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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The BKO Fishing Derby is all set for tomorrow, February 7th at The Park at River Walk. Tickets are still available, contact Copes Tackle for more information. Thank you to all the dedicated anglers who contribute to Bakersfield’s only local fishing report. Send us your top catches from the week, and you could be featured in our next report.

 

**California Aqueduct**

 

Fishing was fair in the aqueduct last week, as fog and cold mornings kept many anglers home. Striped bass provided the best action on cut sardines, anchovies, and live worms. Some anglers did better after moving from gate to gate until they found a biting school. Largemouth bass hit crankbaits like Berkley Flicker Shads before and after check gates. Bass also ate drop shot worms in brown and shad colors. Catfish remained reliable on cut bait, chicken liver, and dip bait.

 

**Castaic Lake**

 

The lake is closed until further notice.

 

**Pyramid Lake**

Pyramid Lake held near 85 percent of capacity last week, and fishing improved as water clarity continued to get better. Launch access remained subject to periodic closures, so anglers were advised to call ahead before making the drive. Largemouth and smallmouth anglers stayed busy using finesse baits, drop-shot rigs, Carolina rigs, Ned rigs, and deep-diving crankbaits on main lake points and along bluff walls. Bass held as deep as 40 feet, and slow presentations produced best. Striped bass responded to cut baits, lugworms, and trolled A-rigs, with additional action reported on umbrella rigs with white or chartreuse swimbaits. Catfish anglers landed whiskerfish on cut sardines, dip bait, and chicken liver near the inlet.

 

***Isabella Lake***

 

At Lake Isabella, the winter bass bite has been hit or miss, but quality fish are still on tap for anglers willing to put in the work. Water temperatures are ranging from 47 to 55 degrees, and the lake is currently sitting at about 36% of capacity. Dropshotting 6-inch Roboworms in Margarita Mutilator, Oxblood, and Green Pumpkin has been productive, along with slow-worked swimbaits and football jigs in the 3/8- to 1/2-ounce range. Best jig colors have been black and blue paired with black/blue cleanup craws, as well as brown and purple jigs with chigger craws or green pumpkin creature baits. Sonar and blade baits are also picking off the occasional keeper. Anglers targeting larger bass are finding the best action around Rocky Point, Engineers Point, and Piney Point. The catfish bite has been very good. One of our contacts reported catching 15 in two hours. Whiskerfish have been biting Triple S dip bait, cut bait, and nightcrawlers. Crappie action is still around, with fish holding in 30 to 40 feet of water, though some bites are still coming from 15 to 20 feet using Keitechs with 1/16oz jig head or live shiners. Looking ahead, the 35th Annual Lake Isabella Fishing Derby is scheduled for March 28–30, 2026.

 

**Kern River**

 

The CDFW continue to stock trout along the 20-mile stretch of the Kern River. Anglers have been scoring trout on Get Bent Baits, salmon eggs, spinners, and trout jigs, while fly anglers are finding success with nymphs and streamers. This week, the Upper Kern River was stocked in Section 4 from Riverside Park in Kernville to Powerhouse #3, Section 5 from Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge, and Section 6 from Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge. In the Lower Kern River, the CDFW are scheduled to stock trout this week in all three sections: Section 1 from Lower Richbar to Democrat Beach, Section 2 from Democrat Beach to Sandy Flat, and Section 3 from Sandy Flat to Isabella

Dam. Trout are being caught on salmon eggs, trout jigs, and Panther Martins. The Lower Kern River bass bite is fair on crankbaits, jigs, and spinners, while catfish are being caught on dip baits, nightcrawlers, and cut baits. At the time of this report, flows were running about 511 CFS on the Upper Kern and 442 CFS on the Lower Kern.

 

**Lake Kaweah**

 

The lake rose to about 20 percent of storage capacity last week, and fishing stayed a bit slow. Bass anglers found biting fish over rocky structure, on points, and along the dam. Small jigs and drop-shot rigs worked down to 30 feet, while spoons produced bites in deeper water. Bass also hit deep-diving crankbaits in shad and red patterns. Catfish were caught on nightcrawlers, and crappie ate small crankbaits trolled 20 feet deep over points.

 

**Lake Success**

 

Fishing was good at Success last week as the lake rose to about 30 percent of storage capacity. Bass anglers fooled fish with black jigs paired with brown craw trailers and underspins rigged with 3-inch rainbow shad Keitechs. Main lake points, submerged trees, and the dam produced best. Crappie anglers found biting fish near the marina on redworms and minijigs. Catfish hit cut bait, dip bait, and garlic-scented nightcrawlers.

