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FISHING REPORTS -- Jim MMatthews-ONS -- 17may06
Compiled by 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 n 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@earthlink.net. Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com. 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: www.dfg.ca.gov.
PICKS OF THE WEEK 1. This is still the top bite and news: Salton Sea tilapia are back. Anglers are filling ice chests with these tasty gamefish just like a decade ago. The bite has been on nightcrawler pieces and two-hook rigs, with anglers catching the fish two at a time. The tilapia are packed along the east shorelines spawning. Most are eight to 10 inches long, but some to 1-8 have been reported. For more information, contact the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. 2. The catfish bite at Hesperia Lake is already good and weekly plants of 3,000 pounds of trophy cats over 10 pounds -- and up to 45 pounds -- are making this a continuing top pick. The little high desert lake is also getting 3,000 pounds of cats from 1-8 to 10-0 each week. Catfish to 20 pounds and better are caught daily, and there have been some near-100-pound stringers for five fish. The hot bait has been the marshmallow-shrimp combo, fondly called the shrimp cocktail. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. 3. Diamond Valley Lake has been cranking out so many quality bass that regulars here expect to catch at least a couple of honest 4-0 to 5-0 class bass each time they fish this lake. The fish are mostly in water less than 15 feet deep and plastic baits have been as effective as anything else. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com. For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410 if you want to local a guide.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Trout season in the low elevation lakes is winding down. Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake will continue to be planted through May, and Irvine Lake is still pretty decent for the trout. Angler's Lake in Hemet remains a sleeper spot but this week marks its last trout plant. Hesperia Lake is done planting trout, but a lot of holdover fish are still being caught. Other good bets include Diamond Valley Lake which had a plant last week and produces trout to 5-0 and better each week. Big Bear Lake is starting to turn on with warm weather (but it will be mobbed this weekend with anglers fishing the May Trout Classic), and Gregory and Green Valley lakes have been planted again in the past week. And, of course, there's the Sierra Nevada. Top bets in the Sierra would be Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoir, other waters are a little off and many of the streams are blown out with runoff.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Top pick is Diamond Valley Lake, but Casitas is a close second. Both lakes are producing a lot of quality fish. DVL might be better for numbers, but Casitas' anglers were able to dip live shad this week. It's a tossup. Other good picks are Perris, San Vicente, Sutherland, Lower Otay, El Capitan, Piru, Pyramid, Castaic, Cachuma, and the whole lower Colorado River. All are good right now, but the post-spawn blues are creeping up on some spots. There also continues to be excellent spotted bass bite at Lake Nacimiento on the Central Coast. Silverwood is also starting to turn on.
STRIPED BASS: The striped bass bite is very good in the California Aqueduct near Taft and where the Kern River dumps into the aquaduct. Lots of sub-legal fish under the 18-inch minimum size, but a lot of 3-0 to 5-0 bass are showing on lug worms. For Southern California waters, Silverwood and Skinner have consistent bites on small fish, and Castaic and Pyramid are also starting to come out of a long funk. The best bets are still on the Colorado River. Lake Mead has an excellent morning surface bite as fish bust shad on the surface in Vegas Wash. PANFISH: The bluegill bites are surpassing the picks on crappie most places this week. There is very good bluegill action at Lower Otay, El Capitan, and Perris. There are also good and budding bluegill bites at Hodges, Sutherland, and San Vicente. Another bite of real note is the excellent tilapia action at the Salton Sea, mostly on the east shoreline. Most of the fish are hand-sized but the action has been wide open with catches of 100 fish or more common. Crappie have sputtered, but the best action is at Piru, El Capitan, Hodges, and Lower Otay. CATFISH: On the Colorado River, the flathead bite is breaking wide open in the lower river with a number of flatheads to 40-0 reported the past couple of weeks, mostly on live bluegill, goldfish or tilapia. Lake Isabella has a good bite on channel cats to 4-0 near the dam on frozen anchovies or shad. Best bet closer to SoCal would be Hesperia Lake on planted fish, with some cats over 20-0 reported again in the past week, and the lake is getting 6,000 pounds of cats per week now.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS SILVERWOOD: Trout action has been good around the marina docks, Cleghorn Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Quiet Cove. DFG trout plants this week in the lake and Miller Canyon Creek should keep this bite perking along. Lots of limits and many fish are up to 1-8 with some holdover fish even bigger. Karen Spencer, Lucerne Valley, had four trout to 4-0 and a catfish on her stringer. The largemouth bass are fair with some good flurries of action. Best action has been on plastics and reaction baits. Stripers are fair off most rocky points in the main lake channel on anchovies, with a few fish showing on reaction baits. Carol Smith, Fontana, caught a 6-0 striper on anchovies in Outhouse Cove. Catfish starting to show in the main channel on cut baits. Bluegill and crappie are still spotty. For more information, contact the marina at (760) 389-2299, the state park at (760) 389-2281, or the Silverwood Country store at (760) 389-2423. BIG BEAR LAKE: The Jim Hall Memorial Trout Classic is set for this weekend with a full field of 400 entrants. The lake will be planted with a load of trophy trout from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms this week. Overall, the trout action has been very good with a lot of limits posted by anglers trolling three to four colors of leadcore and Needlefish through the middle of the lake from Gilner Point to Eagle Point. Shore anglers are seeing good action from the dam to Windy Point as well as the mouths of Metcalf and Boulder bays. Nitro Bait with Gravy have led to easy limits. Other species still slow. Upcoming events: Third Annual Carp Round-Up will be June 10-11. Contact Mike Stephenson at (909) 866-5796. For fishing information, call Big Bear Marina at (909) 866-3218 or Big Bear Sporting Goods at (909) 866-3222. GREGORY LAKE: Fair to good action after a DFG plant last week. Some limits with trout to 1-8 and a few bigger. The best action has been on Power Worm, trolled Needlefish, and Power Bait. For information, call the boat dock at (909) 338-2233. GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Very good action for trout with both DFG and Mt. Lassen Trout Farm plants last week. Top fish was a 9-0 landed by Sean Foogt, Colton, on a Power Worm. Kevin Stevens, Rialto, caught a 6-7, while Gentry Fergusson, Chino, landed a 6-4. Joel Salinas, 5, Indio, caught a 5-0 rainbow. Best action has been along the south shore on floating baits, trout worms, and trout jigs. Fishing fee is $15 per adult. For more information, call the lake recording at (909) 867-2009. ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and two weeks ago. For information, call the Mill Creek Ranger Station at (909) 794-1123.
HIGH DESERT LAKES HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish season is here with weekly plants of both trophy fish over 10 pounds (3,000 pounds) and pan-sized cats (another 3,000 pounds). Broodstock catfish to 45 pounds are being planted this season. The catfish bite is wide open. Top cat this past week was a 21-0 landed by Ray Garcia, Pomona, on the M&M (marshmallow-meal worm) combo, while Del Wilcox, Santa Ana, landed an 18-8 cat. Bill Lanchard, Temecula, caught cats at 17-8 and 15-12. The trout action also remains pretty good even though plants have stopped until fall. Jorge Rivera landed a 14-8 cat on a Power Minnow, while Gary Larson, Santa Monica, caught a 14-0. Earl Hines, Los Angeles, caught trout at 13-8 and 12-0, while Cindy Grant, Corona, landed a 13-0. Jody Carlton, Ontario, caught a 12-0 rainbow. Five $100 tagged cats are also planted each week. Fishing fee is now $15 per person because of the increase in fish prices. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. JESS RANCH: Continued very good trout action with a lot of limits. Most of the trout are 1-8 to 3-0 but a few bigger fish are caught each week. Best action on Power Bait, trout jigs, and inflated nightcrawlers. There is also a hot bluegill bite in both lakes on meal worms and wax worms. Top catches this week included a 19-6 five-fish rainbow limit posted by Walter Essary, Beaumont. The stringer included trout at 5-13 and 4-8. Anthony Frazier, La Puente, had trout at 5-0 and 4-3, and Jeff Brooks, Apple Valley, also had a 5-0 trout. Auliya Gurzenda, 8, Adelant, caught a 4-0 rainbow, and her 11-year-old sister caught a 3-4 trout. The lakes are open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they are planted each Friday. For more information, call (760) 240-1107. The web site is www.jessranchlakes.net. MOJAVE NARROWS: There continues to be a fair to good mixed bag bite with trout, catfish and bluegill showing in decent numbers. Not a lot of limits, but many anglers are getting a trout or two with fish up to 2-0 reported. Gary DeFrench, Crestline, landed five catfish to 4-0 on nightcrawlers. Sky Caragoza, Victorville, landed three trout to 2-0, while Mike Reiter, Hesperia, caught a pair of rainbows with the big fish also a 2-0. Trout have been best on nightcrawlers or Power Bait. DFG trout plant this week. County catfish plants start May 27. For more information, call (760) 245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants start May 27. For information, call (909) 481-4205. PRADO: County catfish plants start May 27. For information, call (909) 597-4260. YUCAIPA: The trout bite has tanked, but the catfish action has been fair, even without any plants yet this season. Most of the cats reported have been from 2-0 to 3-4. County catfish plants start May 27. For park information, call (909) 790-3127. GLEN HELEN: Still a few holdover trout showing but this bite has slowed to nearly nothing. The catfish action is fair on holdover fish from previous summers' plants. The first county catfish plant of this year will be for the May 27 weekend. For more information, call (909) 887-7540. MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. For information, call (909) 982-4246. SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, call city parks at (909) 384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: A new lake record for bluegill was caught this past week when John Arganda, Menifee, landed a 3.06-pound slab on a nightcrawler near the saddle dam. The bluegill and redear action is really breaking wide open on live worms or small jigs. Quite a few 3/4-pound to 1 1/4-pound fish. The largemouth bass bite has been good to excellent with Zoom brush hogs the hot baits. The north side of the lake has been best with the fish on points and still in the backs of coves. Lots of fish to 4-0 reported. Trout fishing from shore is still good after a plant last Thursday. Best action on Power Bait or inflated or fly-lined nightcrawlers. Trollers working the east dam are getting a few fish, but boat anglers reported few limits this week. Brian Reed, Hemet, caught a 4.77-pound rainbow trolling flashers and a nightcrawler at the east dam. Catfish fair to good with a lot of fish to 4-0 and some whopper. Jarren Klohr caught a 21-0 blue cat. