The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marinaoperators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglerscatching large fish should send the information to Outdoor NewsService, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can besent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can alsobe posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net.
This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in SouthernCalifornia each week. Frequently it is edited for space. A completeversion is available through our Outdoor News Service web site(www.OutdoorNewsService.com). The updated report is usually postedby Thursday afternoon. The fish report is copyrighted and any useor reposting of the report, or portions of the report, isprohibited without written permission. Posting of links to theOutdoor News Service web site is allowed.
The Outdoor News Service is also on Facebook with updatedreports and photos posted throughout the week. The Twitter accountname is MatthewsOutdoor. For our latest fishing information, usethese sites.
The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacherhotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG’s Internet web page islocated at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.
MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. It’s time to fish the ocean. With the full moon on Friday andthe sand bass, calico bass, and barracuda action pretty much wideopen, it’s time to jump on a twilight, half-day or three-quarterday trip anywhere on the coast and get in on the hot, limit-stylefishing. This isn’t a local bite in one place, the action is goodfrom San Diego into the Channel Islands. Limits of bass are likely,barracuda could pop and add some action, there are enough whiteseabass and halibut being landed to give these trips a nicevariety. Complete details and phone numbers for all the landings inour ocean report below.
2. Diamond Valley Lake gets into the top picks regularly for itsbass action – and it could be in this spot for that now, too – butit’s the wide open bluegill bite that has earned it a spot in thepicks this week. The fish are showing in a lot of locations aroundthe lake on small jigs and baits fishing in six to 20 feet ofwater. Bluegill topping a pound have been caught each week. For anupdate on this bite and tips where to go, check with the marina at951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle in Hemet at951-658-7410.
3. The striped bass action has remained very good at San AntonioLake on the Central Coast with the fish boiling on shad. The actionhas been best in the evenings, but the boils can come up any timeand can be tapped with spoons, swimbaits, or surface plugs hurledinto the boils. The best part is that these are quality stripersfrom six to 12 pounds with fish over 20-pound each of the past twoweeks. For an update on this bite, call the marina at 805-472-2818or Jim’s Pro Bass Tackle at 805-237-0549.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The best action in Southern California has been at BigBear Lake with limits of holdover rainbows to three pounds orbetter pretty common for trollers and shore anglers in Trout Alley.Gregory and Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains areboth being planted this week and should be good. Jenks Lake is fairto good, and Lake Hemet is also pretty good. There are also a fewholdover fish being landed by deep trollers at Silverwood, Cachuma,and Casitas – in about that order. The bite also remains very goodat Cuyamaca. Trout action in the Sierra Nevada remains fair to goodoverall, with the June Lake loop (especially Silver), VirginaLakes, and Bridgeport Reservoir all top bets. Other good betsinclude Twin Lakes (Bridgeport), South Lake and the South Fork ofBishop Creek. For fly anglers, Hot Creek is probably the best betin spite of high flows and Bishop Creek has been good (bigcarpenter ant “hatch”).
BLACK BASS: Not much change here. It’s surface bite season.While the overall bass action could probably only be rated fair allacross Southern California, almost all lakes have some topwater(think frogs) and reaction bait (cranks, jerkbaits, andspinnerbaits) action early and late in the day (and early is betterwith the heat). During the day, the fish generally sound to deeperstructure where they can be caught on dark plastics. Top bet isstill Diamond Valley, but the bites are decent at Sutherland, Otay,El Capitan, Skinner, Perris, Silverwood, Casitas, Castaic, Piru,and Cachuma. On the Central Coast, Santa Margarita, Nacimiento, SanAntonio, and Lopez are all still pretty fair for bass. On theColorado River, the Topoc Gorge smallmouth bite has been good, butexcept for the narrow window of early morning Havasu and the lowerriver has been tougher.
STRIPED BASS: There is an excellent striper bite at theCalifornia aqueduct near Taft with most anglers getting two-fishlimits of fish from four to five pounds, with some to 12 pounds orbetter. The Colorado River, there have been a lot of quality fishto 20 pounds at Willow Beach, while Havasu and Topoc Gorge areproducing one to four-pound fish in a fair bite. The striper biteat the local SoCal lakes had been inconsistent, but Pyramid andSkinner looking to have finally turned on semi-permanent for thesummer with excellent action much of the past week. Castaic finallylooked to be turning around, too, with some good catches over the4th. Silverwood has been fair, but Diamond Valley remains prettytough. And finally, the San Antonio Lake striper bite has remainedhot with a lot of quality fish from five to eight pounds in a wideopen topwater bite for the second week in a row.
PANFISH: The No. 1 panfish bite in the region could still beconsidered the exceptional tilapia action at the Salton Sea, butthere’s a super bluegill and redear bite at Diamond Valley Lake.The redear bite is also still very good in Havasu and Topoc Gorgearea on the Colorado River. The bluegill and redear bites are alsostill good at Perris, Casitas, and most other waters with thesefish. A top bluegill spot has been Lower Otay. Piru and Castaic aregood. The crappie bites slowed most place but there is still fairto good action at Irvine and Cachuma, which was producing more fishagain this week. Also some crappie at Santa Margarita andWohlford.
CATFISH: The Colorado River in good for catfish with flatheadsand channels showing in good numbers. There are high flows on thelower river, but the action has been good on flatheads to 35 poundsand channels to eight pounds again this week. Southern Californialakes are also all starting to turn on with more and more catsshowing, and stocking programs are in full swing now at most placesthat plant. The hands-down top spot has been Elsinore, but HesperiaLake is getting big plants of cats each week now, and Corona Lakeand Santa Ana River Lakes are being planted with cats each andweekly trophy catfish plants start this week. Other good catfishbets are Irvine, Skinner, Silverwood, and Pyramid. All the SanBernardino County Parks are also being planted weekly.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: The catfish bite has been very good in the mainchannel and off the mouths of the bigger coves all around the lakewith a lot of two to three-pound catfish being landed on cut baitsand the marshmallow-meal worm combo dipped in stink bait. GarrettPrager, Torrance, landed five catfish to eight pounds on anchoviesand chicken liver in the main channel. The striper action is alsopretty good early and late in the day or at night at the dam andmain points in Chemise, the quarry area, and main channel. Most ofthe bite on cut baits. Terence Millner, San Diego, had 11 stripersto six pounds on anchovies at the dam. Some bigger fish on bigswimbaits and cranks. The largemouth bass bite has been fair togood on plastics and more and more fish on reaction baits. Bluegillhave turned on with good action in most coves and around the marinaon small worms, wax worms, crickets, meal worms, and jigs. Most arehand-sized. The action on holdover trout has been slow to fair fortrollers working the main channel, along the dam, and into Chemise.The bait bite has been fair in the mouths of most of the coves indeeper water on floating dough baits or small spinners early in theday. Jose Garcia-Rodriguez, Santa Ana, landed a limit of rainbowsto two pounds on garlic dough bait. Carp are in most of the covesbut getting little pressure. Miller Canyon Creek just above thelake was planted with DFG trout two and four weeks ago. Last plantin the main lake was May 20. The park is now on summer hours, openseven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: marina760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The trout bite has remained very good, but thefish have mostly moved west toward the deeper and cooler water atthe dam and the Trout Alley from Metcalf to Boulder Bay along thesouth shore and all the way to the dam is the new hotspot. Bestbite has been for trollers working three to four colors of leadcoreand Needlefish in copper and nickel finishes. Anglers fishing PowerBait on a slip bobber in 15 to 20 feet are getting fish. ElSullivan, Chino Hills, caught a 7.37-pound rainbow recently on afly-bubble combo at the dam. DFG trout plants this week and twoweeks ago. The bass action is good, especially in the Eagle Pointand in all the bays on jigs and plastics. Most bass anglers aregetting largemouth to four pounds and smallmouth to three pounds,in about a 50-50 mix. The crappie action is fair to good aroundsheltered docks and rocky structure, with small, sparkle jigs thebest bet. For fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218 (orwww.bigbearmarina.com), Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. Formore information, call the Lake Gregory boathouse at909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Overall slow to fair trout action but someanglers continue to get nice stringers of rainbows from two to fourpounds. Most of the fish are still being landed on floating doughbaits, the best action has been on small jigs and trout plasticsfished in the morning and evening. The lake is set to receive 1,000pounds of Calaveras rainbows along with 100 pounds of catchablebrown trout this week, including one wearing a $100 tag. DFG troutare also schedule to be planted this week, and Jess Ranch troutwere planted two weeks ago. Also a lot of small pumpkinseed sunfishbeing caught. Lake fishing fees are $15 for adults and $10 for kids16 and under this season. A $10 senior pass for those 62 and overis available Tuesday through Thursday each week. Anglers landingtrout six pounds or better get a free tee-shirt. Recordedinformation: 909-867-2009 and the new website iswww.gvlfishing.com.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG plant two weeks ago.
