The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be sent to 909-887-8180. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net.
This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in Southern California each week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is available through our Outdoor News Service web site (www.OutdoorNewsService.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday afternoon. The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.
The Outdoor News Service is also on Facebook with updated reports and photos posted throughout the week. The Twitter account name is MatthewsOutdoor. For our latest fishing information, use these sites.
The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.
MATTHEWS' PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. The ocean is finally coming alive, and the white seabass bite all along the coast is the best it has been in modern times. The limit just switched from one to three fish this past weekend. Add in good calico bass, barracuda, and halibut fishing and it's simply time to go. The seabass are the big draw and they are focused on freshly-hatched squid. Find the squid and the seabass are there with toads from 30 to 60 pounds caught in good numbers the past three weeks. The action has been particularly good in the Channel Islands region, but the seabass are showing from San Diego to Point Conception, so pick a landing and go. The fishing will be good.
2. Weekly plants of catfish and relatively mild weather have kept the Hesperia Lake catfish bite in the No. 2 spot again this week. The best action is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, but a lot of nice stringers of catfish with fish to 16 pounds were reported this past week and one-hour limits were common again. The bite has been good on any cut bait doused with Love Sauce. You don't need a state fishing license here, either. For an update on this bite call the tackle shop at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
3. Yes, it's getting swelteringly hot here, but the tilapia action at the Salton Sea is simply off-the-charts right now with ice-chests full of tilapia up to 1 1/2 pounds or better showing for everyone tossing nightcrawler pieces. The hot spots have been the State Park headquarters jetty and the free fishing jetty at the refurbished Salton Sea Yacht Club. For an update on the action, call the Visitor Center (open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at 760-393-3810.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The upper Kern River has been excellent above Lake Isabella and it's a top pick. The trout bite throughout the Eastern Sierra region remains excellent and most high elevation waters have opened up almost a month ahead of normal. Top picks in a region filled with good fishing would be Bridgeport Reservoir, Crowley Lake, the entire June Lake loop, and the Twin Lakes at Bridgeport. The entire Bishop Creek drainage is also a very good bet, especially South Lake with rainbows to four pounds this week. In urban Southern California plants have ended most places and the bites have gone in the tank quickly. Top bet is Jess Ranch in Hesperia (which is continuing to get weekly plants). In the local mountains, Big Bear Lake remains good in the main body of the lake and deep-water shorelines along the north shore. Jenks Lake and Gregory are getting DFG fish now. Lake Hemet and Lake Cuyamaca have also been excellent.
BLACK BASS: The bass action remains good most places on plastics, reaction baits, and swim baits. Good surface action is also starting most places. Top bets include Diamond Valley, Skinner, Casitas, Perris, and the whole lower Colorado River. Cachuma and Santa Margarita, and even the higher elevation waters like Piru, Pyramid, and Silverwood are also good. Add Isabella to the mix this week, too.
STRIPED BASS: On the Colorado River, the striper bite from the upper end of Havasu all the way upriver to Bullhead City is still good, but the average size fish has dropped into the one to two-pound class. But there are still quite a few six to 10 pounders showing. The bite has been surprisingly good. The Willow Beach bite is fair to good on bigger fish. Closer to home, the California aqueduct near Taft slowed to just fair, and the top bet for a quality fish is Lake Silverwood and the best bet for volume catches of two to five-pound fish is either Diamond Valley, Castaic, Skinner, or Pyramid -- in about that order. Elsewhere, the striper bites all are very spotty right now. The wiper bite at Lake Elsinore took off three weeks ago and while winds slowed this bite late last week, it's still something to watch for fish to 10 pounds or better.
PANFISH: Henshaw's crappie bite stalled from shore, but they are being landed again in deeper water by boat anglers in good numbers. The crappie bite at Elsinore is dismal. Cachuma, Piru, and Isabella, are all pretty fair bets in deeper water for boat anglers, and a few fish are showing at Perris. Crappie bites at Silverwood, Sutherland, Otay, and Hodges are worth watching but all slowed again this past week. Casitas has been slow, but some pigs to three pounds have been caught on live shad. The Salton Sea tilapia bite has been excellent with the full ice-chest mode the rule much of the past week. Mornings have been best with fish to two pounds. The bluegill and redear bites really exploded in a lot of places. Top bets for nice stringers are Lake Perris, Lake Skinner, Diamond Valley Lake, Otay, and Hodges. The bite on the all four of the Central Coast lakes -- Lopez, Santa Margarita, Nacimiento, and San Antonio -- are good, in about that order.
CATFISH: The flathead catfish bite on the Colorado River is very good. Lots of eight to 15-pound fish and cats to 30 pounds are being reported each week now in the lower river from Havasu south. The channel cats are also on a pretty good bite. Outside of the river, Hesperia Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, Irvine lake, and Corona Lake are the top bets for planted fish (all are planting regularly), and Elsinore is really good to excellent for wild fish to 10 pounds or more.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Good catfish action in most of the coves on cut baits and nightcrawlers. Moses Cabral, San Bernardino, had an eight-pound cat at the spillway on anchovies, while a 7-8 was caught by Anthony Dominguez, Hesperia, on the same bait at the same location. Paul Hamm, Apple Valley, had a 5-2 cat on a marshmallow-worm combo at the docks. The striper bite is fair to good with mostly smaller fish from two to four pounds making up the bulk of the catch right now. Most are showing on anchovies or sardines, but some also on cranks, spoons, and jigs. The inlet and main channel are the top spots, but stripers continue to show from Chemise, Sawpit, and around the marina docks. Adam Lewinson, Hesperia, caught a five-pound striper on a sardine in Outhouse Cove. The largemouth bass bite is also good with the fish showing on plastics worms, jigs, and reaction baits. A 14-pound largemouth was landed by Bobby Swartwood, Phelan, fishing in Cleghorn with a nightcrawler. The crappie and bluegill bites have both slowed with just fair action off the marina docks and in brushy coves around the lake. Best bite on small jigs or jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles, meal worms, or wax worms. There were DFG trout plants two and four weeks ago with slow to fair action on small lures and floating dough baits. Miller Canyon Creek, above the lake, was planted with trout by the DFG last week. Dock fishing is allowed for $3 for adults, $2 for kids and seniors. The park is again open seven days a week. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The action is shifting into summer mode with water temperatures at 63 degrees in the west end, 64 degrees in the middle, and 66 in the east. This is well up from last year's colder season. Clarity is also higher than normal with visibility down to 10 feet. Oxygen levels for trout are adequate down to 47 feet at the dam and bump up to 30 feet from the west ramp to Juniper Point. For shore anglers, the best action has been in the west end on PowerBait or nightcrawlers suspended from a slip-bobber rigged at 20 feet. Trollers are working Rapalas on the surface and Dick Nite spoons and Thomas Buoyants behind three to 3 1/2 colors of lead core from Windy Point west are getting a good mix of hefty holdovers and fresh planters. Lots of fish in the two-pound class. Crappie and bluegill are showing well along docks, weed beds and rocks on mini-jigs or small bait suspended under a bobber. Bass are a little slow as they come out of spawn. Look for the catfish to start hitting the stink baits in the days as the bays continue to warm up. Bowfishermen take note. The carp are packing into the shallows to spawn and the sticking has been good in the mornings before the afternoon breeze makes seeing the fish more difficult. DFG trout plant last week. For fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218 (or www.bigbearmarina.com), Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: Slow to fair trout action after another mixed plant of DFG rainbows and browns went in last week and three weeks ago. The browns have all been from a half-pound to 1 1/2-pounds with a few in the two-pound class, and the browns are being included in each DFG plant this season. They are being planted in hopes of reducing the stunted crappie population. The best bite has been on floating baits fished on 18 to 24-inch leaders. Small crappie are very good on small jigs and quite a few bluegill are being caught, too. Information: Lake Gregory boathouse at 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Good trout action continues with a lot of full limits reported on fish to three pounds. Dennis McGee, Highland, had rainbows at 5-3 and 4-11 off the west shore on nightcrawlers. Jess Ranch trout plant again this week, and there were also DFG plants last week and three weeks ago. Fees for 2012 are $15 per adult, $10 for kids. Seniors get in for $10 on Tuesdays and active military get in for $10 on Wednesdays. All trout over six pounds win a GVL tee-shirt. Recorded information: 909-867-2009 and the new website is www.gvlfishing.com.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and four weeks ago.
