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 fly-fishing action on the Kern River above Lake Isabella has earned the top spot this week with just excellent action on trout to six pounds or more. While most of the fish are smaller, there is an opportunity here for a real toad and there's even been good dry fly action on an early morning caddis hatch. The action for bait and lure anglers has not been as good, but the fish are there. For an update on this bite, call the Kern River Fly Shop at 760-376-2040 or go to www.kernriverflyfishing.com.
2. This action stays in the No. 2 spot because the Castaic Lake striper bite remains hot with the fish are boiling around much of the lake most mornings and evenings now, but especially in the Fish Arm. The fish are mostly small (under two pounds), but there have been increasing numbers of five to six-pound class fish. Topwater baits and cut bait are both getting fish. For an update on the bite call the marina at 661-775-6232.
3. Hesperia Lake stays in our top picks because of the excellent catfish action. Weekly plants and consistent limit-style fishing make this spot hard to beat. The best action is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and Tuesdays have been the best day to fish (the day after the Monday plant). Another huge load of trophy cats is going in next week and the big fish this week was a 16 3/4-pounder. For an update on this bite call the tackle shop at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The trout bite throughout the Eastern Sierra region remains excellent but Crowley Lake is a top pick (but not off the charts any longer). Most high elevation waters have good action. Top picks in a region filled with good fishing would be the Virginia Lakes, Bridgeport Reservoir, the entire Bishop Creek drainage. In the Western Sierra, the upper Kern River has been excellent above Lake Isabella and it's a top pick with exceptional fishing on rainbows to eight pounds. In the local mountains, Big Bear Lake has stayed hot this week with a good trout bite. Jenks Lake and Gregory both have been pretty fair. Lake Hemet and Lake Cuyamaca have also been producing limits on pan-sized trout, but it takes some effort.
BLACK BASS: The bass action remains fair to good most places on plastics, reaction baits, and swim baits. The surface frog bite is good most places, too. Top bets include Diamond Valley, Skinner, Casitas, Perris, Castaic, Piru, and the whole lower Colorado River. Cachuma and Santa Margarita, and even the higher elevation waters like Piru, Pyramid, and Silverwood are also good. Irvine remains a sleeper pick.
STRIPED BASS: On the Colorado River, the only striper bite of note is the action on big fish to 30-plus pounds again this week at Willow Beach. The action went in the tank from Bullhead south through Lake Havasu (with most anglers blaming rains that made the river a little off color). The California aqueduct near Taft is slow, so the best bet for volume catches of two to five-pound fish is Castaic, Diamond Valley, Silverwood, Skinner, or Pyramid -- in about that order. Silverwood is also pretty decent on smaller fish. Elsewhere, the striper bites all are very spotty right now, and no place is producing any quality fish. An exception to this is the striper bite at San Antonio on the Central Coast where there striper action has really taken off on four to eight-pound fish and there were fish to 12 pounds reported this week. The wiper bite at Lake Elsinore is slow, but the white bass bite at Nacimiento is very good on two-pound class fish.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites continue to be hot in a lot of places. Top bets for nice stringers are Lake Perris, Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Skinner, Otay, and Hodges. The crappie bites have pretty much tanked in the region, with the only bright spot the fair to good bite at Piru. The Salton Sea tilapia bite is slow to fair, but the average size has declined. Mornings have been best bet because of the heat.
CATFISH: The flathead catfish bite on the Colorado River is very good with fish to 30-plus caught in the past week. 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, Anaheim Lake, 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: The catfish bite has continued pretty good in most of the coves, at the dam, the inlet and around the marina on cut baits and nightcrawlers. Small stripers continue to show in fair to good numbers in Chemise, Sawpit, and around the marina docks. Most of the stripers are under two pounds. Most of the fish have been on nightcrawlers with a few on cut baits. The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good with the best bite on nightcrawlers and plastics with some topwater in the mornings. The bite on small bluegill remains good on wax worms, crickets, meal worms, and red worms in most coves and around the marina, but the crappie bite has shut down. No recent DFG trout plants in the lake, but the odd rainbow is still being caught. Miller Canyon Creek, above the lake, was planted with trout by the DFG two and four weeks ago. 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 trout bite remained strong this past week with good action in the cooler, deeper water in the western third of the lake. The best action has been for trollers working six colors of lead core line and a Needlefish-type lure with a nickel finish. Bait anglers are fishing slip bobbers in 18 to 28 feet of water with inflated nightcrawlers or floating dough baits. The bite has been best early and late in the day with most rainbows around a pound with some bigger, holdover fish mixed in. The bass and panfish action is also pretty good early and late in the day, and a few quality catfish are showing at night on stinkbaits, shrimp, or mackerel. DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. For fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218 (or www.bigbearmarina.com), Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. Fair trout action, mostly in deeper water on floating baits. Also still a few brown showing on small crankbaits and spinners early in the morning. Small crappie are good on small jigs and quite a few bluegill are being caught, too. Information: Lake Gregory boathouse at 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The trout action has remained fair to good with quite a few limits on inflated nightcrawlers, floating baits, and small jigs. Top trout was a 5.6-pounder landed by Jimmy Bon, Green Valley Lake, on a jig. DFG trout plant this week. There will also be a children's fishing derby on Saturday, Sept. 1. 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: No recent DFG plants.