JENKS LAKE REGION: Trout action fair to good and a DFG plant isslated for this week. Last plant was two weeks ago. Best action onfloating baits in salmon peach or garlic or garlic inflatednightcrawlers. Also some showing on small trout jigs and plasticsfished from shore or float tube. Most of the trout are pan-sized,but some to 2-8. The Santa Ana River in the Seven Oaks area and theSouth Fork were both planted last week and two weeks ago. JenksLake: 909-747-5098. General Information: Mill Creek Ranger Stationat 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: The catfish bite remains excellent with weeklystocks of catfish, including trophy brood stock fish in eachplanting. Most of the cats are showing on cut mackerel, shrimp,nightcrawlers, or the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, anddipping all the baits in Sonny’s Catfish Bait is improving theaction. Most of the fish are 1 1/2 to three pounds and limits havebeen common this week. Top catfish was an 18-pounder landed byDennis Wilson, Lancaster, on mackerel, while Craig Smith, Hesperia,caught a 14-8 on a nightcrawlers. Vince Masolino, Fontana, landed a9-8, while Glenford Jones, Barstow, and Tyler McCain, Victorville,each had nine pounders. Marty Cabrejo, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a7-8. A few sturgeon continue to be caught with some over 10 pounds.Jack Hanson, Colton, landed a 17-pounder on anchovies, while FredTaylor, Compton, had a 14-12 sturgeon on Power Bait. Lake hours are6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the night session from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Costis $15 per angler. No state fishing license is required here.Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: The action has been a little tough again this weekbecause of three days of thunderstorms, rain, and heat. But anglerswho are working at it are still getting limits and some good fish.The best fish has been on on salmon peach, garlic, and orange PowerBaits, inflated nightcrawlers, and especially on the small jigs andtrout worms. The big fish this week was a 4-1 rainbow landed byRenee Beason, Hesperia, on a nightcrawlers. Jacob Harris, Corona,landed a 3-4, and Phil Kester, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 3-5rainbow. Catfish to four pounds were landed on cut baits this pastweek, and the bass bite has continued been pretty good on Senkosand drop-shot plastics. The bluegill bite is good with a lot offish to 1-8 showing on meal worms, wax worms, and small jigs. Thelake complex is open every Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Friday from its ownhatchery. Check the lake’s web site for some price changes for thissummer. Lake information: 760-240-1107 orwww.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: No report. County catfish plants are weeklythrough August. Horseshoe Lake is still closed due to flood damage.Pelican Lake is remains open. For lake information:760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: No report. County catfish plants are weeklythrough August. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: No report. County catfish plants are weekly throughAugust. Small boats (non-inflatable) under 16 feet with electricmotors are now allowed. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: No report. County catfish plants are weekly throughAugust. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: No report. County catfish plants are weekly throughAugust. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are openevery Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed.Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago. A fewbass to three pounds reported, and the odd catfish being landed.Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The largemouth bass bite remains very good witha lot of smaller fish to three pounds on Senkos or other jerk baitsin the mornings and dark plastics later in the day. The bigger fishare showing on bigger swimbaits early with some to six pounds plusthis week. More and more smallmouth are showing in the catch,especially off the dams and in rocky areas. The bluegill and redearbite has also broken wide open around the eucalyptus trees oppositethe marina and both dams stairs. Small jigs tipped with baits orjust nightcrawlers pieces, meal worms, or wax worms fished with asplit shot or under a bobber are getting fish. Bluegill to 1.2pounds reported this past week and 25 fish limits are common. Thestriped bass bite is improving with the fish locked on shad inabout 30 feet and trolling or drifting cut baits down to the fishhas been the way to get smaller fish. Few big stripers reported.The catfish bite is fair to good for those targeting the cats inthe coves, mostly on cut mackerel or nightcrawlers. Those reportedhave been from five to eight pounds. The Striper King Classiccharity fishing tournament will be held here Aug. 27 with netproceeds going to support two Hemet charities, the Valley-WideRecreation and Parks and the Police Activities League. Entry fee is$50 for adults, $10 for kids, and limited to 250 entrants. Cashprizes for top five stripers, with the top prize $1,000. ContactLast Chance Bait and Tackle or the marina for information (numbersbelow). Private boats must be inspected for zebra and quaggamussels. Boats with wet lower units will be turned away. Forgeneral lake and launch information, call 800-590-LAKE. For fishingand boat rental info call the marina at 951-926-7201 orwww.dvmarina.com or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410 orwww.lastchancetackle.com.
PERRIS: The bluegill and redear bite has continued to be verygood, especially in the east end of the lake, but a lot of fish arestarting to show in Sail Cove, odd the dam, and off the island. Thebest bite has been on red worms for the redear with small jigs andcrickets the best for the bluegill. Noel Sanchez, Perris, had sixbluegill to 1.3 pounds on the jig-cricket combo off the southeastend of the island. The largemouth bass action has also been goodwith decent topwater and reaction bait bite early and then aplastic, jigs, deeply-fished Senko-type baits later. Anything thatimitates the shad are getting fish. Edwardo Suarez, Fontana, landedan 8-13 bass on a meal worm in Sail Cove. A few quality crappiecontinue to show on small jigs off the marina docks, but otherwisevery slow action. Catfish and carp have all been slow or lightlyfished, but Leo Esqueda, Menifee, landed an 8-10 catfish on afloating dough bait. The park is open seven days a week.Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The striped bass and catfish bites have been good. Thestripers are getting more consistent and the fish are showing atthe inlet, along the south shore, and Ramp No. 2 areas, mostly onanchovies and nightcrawlers. Vita Smith, Mariposa, landed 10stripers to six pounds at the dam, while Mathew Ortega, Temecula,landed five stripers with his best at five pounds. The catfish aremostly in the coves and showing on nightcrawlers and cut baits. EdPerez, Mariposa, had cats to five pounds at the inlet. Thelargemouth bite has been fair during the middle moon phases withthe best bite along the south shore and into the east end with fishon Senkos and plastics. The bluegill bite has also been good onworms, crickets, and small jigs tipped with bait in most coves andalong shoreline brush. Carp are getting light pressure on doughbaits. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Busy boat and jet ski traffic over the weekends, butthe catfish action is still very good on shad, nightcrawlers, andshrimp. There continue to be a lot of quality cats topping fivepounds, and they are showing around much of the lake. Therecontinue to be a few wipers caught each week in the six toeight-pound class with the best bite between 5 and 8 a.m. Live shadis the hot bait, but any shad-like bait is producing some fish.While the crappie continue to be slow, a few two-pound class fishhave been caught again this week on the shad and small jigs. Thebluegill bite is good along most shorelines on crickets, mealworms, wax worms, or a few are showing from the marina areas andoff Whisker’s Beach. Carp bow fishermen are sticking from 30 to100-plus carp to 10 pounds or better per trip. Largemouth are slow.For more information, call William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rentalat 951-642-0640 or go to www.williamsboatandtackle.com.