 

**River Walk Lakes**

 

The BKO Fishing Derby is tomorrow, Saturday, February 7, 2026, and both lakes will be stocked with more than 1,500 pounds of lightning and rainbow trout, including trophy fish up to five pounds and 25 tagged trout worth up to $1,000. Trophies will be awarded for the largest fish caught in each age group, with the overall grand champion winning an eight-hour fishing trip aboard the Black Pearl Sportfishing boat out of Morro Bay. In addition, the California Deer Association is sponsoring a $500 prize for the highest-numbered tagged trout caught by a child 17 and under. Tickets and additional information are available at Cope’s Tackle and Rod. The bass bite has remained steady with fish being caught on crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs, and shad-style plastics fished on a drop shot, while both lakes are also producing bluegill and crappie, with wax worms and red worms leading the way.

 

**Ming Lake**

 

Next week, the CDFW have a scheduled trout stocking at Ming Lake, following numerous trout plants over the last two months. Anglers have been scoring trout on Indian crickets, spinners, pinched nightcrawlers, and garlic-scented PowerBait. The bass action is fair to good, with fish being caught on weightless flukes and jigs. Anglers have reported success targeting bass with drop shots and Senkos in green pumpkin and shad patterns, while bluegill and baby bass swimbaits have also been drawing a few strikes. Bluegill are biting on wax worms, meal worms, and red worms. The crappie bite has been best in the late afternoon, with fish being caught on mini jigs and live shiners.

 

*Buena Vista Lakes*

 

Fishing was decent at BV last week, with a few trout still showing in the reports. Kayak anglers trolled trout worms and small swimbaits near the islands for steady action. Shore anglers did best on garlic-scented dough baits. Bass anglers caught fish on firetiger crankbaits, white spinnerbaits, and Senkos. Working submerged and overhanging brush produced bites. Catfish hit SSS dip bait and garlic-scented nightcrawlers. One lake regular reported a six-pound rainbow while catfishing with nightcrawlers.

 

**Hart Park Lake**

 

Fishing was fair at Hart Park last week, with largemouth bass and bluegill providing the best action. Bluegill offered steady bites on redworms, waxworms, and mealworms fished near floating weed beds. Largemouth bass hit weedless offerings dropped into thick vegetation. Heavy braid helped anglers pull fish out of the cover. Catfish action remained slow.

 

**Lake Nacimiento**

 

Fishing was great at Lake Nacimiento last week, with the lake near 50 percent of storage capacity. Anglers caught high numbers of small spotted bass with a few bigger largemouth mixed in. Finesse plastic worms and small jigs produced best, with brown, purple, and baitfish colors working well. White bass hit small white swimbaits, especially on A-rigs. Spoons and spinners also took white bass. Crappie anglers found plenty of fish 20 feet deep on minijigs and small swimbaits.

 

****Trout Plants****

 

*Week of February 1st

 

• River Walk Lake — Trout

• Kern River, Section 1 — Trout

• Kern River, Section 2 — Trout

• Kern River, Section 3 — Trout

• Kern River, Section 4 — Trout

• Kern River, Section 5 — Trout

• Kern River, Section 6 — Trout

• Brite Valley Reservoir — Trout

 

*Week of February 8th

 

• Ming Lake — Trout

 

****Ocean Fishing****

 

*San Diego*

 

Rockfish season is closed and will re-open April 1st. On Monday, the New Seaforth, fishing a 1/2 Day AM trip with 29 anglers, caught 50 bonito. On Sunday, the Horizon, on a 2-day trip with 9 anglers, landed 90 red snapper, 31 rockfish, 26 calico bass, 12 lingcod, 7 sand bass, and 4 halibut. Also on Sunday, the Old Glory, fishing a 1.5-day trip with 18 anglers, caught 56 red snapper, 55 lingcod, 41 whitefish, 20 rockfish, 7 bonito, and 1 yellowtail. The Producer, on a 1/2 Day PM trip with 32 anglers, reported 58 sculpin, 28 sand bass, and 3 calico bass.

 

*Dana Point/San Pedro*

 

Rockfish season is closed and will re-open April 1st. On Sunday, the Pursuit, fishing a full-day trip with 18 anglers, caught 122 whitefish, 87 perch, 8 calico bass, 3 sculpin, and released 1 halibut. The Native Sun, on a 3/4-day trip with 25 anglers, landed 11 sculpin, 9 calico bass, 7 sand bass, released 4 halibut, kept 3 halibut, and released 2 white seabass. The Monte Carlo, fishing a 1/2-day AM trip with 35 anglers, caught 325 whitefish, 6 sand bass, and 4 sculpin. The Pescador, on a 3/4-day trip with 7 anglers, reported 70 whitefish, 20 calico bass, 10 sand bass, and 1 sculpin. The Aggressor, fishing a 3/4-day trip with 27 anglers, caught 155 whitefish, 135 sculpin, and 100 sand

dabs.

 

*Channel Islands/Ventura*

 

Rockfish season is closed and will re-open April 1st. On Sunday, the Speed Twin, fishing a 1/2-day AM trip with 10 anglers, caught 14 calico bass and 5 whitefish. The Gentleman, on a 3/4-day trip with 42 anglers, landed 5,500 sand dabs and 120 whitefish.

 

*Port San Luis/Morro Bay*

 

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