishing anchovies and topwater lures. Best bite at the diversion dam has been out of the main current and close to shore. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Very light fishing pressure, but all the bites have broken wide open in the Palo Verde Lagoon and the main river. Lots of quality flatheads this past week with a number of fish over 20 pounds reported, with a lot of eight to 15 pounders 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 finally hit 90 degrees this week. 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 over the past week. A few crappie reported in recent days, and the 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 schooling up and showing in pretty decent numbers. 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. The catfish bite also turned on this past week, 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 flowing high with runoff, but plants in the main river and Little Walker River have kept the fishing fair. Best action deeper pools and the fish are taking slowly-fished baits. 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. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: The East Walker river has been pretty good with the best bite on small midge patterns and caddis fished under an indicator or as part of a dry-dropper arrangement. Flows at 220 cfs this past week and very fishable. Crowded on weekends, and it will be mobbed this weekend. Bridgeport Reservoir improved with good action this past week, especially for trollers and bait and fly anglers in boats. Shore fishing has been tougher. Thirty fish days have been common. Twin Lakes are fair to good for planted rainbows with holdover rainbows and browns from two to three pounds showing for both bait and lure fishermen. Virginia Lakes are still ice-capped and the ice was still around 18-inches thick this past weekend. Excellent fishing through the ice, however. 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. Top action has probably been from the shore of June on Kastmasters, while Grand Lake has been good on floating baits in yellow and peach. 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. 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 and the ice is finally nearly gone on upper lakes. 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 still has lots of snow and ice, but all the lakes are mostly open. Sabrina’s water level is coming up slowly. 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 this week. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: Still a very good crappie bite here, but the fishing was tough due to wind and cold weather over the weekend. Most of the fish are half- to three-quarter pound with some bigger fish coming for anglers fishing bigger minnows. The catfish also got tougher with the cool-down, but the action is still good and the forecast is for a hot weekend which should turn this bite right back on. Most cats are two to four-pound fish and being caught on shad, mackerel, Sonny’s catfish dip bait, and clams. Largemouth bass are fair with big fish up chasing trout and other baitfish. Quite a few five-plus fish landed on swimbaits and plastics. Trout action is still good at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Bluegill still spotty. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Flows in the upper river dropped with cooler weather early this week, but the trout action is still tough with the best bite on nightcrawlers and bigger spinners fished in the heavy flows. Trout plants this week. Lower River also very high and tough to fish. The fly-fishing bite has been very tough. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: For the second week in a row, a whopper striper was caught here. Robert Robles, Bakersfield, landed a butter-fat 30-pounder fishing an anchovy this past week. Most of the stripers have been in the three to four pound class and the bite has been pretty good, mostly on baits with blood worms and sand worms the best bet. The catfish action has been as good or better on cut baits. Richard Stevens, Bakersfield, landed cats at seven and eight pounds on chicken livers, while Rich Arbizu, Bakersfield, landed a seven-pounder on a sand worm. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Fair bluegill action on wax worms with a lot of hand-sized fish showing, but the warmer weather should kick this bite into gear again. Carp are fair on homemade dough baits or Powder Bait, and 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 fair to good on Powder Bait. Bass and crappie spotty.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is fair to good on wax worms, and the carp action remains fair on homemade dough baits and Powder Bait. There are a few bass showing on minnows, nightcralwers, and plastics.
MING LAKE: The carp bite is good on Powder Bait and other dough baits. There has been a fair to good bite on bluegill, mostly on wax worms and meal worms, and the bass action is fair, mostly 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: Very good catfish action on frozen shad or green garlic nightcrawlers, with most of the cats running from three to five pounds. The lake is being planted every couple of weeks, and there is a five-fish limit on the cats here. Alyssa Beeler, Bakersfield, landed a five-pound cat on shad. The bluegill action has been fair to good on wax worms, but the crappie have been very spotty on live minnows. Stripers spotty. 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: Fair to good bass action Senkos, and some bluegill and catfish also starting to show. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The redear and bluegill are really starting to take off with both moving shallow, and the bass are showing on plastics and reaction baits. Some catfish beginning to show. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Excellent striped bass action for the past two weeks with the best action on live or frozen anchovies. Trollers and topwater anglers are getting a few fish. The stripers are running from three to six pounds with some bigger fish in the 15 to 22-pound class reported. The catfish action is also improving, but there have been few other reports. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: The crappie bite has slowed down with just fair action on live minnows or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The fish are nearing the end of the spawn. The white bass are in the Dip Creek and mostly showing on slow-trolled Roostertails and silver spoons. Both the smallmouth and largemouth bites are fair, but the spawn in pretty much over and the fish have shifted into a summer mode with some topwater early and late in the day and then better action in deep water after the dawn-dusk flurries on top. The catfish bite is improving, too, and anglers targeting carp are seeing excellent action. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: A new lake record largemouth bass was caught here this past Saturday when Kenny Sims, Bakersfield, landed a 13.47-pounder. Scott West, Morro Bay, landed a 12-4 largemouth on Friday. Overall, the action has improved across the board here, with generally fair to good action on bass, and more bluegill, redear, and crappie finally showing. Catfish are still spotty. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Fair to good largemouth bass action, with a lot of post-spawn fish showing on plastics, spinnerbaits and nightcrawlers. Steve LaBuff, Los Osos, caught bass at 3-8 and 2-4. The bluegill and redear bites are both good, especially on Strawberry Flats, and more and more catfish are starting to show. Crappie still tough. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFG's web site at California Department of Fish & Game Fisheries Fish Planting Schedule by Regions.
LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lake, Cerritos Park lake, Jackson Lake.
ORANGE: Trabuco Creek.
SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Reservoir, Doane Pond.
RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Reservoir, Strawberry Creek.
SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Jenks Lake, Lake Gregory, Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park lake, Santa Ana River, Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake, South Fork of the Santa Ana River.
INYO: Big Pine Creek,,Bishop Creek Dam Intake No. 2, Diaz Lake, George Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Middle Fork Bishop Creek, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Shepherd Creek, South Fork Bishop Creek, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, 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 Owens River from Benton Crossing to Crowley Lake, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Virginia Creek, Walker River (Little), West Walker River Section 2.
KERN: Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville.
TULARE: Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge.
FRESNO: Big Creek near Kings, Dinkey Creek, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, Shaver Lake.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, lower Chiquito Creek, West Fork Chiquito Creek.
CATFISH PLANTS
No Department of Fish and Game catfish plants this week.
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 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. Unless you follow the Forum section on FishingNetwork.net, you probably haven’t heard about the excellent striped bass bite at San Antonio Lake, but it has been excellent for the past two weeks. The average fish are three to six pounds and fish to 20 pounds or better have been landed. The action is best on live or frozen shad, but trollers and anglers tossing topwater baits are also scoring. For an update on the bite and more information, call the marina at 805-472-2818.
2. While the Colorado River is going to be mobbed with recreational boater traffic this holiday weekend, this could be one of the best weekends of the season for a night catfish bite. The flathead action has been getting steadily better the past few weeks, and fishing a live bluegill, tilapia, or goldfish in the bottom of a big pool while the full moon comes up could be a perfect way to land a trophy fish over 30 pounds. Maybe a lot more. The channel cat bite is also good. In fact, just about everything is good at the river right now. For an update on the flathead action, call Walter’s Camp (south of Palo Verde) at 760-854-3322 or B&B Bait in Blythe at 760-921-2248.
3. Closer to home, Diamond Valley Lake stays in our top picks because it still has an excellent bite on largemouth bass, bluegill and redear, and now catfish. Your pick. The bluegill and redear have been running up to a pound or better and once you find a school of fish, you are going to get a pile of fish on small jigs tipped with meal worms or wax worms or on half a nightcrawler. Rawson Cove and the saddle dam are the most popular spots, but the fish are literally showing all around the lake in the shallows -- less than 10 feet of water. For an update, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Improving fishing in some Eastern Sierra spots this week with good action at Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoir, mostly for boat anglers trolling or fishing bait, Virginia Lakes for ice fishermen (yes, the ice is still 18-inches thick) where limits are easy, and the East Walker River and upper Owens River for fly anglers. In Southern California, there continues to be good action at just a handful of waters, but most plants are over for the season at lower elevations. Top bet is Big Bear Lake which is very good, and Green Valley Lake is getting better with each plant and each warm day.
BLACK BASS: The largemouth bass action has been generally good throughout the region coming into the full moon on Thursday this week. 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 also picking up. Further up on the Central Coast, Nacimientio, Lopez, and Santa Margarita all are good, too, with spotted bass are particularly good at Nacimiento. Isabella has been producing fewer bass but a few quality fish have been landed.
STRIPED BASS: San Antonio Lake on the Central Coast and the California Aqueduct near Taft are the two top bets this week. The aqueduct cranked out a 30-pounder this past week -- and that was after producing a 34-pounder the week before. The San Antonio catches have been kept quieter. Diamond Valley, Castaic, Pyramid, Silverwood, and Skinner are all fair to good bets for stripers. DVL and Castaic continue to have the biggest fish. But Pyramid, Skinner, and Silverwood are all producing better volume of smaller fish. 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. They stripers are also moving up into the river from these lakes to spawn. The bite has also been very good at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam with fish to nearly 20 pounds reported this past week.
