WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22ND
Thank you to all the great anglers out there who help contribute to Bakersfield’s only local fishing report. Please don’t forget to send us your best catches of the week to be featured in next week’s report.
CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT
Fishing has been good in the aqueduct with striper, bass, and catfish all biting. The striper have been eating cut sardines, jumbo live minnows, and bloodworms. Anglers also fooled them with Magnum Flukes, jerkbaits, and topwater lures. The best action for lure anglers has been in the mornings, and bait soakers reported a slow pick throughout the day. There are a lot of silverside minnows cruising in the current, and occasional boils erupt along the aqueduct banks in the mornings and evenings. Catfish have been eating dip bait, anchovies, and chicken liver soaked on the bottom. Bass fishing was decent last week with largemouth biting Green Pumpkin Senkos and drop shot plastics. A few bass were also reported by anglers using rattle traps in the eddies.
CASTAIC LAKE
Castaic Lake fell to 27 percent of capacity, and fishing has been decent. Bass have been the best bet with anglers scoring bites using finesse baits and reaction baits. In the mornings before the heavy winds close the lake anglers have been using drop shot, C-rigs, and Senkos in 10 to 25 feet of water. Main lake points and bluff walls are still the best place to locate biting bass. After the winds come up jerks, cranks, and glides have been getting bite along wind swept banks and points. Both bass and striper have been biting on windy days. Striper went for trolled umbrella rigs, flies, jerkbaits, and glide baits. Catfish anglers reported a decent bite using chicken liver and cut baits, but high winds have made bait fishing difficult lately.
PYRAMID LAKE
The lake remained near 90 percent of capacity, and fishing has been good. Striper anglers reported an excellent bait bite using cut sardines and anchovies. The Marina, Yellowbar, and Posey have all been holding plenty of biting striper. Anglers also reported fooling line sides with jerkbaits, and Kastmasters after the wind picks up. Bass anglers did well using reaction baits early and weedless plastics later in the day. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and topwater produced bites in the mornings, and Texas rigs, jigs, and Senkos have been working later in the day. High winds have made fishing difficult at times, and anglers have been watching the weather before heading to the lake. Catfish ate chicken liver, cut baits, and dip bait in deeper coves around the lake.
LAKE ISABELLA
The lakes water capacity is just shy of 9 percent, but the overall fishing has been decent. We’d like to remind everyone that the water level is low and there are many hazards for boaters around the lake. Quality Bass to 8 pounds have been showing the last couple weeks on reaction baits. Finessed soft plastics, jigs and squarebill crankbaits have been scoring fish as well. As the water temps cool, Bass often go deeper and spoons with a vertical presentation can find some biters. The crappie bite continued at a decent pace this week on Minijigs and small to medium live minnows. Slabs have been found over structure in 10 to 25-feet. The catfish bite is still decent around the dam and French Gulch on dip bait, chicken liver, night crawlers, and frozen shad.
KERN RIVER
The 20-mile stretch of the Upper Kern continues to kick out holdovers and wild trout, but anglers are having to work at it. There hasn’t been a trout plant here since the end of June. Persistence and moving around has been key to finding fish. Small grubs, trout worms and salmon eggs have scored fish in the upper stretch. Fly rodders have fared a little better with dry-dropper rigs with a Yellow Sallie nymph on the bottom. In the Lower Kern, Bass have been coming on a variety of offerings. Anglers are still catching both largemouth and smallmouth bass. They are finding them in slower pockets with soft plastics and spinners. The bass and catfish are being caught along access points as the river makes its way into Bakersfield. Catfish can be caught with Get Bent 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 95 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 121 CFS.
LAKE KAWEAH
The lake remained at 11% of capacity, and bass have been willing to bite lately. Anglers reported bass going for drop shot, jigs, and reaction baits. The finesse bite has been in 10 to 30 feet of water on main lake points and near submerged structure. Anglers also reported a decent crankbait bite early and later in the day. Catfish have been fair with anglers reporting some fish biting chicken liver and dip bait.
LAKE SUCCESS
Lake Success held near 9 percent of capacity, and fishing has been decent. Bass anglers reported bass biting soft plastics and crankbaits. Bigger fish went for 10” ribbon tail worms worked slowly in deeper water, and smaller bass were reported by angler working drop shot on main lake points. Crankbaits scored bites early and late in the day. Catfishing has been fair for anglers using dip bait, nightcrawlers, and cut baits, and a few crappie were reported by anglers using live minnows near the trees.
