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California Aqueduct

Aqueduct anglers reported decent fishing for smaller striped bass. The best bet has been to soak lugworms or cut sardines after check gates. On low flow days jumbo live minnows got the attention of striped bass, largemouth, and catfish. Catfish anglers also did well with dip baits, and cut baits. Largemouth reports were on the slow side, but finesse techniques with a slow to dead stick approach usually get a few bites this time of year.

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Castaic Lake

The lake rose to 79 percent of its storage capacity, and despite multiple reports of the lake being closed it is open for launching and fishing. Anglers should proceed to the west ramp for access to the lake. Large and smallmouth bass were reported as the best bets with finesse techniques scoring bites. C3 baits Shimmies, Ice Picks, and Slim Pros on the drop shot worked for bites in 15 to 40 feet of water. Striped bass reports were slow, but few anglers have targeted zebras since the fire. Catfish were reliable for anglers using cut baits and dip bait in deeper coves.

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Pyramid Lake

The lake remained at 85 percent of its storage capacity, and water temperatures were near 50 degrees. Anglers reported fair fishing with bass and catfish as the best bets. Large and smallmouth took finesse baits on a nearly dead stick approach. Striped bass ate cut baits and lugworms in the marina. Trout anglers reported good sized rainbows eating Powerbait and Mousetails. American shad gave anglers a fun wintertime option with fish biting white flukes, in-line spinners, and small white swimbaits.

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Isabella Lake

Isabella Lake increased to 31 percent of its storage capacity. The Crappie action has been hit or miss here. They have been found in 20 to 30-feet of water and hanging near offshore structure. The usual baits like live shiners and minijigs have been working for these deeper water slabs. The bass bite has been slower with the best action offshore. Quality bites are coming on 3/8 or ½ ounce football blank n blue jigs with Rapala black/blue clean up craws and brown/purple jigs with chigger craws. The best action has been with Heddon Sonars, spoons, and ice jigs. Our contacts reported a decent offshore catfish bite. They found shad schools around 50 to 70-feet and the whiskerfish are around them. Anglers have plucked catfish with vibrating jigs where they marked shad schools. Catfishing from shore has been slow to fair with cut baits, dip baits, and night crawlers. The CDFW have a scheduled trout plant here this week. Anglers have had decent action near Reds Marina on spinners, garlic scented Powerbait, and minijigs. Boaters can troll needlefish, Tasmanian Devils and Flicker-shad around the dam for better model fish. The annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby is scheduled for April 12, 13 and 14, 2025. For more information visit Copes Tackle and Rod.

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Kern River

Here in the Upper Kern flows have resided from the recent storms. It remains very fishable, and the trout action has been very good. Anglers have been scoring trout with Get Bent Baits, salmon eggs, spinners, and trout jigs. Fly anglers have had luck with Nymphs and Steamers. This week the Upper Kern River was stocked in Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge. In the Lower Kern, the CDFW stocked trout in all three sections throughout the canyon; Section 1, Lower Richbar to Democrat Beach; Section 2, Democrat Beach to Sandy Flat; and Section 3, Sandy Flat to Isabella Dam. Trout have been coming on salmon eggs, pinched crawlers, garlic doused Powerbait and minijigs. The Lower Kern River bass bite is fair on crankbaits, jigs and spinners. Catfish can be found on dip baits, nightcrawlers and cut baits. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River was flowing at 756 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 300 CFS.

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Lake Kaweah

Kaweah Lake rose to 33 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was fair last week. Kaweah is a flood control reservoir, and local anglers understand that rapid fluctuations in water levels require adjusting techniques. Suspended bass took Senkos and vertical spoons in 15 to 40 feet of water. Deep diving crankbaits and jigs fooled fish holding rear rocky structure. Other reports were slow.

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Lake Success

Success Lake rose to 33 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing has been fair. Largemouth were the best bet with finesse techniques getting bites. Drop shot straight tailed worms, hula grubs, and Senkos on the drop shot took 1- and 2-pound bass in 10 to 30 feet of water. Catfish were reliable on SSS dip bait and cut anchovies.

