Upcoming Events

 

September 30th 

3rd Annual Cope's Customer Appreciation Bass Tournament

Come join us for our 3rd annual Customer Appreciation Tournament at Lake Nacimiento! Just like last year there will be tons of prizes, giveaways, and freebies for everyone! 100% Pay back for prize money!

You must register in the shop to participate! No sign-ups will be taken at the lake!

All tournament information can be found on our website!

 

October 14th 

Fishapalooza at Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop

Come on out to the shop October 14th for our annual Fishapalooza from 10am-4pm! Meet factory representatives from all your favorite brands and save on tackle during our biggest sale of the year!

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California Aqueduct

Fishing was good for aqueduct anglers last week with striper and catfish as the best bets. Striped bass anglers used nightcrawlers, garlic scented nightcrawlers, lugworms, and cut baits to fool fish after control gates. Striper also fell for jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, and small swimbaits in those same areas. One angler reported catching several striper on an A-rig. Stripers also ate extra-large shiners at a steady pace. Catfish picked up nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and cut baits near outtake grates, bridge pylons, and slower sections of the aqueduct. Bass anglers did ok using drop shot plastic worms and grubs in eddies before and after the control gates.

 

Castaic Lake

Castaic Lake remained full, and water temperatures have been between 75 and 80 degrees. Fishing has been good for striper anglers who find boiling fish first thing in the morning. Topwater baits, Flukes, and spoons all worked for bites during the boils. More often than not anglers didn’t find large schools of boiling fish and they had to settle for catching a few surface feeding jailbirds. Trolling A-rigs and flies 20 feet deep has been a good way to fool striped bass mid-day. Topwater baits also took bass close to shore before 8am. After 8am bass anglers have been using finesse baits in 10 to 20 feet of water for large and smallmouth. Catfish ate dip bait, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers throughout the lake.

 

Pyramid Lake

The lake held near maximum capacity with water temperatures in the mid to upper seventies. There was no change for anglers at Pyramid last week with early morning topwater producing bass and striper. After the morning feeding frenzies died down large and smallmouth took stick baits, jigs, and drop shot in 10 to 20 feet of water. Main lake points have produced well for anglers using 4” plastics in green pumpkin, purple, and brown. Striped bass picked up cut baits near the marina and Yellowbar. They also fell for umbrella rigs on the troll and jigging spoons in 25 to 40 feet of water. Catfish ate dip bait, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver near the inlet and in Tin Cup.

 

Isabella Lake

Isabella fell to 78 percent of capacity and continues to drop as it releases more water. The crappie bite has been steady on Keitechs and crappie jigs in various colors. The best crappie reports have come from Reds and South Fork. The dam has held the best catfish action this week with SSS Dip Bait, mackerel, shad and large nightcrawlers. There are whiskerfish coming from Camp 9, but the dam has had the best reports. The Bass bite has been tough. There is a ton of bait in the water, and bass have gorged themselves making it challenging to fool. Spinnerbaits in the trees along with buzzbaits, walking baits and whopper ploppers have scored fish. Trout fishing here has been excellent for a couple months now near the North Fork using floating baits. Boaters trolling with Tasmanian Devils, Needlefish and Flicker shad continue to score limits.

 

Kern River

The Upper kern was stocked this week in all three sections along the 20-mile stretch. Anglers continue to report steady action for both wild and stocked trout with trout jigs, salmon eggs, spinners, and worms. Fly anglers have found some takers with streamers and nymphs. The Upper Kern River was stocked this week in Section 4, Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville; Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge; and Section 6, Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge. The South Fork Kern River was stocked this week as well. In the Lower Kern, flows are dangerously high in the canyon. Closer to Bakersfield, Bass have been coming on small plastics and spinnerbaits. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River was flowing at 676 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 3699 CFS.

 

Lake Kaweah

The lake fell to 42 percent of capacity and fishing has been good. Anglers used poppers and Sammy 100s to get bites early in the day. After the sun moved up higher in the sky Senko style baits, drop shot, and shaky heads fooled fish in 10 to 20 feet of water. Brown, bluegill, and Green Pumpkin were good color choices. A few anglers reported catching fish with squarebill shad patterned crankbaits in the evenings. Catfish anglers used chicken liver, cut sardines, and dip bait to fool whisker fish, and crappie fell for small live minnows and crappie jigs.

 

Lake Success

The lake held near 72 percent of capacity and fishing has been decent. Bass anglers reported fair to good fishing while using twin tailed hula grubs, drop shot, and Carolina rigged Roboworms in 10 to 20 feet of water. Under spins with a Keitech trailer fooled bass when slow rolled along the bottom. Some anglers reported topwater bass early in the day. Crappie fell for small live minnows, small swimbaits, and crappie jigs tipped with crappie nibbles, and catfish picked up chicken liver, cut anchovies, and dip bait.

 

River Walk Lakes

At Riverwalk the fishing has improved since the drought. Anglers have been picked a few small bass with meal worms and nightcrawlers. The bluegill bite remains very good with any live worm fished under a bobber or a split-shotted rig. Small catfish are going for live worms and dip baits. Carp can be found with dough bait.