JENKS LAKE REGION: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. There is a $5 fee to use the parking area. This fee is in addition to the Adventure Pass fee. The Santa Ana River and the South Fork were last planted with DFG trout two and four weeks ago. General Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: The heat has created a great night bite on the catfish, but made the day action a lot tougher. There also continue to be a lot of quality catfish in the mix, and there will be a bonus plant of huge, broodstock cats next week, in addition to the usual Monday plant. Top fish this past week was a 16-12 caught by Michael Silva, Fontana, on mackerel with Love Sauce. Brian Danielson, Ventura, landed a 14-pound cat on a nightcrawlers, while Russ Walters, Santa Ana, had a 12-8 on chicken liver. Jose Flores, Temecula, landed cats at 11 and 10-8 on shrimp with Love Sauce, while Yon Velue, Orange County, caught a 10-12 on shrimp. Wendy Carlson, Brea, had a 9-12 on mackerel. 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 (M&M) worm combo doused with scent has also been a good bet. Most of the fish are from two to three pounds. 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: Overall, the heat has really made the bite tough with only the regulars continuing to catch trout. The best bite has been on Power Bait (especially salmon peach and rainbow) and nightcrawlers. Few catfish reports with the heat. Bass bite is still fair to good with anglers reporting fish up to five pounds on Senkos and nightcrawlers. Few panfish reports. 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. 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. 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 largemouth bass bite has continued good, but requires some effort to have a 15 to 20 fish day. The best bite has been in 30 to 40 feet of water on the main lake points with jigs and drop-shot plastics. There is a pretty good topwater or reaction bait bite early in the morning, but stick with smaller baits. There have also been quite a few smallmouth showing in this bite the past couple of weeks. Most of the bass are in the two pound range, with some to four, and the occasional bigger fish. The untouched bite is for the huge number of bluegill in two to eight feet of water all along the banks around structure. The ‘gills are from three-inches to over a pound in mixed schools. Catching 100 per day to cull out a nice limit has been easy on crickets, wax worms, or meal worms fished under bobbers or on small jigs. The striped bass bite has been very good with most of the fish under three or four pounds with a few to 12 pounds. While most anglers are fishing cut baits in 60 feet of water at the inland feeder pipe, the attenuator dock, or along the east side of the inlet-outlet tower, there is equally good action on ice jigs, spoons, and trolled flies (early and late). More anglers are targeting the catfish and the bite has been fair to good in the shoreline fishing coves on sardines, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. No trout reports. 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 remain very good for float tube and boat anglers, but the fish are mostly in deeper water (15 to 25 feet), making them tougher for shore anglers to reach. The redear have been best off the backside of the island, while the bluegill are better on the tire reef. Chauncey Terrell, San Bernardino, had 25 redear to 1.9 pounds on small trout worms at the island, while Bryan Parker, Hemet, had 10 bluegill to 1.2 pounds on crickets and meal worms at the tire reef. The bass action has been good for quality fish, but just fair overall. Top fish reported this week was a 6-13 caught by Oscar Delgadillo, Whittier, on a topwater frog in the east end. Most of the bass are showing on small swimbaits, cranks, or topwater very early and very late in the day. Other species slow. The park and marina is 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: There has continued to be a good bluegill bite with some slabs over a pound. The action is along most of the brushy shorelines, but those toward the dam and inlet have been the best. Crickets, wax worm, meal worms, or small jigs have all been getting fish. John Funadel, Rialto, had a 1.5-pound bluegill on a cricket at the inlet. The sizzling largemouth bass bite has waned this week with just fair action, mostly in the east end. The topwater frog bite is off, but there continues to be decent action on plastic worms and nightcrawlers. The catfish action is also pretty good, with the odd small striper showing in this bite, and the top spots have been at the inlet and at the dam. Andrew Rausch, Murrieta, had a pair of catfish that weighed 21 and 15 pounds, while Jon Ray, Corona, landed an eight-pounder. There was a catfish stocking four weeks ago and another stock was slated for this week. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: This is starting to sound like a broken record, but Elsinore continues to have one of the best catfish bites in the region. The action is excellent on three to six-pound fish and a lot of fish up to 12 pounds and more. The best bite has been on fresh shad, chunk sardines, and nightcrawlers fishing in shallow water in the brush lines early and late in the day and then out in five to 10 feet of water later through the mornings and afternoon. There have even been some cats in the 20-pound class reported this season. The bluegill are also good in three to 12 feet of water on the bottom with the usual array of small baits the best bet -- meal worms, wax worms, crickets, and red worms. The wiper and largemouth bites have been slow, and only the odd crappie has been reported. Not many carp anglers of late, so few reports. For more information, call William's Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental at 951-642-0640 or go to www.williamsboatandtackle.com.