JENKS LAKE REGION: Few reports. DFG trout plants last week and four weeks ago. The bite has been just fair. The $5 fee parking area is now open. This fee is in addition to the Adventure Pass fee. The Santa Ana River and the South Fork were also planted with DFG trout last week and four weeks ago. General Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: The catfish action has been simply wide open with the best action early in the morning and then late in the evening with limits in an hour common. Most anglers are using cut baits, with shrimp and mackerel the top baits, and adding Love Sauce is also improving the action. The marshmallow-meal worm combo doused with scent has also been a good bet. Most of the fish are from two to three pounds, but fish over 10 pounds reported each week. Big fish this past week was a 16-12 caught by Rick Vincent, Anaheim, on a nightcrawler with Love Sauce. Don Keen, Bakersfield, landed a 16-8 on mackerel, while a 15-12 was caught by Mike Leman, Costa Mesa on shrimp and Love Sauce. Kelley Gregory, Temecular, caught a 14-12, and Juan Cruz, Riverside, had an 11-4. Jose Cruz, Riverside, had cats at 10-4, 9-8, and eight pounds, while Cindy Valdez, Las Vegas, caught a 9-12 on chicken liver. Van Hollinger, Los Angeles, had a five-fish stringer that weighed 41-8, better than an eight-pound average. No trout or sturgeon reported this past week. Lake hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the night session from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $15 per angler. No state fishing license is required here. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: The weather has been hot this past week, but diligent anglers are still getting nice stringers of trout averaging around two pounds. Salmon peach and garlic Power Baits, nightcrawlers, and a wide variety of small jigs have all been getting the rainbows. Top rainbow was a 5-1 caught by Jerry Young, Apple Valley, while Alina Staffieri, Apple Valley, landed a five-pounder. Both fish were caught on salmon peach Power Bait. Jason Ocull, Phelan, landed a 4-6 rainbow on a nightcrawler. Only a few catfish report on shrimp, mackerel, or nightcrawlers, but the largemouth bass bite has been excellent on Senkos and nightcrawlers with fish to five pounds reported. Also a pretty good bluegill bite on meal worms or small jigs with fish to 1-8 reported. The lake complex is open every Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Friday from its own hatchery. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Catfish plants will go in every-other-week this season. DFG trout plants last week and four weeks ago. Horseshoe Lake is still closed due to flood damage. Pelican Lake is remains open. For lake information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Catfish plants will go in every-other-week this season. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Catfish plants will go in every-other-week this season, but the bite has been just fair. The bluegill bite is fair to good, but the bass are also slow. Small boats (non-inflatable with a hard bottom) under 16 feet with electric motors are allowed. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Catfish plants will go in every-other-week this season. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Catfish plants will go in every-other-week this season. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The bass bite has remained very good with the fish showing in good numbers with topwater early and late in the day, along with a good crankbait bite then, and then a consistent bite on plastics and Senkos. Joe Menegos, Spring Valley, caught an 8.97-pound largemouth on a jig. The striper bite has been very good at the buoy line at the inlet-outlet with most of the fish showing on anchovies and sardines drifted down to the fish. Most are four-pound class fish with some bigger. The little white fly trolling method has also been good. Jesse Mena, Hemet, landed a 24.52-pound striper at the east dam on the fly. Catfish action has been improving with fish to 18-pounds reported this past week on nightcrawlers and shrimp. Most of the cats are in less than 30 feet of water. The bluegill bite has been good at the east dam ladders and shore anglers are also reporting a lot of fish on jigs and meal worms. Limits not uncommon. Few crappie or redear reports, and the trout have been very slow. Private boats must be inspected for zebra and quagga mussels. Boats with wet lower units will be turned away. For general lake and launch information, call 800-590-LAKE. For fishing and boat rental info call the marina at 951-926-7201 or www.dvmarina.com or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410 or www.lastchancetackle.com.
PERRIS: The bluegill and redear bites are excellent, but the fish are moving deeper with the best bite in 20 to 25 feet of water. Full, 25-fish limits are still common on these panfish with fish up into the 1 1/2-pound range. Top spots have been on the backside of the island, off Bernasconi Beach, and the Rock Climber's Cove area. Small jigs or trout plastics, red worms, or crickets are all getting fish. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, had 25 bluegill to 1.14-pounds on crickets. There have also been more crappie showing this past week, with some to nearly two pounds landed in a lot of the same areas where bluegill and redear are being landed and off the marina docks. Ross May, Moreno Valley, had two crappie to 1.2-pounds on jigs off the docks. Bass are fair with some flurries of good action in the mornings with plastics, swimbaits, and topwater all getting fish. A few trout continue to show in a slow bite in Sail Cove and lots 11 and 12 with the best action in the mornings and late evenings on nightcrawlers, trout plastics, and Kastmasters. Last DFG trout plant four ago. Few carp or catfish reports. The park and marina is back open seven days a week. Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Marina hours 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good in the east end on reaction baits, plastic worms, and nightcrawlers. Michael Diaz, Sun City, caught a seven-pounder, while John Sheldon, Temecula, landed a 6-8. The bluegill bite has also been good with some nice quality fish to nearly two pounds showing. The action has been on wax worms, meal worms, crickets, and red worms or small jigs tipped with one of those baits in 12 to 20 feet of water around brush. The striper and catfish bites are fair at the inlet on chicken liver and anchovies with most of the fish from two to three pounds with some to five pounds. Catfish Alley along the south shore is also a good spot for the cats. William Murphy, Cathedral City, had a five-pound cat on a nightcrawler. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: The catfish bite is good to excellent with most of the action still in less than 10 feet of water early and late in the day. The fish are showing on fly-lined cut baits and shad and the fish are running from four to 12 pounds. Wipers continue to show in fair numbers and they are all from six to 10 pounds with the best action early mornings as the fish bust shad. The best bite has been on live shad during this bite, but shad-like swimbaits and rip baits are also working. The crappie are very slow with only the odd quality fish showing on a small jig or live shad. The bluegill are very good with a lot of nice-sized fish up to nearly a pound, mostly on meal worms, wax worms, crickets, and small jigs. Quite a few smaller largemouth to 10 inches are being caught all around the lake, but few bigger fish. Anglers targeting the carp are starting to get a lot of fish, too. For more information, call William's Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental at 951-642-0640 or go to www.williamsboatandtackle.com.