 

Ming Lake

At Ming, bass have been coming on small frogs and light Texas rigs. Casting over grass with a small jig or chatter baits in the morning have been fooling bass. Green pumpkin and bluegill pattern colors remain the best options. Catfish have been biting cut baits, chicken liver, and Triple S Dip Bait at Dusk. The bluegill action has been excellent for anglers fishing any live worm near the weed beds.

 

Buena Vista Lakes

Anglers reported good crappie and catfishing at Buena Vista Lakes. Cappie ate small live minnows, minijigs, and small swimbaits over submerged structure. Kayak anglers with electronics reported metering crappie schools before dropping baits. Catfish picked up Triple S Dip Bait, chicken liver, and cut baits soaked on the bottom. One local angler reported fooling whisker fish while using fresh shrimp and nightcrawlers floated just off the bottom under a bobber. Bass anglers fooled fish with stick baits, chatter baits, and spinnerbaits fished near the reeds and cattails.

 

Hart Park Lake

Fishing was good at Hart Park with bass and bluegill biting well. Largemouth fell for finesse baits, creature baits, Senkos, and topwater lures. Drop shot and Texas rigs worked well with green pumpkin and brown 4’ to 6” worms fooling fish. Senko style baits and creature baits pulled bigger bass from the floating lily pads, and weedless frogs worked well in the mornings and evenings. One local angler scored several huge bass on shad imitation glide baits. Bluegill ate any live worm under a bobber, and catfish anglers used dip bait and chicken liver to good effect.

 

Lake Nacimiento

Nacimiento Lake fell to 65 percent of capacity, and fishing has been good. Anglers reported catching spotted bass on drop shot 4” plastic worms, darter head grubs, and Neko rigs in 10 to 20 feet of water. Brown, dark green, and baitfish have been popular color choices. Bass also took poppers and Whopper Ploppers in the mornings and evenings; white bass fell for topwater baits as well. Anglers used small white in-line spinners and spoons to fool the white bass too. Crappie anglers used small live minnows and minijigs over submerged brush to fool fish, and catfish anglers used cut baits, dip bait, and nightcrawlers to land whisker fish.

 

Trout Plants

Week of September 3rd - Upper Kern River Section 4; Upper Kern River Section 5; Upper Kern River Section 6; Kern River South Fork.

Week of September 10th - Upper Kern River Section 5; Kern River South Fork.

Week of September 17th - Upper Kern River Section 4; Upper Kern River Section 6

 

 

Ocean Fishing

 

San Diego

The Cortez returned from their 1.5-day Thursday with 189 Dorado. The Aztec returned Thursday from 3.5-day with 37 Bluefin Tuna, 127 Yellowfin Tuna, 242 Dorado, 78 Yellowtail and 4 Skipjack. The El Capitan returned from a 1.5-day Thursday with 50 Yellowfin Tuna, 5 Bluefin Tuna, and 53 Dorado for 16 anglers. The Islander returned Thursday with LIMITS (156) Bluefin Tuna for 26 anglers on a 3-day trip. The Tomahawk returned Thursday with 129 Yellowfin Tuna, 28 Dorado and 44 Bluefin Tuna for 21 anglers on a 2.5-day trip.

 

Dana Point/San Pedro

The Amigo returned Thursday from a 1.5-day with 3 Bluefin Tuna, 121 Dorado, 4 Skipjack Tuna and 39 Yellowfin Tuna for 16 Anglers. The Freedom out of 22nd Street returned Thursday from an overnight trip with 35 Yellowfin Tuna and 90 Dorado for 36 anglers. The Western Pride out of Dave’s Locker returned Tuesday from a ½-day trip with 244 Rockfish for 28 anglers. The El Dorado out of Long Beach Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a 1.5-day with 8 Bluefin Tuna, 230 Dorado and 65 Yellowfin Tuna for 23 anglers.

 

Channel Islands/Ventura

The Aloha Spirit out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a Full day with 1 White Seabass, 5 Barracuda, 36 Calico Bass, 126 Rockfish, 2 Sheephead and 5 Ocean Whitefish for 17 anglers. The Coroloma out of Hooks Landing returned Wednesday from a ¾-day with 80 Whitefish, 15 Sculpin, 3 Sheephead and 120 Rockfish for 7 anglers. The Endeavor out of Ventura Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a 1.5-day trip with 30 Bluefin Tuna and 69 Yellowtail for 15 anglers.

 

Port San Luis/Morro Bay

The Flying Fish out of Patriot Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a Full day with 48 Rockfish, 6 Bocaccio and 36 Vermillion Rockfish for 9 anglers. The Black Pearl out of Virg’s Landing returned Monday from a ½-day with 64 Vermillion, 15 Bocaccio and 115 Assorted Rockfish for 28 anglers. The Endeavor (MB) out of Morro Bay Landing returned from a ½-day Thursday with 70 Bocaccio, 60 Vermillion Rockfish and 20 assorted Rockfish for 15 anglers.

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