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**

 

Fishing has been decent in the aqueduct. Striper anglers soaked cut baits, jumbo live minnows, and live worms for a few fish. Some of the best fishing areas have been the Golf Course gates, Freeborn, and Tupman. Lure anglers used jerkbaits, rattle traps, and tube baits to get bites. Largemouth took finesse baits near bridge pylons and in slower moving water before and after check gates. Catfishing has been good for anglers using Triple S Dip Bait, chicken liver, and cut baits.

 

**Castaic Lake**

 

Castaic Lake rose to 77 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was good. Bass anglers reported productive days while finesse fishing deeper water. Carolina rigs, drop-shots, and Ned rigs in shad, green pumpkin, and ox blood produced the best results. Some local anglers reported catching more than 20 fish in a day. Much of the action came on vertical spooning techniques. Big-bait anglers threw magnum topwater, glide baits, and swimbaits for striped bass, with fish reported to 10 pounds. Striped bass also took trolled umbrella rigs and cut baits near the inlet and Elizabeth Canyon. Catfish bit steadily on dip baits and chicken liver in deeper coves.

 

**Pyramid Lake**

 

Pyramid Lake remained at 85 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was good. Striped bass anglers did well with ice jigs, Kastmasters, and War Eagles as deep as 90 feet. Trolling A-rigs was another effective way to catch limits. Bass anglers found fish down to 40 feet on the drop-shot, with brown and purple producing some chunky bass. Anglers were still waiting for the next trout plant.

 

***Isabella Lake***

 

Lake Isabella is currently sitting at approximately 32% of capacity. The winter bass bite has slowed slightly, but anglers are still finding quality fish on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits, with some swimbaits also producing bites. Productive areas include Engineer Point, Rocky Point, and Piney Point, with most bass coming from 15 to 25 feet of water. Water temperatures are ranging from 52 to 57 degrees. Trout fishing has remained solid. Shore anglers are finding success with garlic-scented baits, spinners, Mice Tails, and worms, while boat anglers are doing well trolling leadcore with Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, and Flicker Shads, particularly around the dam. Crappie action has been more scattered, but fish are still being located. The most consistent bite has come from marina areas using small shiners, mini jigs, and Indian crickets, with the only recent reports from French Gulch coming on live minnows. Catfish action continues to be steady throughout the lake. Cut mackerel, stink baits, dough baits, and even wax worms are all producing fish, especially in the Piney Point area.

 

**Kern River**

 

The Upper Kern River was stocked this week in Sections 4, 5, and 6, and with cooler water temperatures, many trout are settling into the deeper pools. Anglers are having success with slow retrieves using salmon eggs, worms, and crickets, while fly anglers are finding good action on nymph patterns early in the day and blue-winged olive patterns during afternoon hatches. Stocking took place in Section 4 from Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville, Section 5 from Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge, and Section 6 from Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge. On the Lower Kern River, the bass bite remains fair to good on crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. Catfish action has slowed but fish are still being caught on dip baits, nightcrawlers, and cut baits. At the time of reporting, river flows are 334 CFS on the Upper Kern and 303 CFS on the Lower Kern.

 

**Lake Kaweah**

 

Kaweah Lake held near 16 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was fair. Anglers targeted spotted bass deep with finesse baits. One angler described the presentation as a slow sweep along the bottom. Other anglers used electronics to meter schools of bass as deep as 50 feet. Those fish were caught on spoons, blade baits, and tailspins. Anglers willing to crank all day found fish on craw- and shad-colored deep-diving crankbaits.

 

**Lake Success**

 

Success rose to 21 percent of its storage capacity, and anglers reported another week of slow, deep fishing for largemouth bass. Drop-shot presentations with three- and four-inch worms and reapers in orange crusher, margarita mutilator, and green pumpkin fooled the lethargic fish. Jigs, crankbaits, and spoons also produced bites. Catfish were reliable for anglers using dip baits, cut anchovies, and chicken liver.

 

**River Walk Lakes**

 

Here at River Walk, CDFW stocked trout last week and anglers have been finding success using Powerbait, Mice Tails, spinners, and jigs. The trout bite has been very strong over the past few weeks, with an occasional lightning trout mixed in. There is another scheduled trout plant going here next week. Bass action has been steady on crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs, and shad-imitating plastics fished on a drop-shot. Bluegill are also showing at both lakes, with wax worms and red worms producing fish. The BKO Fishing Derby is scheduled for February 7, 2026, with both lakes set to receive over 1,000 pounds of trout up to 5 pounds, including 25 tagged fish worth up to $1,000. For tickets and additional information, visit Cope’s Tackle and Rod.

