CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

Anglers reported another solid week of aqueduct fishing with all species hitting the scales. Striper anglers worked topwater and jerkbaits to good effect in the mornings and evenings. Striper also ate cut baits, jumbo live minnows, and lugworms after check gates. Catfish ate those same baits along with chicken liver and dip bait. Catfish can be located just about anywhere in the aqueduct, but some of their favorite places to feed include near out-take grates and along inside bends. Bass anglers reported decent fishing on jerkbaits, stick baits, drop shot. Green Pumpkin and Baitfish have been excellent color choices.

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CASTAIC LAKE

Castaic remained at maximum capacity and water temperatures rose into the mid to upper seventies. Fishing has been excellent, and striper were the best bet. The bass bite slowed considerably as water temperature rose ten degrees in a single week. Higher temps put a damper on the spawn and many of the large and smallmouth moved out into deeper water. Anglers still found smaller males up shallow with stick baits, drop shot, and Ned rigs, but many of the bigger bass have moved into post spawn haunts. Fishing secondary points with jigs, deep diving shad imitation cranks, and drop shot fooled the post spawn females. Striped bass pushed bait up on shore early in the day. Check Elizabeth Canyon and the backs of coves for excellent topwater action until about 9am. Cut baits on light line have been another way to put 20 plus striper in the boat. The forebay buoy line is where most of the bait anglers have been anchoring up. Catfish anglers did well while soaking cut sardines, dip bait, and chicken liver.

PYRAMID LAKE 

Pyramid held at 90 percent of capacity and anglers are reporting great fishing. The key has been to find the shad. Anglers who found shad schools reported 20 plus fish days and striper largemouth and smallies have all been near the bait balls. Topwater, weightless flukes, and small swimbaits all worked during the feeding frenzies. For anglers who would rather use bottom contact techniques Senkos, shaky heads, and Keitechs all fooled bass in 2 to 20 feet of water. Some of the best colors have been bait fish, watermelon, and Aaron’s Magic. Striped bass chased small swimbaits, Kastmasters, topwater, and white flukes, but you have to keep an eye out for the boils. Bait anglers reported decent fishing near Yellowbar on cut baits, chicken liver, and lugworms. Catfish ate those same baits throughout the lake.

LAKE ISABELLA

Isabella has increased to 72 percent of capacity. The Annual Isabella Lake Trout derby kicked off this past Saturday and so far, it’s been a success. Anglers have been scoring trout at a steady pace with fish over 5 pounds reported. Thousands of pounds of trout were stocked here during the last couple weeks. Anglers have been scoring trout with Powerbait dip, rainbow, and chartreuse garlic Powerbait. Boat anglers trolling with lead core line have been using Flicker Shad and various needlefish with good results. The crappie bite has slowed. For those that are finding them, it’s been fish close to bottom around structure with live small shiners and Gent Bent Baits. The bass have moved in shallower, and the action remains steady. Better model fish are going for trout like swimbaits, jigs, large plastic worms, and crankbaits. The catfish bite continues to be steady with anglers scoring Whiskerfish on frozen shad, Triple S Dip Bait, and live jumbo minnows.

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KERN RIVER

In the Upper Kern, the high flows over 9000 CFS has made it nearly impossible to fish. In the Lower Kern, flows have increased over 7000 CFS. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River is flowing at 9150 CFS and the Lower Kern River is flowing at 7794 CFS.

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LAKE KAWEAH

The lake level doubled to 41 percent of capacity, but that didn’t stop anglers from posting good numbers of spotted bass and largemouth. Most of the action was on finesse baits like drop shot, Ned rigs, and stick baits, but jigs and creature baits also fooled plenty of fish. Crappie ate minijigs, Get Bent Baits Shad Sliders and small live minnows over submerged structure, and catfish anglers fooled fish with cut baits, chicken liver, and dip bait.

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LAKE SUCCESS

Success Lake rose to 77 percent of capacity and anglers reported decent fishing overall. Largemouth took drop shot, Neko rigs, and other finesse options from 2 to 20 feet deep. Some anglers reported larger fish in deeper water on main and secondary points. Crappie anglers used small live minnows to fool fish near the marina, and catfish picked up chicken liver and dip bait throughout the lake.