CORONA LAKE: The catfish bite has been good to excellent with anglers posting a lot of nice stringers of cats. The big fish this past week was a 23.25-pound catfish landed by Robert Provost, Rancho Cucamonga, while fishing mackerel. He also had a couple of 3.5-pound cats. Oscar Rodriguez, Los Angeles, landed three blue cats for a 25.5-pound total weight, including a 9.25-pounder. He made his catch fishing shrimp. One of the top stringers was a 21-fish, 34.5-pound catch posted by Santiago and Trino Palacios, La Habra, on nightcrawlers. Carlos and Lup Mosqueda, Long Beach, had five cats to five pounds with a 17-pound total stringer on mackerel. Tom Farmer, Riverside, landed seven cats to four pounds and his stringer was also 17 pounds. The best action has been on shrimp, mackerel, the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, and nightcrawlers. Many anglers are also adding Eagle Claw Gravy or Lip Ripperz Love Sauce scents, or similar scents and dip baits, to their other bait. Hot spots have been the deeper water off the dam, J.D.'s Point and the back end for boat anglers. Catfish and tilapia plants go in at least twice a week, including both blue and channel catfish. Private boats, kayaks, and float tubes are allowed at Corona Lake, but they will be inspected for traces of water or evidence of quagga mussel contamination before being allowed on the water. There is road construction going on at the Interstate 15 Indian Truck Trail off-ramp that leads to Corona Lake. This offramp is closed, but the lake is open during this construction. To detour around the construction, you need to exit from different off-ramps. If you are coming from the south on I-15, from the Elsinore or Murrieta area, exit on Lake Street and follow Temescal Canyon Road north to the lake entrance. If you are coming from the north, from the Corona or Riverside areas, exit the freeway at Temescal Canyon Road and follow the road south to the Lake entrance. 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: The lake is closed for a maintenance project that will continue through the rest of the summer, with a tentative reopening date in the fall. Information: 951-679-6562.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: DFG trout plants this week and two weeks ago. Quite a few trout being landed by both shore anglers and for boat anglers, but overall the bite is slow to fair. Bluegill and bass are both fair and the catfish bite is finally coming around with quite a few small fish. 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 three 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 LAKES: The lakes are closed for maintenance, but the Kid's Pond (Huckleberry Pond) will remain open all summer Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 714-632-7851 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Consistent stringers of catfish for anglers tossing shrimp, mackerel, or the marshmallow-meal (M&M) worm combos. The Bubble Hole has been the top spot this past week, but the fish are concentrated in deeper water avoiding the hordes of cormorants at the lake. Other good spots have been the hump directly between Catfish Island and Honker Island on the west side of the lake. Shore fishermen capable of making long rods capable of getting way out in deeper water are also having good success. Bob Nelson, Anaheim, had 13 catfish on a 24-hour pass and the stringer weighed in at 27.5 pounds with a four-pounder his top fish. He was fishing both mackerel and the M&M combo from a boat and fishing near Honker Island. Brian Green, Orange, landed four cats for a 12.5-pound total and his top fish was the best reported this week at five pounds. All were taken on shrimp with Gravy, and Green was fishing all over the lake in deep water while on a pontoon boat. Adain Renteria, Bellflower, had a 15.75-pound stringer with fish to four pounds at the spillway with shrimp. Russ Ingram, Glendora, landed five cats for an 18-pound stringer. He was fishing at the Bubble Hole with both shrimp and the M&M combo doused with garlic Gravy. Most of the catfish have been running from two to three pounds and five-fish stringer that weight 12 to 15 pounds have been the norm. The tilapia action has been fair to good. The best bite on these panfish has been in shady areas of shallow water with nightcrawler pieces fished under a bobber. The tilapia are averaging a pound to 1 1/2 pounds. Private boats, kayaks, and float tubes are allowed at Anaheim Lake, but they will be inspected for traces of water or evidence of quagga mussel contamination before being allowed on the water. Plants are twice a week. No state fishing license is required here. For more information, stocking videos, and direction, go to www.fishinglakes.com. The lake phone is 714-996-3508.
