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June 25, 2008

JIM MATTHEWS’

PICKS OF THE WEEK

 

1. We’re going to mix it up this week, move Diamond Valley out of the top pick and slip Lake Perris in here for the excellent bluegill bite that has been going on here. While some quality ‘gills and some bigger redears are showing for the anglers fishing 12 to 20 feet of water with small jigs tipped with wax worms, there is wide open fishing on the smaller fish in the marina and off the dam. Perfect for the kids already bored now that they’re out of school. Using a slip bobber with a bobber stop, fish the bait four to eight feet under the float. Use worms, crickets, wax worms, or meal worms. You’ll whack ‘em. For an update on the bite, check with the marina at 951-657-2179.
2. You didn’t think we’d completely leave Diamond Valley Lake out of these top picks did you? It continues to be wide open for largemouth bass, probably offering the best fishing in Southern California for this species right now. There’s some surface action early and late in the day, but most of the bite is in 12 to 20 feet on a wide variety of plastics, swimbaits, and cranks. Lots of honest four- and five-pound fish. Top fish reported this week – and we emphasize the word “reported” – was an 8 3/4-pounder. With the new moon next Wednesday, this bite will just get better and better each day through the new moon. For an update, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at 951-658-7410.
3. Castaic Lake hasn’t been in our top picks in some time, but the striped bass bite has been is very good for anglers throwing topwater baits early and late in the day, drifting with frozen anchovies (and frozen shad is a lot better, if you can get it), or trolling. There was a 26 3/4-pound caught this past week on a topwater, but most of the fish are from 1 1/2 to four or five pounds. That part of the bite is not much different than the good action at Pyramid, Silverwood, or Skinner, but the chance at one of those bigger fish that have been showing, make Castaic the better pick of the four. For an update on the bite, check with the marina at 661-775-6232.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS


TROUT: Generally good fishing throughout the Eastern Sierra Nevada with Bridgeport Reservoir and Crowley Lake perhaps the two top spots to fish. The East Walker River is also an excellent bet for experienced fly anglers, and most of the region is good. The Bishop Creek drainage is good throughout. In Southern California, Big Bear Lake is very good on holdover fish, and Diamond Valley Lake is awesome but the shore bite has pretty much gone away, leaving the action to boaters. Hemet Lake also continues to crank out limits of trout.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Diamond Valley, Casitas, Perris, Skinner, Castaic, Cachuma, Isabella, Piru, Sutherland, San Vicente, and Lower Otay all have fair to good bass bite. Poway, El Capitan, Hodges, and Wohlford all have fair bites, while Silverwood and Pyramid are just slow to fair. On the Central Coast, Nacimiento still has a good spotted bass bite, and Lopez is pretty good, too.
STRIPED BASS: Castaic has been producing the biggest fish along with a good volume of smaller fish under nine pounds. Silverwood, Skinner, and Pyramid are all as good on these smaller fish. Most of the action is on drifted cut baits or frozen shad, if you can get that bait. A few wipers are showing at Elsinore, too. On the Colorado River, the best stripers action has been at Havasu and Mead where a lot of smaller fish to six pounds showing. Even the lower river below Havasu has areas of fair to good action all the way to Palo Verde. No monster fish at Willow or in Mohave reported this week.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are fair to good wherever these panfish occur. Top bets include Perris, Lower Otay, Casitas, and Diamond Valley, but there are darn few places where you can’t catch at least a few small ones. Most of the good crappie bites have all but died, but there is still fair action at Elsinore, Cachuma, and Piru, and San Antonio and Lopez on the Central Coast are both still pretty good.
CATFISH: The action at all of the planted lakes is very good, with Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake taking top billing this week because of plants of eight to 20-pound cats this week. Hesperia Lake and Irvine Lake are also very good. All of the San Bernardino County Park lakes are being planted each week now. Diamond Valley has a good to excellent bite, too. The lower Colorado River and river backwater, ditches, and canals have been consistently good with both flatheads and channels showing in the catch. It’s that time of year: the catfish bite is on just about everywhere.

 

 WATER BY WATER REPORTS

 

Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS


SILVERWOOD: Striper action very good on anchovies, nightcrawlers and sardines in Miller’s Canyon and in Boat House Cove. The striper bite is best in the early morning. Joseph Darden, San Fernando, caught a 6-8 striper. Catfish bite good to excellent on nightcrawlers. Dylan and Brandon Cervantes, Ontario, caught a seven-pound catfish. Trout bite fair in deep water on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. The lake hasn’t been planted with trout since early May when 2,100 pounds went in. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Chris Perez, Sugarloaf, caught a 27.03-pound channel catfish and now holds the lake record. He landed the fish off the east end of the lake on nightcrawlers. Overall the catfish bite has been spotty, but the trout bite is fair to good with a DFG plant this week. Floating dough baits and nightcrawlers are the best bets for rainbow anglers. Lake information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or bigbearmarina.com.
GREGORY LAKE: Mostly slow action with a few trout on floating baits fished close to the bottom. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Very good trout action with most morning anglers getting limits by 10 a.m. Top trout so far in June was a 9.9-pounder caught by Rita Carter, Green Valley. Mt. Lassen trout planted June 6 and June 19, Alper’s plant coming this week. Next plant July 3. The lake is scheduled to receive two private plants per month plus DFG fish. The 2008 fishing fees are $15 per day for adults, $10 for children. Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and parking is free. No float tubes or private boats are allowed, but there are row boats available for rent. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Trout bite slow to fair on nightcrawlers and Power Bait.
JENKS LAKE: Fair trout action on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week. The bass action has been fair, but most of the fish are small. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES


HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish and sturgeon seasons are in full swing. The cats are being planted twice a week (Monday and Thursday) and the bite has been very good. Most of the fish are 1 1/2 to three pounds, but quality fish over 20 pounds are caught each week, mostly on mackerel and Sonny’s Catfish Bait or the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, also doused with Sonny’s. Nate Zamola, Hesperia, landed the week’s top cat, 38-pound blue cat, fishing the marshmallow-meal worm combo off the sandy point. Anthony Green, Hesperia, caught a 28-pound channel, while Mike Hirsch, Barstow, had a 20-pound blue. Tony Bronswick, Rialto, caught a 15-pounder. The sturgeon are also pretty good and a 2,000-pound plant of five to 25-pounders is going in July 3. Top sturgeon this week was a 180-pounder caught and released by John Sarovino, Phelan. Tom Perez, Pinon Hills, caught a 26-pound sturgeon, while Larry Gomez, Victorville, landed a 25-pounder. Chris Hartwick, Ontario, had a 15-pound sturgeon. Day session 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. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: The trout bite slowed a bit this week with the hotter weather, but many anglers still had good success with quite a few limits. Power Bait (red, white and blue, sherbert, bubblegum, orange and lemon twist) night crawlers (doused with attractant), lures and jigs have been best. Hot spots included the grassy point and western shore of lake 3 as well as the northern and eastern shores of lake 2. Hot spots for bass are the southern shore of lake 2 and the northern and western shores of lake 3, particularly near the bridge and pump house. Bluegill are hitting meal worms and jigs on the western shore of lake 2 and the northern and western shores of lake 3. The Lakes' Hatchery stocks trout every Friday year round. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Fair to good catfish bite on meal worms, nightcrawlers and stink bait in Pelican. County catfish plants go in every week. Trout bite hanging in with the best bite during plant weeks. DFG trout plant this week. Information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY


CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair catfish bite on mackerel or nightcrawlers. County catfish plants each week. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Catfish fishing has been slow to fair with the majority of the fish in the one to 1 1/2-pound range. Best baits have been shrimp, DuMongs Catfish Bait, and nightcrawlers. Catfish plants are weekly now. Bluegill are really heating up with a good bite, mostly on small fish, and a few bass and carp for showing. Lake information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Very good bluegill bite with fish up to a pound reported. Mostly quarter- to half-pounders on stringers, however. Catfish bite is fair to good, and there are now weekly county plants with channels to two pounds planted. Fair bite on carp and a few bass also showing. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Catfish action fair to good, and the channels are going in every week now. Mackerel, shrimp and Hog Wild top baits. 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 plants. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY


DIAMOND VALLEY: Bass fishing has been exceptional this past week. Most bass have been landed in 10 and 25 feet on baby brush hogs, lizards, fat Ikas, shad, Senkos, spinners, jigs and crankbaits. Shawn Cooley, Quail Valley, caught five bass totaling 24.78 pounds in one hour. Tim Green, Encinitas, caught an 8.70-pound bass off the east dam on Berkley jerk shad. The recent National Bass West tournament pro division was won by Larry Cross and Art Berry with 18.91 pounds of bass. Rick Graham and Todd Bigalke got an even better weight for the semi-pros with 18.93 pounds. The trout have moved west shutting down the shore bite. The bite is fair to good for trollers fishing 50 feet or more on nightcrawlers, Rapalas, Excel lures, or Needlefish at the west dam, saddle dam, and around restroom 3. The catfish bite improves each week. The bite was exceptional this week in the third cove, and near the east dam or wave attenuator. Top baits include anchovies, mackerel, and shrimp. Most catfish have been found on the bottom in 10 to 20 feet. Elliott Lewis Jr., Beaumont, caught a 20.12-pound channel catfish on mackerel. There were few panfish reports this week, with anglers finding luck fishing along the dams, specifically near the stairways. Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: Lots of bluegill and redear reported around the island on crickets and worms. The action is very good to excellent. Taub Ratah, Monrovia, caught a seven bluegill totaling 5-8 on wax worms and crickets. Top fish was a 1-5. Good bass bite on plastic worms and jigs off the south end and Bernasconi Beach. Fish are mostly in 12 to 22 feet of water. Craig Wayment, Cypress, caught a three-pound bass on a 10-inch plastic worm in Power Boat Cove. Trout action slow to fair on nightcrawlers and Power Bait off the south end. Dan Farhen, Moreno Valley, caught 60 bluegill and four trout on crickets and chicken liver. Top fish was a three-pound trout. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The catfish bite took over the action. The bite has been very good to excellent on anchovies, mackerel and shrimp in the inlet and off Ramp 2. Daniel Ruppel, Menifee, caught a 6-13 catfish. Mike Dent, Hemet, caught a five-pound catfish. A catfish plant went in two weeks ago, 1,200 pounds. Largemouth bass bite very good on nightcrawlers, and Power Bait in the inlet. Greg Nelson, Yucaipa, caught a 3-8 largemouth. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: Crappie action fair to good on nightcrawlers and small jigs off the west side marina. Wiper (striper-hybrid) action fair to good with a few fish in the four-pound range landed off shore. Carp are fair to good off the east end on dough balls. The cats are showing at the state park on mackerel, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Good bluegill bite on wax worms. Some bass action at the southeast end on plastics. Information: Catfishing R Us at 877-685-7752.
CORONA LAKE: Good to excellent catfish action and a bonus plant of eight to 20-pound cats are slated to go in this week for the official catfish season kickoff. In addition, there is fair to good fishing for bass, bluegill, and tilapia. Even the odd trout is still showing in the catch. The catfish bite has been good on a variety of baits with mackerel, nightcrawelers, and shrimp, all doused with Gravy, good bets. The best action for catfish has been in the south end of the lake in the flooded trees. Stan Williams, Fontana, caught the top catfish this week at 16 pounds. Williams was fishing with mackerel from boat. Joe Soboloski, Riverside, landed three, near-identical 12-pound catfish in for a total stringer weight of 36-pounds. Fred Offeney, Riverside, landed a nice stringer of 10 catfish totaling 43-8 on mackerel dipped in garlic Gravy at the south end of the lake. Rick Kizzee, Los Angeles, caught a stringer of catfish totaling 39-pounds with a seven-pounder topping the catch. Kizzee was fishing with cut mackerel. The tilapia are starting to show in much better numbers, especially for anglers fishing the south end of the lake, and bluegill are showing up right along with the tilapia, mostly on nightcrawler pieces. A few bass on plastics, and the odd trout still coming from deep water. Regular catfish plants weekly, and there is also 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: More and more catfish starting to show for anglers fishing in 10 feet on shrimp, mackerel, nightcrawlers or chicken liver. Still some slow to fair bass action on plastics and crankbaits. Lots of small bluegill around the shorelines.
RANCHO JURUPA: Fair catfish bite on shrimp, mackerel, and worms. Four-fish catfish stringers were posted by Michael Anderson, Riverside, and Shaun Knighton, also Riverside. Gilbert Martinez, Riverside, had three cats and a bass. Cats are scheduled to be planted every other week through the summer, with the next plant set for July 3, right before the holiday weekend. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Fair catfish bite from all three lakes on pieces of nightcrawlers, Power Bait, mackerel or anchovies. Catfish plants go in every other week. Upcoming events: fishing derby every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 909-795-2411.
ANGLER'S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
REFLECTION LAKE: A catfish plant, 500 pounds will go in this week for the Fourth of July. The lake’s hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Very good catfish bite on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, dough bait and mackerel. Catfish are planted when the current stock goes below 2,000 pounds. A double plant went in a few weeks back. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday holidays, including Memorial Day. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS


LAKE HEMET: Good trout action with a lot of limits reported for both shore and boat anglers. Best bite early and late in the day for shore anglers and throughout the day for trollers and drift fishermen. Rick and Linda Onorato, Westminster, caught limits of trout to 1 1/2 pound three consecutive days. Top action on floating baits, with scent added, Kastmasters, Thomas Buoyants, small jigs, and inflated nightcrawlers. Most of the rainbows are 1/2 to 1 1/4 pounds with some bigger. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. Fair to good bass action with the best action on plastics and crawdads. Some bullhead and catfish action also staring. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY


SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: The catfish bite stayed hot here with a few bruisers were landed as part of the mix, and the big-fish bite will get better this week thanks to a bonus plant of trophy cats from eight to 20 pounds. Top baits for catfish have been shrimp, mackerel, and anchovies. Anglers fishing from boat have been having more success than those fishing from shore, with the majority of fish are still being caught in deeper water. Biggest fish this week was a 15-pound catfish caught by Patrick Leduff, Los Angeles, on shrimp with Nitro Gravy at La Palma Point. Leduff also caught an eight-pounder. Top stringer this week was landed by Mark Chance, Placentia, who caught a limit of five cats totaling 20-pounds with fish to nine pounds. All were caught on shrimp at the pump house. Tim Barnett, La Habra, caught an 11-8 catfish on shad, also at the pump house, and Jim Johnson, Huntington Beach, caught an eight-pound catfish on mackerel at the boat dock. Trout are slow to fair but Steve Rodriguez, Whittier, caught a 10-8 rainbw on a worm at the three pipes, while Pete Salazar, Norwalk, landed a 10-2 rainbow on nightcrawlers at the boat dock. Mario Davila, Fullerton, caught an eight-pounder trout on Nitro Bait at the three pipes. Catfish plants are weekly all summer, and trophy fish from eight to 15 pounds will a component of each week’s plant. The average cat will be in the two-pound range. The 24-hour passes are now available every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. Information: 714-632-7830 or www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: Daytime action has been slow due to the heat wave, but the night action is exceptional. Mackerel, raw shrimp and nightcrawlers have been the top choices. Isaac Pinera, Santa Ana, caught a 6-2 catfish on the marshmallow and meal worm combo. Phil Hildebrandt, Anaheim, landed a 5-8 catfish on mackerel at mid-lake. Dominic Russell, Buena Park, also caught a 5-8, while Brandon Ray, Pomona, landed a 5-2 catfish at the flats. Marty Saucedo, Costa Mesa, also caught a 5-2 catfish. A few crappie biting at night at the flats. Aaron Titleman, Tustin, caught a two- pound crappie on an Atomic Teaser. An oddball carp was brought in this week. Whitney Curry, Irvine, caught a 12-4 carp on swimbaits near the docks. Bass bite fair to good at dusk with topwater frogs producing fish in the two to three-pound range. A few trout from two to four pounds were pulled out by persistent trollers. Adult quagga mussels were discovered at Irvine Lake. Additional inspection procedures will take place at entry to prevent further contamination of the zebra mussel. The lake’s hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nighfishing is Thursdays until 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Bass bite good to excellent with fish in the one to four-pound range. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater baits in the early mornings and late evenings are best. Top fish was a seven-pounder. Good catfish action on mackerel, nightcrawlers, shrimp, chicken liver and meal worms fished with a marshmallow. The launch ramp and at the back side of the lake by the trees are the hot spots. Top cat this week was an eight-pounder. Crappie and bluegill good on assorted crappie jigs, nightcrawlers and meal worms fished below a bobber. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES


CACHUMA: Fair to good trout bite. The trout are from 1 1/2 to two pounds, with some over six pounds. Bait anglers are using rainbow Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Best trout spots include Cachuma Bay, just outside the marina and on the flats. Bass bite fair in the mornings on crankbait and plastics in the Jackrabbit Flats. Crappie bite fair on jigs and nightcrawlers in Bobcat Canyon. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. For quagga mussel and the new boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. Fishing information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: Bass action good to excellent on live shad, plastic worms and crankbaits. The bite is best early in the morning. Top bass this past week was an 11-8 landed by Andre Friedrichsen, Ojai. Steve Grey, Ventura, pulled out 10-8, nine and 8-8 bass. Francis Pedineau, Ventura, landed a 6-8. Catfish bite fair on mackerel and shrimp. Alex Cortez, Ojai, caught a five-pound catfish on a Robo worm. Trout bite still making some noise with fair action by the dam for trollers using Needlefish. Fair to good bluegill and redear bite on red worms and pieces of nightcrawlers in the shallows. Private boats are again be allowed at Casitas, but boaters will face an inspection and 10-day dry dock requirement because of fears of quagga mussel infestation. Information: 805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The stripers are dominating the action with a good bite and a few fish over 20 pounds. The hot spot for the stripers have been in Fish Arm, but frozen shad are producing all over the lake. Top fish this week was a 26.7-pounder caught by Scott Kenzel, Valencia, on topwater baits. Bob Caffey, Quartz Hill, landed a nine-pound striper trolling an umbrella rig in Fish Arm. A 3,000-pound trout plant went in last month, and the trout bite is dwindling, but some fish are still going after Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Catfish fishing fair with a few fish reported in the early morning along shore. A few carp showing up on stringers, too. Dough bait will do the trick. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Trout bite fair to good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Trollers have been using Kastmasters, Rapalas or Needlefish in 65 to 85 feet. Most fish are in the one to two-pound range, with an occasional four-pounder or better. Slow to fair crappie action in 10 to 20 feet on white mini-jigs. Most fish are under a pound, with a few over. Bass action fair on nightcrawlers and plastic worms in 10 to 15 feet. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: Fair to good bass action on jigs, and plastics. Anglers have reported the most action up shallow. Slow to fair trout action on Power Bait, anchovies and nightcrawlers. Fair striper bite. The bigger stripers should come out and go after the trout from the plant. Best action reported on cut baits or shad-like swimbaits and cranks. Down below the gatehouse is the best area for trout and stripers. Catfish action improving with a fair to good bite on nightcrawlers, mackerel or shrimp. No bluegill or crappie reports. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Fair to good catfish bite in deep water on mackerel, shrimp, chicken liver and nightcrawlers. DFG catfish plant two weeks ago. Slowing action but still a few trout on Power Bait or Lip RipperZ plastics and worms. Slow to fair bass bite off the east shore on drop-shot plastics, jerk baits and live worms. Fair bluegill action on meal and wax worms. Crappie bite fair on small jigs. The action is best in or around Sailboat Cove. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Very good catfish action on mackerel, shrimp or chicken liver. DFG catfish plant three weeks ago. Slow to fair trout action on nightcrawlers. Some bluegill on worms and nightcrawlers in the afternoon. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant two weeks ago.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant one month ago.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant three weeks ago.
LEGG LAKE: No recent plants.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG catfish plant last week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Fair trout bite at the drop offs on Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Some fair carp action with fish in the 1-8 to two-pound range on dough balls. DFG catfish plant three weeks ago. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES


BARRETT: Bass bite excellent and the bluegill bite is fair to good. This week 196 anglers checked 2,588 bass, 69 bluegill and nine crappie. Reservations for August available through Ticketmaster July 8. Call (619) 220-8497. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: Bluegill bite perked, but the bites are still just fair for bass and bluegill with a few cats and crappie. This week 158 anglers checked reported 105 bass, 60 bluegill, 13 channel catfish and nine crappie. The lake is open for fishing and boating Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Bass action good. This week 108 anglers reported 221 bass, 50 bluegill, 28 crappie and 12 channel catfish. The lake will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday for fishing. Permits on Thursday, Friday and Monday will only be available through the Iron Ranger/Pay Station by the concession building (exact change only). Boat rentals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. On Sundays rentals stop at 10 a.m. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
LOWER OTAY: The bluegill bite is very good. This week 169 anglers reported 506 bluegill, 165 bass, 20 channel catfish, 15 rainbow trout and one crappie. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: Improving bass bite with fair to good action. This week 21 anglers reported 45 bass. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is closed to vehicles, but anglers may walk in to fish during lake hours. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Bluegill and redear bite slowed but it’s still pretty good. Improved bass bite. This week 116 anglers reported 192 bluegill, 173 bass, 156 redear, 10 channel catfish and four crappie. The lake is open Thursday through Sunday for fishing and boating. Rentals are available Thursdays and Fridays only. The shoreline from the launch ramp to the buoy line is closed to all activities. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: Bluegill bite improved but still just fair. This week 90 anglers checked reported 72 bluegill, 11 bass and three channel catfish. The lake is open for fishing and boating seven days a week. Boat rentals are available Saturday and Sunday. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: This week 44 anglers checked reported 15 bass, six bluegill and five channel catfish. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Boat rentals are currently unavailable. The launch ramp and boat dock are temporarily closed due to low water levels. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
SUTHERLAND: Improved bass bite. This week 59 anglers reported 145 bass, six bluegill and one channel catfish. Vic Williams, Ramona, caught a 16.45-pound blue catfish on mackerel. Cris Cornette, Julian, caught a 6-2 bass. The lake is open for fishing and boating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Boar rentals available on Saturday and Sunday only. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Still a very good bass bite on swimbaits, crawdads, plastics, and live golden shiners. The Senior Shoreline is the hot area. Trout action has slowed down, with only a few fish landed on Power Bait, Power worms or nightcrawlers. The crappie have moved in tight to the bank and a few have been landed. Small golden shiners and crappie jigs are top baits. A few bluegill showing in Oakvale Cove. The catfish fishing is fair to good on mackerel, chicken liver, nightcrawlers and shrimp. A 2,000-pound plant of channel catfish will go in Thursday. A few carp biting on dough balls. There is a temporary ban on private boat launching, including canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders and anchors due to the threat of quagga mussels. Rental boats are available. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week.
DIXON: The trout action is fair to good with decent limits. The trout are in the four to six-pound range. The best baits have been yellow or green Power Bait, nightcrawlers and Thomas Buoyants. Hot spots have been in Trout Cove and near pier No. 3. Bass bite fair on plastic worms. Shawn Bowman, Escondido, caught a five-pound bass. Good catfish bite on cut mackerel or nightcrawlers in the deeper parts of the lake or near the buoy. Gary Williams, Escondido, caught a 9-2 channel catfish. Nigh fishing starts Friday with a 2,000-pound plant of channel cats. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Fair bass action between Boulder Bay and the East End of the log boom. Not too much reported trout action. A few bluegill biting in Hidden Bay on meal worms. A few one-pounders have been caught recently. The lake is open for fishing Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to sunset. No outside boats are allowed on the lake due to quagga mussel fears. Lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Catfish fishing fair. Most action reported especially in Shadow and Eagle Coves. Nightcrawlers and mackerel were the top choices, with plastic worms best at night. Catfish plant early this week with plants on July 14, July 28 and Aug. 11. Some decent trout action at mid-lake on nightcrawlers, drifted about 40 to 80 feet down. Bass bite fair with fish on the surface, near the bank at night. Bass in 15 to 30 feet during the day on shad. The lake is open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. and Sundays from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Upcoming events: Free fishing class Sunday at 1 p.m. Lake information: Ranger Hugh Marx, 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: Bass fishing fair on plastics as the water warms. The bass are biting in the boat launch area and in Cabin Cove. The boat launch is open. The trout bite is still hanging on with an OK bite in the late morning, and early afternoons on Power Bait, rainbow Rapalas or Kastmasters. Rowboats and motorboats are available to rent Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: DFG trout plant last week. Fair to good bite on nightcrawlers and Power Bait. Bass are in the shallows on plastic worms. Upcoming events: San Diego Fly Fishers is sponsoring Lend-A-Rod programs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. It includes free tackle use and fishing tips. Private boats are not allowed on the lake in order to prevent a quagga mussel outbreak. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Good catfish bite on nightcrawlers, shrimp and mackerel. Denis Zamora, San Diego, caught an eight-pound catfish. Kyle Casto, Santa Ysabel, caught a five-pounder, and David Neth, Julian, landed a four-pound catfish. Christian McGill, Santa Ysabel, caught a two-pound catfish. Jerry and Ramona Quinllin, Santee, landed several catfish in the two to six-pound range. Small bass have been caught in the shallows, right off shore on plastics. Crappie bite very slow, with an occasional fish caught on jigs. The lake is open from 6 a.m. to midnight. Nightfishing will continue through the summer. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER


LAKE MEAD: Fair to good striper action in the back of Vegas Wash and in Boxcar Cove, but most of the fish are small. There is also a decent bite on the smaller fish in Black Canyon and near the dam. Smallmouth bass are still actively taking almost any bait or lure, mostly in rocky areas.
WILLOW BEACH: Continued fair to good trout action on spinners, salmon eggs, or floating baits just off shore. Some fish to three pounds. Also some trout action on Jake’s, Panther Martins, and spoons. Trout continue to be planted every Friday. Stripers still spotty. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The bite at the upper end is picking up for stripers with the best bite on shad. Boat anglers are also landing stripers in good numbers, trolling in 20 to 80 feet of water just outside of coves. Shore anglers are also catching fish in the mouths of coves. Nightfishing has been best, although anglers are catching fish in the early morning and late afternoon hours as well. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Improved striper bite on anchovies or chicken livers, especially near Harrah’s Casino. Little to no trout bite.
NEEDLES: Striper bite decent with small fish reported primarily downriver in the Topoc area. A few catfish are starting to show and some crappie are also biting in the gorge. Slow largemouth bite. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: Very good catfish bite on nightcrawlers and anchovies. A few bass biting on plastics. Some bluegill around structure. The key is to find a school of fish. The stripers are nonexistent. Water levels are up, but still take caution when launching. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: 928-768-2350.
HAVASU: Very good to excellent striper bite all over the lake on shad, swimbaits, jerk baits, and anchovies. The afternoon hours are best for fishing. Good catfish action on anchovies in Buzzard and Eagle Coves. Roberto Arrambade, Litflefield, Ariz., caught a 10-pound catfish. The smallmouth and largemouth bass bites are fair. A few bass in the three to four-pound range have been landed off the point at Six Site. Also some bluegill action reported at Six Site on meal worms. Tyler Story, Ramona, caught two bluegill just under a pounder each off the B Dock. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Fair catfish action with some flatheads to 12 pounds reported in an improving bite. As the temps get higher, the action gets better for the cats. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
BLYTHE: Still some very good to excellent flathead action with the occasional fish 30-pounds or larger, but most are in the seven to 10-pound range. The bass bite has been good in the main river for smallmouths and in the ditches and backwaters for largemouth, with some fish to four pounds and bigger reported this week. Bluegill are fair to good in most backwaters. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Water temperatures and levels are up, and the bass action is fair to good in the backwaters and smallies on the river rip-rap. Also improving action on schoolie-sized stripers in the river with fish to four pounds reported. Very good flathead action. Information: Walter's Camp 760-854-3322.
PICACHO AREA: Some catfish and bass action reported. Both bites fair to good. Few reports.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Fair to good largemouth bite on cranks, spinnerbaits and plastics. Channel catfish bite decent, and the crappie bite is also fair on small live minnows. A few flatheads are showing in the main river, too. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: The bite at the Gila Main Canal in East Yuma fair to good for channel catfish, large redear, and bluegill. Catfish taking mackerel or shrimp, and redear and bluegill biting worms. The flatheads have been active.

LOWER DESERT WATERS


SALTON SEA: The heat is still taking a toll on the fishing with very few tilapia reports. There have been many days with the temps scorching to 110 or more. Prior to the brutal heat, the bite had been very good all along the state park beaches with many anglers reporting catches of 50 to 100 fish to a half-pound or a little better each. Check with the state park staff before you go. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052. Weather information: 760-352-3360, Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast 760-398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one.
ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass has been reported. Also some stripers. Scott Lopez, Indio, landed a striped bass weighing 4.8 pounds fishing a nightcrawler on four-pound test line in canal near Indio.
ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure.
FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
WEIST LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 760-352-3308.
SUNBEAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
LAKE CAHUILLA: No report. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA


GENERAL: For updated road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Bridgeport Reservoir action for trollers and boat bait anglers has really turned on. The region has received several trout plants from the DFG, and the trout bite is exceptional. Buckeye Bay, Rainbow Point and near the dam have been the most productive areas. Shore fishing and fly-fishing has been below average, however. The damsels and the callibaetis are spotty. The fly-fishingbite in the East Walker River is good with a lot of 18 to 22-inch fish. Flows are stable between 200 and 220 cfs. Midge patterns are best in the mornings. In mid- to late-morning the caddis start egg-laying the baetis start emerging. The mayflies continue through the afternoon. Virginia Lakes are very good. Big Virginia’s fly and bait bite is hot. Twin Lakes have also been good with a lot of pan-sized trout, although rainbows five pounds and better have been reported. For the East Walker River flows, you can check this website for real time flow data: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?10293000. Fishing information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or www.kenssport.com.
JUNE LAKE LOOP: Grant Lake is low an the bite is off with only a few fish at the Rush Creek inlet. Gull is still producing some of the best action for browns planted earlier in the season, and lots of rainbows are showing early and late in the day. Silver Lake has had some great Alpers’ pulled out near the boat docks. June Lake has been fair to good off the far side for bait anglers and slow-trollers. For fly anglers, June and Silver continue to have good midge hatches in the mornings and evenings. However, when the wind picks up, things slow down. Runoff flows are down and the water has cleared at Rush Creek. Nymphing is best. Information: Ernie’s Fishing Tackle (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina (760) 648-7726.
MAMMOTH AREA: Crowley Lake action has been very good for bait anglers fishing deep in Big Hilton and McGee Bay. Inflated nightcrawlers and bright-colored Power Bait are best. Shore fishermen have had luck off Little Hilton Point and outside of Beaver Cove. Perch are making some noise all around the lake, especially in Green Banks, Big Hilton Bay and Leyton Springs. Lead head jigs are best. Fly fishermen have also had luck in Big Hilton and McGee Bay catching rainbows. The midge hatch is very good. Sandy Point and Leyton Springs have also produced some good action. The damsel flies are starting around 10 a.m. Upper Owens above Benton Crossing bridge is excellent for fly anglers tossing caddis dries or fishing nymphs under a strike indicator. Below the bridge, the planted trout action is very good. The bite at Hot Creek is fair to good, but inconsistent. Last week the yellow sally stonefly hatch started and it is providing decent action on No. 14 or 16 yellow stones. The fish are also taking midges, caddis, small olive mayflies, and scuds. Good stocker trout action in Mammoth Creek and all the Mammoth Lakes -- Mary, Mamie, Gull, and George all producing fish. The fishing has been very good at both Mary and Mamie with midges and callibaetis hatching in the evening. Also some fair dry fly action in the late evening and early morning. The road to the San Joaquin is open, and while the San Joaquin River is high and still a little tough, Sotcher and Starkweather lakes both are very good with fish to 3 1/2 pounds reported. A few midges and mayflies. Convict Lake bite good for rainbow trout at the inlet and outlet on nightcrawlers, Power Bait, Thomas Buoyants and Kastmasters. Fishing information: Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301 or www.CrowleyLakeFishCamp.com. The Troutfitter 760-934-2517, Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, or Performance Anglers at 760-924-2181 or www.performanceanglers.com.
BISHOP AREA: The bite at Sabrina Lake has been unpredictable. Good for some and slow for others. Those that had luck found some Alpers’ to five pounds and better on Gulp, plastic worms, and nightcrawlers. C.J. Snow, Rancho Santa Margarita, caught a 6-8 Alper. Kevin Allard, Moreno Valley, caught a four-pounder. Ryan Fisher, 9, Lakewood, also landed a four-pounder on a plastic trout worm. The Bishop Creek Canyon Summer Classic Tagged Trout Derby will run through Tuesday. Registration and a $5 entry fee is required to participate, but all of the stores and landings in the Bishop Creek drainage, and most of the tackle and fly shops in Bishop have sign-up forms. Tagged fish will be worth $50 to $500 with five $500 tagged fish in the mix. The Piute Palace and Adopt-a-Creek are also sponsoring the “Cash of the Day” event where tagged fish are planted in Intake II, North Lake, and Bishop Creek. Anglers can redeem these tagged fish at the Piute Palace for cash. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is fair to good with good trout and perch action. The trout are biting Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Bishop Creek and Intake II planted last week, and the bite is fair to good. The lower Owens River (in both the Gorge below Crowley Lake and below Pleasant Valley Reservoir) has slow to fair conditions with high levels, around 460 cfs. For flow information on the whole Owens River system, you can get information here: http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/aqueduct/showAqueductMap.ladwp?contentId=LADWP_AQUERTD_SCID. For fishing information: Culver's 760-872- 8361, Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Pretty decent bite in both the lower Owens River and Diaz Lake. Plants this week at Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Sheperds Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA


LAKE ISABELLA: Large numbers of catfish have been landed on shad and clams in the north fork. Lance McNivin, Bakersfield, caught an 11-pound catfish on shad.
The crappie bite is hit and miss with only a few pockets of fish in deeper water producing. Trout bite is very good on Power bait and nightcrawlers. Trollers also scoring with Needlefish and Excel lures by the dam. Fishing information: Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: The Kernville area has a fair to good trout bite on salmon eggs and spinners. The flows have dropped in the upper river, so the bite is decent. Lower river flows are dropping, too, and some good trout have been caught. Still too cool for the bass in the lower river, but the action should start to pick up as it warms. Information: Kern River Troutfitter 760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.
RIVER WALK PARK: The action from the last trout plant is slow to fair. No more trout plants will go until next season.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good catfish action on mackerel, shad, and Sonny’s dip bait with improving action as the waters warm. This bite can turn on and off depending on flows, moon phases, and weather conditions. Striper bite good on blood worms. Jim Jackson, Bakersfield, caught a 5-8 striper on anchovies.
HART PARK LAKE: Bluegill action good on wax worms and crickets. Good carp bite on dough balls.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Bluegill action good on meal worms and crickets. Fair to good bass bite on topwater plugs in the evenings. Good carp bite on dough bait. Catfish bite picking up. Fair trout bite.
MING LAKE: Very good bluegill action on crickets and meal worms. Fair to good bass bite on Senkos, plastic worms and minnows. Good carp bite on dough bait. Fair trout action on Power Bait.
BRITE LAKE: Catfish bite fair on anchovies.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Good catfish bite on shad. Also a few stripers on shad. The bass bite has slowed down. Bluegill bite good on wax worms.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair to good bluegill action on wax worms and crickets. Bass bite fair on minnows and plastics. Good carp bite on dough bait.
SUCCESS LAKE: Slowish. Levels are lowering and the bass bite is picking up. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Fair bass bite on Senkos. Levels are high. Information: 559-597-2526

CENTRAL COAST LAKES


SAN ANTONIO: Very good crappie bite on jigs and minnows. Fair to good striper action in Bee Rock Cove and Harris Creek on anchovies and swimbaits. The smallmouth are scarce, however the largemouth bite is fair to good around the rocky points on swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits and plastic worms. Fair catfish action on anchovies. Information: 805-472-2818.
SANTA MARGARITA: Largemouth bass action fair to good on Brush Hogs, plastics or crankbaits. Anglers have landed their limit with largemouth to five pounds on some stringers. The early morning bite from sunrise to 8 a.m. is best. Fair to good trout bite on Power Bait or worms. Decent crappie action on jigs near the river inlet. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
NACIMIENTO: Slow to fair action, except for the spotted bass, which are fair to good on plastics and spoons in the narrows and off the rocky shorelines. Some anglers have reported catching 12 to 15 fish by putting in two to three hours of effort. Largemouth and small action slow. Slow white bass bite. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
LOPEZ: Very good crappie bite on jigs. Bass action very good on jigs, nightcrawlers or plastic worms, especially in Wittenberg Canyon. Good bluegill and redear action on meal and wax worms. Catfish bite spotty. Try anchovies or shrimp. Fair trout action on nightcrawlers and rainbow Power Bait in Cottonwood Cove and off the Cottonwood shoreline. Trollers are also having luck just outside Cottonwood Cove on Needlefish and silver Kastmasters. Most fish are under the two-pound mark. Information: 805-489-1006.

TROUT PLANTS


Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked this week with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Bouquet Canyon Creek.
SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake, Jenks Lake, Lytle Creek Middle Fork, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River South Fork.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Intake 2), Bishop Creek Lower, Bishop Creek (Middle and South Forks), Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, North Lake, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Owens River (Section 2), Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Rock Creek Lake, Sabrina Lake, Sheperds Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MADERA: San Joaquin River Middle Fork, Sotcher Lake, Starkwater Lake.
MONO: Bridgeport Reservoir, Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Ellery Lake, George Lake, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vining Creek (South Fork), 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, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport (Lower and Upper), Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Creek, Virginia Lake (Lower and Upper), West Walker River (Sections 2 and 3).
FRESNO: Big Creek near Huntington,nDinkey Creek, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay,, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, South Fork of San Joaquin, Tamarack Creek, Tenmile Creek, Ward Lake.
KERN: Kern River from Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville, Kern River from Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach.
MADERA: Kern River from Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach, Corrine Lake, Fish Creek, Lewis Creek, Lower Chiquito Creek, Manzanita Lake, Nelder Creek, North Fork of Willow Creek, Rock Creek, Sotcher Lake, Starkweather Lake, Upper Big Creek, Upper Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, West Fork of the Chiquito Creek.
MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir, Merced River downstream of Redbud Bridge.
MERCED: Merced River from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls, Yosemite Lake.
TULARE: Balch Park eastern Lake, Balch Park western Lake, Big Meadows Creek, Dry Meadow Creek, Freeman Creek, Hedrick Pond Campground pond, Kern River from Bush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, North Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Wishon Campground, Peppermint Creek (lower), Peppermint Creek (upper), South Fork Kern River, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Camp Nelson, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Ceder Slopes, Stoney Creek.
TUOLUMNE: Beardsley Lake, Beaver Creek, Cherry Lake, Deadman Creek, Herring Creek, Herring Creek Reservoir, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River, Moccasin Creek, North Fork of the Stanislaus River, North Fork of the Tuolumne River, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork of the Stanislaus River, South Fork of the Tuolumne River, Stanislaus River Clark Fork.
 
CATFISH PLANTS


Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be stocked this week with one-pound channel catfish by the Department of Fish and Game.
ORANGE: Carr Park Lake, Centennial Park Lake, Eisenhower Park Lake, Greer Park Lake, Huntington Park Lake, Laguna Lake, Mile Square Park Lake, Ralph Clark Regional Lake, Tri-City Park Lake, Yorba Regional Park Lake.