CORONA LAKE: Catfish action remains good to excellent with fullstringers common early and late in the day or at night. The fishare all around the lake but the flooded trees and edges of thebrush and weed beds have been best. Sergio Rodrigquez, Riverside,had his five-fish limit while float tubing on Sunday in less thantwo hours. The stringer weighed in at 13 1/2 pounds and his bestcatfish was a four pounder, all on the marshmallow-meal worm combo.Plants of catfish are twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday,and trophy catfish plants start this Friday and will go in weekly.There has also been a decent bite on other species if anglerstarget them. Chris Marcus, Lancaster, landed a 4 1/2-poundlargemouth bass at the dam, while Riley Kuhn, Norco, had atwo-pound crappie. Gigi Hall, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a 15-poundsturgeon. The tilapia action has also been pretty good on half anightcrawler fished under a bobber with fish to two poundsreported. The tilapia are also being planted at least once a week.Here’s an unusual promotion: You can get into Corona with a dollarin silver coins minted before 1964 (dimes, quarters, halfs anddollars). No state fishing license is required here. Information:951-277-3321 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: No recent updates, but our last report said quite afew bass were showing for bank-walkers tossing plastics and smallcrankbaits. The bluegill action is fair to good on small mealwormsor wax worms fished under a bobber or a fly-bubble combo in theevening.
RANCHO JURUPA: Catfish plants last week and three weeks ago bythe county. Fishing has been slow to fair with a few catfish comingin on mackerel, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. A few bluegill and carpare also being landed. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-0171.
LITTLE LAKE: Overall slow action. The catfish bite is the bestbet with the last plant over a month ago. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Entrance fee is $10 per person, witha $3 per angler fishing fee. Kids five to 12 pay only a $5 entryfee. Kids under five only have to pay the fishing fee (if theyfish). A state fishing license is required to fish here and regularstate limits apply. Access is now off Stetson in the former LakeHemet shop/yard (not off Thornton) in Hemet. The lake phone is530-526-7937.
REFLECTION LAKE: Information: 951-654-7906 orwww.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN’S CHANNEL CATS: Catfish season is in full swing and thebite has been good on cut baits, nightcrawlers, and stink baits.The lake is open only on weekends Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m., and on Monday holidays. No state fishing license isrequired to fish here. Information: 951-679-6562 or951-259-2021.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: The action on trout has been good to excellent withquite a few limits posted, and half-hour limits are common fortrollers fishing the morning. Some of the trout are up to 16inches. Shore action has been nearly as good on Power Bait andinflated nightcrawlers. DFG trout plants last week, two weeks ago,and four weeks ago. Bluegill pretty good in the shallows. Carpmostly in shallow water and carp bowfishing is allowed Mondaythrough Thursday but bowfishermen must check in first. Lake opendaily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Boat inspections for quagga musselsare $7 and banding is $3. Information: Lake Hemet Market951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
LAKE FULMORE: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago.Nearby Strawberry Creek is on the same stocking schedule right nowand was also planted this week. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: The catfish bite has been wide open forthe past two weeks with limits of 1 1/2 to three-pound fish commonall around the lakes complex on shrimp, mackerel, themarshmallow-meal worm combo, and the marshmallow-nightcrawlercombo. Big catfish of the week was an 8 3/4-pound Silver King catlanded by Bruce Todd, Pasadena, to top off his 11-fish, 30-poundstringer caught at the Bubble Hole on shrimp. Santiago Palazos andFernando Castellanos, both West Covina, caught 20 cats for 41pounds on shrimp with the best fish at 2 3/4-pounds. Romeo Joson,Orange, landed nine cats for a 20-pound stringer and his best fishwas a 3-pound, 2-ounce, all on mackerel and sardines at the BubbleHole. The carp fishing has also been very good for anglerstargeting these fish with dough baits. A nine-pound carp was landedby Kathryn Kiefer, Corona, on the marshmallow-nightcrawler combo atthe pump house. Catfish are being planted twice a week and Tuesdayand Friday, with tilapia added at least once a week. While mostanglers aren’t targeting the tilapia, they have been good onnightcrawlers pieces. Starting this week Friday, brookstock catsfrom six to 10 pounds and bigger will be planted every Friday.Here’s an unusual promotion: You can get into SARL with a dollar insilver coins minted before 1964 (dimes, quarters, halfs anddollars). Other than float tubes, no water craft are allowed due tofears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the watersystem. No state fishing license is required here. Information:714-632-7851 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa AnaRiver Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information:714-996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: The catfish bite has been improving over the pasttwo weeks with a lot of three to 10-pound class fishing with thebest bite in Woody’s Cove, Boat Dock Cove, Trout Island and offSantiago Flats, mostly on mackerel or shrimp. Top fish was a 20-12blue landed by Juan Taylor, Riverside, on shrimp at Trout Island.Nick Vega, Garden Grove, landed a 13-3 blue on mackerel off theflats, while Steve Christopher, Pomona, had a 13-pound channel onmackerel off the flat. Nick Vega and Eric Hagen, both Garden Grove,had a 10-catfish limit totaling 35-1, topped by a 6-1 channel, allon mackerel off the flats. The bass action slowed over the pastweek, but the fish are still keying on the shad and there have beensome good topwater boils. The best bite, however, has been fishingstructure with 10-inch Berkley Power Worms and jig-n-pig combos.Bill Fish, Huntington Beach, landed a 5-7 largemouth on a Senkoalong the west shore. Crappie anglers did well in the afternoons bydrifting Atomic Tubes with the breeze at 15 to 20 feet, or by usingsetting out a floating lantern after dark, and waiting for thecrappie to be attracted to the insect and baitfish food chain.Lawrence Taylor, Sierra Madre, had a 1-8 crappie on an Atomic Tubeoff the flats. A few trout are still showing at the dam ondeep-drifted baits at depths of over 50 feet. The fish are two tothree pounds. Plenty of bluegill and redear are hitting on waxwormsor mealworms in brushy shallow areas. The lake is closed Tuesdays,but there is evening fishing Friday and Saturday nights. No statefishing license is required here. Lake information: 714-649-9111 orwww.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Catfish were planted last Thursday when2,000 pounds were dumped in the lake. The bite has been fair togood with quite a few limits of two to three-pound fish, but somebigger. Top catfish was a 7-5 caught by Dean Lusk, Laguna Niguel onmackerel. Bass have improved with most anglers landing three to 10per day in a fair to good catch-and-release bite on plastics andnightcrawlers. The bluegill and crappie bite is wide open, but mostare small and showing on bobber-suspended baits. A few biggercrappie are showing at the boat dock and off the big island. Thelake is open for night fishing every Friday and Saturday nightuntil 11 p.m. All night fisherman must use a lantern during thesenight fishing sessions, and rental boats will be allowed on thelake until 10 p.m. on those two nights. There is no limit on thetrout now. Information: 949-362-3885 orwww.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: The bass bite has been good for anglers fishing deeperledges and drop-offs with Texas-rigged plastics, drop-shot rigs,and jigs with both largemouths and smallmouths showing in thisbite. Still some topwater early in the mornings. The crappie bitehas been fair to good in 15 to 20 feet of water in the narrows,Cachuma Bay, and Santa Cruz Bay on small jigs and small spinners.Quite a few are over a pound with some to nearly two pounds. Thetrout action has pretty much been limited to deep water at the damfor anglers fishing four to six colors of leadcore and thedodger-nightcrawler combo getting two- to four-pound classrainbows. Catfish to five pounds are showing in most coves on cutbaits. Redear also improved adjacent to the tules on Stork andJackrabbit flats, while the bluegill are good all around the lakeon meal worms or red worms. Bow fishing for carp has slowed withthe fish mostly in deeper water, but a 15-8 was stuck last week.Free bowfishing permits are available at the entrance gate. Forquagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on athttps://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. The marina is open withrental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boatsmust get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass fishing remains fair to good with most of thefish from one to three pounds on plastics with some topwater thefirst and last hour of each day. Live shad have been impossible toget for bait this past week, so the action has been on plasticworms and nightcrawlers most of the day with the topwater andreaction baits early. Toshiki Robb, Oxnard, landed an eight-poundbass on a plastic worm. The trout have moved deep — 30 to 40 feetor more — and most of the action has been on Needlefish fortrollers, but this bite has slowed way down with only a few fishreported this week. There is still a pretty consistent bite onbluegill and redear on red worms and nightcrawlers pieces with somedecent redear from 3/4-pound to two pounds this week. The catfishare still very spotty with almost no one fishing the cats, butLenny Vine, Simi Valley, caught two cats at nine and 5-8 onnightcrawlers. Private boats must be inspected for quagga musselsand face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed tolaunch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays.Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The striper action has been slowly improving with afair bite on cut baits, mostly anchovies and sardines, off SuicidePoint, Sharron’s Rest, Dry Gultch and Kong Island, but the fishseem to be moving every day, perhaps following the shad. The shadare not showing on the surface so netting some for bait has beenout. The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good on drop-shotnightcrawlers or plastics, with some topwater early in the day.Trout action has slowed for shore anglers as the fish scattered todeeper water after a pair of big plants in June, but a few arestill showing early and late on floating baits and small spinners.Bluegill and redear are still showing in most coves, but they havemoved into deeper water for most of the day. Crappie are alsopretty fair on small jigs tipped with meal worms or CrappieNibbles. In the lagoon, the largemouth bass bite has been goodearly and late in the day on topwater and swimbaits as the fishchase bait around. The fishing pier has also been good for thebluegill and crappie. Information: 661-775-6232 orwww.CastaicLake.com.