IRVINE LAKE: Excellent catfish action with a lot of limits of two to six-pound cats. Ronson "Catmando" Smothers and Bryan Porter, both Los Angeles, set up on ‘the hump' off Trout Island and landed a 10-fish limit that totaled over 100-pounds. Bill Sumida, Bill Oune, and Mitz Onizuka, all of Anaheim, had a 15-catfish limit totaling 45-8 on pike mackerel off the flats. Big fish included a 13-1 landed by Terry Lairson, Huntington Beach, on mackerel at the flats and an 11-pounder landed by Chris Hagopian, Redondo Beach. Phil Hildebrandt, Anaheim, caught a 9-8 channel catfish on Bite-On Cajun. Productive baits for catfish included mackerel, shrimp, Gulp! Catfish Chunks, and even an obscure bait species found in Asian fish markets known as a pike mackerel. Good catches were checked in from Santiago Flats, the west shoreline, and Boat Dock Cove. Bass anglers found very good numbers of two to five-pound largemouth using a variety of techniques from dropshot-rigged plastics, jigs, and Carolina rigs to topwater action in the early mornings and evenings. Whit Curry, Irvine, had a 5-5 bass on a Nezumma Rat off the west shore. Bluegill to a pound are showing around submerged brush on Gulp! Crickets. 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: No report available. Information: 949-362-9227 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: The catfish bite has been very good with a lot of limits reported on fly-lined mackerel and prepared paste or dough baits. Johnson, Drake and Sweetwater have been the top spots this week with fish to 10 pounds reported. The trout trolling and deep-water bait drifting at the dam slowed way down with only a few quality holdovers on Needlefish and Rapalas. The bass bite has been fair with a lot of limits still showing for those putting in the effort. The topwater bite early and late in the day was a little off this week, but there continues to be good action on drop-shot plastics, jigs, Creature-baits, along with some crankbait and spinnerbait fish. There have been both largemouths and smallmouths in this action. The crappie bite was slow to fair in Santa Cruz Bay and the narrows on small jigs tipped with mealworms. Bluegill and redear are good in the backs of most coves in six to 20 feet of water. Bow-fishing for carp has also been excellent with quite a few double-digit fish arrowed, especially at the dam and mouth of Clark Canyon. 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 fair to good with the morning and evening bite the best. Mid-day action has been really tough. Best action on plastics and nightcrawlers with a few topwater and reaction bait fish very early and very late. Shad have been tough to get for bait, but they are a top bait if you can dip a scoop. The bluegill and redear action also remains pretty good in eight to 25 feet of water, mostly on nightcrawler pieces. Most are hand-sized, but a few better fish are landed each week. Other species have been slow. The odd trout is still showing in deep water at the dam on drifted nightcrawlers or by trollers working Needlefish and leadcore line. A few catfish are showing in most of the coves and creek channels on mackerel and nightcrawlers. No crappie reports. 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 has been good with the linesides boiling all over the Fish Arm, and the best action has been on topwater and swim baits, but anglers need to think small bait. The fish are running up to six pounds or a little better with most two-pound class fish. The largemouth bass bite has also been good on everything from Flukes to cranks from topwater baits to garlic nightcrawlers and plastic worms. Most of the fish are in 15 feet or less early and then go deeper during the day. The lagoon has also been very good for bass for anglers fishing swimbaits or drop-shot plastics. Good catfish action on mackerel and nightcrawlers in most coves with Necktie Canyon and the buoy line the top spots. 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 crappie and bass bites both remain pretty good. The crappie are showing in Diablo, Cow, and Reasoner coves with a lot of the fish in the one to 1-8 range, with an occasional bigger fish. They are showing on nightcrawlers or jigs tipped with meal worms or Crappie Nibbles. The bass are best early and late in the day on topwater, reaction baits, and plastics. A few nice redear and smaller bluegill are showing in a fair bite. No catfish reports. Information: store and baitshop at 805-521-1500, x207, the gatehouse at x201, or at www.camplakepiru.com.
PYRAMID: Stripers and catfish have both been in the highlight reels here this week. The stripers are still boiling around much of the lake as the fish key on the shad. Most of the fish are in the two-pound range, but some quality fish are showing on swimbaits in the boils. Also fair bait action on metered fish in deeper water. The catfish action has also been fair to good with some fish to 12 pounds reported on cut baits in the coves. The black bass action has been fair with some flurries of good action early and late in the day. Both smallmouth and largemouth have been showing in this bite. Best action on plastics and reaction baits, but also some topwater. Few reports on panfish. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155 or the web site at campone.com.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: The small crappie continue to show in good numbers on small jigs around much of the lake, with some bigger fish in Sailboat Cove. Also a lot of small bass in that bite, and quite a few bluegill and redear. The action on bigger bass is slow, and the catfish bite has been tough. Carp also have been slow. 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: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Carp fishing has been slow.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
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.
JACKSON LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
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 75 anglers this past week and they reported catching 1,147 bass, 62 bluegill, and 36 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: The bass bite has been fair to good. There were 36 anglers checked who landed 52 bass to five pounds, 10 channel cats, six carp, four bluegill, two crappie crappie. The lake is open to fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. Rental boat and concession information: 760-432-2023.
EL CAPITAN: There has been a fair to good bite on bluegill and quite a few catfish are showing on cut baits. Also still a few crappie being landed. There were 74 anglers checked who had 79 bass to 11.49 pounds and 35 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 153 anglers checked by city lakes staff who reported 412 bass to 3.75 pounds and 79 bluegill to a pound. 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 14 anglers checked who had 35 bass to 3.8 pounds and three bluegill to 1.1-pound.. 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: There has been a good bluegill bite with quite a few quality fish showing over a pound. Also a few small bass showing. 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 17 anglers checked who had 16 bass and 13 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 74 anglers checked by lakes' staff who caught 74 bass, 65 crappie, six bluegill, three carp, and one channel cat. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-2050 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
WOHLFORD: Final catfish plant of the season this week and the action has been fair on the cats. There is also a fair bite on smaller bass on dark plastics with reaction baits a good bet early and late in the day. A few crappie continue to show on small live shiners early in the mornings. The lake is open to carp bowfishing on permit-only basis, with a maximum of six permits issued per day. All bowfishermen are 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 two weeks ago.