 

**Ming Lake**

 

Ming was stocked with trout last week and fishing action has remained steady. Trout are being caught on Get Bent Baits, Powerbait, pinched nightcrawlers, and spinners. The bass bite has been solid on jigs, drop-shotted soft plastics, and Ned rigs. Crappie fishing continues to be better than normal for this time of year, with anglers finding success on crappie jigs and live shiners, especially during the afternoon bite. There is another scheduled trout plant at Ming the week of December 21st.

 

**Buena Vista Lakes**

 

Anglers had been waiting for the next trout plant, and updates would be provided when it was scheduled. In the meantime, anglers pulled one or two trout using dough baits and spoons. Bass fishing was slower, with Senkos producing the best results. Catfish anglers used SSS dip bait and chicken liver for decent action.

 

**Hart Park Lake**

 

Hart Park anglers braved cold, overcast skies and found some decent largemouth bass. The best action was found by working plastic baits with a slow presentation in the deepest areas of the lake. Hula grubs and jigs produced bites. Bluegill were available on redworms.

 

*Truxtun Lake*

 

Anglers reported fair fishing at Truxtun Lake with largemouth as the best option. Bass fell for six inch plastic worms in Marten’s madness and bold bluegill on the Texas rig or drop shot rig. Hula grubs also took bass.

 

**Lake Nacimiento**

 

Nacimiento Lake held near 33 percent of capacity, and fishing was good. Finesse techniques like drop-shots, darter head grubs, and Ned rigs worked in 10 to 40 feet of water. Anglers also picked up bites on small swimbaits and Senko-style baits. White bass reports were slow, though white spoons and in-line spinners typically produce this time of year. Crappie took minijigs and small swimbaits in 15 to 30 feet of water. Catfish bit on cut baits and dip bait.

 

****Trout Plants****

 

Week of December 14th - Upper Kern River Section 4, Upper Kern River Section 5, Upper Kern River Section 6

Week of December 21st – River Walk Lake, Ming Lake

 

****Ocean Fishing****

 

*San Diego*

 

On Sunday, the Tribute returned from a 1.5-day trip with 30 anglers, reporting 93 rockfish, 71 whitefish, 60 red snapper, 60 bluefin tuna, and 7 sheephead. On Thursday, the Sea Watch ran a 3/4-day trip with 18 anglers and landed 90 bonito, 16 whitefish, 11 sheephead, 7 calico bass, 3 sand bass, and 2 sculpin. On Wednesday, the Dolphin saw strong action on two trips, with the 1/2-day PM trip producing 100 bonito, 29 sheephead, 4 calico bass, 2 whitefish, and 2 sculpin for 20 anglers, while the 1/2-day AM trip with 35 anglers brought in 175 bonito and 43 rockfish.

 

*Dana Point/San Pedro*

 

On Sunday, the Amigo returned from a 1.5-day trip with 13 anglers, landing 98 rockfish, 79 whitefish, 66 lobster, 26 red snapper, 26 sheephead, and 7 calico bass. The Monte Carlo ran a 1/2-day AM trip with 38 anglers and reported 295 whitefish, 16 sheephead, and 4 sculpin. On Wednesday, the New Del Mar had 41 anglers on a 1/2-day trip and caught 105 sculpin, 56 sand bass, 51 sheephead, 40 whitefish, and 28 calico bass. The Victory returned from a 3/4-day trip with 50 anglers after landing 250 sculpin, 250 rockfish, 12 whitefish, and 1 sheephead. On Tuesday, the Clemente returned from a 3/4-day trip with 30 anglers after landing 90 sculpin, 80 rockfish, 60 whitefish, and 1 bonito.

 

*Channel Islands/Ventura*

 

On Wednesday, the Coral Sea ran a 3/4-day trip with 12 anglers and landed 120 rockfish. On Tuesday, the Aloha Spirit returned from a full-day trip with 19 anglers after catching 190 whitefish, 30 rockfish, 18 sheephead, and 6 perch. On Saturday, the Endeavor completed a 1-day overnight trip with 22 anglers and reported 220 rockfish, 132 whitefish, 44 sheephead, and 44 lingcod.

 

*Port San Luis/Morro Bay*

On Tuesday, the Flying Fish ran a 1/2-day AM trip with 22 anglers and landed 211 rockfish, 8 lingcod, 5 bocaccio, 2 copper rockfish, and 2 red snapper. On Wednesday, the Avenger returned from a 3/4-day trip with 21 anglers after catching 190 rockfish, 30 lingcod, 7 cabezon, 3 red snapper, and 1 copper rockfish.