PANFISH: Crappie bite is still very good in Lake Isabella with a good volume of fish and some fish topping two pounds. Nacimiento (on the Central Coast) slowed, however, while nearby Santa Margarita improved. Elsinore’s crappie have continued to be inexplicably slow. Piru has been pretty good, and there is a decent bite at Cachuma. Redear and bluegill bites are starting to go again a number of places, too, including Diamond Valley, Casitas, Perris, and Puddingstone. The tilapia bite at the Salton Sea has been excellent.
CATFISH: Elsinore is the hot spot in Southern California with a lot of fish to 15 pounds being landed. 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 hot this week. Hesperia Lake has been good to excellent, and Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake kicked off their catfish seasons last week with big plants and both have been good. 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 30 pounds have again been reported on the river this past week.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: The trout bite is starting to slow down a bit, but the action has still been pretty fair, and the DFG is slated to add trout before the holiday weekend in the lake and Miller Canyon Creek. Best action has been on Power Bait, Power worms, inflated nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs and plastics. The largemouth bite is fair with plastics working best. Striper action is very good with the best action on swimbaits and anchovies at the dam. Teresa Southern, Hesperia, caught a 5.9-pound striper on anchovies near the dock. The catfish bite continues to improve with Outhouse Cove and Quarry Cove the top spots. James Bennett, Fontana, scored a 3.5-pound catfish on chicken liver at Quarry Cove. 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 last week, too, so this stream fishing bite has been pretty good 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: The trout bite has been very good, and the DFG added fish again this week. The best action has been for trollers fishing from the surface down to about 40 feet along the north shore (Trout Triangle area), with the bigger fish deeper. Most of the fish are around 1-8, but fish to four pounds and better have also been landed. Needlefish-type lures have been best. Shore anglers are still seeing the best action along the north shore from Juniper Point to the dam on floating baits. 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. The next event will be the Fishing for 50K event June 5-6, which features a $50,000 tagged trout. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout were planted this week and two weeks ago, and there is a fair to good trout bite with a fair number of limits, mostly on small lures, trout plastics and floating baits. Most are in the one-pound class. The boat house is open. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Good trout action with many fish in the two to four-pound range reported and some bigger. Top fish this past week was a 7.13-pounder. Carl Smith, Calimesa, caught 5.13 and four-pound rainbows on Power Bait. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant this week and two weeks ago.
JENKS LAKE REGION: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago with a pretty good bite for Jenks regulars who know the spots. 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 this week and two weeks ago. Fishing has been generally good in the streams. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Excellent catfish action with quite a few limits reported. Catfish were planted this week and will be going in each week for the remainder of catfish season. The lake is also slated to receive 1,500 pounds of hybrid stripers this week. Top baits for catfish are mackerel, shrimp, and inflated nightcrawlers. Mike Allan, Costa Mesa, caught a 21-pound flathead catfish on a nightcrawler. Larry Shumaker, Riverside, scored a 14-12 catfish on a nightcrawler. Sean Kruz, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 13-8 catfish on shrimp. Trout fishing has slowed way down but a few fish are still being caught. Last trout plant of the season went in over a month ago. No sturgeon were reported this past week. A few wipers make an appearance each week and the plant this week should improve that bite. 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: There will be a stocking of tagged trout for this holiday weekend. Prizes will be awarded to anglers who land these tagged fish. 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 was better in the morning before 10 a.m. or late afternoon hours. Most of the fish have been around two pounds, with a few bigger. A few largemouth are showing on Senkos, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers. 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. 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: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout action has been just fair with the last county trout plant of the season over a month ago. DFG trout plants went in this week and two weeks ago. Pretty good action on small bluegill. Fair action for bass and catfish, and the occasional carp or crappie is also showing. 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: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout fishing is slow. Last DFG plant was four weeks ago and the last county plant was over a month ago. Catfish action is also slow but should pick up once the plants begin later this month. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout action has been slow, but quite a few bass and catfish are already showing, and there’s a decent bite on small bluegill. Jouleen Montoya, Corona, had three bass on worms, all under a pound. Al Hernandez, Whittier, landed a one-pound bass. Carp also pretty good. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. A few cats are already showing, and there has been a decent bite on bass and a lot of small bluegill are being caught. Trout action has been slow. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: The lake will begin receiving county catfish plants starting May 27 and will continue to receive them each week through the end of catfish season. Trout action has slowed since there have been no plants in over a month, and very few are still being caught. Catfish, bass, bluegill, and carp are all showing in decent numbers. Rene Errriquez, Riverside, landed three trout, a bass, two catfish, and one bluegill fishing nightcrawlers in the big lake this past week. Leonard Goodloe, Rialto, had four trout and two cats on Power Bait and chicken liver. Salvador Navarro, Fontana, landed three cats to a pound on stink bait, while Rory Frezze, Rialto, had three trout and three cats on nightcrawler at the spillway. 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 this week and three weeks ago. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: Largemouth action was excellent this past week. Anglers were posting 20 to 40 fish days with many quality fish using just about anything in their tackle box. Trout fishing has been good for boaters and shore anglers alike. Nightcrawlers, spinnerbaits, and mini jigs have been working best for the rainbows. Jake Altamirano, 7, Fontana, caught a seven-pound trout using Power Bait. Striper action was slow again this week but a few big fish were still reported. Louie Rabadi, Lake Elsinore, caught a 9.26-pound striper on a plug. The catfish bite continues to improve with many fish over eight pounds reported. Mackerel and anchovies are working very well with shrimp and chicken liver also been producing a few fish. The top spots have been the saddle dam, Rawson Cove, and near the attenuator. The panfish bite broke wide open this week with anglers reporting good numbers of bluegill, readear, and crappie. Anglers fishing with minijigs, mealworms, or nightcrawlers along the dams have had the most success. 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 is good. Anglers reported excellent action around the island on redworms and crickets, and the marina has seen pretty good action as well. Some of the redear are topping 1 ½ pounds. Also some crappie mixed in with the redear and bluegill. Largemouth action is still fair with most of the reports coming from the east end with several fish up into the six-pound and better range reported. Trout action remains just fair, but the DFG added fish this week and three weeks ago. Mostly slow other species but there was one big carp caught. Kevin Pierce, Ontario, caught a 18.2-pound carp on a nightcrawler fishing near the marina. The park is back 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 largemouth action was excellent this past week. The east end and the south shore have been the top spots with dark plastics and nightcrawlers still the top baits. Andrew Clark, Wildomar, caught two largemouth to 8-8 on a plastic worm at the south shore. Catfish action continues to improve with the warmer weather. Chicken liver and mackerel have been the most reported baits. There was also a catfish plant this past week so that should only help improve the bite. Alex Garcia, Moreno Valley, caught three catfish to 7.2 pounds on mackerel at the south shore. Carp action has been good for those targeting them. They are primarily being caught in the reeds on nightcrawlers. Glen Fischer, San Diego, caught a 22-pound carp on a nightcrawler at the east end. Striper action has slowed considerably and is just fair. Best bet has still been chicken liver with fish to four pounds showing. A few trout are still showing but the bite has been mostly slow. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: The catfish and carp action has continued very good. The cats have been best on shrimp, shad, and nightcrawlers, and the quality remains excellent with a lot of fish topping five pounds. The carp are stacked up in the shallows and anglers fishing dough baits or prepared carp baits are getting a lot of fish. Bowfishermen for the carp is also legal here now. The wiper action has been improving this week with several fish to 21 inches, well over the 18-inch minimum size, and these keeper fish are mostly over four pounds. Rat-L-Traps and live shad are best. Roy Easley, Elsinore, had three keeper wipers and lost several others. Still very few crappie are being taken with only a handful reported this past week, but they are mostly nice fish from 1-8 to two pounds. Light fishing pressure on the largemouth, but that bite has been pretty fair. 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 bite really took off this past week after the first major plants of the season last Thursday, and the trout action has continued very good even though the final plant of the season was two weeks ago. Most of the catfish are in the two to three-pound range, and the bite has been best on cut baits with mackerel the initial front runner. Armanda Gonzales and Luis Osnaya, Riverside, had six catfish that weighed 13 1/2 pounds, including a five pounder, while John Smith, Corona, and Charles Knott, Palmdale, had nine cats for 26 1/2 pounds with a four-pounder their top fish. Samantha Mickschl, Pico Rivera, landed a pair of cats at 3 1/2 and two pounds. All were using mackerel. The best trout of the week were seven-pound and 6 1/2-pounder caught by Matt Rodrigues, Chino, fishing chartreuse Nitro Bait at the rocks. He also had fish at 5 1/4 and 4 1/2-pounds on a different day fishing at the dam shoreline. There has also been a fair to good bite on bluegill, bass, and sturgeon for the anglers targeting these fish. 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.