PIRU: The action on bass and bluegill has been good, with a fairbite on the crappie. The bass have been in Cow Cove on plastics andjerk baits early in the day. Michael Santa Maria, Bakersfield, hada five-pound bass from Reasoner Cove on a worm. The bluegill areshowing all around the lake on meal worms and nightcrawlers pieceswith some to a half-pound or bigger. John Russell, Gardena, landed15 bluegill on meal worms in Reasoner. The crappie are showing inReasoner Cove, on small cranks or jigs. Marcus Radar, Temple City,landed a 1-8 crappie. Trout, redear, and catfish remain slow.Information: main office at 805-521-1500, x500 orwww.camplakepiru.com.
PYRAMID: The stripers have remained best at the dam and off theisland in 10 to 40 feet of water on cut baits fly-lined down to thefish when you find the school. While most of one to four pounds,and some very good stringers of fish have been reported. There werealso quite a few stripers from shore this week in the launch area.Quite a few catfish showing in the coves on cut baits and some fishtopping 10 pounds landed each week. There was a 2,700 pound DFGtrout plant two weeks ago at the launch ramp, but this bite hasslowed with only a few showing on spinners and floating doughbaits. The bass are mostly showing on reaction baits and plasticsin 18 to 40 feet of water with the fish moving deeper in the watercolumn during the middle part of the day. Also some topwater andnear-surface action on cranks and blades early in the day. Thebluegill are good on the usual array of baits in most coves in sixto 20 feet. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at661-295-7155.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: The action has improved but the bite is just fairoverall. There has been a pretty decent bluegill and redear biteoff and around the southeast pier (nearest the trailer park), andbass have been spotty. The shad are up and there have been sometopwater and crankbait bass landed. This past Saturday’s moonlightfishing was pretty good for catfish with some nice stringers offish up to eight pounds reported. There were 104 cars for the nightfishing. The last Moonlight fishing date is tentatively set forAug. 13. Cost is the regular $10 park entrance fee. Park and lakefishing information: 909-599-8411 or www.bonellipark.org.Additional fishing information: www.kickbassfishing.com.
SANTA FE DAM: No recent DFG plants. Information:626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Carp fishing has beenfair to good for anglers targeting them.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent DFG plants.
ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
ELIZABETH LAKE: No report on the crappie bite his week. Therehad been a wide open crappie bite on pink and white jigs dipped inXXXBlood fish attractant with a lot of limits of half- to3/4-pounder. A few catfish are showing. The last DFG catfish plantwas four weeks ago.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 888-527-2757or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information:213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LEGG LAKES: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
MACARTHUR PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information:818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: There were 149 anglers who landed 2,233 bass and 24bluegill over the two fishing days this past week. Reservations canbe made through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000 orwww.ticketmaster.com). Lake information: 619-465-3474 orwww.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.
HODGES: There were 40 anglers who landed 23 crappie and sevenchannel cats over the three fishing days this past week. Bowfishingfor carp is allowed at this lake. Open only on Wednesday, Saturdayand Sunday with boat rentals available all three days. Rental boatand concession information: 760-432-2023.
EL CAPITAN: There were 27 anglers who landed 106 bass over thefour fishing days this past week. Bowfishing for carp is nowallowed here. The lake is open Thursday through Monday with boatrentals available all five days (closed to fishing on Sundays).General lake information: 619-465-3474 orwww.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concessioninformation: 619-443-4110.
LOWER OTAY: There were 93 anglers who caught 348 bluegill to apound, 66 bass to 4.36 pounds, eight channel cats to 7.39 poundsover the three fishing days this past week. Bowfishing for carp isnow allowed here. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, andSunday schedule and boat rentals are available all three days.General lake information: 619-465-3474 orwww.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concessioninformation: 619-397-5212.
UPPER OTAY: There were 21 anglers over the three fishing daysthis past week who caught 20 bas to 4.18 pounds and one .47-poundbluegill. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday forcatch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single,barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay isclosed, but anglers can still walk in. Lake information:619-465-3474 (recording) or 619-397-5212 (concession) orwww.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.
MURRAY: No report. Lake information: 619-465-3474 orwww.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. There are boat rentals Fridaythrough Sunday and the new concession number is 619-466-4847.
MIRAMAR: No report. The lake is open for fishing seven days aweek. Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday. Lakeinformation: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.New boat rental and concession information: 858-527-1722.
SUTHERLAND: There were 73 anglers who landed 135 bass, sixbluegill and two channel cats over the three fishing days this pastweek. Bowfishing for carp is now allowed here. The lake is openSaturday and Sunday to fishing and boating and fishing-only (floattubes allowed) on Monday. Lake very high with poor boat launchingconditions and no rental boats available. Lake information:619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boatreservations: 619-668-2050 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good earlyin the mornings with reaction baits and dark plastics working.Thomas Janenko, Vista, landed a 7-15 bass on a crank. There alsocontinues to be a decent early morning bite on quality crappie onsmall jigs or live shiners. Jerry Johnson, Ontario, landed a2.2-pound crappie on a Lip RipperZ jig in Boat Dock Cove, whileNathan Steckert, Michigan, landed a two-pounder. Bluegill are goodto excellent in the shallows and some larger fish are showing. Somecatfish are staring to show after the first plant of the season waslast week. Best action at the two ends of the lake. The plants willbe alternating weeks on Thursday with the next plant next week. Thebest bite has been on mackerel or chicken liver. The ranger stationhas a dough bait recipe for carp and catfish. Fishing is allowedseven days a week, but private boat launching not allowed becauseof Quagga mussel fears. Information: 760-839-4346 orwww.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week.
