WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
FRIDAY, JULY 30TH
Thank you to all the great anglers out there who help contribute to Bakersfield’s only local fishing report. Please don’t forget to send us your best catches of the week to be featured in next week’s report.
CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT
Striper anglers reported decent numbers last week, and the line sides have been going for topwater, Flukes, and small swimbaits early in the day. The bait anglers reported fooling better quality striper using jumbo live minnows, cut sardines, and lugworms. Bass fishing has been good for anglers using drop shot, Senkos and topwater baits. The key has been to fish slower moving water and shaded areas. Some anglers reported fooling numerous bass with topwater lures early or late in the day. Bass anglers reported working Whopper Ploppers and walking baits parallel to shore. Catfish anglers have been putting in work at night using cut baits, chicken liver, and dip bait.
CASTAIC LAKE
The Lake is down to 41 percent of capacity, and work on the dam will require the water level to go much lower. Luckily, the fishing has been phenomenal. Bass anglers continue to connect using poppers and small walking baits early in the day. After mid-morning most anglers switch to drop shot, Senkos, and small flukes. Fat Ikas have accounted for many of the better grade bass. Striper anglers have been chasing massive schools which seem to be thriving throughout the lake. They have been going for trolled flies, jerkbaits, and Kastmasters. They will also bite topwater during the boils. Cut baits have been fooling plenty of striper as well. Catfish have been eating cut baits, dip bait, and chicken liver in deeper coves around the lake.
PYRAMID LAKE
The lake held near maximum capacity, and water temperatures remained around 80 degrees. The weeds have grown throughout the lake, and bass anglers have been forced to switch tactics. Weedless offerings and fishing weed lines have been the most effective techniques. Topwater frogs, Spooks, Texas rigs, and Senkos are all working for bites when fished in weed pockets and along weed line edges. Small crankbaits have also been getting bite, but crankbait anglers do spend a lot of time cleaning hooks. Striper anglers found easy limits again last week. Sardines, anchovies, and nightcrawlers have been working well near the Marina, Yellowbar, and Serrano. The striper have been boiling in the mornings and evenings, and topwater, Kastmasters, and swimbaits all work for bites. Catfish have been on a terror, and anglers are reporting some good quality whisker fish. The big cats seem to be everywhere, and anglers are hooking up using chicken liver, cut baits, and dip bait.
LAKE ISABELLA
Isabella dropped slightly to just over 10 percent capacity and the water temps are in the upper seventies. The Bass action has been very solid the last few weeks for both quality and numbers. The bite has been best in the early morning and then picks up again in the late afternoon. Bass in good numbers have been coming from submerged structure, the Flume, Engineer Point, both Dams and Rocky Point with Whopper Ploppers, Buzzbaits, Poppers, Crankbaits, Texas Rigs and Jigs. The Crappie action has picked up over the last two weeks. Anglers have been scoring slabs near the main Dam and offshore structure with live minnows or Get Bent Baits. There were more trout reports this week than over the last month. Fish to 3 pounds were reported from around the Main Dam. The best action has been from boaters trolling in deep water. The Catfish action is decent with Triple S Dip Bait, frozen shad and nightcrawlers.
KERN RIVER
The Upper Kern hasn’t been stocked in over a month and fishing has been fair to good. The river flows are down, and the best action has been in deeper holes and runs around river bends. Trout have been coming on salmon eggs, trout worms and panther martins. Fly anglers have done better in the 20-mile stretch with nymphs and streamers. In the Lower Kern Smallmouth Bass action has been very good. A couple local anglers reported non-stop Bass bite in the canyon. The fish are on the smaller side, but the numbers were excellent. Bass can be found throughout the Lower Kern with Get Bent Baits, small crankbaits, and spinners. Catfish are coming on Get Bent Baits and nightcrawlers. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River at Kernville was flowing at 135 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 285 CFS.
LAKE KAWEAH
Lake Kaweah level fell to 18 percent of capacity, and fishing has been fair. Bass anglers have been hitting the lake early to avoid the crowds and heat. Topwater has been the go-to bait before anglers switch to drop shot, Ned rigs, and Senkos. Bass have been holding on rocky structure near main lake points and along bluff walls. Catfish have been eating dip bait, chicken liver, and anchovies near the marina, and some crappie were reported by anglers after they meter a school over submerged structure. Minijigs tipped with crappie nibbles, and small live minnows have been working for bites.
LAKE SUCCESS
Lake Success dropped to 17 percent of capacity, and fishing improved last week. Bass anglers reported a good bite using Texas rigged 10’ ribbon tail worms near the brush and trees. Senkos, and drop shot also fooled more bass last week. Topwater poppers and frogs continue to get attention early and late in the day. Catfish have been going for cut mackerel, dip bait, and chicken liver, and crappie have been eating minijigs tipped with crappie nibbles or small live minnows.