CORONA LAKE: Jesse Olivare, Riverside, landed and released a 26 1/4-pound catfish this past week fishing J.D.'s Bait. The catfish was the best catfish of the week in a catfish season that is shaping up as one of the best in some time. Overall, the bite has been good to excellent with a lot of nice stringers of fish up to four pounds, and many of those stringers have had at least one bigger fish. Besides Olivare's trophy fish, Dennis Marquez, Huntington Beach, and Ernie Vargas, Corona, each had catfish at eight pounds. Rick Kizzee, Los Angeles, landed 10 cats for a total weight of 15 pounds, including a five pounder, while Cesar and Carlos Rollen, both Fontana, landed seven catfish for 17 pounds. The best action has been on mackerel, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and the marshmallow-meal worm combo, and dousing any of the baits with a scent or paste bait helps the action. There are twice-weekly plants of blue catfish and Silver King channel catfish, and tilapia are now included each week, too. There has also been a good bite on crappie this past week, mostly in the stick-ups at mid-lake. Dwayne and Cyndy Ward, both Compton, had 10 crappie for a total of 20 1/2 pounds with the big fish a slab at 2 3/4-pounds. They were fishing yellow and white jigs tipped with nightcrawler pieces. Darren Stillwell and Bridget Adams, Compton and Corona respectively, landed a nine-pound stringer of crappie that was topped off with a 1 1/4-pounder. They were fishing at night with yellow and white jigs. No state fishing license is required here. Information: 951-277-3321 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: Few reports. A few panfish are being caught around shoreline structure. No reports of bass, catfish, or carp.
RANCHO JURUPA: No report. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Catfish plant schedule variable this year. Call ahead before going. The catch-and-release bass action has been good, and the bluegill bite is also pretty good. Information: 909-795-0171.
LITTLE LAKE: No report. Entrance fee is $10 per person, with a $3 per angler fishing fee. Kids five to 12 pay only a $5 entry fee. Kids under five only have to pay the fishing fee if they fish. A state fishing license is required to fish here and regular state limits apply. The lake phone is 530-526-7937.
REFLECTION LAKE: Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Excellent catfish action with most of the fish averaging around 1-8 after last recent big plant. An hour or two is all it takes for most anglers to get a nice stringer of fish. Nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and dough baits have also been good baits. The lake is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. No state fishing license is required to fish here. Information: 951-679-6562.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: DFG trout plants last week and four weeks ago. Quite a few trout landed by both shore anglers and for boat anglers. Bluegill and bass are both fair and the catfish bite is finally coming around with quite a few small fish. Chester Wilson, Anza, landed an 8-8 catfish fishing a worm-mackerel combo in the lagoon at the mouth of Hurkey Creek. Carp bowfishing is allowed Monday through Thursday but bowfishermen must check in first. Information: Lake Hemet campground 951-659-2680 or www.lakehemetcampground.com.
LAKE FULMORE: DFG trout plants last week and four weeks ago at Lake Fulmore, but Strawberry Creek has not been planted for over a month. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKE: The bite on channel and blue catfish to six pounds has been very good thanks to twice-weekly plants. Full stringers of cats averaging 1 1/2 to three pounds each have been the rule. The top catfish reported this past week was a 7 1/2-pounder caught by Jose Magana, La Habra, fishing the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo at the bubble hole. That fish topped off his 11-fish stringer. Jesus Flores, Baldwin Park, had four catfish to 6 1/2 pounds on mackerel in the Catfish Lake. Ruben Felix, Anaheim, landed four cats to six pounds fishing chicken liver off the north shore. The total four-fish stringer weighed 16 3/4-pounds. A 10-fish catch posted by Craig Joachim and Jack Fabian, both Anaheim, weighed 21 1/2 pounds and included one four-pounder, and there was a nine-fish, 13 3/4-pound stringer weighed in by Chico and Tyler Sandoval, both Torrance. The best action has continued to be on mackerel, shrimp, or the M&M combo with fish showing out of all three lakes. Other than float tubes, no water craft are allowed due to fears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the water system. No state fishing license is required here. SARL will close for annual maintenance early in July with operations moving to nearby Anaheim Lake. Information: 714-632-7851 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: This lake is tentatively set to open July 13 when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for maintenance. More details coming. Information: 714-996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: The catfish bite has been good to excellent this past week after the season's first plant last week for the "official" opener. The fish are in 15 feet or less and showing on cut mackerel and shrimp around much of the lake. Steve Sotelo, Whittier, landed and released a 17-2 blue cat on mackerel from Boat Dock Cove, while Robert Martinez, Long Beach, caught an 8-5 channel cat on mackerel at Rocky Point. A few wipers are showing in this bite. Chris Hagopian, Redondo Beach, caught and released a 15-pound wiper on mackerel off the flats. The largemouth bass bite remains very good in the evening and at night for anglers tossing topwater baits with the plastic worm bite good during the day. Randy Aamot, Newport Beach, had a 7-4 bass on a plastic off the west shore. The crappie bite is spotty, but bluegill are wide open on meal worms and Gulp! Crickets in most brushy areas. There are even a few trout still showing along the west shoreline for trollers working four to six colors of leadcore and Needlefish. No state fishing license is required here. New evening hours start this week and the lake will be closed on Tuesday through the Summer. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: The bass bite remains very good on plastics and small cranks or swimbaits with a lot of fish in the three-pound class. Catfish are also good on the flats and at the dam on frozen shad or mackerel chunks fly-lined around the weeks for channels averaging about five pounds. Information: 949-362-9227 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: The trout-trolling and deep-water bait drifting at the dam has really turned on this past week with a fair to good bite and nice quality holdover fish being landed. The action has been on Needlefish and Rapalas behind four to six colors of lead core or a dodger-nightcrawler combo drifted in the afternoon breeze. The average fish has been 1 1/2 pounds with some bigger. The bass bite remained good with a topwater bite early and late in the day along with good crankbait action on shad-like cranks. Through the middle of the day, the bite has been slower, but some fish are showing in deeper water on plastics. There have been both largemouths and smallmouths in this action busting the shad schooled up on the banks. The catfish bite is fair to good in the backs of the coves cut baits, packaged baits, and dough baits. The crappie bite was better this past week with some nice slabs to two pounds from Santa Cruz Bay and the narrows on small jigs tipped with mealworms. Bluegill are good in the backs of most coves. Bow-fishing for carp has also been excellent with quite a few double-digit fish arrowed. The early action is the best. Free bowfishing permits are available at the entrance gate. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. The marina is open with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The largemouth bass bite has continued good here with most of the better-quality fish showing on live shad which continue to be on the surface most mornings along the north shoreline. The algae bloom is also waning, making fishing easier. Besides the live shad, the bite has also been decent on reaction baits, plastics, and topwater lures early and late in the day with most fish under four pounds. The bass are up shallow early and late and then down to 25 feet later in the day. Lots of two to three pound bass and a few bigger. David Saunders, Ojai, landed an eight-pound bass on live shad. The bluegill and redear bite is also very good in less than 15 feet of water on red worms and nightcrawler pieces, and some of the redear are up to 1-8 or better. Most of the fish are hand-sized or a little better. A few catfish are also showing but light fishing pressure on them. Joey LeSuer, Ojai, caught a 10-pound catfish on the live shad. No trout or crappie reports this past week, but the trout trollers are getting the occasional fish in deeper water at the dam on Needlefish or drifted nightcrawlers and an occasional pig crappie is landed on the live shad. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The striper bite is the best it's been all season with good to excellent action on sardines or shad fished in 40 to 100 feet of water at C-Point, Sharron's Rest and at the buoy line. There have also been some boils of fish on the points of Kong Island early in the mornings. These have mostly been one to three pound fish, but most catches have at least a couple of bigger fish. Jamie McStevens, Bakersfield, landed 10 stripers for 45 pounds total weight and his best fish was an 11.2-pounder. He was fishing frozen shad and sardines at Sharron's Rest. Dean Montea, Ventura, had nine stripers for 30 pounds with an 8.5-pounder his top fish on sardines at the buoy line. The largemouth bass bite has also been good to excellent on everything from Flukes to cranks from topwater baits to garlic nightcrawlers and plastic worms. Drop-shot or wacky-rigged plastic worms and Senkos have been the best bet. The west ramp, main ramp, Hawk's Nest, Necktie Canyon, Sharron's Rest, and the lower lagoon have been the top spots. More and more catfish are showing each week in the coves on cut baits, and there is a pretty good bluegill bite both in the main lake coves and off the lagoon's fishing pier on small jigs, wax worms and meal worms. Information: 661-775-6232 or www.CastaicLake.com.
PIRU: The bass bite has been good this past week in spite of the winds. Nightcrawlers, topwater, Senko-type baits, and plastic worms have all been producing a lot of fish. There continues to be a pretty good crappie and redear bite on small jigs and grubs (1/32-ounce jigs in white pearl and red or chartreuse) tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The best bite has been in Reasoner Cove and in between Cove and Diablo coves. Few catfish reports. Information: store and baitshop at 805-521-1500, x207, the gatehouse at x201, or at www.camplakepiru.com.
PYRAMID: The catfish bite has been good from shore and for boat anglers (when they can get out) fishing cut baits in deeper water. The striper bite has been fair to good for trollers, but the bait bite has been nearly as good with the fish still in deeper water. Most of the fish are from two to four pounds. The black bass action has been generally good with the fish still in five to 15 feet of water. Both smallmouth and largemouth have been showing in this bite. Best action on plastics and reaction baits with more topwater action each week. Trout have been slow with no recent trout plants. Only a few fish off Vaquero, off Spanish Point, and at the dam on floating baits, trout plastics, and small jigs. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155 or the web site at campone.com.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: The consistent bite on bluegill continues to be the best bet here, with only a redear, bass, and crappie showing in the bite. The best action for the bluegill has been along the east shoreline with fish also showing off the north shore and ski beach areas. The bass bite has been best on reaction baits early and late in the day and a few fish on plastics. Catfish remain tough and few carp reported. Park and lake fishing information: 909-599-8411 or www.bonellipark.org.
SANTA FE DAM: No recent DFG plants. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Carp fishing has been slow.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent DFG plants.
ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
ELIZABETH LAKE: No recent DFG plants
HANSEN DAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LEGG LAKES: No recent DFG plants.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 213-847-1726.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
MACARTHUR PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: The bass action remains excellent. There were 158 anglers this past week and they reported catching 2,143 bass, 70 bluegill, and 42 crappie. Reservations are sold through Ticketmaster starting 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month for the following month. Call 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.
HODGES: There were 76 anglers checked who reported 182 bass and 34 crappie. The lake is open to fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. Rental boat and concession information: 760-432-2023.
EL CAPITAN: There were 39 anglers checked who reported 85 bass and six bluegill. The lake is open Thursday through Monday with boat rentals available all five days (closed to fishing on Sundays). General lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concession information: 619-443-4110.
LOWER OTAY: There were 143 anglers checked who reported 152 bass to 11.5 pounds, 251 bluegill, and three crappie to 1.86 pounds. Syedna Taylor, San Diego, had a 1.5-pound bluegill, while Quentin Ivy, Jr., San Diego, landed a 1.45-pound bluegill. Both were caught on worms in the Harvey Arm. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule and boat rentals are available all three days. General lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concession information: 619-397-5212.
UPPER OTAY: There were 15 anglers check and they had 20 bass to four pounds and two bluegill to .59 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for catch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single, barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is closed, but anglers can still walk in. Lake information: 619-465-3474 (recording) or 619-397-5212 (concession) or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.
MURRAY: No report. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. There are boat rentals Friday through Sunday and the new concession number is 619-466-4847.
MIRAMAR: There were 20 anglers checked who had 27 bluegill. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. New boat rental and concession information: 858-527-1722.
SUTHERLAND: There were 71 anglers checked this past week who caught 175 bass, 29 bluegill, 22 crappie, 10 channel cats, four redear, and one blue catfish. Top bass was a 7.9-pounder caught by Johnny Vang, San Diego, on a Senko along the east shoreline. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-2050 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: Catfish plants start in July, but the catfish bite has been fair on chicken liver and cut mackerel even without the plant. There continues to be a fair to good bite on bass under three pounds in the shallows busting shad. Best action early and late in the day on reaction baits and topwater with the bite shifting deeper and best on dark-plastics. There also continues to be a few crappie showing early each day around tree and rock structure, with live shiners the best bait but some fish also on finger jigs. The lake reopened for carp bowfishing on weekdays-only last Friday. The bowfishing will be by permit-only, with a maximum of six permits issued per day. All bowfishermen will also be required to rent a boat. For a complete list of the guidelines and restrictions visit the following link www.escondido.org/daily-bow-fishing-permit-guidelines.aspx. Private boat launching is not allowed because of Quagga mussel fears. There are $20 all-day motorboats rentals available seniors on Tuesdays and to active military on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plants this week and three weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: No report. Catfish plants and night fishing begin in July. No State fishing license required here. Lake information: 760-839-4680 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: There continues to be a fair trout bite for anglers fishing from boats on a slow troll or drifting over deep water with bait. Some fish to four pounds. The first catfish plant of the season was two weeks ago. Few reports. The bass bite has been fair on jerk baits and Flukes early and late in the day with fish to eight pounds reported. The bass are locked onto the shad right now. The bluegill and redear have been good in Hidden Bay and off the Fishing Float. Most on hand-sized. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday. A state fishing license no longer required here. Lake information: 858-668-4772, tackle shop recording 858-486-1234, or www.poway.org.