DIXON LAKE: Catfish plants last week and this week and the action has been fair on catfish to three pounds and a few bigger holdover fish.
Tylor Hodgion, San Diego, caught a 8.3-pound catfish at the buoy line on cut mackerel. Best fishing areas this week have been the buoy line and Whisker Bay. Shoreline fishing has been just as effective off the piers. Best baits have been cut mackerel or sardines, chicken livers and shrimp. Bluegill action is warming up with some up to a pound off the piers near the weeded, covered areas of the lake on red worms or meal worms. No State fishing license required here. Lake information: 760-839-4680 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: The catfish bite has been fair to good after a 1,500-pound plant last Friday. Best action has been off the north shore, Jump Off Point, Hidden Bay and Boulder Bay. Bass fair to good on jerk baits and Flukes with some surface baits. Good bluegill action in Hidden Bay and on the Fishing Float with the best bite along the weed beds. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday and night fishing is allowed every Friday and Saturday. A state fishing license no longer required here. The Teen Catfish-O-Rama Fishing Derby will be 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, August 17. Lake information: 858-668-4772, tackle shop recording 858-486-1234, or www.poway.org.
JENNINGS: Summer doldrums are here. The best times are the first and last hours of daylight for all species. The only surface activity for the bass is at the buoy line throwing into the bubbles. The rest of the bass are at the edge of the weed line. Boaters have the best chance at cats because they are moving deep in Hermit Cove and dam on mackerel and chicken livers doused with scent. 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, and the lake will be open daily July 30 through August 12. Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good on Senkos, plastics, and some topwater, but the bite is best only early and late. Catfish good for anglers fishing cut baits. The bluegill have been good on deeper brush piles on wax worms and meal worms. A few crappie reported out in deep-water for slow trollers. The trout bite is slow at the aerator and Pumphouse Cove with a few fish also showing at the buoy line. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or lakemorena.com.
CUYAMACA: Overall just fair fishing this past week. Some topwater bass action with frogs. The trout bite has been fair to good with the best action for trollers working deeper water near the dam. 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: No reports. The catfish bite had been fair to good with most anglers getting a few fish averaging about two pounds on nightcrfawlers or cut baits. A few crappie are showing deeper water when anglers locate a school of fish. 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: Stripers are slow to fair on cut anchovies, and the best bite has been under a new moon at nigth fishing under floating lights and then jigging in 40 to 60 feet of water. Trolling has been slow morning and evening with shad-like baits and simply dead the rest of the time. The bite for largemouth and smallmouth was reported good using plastic worms and crawdads with purple and browns in them. Several fishermen said that top water lures were working for them. 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.
WILLOW BEACH: The striper bite has been just fair to good with few anglers fishing during the day so reports at the resort are hard to come by. Fish to 20-plus pounds reported again this week. The best bite continues to be on big, trout-like A.C. Plugs or similar lures in the Mile Marker 52 region. 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 hitting soft baits when worked slowly, especially on grass beds in 20 to 30 feet deep. Some surface action on and around the weeds on surface frogs early in the day. Trolling with anchovies in 30 to 50 feet of water has been producing some stripers in the Cottonwood Basin and near the dam. The stripers are also starting to come up in the bays and coves on shad. Vicki Fortener, Bullhead, had a 4.72-pound striper and several catfish fishing at the Power Lines and in several coves near the dam. The catfish bite is fair to good in the coves on cut baits, especially at night. The bluegill bite is good in most coves and on some of the recently installed fish structures. 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 striper action has been improving in this stretch of the river with the warm weather. Richard Erdmann, Bullhead, had stripers at 4.22 and 4.16 from the Rotary Park region, while Justin Smith, Bullhead, was fishing the community park all week, hammering the stripers, including his best a 5.56 pounds. The stripers are showing from Laughlin all the way to the Avi Bridge. The holdover rainbows also continue to show in this same stretch. Daniel Fields, Bullhead, had a 2.72-pound rainbow trout on a nightcrawler at Rotary Park. The bluegill and redear are pretty good in the backwaters. Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
NEEDLES AREA: The striper bite has slowed with only a few on anchovies in deeper pools or topwater plugs and crankbaits. Most are from one to two pounds now, but some bigger. A few smallmouths are showing along rip-rap with the action better the further south you go. Catfish are fair to good, especially at night in the backwaters and bigger pools. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
TOPOCK AREA: The striper action has been spotty with a few to four pounds between bouts with muddy water caused by thunderstorms. Pam Ho, Westminster, boated a 5-4 striper, while fishing partner Kenneth Jordan, landed 6.5-pound channel cat an hour later. Smallmouth and largemouth bass between one to three-pounds as well as sunfish ranging from a pound to 1-8 are also fair to good. Catfish good in muddy or clear water.
