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August 6, 2008

JIM MATTHEWS’

PICKS OF THE WEEK

 

1. The bass bite is just excellent at Diamond Valley Lake with a number of fish to six pounds reported again, mostly on plastics, but there has also been a good morning topwater bite. Add in the good trout bite, excellent catfish action, and untouched panfish action, and this lake really could and should be a top pick each week. For more information on the fish and to get an update, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle in Hemet at 951-658-7410.
2. The San Diego ocean scene is wide open right now, with 1/2 to two-day boats getting in on some of the best fishing of the year. The dorado and yellowtail -- admittedly mostly five to eight-pound fish -- have pushed up into waters as close as two miles from shore and as far up the coast as Newport in good numbers. There are so many smaller fish that it’s just difficult to get a bait through them to the bigger fish into the 18 to 22 pound class. While this bite is pushing up the coast by the day, the best action is still out of San Diego. For an update, check with the main landings there: Fisherman's Landing, at 619-221-8500, H&M Landing at 619-222-1144, Seaforth Landing at 619-224-3383, Point Loma Sportfishing at 619-223-1627 or Islandia Sportfishing at 619-222-1164.
3. The Castaic Lake striper bite moves into the top three picks based on the striper action with both volume and quality in the catfish this past week. Several fish over six pounds and up to nine pounds were landed by bait anglers fish near the buoy land and dam. For an update, check with the marina staff at 661-775-6232.


FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS


TROUT: Generally good fishing throughout the Eastern Sierra Nevada with Crowley Lake, Bridgeport Reservoir, and the East Walker River still perhaps the top spots to fish. The Virginia Lakes are also good to excellent. The Bishop Creek drainage, Mammoth Lakes region, and June Lake loop are all generally pretty good throughout, but the mid-day heat shuts down the bite then thoughtout the region. In Southern California, Cachuma Lake is good for deep trollers, and Casitas has seen its summertime deep trolling (or still fishing) bite return with fair to good action. Perris also has a pretty good deep-water bite. Big Bear Lake and Diamond Valley Lake both turned back on this week with good action in deeper water. Hemet Lake continues fair to good. In the Western Sierra, the upper Kern River is very good for the rainbows.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Barrett Lake remains wide open for anglers with a permit. Casitas remains very good, and Diamond Valley really turned back on with an excellent bite. Sutherland, in San Diego County, is a top bet, but Perris, Skinner, Castaic, Cachuma, Isabella, Piru, Wohlford, San Vicente, and Lower Otay all have fair to good bass bites. Poway, El Capitan, and Hodges, all have fair bites, while Silverwood and Pyramid are also pretty fair. On the Central Coast, Nacimiento still has a good spotted bass bite, and Lopez is pretty good, too.
STRIPED BASS: Silverwood has been the top striper producer this week with excellent action on smaller fish to four pounds and some bigger. Most of the action here and most of the other Southern California lakes -- including Pyramid, Castaic, and Skinner, all of which are fair to good -- has been on anchovies. A few wipers are showing at Elsinore, too, in a fair bite. On the Colorado River, the best striper action has been an excellent bite in Havasu and Mead where a lot of smaller fish to three pounds showing. Other spots slowed with only fair action in the lower river.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are fair to good wherever these panfish occur. Top bets include Perris, Lower Otay, San Vicente, Elsinore, Diamond Valley, and Casitas, in about that order, but the heat has slowed some of the bites except for early in the day. Most Southern California crappie bites are off, but a there’s still a slow to fair bites at Piru and Elsinore, and the Central Coast lakes are a beter bet. Lopez is fair to good and there are fair bites at San Antonio and Santa Margarita.
CATFISH: The action at all of the planted-catfish lakes is very good. Santa Ana River Lakes, Corona Lake, Irvine Lake, and Hesperia Lake are planted each week and have generally good action. Hesperia is cranking out the biggest fish. All of the San Bernardino County Park lakes are being planted each week with catfish, and all are pretty good. Diamond Valley has a good to excellent bite and Henshaw, a sleeper pick, is also excellent. Silverwood, Skinner, and Pyramid are all good for cats, too. The lower Colorado River and river backwater, ditches, and canals have been consistently good with both flatheads and channels showing in the catch.
 

 

 WATER BY WATER REPORTS

 

Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS


SILVERWOOD: The striper and catfish bites are neck and neck. Both species are excellent on anchovies off the docks, at the dam, and at the spillway. Outhouse Cove is the most reported area for the stripers. Top catfish was a nine-pounder caught by Fred Tunder, Lucern Valley. Hannah Parkinson, Fountain Valley, caught an eight-pound catfish. Paul Innger, Phelan, brought in a six-pound striper. Fair largemouth bass action in the mornings and late afternoons on plastics. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The good trout bite continues. The action is good to excellent in the third cove and bait anglers are using Power Bait or nightcrawlers to pull out limits with fish to two pounds or better. The trout are the most active in the late afternoon than in the morning. Trollers are fishing off the west ramp to the dam with spoons or Needlefish. The Graham family, San Diego, went out on the lake with Curt Dills, Fish Big Bear Charter Service, and pulled out 35 fish. DFG trout plant this week. Catfish fishing remains good off the east end. Fish off the bottom with shrimp, mackerel or stink baits. Lake information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or bigbearmarina.com.
GREGORY LAKE: Slowish trout bite with a few fish reported on floating baits fished close to the bottom. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Fair to good trout bite with decent fish caught on Power Bait, Power worms and nightcrawlers. Lisa May, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a four-pound trout. A 1,000-pound plant of Alpers’ went in two weeks ago, and a few are still showing up on stringers. 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: No recent DFG trout plants. Trout bite slow to fair on nightcrawlers and Power Bait with the occasional spark of action in the mornings and evenings when the waters cool down.
JENKS LAKE: Fair trout action on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week and last. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES


HESPERIA LAKE: The catfish and sturgeon are still the name of the game with a good bite for both on shrimp, Sonny’s Dip Bait, nightcrawlers, or mackerel. Raymond Garcia, Fontana, caught a 25-8 channel catfish off the north shore. Chad Richwood, Compton, landed a 23-8 channel cat off the grassy bank. Mike Jenson, Redlands, brought in a 17-pound blue catfish off the east bank. Jack Richards, Los Angeles, caught a 23-pound sturgeon off Sandy Point. Howard Gutierrez, Victorville, landed an 18-8 sturgeon. The action is best in the mornings and evenings. The lake is planted with 3,500 pounds of catfish every week. 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 heat has still put a toll on the usually good trout bite. The action is slow to fair with some anglers reporting fish, few limits, on nightcrawlers, lures, jigs and plastics. The recent increased water flow is helping the bite, however. Waves of better action have been reported off the eastern and northern shore of lake 2. Bass action slow, with sparks of action off the western shore of lake 3 and the southeastern shore of lake 2 on Senkos. Bluegill bite fair with fish biting lures and meal worms near the pump house and off the western shore of lake 2. The pay-per-trout Angling Pond was the best bet after 10 a.m., where anglers paid $3.50 per trout with no limit. The lakes' hatchery stocks trout every Friday year around. 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: The trout bite has taken over. The action is excellent on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Catfish bite good on various stink and blood baits, ax wel as meal worms and nightcrawlers in the cat tails and off shore. Next catfish plant will go in this week. Information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY


CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair to good catfish bite on mackerel or nightcrawlers. County catfish plants each week. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Catfish bite still on the slow side, with only a few limits posted. The fish have ranged from one a half to two pounds. Best catfish baits are mackerel, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Bass, bluegill and carp action remain slow. Lake information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Catfish bite fairish on anchovies, nightcrawlers, meal worms, or anything dipped in Sonny’s stink. Weekly county plants go in with channels to two pounds. Good bluegill action on wax or meal worms. Mostly quarter- to half-pounders on stringers, fish to one pound are rare. Fair bite for carp and a few bass also showing on plastic worms. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Fair to good catfish fishing on mackerel, shrimp, Hog Wild or anything dipped in Sonny’s. Channel catfish plants are going in every week now. 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: The wide open bass bite just keeps on going. Most bass have been holding between 10 and 25 feet and are biting on a variety of baits, including drop-shot finesse worms, Texas-rigged brush hogs or lizards, flukes combined with underspins, Senkos and bluegill swimbaits. Honree Davis, Winchester, landed 15 fish totaling 65 pounds, including 6-8, 7.4, and 8.1-pounders. Therisa Cash and Margaret Lesinsky, Escondido, caught 12 bass. Top fish, a 6.2-pounder caught by Therisa, all on Robo worms. Improved trout fishing. The bite is between 20 and 40 feet on nightcrawlers for bait anglers or Kastmasters, Rapalas or Needlefish for trollers. No striper reports this week. The catfish bite is exceptional. Hot spots are in the third cove, and near the east dam or wave attenuator. The most effective baits include anchovies, mackerel, and shrimp. Jim Smith, Sun City, landed a 15.8-pound channel fishing. Few panfish reports, but some action reported along the dams, near the stariways on jigs. Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: More improvement for the overall bite, but the bluegill and catfish lead. Bluegill bite excellent for anglers fishing crickets or meal worms off the island. Don Watson, San Gabriel, landed a stringer of 12 bluegill totaling five pounds. Top fish on the stringer was one pound. The catfish bite is best off the west shore, near the grass beds. Anglers are using blood or stink baits. Jose Sanchez, Alta Dena, pulled out a nine-pound catfish. Sanchez’s fish is the top cat pulled out in a few weeks. The trout bite remains fair with fish showing off the dam mostly on trolled Needlefish-type lures. Some bait anglers are bringing in trout on Power Bait or nightcrawlers. Redear action fair to good with fish popping up on stringers all over the lake. Debra Zellinger, Los Angeles, landed six redear, with a two-pounder the big fish. Carp bite making some noise with fish from one to two pounds caught on dough balls. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Catfish remain the name of the game with an excellent bite in the inlet on chicken liver or mackerel with fish to 10 pounds reported. Frank Galaz, Murrieta, caught a 10.2-pound catfish. Mike Meadows, Commerce, landed a 4.8-pound catfish. Dean Rhodes, Hemet, caught a three-pound catfish off Ramp 2. The weeds are due to die off, which means the striper bite should take off any day. The bite is currently fair with some action reported on anchovies. Fish to two pounds. The bass and bluegill bites are fair. Some bass action on plastics, and a few bluegill reported on meal or wax worms. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: The bluegill bite remains good, not even the heat can stop it. High temps have spoiled the bite for other species, but not for the bluegill. The bite is best off Rocky Point on nightcrawlers and meal worms. Max Ruby, Claremont, landed a stringer of bluegill totaling 12 pounds. Top fish was a 1 1/4-pounder. Crappie action fair on nightcrawlers and small jigs off the west side marina. Wiper (striper-hybrid) action fair, but slowing down with a few fish in the four-pound range and bigger landed off shore on shad or for trollers using various lures. Carp fair to good off the east end on dough balls. The cats are showing at the state park on mackerel, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Information: Catfishing R Us at 877-685-7752.
CORONA LAKE: The bite has been very good for both catfish and with the best catfish action around the flooded trees and along the edges of the weed beds that have developed in the lake. Mackerel, shrimp, and nightcrawlers, have all been good baits, and J.D.’s Mackerel in shrimp and anchovy flavors has been very good. Top catfish reported this past week were a pair of 8 1/2 pounders. One was landed by Bryan Engen, Corona, while fishing mackerel near the boat dock, while Bryan and Cole Robbissi, also Corona, had an 8 1/2-pounder was part of their 10-fish stringer that weighed in at 28 pounds. They were fishing mackerel from shore. The south end of the lake has been the best bet for the tilapia, which are running up to three pounds now. There have also been a decent number of bass and bluegill showing up for anglers fishing nightcrawlers for the tilapia. Catfish plants are weekly with the average fish at two pounds, but some to 15 pounds each week. Carp and tilapia are planted with the cats alternating weeks. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Information: 951-277-4489 or www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: Catfish action fair with the most action reported on mackerel and nightcrawlers. Still some slow to fair bass action on plastics and crankbaits. Some small bluegill action around the shorelines.
RANCHO JURUPA: The catfish lead the show here. Anglers are catching an abundance of fish to three pounds with an occasional bigger fish. Jeffrey Newton, Moreno Valley, landed cats at 4-3 and four pound even on worms from the back lake. Catfish are scheduled to be planted every other week through the summer, with a plant last week. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Fair to good catfish bite from both lakes, with times of excellent action in the evenings through dusk. Top baits are shrimp, mackerel or DuMong’s. 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: Fair to good catfish action on nightcrawlers or shrimp. A catfish plant, 500 pounds will go in this week. 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: Excellent catfish bite with many large stringers being pulled out on chicken liver and nightcrawlers. Catfish are planted when the current stock goes below 2,000 pounds. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday holidays, including Labor Day. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS


LAKE HEMET: Good trout action with some 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 using Needlefish and drift fishermen using inflated nightcrawlers. Most of the rainbows are 1/2 to 1 1/4 pounds with some bigger. DFG trout plant last week, and for the past two weeks prior. Fair to good bass action with the best action on plastics and crawdads. Catfish starting to show on shrimp and nightcrawlers. 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: Very good catfish action with lots of limits. One of the best catches this past week was make by Scott Zimnicki, Garden Grove, who landed a total of 40 catfish that weighed in at 135 pounds. His big cat was a 7 1/2-pounder, and all of his fish were landed on mackerel fishing at the road and the Bubble Hole. The biggest catfish reported was a 12-2 that was part of a 15-fish stringer landed by Tony Alburto, Anaheim, while fishing from a boat. The total stringer weighed in at 47-4, and he was fishing with the M&M (marshmallow-meal worm) combo doused with Nitro Gravy. While shore anglers are getting their share of catfish, the best bite by far is for boat anglers who can fish the deeper water. A wide variety of cut baits and prepared baits are working on the cats, but most anglers are adding scents to improve the action. A few bass are showing for anglers fishing plastics. Cesar Villarel, Orange, landed a 3 1/2-pound largemouth fishing near the boat dock, but the stickups in the Catfish Pond have been consistently the best area for the bass. Catfish plants will be weekly all summer, and trophy fish from eight to 15 pounds will a component of each weekly plant. The average cat will be in the two-pound range. The 24-hour passes are 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: Good numbers of catfish have been landed all over the lake, but especially on the Santiago Flats, in Boat Dock Cove and along the west shore. Best baits are mackerel, shrimp and DuMong’s. Dennis Swann, Huntington Beach, caught a 14-pound catfish on mackerel at the flats. Terry “Pontoon” Lairsen, Huntington Beach, landed a five-catfish limit totaling 40.1 pounds at mid-lake. Tallulah Bessinger, 5, Hollywood, pulled out a 2.6-pound catfish from the Kids Lagoon. The carp bite took off this week with good action on dough baits at the flats. Emil Jarksa, Orange, caught 19- and 17-pound carp. Janko Grnja, Orange, landed 19- and 16-pound carp. Bluegill and redear bite good with an abundance of fish being landed on meal or wax worms fished under a bobber in Boat Dock Cove. More catfish will be stocked at the Kids’ Lagoon. The lake’s water level is receding due to normal summer demand, creating some muddy areas at the water’s edge. Drivers are advised to use caution. 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 fair to good. Fish are in the one to three-pound range reported on drop-shot plastic worms (in dark colors) all day, and in the early mornings and late evenings on topwater and crankbaits in bluegill patterns. Good catfish action on mackerel, shrimp dipped in garlic sauce and chicken liver off the launch ramp and at the back side of the small island. Crappie and bluegill good on assorted crappie jigs, meal worms and half nightcrawlers fished off 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: Trout bite still slow, but OK for the few anglers putting in the extra work and trolling deep with Needlefish or Rapalas. Crappie bite not too good either. This should be the time for the crappie to take over, but the fish have been shy. Some anglers have said patience and jigs will get ‘em. Bass bite slow to fair with only a few decent waves of action on plastic worms in the early morning. Catfish bite continues to be slow. 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: Eric Elshere, Ojai, won last weekend’s bass tournament here. He pulled out the best limit with a 9-8 and an eight-pound fish included. He took home a $1,500 check. The bass bite is fair to good with fish on drop shot plastics or nightcrawlers. David Klise, San Dimas, landed a six-pound bass on a Robo Worm. Mark Azhziger, San Diego, also had a six-pounder. Trout action fair to good by the dam for trollers using Needlefish in 40 feet. Fish from two to three pounds have been reported. Catfish action slow. Redear and bluegill everywhere in a good bite on small fish with a few bigger fish showing from deeper water. Private boats are again being 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 trout bite that had been struggling to hang on is gone for the season. The recent heat has turned the action over to the stripers. The bite is good with fish being landed on cut bait, frozen shad and nightcrawlers. The bite is the hottest near the buoy line and the dam. The shad action has died down, but a few have been able to net some fish. Top striper was a nine-pounder pulled out by Ray Park, Glendale, on anchovies by the buoy line. David Gutierrez, Point Hueneme, caught a 14-pound stringer of five stripers. Top catch was a six-pounder. John Fleck, Glendale, brought in a five-pound striper on anchovies. Danny Gutierrez, Oxnard, caught a four-pound striper from fish arm. Largemouth bass bite fair, good at times. Fish have been pulled out on plastic worms and various plastic baits near the dam. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Trout action fair with the most action reported on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Trollers also landing some fish deep on 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 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: Bass action fair and steady. Anglers have reported the most fish up shallow early in the day on plastic worms and drop-shot. Slow to fair trout action with anglers catching fish at random on Power Bait, anchovies, and nightcrawlers. Fair striper bite. The bigger stripers, 10 pounds plus, are occasionally chasing the trout. 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 reports. Information: USFS 661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Fair to good catfish bite, with excellent action at times. Pieces of mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers are the top choices for the cats. Slow to fair bass bite off the east shore on drop-shot plastics, jerk baits, and live worms. The fish are deep, so anglers have to put up a fight. 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: Catfish bite on the slow side, but with signs of improvement over last week. The bite improves in the later part of the day, and anglers have landed fish to four pounds on mackerel, shrimp or chicken liver. Slowish bluegill bite on wax worms and nightcrawlers from 5 p.m. to dusk. Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant one month ago.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant one month ago.
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent plants.
ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
ELIZABETH LAKE: No recent plants.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG catfish one month ago. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG catfish plant one month ago. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant one month ago.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
LEGG LAKE: No recent plants.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG catfish plant one month ago.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG catfish plant one month ago.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Catfish bite improved and the action is good on mackerel or shrimp. Little to no trout reported, just an oddball reported in the deep-water drop offs on Power Bait or nightcrawlers or for trollers tossing Rapalas. Fair carp action with fish in the 1-8 to two-pound range on dough balls. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES


BARRETT: The good bass bite has remained consistently good over the past two weeks. This week 127 anglers checked 1,626 bass, 110 bluegill and one crappie. Reservations for August are still available through Ticketmaster. Reservations for September will be available next week. Call (619) 220-8497. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: Bluegill bite slowed down. This week 113 anglers checked reported 29 bass, 28 crappie, and just 13 bluegill. 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 bite is fair. This week 128 anglers reported 198 bass, 21 channel 14 bluegill, five blue catfish and four crappie. The lake is 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 stole the show with 295 anglers reporting 448 bluegill 262 bass, 28 channel catfish and one carp. 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: Fair bass aciton. This week 15 anglers reported 36 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: No more state record fish pulled out here this week, but a nice 63.05-pound catfish was landed. Catfish Russ, Paradise Hills, caught the blue on mackerel off the back side of the island. Overall, this week 116 anglers reported 224 bluegill, 155 bass, 12 redear, eight channel catfish and six blue catfish. 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. The City of San Diego has confirmed that the reservoir will close sometime in August due to lowering water levels. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: Bluegill and bass bites just fair. This week 85 anglers checked reported 45 bass, 43 bluegill and one channel catfish. David Rudolph, La Mesa, caught an 8.55-pound largemouth on nightcrawlers off T-Float Dock. 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: The overall action slowed down. This week 61 anglers checked reported 26 bass, eight channel catfish and seven bluegill. 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: No report. 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: Bass action still leads the action with a good bite on swimbaits, plastic worms and live golden shiners. Fair channel catfish bite on cut mackerel, chicken liver, nightcrawlers and shrimp in the channel and off the east end. Crappie bite is fair, but the fish have moved deep. It will take more work to catch them, but the bite is still happening for those using finger jigs and golden shiners. Some small bluegill have also been landed on red worms in Oakvale Cove. Carp bite fair 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 LAKE: The warm weather has not spoiled the bite here. Catfish action is excellent with limits being pulled out in abundance on cut mackerel. Boat Dock Cove is the hot area. Most catfish are in the one to two-pound range with some better. A 22-10 whopper was pulled out this week by Anton Newman, Escondido. A 2,000-pound plant will go in next week, which will keep the catfish bite going. Bass action fair to good for anglers throwing jerk baits. Steve Wheeler, Escondido, landed a 9-13 bass in Whisker Bay. Nightfishing will continue every Friday and Saturday night through the end of August. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: The first big catfish of the season was pulled out this week. Jeff Kopischke, Chula Vista, caught a 15.6-pound catfish on mackerel in the Log Boom. Good bass bite with the fish chasing shad and taking shad imitation lures. Bluegill bite also good in Hidden Bay on meal or wax worms. Upcoming events: A contest taking place each week will award the angler with the heaviest catfish a $100 prize. The angler must record the weight of his/her fish between 7 a.m. Wednesday and lake closing Sunday to qualify. Lake Poway’s Family Campout is set for August 2. This event is limited to 75 families. Register at www.poway.org. Midnight Catfish Craze scheduled for August 14 from 4 p.m. to midnight. Lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: The catfish have moved into deeper waters, so the boat anglers are catching the most on mackerel and nightcrawlers. Bass action fair to good, but anglers have to work for their fish. Lots of small redear are biting in the backs of coves on wax or meal worms. Another 1,000-pound plant of channel catfish will go in this week. The lake is open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Sundays from 5:30 a.m. to 8 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: Bluegill bite remains very good on pieces of nightcrawlers and wax and meal worms. Reggie Steward, San Diego, caught a stringer of bluegill off the launch ramp. Catfish bite also very good on chicken liver and mackerel. Trout bite good for anglers fishing in oor near Paradise Cove on nightcrawlers. 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: The current bite for channel catfish, bass and crappie is very good, and is keeping anglers entertained. The big catfish have been caught around the rocks on mackerel. Zac Ruben, San Diego, brought in a 16-pound channel catfish on nightcrawlers in the Dike area. Patrick Szydlik, San Diego, landed a 14-pound channel catfish on nightcrawlers off the North Finger Jetty. Andy Pena, Lemon Grove, caught a 10-8 channel catfish. Silvia Shearer, Julian, caught a 10-pounder, Tyler Kirk, Julian, landed an 8-4 bass off Heron Point. Private boats are allowed on the lake again, 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. The lake is now taking reservations for a new RV area located in the overflow camping area. It is set up for eight rigs, but has a minimum of four. The rate is $200 a night for all eight sites, but can be rented by singles if not reserved by a group. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Catfish bite still the best with an abundance of fish brought in this week. Anglers were catching the cats left and right on a variety of bait including nightcrawlers, chicken livers and shrimp. Hot spots are near the dam and under the weeds. Martha Garcia, Bernardo Garcia, Ramon Rubio and Brian Garcia, all from Brawley, caught several limits of catfish. Top fish of the bunch was a five-pounder. Arturo and Brandon Sandoval, both from National City, and Christian Gonzales, San Diego, caught several limits with a four-pound top fish. Bill Nelson, Huntington Beach, brought in a three-pound catfish. Bryce Bradley, 9, Denver, landed 12 catfish. Top fish was two pounds. Some carp have entertained anglers, too. Tom Gugiu, Los Angeles, pulled out a four-pound carp on cornmeal balls off the north shore. Bass bite fair. Darryl Langley, Santa Ysable, caught two five-pound bass. The lake is open from 6 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Nightfishing will continue through the summer. Rental boats can only be rented during daytime hours, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER


LAKE MEAD: Improving, good night striper bite in Vegas Wash on anchovies and plastics, but fish are also showing in this area during the day. Anglers have been using artificial lights to attract the fish at night. The night catfish bite is also fair to good for anglers using lights and anchovies. The new moon started last weekend, so trolling crankbaits during the day is starting to look promising. Launching conditions at South Cove are not ideal, almost impossible with the dropping water levels.
WILLOW BEACH: Good trout bite immediately following the weekly plants on salmon eggs or floating baits just off shore. Trollers are also catching trout on Jakes, Panther Martins and spoons. Trout continue to be planted every Friday. Stripers spotty. New fishing dock is open for fishing. Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The small striper action is exceptional. Anglers are using anchovies at night for the best catches. Not too much noise from the stripers, however. A few random reports of catches have been made, but nothing as good as last season’s bite. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Slow striper bite. Little to no trout bite. Catfish also spotty.
NEEDLES: Striper bite slow to fair with only small fish landed downriver in the Topoc area. A few catfish showing. Slow largemouth bite. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: Catfish bite fair on nightcrawlers and anchovies. A few bass biting on plastics. Some bluegill around structure. The stripers are nonexistent, and the crappie bite dwindled to almost nothing. 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: Striper action slowed down just a notch. The action is still fair with a decent early morning top water bite around the reefs and points. Early morning casting and trolling with jerk baits and L-Traps will also help turn on the bite. Large and smallmouth bass fishing food on topwater just before dawn. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Fair to good catfish action with some flatheads 12 pounds or better on shrimp and mackerel. As the temps get higher, the action gets better for the cats. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
BLYTHE: The hot days continue. Temps over 100 recorded over the past week. The hot wind can add insult to injury on some days. Flathead bite fair to good with some fish close to 20 pounds, and a rare one 30 or better. The bass bite has been just fair 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: OK catfish bite mackerel and bass are biting plastics. Few reports. Bass action slow to fair with some action on plastic worms.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action fair 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 Gila Main Canal area in East Yuma has the best action, especially for the catfish. Fair to good channel catfish, redear, and bluegill bite throughout the area. Catfish taking mackerel or shrimp, and redear and bluegill biting worms. The flatheads have been active.