JENNINGS: The catfish action has been slow to fair with a few showing in the backs of the coves and tight to flooded cover on cut baits. Plants last week and this week. A few trout are still showing early in the morning by fishing in Shadow Cove with half a nightcrawlers under a bobber. There are lots of male bass still on the bank, and drop-shotting four-inch plastics is good on one-pound class fish. Larger fish have suspended off the points but move up to 20-feet in the evenings. Guys either Texas rigging or Carolina rigging small worms in the green colors reported catching some nicer fish to four pounds. Redears continue to bite in the back of the coves using wax worms with a small hook. The lake is open until midnight every Friday and Saturday throughout summer. Shore fishing below the campground is available Monday through Thursday with permits available at the campground. Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: The trout bite has been good in Paradise Cove in 10 feet of water with most anglers fishing Power Bait. Mac Mitchel, Spring Valley, had a stringer of five that weighed 9-5 with the best at 3-8. Randy Minniear, Campo, had a 7-8 stringer. Bass remain fair to good, mostly on Senkos and other swim baits early and then deeper plastics later. Jerome Kolodge, San Diego, landed a 6-8 on a Rapala, while Ryan White, Campo, had a 6-4 on a swim bait. Michael McCormick and Ron Giess, both Lakeside, each caught and released over 20 bass on Senkos in the north end. The catfish bite has been good in the narrows on mackerel. Limits were posted by Deon Jackson and Michael Baily, both San Diego. The bluegill bite is good along most shoreline on meal worms and wax worms, but crappie slowed. A few carp showing. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or lakemorena.com.
CUYAMACA: Wind has hampered the fishing much of the past week, but there continues to be pretty good action. Donald Hunter, Oceanside, landed his first trout -- a 9-4 rainbow on nightcrawlers at the Lone Pine, and a few anglers did manage to post limits. The crappie action is very good. Dylan Bell II, Poway, caught his limit of 25 crappie at the boat dock with some help from the dock hands and then came back the next tday and landed another limit by himself off the handicap dock. Caden James Cunningham, El Cajon, caught his first fish -- a crappie -- at the boat dock. The catfish are also starting to show, and a few bass are being caught. Private boats are allowed on the lake, including canoes and kayaks, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: The crappie have moved off the bank out to deeper water, but some anglers have located them and have been getting some nice fish. Vern and J.D. Schwietzer, Henshaw, landed 30 crappie averaging about 1-8 each on small jigs. Gary and Dena Batterman, Ramona, had 15 crappie on jigs tipped with meal worms. Both groups were fishing from boats in deeper water. The catfish bite has been fair to good with most anglers getting a few fish averaging about two pounds on nightcrfawlers or cut baits. The best cat was a five-ounder caught by Esteban and Alex Tello, both San Marco, to top off an eight-catfish catch off the dock on nightcrawlers. Bill Neal, Mira Loma, had six averaging about two pounds, while Justin Chavez, Fallbrook, had two cats to three pounds. All private boats must be checked and washed down for zebra and quagga mussels. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
ARIZONA FISHING REPORTS: The Arizona Game and Fish Department compiles a weekly report for most waters in the state, including the Colorado Rivers. Anglers can read the report at this direct link: http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/FishingReport/.
FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releases for the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web site with information updated hourly: www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/rivops.html.
LAKE MEAD: The striper fishing is starting to take off on the east end of Lake Mead around South Cove. Recent tournaments have produced 40-fish stringers that weighed over 70 pounds. Both largemouth and smallmouth have been reported in good numbers on plastics, with even a few crankbait and topwater fish. Redear and bluegill bite is fair to good with most fish in six to 20 feet of water. Catfish also improving with some on cut baits. Water level is about 40 feet above the level at this time last year with lots of flooded brush, even if fairly deep water.
WILLOW BEACH: The striper bite has been improving heading into the full moon this coming Monday with quite a few 10 to 15 pound fishing in the past week in the Mile Marker 52 and 53 region on big, trout-like A.C. Plugs or similar lures. The trout bite remains good on salmon eggs, Power Bait, worms, Super Dupers and other small lures and jigs after the weekly plants of 3,000 rainbows. Lots of limits reported. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The black bass are shallow early and late in the day and the bite has been good on plastics, grubs, and jigs. Topwater action is also starting. Some stripers are showing for trollers working anchovies in 30 to 50 feet with a few fish to 10 pounds reported in Cottonwood Basin and at the Power Lines near the dam. The stripers showing in the dam area are in the two to four-pound range. The catfish bite has been improving in the bays and off the points on cut baits with fish to six pounds reported. No panfish reports. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine's Landing at 928-754-3245. Interesting web site for Willow Beach and Lake Mohave striper anglers: http://lakemohavestripers.com.
LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: The recreational boat traffic is way up now that the heat has arrived in force, but the striper bite has remained pretty fair from the Laughlin bridge all the way south through the Avi bridge region. Most are showing on anchovies or sardine pieces, but some have been caught on shad-like cranks and topwater plugs. Most of the fish have been in the one-pound range, but Leroy Morin Jr., Bullhead City, landed a 9-10 striper. There are a few reports of trout being caught in this part of the river with rainbows to four pounds. The smallmouth bass bite is also starting to perk in this southern stretch, and the bluegill and redear are pretty good in the backwaters. Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: The striper bite has been fair to good with more and more fish showing in this stretch on anchovies in deeper pools or topwater plugs and crankbaits. Most are from three to six pounds, but some bigger. A few smallmouths are showing along rip-rap with the action better the further south you go. Also more catfish starting to show. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The striped bass bite has continued fair to good in the main river through the gorge, but the average size has dropped down into the one- to two-pound range with just the occasional bigger fish. The best bite is still on anchovies drifted along the bottom in the bigger pools and runs. Some catfish are showing in this bite, but this action has been slow. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are both good to excellent with a lot of one to three-pound fish showing. Jack Schaaf, 11, Litchfield Park, Ariz., had a 4-8 largemouth to top off his limit. Gary Haugh, Menifee, and Earl Gann, Sun City, each caught and released a limit of mixed bass with the biggest a 2-8 smallmouth. The bluegill and redear are also both very good, with small baits getting tons of small fish, and jigs tipped with baits getting the bigger fish. The action on the panfish is best on the river margins and in the backwaters. The marsh has been fair on catfish and fair to good for bass, while the crappie have slowed. Topock Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Phil's Western Trader at 928-768-4954 or Capt. Doyle's Fun Fishing guide service at 928-768-2667.