BUENA VISTA LAKES
Fishing was fair last week, but anglers did have a few nice catches to show off. Bass were reported by anglers using Senkos, jigs, and Texas rigged Roboworms. Some of the best colors were Green Pumpkin, Brown, and Purple. Largemouth bass have moved out of the cattails, and they are being caught in different locations around the lake. Catfish anglers reported that the whisker fish are earing dip bait, anchovies, and chicken liver, and crappie went for minijigs, and small live minnows under a bobber. This year’s trout derby is tentatively scheduled for November 20th. Now is a good time to dust off the trout gear.
RIVER WALK LAKES
The water level remains low, there were reports of a few bass being caught. The lakes are very low, and fishing is not ideal here.
MING LAKE
At Ming the bass action has picked up over the past couple weeks. Reaction baits take the top spot this week with a good number coming on crankbaits. Soft plastics and jigs have scored fish early and late in the day. Bluegill have not slowed and continue to be easily caught on wax worms, meal worms and red worms. Carp can be found on dough baits and catfish can be taken on dip baits and cut bait.
HART PARK LAKE
Fishing was fair at Hart Park last week with anglers reporting bass biting finesse plastics, Senkos, and jigs. The largemouth are still holding in the weed beds, but they were reluctant to bite last week. Successful anglers reported using a slow presentation to entice bites. Bluegill were reported by anglers using redworms and mealworms under a bobber. The bluegill have been holding near just about any cover. Anglers need to be patient, but the bluegill will find the bait. Catfish anglers reported a fair bite using nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and dip bait.
TRUXTUN LAKE
Fishing has been tough at Truxtun Lakes due to lower water levels. The only body of water left is the main lake, and it is very low. A few anglers reported trying their luck, and there definitely are still fish in the lake. Bass were fooled by anglers using topwater and weedless plastics in the heavy weed cover. Bluegill have been eating live worms fished under a bobber.
NACIMIENTO LAKE
Nacimiento Lake remained near 11 percent of capacity, and fishing has been good. The spotted bass have been aggressively feeding of shad, and anglers who find the right pattern can fill the boat. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, and spoons all worked for bites after anglers found feeding fish. Finesse baits were also a good option with drop-shot, darter heads, and small jigs all producing well. The white bass have been falling for spoons and inline spinners, but anglers have to find the shad schools to get bit. A few topwater fish were also reported by anglers who found boils. The red ear and bluegill bite has been good on any live worm, and catfish ate cut sardines, chicken liver, and dip bait.
TROUT PLANTS
Nothing Scheduled
OCEAN FISHING
SAN DIEGO
The San Diego ended their Full day trip Wednesday with 33 Yellowfin Tuna and 7 Skipjack for their 33 anglers. Flylined sardines on 25-30# fluorocarbon and a size 2 hook has been the go-to setup. The Pacifica finished their 2 Day trip Thursday with 87 Yellowfin Tuna and 10 Skipjack for their 21 anglers. The Outrider returned Thursday morning with LIMITS (100) of Yellowfin Tuna, 4 Yellowtail and 1 Dorado for 10 passengers on a 2.5-day trip.
DANA POINT/SAN PEDRO
The Freedom out of 22nd Street Sportfishing returned Thursday with 1 Bluefin Tuna, 20 Sheephead, 6 Yellowtail, 105 Whitefish, 100 Rockfish, 4 Lingcod, 10 Bonito and 15 Red Snapper for 32 anglers on a 1.5-day trip. The Western Pride out of Davey’s Locker returned Wednesday from ¾-day with 150 Rockfish, 1 Lingcod and 1 Bonito for 15 anglers The Freelance returned Wednesday from a ¾-day with 55 Rockfish, 235 Whitefish, 10 Sheephead, 1 Sculpin and 4 Blue Perch.
CHANNEL ISLANDS
The Mirage out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned Thursday with 185 Ocean Whitefish, 2 California Halibut, 5 California Sheephead, 6 Lingcod and 320 Rockfish for 17 anglers on a 2-Day. The Pacific Eagle out of Ventura Sportfishing returned Wednesday with 120 Rockfish for 12 anglers on a Full Day trip.
PORT SAN LUIS/MORRO BAY
The Flying Fish out of Patriot Sportfishing returned Thursday from a ½-day with 15 Reds, 5 Treefish, and 170 Assorted Rockfish for 19 anglers. The Rita G out of Virg’s Landing returned Wednesday from a 1/2-day with 30 Red, 10 Copper and 60 Assorted Rockfish for 10 anglers.