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com. For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410. PERRIS: The trout action has continued very good in the marina, launch ramp area, and lots 11 and 12. There is also a DFG plant slated for this week. George Willoughby, Loma Linda, had a pair of trout that weighed 3.93 pounds and the big fish was a 2.1 pounder. The bluegill action is also starting to kick into high gear along the dam and in the marina area. Kelly Taylor Tucket, 3, Bellflower, caught a 1-2 bluegill on a meal worm from the marina dock. There is also a pretty decent catfish bite on the south side of the island and into the east end. Matt Leverett, Riverside, landed a 23-2 cat tossing a crankbait for bass. The bass action has been very spotty with most of the fish moving off nests and in a post-spawn lull. There are some huge carp cruising the shorelines, but few anglers are fishing them. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. For more information on fishing call the marina at (951) 657-2179 or the state park at (951) 940-5600. SKINNER: There has been a good bite on quality largemouth bass here in the past two weeks, and the stripers are starting to show in better numbers early and late in the day at the inlet. Top bass reported this week was a 7-0 landed by Josh Moreno, Hemet, on a Yamamota bait at Ramp 2. The bluegill bite has also turned on with a lot of stringers showing now. A few trout continue to be caught, but the bite is tough. Travis Jakovcic, Pennsylvania, caught a 5-0 rainbow. Catfish also fair. For fishing information, call the marina at (951) 926-1505. LAKE ELSINORE: No reports. CORONA LAKE: Good trout and catfish action, and enough bass, bluegill, and crappie are showing to add some spice to the catch. Top fish this past week was a 13 1/2-pound catfish landed by Paul Hoggatt, Texas, on mackerel. The best rainbow was a 7-0 landed by Dane Fields, Riverside. The cats are showing on mackerel and Catfish Nitro Biscuits in the flooded trees and south end of the lake, while the trout are working the surface early in the morning, hitting Lip RipperZ soaked in anise or garlic Gravy fished on a bobber. Later in the day, the trout move deep and orange Nitro Bait on a short leader has been the hot ticket. Trout and catfish are planted each week. For more information, call the tackle shop at (951) 277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com. EVANS LAKE: No reports. RANCHO JURUPA: No reports. For more information, call (951) 684-7032. FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout season is over, but catfish plants are every other week now. The next plant is this week and there will be a catfish derby Saturday. For information, call (909) 795-2411. WHITEWATER TROUT FARM: Closed. For more information, call (760) 325-5570. ANGLER'S LAKE: Trout season is winding down here with the last plant of the season this week. Catfish plants start next week, but the catfish action has already been pretty fair with fish to 4-0 reported. Jeff Gates, Hemet, landed a 9-0 trout this past week. Catch and release bass action is fair on plastics. For information, call the lake at (951) 927-2614. REFLECTION LAKE: Fair to trout action after last week's final trout plant of the season. First catfish plants set to go in May 25. For more information, contact the lake at (951) 654-7906. JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Good catfish action on chicken liver dough baits for fish to 2-0 and better. Major stock on Tuesday this week, and plants will be regular through October. Lake open Wednesday through Sunday. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. For more information, call (951) 679-6562
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: A DFG trout plant this week. Fair to good action. For more information, contact the Lake Hemet Market at (951) 659-2350 or the campground at (951) 659-2680. FULMOR LAKE: DFG plant last week. For more information, contact (951) 659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Weekly plants of trout and catfish have kept both bites good. Big fish this week was a 15 1/2-pound trout caught by Norma Larson, Rialto, Ryan Carino, Long Beach, caught a 13 1/2-pound rainbow. Holly Gray, Orange, landed a 10.4-pound trout, and Albert Younan, Reseda, had a limit topped off by a 9-0 rainbow. Best catfish stringer was a five-fish limit that weighed 29 pounds caught by Vanessa Kane, Cypress. Her big cat was a 15.7-pounder, and they were all caught on nightcrawlers from the Catfish Lake. The warm weather has also turned on the bass and bluegill action, especially in the Catfish Lake, and many anglers are getting nice mixed stringers of fish. For more information, call (714) 632-7830 for the information recording or log on at www.fishinglakes.com. ANAHEIM LAKE: Lake is closed. For more information, call (714) 996-3508 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.fishinglakes.com. IRVINE LAKE: Good mixed bag action here this week. Trout have moved deeper and bait anglers and trollers are scoring rainbows up to 5-0 with a lot of 1-0 to 2-0 class fish. Best spots for bait fishing have been Trout Island and along the west shore. Trollers are working mid-lake, Rocky Point, and near the dam. Cris Edwards, Tustin, landed a 7-0 rainbow, while Adam Cross, La Mirada, had a 6-6. Bobby Blandino, Chino Hills, caught a 6-2 trout. Bass remain excellent around submerged brush with reaction baits best early and then dropshot plastics later in the day. Bluegill good along most shorelines, crappie spotty with schools harder to locate, and catfish improving daily. For information, call (714) 649-9111. LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: For a recorded fish report, call (949) 362-3885 or visit the lake's Web site at www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Good trout and bass action. The trout action has shifted into Cachuma Bay with trollers getting fish in 10 feet of water on the usual small lures. There was also a DFG plant last week. The largemouth action is fair to good with most of the action in 4 to 12 feet of water, and quite a few smallmouth are showing, too. The crappie bite has started to kick into gear with some fish showing in the Mohawk area. More redear are also starting to show off Jackrabbit Flats and in Harvey's Cove. For fishing information call the boat dock at (805) 688-4040. CASITAS: The bass action continues good and anglers have been able to dip net shad for bait this week. The live shad have let to some wide open fishing, but a lot of 2-0 class fish, but plastics and big swimbaits are also still good bets. Top bass this week was a 13-1 caught by Doc Holliday, Walnut, on a Stocker Trout. He also had a 9-1. Ross Contreras, Oxnard, landed a 12-5 bass on a live shad Wednesday this week. Lavon Akopyan, Santa Paula, had four bass from 6-0 to 10-0 for a 31-0 total. Randy Kurz, Oxnard, and T.J. Hanna, Ojai, each had bass at 8-0. The trout bite for trollers has been pretty good this week. Finally. Limits of rainbows were posted by Jim Strong and Cheryl Sawyer, both of Newberry Park, trolling Kastmasters. A few catfish to 4-0 have been reported, and there are some crappie on small jigs or shad. Redear and bluegill fair. For more information, contact the marina at (805) 649-2043. CASTAIC: The largemouth bass remain good with fish to 4-0 being caught but few bigger fish. Still some fish on beds, but most have moved off. Derek DeLeon, Saugus, had a 4-8 bass to top off a four-fish stringer. He was fishing worms in shallow water. The stripers have finally come up out of deep water with fish in 20 feet of less of water at the buoy line and West Ramp. Galen Tsabetsaye, Canyon Country, landed an 18-0 striper on a homemade plug. Trout were plant in the main lake last week. For more information, contact the marina at (661) 775-6232. PIRU: Good redear and crappie with nice stringers of both species showing. Bill Sinok, Sunland, had 25 crappie to 2-0 and he released another 50 fish. Alex Velenzuela and Andrew Pinto, Los Angeles, had a stringer of crappie that weighed 18-6, including a couple of fish in the 2-0 range. Most crappie are 3/4-pound or smaller. Dan Wise, Chatsworth, had a stringer of crappie and redear with a 1-6 redear his top fish. Best action has been on small jigs. The bass bite also remains good with a lot of 2-0 class fish but bass to 7-0 have been reported in the past week. Trout still showing after a plant last week with the best action off the points for both trollers and bait anglers. There will fishing derby Saturday, June 10, with a $250 cash prize for the adult angler catching the biggest fish. The junior angler with the biggest fish will win a new bicycle. Lots of other prizes. The event is being held on Free Fishing Day, when no state fishing license is required to fish. For more information call the marina at (805) 521-1231 or check out the web site at www.lakepiru.org. PYRAMID: DFG trout plant last week has kept the trout action steady for bait anglers and trollers. The best action is in the channel near the marina for the fresh planters and at the dam for holdover rainbows. Stripers continue to be spotty, but the largemouth are pretty good in four to 18 feet of water on plastics. A few catfish are starting in the coves. No panfish reports. For information, call the USFS at (661) 296-9710 or call the concession at (661) 257-2790. TAIT RANCH TROUT PONDS: These fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release trout ponds in Frazier Park have fish to 5-0. Fishing billed by hour, 1/2-day, or full day. For information, call (661) 245-6315. QUAIL LAKE: No reports. PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout plant this week. SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plant this week. For more information call (626) 334-1065. ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. BALBOA PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week. ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. For more information, call (888) 527-2757 or (818) 899-3779. HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, contact the Hollenbeck Recreation Center at (213) 261-0113. JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Call (818) 448-7317 for information.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: Excellent bass action with 177 anglers reporting 810 bass, 284 bluegill, 12 crappie, and two smallmouth. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule by reservation only. Reservations are available through Ticket Master at (619) 220- 8497, or go to www.TicketMaster.com. They go on sale the second Tuesday of each month and usually sell out that day for the following month. July reservation go on sale June 13. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. HODGES: This past week 397 anglers reported 319 bluegill, 217 crappie, 146 bass, and 51 channel cats. Crappie to 2-4 were in the mix, but the top bass was only a 3-8. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. EL CAPITAN: The crappie and bass bites remain fair to good, and the bluegill bite continues to build. There were 503 anglers who reported 600 bluegill, 503 bass, 299 crappie, 71 channel cats, 42 blue cats, and one carp. The lake is open Friday through Sunday. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. LOWER OTAY: Bass and crappie bites are fair to good, and the bluegill bite is wide open. There were 497 anglers who reported catching 1,093 bluegill, 339 bass, 272 crappie, and 18 channel cats. Top bass was a 7-5 bass that topped off a 25-6 stringer caught by Antoine Hamilton, San Diego, on lizards. A 7-3 was caught by Bill Collins, Chula Vista, on a Senko. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. UPPER OTAY: The bass bite is fair with 19 anglers reporting 11 bass. The lake is open to catch-and-release fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. SAN VICENTE: Holdover trout continues fair for anglers targeting the rainbows, while the bass bite is pretty good. There were 147 anglers who reported 312 bass, 161 bluegill, 63 rainbows, 34 channel cats, seven crappie, three blue cats, and two redear. The lake is open on a Thursday through Sunday schedule. For more information call the City Lakes information line at (619) 465- 3474 or log on to the web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. MURRAY: Still a fair bite on holdover trout, and a smattering of bass, bluegill and catfish are being caught. There were 290 anglers who reported catching 165 rainbows, 132 bluegill, 87 bass, and five channel cats. The launch ramp and T-Floats are temporarily closed. For more information contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. MIRAMAR: Spotty trout action on holdover fish with a few bass and catfish showing. There were 195 anglers who reported catching 45 bass, 31 channel cats, and 23 rainbows. The lake is open on a Saturday through Tuesday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. SUTHERLAND: Fair to good action in a mixed bag bite. There were 186 anglers who reported catching 262 bluegill, 174 bass, 127 crappie, 99 channel cats, 52 carp, and 17 redear. The lake is open on a Friday through Sunday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Fair trout in Boat Dock Cove, east of Willow Cove and along the Senior Shoreline. Power Bait or the Power Bait-Power Worm combo are the top baits. Bass are spotty. Crappie also starting to stir. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4346 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.wohlfordlake.com. DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week. DIXON: The final trout plant of the season was slated for this week. The lake will shift to its summer hours June 15, where night fishing will be allowed only Thursday through Saturday nights. Trout action has remained good, with fly-lined nightcrawlers the best bet. Bass action was a little slow again this week, but a number of fish to 5-0 reported. Fishing reports are on the Internet at www.dixonlake.com. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4345. POWAY: Trout are moving deeper and the best action has been for boat anglers trolling along the east shore, near Bucktail Bay and off Jump-Off Point. Still the odd limit showing up. Catfish have improved with decent action at the logboom's east corner. Excellent bluegill action in Hidden Bay, the Fishing Pier, and Half Moon Bay. Bass still very spotty. Lake is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more fishing information, call the snack bar at (858) 679-5465, the Poway information line at (858) 668-4770, or concessions at (858) 486-1234. JENNINGS: Bass are in a post-spawn blues with only a few being caught. Brackston Bell, Chula Vista, had a 7-0 bass. Trout are also slower and have moved to deeper water. Catfish are improving daily with a lot of fish showing in flooded brush. The redears are also very good once you find a school. Lots of 3/4-pounders to fill up a stringer. Lake is open Friday through Sunday. For more information, contact the range office at (619) 390-1300 or visit the web site at www.lakejennings.org. MORENA: Surface temps jumped five degrees in a week, and this pushed the trout deep and made them tougher. Still a few being caught and diligent anglers are posting the odd limit. Tom Deane, Morena, caught a 5-7 Lighning Trout. Bass fishing has really turned on with warmer weather. Rich Schwitzky, Campo, landed a 10-2 bass. Crappie and bluegill bites also turned on, and several anglers reported 25-fish crappie limits this week. A few cats showing. Carp action is very good on corn or dough baits. The boat launch is open. The 24-hour fishing update line is (619) 478-5473. For lake information, call (619) 694-3049. CUYAMACA: Good trout action on floating baits or inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent and fished on 18 to 24-inch leaders. Top spots have been Pump House Cove, the Lone Pine, the Tee Dock, and west shoreline. Lots of limits after a Mt. Lassen plant this week. While bass are still spotty, John Marshall, Julian, landed a 9-8, while Paul Sharman, Chula Vista, caught an 8-1 largemouth. For more information call (760) 765-0515 or visit the Web site at www.lakecuyamaca.org. HENSHAW: Improved fishing with warmer weather, especially for carp and catfish. Crappie are still a little slow. For more information, call (760) 782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: There is a very good early morning striper bite from Vegas Wash to Hole 33. The fish are running to 6-0, with most in the 1-8 range, and they are pushing shad on the surface in the mornings and showing on shad-like swimbaits. Later in the day bait anglers are getting stripers off Sand Island. Water levels falling. Largemouth fair in coves and points. For more information, call Laker Plaza at (702) 564-3058. WILLOW BEACH: The striper bite has been tough with only an occasional fish and most of those are small, but the trout bite has been very good with a lot of limits of pan-sized trout and a few fish to 3-0 reported in the past week. For more information, contact the marina at (928) 767-4747. LAKE MOHAVE: Good action on small stripers from 2-0 to 3-0 on anchovies and squid with some bigger fish to 6-0 on trolled lures. Best action has been from Cottonwood Cove up into the river or from Davis Dam to Katherine's Landing. Some largemouth bass action on the points on plastics and live bait. Other species slow. For more information, call Cottonwood Cove at (702) 297-1464. BELOW DAVIS DAM: Mostly slow action, with only a few small stripers and catfish showing on cut baits. NEEDLES: Very light fishing pressure, but a few catfish are showing on cut baits, and even fewer stripers to 2-0 on cut anchovies. Largemouth bass are good in area backwaters and irrigation ditches. For more information, call Premier Sports at (760) 326-2727 or Golden Shores at (760) 768-2325. TOPOCK MARSH: The largemouth bass bite is really starting to turn on, especially on live minnows. Also improved crappie action. Catfish fishing is fair with an increasing number of cats to 5-0 showing on mackerel, anchovies, nightcrawlers, or stink baits. For information, call Five Mile Landing (928) 768-2350. HAVASU: Largemouth bass action is good with the best bite still on slow-fished jigs or drop-shotted plastics, with a lot of fish still in shallows. A fair number of stripers have been caught in 18 to 20 feet of water on anchovies. Most of the stripers are 2-0 to 5-0, with most on the smaller end. For more information, call Black Meadow Landing at (760) 663-3811. PARKER STRIP: Fair smallmouth bass action in the main river for anglers fishing rocky structure. Fair catfish action on fish to 3-0 on cut baits or stink baits, but fishing pressure is light. Improving largemouth action in backwaters and around docks. BLYTHE: The catfish bite is in full swing here, and the bass, bluegill, and crappie are all pretty decent. Lots of flatheads from 5-0 to 20-0 reported in the past week, and more and more stripers are being caught at the Palo Verde Diversion day. For more information, call B&B Bait at (760) 921-2248. PALO VERDE: Channel catfish action is good in the backwaters, canals, and main river, and the flathead action on live goldfish or tilapia is also good. Largemouth bass fishing is good on plastic worms, reaction baits, and live minnows in backwaters. PICACHO AREA: Bass fishing is good on live bait and plastics. The catfish bite has also turned on with a lot of channel cats and flatheads showing with warmer weather. MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Good action on bass in all of the backwaters along the lower river. Bass to 4-0 are showing on cranks and live shiners. There is also a good crappie bite on small shiners. Flathead and channel catfish action is good to excellent with fish over 20-0 reported each week now. For more information, contact the Martinez Lake Resort at (928) 783-9589 or check out the Web site at www.martinezlake.com. YUMA AREA: Bass fishing has been good, especially on live minnows in the main river and local backwaters. Channel catfish action is good on cut baits, and the flathead bite has improved with the best action on live minnows.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Excellent tilapia action at the state park with anglers catching two fish at a time at Salt Creek and the state park headquarters. The fish are mid-spawn right now and stacked up along the shorelines. Most of the fish are small -- hand-sized -- but there are some bigger fish to 1-8 reported. Other species still slow. For current fishing information, Red Hill Marina (760) 348-2310 or the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. For weather information, call (760) 352-3360 for a recording, or the Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast at (760) 398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one. ALAMO RIVER: Few reports. Channel catfish are fair on mackerel or anchovies. COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass have been reported. ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure. FINNEY-RAMER: No report. WEIST LAKE: No report. SUNBEAM LAKE: No report. For information, call (760) 352-3308. LAKE CAHUILLA: No report. For more information, call (760) 564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA GENERAL: For updated road and camping information on the region, contact the Interagency Visitor Center at (760) 876-6222 or the Bishop Chamber of Commerce at (760) 873-8405. The Web site is www.bishopvisitor.com. BRIDGEPORT REGION: Bridgeport Reservoir continues to have very good to excellent trout action, but a 16-pound, 9-ounce brown trout caught from Upper Twin Lake Sunday by Steve Keene, Costa Mesa, on an A.C. Plug "Skinny" was the best fish from the region. The bite in both Upper and Lower Twins have been relatively tough with only a few rainbows and browns showing. Bridgeport Reservoir is good for fly and bait anglers fishing from boats, while the shoreline action is more difficult. Float tube fly anglers are seeing a very good bite right off Bridgeport Marina with rainbow to 2-8 on midges and streamers. Fewer browns are showing than were reported opening weekend. The West Walker is a torrent with flows at 2,200 cfs and very tough fishing. The East Walker is flowing at 810 cfs, but anglers are still have decent luck. Virginia Lakes are also still good. For more information, contact Ken's Sporting Goods at (760) 932-7707. JUNE LAKE LOOP: Weekly trout plants are keeping all of the lakes -- June, Gull, Silver, and Grant -- in the loop pretty decent, but the bite has been best early and late in the day. Mid-day fishing has been a waste of time. Rush Creek and Grant Lake might have the best action right now, but cutthroats are schooling up in Gull and June. The road to Lundy Lake is open, the lake ice free, and the bite pretty good. For more information contact, Ernie's Fishing Tackle at (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina at (760) 648-7726. MAMMOTH LAKES REGION: The Crowley Lake bite remains good for anglers, with the best action still off Sandy Point and in McGee Bay. Limits are still common for bait anglers, trollers, and fly anglers. There is also an excellent perch bite in Crowley. The Owens River is high and off-color, and even Hot Creek is flowing at 140 cfs and off color. Fly anglers are still getting fish on flashy nymphs fished under strike indicators. Twin Lakes is starting to have more open water, but Mary, Mamie, George, and all the lakes above are still frozen. The road is open to Rock Creek Lake, but it's still frozen. Convict Lake is good. For more information contact the Troutfitter at (760) 934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide Service at (760) 935-4250. BISHOP AREA: Sabrina Lake is opening up with most of the ice gone. There is pretty good action in the lake. Joseph Romero, Rialto, caught rainbows at 3-12 and 4-12 on Power Bait. David Stanich, San Diego, had a 3-4, also on Power Bait. Bishop Creek and Intake II remain good with weekly plants. South Lake's road is cleared and it was stocked again by the DFG this week. North Lake is still inaccessible. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been fair to good and the perch bite is wide open. The Wild Trout stretch of the Owens and points downstream had been slow with ripping flows. The Owens River gorge above Pleasant Valley has been good for fly anglers. For more information, contact Culver's at (760) 872- 8361 or Brock's at (760) 872-3581. BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Diaz Lake is fair. Cottonwood, Georges, Independence, Lone Pine, Sheperds, Symmes, and Tuttle were all planted this week. For more information, contact the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce at (760) 876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: There continues to be a very good catfish bite at the dam and Camp 9 on frozen shad and clams. Lots of stringers of fish averaging around 1-8 to 3-0 with some bigger. Trout also remain good for trollers working small spoons or for shore anglers at Camp 9. Limits common. The bass bite has also finally started to take off. Ed Steers, Bakersfield, had fish to 10-0 on plastics.Crappie are slow. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. KERN RIVER: Both the upper and lower Kern are torrents this week. Flows entering Lake Isabella are over 6,200 cfs and release flows are 4,500 cfs. Anglers are still getting a few trout in the upper river fishing calm spots close to shore. There is also some smallmouth action in the lower river in flooded campgrounds where the water spreads out and slows. The DFG will be stocking the river this week. The high flows have washed fish way downstream and anglers are reporting decent smallmouth bass action in downtown Bakersfield at Yokuts Park. For more information, contact the James' Store at (760) 376-2424. AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper and catfish action. Stripers are excellent right off Highway 119 where the Kern River enters aqueduct. Lots of food flowing in has really turned on the bite and anglers are getting lots of fish on both sizes of the 18-inch minimum size. Also still very good action near the Buena Vista golf course. Blood worms, lug worms, big minnows, Gitzits and white jigs are all catching fish. The catfish bite has been best on Sonny's Catfish Bait, chicken liver, and frozen shad. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. HART PARK LAKE: The warm weather has really turned on the bluegill bite with nice stringers of fish coming out on crickets, nightcrawlers, and wax worms. Bass have sputtered, but there's an excellent bite on quality carp. TRUXTUN LAKE: The bluegill and bass bites are both pretty good here. Lots of bluegill on small baits, and the bass have been best on plastics, nightcrawlers, and live minnows with fish to 3-0 reported. MING LAKE: Closed. BRIGHT LAKE: The trout action has been pretty good since the trout opener with a number of fish to 3-0 and better. Floating baits and small lures are the best bets. No crappie reported. BUENA VISTA LAKES: The bluegill bite is wide open here with an excellent bite on crickets, and the catfish action is also good on shad. Bass are spotty. For more fishing information, call the concession at (661) 763-1268 or contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair to good bass action and the bluegill bite is really starting to break wide open with the warm weather. SUCCESS LAKE: Water level has skyrocketed and the bass bite has been very good as the fish move into the newly flooded shallows. Plastics best. Trout action fair. The bluegill bite is also really starting to kick into gear. For more information, call the Lakeside Mini Mart at (559) 781-6878. KAWEAH LAKE: The bass bite has been very good with a lot of fish still shallow. Plastics and jigs have been the top baits. Trout slowing. Bluegill improving by the day, crappie still spotty. For more information, call the marina at (559) 597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: The smallmouth and largemouth bass bite is on all over the lake, with the best action at the dam, Harris Creek, and near the North Shore Store. Lots of fish 4-0 have been reported in the past week. Also a decent afternoon and early evening catfish bite on fish to 6-0. Bluegill are showing in good to excellent numbers. For more information, call (805) 472-2818. SANTA MARGARITA: The bass bite is still fair to good, and the crappie action continues to be spotty. Trout action fair and a DFG plant went in last week. Bluegill also starting to really turn on. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call the marina (805) 438-1522. NACIMIENTO: The spotted bass bite is still very good and the white bass are showing in up into the narrows in good numbers. The spotties, largemouth, and smallmouth are also showing up now with the best bite on dropshot plastics, jigs and cranks. Crappie also turning around with a lot of 3/4-pound fish and some bigger. For more information, call (805) 238-1056, or log on at www.nacimientoresort.com. LOPEZ: The bluegill and redear bites are both very good on live baits and small jigs. A number of fish over 1-0 reported. Catfish also improving with warm weather. Otto Arterberry, Bakersfield, caught a 22-0 catfish on a red worm while fishing for panfish. A few trout aree still showing at the dam after the DFG's plant last week. The largemouth bass are fair to good early and late in the day on reaction baits. For more information call the marina at (805) 489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked the week of May 15, 2006 with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Lake, Big Tujunga Creek (Lower and Upper), Castaic Lagoon, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lakes, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (East and West Forks), Santa Fe Reservoir. ORANGE: Laguna Park Lake. RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Lake. SAN BERNARDINO: Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake. VENTURA: Rose Valley Lakes. INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle, South Forks), Bishop Creek (Intake II), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (Laws Bridge downstream to Steward Lane and below Tinnemaha), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Sheperds Creek, South Lake, Symmes Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek. MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Little Walker River, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Reversed Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Section 1 and Section 2), Rush Creek, Silver Lake, Upper and Lower Twin Lakes (Bridgeport), Virginia Creek, West Walker River (Section 2 and Section 3). FRESNO: Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam. KERN: Kern River (KR No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville). MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir. MERCED: Merced River from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls. TULARE: Kern River (Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge and Brush Creek to Fairview Dam). TUOLUMNE: Basin Creek, Deadman Creek, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake (Strawberry Lake), Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River (Middle and North forks).
CATFISH PLANTS The following waters, listed by county, will be planted by the Department of Fish and Game with one-pound channel catfish during the week of May 15, 2006. ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Centennial Regional Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Tri-city Park Lake, Ralph Clark Regional Lake, Yorba Regional Park Lake.
OCEAN FISHING REPORT By Terrence Berg and Phil Friedman, www.976-TUNA.com HOT BITES
CHANNEL ISLANDS SEABASS AND MORE: There has been an excellent white seabass bite at Santa Rosa Island over the past several weeks, and while this bite is starting to taper off, there is still good action on the east end. Most of the seabass are school size fish from 18 to 25 pounds, with the odd fish up to 45 pounds, and they are showing on live squid. As the seabass action winds down, there have been improving counts on halibut to 50 pounds, calico bass, and even barracuda. Of course, the rockfish action remains excellent, too. On Sunday, The Sun out of Channel Islands Sportfishing, had 10 anglers who landed two white seabass, three halibut -- including one fish at 50-plus pounds, 10 calico bass, one barracuda, 40 rockfish, 25 red snapper, and two sculpin.
CATALINA ISLAND UPDATE: Catalina Island produced some good catches of white seabass, yellowtail, and halibut this past week on overnight trips, while the 3/4-day fleet has been tapping into the bass, bonito, and barracuda bite. The Freedom out of 22nd Street Landing was at Catalina with 17 anglers who caught 15 seabass to 40 pounds, five halibut to 30 pounds, and good calico bass action on Sunday. Anglers on the Old No. 7 out of Pierpoint Landing had limits of seabass to 55 pounds on Monday along with 40 calico bass. The 3/4-day boats have been reporting bonito to 8 pounds, with most in the 2-0 to 4-0 range. The bass are running from just legal at 12 inches to 9 pounds, with a hot pick along the kelp. Santa Barbara Island and San Clemente Island had similar bites, but most skippers didn't both running past Catalina.
NEARSHORE BARRACUDA: There have been great signs of barracuda and even sand bass along the Los Angeles and Orange county coastlines in the past week. Skippers are reporting lots of schools of barracuda holding just offshore in deep water, but the fish have been reluctant to bite. A few barracuda have popped just outside of San Pedro under birds, but the schools are moving and haven't settled into one area yet. When that happens they go on a major bite. Keep the iron ready.
TUNA UPDATE: The San Diego tuna bite broke wide open this week. Skipper Shawn Trowbridge of theLegend out of Seaforth Sportfishing was on a 1 1/2-day exploratory trip this past week and found action to rival the hot bite or summer or fall. There were 30 anglers on this trip and they boated 70 bluefin tuna to 30 pounds, 48 albacore to 25 pounds, and 101 yellowtail. The Sea Adventure 80 returned to port on Mother's Day, also with 30 anglers. They caught six bluefin, 70 albacore, and 70 yellowtail.
SAN DIEGO LOCAL SCENE: Local half and three-quarter day boats out of San Diego have been hammering the bass, bonito, and barracuda in the past week, with half to full limits on all three the rule. Skippers are also noticing more and more yellowtail on the local kelp.
CLUB SPEAKER: The 976-TUNA Rod and Reel Club will have Frank LoPresete, skipper of the Royal Polaris, as its guest speaker at the next meeting 7 p.m., June 1 at the National Sports Bar and Grill, 3210 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance. The event is free.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA and SKB host instructional charters throughout the year, offering beginning anglers or veterans advice and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. The next trip is a two-day Big Game 90 island freelance trip to target yellowtail and white seabass or whatever is hot. May 21 departure. For information about other SKB/976-TUNA instructional charters, call (310) 328-8426.
UPDATED REPORTS: Anglers can get updated ocean fishing reports and daily dock counts for all of the landings at www.976-tuna.com.
LANDING CONTACTS Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, (805) 772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, (805) 595-7200; Sea Landing, Santa Barbara, (805) 963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, (805) 658-1060; Channel Islands Sportfishing, Oxnard, (805) 985-8511; Captain Hook's Sportfishing, Oxnard, (805) 382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing, Hueneme, (805) 488-2212; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, (310) 822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, (310) 372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, (310) 374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, (310) 832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, (310) 547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, (562) 432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, (562) 983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, (562) 598-6649; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, (949) 675-0550; Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, (949) 673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, (949) 496-5794; Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside, (760) 722-2133; Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, (619) 221-8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, (619) 222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, (619) 224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, (619) 223-1627; Islandia Sportfishing, San Diego, (619) 222-1164. Mexico Landings: Sergio's Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.