DIXON LAKE: Catfish season is finally in full swing after threeconsecutive weeks of 1,000-pound plants, including this week’splant. The bite has been good in the deep water of Whisker Bay andat the buoy line on mackerel, sardines, and shrimp. Top fish was sofar has been an 11-4 caught by Brandon Judkins, Escondido, onmackerel. Bluegill fair to good along most weed lines, butespecially in Boat Dock Cove and off Piers No. 1 and No. 2. Somehave been nice fish to a half pound. Night fishing is allowedThursday and Friday evenings only. No State fishing licenserequired here. Lake information: 760-839-4345 orwww.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: No fishing reports, but a catfish plant is slated forthis week. Night fishing began last week and will run through Aug.13. Shore anglers can fish until 11:30 p.m., and boat anglers until11 p.m. A state fishing license no longer required here. Lakeinformation: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: The action has finally turned around with a prettygood bite on catfish in the backs of the coves in the evening, anda plant this week should just keep this action perking. DeionAdams, Lakeside, landed cats at 7-2 and 6-6 on mackerel in SiestaCove. Final catfish plant of the season is slated for August. 11.Bass have improved at the dam buoyline with some fish on topwater,and some nice readear are showing again on wax worms in HermitCove. Night fishing is allowed until midnight every Friday andSaturday, but a full-size lantern is required after 8 p.m. Bass aremostly suspended in 35 to 45 feet of water in Hermit Cove and onthe points. The lake is open Friday through Sunday. Free fishingclass 1 p.m. Sunday on how best to catch Jennings catfish.Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: The trout action has continued fair with some limitsreported in deeper water near the dam with trollers getting themost fish. Cousins Chase and Jason Lee, both El Cajon, had theirfirst trout and the stringer weighed in at 9-4, all onnightcrawlers. The crappie have been spotty in 10 feet on smalljigs, but the bluegill bite has been good on wax worms or cricketswith some anglers report 20-fish stringers. Catfish are improvingwith some showing on nightcrawlers and cut baits in the CottonwoodCreek area. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473,ranger station 619-579-4101, or lakemorena.com.
CUYAMACA: There continues to be a pretty good trout bite and afew catfish are showing. Last plant was from the DFG two weeks ago.Best action has been at the Pumphouse and Lone Pine. Shaun Meader,Lakeside, landed a 13.6-pound rainbow from Pumphouse Cove onrainbow Power Bait, while Kevin Pravorg, Carson, landed a7.7-pounder. Mike Reid, Julian, caught a 20-pound catfish on a wormat the Lone Pine while fishing for trout. The crappie bite is goodon small fish along all shorelines on small jigs or bait. Privateboats are allowed on the lake, including canoes and kayaks now, butthe boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressureheated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for thespraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as theboat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination washdown station is for all craft and items used in the water,including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders.Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Catfish remain pretty good, but the bass slowed thispast week with only a few fish on reaction baits or topwater earlyin the day. The catfish have been best on nightcrawlers at the damand off the fishing pier. Crappie very slow. All private boats mustbe checked and washed down for zebra and quagga mussels. Henshaw isopen until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, closing at duskthe rest of the week. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releasesfor the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web sitewith information updated hourly:www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/rivops.html.
LAKE MEAD: Fair to good action on stripers upriver and in allcanyon areas with moving water. Best bite on anchovies and sardinesin deep water under balls of shad. Most fish under four pounds. Thelargemouth and smallmouth bass are fair on plastics and reactionbaits as the lake level comes up with some topwater action earlyand late. Fish the newly flooded brush. Catfish improving on cutbaits with pretty fair action in most coves and bays. Redear andbluegill bite is good with most fish in six to 20 feet ofwater.
WILLOW BEACH: The striped bass action has continued to be prettygood for anglers tossing the big trout-like plugs and swimbaits,mostly A.C. Plugs and SPROs. The action has been good early in themorning and in the late evening. The best action has been betweenmile markers 45 and 47 this past week. The fish are 12 to 30pounds. The trout bite remains good on salmon eggs, Power Bait,worms and Super Dupers after the weekly plants. Lots of limitsreported. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The striper bite has taken off in the past weekwith some very good catches made from the power lines to the dam atthe south end of the lake. The fish are running from three to sixpounds and have been chowing down on the shad. Some surface actionearly in the day, but most of the fish are showing on anchovypieces dropped down to metered fish or on trolled shad-like lures.The largemouth bite has been fair at best with the best actionearly in the day on topwater or reaction baits or on plastics andjigs later in the day. The catfish and panfish action is fair togood, mostly in less than 20 feet. Information: Cottonwood Cove at702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245. Interesting website for Willow Beach and Lake Mohave striper anglers:https://lakemohavestripers.com.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: The heat is cranking on, but the actionon stripers and smallmouth bass has been pretty fair. The stripersare packed with crawdads and running up to five pounds. The bestbite has been in the Big Bend region, but the fish are showing fromthe dam all the way to Needles. The smallmouth are best along riverrip-rap and other structure and taking small jigs and crankbaits,with the Willow Valley stretch a good bet. A few holdover trout arestill showing from the Laughlin casino, Big Bend, and all the wayto Rotary Park, but very few. Other species mostly slow.Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: There is a fair to good smallmouth action in themain river from Needles south to the I-40 bridge, mostly on smallcranks, plastics, and nightcrawlers. The striper bite has alsoimproved with a lot of fish to four pounds in the main river fromthe upper end of Topoc Gorge to Needles with most of the fish inthe one- to three-pound range. Catfish fair on cut baits, and a fewrainbow trout continue to show but most are nice quality fish up tofour pounds. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The smallmouth and panfish bite is still very goodthroughout the Topoc Gorge with a few largemouth bass mixed in thebite. Stripers have slowed a little, but still fair to good atnight on rocky points. The smallies are showing on nightcrawlers,four-inch swim baits, and small cranks. The bluegill are best onjust about any small bait. Catfish remain spotty in the gorge, butthe bite is started to get good at night on cut baits and smallerlive baits in the marsh. Warm weather has made fishing oppressiveduring the day. Topock Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike,Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Phil’sWestern Trader at 928-768-4954 or Capt. Doyle’s Fun Fishing at928-768-2667.
HAVASU: Not a lot of change here this past week with the beststriper action still at the upper end of the lake in the movingwater at Mojave Rock and the sandbar and on up into Topoc Gorge.The best action is mostly on frozen anchovies on four to six-poundfish. In the main body of the lake the fish are showing in a fairearly morning bite with the south end from California Bay to thedam the best areas. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are prettymuch on a frog bite right now. The weed beds are up and most fishare coming from cattails or weed pockets on flipped baits. Thebluegill and redear remain excellent with redear to three poundsreported every week. Most of the fish are in 12 to 25 feet of waterand showing on nightcrawlers or red worms. The night action onflathead catfish has been pretty fair in rocky pockets on livebluegill from dusk through the night. The bigger channels are alsotaking those baits, but you can catch more channels on cutmackerel, anchovies, or other baits in most bays and coves. Addinga stick bait also helps the action. Information: Bass Tackle Masterat 928-854-2277.
PARKER STRIP: Improving smallmouth bass along the rip-rap onsmall cranks, plastics, and jigs. The catfish are fair andimproving with a few showing in most of the pools on cut baits.Bluegill and redear are very slow in the backwaters and quiet waterin the main river. No flathead reports.