HAVASU: The striper bite remains best during the first two hours of daylight. Trolling or casting topwater or shallow running lures like Pencil Poppers, Sammys and Pointers around the main basin from the entrance of the river south to California Bay. More and more fish are spreading south, however. Best anchovy bite is still from the sandbar to Blankenship Bend. Flathead and channel catfish bite is very good using live bluegills or cut marckerel from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. in shallow coves (10 to 15 feet deep) which dropoff to deeper water (25 to 40 feet) hold the biggest population of larger catfish. The largemouth bass bite is excellent using topwater poppers, Spooks and frogs. Cast these baits near weedbeds and cattails. The first and last two hours of daylight is the best time to catch the biggest and most aggressive bass. The redear bite is also kicking into gear with some fish to two pounds and better reported on nightcrawlers. Information: Bass Tackle Master at 928-854-2277.
PARKER STRIP: Fair to good smallmouth bass along the rip-rap on small cranks, plastics, and jigs. The catfish are fair to good on cut baits in the bigger pools and eddies. Bluegill and redear are good in the backwaters and quiet water in the main river. The flathead bite is starting to get hot on live goldfish or bluegill.
BLYTHE: Summer is here, and the fishing on flatheads, channels, largemouth and smallmouth bass have all remained good. The bass are showing early and late in the day on plastic, reaction baits and topwater lures. The catfish have been good, mostly on cut baits and live bluegill or goldfish in the local drainage ditches and the main river. The smallmouth bass are fair to good on crawdad-like crankbaits and plastics in the main river along the rip-rap. The tilapia and panfish bites are good Few striper reports. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: The bass bite has been good in the lagoon with most of the action on reaction baits and topwater early and late in the day. The smallmouth bite has also been very good in the main river on the rip rap on small crawdad-colored jigs and cranks. Catfish anglers are seeing pretty good action on flatheads and channels. The mosquitos are already bad. Information: Walter's Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
PICACHO AREA: The bass are good on plastics and live baits with some fish showing on reaction baits. Early and late in the day is best. Generally fair and improving action on catfish, and the bluegill bite very good.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action has been good on plastics, jigs, live bait and topwater, but the best action is early and late in the day. Channel catfish action is fair to good on stink baits, and the quality flathead action is picking up with some nice fish to 20-pounds-plus this past week. Bluegill are very good in most backwater. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action fair to good with more and more topwater fish each day. Best bite early and late on plastics, nightcrawlers and reaction baits. The channel catfish action also fair to good. Flatheads also fair on live bluegill, tilapia, or goldfish. Bluegill are very good.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Excellent tilapia action with most anglers fishing early in the day are getting nice catches of fish to 1 1/2 pounds on nightcrawler pieces before the wind comes up in the afternoons. Most anglers are fishing the State Park headquarters and the free fishing jetty at the refurbished Salton Sea Yacht Club. The state park was targeted for closure beginning June 30, but a grant from the State Parks Foundation to the Sea and Desert Interpretive Association and private fundraising will allow for this private non-profit to keep the park open. Information: Visitor Center (open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at 760-393-3810, Salton Sea State Recreation Area main office at 760-393-3059, or the ranger station kiosk at 760-393-3052 (or mobile phone at 760-331-9944).
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: No reports.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No recent DFG plants. Information: 760-564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA
General trout is open through Nov. 15. For up-to-date road and campground information by region, call the following U.S. Forest Service offices: For the Big Pine to Lone Pine region, call 760-876-6222; for the Bishop Region, call 760-873-2500; for the Mammoth Lakes region, call 760-924-5500; for the Lee Vining region, call 760-647-3044; and for the Bridgeport region call 760-932-7070. Lodging and guide information: Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or www.bishopvisitor.com, Mono County Tourism 760-924-1743. Top Eastern Sierra fishing report web sites are: www.KensSport.com (Bridgeport region), www.TheTroutFly.com, and www.SierraDrifters.com.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: East Walker River flows have jumped up into the 140 to 150 cfs range, but the bite has been very good. Nymphing is still the best bet, but there have been some good dry fly reports mid-morning (PMDs) in the evenings (caddis). Bridgeport Reservoir has been good for trollers and there have been some good bait reports at the dam. Fly anglers are battling the weeds in Buckeye Bay and the mouth of the East Walker but scoring in the channels and open pockets on midge patterns and callibaetis. Kirman remains pretty fair with brookies to 18 inches (four to five pounds) and cutts to 22 inches (five to six pounds). Twin Lakes are excellent on one-pound class fish with a few bigger fish for bait and lure anglers. The West Walker has also been very good on bait, flies, and lures with a lot of limits reported, along with the occasional nice fish. Virginia Lake remains off-the-charts good. The fish are averaging one to 1-8. Information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or www.kenssport.com.
JUNE LAKE LOOP REGION: Silver Lake remains good with a lot of nice stringers. Grant, Gull, and June are all fair to good, with June especially good for trollers. The roads to Ellery, Tioga, and Saddlebag lakes are all open and the action has been good, mostly on pan-sized fish. Information: Silver Lake Resort at 760-648-7726 or at silverlakeresort.net or Ernie's Tackle at 760-648-7756.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley has been good this past week but the weed beds are coming up quickly and anglers have to dodge the weed matts to find the fish. Still many anglers having 15 to 30 fish days. The bait and troll bites are also good, and the perch are showing in good numbers. Convict Lake has been good on planted trout and some holdover and Alpers' fish are showing, too. Frank Scognamillo, Buena Park, landed a 4-7 on a Thomas Buoyant from the South Shore, while Aryan Kamali, La Crescenta, caught a 4-4 from the back of the lake, also on a Thomas Buoyant. Mammoth Creek has been good on stocked trout with quite a few wild browns. The Upper Owens is fair to good with mostly small fish showing now. Hot Creek is excellent with good hatches morning and afternoon. Information: The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800, Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301.
BISHOP AREA: South Lake remains the top spot in the Bishop Creek drainage with excellent action on pan-sized fish with some anglers reporting 30-plus catch and release days, and there continue to be a steady stream of four to five-pound fish showing on Slammer Jigs and Power Worms. The fish are spread over much of the lake now. Dave Finkelstein, Orange County, had a 4-1 rainbow on a mini jig, while Dan Rollins, Santa Clarita, landed a four-pound at the Rock Slide on a Sierra Slammer Jig. All the forks of Bishop Creek and Intake II have been fair to good with regular DFG plants providing lots of rainbows and the brown trout are showing in fair numbers. North Lake has been fair to good, mostly at the upper end on small jigs. Sabrina has been good at the stream inlets on the usual array of baits and small lures. Anglers drifting at the rock piles were also getting fish. The lower Owens flows are up and fishing is difficult. Fishing information: Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Sierra Trout Magnet Fly Shop 760-873-0010, Culver's 760-872-8361, Brock's 760-872-3581.