Mark and Braedon Federle, New Berlin, Wisc., landed a seven-pound cat, two one-pound redear, a one-pound striper and a 17-pound carp. 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: Continued flash-flood runoff from regular thunderstorms this past week have clouded the lake and pretty much shut down the striper bite, with only a handful of fish caught on frozen baits drifted down to metered fish. No boils in past week. The largemouth and smallmouth bass bites have also slowed way down and the only fish being landed are taken on slow presentations tight on the bottom or structure. Drop-shotted dark plastics have been the best bet. The one consistently good bite has been for redear in six to 25 feet of water in the bays around grass or other structure. There have been a lot of two to three-pound redear. The flathead and channel catfish bites are still pretty fair. The flatheads are showing on live bluegill in 12 to 20 feet of water, mostly at night, while the channels are showing on cut baits and nightcrawlers in eight to 20 feet in most coves. Information: Bass Tackle Master at 928-854-2277.
PARKER STRIP: The smallmouth fishing had been good below the dam around Big Rock Island, but has tapered off a little. Try using curly-tailed grubs on a swimming jig head, cast in to the rocky shoreline, and slowly swim the jig back or bounce it along the bottom. Also try topwater stick baits worked across submerged gravel bars in the current, or submerged grass beds waving in the current. You might tie into a smallmouth, largemouth bass or possibly an occasional striper. The catfish are fair on chicken liver along Buckskin State Park andPatria Flats day-use area. Few flathead reported, but the bluegill bite is very good in the backwater below the headgate dam. Just be sure to have the proper fishing permit from the Colorado River Indian Tribe.
BLYTHE: The flathead catfish bite has been good to excellent this past couple of weeks, mostly in the main river on live bluegill, goldfish, and tilapia. The channel catfish action is also good on stink baits, nightcrawlers, and cut baits in both the main river and local ditches. Most are in the two-pound class, but quite a few fish to four pounds. The largemouth bass are showing early and late in the day on plastics, reaction baits and topwater lures, but slow through the middle part of the day. 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 very early or very 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. Some nice flatheads have been coming from Cibola Lake. 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 to good catfish action, 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 good up with some nice fish to 20-pounds-plus. Bluegill are very good in most backwaters. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action fair to good with a good early morning and late evening topwater bite. Plastics, nightcrawlers and reaction baits are also good bets. The channel catfish action also fair to good. Flatheads also fair to good on live bluegill, tilapia, or goldfish at night. Bluegill are very good.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Tough fishing conditions and very light fishing pressure. Overall, slow action on small tilapia. The temperatures have continued to top 100 degrees most days. A few braving the heat are getting mostly small tilapia (half-pound and under) with few better quality fish showing now. The best bite is still on nightcrawler pieces early in the morning at the State Park headquarters and the free fishing jetty at the refurbished Salton Sea Yacht Club. 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: The East Walker River is still very good mornings and evenings in the faster, more oxygenated water, but tougher fishing during the day. Flows have been in the 150 cfs range this week. Very good morning mayfly hatches and evening caddis. Kirman Lake has improved for fly anglers fishing scud patterns in deep water with both cutthroats and brookies from 16 to 18 inches (and they are so fat, those for three to five-pound fish). Twin Lakes are still good with a lot of limits or pan-sized fish morning and evening on floating baits, lures, and flies. The West Walker has been good for fly and bait anglers, but lure anglers are seeing a tougher bite. Virginia Lakes remain one of the top spots in the region with excellent action on rainbows to six pounds (most in the pound range). Information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or www.kenssport.com.
