September 30th

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

Striper fishing in the aqueduct has been on fire! The fall bite is upon us, and anglers reported some of the biggest fish of the year. Jerkbaits, Flukes, Rattle Traps, and tube baits all scored bites in the mornings and evenings. Sardines, anchovies, and jumbo live minnows produced well throughout the day. Catfish anglers absolutely clobbered the whisker fish with dip bait, chicken liver, and cut baits. We received numerous reports of limit style cat fishing with some true monsters mixed in. Bass anglers did well with topwater and jerkbaits during low light conditions and drop shot plastics scored fish in the slower moving water before and after check gates.

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CASTAIC LAKE

The lake held near 37 percent of capacity, and water temperatures dropped into the mid-seventies. Water conditions have cleared up, and the bite has resumed. Bass anglers found willing biters throughout the lake on points and in coves. Large and smallmouth fell for drop shot, Ned rigs, and C-rigs in 10 to 25 feet of water. Shad, Ox Blood, and Aaron’s Magic have been good color choices. There’s also a decent topwater and reaction bait bite in the mornings when the bass chase shad. Striped bass have been working the shad schools in the ski arm, and Spooks, Gunfish, and the bubble rig all scored bites. Striper also ate cut sardines and lugworms at the forebay buoy line. Catfish anglers did well with anchovies, dip bait, and mackerel.

PYRAMID LAKE 

Pyramid Lake held near 93 percent of capacity, and fishing has been good. Topwater is still the favored tactic first thing in the mornings, and it has been producing largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass. Bass anglers also threw crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits along grass lines to coax bass from cover. Drop shot, Texas rigs, and Senkos fooled bass in 10 to 20 feet of water near rocky structure and weed beds. Striped bass ate cut sardines, lugworms, and nightcrawlers soaked in 25 to 50 feet of water. Some of the favored striper locations have been the Marina, Yellowbar, and Serrano. Striper also fell for trolled spoons and deep diving jerkbaits. Catfish anglers got bit while using dip bait, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers.

LAKE ISABELLA

Isabella is down to 7 percent capacity and the Bass action has been solid for both numbers and quality. This week our contacts reported excellent Bass action in the 1 to 2lbs range with an occasional 6 to 7lbs fish in the mix. Bass have been coming on Whopper Ploppers, Buzzbaits, Poppers, Crankbaits, Texas Rigs and Jigs. The bite has been better early in the morning and then fades some until late afternoon. Many areas have been producing fish in good numbers, but the top areas have been Rocky Point, the Flume, Engineer Point and both Dams. They are also finding fish around trees throughout the lake. Crappie anglers continue to do well near the Dam in 10 to 20-feet of water. Slabs have been coming on Get Bent Baits and live shiners with finesse tactics. Trout are in deeper water and shore anglers are having a tougher time getting a bite. Floating garlic scented baits in deeper water is your best bet for shore anglers. Boaters can troll leadcore near the Dam with Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils or Flicker Shad. Catfish in good numbers have been showing with frozen shad, Triple S Dip Bait, live shiners and nightcrawlers.

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KERN RIVER

In the Upper Kern, the 20-mile stretch hasn’t been stocked since late June, but holdover and wild trout have been biting fairly well with minijigs, trout worms, spinners, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers have had success in the early morning and later in the day with dry flies. In the Lower Kern the Bass action is solid on Roostertails, Get Bent Baits, and soft plastics. Catfish can be caught with Triple S Dip Baits, clams, and worms. Bluegill have been coming on live worms. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River at Kernville was flowing at 91 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 143 CFS.

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LAKE KAWEAH

Kaweah Lake fell to 6 percent of capacity, and anglers reported another week of good fishing. Spotted bass continued their assault on the shad, and shad pattern topwater, jerkbaits, small swimbaits, and underspins all worked to hook-up. Deep diving crankbaits were another way to bring a lot of bass to the boat. Anglers also used drop shot, Ned rigs, and jigs on points and submerged rocks for good action. Kastmaster, Warbaits, and other spoons fooled fish near the deeper shad schools. Bluegill ate redworms, waxworms, and mealworms, and catfish anglers used chicken liver, dip bait, and cut anchovies to fool the whisker fish.

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LAKE SUCCESS

Success Lake fell to 8 percent of capacity, and fishing has been good. Poppers and Whopper Ploppers worked well in the mornings and evenings, and crankbaits fooled fish near rocky structure. The submerged trees continue to kick out many of the bigger bass on large ribbon tailed worms, Senkos, and jigs. Finesse baits worked for bites on points, ledges, and near structure. Crappie fell for small live minnows, and catfish ate dip bait, cut sardines, and chicken liver.