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RIVER WALK LAKES

The trout bite has slowed a bit since the last plant a few weeks ago. Holdovers continue to come out with trout jigs, Get Bent Baits and Giro Daggers. We have a preliminary approval for the stocking of bluegill and bass into lakes. The wheels are in motion and hopefully we’ll see some action soon.

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MING LAKE

Here at Ming, anglers continue to pick away at Bass. Small drop shots, chatter baits and rattle traps have been fooling a few out of the reeds. Early morning Popper and buzz baits have been fooling some fish. The crappie bite is fair to good with crappie jigs and small live shiners. The bluegill bite is excellent on wax worms and meal worms under a bobber. Catfish can be caught with dip baits, chicken liver or nightcrawlers.

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BUENA VISTA LAKES

Fishing has been decent at BV, and bass anglers reported largemouth taking jigs, Senkos, and plastic worms near the weed lines. Bass colored crankbaits also produced a few bites along the rip-rap. Crappie took minijigs and small live minnows near submerged structure, and catfish ate dip bait, chicken liver, and garlic scented nightcrawlers.

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HART PARK LAKE

Largemouth continue to take finesse baits and jigs at Hart Park. Bass anglers also reported a few topwater fish and the occasional glide bait eater. Bluegill have been a great way to get young anglers on some fish, and they readily eat redworms, waxworms, and mealworms under bobbers. Be sure to cast the bait near the floating weed beds. You might be surprised by a bass or crappie too. Catfish anglers used nightcrawlers, dip bait and cut anchovies to land whisker fish.

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NACIMIENTO LAKE

Nacimiento Lake held at 95 percent of capacity, and bass anglers reported another week of excellent fishing. Spotted bass took drop shot, darter head grubs, and Nekos in 5 to 20 feet of water. The topwater bite has been good in the mornings on walking baits. White bass anglers did very well on their usual arsenal of in-line spinners, spoons, topwater, and swimbaits. Crappie ate small live minnows and minijigs, and some big catfish were reported by anglers using SSS dip bait.

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TROUT PLANTS

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No DFWL scheduled trout plants

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OCEAN FISHING

 

​SAN DIEGO

The Aztec returned Wednesday from their 2-Day trip this morning with 49 Bluefin weighing between 60 to 130 pounds for their 26 anglers. The Tribute returned Thursday from their 1.5-Day trip with 27 bluefin tuna and 49 yellowtail. The Polaris Supreme returned Wednesday their 2-Day trip with 33 Bluefin weighing from 100 to 150 pounds for their group of 24 anglers. The Pacific Queen called in Thursday with 96 bluefin (70-100lbs.) and 38 yellowtail for 23 anglers on a 3-day trip.

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DANA POINT/SAN PEDRO

The Freedom out of 22nd Street returned Thursday from a 1.5-day with 31 Yellowtail, 1 Blue Perch, 170 Salmon Grouper, 190 Whitefish, 9 Bonito and 42 Red Snapper for 30 anglers. The Thunderbird out of Davey's Locker returned Wednesday from an overnight with 1 Yellowtail, 8 Bonito, 9 Sheephead and 38 Perch for 27 anglers.

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CHANNEL ISLANDS

The Aloha Spirit returned Wednesday from a Full day with 40 Halibut, 5 White Seabass and 2 Calico Bass for 14 anglers. The Graylight out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a Full day with 8 Halibut for 6 anglers. The Sea Jay out of Hooks Landing returned Wednesday from a Full day with 5 Whitefish and 1 Blue Perch for 6 anglers. The Endeavor out of Ventura Sportfishing returned Tuesday from a 2.5-day with 20 Halibut, 42 White Seabass, 310 Rockfish, 14 Lingcod and 73 Ocean Whitefish for 30 anglers.

PORT SAN LUIS/MORRO BAY

The Flying Fish out of Patriot Sportfishing returned from a ½-day on Tuesday with 55 Rockfish, 12 Bocaccio, 64 Red Rockcod, 3 Bolina and 3 Copper Rockfish for 16 anglers. The fiesta out of Virg’s Landing returned Tuesday from a ¾-day with 60 Vermillion, 75 Assorted Rockfish and 15 Bocaccio for 15 anglers. The Avenger out of Morro Bay Landing returned Wednesday from a ½-day with 40 Vermillion, 40 Bocaccio and 20 assorted Rockfish for 10 anglers.