BLYTHE: The flathead catfish bite has been fair to good with alot of fish from eight to 30 pounds reported. Best action on livegoldfish and bluegill in the deep pools of the main river, but alsoquite a few fish in the area drain ditches. The blues and channelscats are also good, mostly on cut baits. The bass are showing oncrankbaits and plastics in all of the ditches, backwaters, andquiet water in the main river. Topwater action early and late inthe day. The smallies are best in the main river along the rip-rapand in the canals. Bluegill are also very good in area backwatersand ditches, but there haven’t been any striper reports from thediversion dam and very few tilapia have been reported. Information:B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Temps haven’t dropped below 110 for about the past10 days and aren’t expected to be below that for the next 10. Thishas keep the fishing pressure relatively light, but there continuesto be pretty good action on bass, bluegill and catfish, with mostof that action early and late in the day or at night. There havealso been quite a few smaller stripers showing in the river andmouth of the lagoon on nightcrawlers. Flatheads are best on livebluegill or goldfish, while the channels are showing on smallerlive baits or cut baits. Bluegill action is wide open on wax wormsand meal worms. Smallmouth bass are still good in main river on anyrocky current break. Jigs and small reaction baits are best. CibolaLake on the Arizona side of the river has been just fair to good onbass, bluegill, and catfish, but few reports coming in.Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday throughMonday.
PICACHO AREA: The bass are showing on cranks, spinnerbaits, andeven topwater this past week. Generally good action on catfish andbluegill, with quite a few flatheads being reported in thisbite.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action has been fair to goodon spinnerbaits and other reaction baits early and late in the dayand then slows way down with a few fish on plastics and jigs duringthe day. Channel catfish action is good on stink baits, and thequality flathead action has been good, especially going into thenew and full moon cycles. Most anglers fishing small, live bluegillfor the flatheads. Bluegill are excellent, but there have been onlya few crappie reports. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday throughMonday or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action is fair on plastics,nightcrawlers and reaction baits, with the best action on topwaterbaits early and late in the day. The channel catfish action alsofair to good, mostly at night. Flatheads also fair to good thispast week with fish to 20 pounds showing each week now on livebluegill, tilapia, or goldfish. Good bluegill bite in mostbackwaters.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: The tilapia action is still excellent and theweather is still very hot. These are mostly half to one-pound fish,but some up to 1 1/2-pounds or a little better. The best actioncontinues to be on nightcrawlers. Most of the reports are off thestate park headquarters’ jetty and the free fishing jetty at therefurbished Salton Sea Yacht Club, but fish have also been reportedoff Bombay and Mecca beaches, too. Information: Salton Sea StateRecreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052 or mobile phone at760-331-9944.
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: No reports.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: No reports. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No reports.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No reports. Information: 760-564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA
For up-to-date road and campground information by region, callthe following U.S. Forest Service offices: For the Big Pine to LonePine region, call 760-876-6222; for the Bishop Region, call760-873-2500; for the Mammoth Lakes region, call 760-924-5500; forthe Lee Vining region, call 760-647-3044; and for the Bridgeportregion call 760-932-7070. Lodging and guide information: BishopChamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or www.bishopvisitor.com, MonoCounty Tourism 760-924-1743. Top Eastern Sierra fishing report websites are: www.KensSport.com (Bridgeport region),www.TheTroutFly.com, and www.SierraDrifters.com.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Bridgeport Reservoir has been a little moreinconsistent this week, but the shore action is still very tough.Boat anglers are getting fish either trolling or drifting baits offRainbow Point or at mid-lake toward Buckeye Bay. Deep trollers arealso getting fish near the dam. Average rainbow is between one andtwo pounds. The Twin Lakes were fair to good in the off moon cyclewith bait and troll anglers from boat and shore still seeing adecent bite on half-pound to 1-8 fish. Also some fly-bubble actionstarting on Upper Twin in the evenings. All the Virginia Lakes areexcellent with fish to three pounds reported, mostly on smallspoons, inflated nightcrawlers, and floating baits. Fly anglersalso getting fish, but mostly subsurface stuff. The East Walkerwere consistently around 800 cfs this past week and then jumped to900-plus on Saturday. Conditions are tough, but anglers fishingwith lots of lead and getting down are still getting fish. The WestWalker is very high and off color with slowish fishing, but theupper Little Walker River and other small tribs are pretty good forwild fish. Not much change at Kirman Lake with just slow to fairaction for fly anglers tossing a bugger-scud two-fly rig orstillwater nymphs from tubes. Quality has been excellent withbrookies topping three pounds and some cutts even bigger. Lightfishing pressure. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 orwww.kenssport.com, Twin Lakes Resort (Lower Twin) 760-932-7751,Annett’s Mono Village (Upper Twin) 760-932-7071.
JUNE LAKE LOOP AREA: The trout action remains good throughoutthe loop with June, Gull, Silver and Grant all producing a lot oflimits of fish, mostly pan-sized rainbows on floating baits, smalltrout jigs and plastics, and the fly-bubble combo. Silver Lakeremains excellent with bait anglers mostly fishing salmon peach andgarlic Power Baits, but lure flingers and fly anglers are alsogetting fish. There were over 30 trout topping two pounds weighedin after DFG and Alper’s plants last week. Rush Creek is also goodwith a lot of quality fish. A 3-12 rainbow was landed by JohnJesse, Carson City, fly-fishing from a float tube in Silver, whileanother 3-12 was caught by Steve Archer, Anaheim, on a salmon eggfrom Rush Creek. James Olsen, San Diego, had a 3-8, also from RushCreek on salmon eggs, and Bryce Chandler, Temecula, landed athree-pounder on a nightcrawlers from the lake. Even some smallgolden trout have been caught in Silver, pushed down Alger Creekwith heavy runoff. Grant Lake is fair with decent action onrainbows and a few browns. Best action on trolled lures ornightcrawlers at the upper end of the lake. While many of the backcountry lakes are ice free, and the snow on the trails isdisappearing fast even in the higher elevations, but it’s wise tocheck with the USFS on conditions of trails into these lakes.Parker and Walker lakes are fishing pretty well for smaller wildfish. Information: Silver Lake Resort at 760-648-7726 or atsilverlakeresort.net or Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley Lake is warming up fast and the bite istough with most anglers getting only a fish or two, but the fishare beginning to congregate around springs and stream mouths andthe bite should turn back on soon. Damsels and callibaetis arebeginning to hatch in good numbers. Upper Owens is tough with highflows. Streamers or deeply-fished nymphs getting a few fish.Convict Lake has been good on pan-sized trout with shore anglersfishing nightcrawlers or Power Bait, while trolling are mostlyfishing six to seven colors of leadcore and Thomas Buoyants. Butthe fly-bubble combo, small Rapalas, and TroutKrilla are alsoworking. Young Jodi Collier, Vista, landed a five-fish limit thatweighed 5-1 on Power Bait and salmon eggs at the inlet. The TwinLakes and all the Mammoth Lakes basin lakes are ice free and theaction on all of them has been fair to good on holdover fish. RockCreek Lake is also free of ice. Rock Creek has been pretty fair onplanted fish. Mammoth Creek is also fair to good with quite a fewlimits reported. Hot Creek is good to excellent in spite of highflows. Most anglers are fishing bigger fish to get the trout’sattention. San Joaquin River is high, but the water is clear andthe bite has been good on dries and nymphs. Information: TheTroutfitter at 760-934-2517, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800,Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301.