BUENA VISTA LAKES
Bass, catfish, and crappie fishing all picked up las week. Bass anglers reported better fishing using Senkos, jigs, and topwater near the cattails and weed lines. Small white flukes also accounted for a decent number of bass. Lager catfish were reported by anglers using chicken liver and dip bait, and numerous smaller catfish went for garlic nightcrawlers on the Carolina rig. Crappie anglers did very well last week using minijigs, Trout On Baits, and baits from Get Bent 661. Multiple anglers reported quick limits of the tasty panfish. Bluegill ate any live worm fished under a bobber.
RIVER WALK LAKES
The amphitheater lake was drained last week and it looks like they’re starting to fill it back up. In the main lake, the Bass action has been best in the morning or evening with Senko’s, Whopper Ploppers, Jigs and crankbaits. The bluegill bite has been excellent with any live worm fished under a bobber or a split-shotted rig. Carp can be found with dough bait.
MING LAKE
The bass bite is fair to good, with the best action in the early morning and late afternoon on topwater, jigs, crankbaits, and weightless Senkos. Crappie can be found with Get Bent Baits. The bluegill bite is very good on any live worm fished under a bobber or split shotted. Carp can be found with dough baits.
HART PARK LAKE
Fishing was good at Hart Park last week with bass anglers doing the best. The bass have been holding in heavy cover, and punching the floating weed beds has produced some decent fish. Anglers are also fooling bass with Senkos and jigs fished along weed line edges. Another good option has been topwater poppers and Whopper Ploppers fished early and late in the day. Catfish were reported by anglers using chicken liver, dip bait, and cut sardines, and bluegill have been eating redworms and meal worms near the weed beds.
TRUXTUN LAKE
Fishing at Truxtun Lake has been tough this summer, but anglers are reporting some decent catches. Bass anglers have been fishing early and late in the day to avoid the heat. Topwater, Fat Ikas, Senko, and finesse plastics have been helping anglers to connect with some good quality bass. Most anglers have been focusing on topwater as the sun rises and transition to Senkos or finesse plastics for the remainder of the day. Catfish anglers fooled a few whisker fish using dip bait, anchovies, and nightcrawlers, and bluegill have been eating any live worm fished near weeds and cover.
NACIMIENTO LAKE
Nacimiento Lake fell to 15 percent of capacity, and anglers reported another good week of fishing. Spotted bass continue to respond to topwater poppers and walking baits early. After the sun comes up anglers fool the bass using finesse options like drop shot Roboworms, Ned rigs, and grubs. Aaron’s Magic, Oxblood, and Watermelon have been good lately. The white bass remain elusive, but they can be caught using white spinners, Kastmasters, and small swimbaits. The occasional boil has provided some good action for anglers lucky enough to be in the right spot. Catfish anglers reported a good bite using chicken liver, mackerel, and garlic nightcrawlers. Crappie have been biting small live minnows and crappie jigs over submerged structure in 10 to 20 feet of water.
TROUT PLANTS
Nothing Scheduled
OCEAN FISHING
SAN DIEGO
The Pacific Queen out of Fishermen’s Landing returned Wednesday with 18 Bluefin Tuna, 3 Yellowfin Tuna, 5 Dorado, and 222 Yellowtail for their 3-day trip. The Aztec out of Seaforth Landing returned Wednesday from their 1-day trip with 115 Yellowtail and 1 Bluefin Tuna for 30 anglers. The T-Bird out of Point Loma Sportfishing returned Thursday morning with 105 Yellowtail for 21 anglers on their 1.5-day trip.
DANA POINT/SAN PEDRO
The Amigo out of 22nd Street Sportfishing returned Wednesday with 2 Bluefin Tuna, 29 Yellowtail, 49 Sheephead, 48 Calico Bass, 41 Whitefish, 1 Barracuda, 3 Lingcod and 41 Red Snapper for their 1.5-day trip with 15 anglers. The Thunderbird returned Wednesday from an overnight trip with 6 Yellowtail, 83 Calico Bass, 24 Sheephead, 1 Barracuda and 94 Whitefish for 28 anglers.
CHANNEL ISLANDS
The Graylight out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned Tuesday from a Full day with 11 White Seabass and 11 Yellowtail for 5 anglers. The Sea Jay returned Wednesday from a Full day with 7 Sheephead, 3 Rockfish, 1 Halibut, 5 Ocean Perch, 36 Ocean Whitefish, 1 Calico Bass, 1 Triggerfish and 2 Barracuda for 11 anglers. The Endeavor out of Ventura Sportfishing returned Wednesday from an Overnight trip with 150 Rockfish, 140 Ocean Whitefish and 10 California for 15 anglers.
PORT SAN LUIS/MORRO BAY
The Flying Fish out of Patriot Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a 1/2-day with 4 Vermillion, 66 Bolina, 1 Lingcod, 1 Bocaccio and 99 assorted Rockfish for 17 anglers. The Rita G out of Virg’s Landing returned Wednesday from a 1/2-day with 50 Vermillion and 150 assorted Rockfish for 25 Anglers.