JUNE LAKE LOOP REGION: Fishing at Silver Lake has slowed down a little this past week due to some super warm temperatures, but the bite is still fair to good. Eric Schindler, El Cajon, landed a 2-9 rainbow on a Thomas Buoyant. Dennis Pertusati, Ontario, caught a 2-3 on garlic Power Bait. Grant Lake and Rush Creek both continue to crank out a few nice browns, and the planter rainbows are pretty good. Gull and June are both good with a good deep troll bite during the day and surface fly action in the evenings. 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: The exceptional trout action at Crowley Lake slowed a little this past week, but the bite is still very good with the trout stacked up in the inlets in McGee, Little Hilton, and Layton Springs with excellent action on indicator-suspended midge fly patterns in nine to 15 feet of water. Algae can be a problem, but lots of nice rainbows, browns and quality cutthroat showing in the bite. Convict Lake is fair to good on the usual bait or small lures and jigs. Mammoth Creek has been good on stocked trout with quite a few wild browns. The Twin Lakes and whole upper lakes basin has been fair to good with the best bite in the inlets. The Upper Owens is fair to good with mostly small fish showing now. Hot Creek is excellent with good hatches morning and afternoon (when wind isn't blowing). The road to the upper San Joaquin and Red's Meadow is open and the fishing is good. Anglers apparently are being ticketed for fish the closed campground stretches of the river, so avoid the closed areas. 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 fair to good on jigs and Power Worms. 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 is fair, but a few quality fish reported this past week. The lower Owens flows have dropped and the fishing has been very good since the flows have fallen. 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
CATFISH DERBY: The annual Bob's Bait month-long carp derby runs through August 31. 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 carp weighed in during August will take the $100 prize, plus all the entry fee money from everyone entered. The early leader is a 10-9 carp landed by Ian Sherrill. For more information or to register, call Bob's Bait at 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: The catfish action has been very good in most of the coves on the lake with shad the top bait, but other cut baits and chicken liver also working. The fish are showing in the north fork and most deeper coves. The trout bite also remains pretty good at the dam for shore anglers fishing deep water with floating baits and trollers on Needlefish-style lures. Fly anglers are having fair success at Camp Nine and Paradise Cove on streamers and there is some early morning midge action. There continues to be a very few quality crappie showing in the tree in 10 to 15 feet of water on live minnows, just no volume. The bluegill bite is good in most coves, but there are more small fish now with the bigger fish fewer and further between. The bass bite has continued fair on two to four pounders on cranks, plastics, Alabama rigs, with some topwater. Best action is early and late in the day. For fishing information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: The fly-fishing on the upper Kern River has been excellent this past week with a major hatch of caddis in the morning and some good dry fly action from 6 to 8 a.m. and then good nymph and streamer fishing the rest of the day. The action for spin and bait anglers has also been fair to good with quite a few fish to three pounds reported. Best bite has been on crickets, Power Bait, and Mice Tails. Flows are down to 180 cfs this week. The bigger pools are holding a lot of fish. Good reports from the high elevation waters throughout the region, mostly for small trout. In the lower river, flows are in the 800 cfs range, which is very fishable. The bass and catfish bites are both fair to good with the bass on small lures and plastics, while the catfish are showing mostly on clams. No DFG trout plants in the Kern again this week. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Hot weather and mossy conditions have made the striper bite tough, but anglers walking the bank and drifting baits or working lures through the main flow are still getting a fair to good number of both catfish and stripers. The best catfish action has been on shad, mackerel or Sonny's Catfish bait. Blood worms have been the best bet for stripers. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
MILL CREEK PARK: There has been a lot of angler pressure and good action on catfish and carp here over the past week. Green nightcrawlers have been the top bait for the cats, while Powder Bait has been best for the carp. Also still a fair to good bite on bluegill on crickets and wax worms.
HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill bite has been good on wax worms, meal worms, and crickets, and the carp bite is also fair to good on Powder Bait or homemade dough baits. The bite is best mornings and evenings with the heat shutting things down the rest of the time. A few bass are also showing early and late on Senkos and Brush Hogs.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Good bluegill action on red worms, meal worms, wax worms, crickets, and nightcrawler pieces, but the best bite has been early and late in the day. The carp action is also fair to good on dough baits. The bass action is slow to fair with the only action very early or late in the day on topwater, jerkbaits, or plastics.
RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill action is good on meal and wax worms or crickets early and late in the day. Carp are fair on Powder Bait. The bass are slow to fair 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 good on dough baits. Bass are fair with the best bite early and late in the day on plastics, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures.
BRITE LAKE: No reports.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The catfish action has been fair at night on cut baits, but mostly on small fish. There is a good bluegill bite on wax worms, crickets, and meal worms, and a fair to good carp bite on Powder Bait or similar dough and dip baits. A few bass continue to show early and late in the day on topwater baits, lipless cranks, plastics, Senkos, minnows, and nightcrawlers. Information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: Very good bluegill action 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. Also quite a few carp showing for the anglers targeting them with Powder Bait.
SUCCESS LAKE: The bass action has been just fair. Best action on drop-shot plastics and Senko-type lures. The bluegill bite is good on crickets and wax worms in six to 20 feet of water. 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 striper bite has remained good for anglers throwing into topwater boils or trolling through the flocks of grebes feeding on the surface. The stripers are frequently below the birds. There have been a lot of fish from six to 10 pounds with a few bigger fish. This action has been mostly in the early mornings the past week, and the shad are small, so smaller baits are best. Top areas have been off the marina, along the north shore and at the dam. The catfish bite has been fair in most of the coves on cut baits and nightcrawlers, and there is also a fair carp bite for the few anglers targeting the carp. The black bass action is fair to good early in the day on plastics, smaller swimbaits, cranks, spinnerbaits, and Alabama rigs with the fish keying on the shad. Again, think smaller. Crappie spotty, but a few showing. 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 white bass are still showing in very good numbers all around the lake with the fish averaging about two pounds. Trolling in the mornings and evenings in 20 to 30 feet of water is a good bet, but the hot action has been early in the morning with the fish up on top chasing shad. The spotted and largemouth bass action is fair in the mornings with the fish on structure on plastics and jigs or up chasing cranks and swimbaits early in the day with fish to four pounds reported this past week. A few catfish also being landed with the best reported at 8.5 pounds this week. Few other 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 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com, Bee Rock Store at 805-472-9677, or Jim's Pro Bass Tackle at 805-237-0549.