Compiled by 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 n 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@earthlink.net. Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com. 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: www.dfg.ca.gov.
PICKS OF THE WEEK 1. This is still the top bite and news: Salton Sea tilapia are back. Anglers are filling ice chests with these tasty gamefish just like a decade ago. The bite has been on nightcrawler pieces and two-hook rigs, with anglers catching the fish two at a time. The tilapia are packed along the east shorelines spawning. Most are eight to 10 inches long, but some to 1-8 have been reported. For more information, contact the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. 2. The catfish bite at Hesperia Lake is already good and weekly plants of 3,000 pounds of trophy cats over 10 pounds -- and up to 45 pounds -- are making this a continuing top pick. The little high desert lake is also getting 3,000 pounds of cats from 1-8 to 10-0 each week. Catfish to 20 pounds and better are caught daily, and there have been some near-100-pound stringers for five fish. The hot bait has been the marshmallow-shrimp combo, fondly called the shrimp cocktail. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. 3. Diamond Valley Lake has been cranking out so many quality bass that regulars here expect to catch at least a couple of honest 4-0 to 5-0 class bass each time they fish this lake. The fish are mostly in water less than 15 feet deep and plastic baits have been as effective as anything else. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com. For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410 if you want to local a guide.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Trout season in the low elevation lakes is winding down. Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake will continue to be planted through May, and Irvine Lake is still pretty decent for the trout. Angler's Lake in Hemet remains a sleeper spot but this week marks its last trout plant. Hesperia Lake is done planting trout, but a lot of holdover fish are still being caught. Other good bets include Diamond Valley Lake which had a plant last week and produces trout to 5-0 and better each week. Big Bear Lake is starting to turn on with warm weather (but it will be mobbed this weekend with anglers fishing the May Trout Classic), and Gregory and Green Valley lakes have been planted again in the past week. And, of course, there's the Sierra Nevada. Top bets in the Sierra would be Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoir, other waters are a little off and many of the streams are blown out with runoff.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Top pick is Diamond Valley Lake, but Casitas is a close second. Both lakes are producing a lot of quality fish. DVL might be better for numbers, but Casitas' anglers were able to dip live shad this week. It's a tossup. Other good picks are Perris, San Vicente, Sutherland, Lower Otay, El Capitan, Piru, Pyramid, Castaic, Cachuma, and the whole lower Colorado River. All are good right now, but the post-spawn blues are creeping up on some spots. There also continues to be excellent spotted bass bite at Lake Nacimiento on the Central Coast. Silverwood is also starting to turn on.
STRIPED BASS: The striped bass bite is very good in the California Aqueduct near Taft and where the Kern River dumps into the aquaduct. Lots of sub-legal fish under the 18-inch minimum size, but a lot of 3-0 to 5-0 bass are showing on lug worms. For Southern California waters, Silverwood and Skinner have consistent bites on small fish, and Castaic and Pyramid are also starting to come out of a long funk. The best bets are still on the Colorado River. Lake Mead has an excellent morning surface bite as fish bust shad on the surface in Vegas Wash. PANFISH: The bluegill bites are surpassing the picks on crappie most places this week. There is very good bluegill action at Lower Otay, El Capitan, and Perris. There are also good and budding bluegill bites at Hodges, Sutherland, and San Vicente. Another bite of real note is the excellent tilapia action at the Salton Sea, mostly on the east shoreline. Most of the fish are hand-sized but the action has been wide open with catches of 100 fish or more common. Crappie have sputtered, but the best action is at Piru, El Capitan, Hodges, and Lower Otay. CATFISH: On the Colorado River, the flathead bite is breaking wide open in the lower river with a number of flatheads to 40-0 reported the past couple of weeks, mostly on live bluegill, goldfish or tilapia. Lake Isabella has a good bite on channel cats to 4-0 near the dam on frozen anchovies or shad. Best bet closer to SoCal would be Hesperia Lake on planted fish, with some cats over 20-0 reported again in the past week, and the lake is getting 6,000 pounds of cats per week now.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS SILVERWOOD: Trout action has been good around the marina docks, Cleghorn Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Quiet Cove. DFG trout plants this week in the lake and Miller Canyon Creek should keep this bite perking along. Lots of limits and many fish are up to 1-8 with some holdover fish even bigger. Karen Spencer, Lucerne Valley, had four trout to 4-0 and a catfish on her stringer. The largemouth bass are fair with some good flurries of action. Best action has been on plastics and reaction baits. Stripers are fair off most rocky points in the main lake channel on anchovies, with a few fish showing on reaction baits. Carol Smith, Fontana, caught a 6-0 striper on anchovies in Outhouse Cove. Catfish starting to show in the main channel on cut baits. Bluegill and crappie are still spotty. For more information, contact the marina at (760) 389-2299, the state park at (760) 389-2281, or the Silverwood Country store at (760) 389-2423. BIG BEAR LAKE: The Jim Hall Memorial Trout Classic is set for this weekend with a full field of 400 entrants. The lake will be planted with a load of trophy trout from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms this week. Overall, the trout action has been very good with a lot of limits posted by anglers trolling three to four colors of leadcore and Needlefish through the middle of the lake from Gilner Point to Eagle Point. Shore anglers are seeing good action from the dam to Windy Point as well as the mouths of Metcalf and Boulder bays. Nitro Bait with Gravy have led to easy limits. Other species still slow. Upcoming events: Third Annual Carp Round-Up will be June 10-11. Contact Mike Stephenson at (909) 866-5796. For fishing information, call Big Bear Marina at (909) 866-3218 or Big Bear Sporting Goods at (909) 866-3222. GREGORY LAKE: Fair to good action after a DFG plant last week. Some limits with trout to 1-8 and a few bigger. The best action has been on Power Worm, trolled Needlefish, and Power Bait. For information, call the boat dock at (909) 338-2233. GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Very good action for trout with both DFG and Mt. Lassen Trout Farm plants last week. Top fish was a 9-0 landed by Sean Foogt, Colton, on a Power Worm. Kevin Stevens, Rialto, caught a 6-7, while Gentry Fergusson, Chino, landed a 6-4. Joel Salinas, 5, Indio, caught a 5-0 rainbow. Best action has been along the south shore on floating baits, trout worms, and trout jigs. Fishing fee is $15 per adult. For more information, call the lake recording at (909) 867-2009. ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and two weeks ago. For information, call the Mill Creek Ranger Station at (909) 794-1123.
HIGH DESERT LAKES HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish season is here with weekly plants of both trophy fish over 10 pounds (3,000 pounds) and pan-sized cats (another 3,000 pounds). Broodstock catfish to 45 pounds are being planted this season. The catfish bite is wide open. Top cat this past week was a 21-0 landed by Ray Garcia, Pomona, on the M&M (marshmallow-meal worm) combo, while Del Wilcox, Santa Ana, landed an 18-8 cat. Bill Lanchard, Temecula, caught cats at 17-8 and 15-12. The trout action also remains pretty good even though plants have stopped until fall. Jorge Rivera landed a 14-8 cat on a Power Minnow, while Gary Larson, Santa Monica, caught a 14-0. Earl Hines, Los Angeles, caught trout at 13-8 and 12-0, while Cindy Grant, Corona, landed a 13-0. Jody Carlton, Ontario, caught a 12-0 rainbow. Five $100 tagged cats are also planted each week. Fishing fee is now $15 per person because of the increase in fish prices. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. JESS RANCH: Continued very good trout action with a lot of limits. Most of the trout are 1-8 to 3-0 but a few bigger fish are caught each week. Best action on Power Bait, trout jigs, and inflated nightcrawlers. There is also a hot bluegill bite in both lakes on meal worms and wax worms. Top catches this week included a 19-6 five-fish rainbow limit posted by Walter Essary, Beaumont. The stringer included trout at 5-13 and 4-8. Anthony Frazier, La Puente, had trout at 5-0 and 4-3, and Jeff Brooks, Apple Valley, also had a 5-0 trout. Auliya Gurzenda, 8, Adelant, caught a 4-0 rainbow, and her 11-year-old sister caught a 3-4 trout. The lakes are open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they are planted each Friday. For more information, call (760) 240-1107. The web site is www.jessranchlakes.net. MOJAVE NARROWS: There continues to be a fair to good mixed bag bite with trout, catfish and bluegill showing in decent numbers. Not a lot of limits, but many anglers are getting a trout or two with fish up to 2-0 reported. Gary DeFrench, Crestline, landed five catfish to 4-0 on nightcrawlers. Sky Caragoza, Victorville, landed three trout to 2-0, while Mike Reiter, Hesperia, caught a pair of rainbows with the big fish also a 2-0. Trout have been best on nightcrawlers or Power Bait. DFG trout plant this week. County catfish plants start May 27. For more information, call (760) 245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants start May 27. For information, call (909) 481-4205. PRADO: County catfish plants start May 27. For information, call (909) 597-4260. YUCAIPA: The trout bite has tanked, but the catfish action has been fair, even without any plants yet this season. Most of the cats reported have been from 2-0 to 3-4. County catfish plants start May 27. For park information, call (909) 790-3127. GLEN HELEN: Still a few holdover trout showing but this bite has slowed to nearly nothing. The catfish action is fair on holdover fish from previous summers' plants. The first county catfish plant of this year will be for the May 27 weekend. For more information, call (909) 887-7540. MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. For information, call (909) 982-4246. SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, call city parks at (909) 384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: A new lake record for bluegill was caught this past week when John Arganda, Menifee, landed a 3.06-pound slab on a nightcrawler near the saddle dam. The bluegill and redear action is really breaking wide open on live worms or small jigs. Quite a few 3/4-pound to 1 1/4-pound fish. The largemouth bass bite has been good to excellent with Zoom brush hogs the hot baits. The north side of the lake has been best with the fish on points and still in the backs of coves. Lots of fish to 4-0 reported. Trout fishing from shore is still good after a plant last Thursday. Best action on Power Bait or inflated or fly-lined nightcrawlers. Trollers working the east dam are getting a few fish, but boat anglers reported few limits this week. Brian Reed, Hemet, caught a 4.77-pound rainbow trolling flashers and a nightcrawler at the east dam. Catfish fair to good with a lot of fish to 4-0 and some whopper. Jarren Klohr caught a 21-0 blue cat. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com. For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410. PERRIS: The trout action has continued very good in the marina, launch ramp area, and lots 11 and 12. There is also a DFG plant slated for this week. George Willoughby, Loma Linda, had a pair of trout that weighed 3.93 pounds and the big fish was a 2.1 pounder. The bluegill action is also starting to kick into high gear along the dam and in the marina area. Kelly Taylor Tucket, 3, Bellflower, caught a 1-2 bluegill on a meal worm from the marina dock. There is also a pretty decent catfish bite on the south side of the island and into the east end. Matt Leverett, Riverside, landed a 23-2 cat tossing a crankbait for bass. The bass action has been very spotty with most of the fish moving off nests and in a post-spawn lull. There are some huge carp cruising the shorelines, but few anglers are fishing them. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. For more information on fishing call the marina at (951) 657-2179 or the state park at (951) 940-5600. SKINNER: There has been a good bite on quality largemouth bass here in the past two weeks, and the stripers are starting to show in better numbers early and late in the day at the inlet. Top bass reported this week was a 7-0 landed by Josh Moreno, Hemet, on a Yamamota bait at Ramp 2. The bluegill bite has also turned on with a lot of stringers showing now. A few trout continue to be caught, but the bite is tough. Travis Jakovcic, Pennsylvania, caught a 5-0 rainbow. Catfish also fair. For fishing information, call the marina at (951) 926-1505. LAKE ELSINORE: No reports. CORONA LAKE: Good trout and catfish action, and enough bass, bluegill, and crappie are showing to add some spice to the catch. Top fish this past week was a 13 1/2-pound catfish landed by Paul Hoggatt, Texas, on mackerel. The best rainbow was a 7-0 landed by Dane Fields, Riverside. The cats are showing on mackerel and Catfish Nitro Biscuits in the flooded trees and south end of the lake, while the trout are working the surface early in the morning, hitting Lip RipperZ soaked in anise or garlic Gravy fished on a bobber. Later in the day, the trout move deep and orange Nitro Bait on a short leader has been the hot ticket. Trout and catfish are planted each week. For more information, call the tackle shop at (951) 277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com. EVANS LAKE: No reports. RANCHO JURUPA: No reports. For more information, call (951) 684-7032. FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout season is over, but catfish plants are every other week now. The next plant is this week and there will be a catfish derby Saturday. For information, call (909) 795-2411. WHITEWATER TROUT FARM: Closed. For more information, call (760) 325-5570. ANGLER'S LAKE: Trout season is winding down here with the last plant of the season this week. Catfish plants start next week, but the catfish action has already been pretty fair with fish to 4-0 reported. Jeff Gates, Hemet, landed a 9-0 trout this past week. Catch and release bass action is fair on plastics. For information, call the lake at (951) 927-2614. REFLECTION LAKE: Fair to trout action after last week's final trout plant of the season. First catfish plants set to go in May 25. For more information, contact the lake at (951) 654-7906. JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Good catfish action on chicken liver dough baits for fish to 2-0 and better. Major stock on Tuesday this week, and plants will be regular through October. Lake open Wednesday through Sunday. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. For more information, call (951) 679-6562
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: A DFG trout plant this week. Fair to good action. For more information, contact the Lake Hemet Market at (951) 659-2350 or the campground at (951) 659-2680. FULMOR LAKE: DFG plant last week. For more information, contact (951) 659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Weekly plants of trout and catfish have kept both bites good. Big fish this week was a 15 1/2-pound trout caught by Norma Larson, Rialto, Ryan Carino, Long Beach, caught a 13 1/2-pound rainbow. Holly Gray, Orange, landed a 10.4-pound trout, and Albert Younan, Reseda, had a limit topped off by a 9-0 rainbow. Best catfish stringer was a five-fish limit that weighed 29 pounds caught by Vanessa Kane, Cypress. Her big cat was a 15.7-pounder, and they were all caught on nightcrawlers from the Catfish Lake. The warm weather has also turned on the bass and bluegill action, especially in the Catfish Lake, and many anglers are getting nice mixed stringers of fish. For more information, call (714) 632-7830 for the information recording or log on at www.fishinglakes.com. ANAHEIM LAKE: Lake is closed. For more information, call (714) 996-3508 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.fishinglakes.com. IRVINE LAKE: Good mixed bag action here this week. Trout have moved deeper and bait anglers and trollers are scoring rainbows up to 5-0 with a lot of 1-0 to 2-0 class fish. Best spots for bait fishing have been Trout Island and along the west shore. Trollers are working mid-lake, Rocky Point, and near the dam. Cris Edwards, Tustin, landed a 7-0 rainbow, while Adam Cross, La Mirada, had a 6-6. Bobby Blandino, Chino Hills, caught a 6-2 trout. Bass remain excellent around submerged brush with reaction baits best early and then dropshot plastics later in the day. Bluegill good along most shorelines, crappie spotty with schools harder to locate, and catfish improving daily. For information, call (714) 649-9111. LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: For a recorded fish report, call (949) 362-3885 or visit the lake's Web site at www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Good trout and bass action. The trout action has shifted into Cachuma Bay with trollers getting fish in 10 feet of water on the usual small lures. There was also a DFG plant last week. The largemouth action is fair to good with most of the action in 4 to 12 feet of water, and quite a few smallmouth are showing, too. The crappie bite has started to kick into gear with some fish showing in the Mohawk area. More redear are also starting to show off Jackrabbit Flats and in Harvey's Cove. For fishing information call the boat dock at (805) 688-4040. CASITAS: The bass action continues good and anglers have been able to dip net shad for bait this week. The live shad have let to some wide open fishing, but a lot of 2-0 class fish, but plastics and big swimbaits are also still good bets. Top bass this week was a 13-1 caught by Doc Holliday, Walnut, on a Stocker Trout. He also had a 9-1. Ross Contreras, Oxnard, landed a 12-5 bass on a live shad Wednesday this week. Lavon Akopyan, Santa Paula, had four bass from 6-0 to 10-0 for a 31-0 total. Randy Kurz, Oxnard, and T.J. Hanna, Ojai, each had bass at 8-0. The trout bite for trollers has been pretty good this week. Finally. Limits of rainbows were posted by Jim Strong and Cheryl Sawyer, both of Newberry Park, trolling Kastmasters. A few catfish to 4-0 have been reported, and there are some crappie on small jigs or shad. Redear and bluegill fair. For more information, contact the marina at (805) 649-2043. CASTAIC: The largemouth bass remain good with fish to 4-0 being caught but few bigger fish. Still some fish on beds, but most have moved off. Derek DeLeon, Saugus, had a 4-8 bass to top off a four-fish stringer. He was fishing worms in shallow water. The stripers have finally come up out of deep water with fish in 20 feet of less of water at the buoy line and West Ramp. Galen Tsabetsaye, Canyon Country, landed an 18-0 striper on a homemade plug. Trout were plant in the main lake last week. For more information, contact the marina at (661) 775-6232. PIRU: Good redear and crappie with nice stringers of both species showing. Bill Sinok, Sunland, had 25 crappie to 2-0 and he released another 50 fish. Alex Velenzuela and Andrew Pinto, Los Angeles, had a stringer of crappie that weighed 18-6, including a couple of fish in the 2-0 range. Most crappie are 3/4-pound or smaller. Dan Wise, Chatsworth, had a stringer of crappie and redear with a 1-6 redear his top fish. Best action has been on small jigs. The bass bite also remains good with a lot of 2-0 class fish but bass to 7-0 have been reported in the past week. Trout still showing after a plant last week with the best action off the points for both trollers and bait anglers. There will fishing derby Saturday, June 10, with a $250 cash prize for the adult angler catching the biggest fish. The junior angler with the biggest fish will win a new bicycle. Lots of other prizes. The event is being held on Free Fishing Day, when no state fishing license is required to fish. For more information call the marina at (805) 521-1231 or check out the web site at www.lakepiru.org. PYRAMID: DFG trout plant last week has kept the trout action steady for bait anglers and trollers. The best action is in the channel near the marina for the fresh planters and at the dam for holdover rainbows. Stripers continue to be spotty, but the largemouth are pretty good in four to 18 feet of water on plastics. A few catfish are starting in the coves. No panfish reports. For information, call the USFS at (661) 296-9710 or call the concession at (661) 257-2790. TAIT RANCH TROUT PONDS: These fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release trout ponds in Frazier Park have fish to 5-0. Fishing billed by hour, 1/2-day, or full day. For information, call (661) 245-6315. QUAIL LAKE: No reports. PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout plant this week. SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plant this week. For more information call (626) 334-1065. ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. BALBOA PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week. ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. For more information, call (888) 527-2757 or (818) 899-3779. HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, contact the Hollenbeck Recreation Center at (213) 261-0113. JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. Call (818) 448-7317 for information.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: Excellent bass action with 177 anglers reporting 810 bass, 284 bluegill, 12 crappie, and two smallmouth. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule by reservation only. Reservations are available through Ticket Master at (619) 220- 8497, or go to www.TicketMaster.com. They go on sale the second Tuesday of each month and usually sell out that day for the following month. July reservation go on sale June 13. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. HODGES: This past week 397 anglers reported 319 bluegill, 217 crappie, 146 bass, and 51 channel cats. Crappie to 2-4 were in the mix, but the top bass was only a 3-8. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. EL CAPITAN: The crappie and bass bites remain fair to good, and the bluegill bite continues to build. There were 503 anglers who reported 600 bluegill, 503 bass, 299 crappie, 71 channel cats, 42 blue cats, and one carp. The lake is open Friday through Sunday. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. LOWER OTAY: Bass and crappie bites are fair to good, and the bluegill bite is wide open. There were 497 anglers who reported catching 1,093 bluegill, 339 bass, 272 crappie, and 18 channel cats. Top bass was a 7-5 bass that topped off a 25-6 stringer caught by Antoine Hamilton, San Diego, on lizards. A 7-3 was caught by Bill Collins, Chula Vista, on a Senko. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. UPPER OTAY: The bass bite is fair with 19 anglers reporting 11 bass. The lake is open to catch-and-release fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. SAN VICENTE: Holdover trout continues fair for anglers targeting the rainbows, while the bass bite is pretty good. There were 147 anglers who reported 312 bass, 161 bluegill, 63 rainbows, 34 channel cats, seven crappie, three blue cats, and two redear. The lake is open on a Thursday through Sunday schedule. For more information call the City Lakes information line at (619) 465- 3474 or log on to the web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. MURRAY: Still a fair bite on holdover trout, and a smattering of bass, bluegill and catfish are being caught. There were 290 anglers who reported catching 165 rainbows, 132 bluegill, 87 bass, and five channel cats. The launch ramp and T-Floats are temporarily closed. For more information contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. MIRAMAR: Spotty trout action on holdover fish with a few bass and catfish showing. There were 195 anglers who reported catching 45 bass, 31 channel cats, and 23 rainbows. The lake is open on a Saturday through Tuesday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. SUTHERLAND: Fair to good action in a mixed bag bite. There were 186 anglers who reported catching 262 bluegill, 174 bass, 127 crappie, 99 channel cats, 52 carp, and 17 redear. The lake is open on a Friday through Sunday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Fair trout in Boat Dock Cove, east of Willow Cove and along the Senior Shoreline. Power Bait or the Power Bait-Power Worm combo are the top baits. Bass are spotty. Crappie also starting to stir. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4346 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.wohlfordlake.com. DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week. DIXON: The final trout plant of the season was slated for this week. The lake will shift to its summer hours June 15, where night fishing will be allowed only Thursday through Saturday nights. Trout action has remained good, with fly-lined nightcrawlers the best bet. Bass action was a little slow again this week, but a number of fish to 5-0 reported. Fishing reports are on the Internet at www.dixonlake.com. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4345. POWAY: Trout are moving deeper and the best action has been for boat anglers trolling along the east shore, near Bucktail Bay and off Jump-Off Point. Still the odd limit showing up. Catfish have improved with decent action at the logboom's east corner. Excellent bluegill action in Hidden Bay, the Fishing Pier, and Half Moon Bay. Bass still very spotty. Lake is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more fishing information, call the snack bar at (858) 679-5465, the Poway information line at (858) 668-4770, or concessions at (858) 486-1234. JENNINGS: Bass are in a post-spawn blues with only a few being caught. Brackston Bell, Chula Vista, had a 7-0 bass. Trout are also slower and have moved to deeper water. Catfish are improving daily with a lot of fish showing in flooded brush. The redears are also very good once you find a school. Lots of 3/4-pounders to fill up a stringer. Lake is open Friday through Sunday. For more information, contact the range office at (619) 390-1300 or visit the web site at www.lakejennings.org. MORENA: Surface temps jumped five degrees in a week, and this pushed the trout deep and made them tougher. Still a few being caught and diligent anglers are posting the odd limit. Tom Deane, Morena, caught a 5-7 Lighning Trout. Bass fishing has really turned on with warmer weather. Rich Schwitzky, Campo, landed a 10-2 bass. Crappie and bluegill bites also turned on, and several anglers reported 25-fish crappie limits this week. A few cats showing. Carp action is very good on corn or dough baits. The boat launch is open. The 24-hour fishing update line is (619) 478-5473. For lake information, call (619) 694-3049. CUYAMACA: Good trout action on floating baits or inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent and fished on 18 to 24-inch leaders. Top spots have been Pump House Cove, the Lone Pine, the Tee Dock, and west shoreline. Lots of limits after a Mt. Lassen plant this week. While bass are still spotty, John Marshall, Julian, landed a 9-8, while Paul Sharman, Chula Vista, caught an 8-1 largemouth. For more information call (760) 765-0515 or visit the Web site at www.lakecuyamaca.org. HENSHAW: Improved fishing with warmer weather, especially for carp and catfish. Crappie are still a little slow. For more information, call (760) 782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: There is a very good early morning striper bite from Vegas Wash to Hole 33. The fish are running to 6-0, with most in the 1-8 range, and they are pushing shad on the surface in the mornings and showing on shad-like swimbaits. Later in the day bait anglers are getting stripers off Sand Island. Water levels falling. Largemouth fair in coves and points. For more information, call Laker Plaza at (702) 564-3058. WILLOW BEACH: The striper bite has been tough with only an occasional fish and most of those are small, but the trout bite has been very good with a lot of limits of pan-sized trout and a few fish to 3-0 reported in the past week. For more information, contact the marina at (928) 767-4747. LAKE MOHAVE: Good action on small stripers from 2-0 to 3-0 on anchovies and squid with some bigger fish to 6-0 on trolled lures. Best action has been from Cottonwood Cove up into the river or from Davis Dam to Katherine's Landing. Some largemouth bass action on the points on plastics and live bait. Other species slow. For more information, call Cottonwood Cove at (702) 297-1464. BELOW DAVIS DAM: Mostly slow action, with only a few small stripers and catfish showing on cut baits. NEEDLES: Very light fishing pressure, but a few catfish are showing on cut baits, and even fewer stripers to 2-0 on cut anchovies. Largemouth bass are good in area backwaters and irrigation ditches. For more information, call Premier Sports at (760) 326-2727 or Golden Shores at (760) 768-2325. TOPOCK MARSH: The largemouth bass bite is really starting to turn on, especially on live minnows. Also improved crappie action. Catfish fishing is fair with an increasing number of cats to 5-0 showing on mackerel, anchovies, nightcrawlers, or stink baits. For information, call Five Mile Landing (928) 768-2350. HAVASU: Largemouth bass action is good with the best bite still on slow-fished jigs or drop-shotted plastics, with a lot of fish still in shallows. A fair number of stripers have been caught in 18 to 20 feet of water on anchovies. Most of the stripers are 2-0 to 5-0, with most on the smaller end. For more information, call Black Meadow Landing at (760) 663-3811. PARKER STRIP: Fair smallmouth bass action in the main river for anglers fishing rocky structure. Fair catfish action on fish to 3-0 on cut baits or stink baits, but fishing pressure is light. Improving largemouth action in backwaters and around docks. BLYTHE: The catfish bite is in full swing here, and the bass, bluegill, and crappie are all pretty decent. Lots of flatheads from 5-0 to 20-0 reported in the past week, and more and more stripers are being caught at the Palo Verde Diversion day. For more information, call B&B Bait at (760) 921-2248. PALO VERDE: Channel catfish action is good in the backwaters, canals, and main river, and the flathead action on live goldfish or tilapia is also good. Largemouth bass fishing is good on plastic worms, reaction baits, and live minnows in backwaters. PICACHO AREA: Bass fishing is good on live bait and plastics. The catfish bite has also turned on with a lot of channel cats and flatheads showing with warmer weather. MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Good action on bass in all of the backwaters along the lower river. Bass to 4-0 are showing on cranks and live shiners. There is also a good crappie bite on small shiners. Flathead and channel catfish action is good to excellent with fish over 20-0 reported each week now. For more information, contact the Martinez Lake Resort at (928) 783-9589 or check out the Web site at www.martinezlake.com. YUMA AREA: Bass fishing has been good, especially on live minnows in the main river and local backwaters. Channel catfish action is good on cut baits, and the flathead bite has improved with the best action on live minnows.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Excellent tilapia action at the state park with anglers catching two fish at a time at Salt Creek and the state park headquarters. The fish are mid-spawn right now and stacked up along the shorelines. Most of the fish are small -- hand-sized -- but there are some bigger fish to 1-8 reported. Other species still slow. For current fishing information, Red Hill Marina (760) 348-2310 or the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. For weather information, call (760) 352-3360 for a recording, or the Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast at (760) 398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one. ALAMO RIVER: Few reports. Channel catfish are fair on mackerel or anchovies. COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass have been reported. ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure. FINNEY-RAMER: No report. WEIST LAKE: No report. SUNBEAM LAKE: No report. For information, call (760) 352-3308. LAKE CAHUILLA: No report. For more information, call (760) 564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA GENERAL: For updated road and camping information on the region, contact the Interagency Visitor Center at (760) 876-6222 or the Bishop Chamber of Commerce at (760) 873-8405. The Web site is www.bishopvisitor.com. BRIDGEPORT REGION: Bridgeport Reservoir continues to have very good to excellent trout action, but a 16-pound, 9-ounce brown trout caught from Upper Twin Lake Sunday by Steve Keene, Costa Mesa, on an A.C. Plug "Skinny" was the best fish from the region. The bite in both Upper and Lower Twins have been relatively tough with only a few rainbows and browns showing. Bridgeport Reservoir is good for fly and bait anglers fishing from boats, while the shoreline action is more difficult. Float tube fly anglers are seeing a very good bite right off Bridgeport Marina with rainbow to 2-8 on midges and streamers. Fewer browns are showing than were reported opening weekend. The West Walker is a torrent with flows at 2,200 cfs and very tough fishing. The East Walker is flowing at 810 cfs, but anglers are still have decent luck. Virginia Lakes are also still good. For more information, contact Ken's Sporting Goods at (760) 932-7707. JUNE LAKE LOOP: Weekly trout plants are keeping all of the lakes -- June, Gull, Silver, and Grant -- in the loop pretty decent, but the bite has been best early and late in the day. Mid-day fishing has been a waste of time. Rush Creek and Grant Lake might have the best action right now, but cutthroats are schooling up in Gull and June. The road to Lundy Lake is open, the lake ice free, and the bite pretty good. For more information contact, Ernie's Fishing Tackle at (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina at (760) 648-7726. MAMMOTH LAKES REGION: The Crowley Lake bite remains good for anglers, with the best action still off Sandy Point and in McGee Bay. Limits are still common for bait anglers, trollers, and fly anglers. There is also an excellent perch bite in Crowley. The Owens River is high and off-color, and even Hot Creek is flowing at 140 cfs and off color. Fly anglers are still getting fish on flashy nymphs fished under strike indicators. Twin Lakes is starting to have more open water, but Mary, Mamie, George, and all the lakes above are still frozen. The road is open to Rock Creek Lake, but it's still frozen. Convict Lake is good. For more information contact the Troutfitter at (760) 934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide Service at (760) 935-4250. BISHOP AREA: Sabrina Lake is opening up with most of the ice gone. There is pretty good action in the lake. Joseph Romero, Rialto, caught rainbows at 3-12 and 4-12 on Power Bait. David Stanich, San Diego, had a 3-4, also on Power Bait. Bishop Creek and Intake II remain good with weekly plants. South Lake's road is cleared and it was stocked again by the DFG this week. North Lake is still inaccessible. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been fair to good and the perch bite is wide open. The Wild Trout stretch of the Owens and points downstream had been slow with ripping flows. The Owens River gorge above Pleasant Valley has been good for fly anglers. For more information, contact Culver's at (760) 872- 8361 or Brock's at (760) 872-3581. BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Diaz Lake is fair. Cottonwood, Georges, Independence, Lone Pine, Sheperds, Symmes, and Tuttle were all planted this week. For more information, contact the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce at (760) 876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: There continues to be a very good catfish bite at the dam and Camp 9 on frozen shad and clams. Lots of stringers of fish averaging around 1-8 to 3-0 with some bigger. Trout also remain good for trollers working small spoons or for shore anglers at Camp 9. Limits common. The bass bite has also finally started to take off. Ed Steers, Bakersfield, had fish to 10-0 on plastics.Crappie are slow. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. KERN RIVER: Both the upper and lower Kern are torrents this week. Flows entering Lake Isabella are over 6,200 cfs and release flows are 4,500 cfs. Anglers are still getting a few trout in the upper river fishing calm spots close to shore. There is also some smallmouth action in the lower river in flooded campgrounds where the water spreads out and slows. The DFG will be stocking the river this week. The high flows have washed fish way downstream and anglers are reporting decent smallmouth bass action in downtown Bakersfield at Yokuts Park. For more information, contact the James' Store at (760) 376-2424. AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper and catfish action. Stripers are excellent right off Highway 119 where the Kern River enters aqueduct. Lots of food flowing in has really turned on the bite and anglers are getting lots of fish on both sizes of the 18-inch minimum size. Also still very good action near the Buena Vista golf course. Blood worms, lug worms, big minnows, Gitzits and white jigs are all catching fish. The catfish bite has been best on Sonny's Catfish Bait, chicken liver, and frozen shad. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. HART PARK LAKE: The warm weather has really turned on the bluegill bite with nice stringers of fish coming out on crickets, nightcrawlers, and wax worms. Bass have sputtered, but there's an excellent bite on quality carp. TRUXTUN LAKE: The bluegill and bass bites are both pretty good here. Lots of bluegill on small baits, and the bass have been best on plastics, nightcrawlers, and live minnows with fish to 3-0 reported. MING LAKE: Closed. BRIGHT LAKE: The trout action has been pretty good since the trout opener with a number of fish to 3-0 and better. Floating baits and small lures are the best bets. No crappie reported. BUENA VISTA LAKES: The bluegill bite is wide open here with an excellent bite on crickets, and the catfish action is also good on shad. Bass are spotty. For more fishing information, call the concession at (661) 763-1268 or contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair to good bass action and the bluegill bite is really starting to break wide open with the warm weather. SUCCESS LAKE: Water level has skyrocketed and the bass bite has been very good as the fish move into the newly flooded shallows. Plastics best. Trout action fair. The bluegill bite is also really starting to kick into gear. For more information, call the Lakeside Mini Mart at (559) 781-6878. KAWEAH LAKE: The bass bite has been very good with a lot of fish still shallow. Plastics and jigs have been the top baits. Trout slowing. Bluegill improving by the day, crappie still spotty. For more information, call the marina at (559) 597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: The smallmouth and largemouth bass bite is on all over the lake, with the best action at the dam, Harris Creek, and near the North Shore Store. Lots of fish 4-0 have been reported in the past week. Also a decent afternoon and early evening catfish bite on fish to 6-0. Bluegill are showing in good to excellent numbers. For more information, call (805) 472-2818. SANTA MARGARITA: The bass bite is still fair to good, and the crappie action continues to be spotty. Trout action fair and a DFG plant went in last week. Bluegill also starting to really turn on. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call the marina (805) 438-1522. NACIMIENTO: The spotted bass bite is still very good and the white bass are showing in up into the narrows in good numbers. The spotties, largemouth, and smallmouth are also showing up now with the best bite on dropshot plastics, jigs and cranks. Crappie also turning around with a lot of 3/4-pound fish and some bigger. For more information, call (805) 238-1056, or log on at www.nacimientoresort.com. LOPEZ: The bluegill and redear bites are both very good on live baits and small jigs. A number of fish over 1-0 reported. Catfish also improving with warm weather. Otto Arterberry, Bakersfield, caught a 22-0 catfish on a red worm while fishing for panfish. A few trout aree still showing at the dam after the DFG's plant last week. The largemouth bass are fair to good early and late in the day on reaction baits. For more information call the marina at (805) 489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked the week of May 15, 2006 with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Lake, Big Tujunga Creek (Lower and Upper), Castaic Lagoon, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lakes, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (East and West Forks), Santa Fe Reservoir. ORANGE: Laguna Park Lake. RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake, Perris Lake. SAN BERNARDINO: Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake. VENTURA: Rose Valley Lakes. INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle, South Forks), Bishop Creek (Intake II), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (Laws Bridge downstream to Steward Lane and below Tinnemaha), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Sheperds Creek, South Lake, Symmes Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek. MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Little Walker River, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Reversed Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Section 1 and Section 2), Rush Creek, Silver Lake, Upper and Lower Twin Lakes (Bridgeport), Virginia Creek, West Walker River (Section 2 and Section 3). FRESNO: Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam. KERN: Kern River (KR No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville). MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir. MERCED: Merced River from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls. TULARE: Kern River (Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge and Brush Creek to Fairview Dam). TUOLUMNE: Basin Creek, Deadman Creek, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake (Strawberry Lake), Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River (Middle and North forks).
CATFISH PLANTS The following waters, listed by county, will be planted by the Department of Fish and Game with one-pound channel catfish during the week of May 15, 2006. ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Centennial Regional Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Tri-city Park Lake, Ralph Clark Regional Lake, Yorba Regional Park Lake.
OCEAN FISHING REPORT By Terrence Berg and Phil Friedman, www.976-TUNA.com HOT BITES
CHANNEL ISLANDS SEABASS AND MORE: There has been an excellent white seabass bite at Santa Rosa Island over the past several weeks, and while this bite is starting to taper off, there is still good action on the east end. Most of the seabass are school size fish from 18 to 25 pounds, with the odd fish up to 45 pounds, and they are showing on live squid. As the seabass action winds down, there have been improving counts on halibut to 50 pounds, calico bass, and even barracuda. Of course, the rockfish action remains excellent, too. On Sunday, The Sun out of Channel Islands Sportfishing, had 10 anglers who landed two white seabass, three halibut -- including one fish at 50-plus pounds, 10 calico bass, one barracuda, 40 rockfish, 25 red snapper, and two sculpin.
CATALINA ISLAND UPDATE: Catalina Island produced some good catches of white seabass, yellowtail, and halibut this past week on overnight trips, while the 3/4-day fleet has been tapping into the bass, bonito, and barracuda bite. The Freedom out of 22nd Street Landing was at Catalina with 17 anglers who caught 15 seabass to 40 pounds, five halibut to 30 pounds, and good calico bass action on Sunday. Anglers on the Old No. 7 out of Pierpoint Landing had limits of seabass to 55 pounds on Monday along with 40 calico bass. The 3/4-day boats have been reporting bonito to 8 pounds, with most in the 2-0 to 4-0 range. The bass are running from just legal at 12 inches to 9 pounds, with a hot pick along the kelp. Santa Barbara Island and San Clemente Island had similar bites, but most skippers didn't both running past Catalina.
NEARSHORE BARRACUDA: There have been great signs of barracuda and even sand bass along the Los Angeles and Orange county coastlines in the past week. Skippers are reporting lots of schools of barracuda holding just offshore in deep water, but the fish have been reluctant to bite. A few barracuda have popped just outside of San Pedro under birds, but the schools are moving and haven't settled into one area yet. When that happens they go on a major bite. Keep the iron ready.
TUNA UPDATE: The San Diego tuna bite broke wide open this week. Skipper Shawn Trowbridge of theLegend out of Seaforth Sportfishing was on a 1 1/2-day exploratory trip this past week and found action to rival the hot bite or summer or fall. There were 30 anglers on this trip and they boated 70 bluefin tuna to 30 pounds, 48 albacore to 25 pounds, and 101 yellowtail. The Sea Adventure 80 returned to port on Mother's Day, also with 30 anglers. They caught six bluefin, 70 albacore, and 70 yellowtail.
SAN DIEGO LOCAL SCENE: Local half and three-quarter day boats out of San Diego have been hammering the bass, bonito, and barracuda in the past week, with half to full limits on all three the rule. Skippers are also noticing more and more yellowtail on the local kelp.
CLUB SPEAKER: The 976-TUNA Rod and Reel Club will have Frank LoPresete, skipper of the Royal Polaris, as its guest speaker at the next meeting 7 p.m., June 1 at the National Sports Bar and Grill, 3210 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance. The event is free.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA and SKB host instructional charters throughout the year, offering beginning anglers or veterans advice and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. The next trip is a two-day Big Game 90 island freelance trip to target yellowtail and white seabass or whatever is hot. May 21 departure. For information about other SKB/976-TUNA instructional charters, call (310) 328-8426.
UPDATED REPORTS: Anglers can get updated ocean fishing reports and daily dock counts for all of the landings at www.976-tuna.com.
LANDING CONTACTS Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, (805) 772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, (805) 595-7200; Sea Landing, Santa Barbara, (805) 963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, (805) 658-1060; Channel Islands Sportfishing, Oxnard, (805) 985-8511; Captain Hook's Sportfishing, Oxnard, (805) 382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing, Hueneme, (805) 488-2212; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, (310) 822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, (310) 372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, (310) 374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, (310) 832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, (310) 547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, (562) 432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, (562) 983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, (562) 598-6649; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, (949) 675-0550; Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, (949) 673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, (949) 496-5794; Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside, (760) 722-2133; Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, (619) 221-8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, (619) 222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, (619) 224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, (619) 223-1627; Islandia Sportfishing, San Diego, (619) 222-1164. Mexico Landings: Sergio's Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.