LONE PINE-INDEPENDENCE AREA: All the small streams along Highway 395 from Big Pine Creek to Cottonwood Creek remain fair to good, and most have been planted again this week. Information from the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce at 760-876-4444 (or www.LonePineChamber.com). Fishing information: Long Pine Sporting Goods at 760-876-5365 or High Sierra Outfitters at 760-876-9994.
WESTERN SIERRA
STRIPER DERBY: The annual Bob's Bait month-long striper derby kicked off June 1. The entry fee is $1 per angler and you must register before you weigh in a fish. Only fresh fish can be weighed in and no weighing in of fish the same day as entering derby. The biggest striper weighed in during June will take the $100 prize, plus all the entry fee money from everyone entered. So far, there are 157 anglers signed up which means the pot is $257 at this point. The leader is Jose Rodriguez, Bakersfield, with an 8-14 caught out of the aqueduct at Taft Highway on Sunday. Last year's winner took home almost $500. For more information or to register, call Bob's Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The bass bite has been good on two to four pounders showing on plastics, cranks, and Alabama rigs. Best action is early and late in the day. The crappie are still around, but the bite has been very hit and miss and almost exclusively on live minnows in deeper water. Catfish still good on shad, clams and Sonny's Dip Bait with fish to six pounds reported, mostly in the French Gulch area, and there was a fire in this region on Wednesday so access might be restricted for a day or two. The trout bite is fair to good at the dam for shore anglers on salmon peach Power Bait or nightcrawlers in garlic oil, while the trollers are getting fish in deeper water on small Needlefish-type lures. The bluegill bite is also fair to good on the usual array of small baits. For fishing information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: Trout action is good to excellent on the upper river. While most of the action is on pan-sized fish, there continue to be a few four to six-pound trout. Best action has been on crickets, Power Bait, and Mice Tails. Flows remain very low at only 500 cfs. Good action all the way from the Johnsondale Bridge down to Kernville. Fly anglers are also seeing very good action with more dry fly stuff mornings now, but the best action is still on small nymphs. Few reports from the high elevation waters. In the lower river flows jumped drastically to 1,200 cfs which is still fishable, but a little tougher. The trout bite has been pretty fair with some smallmouth action starting. DFG trout planted three of the six river stretches this week. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The moss is becoming a serious problems for anglers at the aqueduct, but anglers drifting baits are still seeing fair to good action for catfish on shad, mackerel or Sonny's Catfish bait and on stripers with blood worms. Only a few stripers on lures with Flukes the best bet. The best bite has been in the evening or at night with a lot of fish to four pounds. One anglers reported catching 15 cats in less than two hours this week. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
MILL CREEK PARK: Mostly slow action but the panfish bite is fair and a few carp are being caught. The occasional early morning or late evening bass is also showing.
HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill bite has been very good on wax worms, meal worms, and crickets, and the carp bite is also pretty good on Powder Bait or homemade dough baits. The bass action has also been fair on Senkos and Brush Hogs early and late in the day.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Good bluegill action on red worms, meal worms, wax worms, crickets, and nightcrawler pieces. The bass action is fair on Senko-type baits or Brush Hogs very early or late in the day. No trout or crappie reports.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill action is very good on meal and wax worms or crickets. Also a good carp bite on Powder Bait. The bass are fair to good on reaction baits and plastics early and late in the day.
MING LAKE: Very good bluegill action on wax worms, red worms, and meal worms, and the carp action is improving with a pretty good bite on dough baits. Bass are fair with the best bite early and late in the day on plastics, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures. No crappie reports this week, and trout season is over.
BRITE LAKE: The trout have started to slow down with heat, but some catfish are starting to bite, and a few crappie continue to show on minnows.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The largemouth bass bite is fair early and late in the day on lipless cranks, plastics, Brush Hogs, Senkos, minnows, and nightcrawlers. The bluegill action is hot on meal worms, red worms, and nightcrawler pieces. The catfish bite has been improving with the warm weather, especially on shad. Also a pretty decent carp bite on dough baits. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: The bluegill bite is very good on wax worms, meal worms, or crickets, while the early morning and late evening bass bite is fair on Senkos, Brush Hogs, plastics or nightcrawlers.
SUCCESS LAKE: The bass action has been just fair with low pressure that moved through this past weekend. Best action on drop-shot plastics and Senko-type lures. The best action is in less than eight feet of water early and late in the day. The bluegill bite is also pretty fair on small baits. Few other reports. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: The bass bite has been fair to good on plastics, Brush Hogs, swimbaits, and spinnerbaits. The best bite is at first or last light. The bluegill action is good on the usual array of small baits. A few catfish starting to show, but other species slow. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: The catfish bite has been good in most of the coves on cut baits and nightcrawlers, and there is also a good carp bite. The black bass action is fair to good early and late in the day on plastics, smaller swimbaits, cranks, spinnerbaits, and Alabama rigs with the fish keying on shad. Few striper reports. Quagga mussel inspections are now required before boat launching is allowed. Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, and dry or they are likely to be denied access. Information: marina at 805-472-2818, Bee Rock Store at 805-472-9677, or Jim's Pro Bass Tackle at 805-237-0549.
NACIMIENTO: The spotted bass have been very good on plastics early and late in the day with the best bite on smaller, shad-like reaction baits and Alabama rigs. Las Tables has been the top area. White bass are showing in fair numbers for trollers and anglers tossing shad-like swimbaits and spoons into boils, also in Las Tables. Quagga mussel inspections are now required before boat launching is allowed. Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, and dry or they are likely to be denied access. Information: marina at 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com, Bee Rock Store at 805-472-9677, or Jim's Pro Bass Tackle at 805-237-0549.
SANTA MARGARITA: The bass action has remained fair to good with the best bite early and late in the day. Quite a bite of topwater and then the bite goes deeper on crankbaits and jerkbaits with some fish on plastics. The bluegill and redear bites are very good in six to 20 feet of water on most small baits or jigs tipped with baits. Few crappie reported. Quagga mussel inspections are now required before boat launching is allowed. Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, and dry or they are likely to be denied access. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
LOPEZ: The largemouth bass bite has been pretty fair with the bass keying in on the shad and showing on spinnerbaits, cranksbaits, and Alabama rigs early and late in the day. The bluegill and redear are also pretty good with the fish mostly in was six to 20 feet deep except early and late in the day. Crappie are fair on small jigs, but this bite has slowed. Other species very slow. Quagga mussel insp/ections are now required before boat launching is allowed. Anglers need to think cleaned, drained, and dry or they are likely to be denied access. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, youcan visit the DFG's new stocking web site at http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/.