OCEAN FISHING REPORT


By Terrence Berg and Phil Friedman
www.976-TUNA.com


CHANNEL ISLANDS UPDATE: The white seabass bite in the Channel Islands took off this past week. Boats from the Santa Barbara and Ventura landings are getting good numbers of the seabass, a few halibut, a few calico bass, and continued limits of rockfish. Live squid and good weather have been the key factors along with rising water temps. The Mirage out of Port Hueneme Sportfishing had 31 white seabass on a recent trip along with full limits of rockfish to boot. Skippers say the seabass are thick around the Channel Islands now.
LOS ANGELES LANDINGS UPDATE: The white seabass are on the chew at Catalina Island this week. Six anglers on the Old No. 7 had limits of white seabass to 40 pounds on Sunday. The limit for white seabass went from one to three per angler on June 15th. While it’s not limits everyday at Catalina Island, reports from a variety of sources say that there is an incredible volume of white seabass there. Mixed in with the seabass are some yellowtail to 40 pounds and some very good calico bass fishing. Anglers fishing at San Clemente Island are also seeing good to excellent yellowtail action on fish to 35 pounds (see below). Calico bass fishing has also been very good. In the Santa Monica Bay, local anglers have been scratching calico bass, along with a few bonito, barracuda, sculpin, and rockfish. Lots of sand bass have moved onto the Huntington Flats, but the bite has not broken open as of yet. The Horseshoe Kelp is seeing flurries of god action on calico and sand bass, as well as a few barracuda.
ORANGE COUNTY LANDINGS UPDATE: San Clemente Island yellowtail are really starting to break wide open for anglers fishing Orange County-based sport boats. Anglers on The Amigo out of Newport Landing caught 24 yellowtail at San Clemente Island on Sunday, and the boat returned with 36 yellows on Saturday. These yellowtail are in the 20- to 35-pound class and are being taken on live squid. Excellent calico bass fishing has also been the rule at Clemente. Meanwhile, anglers on the 3/4-day boats are concentrating on Catalina (see above). For the local boats, anglers are seeing a pretty good sprinkling of calico and sand bass, a few halibut, and an occasional flare up on barracuda.
SAN DIEGO LANDINGS NEWS: Albacore continue to move into the San Diego region, but so far the fishing has been only fair. "Once we move away from this full moon, it's going to get good," said captain Buzz Brizendine of the Prowler. This weekend is just before the new moon on July 2 and tides and weather conditions should be excellent. Anglers on the Constitution out of H & M Landing nailed 16 albacore the first morning of a two-day trip this past weekend, and then the bite slowed down. "We though it was going to be a big day," said Captain Joe Phillips. "But after the first 16 albacore, that was it." Phillips said there was a lot of albacore spread over a wide area that just were not in the biting mood. "Things look great and when these things want to bite, it’s gonna get crazy,” said Phillips. For the local fleet, there is excellent fishing for sand bass and barracuda out of San Diego with limits or near limits on both species not uncommon. On Sunday, the Chubasco II with skipper Ernie Prieto nailed Mexican limits of sand bass and barracuda. The father and son team of Ray and 15-year-old Paul Mendoza from Rancho Santa Margarita were on board and both limited out on sand bass and barracuda. Paul also caught a 49.9-pound halibut. This catch is being submitted for the California junior record. On the way back to Mission Bay Sportfishing, Captain Prieto noticed a big area of bait so he stopped and told everyone to fish. Ray Mendoza set the hook on what turned out to be a 19-pound white seabass.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA and Shimano host instructional charters throughout the year, offering beginning anglers or veterans advice and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. The next trip is a 3/4-day limited load trip on Friday, July 11, aboard the Icon out of Long Beach Sportfishing. This trip will target surface species and the cost is $50. For more information on upcoming Shimano/976-TUNA instructional charters, call 310-328-8426.

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, Hueneme, 805-488-2212; 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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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.

For comprehensive saltwater fishing reports and information visit our companion site: www.976-tuna.com

RECENT BIG CATCHES

Photos are listed by date of catch, not when they are received. If you've recently submitted a photo or heard of a big catch, you might have to scroll down to find the image.

June 18, 2008 - Cliff McDonald, Needles, holds a pair of stripers, both in the four-pound range, he caught at Lake Mohave.

 

June 15, 2008 - Scott Lopez, Indio, landed this striped bass weighing 4.8 pounds fishing a nightcrawler on four-pound test line in the Coachella Canal near Indio.

 

June 15, 2008 - Dan Doran, Bishop, hauled in a 5-3/4 pound rainbow from Sabrina Lake fishing a Thomas Buoyant.

 

June 13, 2008 - Adrian Pintor, North Hollywood, nailed this nice 15.6-pound Irvine Lake channel cat on cut mackerel fishing on Santiago Flats.

 

June 13, 2008 - Gavin Velasco of Poway with 3.5-pound, 3.4-pound, and 2.6-pound trout caught on nightcrawlers off the Lake Poway pier.

 

June 13, 2008 - Vincent Hunt of Moreno Valley with a 26-8 catfish caught on J.D.'s Catfish Bait near the trees in the south end of Corona Lake.

 

June 8, 2008 - Alex Benton of Long Beach nailed this 13.06 pound channel catfish on Irvine Lake's Santiago Flats while fishing mackerel.

 

June 7, 2008 - this 42-pound flathead was caught by Brian Cummings, Inglewood, from the Colorado River - Palo Verde area on a bluegill.

 

June 7, 2008 - Lee Bell of Bishop caught this 3-3/4 pound rainbow at Lake Sabrina on rainbow Gulp.

 

June 7, 2008 - Lori Carnahan, Sky Valley, caught this 3 1/4-pound brown trout at Lake Sabrina on a Rapala.

 

June 6, 2008 - Mike Mills of Poway caught this 1-0 bluegill on a Meal Worm in Hidden Bay at Lake Poway.

 

May 30, 2008 - Taxidermist Jeff Soto, Riverside, fished Evans Lake (Fairmount Park, Riverside) on Friday morning and caught and released five bass to six pounds in two hours of fishing.
 

May 24, 2008 - 976-TUNA.com's Philip Friedman of Torrance while at Catalina Island Caught this 50-pound class white seabass while soaking a live squid on a Seeker rods with Avet SX reel spooled with fresh 20-pound Berkley fishing line.
 

May 24, 2008 - Philip Friedman, Jr. of Torrance caught this 50-pound class white seabass while at Catalina Island. He was fishing a live squid on a Seeker rod with sn Avet SX reel spooled with fresh 20-pound Berkley fishing line.

 

May 24, 2008 - 976-TUNA.com's Terrence Berg of La Mirada was at Catalina Island when he caught this 60- pound class white seabass while soaking a live squid on a Seeker rod with an Avet SX reel spooled with fresh 20-pound test Berkley fishing line.

