Cope’s Tackle and Rod opened a new store on Thursday March 20th. Its located off Highway 178 at 3501 Mall View Rd suite 101, Bakersfield. Please stop by and check it out.​

​​

We greatly appreciate the continued support of the dedicated anglers who make Bakersfield’s only local fishing report possible. Your contributions are the backbone of this resource. Have a great catch this week? Submit your fishing photos to be featured in next week’s report.

 

**California Aqueduct**

 

Catfishing was strong for Southern Aqueduct anglers, with dip bait, chicken liver, and cut baits fished on Carolina rigs and bait rigs producing consistent action. Catfish held in calm water downstream of check gates, near outtake grates, and along inside bends. Striped bass also hit cut sardines and anchovies in those same areas. Largemouth bass responded to poppers and Whopper Ploppers in the eddies and near the banks, while weightless Senkos and drop-shot six inch straight-tailed worms pulled fish from the eddies before and after the check gates.

 

**Castaic Lake**

 

Castaic remained at 95% of its storage capacity, and good fishing continued throughout the week. Water temperatures held in the upper 70s, with an emerging algae bloom turning the water green in several coves. Anglers landed plenty of one- to two-pound bass using weightless Senkos in green, shad, and brown colors. Drop shot and Carolina-rigged Roboworms in similar colors produced bites down to 25 feet. Striped bass boiled occasionally, and anglers lucky enough to intercept a boil did well with Espetits and other white walking baits. Catfish bit cut sardines and dip bait near the launch ramp.

 

**Pyramid Lake**

 

The lake remained near full capacity with water temperatures in the mid to upper seventies. Fishing was productive for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, with anglers having success on topwater and finesse baits. Poppers and walking baits worked well along shady bluff walls and weed beds, while Texas-rigged worms and Senkos caught bass from 2 to 20 feet deep once the sun intensified. Chatterbaits paired with Keitech trailers also pulled fish from the weed beds. Striped bass action was slower than usual, with Alabama rigs, trolled or cast, being the most effective. Catfish were caught by anglers who located weed-free areas and used cut bait or chicken liver.

 

***Isabella Lake***

 

Lake Isabella has dropped to 49% of capacity and continues to see steady water releases. Despite the lower water levels, the bass bite remains strong. Anglers are reporting excellent action on fish in the 1 to 2-pound range, with occasional catches pushing 5 to 6 pounds. Bass are coming on a wide range of baits including Flukes, spinnerbaits, Whopper Ploppers, Buzzbaits, Poppers, crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs, and Senkos in watermelon red or shad patterns. The bite is best early in the morning with some topwater action, and again in the late afternoon. As the day progresses, working deeper main lake points down to 20 feet with purple or oxblood worms has been effective. Top-producing areas include the North Fork, especially around rocky banks and submerged trees as well as Rocky Point, the Flume, and Engineer Point. Bigger bass have been coming on slow retrieves with larger baits around structure. Crappie action has picked up, especially near Red’s Marina and the main dam. Slabs are being caught in 10 to 15 feet of water using Get Bent Baits and live minnows, fished about 4 feet under a bobber with a slow retrieve. Trout fishing continues to produce, particularly for boaters trolling deep with Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, and Flicker Shad. Shore anglers are also finding success near the dam using floating garlic-scented baits in deeper water. Catfish are being caught on frozen shad, Triple S Dip Bait, live minnows, and nightcrawlers, with multiple reports of solid catches throughout the lake.

 

**Kern River**

 

On the Upper Kern, anglers are having to put in a bit more effort, but there are still fish to be found. Holdover and wild trout are being caught along the popular 20-mile stretch using salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, and minijigs. Fly anglers have been picking off a few trout in the open sections with Nymphs and Streamers, though the bite has been spotty. In the Lower Kern near Bakersfield, the Smallmouth Bass bite has been excellent, particularly around rocks, submerged wood, and other structure. Double tail grubs rigged on finesse jig heads and small Roostertails have been producing steady action. Interestingly, many anglers targeting Smallmouth are also picking up small Catfish on the same presentations. As of this report, the Upper Kern River is flowing at approximately 200 CFS, while the Lower Kern is running higher at around 1,191 CFS.

 

**Lake Kaweah**

 

Kaweah Lake dropped to 12% of its storage capacity, marking the first sign of stabilization in weeks. With more consistent water levels, the bite may improve. Anglers caught bass early on poppers, Gunfish, and squarebills, while finesse techniques took over later in the day. Anglers targeted points and submerged rocks in 5 to 25 feet of water. Weightless Senkos fooled suspended bass. Crappie held on similar structure around 15 feet deep, with small live minnows producing steady action.

 

**Lake Success**

 

The lake level dropped to 18% of its storage capacity, and fishing remained fair. Largemouth bass were scattered and suspended near main lake points and over submerged humps, with small jigs, drop shot rigs, and Texas rigs producing when worked slowly or dead-sticked. A few topwater and crankbait fish were reported near submerged trees in the North Fork. Crappie held near the same structure, with small crankbaits and swimbaits drawing strikes. Catfishing was good in deeper holes around the lake, with dip bait and chicken liver fished on Carolina rigs proving effective.