LOWER DESERT WATERS


SALTON SEA: Fair to good tilapia action with some nice stringers of fish reported, but the heat and flies are so bad most anglers are only fishing early in the morning. Check on the action 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.
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: The weather is great, but the temps did go up a few degrees, which means higher water temps and deeper fish at Bridgeport Reservoir. Although the fish are deep, they are still concentrated in deeper water. Fish in eight to 15 feet off Rainbow and Rocky Points. The hatches continue. Damsels, callibaetis, and midges are all over the place. The water temps at the East Walker are above 70 degrees. It is asked that anglers wait until the temps drop below 70 before fishing (early morning only) because the stress of catch-and-release fishing with the temps this high is hard on the fish. Flows are currently at 91 cfs. Virginia Lakes are very good. Big Virginia’s fly and bait bite is hot. Twin Lakes fishing fair for trollers fishing on top. West Walker River good from 395 bridge down the canyon into the town of Walker, both stockers and wild fish showing on dries and droppers. 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: June, Gull and Silver Lake are in full swing with good action trout on all three. Pulling a streamer along the weed beds is best at June with calibaetis and damsel patterns ideal at Silver. The bite at Gull is good for those fishing with an indicator by the northwest corner. Grant, however isn’t so hot. The lake is low and the temps are up. Rush Creek is running low, the water is clear, but the temps are high. The last hour of light has been good for dry fly fishing with Caddis hatches coming off. Information: Ernie’s Fishing Tackle (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina (760) 648-7726.
MAMMOTH AREA: The rainbow and brown trout action at Crowley Lake is good. Cutthroat bite isn’t so bad either. A number of decent fish were brought in, with the hot spot in McGee Bay for anglers fishing bait or midge patterns in seven to 14 feet of water. The bite at Hot Creek is fair to good, but the thickness of the weeds is making things a bit complicated. Water is dirty and high, but still fishable. Use small tricos in the early morning and PMDs after 10 a.m. Good stocker trout action in Mammoth Creek and all the Mammoth Lakes -- Mary, Mamie, Gull, and George. The water temps are warming, so the bite is deep during the late morning and evening. The San Joaquin River is really coming down and the fishing is good for wild and stocked fish. The area between Rainbow and Lower falls is a good spot. A dry/dropper setup is a good bet. Sotcher and Starkweather lakes both are good. Convict Lake bite good for rainbow trout at the inlet and outlet on nightcrawlers, Power Bait, Thomas Buoyants and Kastmasters. Upcoming events: Crowley Lake Stillwater Classic scheduled for Saturday. Entry fee is $75 and includes entry, T-shirt and BBQ lunch. Proceeds will be used to stock Crowley with brown trout. Fishing and classic information: Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301 or www.CrowleyLakeFishCamp.com. Labor Day Trout Stock Fishing Derby set for August 30 and September 1. For fishing info, call 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 Lake Sabrina slowed, but only due to the warm temperatures. The fish are there, just deep. Fish in the Little George Inlet with Power Bait and nightcrawlers. The action for trollers is slow, but some are still working it off shore. The lake was planted by the DFG last Thursday. Bishop Creek has been very good on both planters and wild fish. Bishop Creek and Intake II were planted this week. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is fair to good for trout and perch. The trout are biting Power Bait and nightcrawlers. The reservoir was planted with trout by the DFG last week. The lower Owens River (in both the Gorge below Crowley Lake and below Pleasant Valley Reservoir) has a good early bite. Flows are at 369 cfs below Pleasant Valley. Tricos hatch around 7 a.m., baetis start mid-morning. 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. Diaz Lake slow. Plants this week at Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Owens River (below Tinnemaha), Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA


DERBY ALERT: T.J. Williams, Bakersfield, officially won the July derby contest with his 37-pounder pulled out of Buena Vista. Striper derby began this week and will continue through August 31. Biggest striper of the month earns $100 cash. Entry is free, but anglers must sign up at Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield. For more information, call 661-833-8657.
LAKE ISABELLA: Some of the best fishing in the area. The catfish bite is still the best with excellent action on clams and liver. Excellent bass bite on crawdads. A few crappie have been landed on small minnows. Also some fair trout fishing on Power Bait. 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 drastically in the upper river, so the bite is very good for trout on flies, crickets, and salmon eggs. The lower river is starting to clear some. The Hatchery at Kernville has started planting the area with trout. The bite is best around the Hobo Campground and Sandy Flats on nightcrawlers and Salmon eggs. Information: Kern River Troutfitter 760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.
RIVER WALK PARK: Few reports, but some of slot to fair bass and bluegill action.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The catfish bite is good to excellent on mackerel and clams. Striper bite fair on blood worms, primarily at night.
HART PARK LAKE: Bluegill action good on wax worms and crickets. Good carp bite on dough balls.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Bluegill action good to excellent on meal worms and crickets. Good bass bite on topwater plugs in the evenings. Good carp bite on dough bait. Catfish bite picking up. Fair trout bite.
MING LAKE: Fair to good bluegill bite on crickets and meal worms. Fair bass bite on Senkos, plastic worms and minnows. Good carp bite on dough bait. A few trout biting Power Bait.
BRITE LAKE: Catfish bite fair on anchovies. Also a few bass showing.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Good catfish bite on shad. Bluegill bite also good on wax worms.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair bluegill bite on wax worms and crickets. Bass bite fair on minnows and plastics. Consistent, good carp bite on dough bait.
SUCCESS LAKE: Improved action. Decent bass bite on plastic worms. Bluegill on wax worms and crickets. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Slow to fair bass bite on Senkos. Levels are high. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES


SAN ANTONIO: Crappie bite good, but inconsistent. The bite is best off shore on crappie jigs and minnows. Striper just as good, with exceptional action in Bee Rock Cove and Harris Creek on anchovies or swimbaits. Little to no smallmouth action, however the largemouth action is fair to good around the rocky points on swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits and plastic worms. Fair to good, and improving catfish action on anchovies, mackerel or shrimp. Information: 805-472-2818.
SANTA MARGARITA: Fair to good largemouth bass action on Brush Hogs, plastics or crankbaits. Anglers have pulled out limits with largemouth to five pounds or better on some. The early morning bite from sunrise to 8 a.m. is still the best time. 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: The overall action improved and the bite for most species is fair. The spotted bass are best on plastics and spoons in the narrows and off the rocky shorelines. Some anglers have reported catching close to 20 fish in a day’s fishing. Largemouth and small action fair with the largemouth action slightly better with fish reported on plastics and nightcrawlers. Slow to fair white bass bite with more showing recently. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
LOPEZ: Excellent crappie bite on crappie jigs and minnows. Fish to two pounds or better have been reported over the past few weeks. James Park, Alhambra, caught a 1 3/4-pound crappie off shore. Bass action also very good on plastic worms in Cottonwood Cove. The trout bite is surprisingly decent even with the lake temps in the mid to upper 70s, and rising. Bait anglers have reported easy limits on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. 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.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Intake 2), Bishop Creek Lower, Bishop Creek (Middle and South Forks), 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, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek.
MADERA: San Joaquin River Middle Fork, Sotcher Lake, Starkweater Lake.
MONO: Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, George Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Lee Vining Creek South Fork, Little Walker River, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, Mary Lake, McGee Creek, Owens River (Section 3), Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (Sections 1 & 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: Dinkey Creek, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam.
KERN: Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville.
MADERA: Fish Creek, Granite Creek, Lower Chiquito Creek, Rock Creek, West Fork of the Chiquito Creek.
MARIPOSA: McSwain Reservoir, Merced River downstream of Redbud Bridge.
MERCED: Yosemite Lake.
TULARE: Balch Park Eastern Lake, Balch Park Western Lake, Dry Meadow Creek, Freeman Creek, Hedrick Pond Campground Pond, Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, lower and upper Peppermint Creek, North Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Wishon Campground, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Camp Nelson, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Ceder Slopes.
TUOLUMNE: Deadman Creek, Lyons Canal, Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, Moccasin Creek, North Fork of the Stanislaus River, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork of the Stanislaus River.

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.