 

May 23, 2008 - Pedro Villa of Anaheim caught this 10-0 rainbow on a nightcrawler with garlic gravy at the sandy beach of Santa Ana River Lakes.

 

May 18, 2008 - Brian Cummings, Inglewood, (top) with a 25-pound flathead catfish and Tony Ferguson, Riverside, (above) with a 30-pound flathead catfish. Both were landed on the Colorado River. They were fishing live bluegill in the Palo Verde region.

 

May 17, 2008 - Robert Sloan of Valley Center with a  7.62-pound bass caught on a plastic worm near restroom No. 2 at Diamond Valley Lake.

 

May 15, 2008 - Kevin Deemer of Hemet with 6-0 and 5-0 bass caught on jerkbaits near restroom No. 2 at Diamond Valley Lake.

 

May 15, 2008 - Rico Gutierrez (left) and his buddy Brett Phillips, both of San Diego, show off Gutierrez' 10 1/2-pound rainbow trout caught on Power Bait off the south shore at Lake Poway.

 

May 14, 2008 - Kevan Branchfield of Hemet landed this 10.3-pound rainbow on a Power Bait-nightcrawler combo fishing in Boulder Bay at Lake Poway.

 

May 10, 2008 - Jeff Soto of Riverside caught and released this four-pound largemouth at Evans Lake (Fairmount Park). He also landed a six-pounder earlier in the month.

 

May 9, 2008 - Nick White of Silver Lakes holds up a 3 1/2 to four-pound rainbow he caught and released at Lundy Lake on a mini jig.

May 9, 2008 - Marco Luna of Apple Valley holds a four-pound class rainbow he caught and released from Upper Twin Lake in the Eastern Sierra. He was fishing a mini jig at Mono Village.

 

May 9, 2008 - This is Dixon Lake's Dottie after she was found dead. Dottie weighed 25 pounds at the peak of her life when she was accidentally snagged, weighed, and released. That news started a frenzy to land her legally and topple the world record of 22-4.

 

May 7, 2008 - Emily Kropko, Perris, holds a four-pound class Diamond Valley Lake rainbow trout.

 

May 3, 2008 - Kevin and Bianca Clow, San Diego, with an 8.7-pound trout on a Gotcha Plug caught outside Half Moon Bay at Lake Poway.

 

May 3, 2008 - Mark Barlow, Phelan, hooked this 200-pound class sturgeon at Hesperia Lake, but even with the help of four other anglers and two nets, they couldn't land the fish before the line broke and it swam off.

 

May 3, 2008 - Kathleen and Kaira Berry, Wildomar, caught this nice batch of bluegill behind the Bait Shop at Corona Lake with wax worms fished beneath a bobber.

 

May 2, 2008 - Terrence Berg of La Mirada caught this 220 thresher shark off San Diego on The “Wide Load” with a Avet PRO EXW 30/02 on 50 Pound Ande Line and a Seeker Rod. The fish ate a slow trolled lure with a live mackerel attached.

 

May 1, 2008 - Devin Preston, Glendora, caught this rainbow from Mammoth Creek. The fish was 23 inches and about 4 pounds.

 

April 27, 2008 - Derek Snyder of Corona was using pink Puddle Bug jigs under a bobber in heavy cover at Lake Elsinore to land these two crappie -- one at 1 1/2 and the other at two pounds.

 

April 27, 2008 - Becky Matthews, assisted by brother Randy Fann, both San Bernardino, holds up a 20-inch, 3 1/2-pound class rainbow caught and released on Hilton Creek just above Crowley Lake opening weekend.

 

April 26, 2008 - Bryan Friedman, Walnut, with a 4 1/2-pound Alpers Trout caught opening day of trout fishing in the Eastern Sierra at Intake II on Bishop Creek.

 

April 26, 2008 - Wilton (Big Willie) Mays of Pacoima landed this 35-pound flathead catfish just before dawn while fishing in the Colorado River using a live redear for bait.

 

April 26, 2008 - Mike Martinez, Moreno Valley, with the largest trout reported in the Eastern Sierra for the 2008 trout opener. The 9-pound, 15-ounce rainbow trout was caught at Convict Lake on a small jig at 5:30 a.m.

 

April 26, 2008 - Andy Hall, Highland, holds a 1 1/2-pound rainbow he caught and released on Hilton Creek opening weekend in the Eastern Sierra.

 

April 26, 2008 - Don McLaughlin, Thousand Oaks, with a 2 1/2-pound brown trout from Lake Sabrina, on a gold Kastmastr through the ice.

 

April 24, 2008 - Marcos Perez, Corona, with an 18 1/4-pound rainbow trout from Corona Lake.

 

April 21, 2008 -  Se Ier of Long Beach with a couple of striped bass caught from shore at Lake Silverwood near the dam.

 

April 20, 2008 - Steve England of Mission Viejo caught this 10-0 brown trout on a Thomas Buoyant at Woody's Cove of Irvine Lake.

 

April 20, 2008 - Santiago Palacios of La Puente with an 80-pound sturgeon caught at Corona Lake.

 

April 20, 2008 - Emily Kropko, Perris, caught a pair of rainbows at 1-6 and 1-4, one on a lure and one on Power Bait at Silverwood Lake.

 

April 18, 2008 - MarkOehlerking of Irvine with a 12-pound brown trout caught at Santa Ana River Lakes.

 

April 17, 2008 - Corona Lake produced these five Lightning Trout for Brian Scrivens of West Covina on chartreuse Nitro Bait at the dam.

 

April 16, 2008 - Proof that crappie bites are kicking into gear all over Southern California, Todd Johnson of Long Beach shows off two crappie approaching two pounds each he caught at Diamond Valley Lake's east dam.

 

April 14, 2008 - Rich Garcia of Beaumont with a 9.02-pound bass from Diamond Valley Lake's south shoreline while fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water using a jig.

 

April 10, 2008 - Nestor Valladares, Fontana, with a 17 1/2-pound rainbow caught at Corona Lake.


 

April 1, 2008 - Nhan Doan, Moreno Valley, Ca, with an 11.2-pound largemouth from Lake Perris caught on a Triple Trout swimbait from shore.

 

March 24, 2008 - Ray Turner, Moreno Valley, with 268-pound sturgeon caught from Hesperia Lake. The fish was 85-inches long with a 51-inch girth.

 

February 20, 2008 - Brandon Cotton, editor of Fish Rap, caught this 62-pound white seabass off LaJolla.

 

February 8, 2008 - Allan Cole of Henderson, Nev., caught this 50-pound, 48 1/2-inch long striped bass while fishing at Mile Marker 40 below Willow Beach on an A.C. Plug.