BISHOP AREA: South Lake got its first DFG plant of the seasonFriday (1,800 pounds) and the bite was wide open over the weekendon most lures, flies, and floating baits. Top fish was a 5-11Alpers’ fish. Tom Misklevitz, San Bernardino, landed a 3-3 rainbowat the inlet. Big Alpers’ plant (from SCE) is slated for this week.The South Fork of Bishop Creek has been very good with DFG andAdopt-A-Creek volunteer-funded Alper’s fish this week. Best actionon salmon eggs and nightcrawlers but lots of fish showing on flies,spinners and mini jigs. Also a big carpenter ant hatch and flyanglers using ant patterns are hammering the fish. Adam Testi,Murietta, landed a 2-9 from the South Fork Friday. The North Forkand Middle Forks of Bishop Creek have been fair to good on plantedtrout with some browns. The ants are on Weir Pond, too, and the flyanglers are having the best success there on browns and brookies,but rainbows are also showing on the usual baits and small luresfor spin fishermen. Intake II has been very good with weekly DFGplants and Alpers’ fish alternating weeks. Garlic Power Bait,inflated nightcrawlers and red and gold Thomas Buoyants are thebest bet. North Lake road is open and the DFG has packed the lakewith fish. The bite is going full speed for bait, lure, and flyanglers. Sabrina is nearly is full and Edison has opened all threeoverflow pipes so it doesn’t spill and the diversion channel isopen. The action has been slow to fair with the best bite foranglers drifting nightcrawlers over the flooded shore between thetwo natural lakes. The inlets have been slow. In the valley,Pleasant Valley Reservoir is fair to good with the best action atthe upper end of the lake or at the dam on lures and floatingbaits. The lower Owens River is slow to fair with higher flowsagain this week and some cloudy conditions due to the reservoirturning over. Still some flurries of decent dry fly action, butnymphs are a better bet. Information: Parchers Resort at760-873-4177, Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Culver’s760-872-8361, Brock’s 760-872-3581.
WESTERN SIERRA
CATFISH DERBY: The annual Bob’s Bait month-long catfish derbykicked off July 1. The new format has a $1 pre-entry fee, and thebiggest catfish weighed in during July wins the $100 prize fromBob’s, plus all the entry fee money from everyone entered. Onlyfresh fish could be weighed in and no weighing in of fish the sameday as entering derby. The current leader is Jeff Cricket,Bakersfield, 24-pound catfish caught on shad at Buena Vista. Thecurrent jackpot is at $251. For more information, call Bob’s Baitat 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The catfish bite is good to excellent on shad andclams in most coves with most in the 1-8 t three-pound range, butsome to six or seven pounds, and the hot action has been at RabbitIsland. The trout action is still good over much of the lake withthe fish showing in both arms and at the dam, but the South Forkarm has been particularly good. Fewer limits this week, but thebite is still good and some fish are topping four pounds. Thecrappie bite is slow to fair with the fish very scattered andspread out. Only boat and float tube anglers are getting any fishand Rabbit Island and spots up in the South Fork arm have been bestbet. Largemouth bass have still be spotty with only a few showingon Senkos and cranks, but like the crappie, they are scattered.Water flows are finally dropping in the forks of the Kern and thelake level has peaked and is dropping. For fishing information:Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Upper Kern River flows have finally come down (2,200cfs) in recent days, and while the water is still high the heavyflows are more fishable and lots of 18 to 20-inch fish have beenlanded in the past few days. The flows are half what they were justtwo weeks ago. Fly anglers are seeing very good action in theJohnsondale bridge and Brush Creek regions. There have also beenweekly plants in most stretches this week. The lower river has beenflowing at 3,700 cfs and still tough. Information: Kern River FlyShop 760-376-2040 (or www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or James Store760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The striped bass bite remains good with alot of four- to six-pound fish reported in recent days. The coolerweather this week has brought out more anglers. The bite is best onsand worms and blood worms, but other baits and swimbaits aregetting some fish. The catfish bite also remains pretty good on thesame cut baits with quite a few fish in the seven to nine-poundrange reported. Most anglers are fishing early and late or atnight. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
MILL CREEK PARK: The catfish bite has been fair on cut baits.Also a few bass showing.
HART PARK LAKE: Little change here with the bluegill bite stillpretty good on worms, crickets, wax worms, and meal worms. Carpfair to good on dough baits but getting very light pressure. Somecatfish and bass showing, too.
TRUXTUN LAKE: The bluegill and carp are good. Carp best on doughbaits, and the bluegill best on crickets and wax worms. The bassaction is slow to fair on plastics, cranks, spinnerbaits, andnightcrawlers, most action is early and late in the day and mostare small.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is good on small worms,crickets, meal worms, and wax worms. Some bass on nightcrawlers,small jigs, plastics, and small reaction baits but the bite ispretty much limited to early and late in the day. Also more carpshowing again on dough baits, but light fishing pressure on thecarp.
MING LAKE: The bluegill bite is good on worms, wax worms, andcrickets. Carp also improving on Powder Bait and other dough baits.The bass bite has been slow to fair on plastics, nightcrawlers orreaction baits, mostly Senkos or spinnerbaits fished early and latein the day.
BRITE LAKE: No reports.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The catfish bite has been fair to good onnightcrawlers, Sonny’s Catfish Bait, and frozen shad. Most of thecats are two to four-pounds, but a 24-pounder was landed by JeffCricket, Bakersfield, on shad from Lake Webb. The bluegill are goodon wax worms and red worms, but the bass have slowed with just afew fish showing early and late in the day on topwater or reactionbaits. Crappie slow. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: The bluegill bite is good on wax worms,crickets, meal worms, and red worms with a lot of nice catchesreports. The bass action has been fair at best on reaction baits,plastics, and nightcrawlers early and late in the day and most ofthe fish are small.
SUCCESS LAKE: The bass bite is very good on reaction baits,Senkos, plastic worm, and some fish on topwater. The bluegill aregood on the usual array of small baits or jigs, and the catfishbite has been pretty good on cut baits in the coves. Information:559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The bluegill action is good in most coves oncrickets, red worms, and wax worms. The bass is fair on reactionbaits and plastics with the best bite early in the day. Crappieslowed. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: The striper bite finally broke wide open with thebest action on topwater as the fish but shad in open water and offthe main points. The best boils have been in the evening andhurling Kastmasters or Zara Spooks (or similar baits) into theboils has been almost too easy. Trollers metering the shad are alsogetting the stripers. These have been good fish from six to 12pounds. The smallmouth bass action has been good on drop-shotplastic and jigs fished on structure or rip baits and cranks whenthe fish are up chasing bait. Even some topwater early and late inthe day. Few other reports. Quagga mussel inspections are nowrequired before boat launching is allowed. Anglers need to thinkcleaned, drained, and dry or they are likely to be denied access.Information: marina at 805-472-2818, Bee Rock Store at805-472-9677, or Jim’s Pro Bass Tackle at 805-237-0549.
NACIMIENTO: The white bass action has been very good whenanglers find a school of boiling fish busting shad. Some of thesebites have lasted two hours with fish to three pounds or a littlebetter on nearly every cast. Las Tables has been the top area forthe whites, but fish are showing in many other locales, too. Thespotted bass have been good on small plastics, dart-heads, andsmall jigs with some very good topwater action early and late inthe day. Schools of crappie are hanging in 12 to 20 feet of wateron structure and when you find a school the bite has been very goodon small jigs. The carp are fair on dough baits. Quagga musselinspections are now required before boat launching is allowed.Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, and dry or they are likelyto be denied access. Information: marina at 805-238-1056 orwww.nacimientoresort.com, Bee Rock Store at 805-472-9677, or Jim’sPro Bass Tackle at 805-237-0549.
SANTA MARGARITA: The bass action has been slow except for thepretty good topwater bite very early and very late in the day ontopwater baits and frogsMost are two to four pounds. The bluegilland redear action is making up for the bass with good to excellentaction on bobber-suspended nightcrawlers piece fished near anyshoreline brush, reeds, or other structure. Most of the fish arehand-sized to a half-pound, but many are better. The crappie areseveral notches below the bluegill, but the few that are showingare generally quality fish from two to three pounds. The catfishbite is still very spotty with very few reported on cut baits.Quagga mussel inspections are now required before boat launching isallowed. Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, and dry or theyare likely to be denied access. The marina store is open Wednesdaythrough Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: The bass action has been fair to good with the bestaction early in the morning on slow-rolling spinnerbaits fished onthe flats or with Senko-type baits along the weed lines. Lastresort after the good morning bite is to fish drop-shot plastics orjigs in 18 to 40 feet of water. Most fish in the two-pound range,but some bigger. In a local bass event this past weekend, 22 poundsfor five fish won, but the two big fish were both five-pluspounders, while second place was 11 pounds for five fish. Thebluegill and redear bite has been very good on nightcrawlers inmost of the coves, but the crappie action has slowed way down withalmost no fish reported. Catfish are also starting to show inbetter numbers but still not as good as they should be for theseason. The lake level is way up and there’s lots of newly floodedvegetation. Quagga mussel inspections are now required before boatlaunching is allowed. Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, anddry or they are likely to be denied access. Information:805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the followinglakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked withcatchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Gamehatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and theEastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, you can visit theDFG’s web site athttps://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/FishPlanting/index.asp.