SAN DIEGO: Cuyamaca Lake.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Lower, Middle Fork, South Fork, and Intake II), Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (Section 2), Rock Creek Lake, Shepherd Creek, South Lake, Symmes Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, South Fork Lee Vining Creek, Little Walker River, Lundy Lake, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, Mary Lake, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Owens River (section 3), Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Sections 1 and 2), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek (Lee Vining Creek), Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes (Upper and Lower, Bridgeport), Twin Lakes (Mammoth), Virginia Creek, Virginia Lakes (Upper and Lower) West Walker River (Sections 2 and 3)
KERN: Cuddy Creek Pond, Kern River (Sections 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).
TULARE: Bone Creek, Deer Creek, Dry Meadow Creek, Freeman Creek, Kern River (section 6), Nobe Young Creek, Peppermint Creek (Upper and Lower), Spear Creek (Poso Creek).
CATFISH PLANTS
No DFG catfish plants until later this spring.
OCEAN FISHING REPORT
By Terrence Berg
For Outdoor News Service
LONG RANGE STILL EXCELLENT: The San Diego long range fleet has focused its attention on the five to eight-day trips in the Alijos Rocks region where the bite on yellowtail has been wide open on fish to 30 pounds and the bluefin tuna bite is excellent further offshore. There are also increasing numbers of yellowfin in this region, but still no albacore. The action at Benitos and Cedros islands is also very good on the yellowtail.
SAN DIEGO OVERNIGHT: A number of boats were out looking for albacore this past weekend on 1 1/2 and 2 1/2-day trips running south of San Diego, but they didn't find any longfin. The action on yellowtail on the floating kelp and early schools of bluefin tuna in this 100 to 150-mile range has been excellent. The bluefin are mostly 20 to 30 pounds with the yellowtail eight to 15 with the odd bigger fish. On boats returning Sunday evening, the Grande out of Point Loma was out with 22 anglers and they landed 90 yellowtail and nine Bluefin. The Condor out of Fisherman's Landing had 12 anglers and they landed 60 yellowtail (full limits) and three Bluefin. The Legend on a 2 1/2-day trip out of Seaforth Landing, had just 10 anglers who caught 11 bluefin and 91 yellowtail. On a Monday trip, the Pacific Voyager out of Seaforth was out with 15 anglers on a 1 1/2-day trip and they landed 53 bluefin and 63 yellowtail. While this bite has slowed some due to windy conditions and rougher seas making spotting fish more difficult, the bite is excellent. But no albacore yet.
WHITE SEABASS UPDATE: The white seabass action remains surprisingly good from San Diego and Dana Point all the way up into the Channel Islands. While the bite calmed a late last week and into the weekend, there have been some excellent scores posted this week during the new moon in spite of windy conditions since Monday. With the limit back to three fish, the bite in the Channel Islands was generating more than a little buzz at Channel Islands Sportfishing. The Cobra out of CISCO Landing had 11 anglers who landed 19 seabass, 20 barracuda, five halibut, and one calico bass on Tuesday. The Mirage returned from the two-day trip on Wednesday and the 17 anglers on board landed 35 seabass, 108 calicos, 146 barracuda, 43 halibut, 12 sheephead, six whitefish, and 124 rockfish. This seabass bite has been notable all along the coast because of the nice average size of 30 to 40 pounds and fish up to 60-plus pounds.
CALICO BASS HOT: While the barracuda have sunk out in recent days during the dark of the moon, the calico bass bite has been pretty much wide open all along the local coast and at the islands, and the quality of the fish is the best -- on average -- it has been in five or six seasons. Most of the half- and three-quarter day skippers are focusing on the local bass and anglers are seeing half to full limits on most trips. The barracuda have also been around and could pop again at any time.
ISLAND UPDATE: Catalina, San Clemente, and the Coronado islands have remained spotty this past week. The yellowtail are still at the Coronado Islands, but the fish scattered some and were in funk through the weekend. Clemente has a huge volume of calico bass, including a good number of quality fish at four pounds or better, along with a few yellowtail from 12 to 15 pounds. Catalina continued to have wind problems on the backside this past week which was not a good thing for white seabass, but there is a good calico bass bite on the front side.
LANDING CONTACTS
Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, 805-772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, 805-595-7200; Sea anding, Santa Barbara, 805-963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, 805-658-1060; Channel Islands Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-985-8511; Captain Hook's Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing has merged with Channel Islands Sportfishing; Malibu Pier Sportfishing, 310-328-8426; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, 310-822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, 310-372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, 310-374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, 310-832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, 310-547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, 562-983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-598-6649; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, 949-675-0550; Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, 949-673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, 949-496-5794; Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside, 760-722-2133; Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, 619-221-8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, 619-222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, 619-224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-223-1627; Islandia Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-222-1164.
Mexico Landings: Sergio's Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.
RegisterSign In Houston Weather | Houston Traffic | Mobile | E-edition Thursday, June 21, 2012 
chron.com Web Search by YAHOO! Businesses HomeNewsSportsBusinessEntertainmentLifeTravelBlogsJobsHomesAutosClassifiedsShopping Index ? Close [X] Quick links to other pages on this site | Still can't find it? see Site Index Don't miss:Advice for boatersLife on the rigTop 100 restaurantsDewhurst vs. CruzTropical weatherHouston & TexasHouston weatherHouston trafficNation & worldPoliticsHealthNews bizarreDeathsFind wildflowersHurricanesTexansAstrosRocketsDynamoCollegesUHRiceA&MUTHigh schoolGolfOutdoorsMMA, Hockey & moreTicketsFuelFix.comMarketsHouston stocksWorld marketsCurrencyTop workplacesSmall businessTechHomesCommercial real estatePress releases29-95RestaurantsAlison CookMusicMoviesBarsArts & TheaterCelebrity BuzzComics & GamesMom HoustonHouston BeliefHealthGardeningPetsGlossFoodDelishBooksHoroscopesComics & gamesWeddings & celebrationsHill Country travelTexas TravelTravel New OrleansTravel LouisianaFlight trackerSki ColoradoCity BrightsNewswatchCelebrity BuzzSciGuyTubularNFL: John McClainTechBlogTexas on the PotomacMom HoustonAdvanced searchBrowse job categoriesCareer RescueHouston's HiringWork & Career AdviceHome price surveyNew HomesRentalsFarms & RanchesSecond HomesResearchMortgagesCommercial Real EstateResearch & ReviewsBuild a New CarFind Dealers « Back to Article Tompkins: For bass fisheries, Mother Nature knows best Shannon Tompkin, Houston Chronicle
Often best accessed using a kayak or canoe, Texas' rivers can produce bass fishing equaling or exceeding that found in reservoirs, and in a much more scenic setting.Photo: Shannon Tompkins/ Houston ChronicleOften best accessed using a kayak or canoe, Texas' rivers can... 
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Fishermen pull fishing boats in to a dock in Kaiping, Guangdong, on June 8, 2012. [Photo/CFP]