RANCHO JURUPA: The trout bite has slowed way down with no plants since March 26. Other species also slow. Catfish were slated to be planted last Thursday. No reports. 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 season has kicked off with good action now that the weather is warming up. The best bite has been on chicken liver, mackerel, and shrimp. Plants twice a month. Still the odd trout showing up in the catch, too. 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 plants went in this week and three 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. The odd bass 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: The catfish bite kicked into high gear after the season’s first major plant last Thursday and the bite has been very good ever since, and the trout action has remained pretty good in spite of no plants for two weeks. The best catfish action has been on shrimp or nightcrawlers doused with Eagle Claw Gravy, and there have been some impressive stringers reported with the fish averaging between two and three pounds. One of the best catfish reported was a 6 1/2-pounder caught by Tanya Apelian, Lakewood, fishing shrimp at the boat dock. Eric Apellian, Lakewood, and Bryan Gemoll, Moreno Valley, landed 12 catfish that weighed a total of 48 pounds, including a six-pounder, fishing shrimp near the dock. Ulises Rojas and Jerry Ortega, both Anaheim, landed 10 cats that weighed 27 1/2 pounds fishing nightcrawlers at the Bubble Hole. Dave Beaver, Anaheim, had a five-catfish, 17 1/2-pound stringer with his top fish at 5 1/4 pounds while fishing shrimp at the boat dock. Gilbert Ahumada, Bellflower, landed five cats that weighed 17 pounds and his best cat at 4 1/2 pounds and he was also fishing shrimp near the dock, dousing his with Gravy. The trout bite has also continued pretty good with some quality rainbows and a few brown trout showing. The top rainbow was a 9 1/2-pounder caught by Derrick Kash, Carson, fishing a krill dough bait at Levitz’ Corner. Udayan Sarma, Tujunga, landed an 8 1/4-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler at Three Pipes, while George and Harry Tebelekian, both Los Angeles, landed five rainbows to eight pounds fishing lures at Three Pipes. More and more sturgeon are also showing in the catch with more anglers fishing shrimp and other cut baits. Steve Anna, Trabuco Canyon, landed and released a 34-pounder on a dough bait. Daniel Henley, Norco, caught a 7 1/2-pound sturgeon on dough bait, while Joshua Woodall, Long Beach, landed a five-pound sturgeon on a nightcrawler. 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: Fair to good trout action. The trout have started to move deeper with anglers trolling in 20 to 30 feet of water having the most success. Most of the trout have been in the one to five-pound range with not as many big fish reported as in recent weeks. Randy Garcia, Long Beach, scored a 5-12 rainbow on nightcrawlers in the flats. The bass action has been very good with 20 to 30 fish days pretty common. Plastics, jigs, jerkbaits, and topwater lures all working well. Jim Eaves, Irvine, caught a 4-8 largemouth on topwater at the red clay cliffs. Good crappie bite in the submerged trees at Santiago Flats on white Atomic Tubes with a mealworm trailer. Bluegill and redear numbers are steadily increasing for anglers offering mealworms or waxworms. A few hybrid striper catches were reported once again around Santiago Flats. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 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: Trout action has been fair with nightcrawlers and crankbaits producing fish. Bass action is just fair with plastics, topwater, and nightcrawlers all producing fish. Jason Christmann, Moorpark, caught six bass on topwater lures. The crappie bite slowed considerably this past week with very few reports. Slow other species. 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 20 to 30 feet of water on live shad, if you can dip net some early in the morning, or nightcrawlers and plastics. The shad have been showing in bigger schools on the surface, but still not a lock. Top bass this week was a 10-pounder caught by Jennifer Lovell, Box Canyon, on a live shad. Robert Davis, Newberry Park, landed a 9-8 while
T.J. Hanna, Ojai, had an 8-8 bass, both catches on live shad. Steve Virtue, Ventura, used shad for his 7-12 and 7-8 bass, while Sara Morosan, Glendora, had a 7-8 on shad. Paul Baradat, Oxnard, caught a 7-4 on a Robo worm. Bass at seven pounds were caught by Travis Walters, Oakview, Shawn Flaherty, Oakview, and Joey LeSeur, Ojai. The catfish bite is slowly improving and quite a few quality fish are being reported on mackerel and nightcrawlers. Cody Smith, Oxnard, caught an 11-pound cat, while fishing buddy Leman Harmon, Oxnard, caught a 10-8 cat. Both were fishing nightcrawlers. The trout bite slowed with just a few nicer quality fish to three pounds showing for trollers working 30 to 40 feet of water at the dam, creek channels and off main lake points with Needlefish or similar baits. A few rainbows are also showing on drifted nightcrawlers fished in the same depths. Redear really improving in the backs of most coves with a lot of fish still on beds. Quite a few fish to nearly two pounds on nightcrawler pieces, and most are in less than 15 feet of water. Crappie are still mostly slow. Private boats will be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The upper lake will be stocked with rainbows this week. The striper action has been very good. Anchovies and sardines have been the top baits with very few showing on swimbaits but this week's trout plant could change that. Sharron's Rest, Kong Island, and Elizabeth Canyon have been the best spots if you want to score a big striper, and the top spots for striper numbers has been the buoy line or the dam. Largemouth action is excellent with the best bite on plastics, crankbaits, nightcrawlers, and shad colored minnow. The best bite has been in the late afternoon into the evening. Jon Salkeld, Castaic, caught five largemouth totaling 16 pounds with a seven-pounder topping the catch. Jimmy Yu, Valencia, scored four largemouth totaling 15.5 pounds with a 5.8-pounder topping his catch. Some crappie and bluegill are showing on jigs and small nightcrawler pieces. Information: 661-775-6232 or Castaic Lake | Home.
