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.​

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Come fishing with Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop!! We have the best charter giveaways for our anglers! We give away a raffle rod and Cope's Tackle gift card to every fisherman and bring sponsor prizes/giveaways on all our charters! PLUS!! All anglers on Cope's Tackle sponsored trips are automatically entered into our BIG LING OF THE YEAR CONTEST!

Visit our website at Charters and Events to book your spots today!

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April 18th, 2026 - (PENDING ROCKFISH OPENER DATE) 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

May 4th, 2026 - SOLD OUT - Polaris Supreme 2-Day Charter

May 16th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

June 11th, 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Mirage Sportfishing (Departs 6/10)

June 13th (Departs Friday 6/12), 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

June 20th, 2026 - ¾ Day Charter w/Gentleman Sportfishing

June 21st, 2026 - ¾ Day Charter w/Island Fox Sportfishing

July 9th, 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Mirage Sportfishing (Departs 6/8)

July 18th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

July 23rd, 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Mirage Sportfishing (Departs 7/22)

August 1st, 2026 - ¾ Day Charter w/Gentleman Sportfishing

August 15th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

September 12th (Departs Friday 9/11), 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

October 10th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

November 14th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

December 12th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

 

Thank you to all the great anglers out there who help contribute to Bakersfield’s only local fishing report. Please send us pictures of your best catches of the week to be featured in next week’s report.

 

**California Aqueduct**

 

Aqueduct fishing remained decent, with cut baits continuing to outproduce other offerings. Striped bass anglers reported success using cut sardines and lugworms below the check gates, with some anglers landing limits of three-pound fish. Stripers also struck jerkbaits and A-rigs. Largemouth anglers worked four- and six-inch straight tail worms in brown and dark green near eddies and outtake grates. Catfish anglers used bait rigs and Carolina rigs with no roll sinkers to catch plenty of whiskerfish on cut sardines, chicken liver, and dip bait.

 

**Castaic Lake**

 

Castaic Lake remained near the 80 percent mark, and water temperatures held in the mid to upper fifties. Small three- and four-inch baits on the drop shot and Carolina rig produced the best numbers of one and two pound bass. Hologram shad and green pumpkin fished in the 10 to 30 foot zone on rocky structure and points remained the most consistent way to put fish in the boat. Striped bass anglers trolled A-rigs, dropped vertical spoons and ice jigs, and picked up a few fish on cut sardines near the buoy line. Catfish anglers reported steady action on cut mackerel, dip bait, and chicken liver.

 

**Pyramid Lake**

 

The lake held at 85 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was decent last week. Most anglers targeted largemouth and smallmouth bass with finesse baits, though a deep spoon and crankbait bite remained available. Bass took Texas rigged six inch worms in brown and purple along bluff walls. Anglers found active fish as deep as 40 feet on points and humps, where vertical spoons were effective. Crankbaits produced in the rip rap at Freeway Cove and along rocky main lake points. Striped bass fishing improved for anglers trolling umbrella rigs. Ice jigs and spoons worked to target a better grade fish down to 75 feet. Catfish anglers reported success on chicken liver in deeper coves.

 

***Isabella Lake***

 

Lake Isabella has risen to about 45 percent of its capacity this week and continues to climb at a steady pace. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked trout here last week, and the bite has been steady with anglers finding success on pinched nightcrawlers, spinners, garlic-scented Powerbait, and mini jigs. Our contacts are also reporting a solid catfish bite in water up to 90 feet deep, especially near schools of shad that remain in deeper water. The catfish are actively feeding on them, and vibrating jigs have been working well. Bass action has been decent lately with fish being caught on jigs, swimbaits, Senkos, and by drop-shotting Roboworms in Oxblood or MMIII around Rocky Point and Piney Point, with water temperatures currently in the mid to upper 50s. The crappie bite remains fair with fish holding near offshore structure in 25 to 35 feet of water. The 35th Annual Lake Isabella Fishing Derby is scheduled for March 28–30, 2026. For more information, contact Cope’s Tackle or visit KernRiverValley.com.

 

**Kern River**

 

The trout action in the Upper Kern has been steady all winter long with plants going in almost weekly. The stretch from Riverside Park to Powerhouse #3 remains one of the better sections of the Upper Kern. Moving up the river within the 20-mile stretch, anglers have been finding success on a mix of stocked, holdover, and wild trout. Salmon eggs, mini jigs, and spinners have been fooling fish, while fly anglers are doing well using various nymphs and streamers. In the Lower Kern, trout fishing has improved following the recent plants, with fish coming on salmon eggs, pinched nightcrawlers, and mini jigs. The Lower Kern bass bite is fair to good with anglers using small spinners, nightcrawlers, and crankbaits. Catfish are also showing in the Lower Kern and are being caught on sardines, anchovies, and nightcrawlers. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River is flowing at 1402 CFS and the Lower Kern River is flowing at 304 CFS.

 

**Lake Kaweah**

 

The lake rose to 28 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was fair overall. Still, there were signs of improvement as some anglers found bass as shallow as five feet. Spotted bass responded to green pumpkin Senkos on a slow sink, while drop shot rigs and shaky heads produced additional bites for finesse anglers. Deep water spoons and crankbaits also drew strikes from lethargic, cold water bass. Crappie reports improved, with a few anglers finding success on small swimbaits and minijigs. Catfish anglers reported steady bites on cut baits, nightcrawlers, and dip bait. The CDFW have a scheduled trout plant here this week.