LOS ANGELES: Jackson Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Jenks Lake,Lake Gregory.
RIVERSIDE: Lake Fulmore, Strawberry Creek.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, IntakeII, Middle Fork, and South Fork), George Creek, Goodale Creek,Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Rock Creek Lake,Shepherd Creek, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek,Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake,June Lake, Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, Lee Vining Creek, Lundy Lake,Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Owens River (Section 3),Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (sections 1 and 2), Rush Creek, SherwinCreek, Silver Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport (Upper and Lower), TwinLakes Mammoth (upper), Virginia Creek, Virginia Lakes (Upper andLower), Walker River (Little), West Walker River (section 2 andsection 3).
FRESNO: Bearskin Creek, Courtright Reservoir, Dinkey Creek, HumeLake, Huntington Lake, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir,Mono Creek, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay, Rancheria Creek, SanJoaquin River below the Friant Dam, South Fork San Joaquin by MonoHot Springs, South Fork San Joaquin near Jackass Meadow, TamarackCreek, Tenmile Creek, Ward Lake, Wishon Reservoir.
KERN: Kern River from Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, KernRiver from Isabella Main Dam to Powerhouse No. 3, Kern River fromPowerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville, Kern River fromSandy Flat to Democrat Beach.
MADERA: Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, lower Chiquito Creek, ManzanitaLake, North Fork of Willow Creek, Sotcher Lake, Upper Big Creek,West Fork Chiquito Creek.
MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir.
MONTEREY: Upper Nacimiento River.
TULARE: Balch Park eastern lake, Balch Park western lake, BigMeadows Creek, Hedrick Campground pond, Kern River from Brush Creekto Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling WatersLodge, lower Peppermint Creek, North Fork of Middle Fork of TuleRiver at Wishon Campground, South Fork of Middle Fork of Tule Riverat Camp Nelson, South Fork of Middle Fork of Tule River at CedarSlopes.
TUOLUMNE: Beaver Creek, Herring Creek, Lyons Canal, LyonsReservoir, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Middle Fork TuolumneRiver, Moccasin Creek, North Fork Tuolumne River, Pinecrest Lake,Powerhouse Stream, South Fork Stanislaus River, South Fork TuolumneRiver, Stanislaus River Clark Fork.
CATFISH PLANTS
The following lakes, listed by county, will be stocked this weekwith one-pound catfish by private hatcheries under contract withthe Department of Fish and Game.
No catfish plants this week.
OCEAN FISHING REPORT
By Terrence Berg
For Outdoor News Service
LONG RANGER FOCUS ON YELLOWTAIL: The anglers on the five- toseven-day boats fishing down the Baja coast are mostly focusing onthe yellowtail at Benitos Island, tucking in out of the wind, andgetting limits of five per day on 20 to 25-pound fish with somebigger. There are still vast schools of bluefin in route toBenitos, but the bite was much tougher this past week because ofwinds for the long range and overnight San Diego fleet.
BLUEFIN SLOW: The bluefin bite for the overnight to three-dayboats fishing out of San Diego slowed this past week, but the offmoon cycle, winds, and some serious seining in the primary fishingzone made the action tough. The bite usually picks up on the newand full moons, and the full moon in Friday this week. This biteshould surge back on with a huge volume of these fish spread over100 and more fish, including albacore stacked up 300 miles to thesouthwest and moving this way. The Ranger 85 out of H&MLanding, reading the writing on the bluefin wall, was on a two-daytrip and went to San Martin Island and picked up 100 yellowtail to30 pounds in a wide open bite early this week.
CHANNEL ISLANDS WHITE SEABASS HOT: There has been an exceptionalbite on the white seabass in the Channel Islands this past week,especially at Santa Rosa Island. A few big halibut have also shownin this bite that has consisted mostly of school-size seabass from15 to 25 pounds. Landing totals at Channel Island Sportfishing havebeen spectacular with 194 seabass on Sunday, 147 on Monday, and 113on Tuesday this week. Full three-fish limits were posted Sunday andMonday by the anglers aboard the Sea Jay, but these trips have alsobeen getting good numbers of barracuda, calico bass, increasingnumbers of sand bass, and a sprinkling of halibut. Rockfish havealso still been excellent on these trips.
SAN DIEGO SAND BASS EXCELLENT: The sand bass bite has beenexcellent for the San Diego half-, three-quarter day, and twilightboats this week with scores averaging seven to 10 fish per rod. OnTuesday, the New Seaforth out of Seaforth Sportfishing was out with38 anglers who caught full limits of 380 sand bass by 10 a.m., andthere has been a nice mix of barracuda, some calicos, and even somewhite seabass at the La Jolla kelp mixed in with this bite. Itdoesn’t get much better.
BASS AND BARRACUDA WIDE OPEN: From Dana Point up into theChannel Islands, the nearshore action on calicos, barracuda andsand bass has been excellent this past week for the half- andthree-quarter day boats from all of the landings in this region.While the bulk of the action is on sand bass, some days there islimit-style fishing on barracuda and nearly as good calico action.Anglers are getting full sacks on all these trips and if one isoff, the other two make up for it. There are also enough whiteseabass all along the coast to make this bite very interesting.Just a few scores from recent trips to give you and idea of thisbite. The Mardiosa, a six-pack boat out of Pierpoint Landing, wasout with six anglers Saturday who landed 60 calicos, eight sargo,and three white seabass. The Enterprise out of Long Beach Marinawith 25 anglers on a Monday twilight returned with 91 sand bass, 41calicos, 10 rockfish, and two barracuda. The Monte Carlo out of22nd Street Landing, had 24 anglers on Monday who landed 240 sandbass on a twilight trip.
CLEMENTE UPDATE: There is a very good volume of yellowtail atSan Clemente Island, but they just have not been cooperating verywell. There is, however, a tremendous calico bass bite with a lotof quality fish to six pounds, especially for anglers who take thetime to make small, four- to six-inch mackerel for bait. There havealso been some good halibut and white seabass mixed with this bite,too. Private boaters have also reported bluefin to 100-plus poundsinside of San Clemente in recent days, but this bite has beentough.
CATALINA UPDATE: As with Clemente, there is a good volume ofyellowtail all around Catalina Island, too, along with some whiteseabass at the west end this past week with the fish focusing onthe remnant squid. The current and action has been very iffy thispast week on these species, but the calico bass have made up forit, with most trips post from six to 10 legal calicos per rod. Thecoming full moon could break this bite open at least one more timethis season for the seabass.
LANDING CONTACTS
Southern California: Virg’s Sportfishing, Morro Bay,805-772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, 805-595-7200; SeaLanding, 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 has merged with Channel IslandsSportfishing; Malibu Pier Sportfishing, 310-328-8426; Marina DelRey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, 310-822-3625; RedondoSportfishing, Redondo Beach, 310-372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock(skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, 310-374-9858; 22ndStreet 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; MarinaSportfishing, Long Beach, 562-598-6649; Newport Landing, NewportBeach, 949-675-0550; Davey’s Locker, Newport Beach, 949-673-1434;Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, 949-496-5794; Helgren’sSportfishing, Oceanside, 760-722-2133; Fisherman’s Landing, SanDiego, 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.
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