NO PLANTS

OCEAN FISHING REPORT


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


SAN DIEGO BLAZING: The best bite in many years continued to sizzle out of San Diego with flat calm seas, a tremendous variety of fish ,and lots more on the way. Polaris Supreme skipper Tommy Rothery was on a recent five-day trip for wide-open kelp paddy yellowtail and dorado. Rothery said that there were several areas stretching hundreds of miles of the same kind of fishing. That bodes well for the next several weeks for the San Diego fleet because all of these fish are pointed north. The dorado and yellowtail, mostly smaller fish five to eight pounds, are thick off San Diego and into Mexican water and big pushes of fish were being seen this week all the way to Newport. For San Diego anglers, one day boats continue to take fishermen to limits of dorado, lots of big yellowtail to 18 pounds, a few albacore, bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna, too. It has pretty much been a slam dunk on every single trip for the past 10 days, and with the Polaris Supreme report, it sounds like we have a lot more to come. Just a couple of the most recent scores? Earlier this week, the City of San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing with 32 guys returned to port with 44 dorado, four yellowfin, two albacore, and two yellowtail. On a 3/4-day trip. The overnight to two-day boats are really slamming the fish. Twenty anglers aboard H&M Landing’s Constitution on Tuesday were on a 1 1/2-day trip and caught limits of dorado (40 fish), 56 yellowtail, a bluefin and caught and released a marlin on Tuesday. Also on Tueday, the New Lo Ann from Point Loma Sportfishing was out with 24 anglers who caught 71 dorado, 61 yellowtail, two yellowfin and a bluefin. The El Dorado was one a two-day early this week with 27 anglers and they landed 108 yellowtail, 63 dorado, two bluefin, two albacore, and one yellowfin.
ORANGE COUNTY UPDATE: Anglers aboard the Sea Horse from Dana Point Sportfishing scored over 50 dorado, 12 yellowtail and 2 albacore on an overnight trip late last week. Captain Dave Hansen found a floating kelp paddie 3 1/2 miles from Dana Point loaded with dorado, and there have been lots more catches made since then. Even the 1/2 and ¾-day boats are starting to scratch a few dorado and more of these great gamefish are headed this way. There are also a lot of yellowtail mixed in with the dorado, too. There wasn’t enough volume yet early this week to call it wide open -- like for the San Diego fleet -- but the action is definitely improving each day. This is one you need to stay on top of and go when the fish pop. Even if the dorado and yellowtails don’t pop for the local 1/2 and 3/4-day boats, there continues to be pretty decent calico and sand bass mixed bag action on most days, and barracuda are frequently a component of the bag.
LOS ANGELES LANDING BOATS: More and more skippers have been looking for offshore kelp paddies and finding dorado and yellowtail on them. While this bite get progressively better the further south you go, the fish are moving into the waters of Los Angeles county quickly. Nine anglers on the Outrider from 22nd St Landing in San Pedro caught 28 dorado, six yellowtail, and one albacore late last week on a one-day trip. Private boater Sinclair Wallace from San Pedro caught a 15-pound dorado 14 miles from Dana Point. Several other boats have had great scores and it has continued to just get better each day this week and more fish move north into these waters. Local boats not chasing dorado and yellowtail on paddies, and seeing some good bass action at times and little flurries of barracuda.
CATALINA AND SAN CLEMENTE UPDATE: The Freedom, out of from 22nd St Landing in San Pedro, has been returning to dock with a lot of calico bass and a few yellowtail on trips to San Clemente Island this past week. At Catalina Island, there has been the occasional catch of white seabass and yellowtail with lots of calico bass and bonito. Typical summer island action.
CHANNEL ISLANDS UPDATE: The surface bite is on in the Channel Islands. The white seabass do not bite every day, but when they do, it has been really good. Seabass have been taken at three different islands, and most of the fish are from just legal to over 30 pounds. There has also been some good calico bass fishing, more sand bass showing and good barracuda fishing at Anacapa Island. Chris Patrizzo from Ventura caught his first legal halibut caught on the Ach Tuna at Santa Cruz island this week as more flatfish have been around, too. And if the surface fish do not bite, you always have the wide open rockfish bite to fall back on.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA is hosting a whole series of August and September charters during the peak of the exotics’ season. These instructional charters are held throughout the year, offering beginning anglers or veterans advice and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. These August and September trips are all two-day adventures. The leave date and boats are as follows: Aug. 17 aboard the Ocean Odyssey, Aug. 25 on the Pacific Quest, Aug. 30 on the El Dorado, Sept. 9 on the Dolphin II, Sept. 21 on the Pacific Queen, and Sept. 28 on the Condor. 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.

 

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 fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

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.

 

August 6, 2008 - Brian Cummings of Inglewood caught this 36-0 flathead catfish from the canal of Palo Verde on a bluegill.

 

July 25, 2008 - Derek "Kid Wiper" Snyder with a seven-pound, six-ounce wiper taken in Lake Elsinore, off Rocky Point. Notice the much larger girth compared to a striped bass.

 

July 23, 2008 - Adam Cavazos, Menifee, caught this 4-9 largemouth bass near the west dam of Diamond Valley Lake on a crank bait.

 

June 26, 2008 - Jose Garlejo of Escondido caught this 18-6 blue catfish at Lake Wohlford.

 

June 26, 2008 - Doug Bader, Orange, with an 11 1/2-pound catfish he caught on mackerel with Nitro Gravy at Santa Ana River Lake while fishing from a boat near Levitz' Corner.
 

June 24, 2008 - Lake Perris gave up these four limits of rainbow trout to trollers, left to right, Bob Camp, Tom Roberts, Paul Ringdahl, and Bob Ghossain, all of Riverside. They were fishing in 30 feet of water at the dam with Needlefish, and the fish went up to 3 1/2 pounds.

 

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 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.

 

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.