PIRU: Fair to good action with a nice mix of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and redear all showing for anglers. The best bass bite has been on plastics fished in six to 25 feet of water with some fish on swimbaits and nightcrawlers. 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 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 trout action has been pretty good after DFG plants last week and three weeks ago with the best action in and around the marina. Most are pan-sized and showing on floating baits and small lures. 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. The redear and bluegill bites are improving but not getting much pressure, yet. 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: There were DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago, and anglers are still getting decent numbers of fish on floating baits from deeper water, mostly off the ends of the fishing piers. 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 with fish on spawning beds. Most are hand-sized and smaller and anglers have to find an area of beds. Some bigger redear showing in a little deeper water than the bluegill. Carp are spawning and in the shallows. Little fishing pressure but anglers targeting them are getting some nice fish. Also a few crappie up to 1-8 showing. Catfish slow. Information East Shore RV Park: 909-599-8355 (ask for the market).
SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago. The bass action has improved, but only a few bluegill and catfish reported. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and three weeks ago.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
LEGG LAKES: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant three weeks ago. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: There were 180 anglers checked and they reported catching 795 bass in good bite. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
HODGES: Just fair bass action. This past week, there were 77 anglers who landed 34 bass, 20 crappie, and one catfish. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
EL CAPITAN: There were 26 anglers checked who reported 42 bass, 22 bluegill, 10 crappie, and 10 catfish. 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 246 anglers checked and they reported catching 216 bass to 7.1 pounds and 222 bluegill to 1.1 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 16 anglers checked and they reported 14 bass to six pounds and 17 bluegill. 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: DFG trout plant four weeks ago. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or City Lakes and Recreation Program | Water. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind.
MIRAMAR: There were 37 anglers checked and they reported catching seven bass, 16 bluegill, and one rainbow trout. 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 43 anglers who landed 82 bass, 25 bluegill, six crappie, and 14 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: Very good largemouth action again this past week. Lots of bigger fish continue to show from the south shore. Shad Raps, dark colored plastics, and crankbaits are all working well. Efrain Lopez, Escondido, caught a 10.35-pound largemouth on a spinnerbait at the west buoy line. Ben Williamson, Ramona, caught a 9-1 largemouth on a swimbait at Lusardi Point. Trout fishing slowed some but Willow Cove and Senior Shoreline continue to be the hot spots with green Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers the top baits. The last trout plant of the season went in two weeks ago. 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 plants this week and two weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: Excellent trout action with many of the trophy fish that went in two weeks ago still being caught. Nightcrawlers, rainbow and green Power Bait, Power Worms, Kastmasters, Roostertails, and Thomas Buoyant lures all produced fish this past week. Top catch this past week goes to Ben Cabling, Temecula, who scored a 9-10 trout on green Power Bait and Power Worm combo fishing Whisker Bay. Some of the smaller bass are starting to move into the shallows as the weather warms up and the spawn should kick off soon. One anglers reported catching and releasing 20 bass to four pounds in one day of fishing. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: No report. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Night fishing kicked off this past week with only fair action. The backs of the coves were the top spots with mackerel and nightcrawlers the top choices for bait. A few trout were caught by accident by anglers fishing for catfish. The last trout plant of the season went in over a month ago. The largemouth bite has been slowish with the fish now in post-spawn. Some males are still in the shallows but the bigger females have moved into deeper water. Information: 619-390-1300 or Lake Jennings - Helix Water District Drinking Water Reservoir.
MORENA: No report. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or *Lake Morena, Fishing,Camping, picnics, hiking, Real Estate, Insurance, Lake Morena, Campo.