 

**Lake Success**

 

Success rose significantly to 46 percent of its storage capacity, which disrupted the bite. Some anglers reported success while fishing newly submerged vegetation and structure, while others searched for a pattern without results. Small swimbaits and jerkbaits produced bass near vegetation, and finesse baits worked on points and rocky submerged structure. The North Fork provided action for crappie anglers using small crankbaits and swimbaits. Catfish anglers used SSS dip bait and chicken liver on a Carolina rig for steady bites. The CDFW have a scheduled trout plant here this week.

 

**River Walk Lakes**

 

It’s been a few weeks since the last trout plant at River Walk, and while anglers are still catching a few holdover trout, the bite is starting to get a little tougher. Trout have been coming on trout jigs, small spinners, and garlic-doused Powerbait. Bass action has been fair with anglers finding success using finesse soft plastics. There were also more reports of bluegill being caught this week on wax worms and red worms.

 

**Ming Lake**

 

Here at Ming Lake, the bass action has significantly improved over the past week. Our contacts reported catching bass on Keitechs and 5-inch green pumpkin Senkos, while Yamacraws in South African, green pumpkin, and red patterns have also been getting smashed. The bass are active and spreading out throughout the lake, with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits producing fish later in the day. The crappie bite also picked up this week, with anglers catching crappie in deeper water on small live shiners and mini jigs. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has a scheduled trout plant here this week, and trout have been going for mini jigs, spinners, pinched nightcrawlers, and garlic-scented Powerbait.

 

*Buena Vista Lakes*

 

Another load of trout went into BV and anglers cleaned up. Trout up to 13 pounds have been reported. Anglers did well on the usual line up of garlic scented dough baits, minijigs, spoons, and small swimbaits. Plenty of other trout lures worked for bites as well. Bass anglers also had a better week with warmer weather and water getting the largemouth moving. Senkos, Texas rigs, crankbaits, and chatterbaits all hooked bass. Crappie took small swimbaits and minijigs, and catfish anglers used chicken liver, cut anchovies, and SSS dip bait to catch whiskerfish.

 

**Hart Park Lake**

 

Fishing perked up at Hart Park with largemouth bass taking baits. Anglers reported a decent bite while Texas rigging green pumpkin Senkos and creature baits in the weed pockets and holes. Other successful baits included drop shots, weedless swimbaits, and crankbaits. Bluegill anglers found success while using redworms rigged under a float, and catfish ate nightcrawlers, SSS dip bait, and chicken liver.

 

**Lake Nacimiento**

 

The lake rose quickly to 66 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing conditions improved with the stretch of excellent weather. Bass anglers reported solid action while throwing spider jigs on darter heads, drop shot rigs, and Senkos in oxblood, baitfish, and green pumpkin. Most fish held in 10 to 30 feet of water, and a slow retrieve continued to produce. Six inch straight tail worms drew the most attention. White bass struck white swimbaits, spoons, and Flicker Shad. Crappie anglers found steady action in 10 to 20 feet of water with minijigs tipped with crappie nibbles. Catfish anglers used cut mackerel, anchovies, and dip bait for consistent bites.

 

****Trout Plants****

 

Week of March 1st

• Ming Lake

• Kaweah Reservoir

• Success Reservoir

 

Week of March 8th

• Upper Kern River, Section 4

• Upper Kern River, Section 5

 

****Ocean Fishing****

 

*San Diego*

 

Rockfish season is closed and is scheduled to re-open April 1st. The first bluefin tuna of the year were caught this week. On Sunday, the Pacific Voyager with 12 anglers on a 2.5-day trip caught 120 yellowtail, 50 rockfish, 30 red snapper, 20 lingcod, and 1 bluefin tuna. The Old Glory with 19 anglers on a 1.5-day trip caught 81 red snapper, 38 lingcod, 30 rockfish, 20 bonito, 16 whitefish, and 2 bluefin tuna. The Point Loma with 16 anglers on a 1/2-day AM trip caught 53 whitefish.

 

*Dana Point/San Pedro*

 

Rockfish season is closed and is scheduled to re-open April 1st. On Tuesday, the Monte Carlo with 16 anglers on a 1/2-day AM trip caught 160 whitefish, 8 sheephead, and 6 sculpin. The Sum Fun with 39 anglers on a 3/4-day trip caught 148 sculpin, 80 sand dab, 15 sheephead, 4 whitefish, 2 calico bass, and 1 cabezon. On Sunday, the Redondo Special with 25 anglers on a 1/2-day AM trip caught 128 whitefish, 6 sheephead, 3 sand bass, and 1 sculpin. The Aggressor with 25 anglers on a full-day trip caught 130 whitefish, 125 sculpin, 11 sheephead, and 1 sand bass.

 

*Channel Islands/Ventura*

 

Rockfish season is closed and is scheduled to re-open April 1st. On Sunday, the Gentleman with 28 anglers on a 3/4-day trip caught 280 whitefish, 90 bonito, 17 sheephead, and 10 sculpin. The Speed Twin with 27 anglers on a 1/2-day AM trip caught 142 whitefish, 16 sheephead, 11 calico bass, and 3 sculpin. The Coral Sea with 25 anglers on a 3/4-day trip caught 180 whitefish, 50 sheephead, and 1 sand bass.

 

*Port San Luis/Morro Bay*

 

Rockfish season is closed and is scheduled to re-open April 1st.