SANTA MARGARITA: The largemouth bass bite remains the only action of note here with pretty fair morning action on topwater and reaction baits until the sun has been on the water for an hour or so. Paul LaPointe, Paso Robles, landed a 12-7 bass on a Banjo Minnow fishing the outside edge of the weed line this past weekend. Other species very slow with only the odd catfish, crappie, or bluegill showing. Light fishing pressure with heat this week. 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 bass bite has been fair with the best action early in the day on smaller fish on smaller reaction baits or topwater. Some fish on plastics and jigs, but that action is tougher. The bluegill and redear are also fair in six to 20 feet of water on red worms, crickets, or wax worms. Crappie and catfish have been slow, but a few cats are showing on cut baits in deeper coves with fish to 12 pounds 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. 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, you can visit the DFG's new stocking web site at http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/.
LOS ANGELES: Jackson Lake.
RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Gregory Lake, Jenks Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
INYO: Bishop Creek (Intake II), Lake Sabrina, North Lake, Rock Creek Lake South Lake.
MONO: Convict Lake, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lundy Lake, Mamine Lake, Mary Lake, Saddlebag Lake, Silver Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes (Upper and Lower, Bridgeport), Twin Lakes (Mammoth), Virginia Lakes (Upper and Lower).
TULARE: Balch Park Lake (Upper and Lower), Hedrick Pond (Redwood Lake).
FRESNO: Wishon Reservoir.
CATFISH PLANTS
The following lakes, listed by county, will be restocked with one-pound channel catfish by the Department of Fish and Game. 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 catfish plants statewide, you can visit the DFG's new stocking web site at http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/.
No plants this week.
OCEAN FISHING REPORT
By Terrence Berg
For Outdoor News Service
SAN DIEGO OFFSHORE AWESOME: The fishing off San Diego is the material for dreams. It would be hard to imagine that it can get much better than this. The overnight to 2 1/2-day trips out of San Diego are returning with a mix of four species of fish -- bluefin tuna, yellowfin, dorado, and yellowtail. Boats are frequently returning with limits of two species for all anglers on board and a smattering of other fish, and the action is as close as 50 miles from Point Loma. It's simply fantastic fishing with light loads and bigger-than-normal fish. Yellowfin up to 80 pounds have been landed on these trips are most are an honest 25 to 40 pound average. The bluefin are 25 to 35 pounds. The yellowtail real toads from 15 to 25 pounds, and even the dorado are up to 20 pounds. On Wednesday this week, the Grande out of Point Loma was out with just 16 anglers (the boat normally holds up to 40) and all anglers had limits of bluefin to 40 pounds and two dorado by 9:30 a.m. on an overnight trip. Seaforth Landing sent out the Pride and Voyager, and all anglers on both boats had limits of bluefin, and the Pride anglers also had limits of yellowtail. The Condor out of Fisherman's was on a 2 1/2-day trip and the anglers on board had limits of bluefin, yellowfin, and dorado. Even the ¾-day fleet is heading offshore to get in on this bonanza as the fish push in even closer to the coast. The Malihini out of H&M Landing reported 16 dorado, while the San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing returned with 20 dorado. Time to respool the reels and go.
SAN DIEGO LOCAL: There has been no movement on the part of the Mexican government, so the Coronado Islands remain effectively closed down by the new check-in requirement that makes fishing the islands unrealistic, the 3/4-day boats out of San Diego had been focusing on La Jolla kelp or fishing offshore for the exotics (see above). The Point Loma kelp has also had a few yellowtail and pretty consistent bass action, and the La Jolla area has continued to produce a few white seabass, but mostly for private boaters and kayak fishermen.
OFFSHORE ISLANDS: Both San Clemente and Catalina still have an excellent calico bass bite and both have quite a few yellowtail on the front side and seabass in the coves. Santa Barbara Island also has been off, but there is still a good volume of yellowtail and seabass at this island. For the Channel Islands fleet, the white seabass bite has continued to be more of a pick again this past week, but there was one day the overnight boats had good scores on the seabass. Add in good rockfish action, a fair pick on calicos, and the odd halibut and the fishing remains solid in this region.
BARRACUDA UPDATE: The barracuda have been excellent in recent days of San Pedro and Huntington and up into the Marina del Rey region for the local boats in this region. Most of the half- and three-day boats are fishing the bird schools and seeing a hot bite on the skinnies. Add in a few calicos and the odd sand bass, and this bite has been very good.
LANDING CONTACTS
Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, 805-772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, 805-595-7200; Sea Landing, 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.
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CATCHES OF THE WEEK 
Tembeling River Has Potential To Be Biggest Fresh Water Fish Producer In PahangJERANTUT, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Tembeling River has the potential of becoming the biggest fresh water fish producer in Pahang after 50,000 kelah and other fresh water fish released into the Sepia and Gembir rivers last year have matured for harvesting soon.
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