CUYAMACA: Good trout action with quite a few limits reported. Power Bait and nightcrawlers are working best and the top spots have been Lone Pine and Pumphouse Cove. There is also a good crappie bite with a couple limits reported. DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. 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: No report. 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 slow, but Rich Loura, Las Vegas, landed fish at 17 and 18 pounds last Friday at Marker 52. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The largemouth bass bite is fair to good. Also improving striper action over the past week with the fish mostly in 30 to 50 feet. Best action in the Cottonwood area and main lake upstream from the dam. Best bet is to slow-troll or drift with anchovies or sardines. Catfish are slow on cut baits. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: More and more stripers are being landed with a lot of fish in the four-pound range, including one reported at just over eight pounds this past week by local guide Del Oden. Smallmouth fair to good along rip-rap and the smallies might be the best bet right now. Trout are still showing in surprisingly decent numbers. 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 one into Topoc Gorge, mostly on small cranks. Improving striper action, with the best bite early in the morning on fish under two pounds on cut bait. Catfish improving on cut baits, but still just fair. The striper action has also been starting to turn on with more fish in the river this past week. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The smallmouth bite is good throughout Topock Gorge with a lot of fish in the three-pound range, and the redear action is still good but waning with fish to 2-8. Most anglers are using nightcrawler pieces for the redear. Stripers are finally starting to improve with some consistent action in the river and gorge. Frank and Ailean Scott, Sun City, Ariz., caught four stripers from two to three pounds, a three-pound channel cat, and four rainbow trout to three pounds in the gorge. The crappie bite has slowed down and is likely over for the season. Catfish are fair in both the main river and marsh on cut baits. 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 threadfin shad are spawning throughout the main basin and Bill Williams arm and the stripers are up on the surface boiling on the shad most mornings before 6:30 a.m. The stripers drop deep after that, showing in 40 to 55 feet of water on the main dropoffs on anchovies. Most stripers under four pounds, but a few over, and the bite is fair to good. The smallmouth bite has slowed way down, but the largemouth are in a pretty good post-spawn bite on buzz baits or frogs on top early and then slow-fall plastics later in the day. Redear are showing in good numbers again after a lull last week between the moon phases. Nightcrawlers are the best bet with a lot of quality redear over a pound and up to three 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. The catfish bite has broken wide open for both channels and flatheads, with a lot of quality flatheads to 25 pounds reported. Area backwaters and ditches are pretty good for catfish, bass, and panfish, too. 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. Quite a few stripers showing at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. James Smith, Victorville, landed stripers at 12, 16, and 17 pounds, and largemouth bass at 4-8 and three pounds fishing anchovies and topwater lures. Best bite at the diversion dam has been out of the main current and close to shore. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Very light fishing pressure, but all the bites have broken wide open in the Palo Verde Lagoon and the main river. Lots of quality flatheads this past week with a number of fish over 20 pounds reported, with a lot of eight to 15 pounders 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 finally hit 90 degrees this week. 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 over the past week. A few crappie reported in recent days, and the 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 schooling up and showing in pretty decent numbers. 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. The catfish bite also turned on this past week, 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 flowing high with runoff, but plants in the main river and Little Walker River have kept the fishing fair. Best action deeper pools and the fish are taking slowly-fished baits. 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. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: The East Walker river has been pretty good with the best bite on small midge patterns and caddis fished under an indicator or as part of a dry-dropper arrangement. Flows at 220 cfs this past week and very fishable. Crowded on weekends, and it will be mobbed this weekend. Bridgeport Reservoir improved with good action this past week, especially for trollers and bait and fly anglers in boats. Shore fishing has been tougher. Thirty fish days have been common. Twin Lakes are fair to good for planted rainbows with holdover rainbows and browns from two to three pounds showing for both bait and lure fishermen. Virginia Lakes are still ice-capped and the ice was still around 18-inches thick this past weekend. Excellent fishing through the ice, however. 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. Top action has probably been from the shore of June on Kastmasters, while Grand Lake has been good on floating baits in yellow and peach. 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. 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 and the ice is finally nearly gone on upper lakes. 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 still has lots of snow and ice, but all the lakes are mostly open. Sabrina’s water level is coming up slowly. 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 this week. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to Lone PineChamber of Commerce | the Other Side of California.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: Still a very good crappie bite here, but the fishing was tough due to wind and cold weather over the weekend. Most of the fish are half- to three-quarter pound with some bigger fish coming for anglers fishing bigger minnows. The catfish also got tougher with the cool-down, but the action is still good and the forecast is for a hot weekend which should turn this bite right back on. Most cats are two to four-pound fish and being caught on shad, mackerel, Sonny’s catfish dip bait, and clams. Largemouth bass are fair with big fish up chasing trout and other baitfish. Quite a few five-plus fish landed on swimbaits and plastics. Trout action is still good at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Bluegill still spotty. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Flows in the upper river dropped with cooler weather early this week, but the trout action is still tough with the best bite on nightcrawlers and bigger spinners fished in the heavy flows. Trout plants this week. Lower River also very high and tough to fish. The fly-fishing bite has been very tough. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or Fly Fishing the Kern River) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: For the second week in a row, a whopper striper was caught here. Robert Robles, Bakersfield, landed a butter-fat 30-pounder fishing an anchovy this past week. Most of the stripers have been in the three to four pound class and the bite has been pretty good, mostly on baits with blood worms and sand worms the best bet. The catfish action has been as good or better on cut baits. Richard Stevens, Bakersfield, landed cats at seven and eight pounds on chicken livers, while Rich Arbizu, Bakersfield, landed a seven-pounder on a sand worm. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Fair bluegill action on wax worms with a lot of hand-sized fish showing, but the warmer weather should kick this bite into gear again. Carp are fair on homemade dough baits or Powder Bait, and 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 fair to good on Powder Bait. Bass and crappie spotty.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is fair to good on wax worms, and the carp action remains fair on homemade dough baits and Powder Bait. There are a few bass showing on minnows, nightcralwers, and plastics.
