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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California Aqueduct

With a series of storms in the rear-view mirror anglers have been working the aqueduct banks for catfish, striped bass, and largemouth. Striped bass ate cut sardines, anchovies, and jumbo live, minnows on the bait rig or Carolina rig after check gates. Catfish anglers did well with SSS dip bait, cut anchovies, and chicken liver. Largemouth were reported by anglers working drop shot in the eddies before and after check gates.

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Castaic Lake

Castaic lake dropped to 74 percent of its storage capacity and the bite has improved after a series of storms and windy days. Water temps rose slightly to the low to mid-fifties. The lake remained near three quarters full, and water temperatures were in the mid-fifties. Large and smallmouth went after weightless Senkos and Slim Pros along cobble stone banks. Bass also took drop shot and Carolina rigged C3 shimmy’s and other finesse baits in shad, dark green and brown. Striped bass anglers have been patiently awaiting the bait bite, but it has not materialized. Trolling umbrella rigs in 25 to 50 feet of water has been the best way to coax a few bites. Catfish were reliable for anglers soaking cut sardines, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers. Most of the recent trout reports were from bass anglers who found fish holding in the backs of coves. Small jerkbaits, Senkos, and spoons took good sized rainbows.

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Pyramid Lake

The lake rose to 92 percent of its storage capacity, and water temperatures stayed in the low fifties. High winds and rain hampered fishing early in the week, but conditions improved with the warming weather. Large and smallmouth were taken with drop shot, Texas rigs, and Slim Pros in 10 to 30 feet of water. A slower approach with smaller baits got the most attention. Grey, salt and pepper, green pumpkin, and purple all put fish in the boat. Deep diving cranks in shad and craw patterns worked to fool fish early in the day. Striped bass took the occasional Carolina rigged cut bait at the inlet, and catfish cooperated for anglers using chicken liver and cut baits in deeper cover around the lake. Trout anglers reported rainbows spread throughout the lake with fish taking Roostertails and spoons at Yellowbar. Dough baits took fish near the marina

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Isabella Lake

This week Isabella Lake increased to 37 percent of its storage capacity and the water temps are in the 50’s. Bass are coming on 3/8 or ½ ounce football black n blue jigs and green pumpkin creature baits. Rapala black/blue clean up craws and brown/purple jigs with chigger craws are getting some quality bites. Big swimbaits have been a good option. Rocky Point, Engineers and Piney Point have been producing. The crappie bite is starting to be more consistent. The best action has been in 15 to 20-feet of water and as the weather warms the water expect them to move shallower any day. Offshore structure is holding large schools and anglers have been fooling them with minijigs and live shiners. The trout bite has been very good lately with quality fish to 4lbs reported. Our contacts reported scoring trout with Get Bent Baits, Hook Up Baits, spinners, and Garlic doused Pinched Crawlers. 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

The water flows have increased a bit in the Upper Kern over the last couple days but remains ideal for fishing. Anglers have been scoring trout from Riverside Park in Kernville to Johnsondale Bridge with salmon eggs, minijigs, spinners and pinched crawlers. In the Lower Kern trout have been coming on salmon eggs, pinched crawlers, garlic doused Powerbait and minijigs. The CDFW had a trout stocking here this week but removed it from their website. The Lower Kern River bass bite is improving with small 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 979 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 413 CFS.

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Lake Kaweah

Kaweah Lake remained near 27 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was fair last week. Successful anglers reported fooling fish along points and over rocky cover with drop shot and hula grubs seeing some action. Some crankbait bass were reported as well. There were few reports for other species, but there is a trout plant scheduled for the week of March 23rd.

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Lake Success

Success rose to 46 percent of its storage capacity, and anglers reported decent fishing. Largemouth bass held in 10 to 20 feet of water with drop shot Roboworms in brown, watermelon, and baby bass getting attention. Senko style baits and crankbaits also took plenty of fish over rocky structure. Crappie fishing picked up later in the week with warming water temperatures triggering bites on small live minnows. Catfish anglers reported fair fishing.

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River Walk Lakes

River Walk was stocked with trout on Monday with the remaining fish from Boat & RV show.

The CDFW had a scheduled trout plant here this week but recently removed it from website. They could still stock it, but it is getting close to end of season for trout here. Trout have been coming on trout jigs, mousetails, spinners and garlic doused Powerbait. Bass are getting more active and have been fooled with soft plastics, jigs and cranks

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Ming Lake

The bass bite here has been slow but getting better each day. Chatterbaits have been getting quality bites when there’s a little wind and finesse baits when it dies down. Early morning and evening bass have been coming on spinner baits. Crappie are showing better signs later in the day with live shiners and crappie jigs. Trout anglers have found some holdover fish with jigs and floating scented baits. There was a scheduled trout plant at Ming this week but was since removed by CDFW.

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Buena Vista Lakes

The trout bite at Buena Vista picked up after the recent trout stocking this week. Anglers trolling Thomas Bouyants and small crankbaits produced some quality fish. Shore anglers picked away at the rainbows with garlic scented dough baits, trout jigs and Mousetails. Bass anglers took advantage of sunny skies to land largemouth with Texas rigged 6” plastic worms in brown and green pumpkin. Creature baits pitched near brush also fooled largemouth. Catfish ate SSS dip bait and chicken liver.

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Hart Park Lake

Fishing was fair at Hart Park with some anglers reporting an improved bite. Bass went after Texas rigged plastics on the split shot rig. They were also pulled from deep cover with punching gear. Green Pumpkin was the color of choice. Bluegill snapped up redworms fished under a bobber, and catfish took cut anchovies and sardines.​

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Lake Nacimiento 

Nacimiento Lake held at 68 percent of its storage capacity and bass anglers reported improving conditions after recent storms. Spotted bass fell for drop shot, Neko rigs, and darter head hula grubs in 5 to 25 feet of water. Aaron’s magic and ox blood took bass along main and secondary points and bluff walls. Senkos fooled plenty of bass as well. White bass remained deeper in the water column with spoons and in-line spinners getting bites. Catfish ate chicken liver, dip bait, and cut anchovies.

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Trout Plants​

Week of March 9th - Upper Kern River Section 4; Upper Kern River Section 5; Upper Kern River Section 6

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Ocean Fishing

 

San Diego

The take of all rockfish 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 New Seaforth returned Monday from a ½ day with 70 Whitefish, 2 Sheephead, and 1 Sculpin for 21 anglers.

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Dana Point/San Pedro

The take of all rockfish 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 out of 22md Street returned Wednesday from a ¾-day with 24 Sculpin, 7 Halibut, 3 Halibut released, and 1 Sand Bass for 21 anglers.

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Channel Islands/Ventura

The take of all rockfish 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 Aloha Spirit with 13 anglers on Sunday returned from a Full Day with 85 Whitefish, 26 Sheephead, 1 Halibut, and 6 Perch.

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Port San Luis/Morro Bay

The take of all rockfish 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.