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RIVER WALK LAKES

Not much going on here. The water levels are very low due to the drought.

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MING LAKE

The bass action improved this week with the cooler weather. Anglers have been scoring fish early and later in the day on soft plastics, crankbaits, and brush hawgs. There’s an excellent bluegill bite early and late on wax worms, meal worms and red worms. The carp are showing more frequently and can be found on dough baits. Catfish can be taken on dip baits and cut bait.

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BUENA VISTA LAKES

Anglers reported fair fishing at Buena Vista Lakes. Hopefully, the fall weather will kick off a feeding frenzy soon. Bass fell for drop shot Roboworms, creature baits, and topwater lures. The best action remains near the islands and cattails with many fish holding deep in the reeds. Catfish ate chicken liver, dip bait, and sardines, and crappie took minijigs under a bobber.

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HART PARK LAKE

Fishing was fair at Hart Park with bass anglers providing most of the reports. Largemouth went for Texas rigged six-inch plastic worms in Aaron’s Magic and motor oil. Topwater has been scoring a few bites early and late in the day, and small swimbaits also produced some decent bass. Bluegill fell for live redworms, waxworms, and mealworms under a bobber, and catfish ate cut baits and dip bait.

TRUXTUN LAKE

Not much going here. The lake is very low due to drought.

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NACIMIENTO LAKE

Nacimiento Lake held at 19 percent of capacity, and anglers reported a lot of smaller grade bass. Topwater and reaction baits have been the way to go until mid-morning. After that anglers used darter head grubs, drop shot, and Carolina rigs for bites. Vertical spoons scored fish when worked through the deeper bait balls. White bass were harvested by anglers trolling white spoons, in-line spinners, and small swimbaits, and catfish fell for dip bait, chicken liver, and cut anchovies.

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TROUT PLANTS

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Week of October 2nd – Kings River, Below Pine Flat Dam; Courtright Reservoir; Wishon Reservoir.

OCEAN FISHING

​SAN DIEGO

The Polaris Supreme returned from their 3 Day Thursday morning with 132 bluefin tuna, 41 yellowfin tuna and 210 dorado. The grade of fish was exceptional. They ended up with 5 Bluefin over 200lbs, with the largest weighing 250lbs! They had several other fish in the 90-150lb range. The Apollo's 1.5 Day trip finished up with 50 yellowfin tuna and 42 dorado for their 21 anglers. The Aztec returned from their 2.5 Day trip with 221 yellowfin tuna, 96 dorado and 5 skipjack. The Pacific Queen returned Thursday morning with 216 Yellowfin Tuna, 51 Bluefin Tuna, and LIMITS of Dorado for their 18 Anglers on a 3.5 day trip.

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DANA POINT/SAN PEDRO

The Amigo out of 22nd street landing returned Wednesday from a 1.5-day with 17 Bluefin Tuna, 63 Yellowtail, 5 Calico Bass and 16 Bonito for 15 anglers. The Thunderbird out of Davey’s Locker returned Tuesday from an overnight with 11 Yellowtail, 20 Bonito and 10 Calico Bass for 25 anglers.

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CHANNEL ISLANDS

The Aloha Spirit out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned Wednesday from a Full day with 2 Yellowtail, 3 Halibut, 4 Barracuda, 44 Calico Bass, 1 Rockfish, 1 Sheephead, 28 Ocean Whitefish and 18 Bonito for 17 anglers. The New Hustler out of Hooks Landing returned Monday from an Overnight with 3 Sheephead, 3 Lingcod, 85 whitefish and 190 Rockfish for 25 anglers. The Island Spirit out of Ventura Sportfishing returned Monday from a Full day trip with 31 Calico Bass, 16 Sand Bass, 68 Ocean Whitefish, 3 Rockfish and 2 Sheephead for 14 anglers.

PORT SAN LUIS/MORRO BAY

The Phenix out of Patriot Sportfishing returned Thursday from a ¾-day with 25 Bolina, 63 Rockcod, 1 Lingcod and 2 Red Rockcod for 9 anglers. The Black Pearl out of Virg’s Landing returned Monday from a ½-day with 1 Lingcod, 65 Vermillion Rockfish and 210 assorted Rockfish for 30 anglers. The Endeavor (MB) out of Morro Bay Landing returned Thursday from a ¾-day trip with 44 Red Rockfish, 40 Rockfish, 26 Bocaccio and 2 Lingcod for 11 anglers.