MING LAKE: The carp bite is good on Powder Bait and other dough baits. There has been a fair to good bite on bluegill, mostly on wax worms and meal worms, and the bass action is fair, mostly 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: Very good catfish action on frozen shad or green garlic nightcrawlers, with most of the cats running from three to five pounds. The lake is being planted every couple of weeks, and there is a five-fish limit on the cats here. Alyssa Beeler, Bakersfield, landed a five-pound cat on shad. The bluegill action has been fair to good on wax worms, but the crappie have been very spotty on live minnows. Stripers spotty. 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: Fair to good bass action Senkos, and some bluegill and catfish also starting to show. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The redear and bluegill are really starting to take off with both moving shallow, and the bass are showing on plastics and reaction baits. Some catfish beginning to show. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Excellent striped bass action for the past two weeks with the best action on live or frozen anchovies. Trollers and topwater anglers are getting a few fish. The stripers are running from three to six pounds with some bigger fish in the 15 to 22-pound class reported. The catfish action is also improving, but there have been few other reports. Information: 805-472-2818.
NACIMIENTO: The crappie bite has slowed down with just fair action on live minnows or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The fish are nearing the end of the spawn. The white bass are in the Dip Creek and mostly showing on slow-trolled Roostertails and silver spoons. Both the smallmouth and largemouth bites are fair, but the spawn in pretty much over and the fish have shifted into a summer mode with some topwater early and late in the day and then better action in deep water after the dawn-dusk flurries on top. The catfish bite is improving, too, and anglers targeting carp are seeing excellent action. Information: 805-238-1056 or Lake Nacimiento Resort and Marina.
SANTA MARGARITA: A new lake record largemouth bass was caught here this past Saturday when Kenny Sims, Bakersfield, landed a 13.47-pounder. Scott West, Morro Bay, landed a 12-4 largemouth on Friday. Overall, the action has improved across the board here, with generally fair to good action on bass, and more bluegill, redear, and crappie finally showing. Catfish are still spotty. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: Fair to good largemouth bass action, with a lot of post-spawn fish showing on plastics, spinnerbaits and nightcrawlers. Steve LaBuff, Los Osos, caught bass at 3-8 and 2-4. The bluegill and redear bites are both good, especially on Strawberry Flats, and more and more catfish are starting to show. Crappie still tough. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFG's web site at California Department of Fish & Game Fisheries Fish Planting Schedule by Regions.
LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lake, Cerritos Park lake, Jackson Lake.
ORANGE: Trabuco Creek.
SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Reservoir, Doane Pond.
RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Reservoir, Strawberry Creek.
SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Jenks Lake, Lake Gregory, Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park lake, Santa Ana River, Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake, South Fork of the Santa Ana River.
INYO: Big Pine Creek,,Bishop Creek Dam Intake No. 2, Diaz Lake, George Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Middle Fork Bishop Creek, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Shepherd Creek, South Fork Bishop Creek, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, 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 Owens River from Benton Crossing to Crowley Lake, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport, Virginia Creek, Walker River (Little), West Walker River Section 2.
KERN: Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville.
TULARE: Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge.
FRESNO: Big Creek near Kings, Dinkey Creek, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, Shaver Lake.
MADERA: Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, lower Chiquito Creek, West Fork Chiquito Creek.
CATFISH PLANTS
No Department of Fish and Game catfish plants this week.