 

*River Walk Lakes*

 

The intense summer heat has made midday fishing challenging, but the early morning and evening windows are still producing solid action. Bass are showing strong interest in topwater baits like frogs during the evening bite, especially along weed edges and shallow flats. Crankbaits and jigs worked around structure have also been producing results once the sun drops lower. Bluegill fishing remains a dependable option, with steady catches coming on live worms fished under bobbers or on light split-shot rigs close to shore. Anglers targeting carp are having success in the warm, shallow areas using dough baits.

 

**Ming Lake**

 

Bass action at Ming Lake has been solid, especially during the early morning hours. Topwater baits are drawing strikes around first light, while the larger fish are being caught on flipping baits just outside the reed lines. Anglers using heavy weights to punch through thick vegetation have had success with soft plastics in green pumpkin, watermelon red, and watermelon black. Crappie are showing up later in the day, with small live shiners and chartreuse minijigs producing bites near submerged structure. The bluegill bite continues to be consistent along the shorelines, with live worms fished under a bobber being the go-to setup.

 

**Buena Vista Lakes**

 

Anglers reported fair fishing at Buena Vista, with recreational boat traffic making conditions challenging at times. Largemouth bass were holding deep in the weeds and cattails, where flipping and pitching techniques proved effective. Weedless Senkos, creature baits, and jigs also produced bites. Catfishing was good after dark, with dip bait and chicken liver delivering solid action.

 

**Hart Park Lake**

 

Fishing was fair at Hart Park, with bass holding in and around the floating weed beds. Topwater frogs and poppers were effective during the cooler parts of the day, while Texas rigs, Senkos, and creature baits pulled plenty of bass from the cover. Bluegill were active as well, biting redworms, waxworms, and mealworms.

 

**Lake Nacimiento**

 

Nacimiento Lake fell to 45% of its storage capacity, and fishing remained good for both largemouth and spotted bass. The topwater bite was strong, with anglers scoring on Lucky Craft Sammys, Zara Spooks, and prop-style baits, and white bass joined in on the surface action as well. Bass also bit on drop shot and other finesse presentations in 5 to 25 feet of water, with purple, green, and baitfish-colored plastics producing well. Crappie anglers used small live minnows under slip bobbers over submerged rock piles, while catfish took cut mackerel and dip bait.

 

****Trout Plants****

 

No trout plants scheduled.

 

****Ocean Fishing****

 

*San Diego*

 

On Wednesday the Polaris Supreme returned from their 2 Day trip with 96 Bluefin Tuna (limits) and 26 Yellowtail for their 24 anglers. The Aztec ended their 2.5 Day trip with 47 Bluefin Tuna. The Apollo returned from their 2.5 Day trip with 31 Bluefin Tuna. The Pacifica's 1.5 Day trip returned with 19 Bluefin Tuna. The Voyager on their 1.5 Day trip finished with 7 Bluefin Tuna up to 170 pounds. The San Diego returned from their Full Day trip with 85 Yellowtail for 35 anglers. The Sea Watch wrapped up their Full Day trip with 44 Yellowtail for 25 anglers.

 

*Dana Point/San Pedro*

 

The Freedom out of 22nd Street Landing returned Monday from a 1.5-day with 35 White Seabass, 3 Bluefin Tuna, 1 Halibut, 32 Sheephead, 1 Calico Bass, and 1 Barracdua for 30 anglers. The Amigo returned from a 1.5-day with 60 White Seabass, 15 Bluefin Tuna, 9 Halibut, and 1 Yellowtail for 20 anglers. The Thunderbird out of Newport Landing returned Wednesday from a 2-day with 23 Bluefin Tuna, 17 White Seabass, 10 Yellowtail, 8 Halibut, 6 Barracuda, and 1 Perch for 26 anglers.

 

*Channel Islands/Ventura*

 

The Aloha Spirit returned Wednesday from a Full day with 1 Halibut, 148 Rockfish, 30 Barracuda, 3 Sheephead, 27 Calico Bass, 11 Sand Bass, 19 Sculpin, 31 Lingcod and 11 Whitefish for 20 anglers. The Gray Light out of CISCOS returned Wednesday from a Full day with 1 Bluefin Tuna for 6 anglers. The Coroloma out of Hooks Landing returned Sunday from a ¾-day with 3 Sculpin, 3 Sheephead, 239 Whitefish, and 247 Rockfish for 26 anglers. The Endeavor returned Tuesday from a 1-day overnight with 17 White Seabass, and 13 Halibut for 18 anglers.

 

*Port San Luis/Morro Bay*

 

The Flying Fish out of Patriot Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a ½-day with 155 Rockfish, 20 Lingcod, 10 Copper Rockfish, 1 Bocaccio, and 4 Red Rockfish for 17 anglers. The Avenger out of Morro Bay Landing returned Wednesday from a ¾-day with 273 Rockfish, 11 Lingcod, 1 Copper Rockfish, and 6 Red Rockfish for 28 anglers.