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River Walk Lakes

The CDFW stocked trout here on Wednesday and it’s been limit style fishing for the past three weeks. The Bakersfield Kids Outdoors non-profit loaded both lakes with lightening and rainbow trout two weeks ago. The CDFW have stocked twice in the past two weeks. Anglers have been getting quality bites with Garlic scented Powerbait, Trout jigs, mousetails and pinched crawlers. The bass bite has been fair to good with the best action coming later in the day. Bass have been coming on crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs and shad imitation plastics on drop shot.

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Ming Lake

Here at Ming Lake the CDFW stocked trout on Wednesday. The trout bite has been excellent the past couple weeks with the repeated stocks of trout. Anglers have been scoring trout with minijigs, spinners, pinched crawlers and garlic scented Powerbait. The bass bite improved this week with one local angler scoring an 8.5 pound bucket mouth earlier this week. Bass have been coming on Keitechs in sexy shad on an underspin or ball head, and Yamamoto Senkos in green pumpkin on a light Texas rig or drop-shot setup. There were also quality bites with weightless flukes and small Ike’s jigs. Bluegill have been going for wax worms, meal worms and red worms. Crappie have been best in the late afternoon with minijigs and live shiners.

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Buena Vista Lakes

Trout anglers lined the shores for excellent fishing after the last plant. Rainbow Powerbait, minijigs, spoons, and spinners all fooled fish. Some good-sized rainbows were reported by anglers trolling Flicker Shad. Largemouth anglers worked finesse baits and Senkos near the cattails and reeds for fair results. Catfish were reliable for anglers soaking SSS dip bait, and crappie inhaled small live minnows and dop shotted soft plastics.

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Hart Park Lake

Fishing was fair at Hart Park. Bass anglers found better grade fish throwing deep diving crankbaits. Texas rigged straight tailed worms landed largemouth near the floating weed beds. Bluegill ate redworms and waxworms under a bobber.

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Lake Nacimiento 

The lake rose significantly to 64 percent of its storage capacity and fishing has been fair to good. Water temps remained in the low 50s, and bass anglers used finesse baits to boat fish. Drop shot Roboworms in Ox Blood and Aaron’s Magic took fish as deep as 40 feet. Darter head hula grubs and Neko rigs worked for bites as well. White bass came as bycatch for bass anglers working vertical spoons. Catfish ate cut mackerel and dip bait, and crappie took small live minnows down deep.

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Trout Plants​

Week of February 16th – River Walk Lake; Ming Lake; Lake Isabella; Lower Kern River Section 1; Lower Kern River Section 2; Lower Kern River Section 3; Upper Kern River Section 5

Week of February 23rd - Upper Kern River Section 4; Upper Kern River Section 5

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Ocean Fishing

 

San Diego

The take of all rockfish, sheephead and lingcod is closed in US waters until April 1st, 2025. Whitefish, sculpin and sand dabs are the only groundfish still legal to fish. Sand bass, Calico bass, halibut and white seabass are legal to fish for as well. On Tuesday the New Seaforth with 10 anglers on a ½ day am caught 74 Whitefish. The Dolphin returned Wednesday from a ¾-day with 14 Halibut and 10 Halibut released for 26 anglers.

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Dana Point/San Pedro

The take of all rockfish, sheephead and lingcod is closed in US waters until April 1st, 2025. Whitefish, sculpin and sand dabs are the only groundfish still legal to fish. Sand bass, Calico bass, halibut and white seabass are legal to fish for as well. The Native Sun with 40 anglers on a 3/4 Day Sunday caught 23 Whitefish, 13 Sculpin, 2 Halibut, 2 Halibut released, 1 Calico Bass and 5 Sand Bass.

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Channel Islands/Ventura

The take of all rockfish, sheephead and lingcod is closed in US waters until April 1st, 2025. Whitefish, sculpin and sand dabs are the only groundfish still legal to fish. Sand bass, Calico bass, halibut and white seabass are legal to fish for as well. The Gentleman out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned Sunday from ¾- day with 4500 Sand dab for 32 anglers.

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Port San Luis/Morro Bay

The take of all rockfish, sheephead and lingcod is closed in US waters until April 1st, 2025. Whitefish, sculpin and sand dabs are the only groundfish still legal to fish. Sand bass, Calico bass, halibut and white seabass are legal to fish for as well.