August 13, 2008

JIM MATTHEWS’

PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. The San Diego ocean scene is wide open right now, with 1 1/2 to two-day boats getting in on some of the best fishing of the year. It is limit or near-limit style fishing on the dorado, and there is a good mix of yellowtail, albacore, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna in this bite. 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.
2. Casitas Lake bumps Diamond Valley out of the top picks this week for its consistently good largemouth bass bite. Not only is the volume good at Casitas, but there have been a lot of quality fish in the past week in spite of the odd moon phase. It can only get better this week. Anglers are reminded that the lake is no longer closed to private boats, but because of the quagga mussel, there are boat inspections and a dry-dock requirement. For an update and more information, call the marina at 805-649-2043.
3. The reality is that the top three spots here could all be filled with lakes having hot catfish bites right now -- and there are a bunch of them that would qualify. But the bluegill bite has just remained really good at Lake Perris and deserves mention, too. The ‘gills have been from 1/2 to 1 1/2 pounds with some redear bigger. The action has been good at spots all around the lake for both shore and boat anglers. For an update, check with the marina at 951-657-2179.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

TROUT: Generally good fishing throughout the Eastern Sierra Nevada with Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir 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. In Southern California, deep trollers are finding action at Casitas, Cachuma, Perris, but the bites at Diamond Valley and Big Bear slowed this past week. 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 very good for anglers with a permit. Casitas is good but Diamond Valley lulled again in the half-moon phase this past week. It should turn back on this week. 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.
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 or frozen shad (if you can get it). 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 Mead where a lot of smaller fish to three pounds showing. Havaus slowed, but Mojave remains fair to good. 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, Elsinore, Casitas, Lower Otay, San Vicente, and Diamond Valley, about in that order, but the heat has slowed some of the bites except for early in the day. On the Central Coast, Lopez has an excellent bluegill and redear bite with fish to a pound. Most Southern California crappie bites are off, but a there are still a slow to fair bites at Piru, Sutherland, and Elsinore. The Central Coast lakes are a beter bet. Lopez and Santa Margarita are both pretty good.
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. The coming full moon should just make all these bites better this week than last.
 

 WATER BY WATER REPORTS

Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: Catfish are biting all over the lake and the bite is good on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Aaron Parker, Hesperia, experienced the excellent bite and pulled out a four catfish near the dam area with his top fish at nine pounds. The striper action continues to be good to excellent on chicken liver off the docks, in the coves, and by the dams. Karl Boston, Apple Valley, pulled out an eight-pound striper on anchovies. Marty Garvey, Fontana, caught a six-pound striper on a swimbait. Bass bite fair to good on plastics. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Trout action slowed to almost nothing. Only a few fish have been landed in the late afternoon on nighcrawlers or Power Bait. Some trollers bring them in on spoons. DFG trout plant last 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. 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 last week. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

HESPERIA LAKE: The catfish and sturgeon are still dominate the action with good bites for both. The catfish are biting off Sand Point, North Shore and near the drain on mackerel and Sonny’s dip bait, while the sturgeon are hitting off the North Shore and off the grassy bank on shrimp. Top fish this week was a 62-pound sturgeon pulled out by Charles Major, Apple Valley. Kenneth Hayes, Rialto, landed a 23-pound channel catfish. Sally Perez, Redlands, brought in a 22-pound sturgeon. Pedro Rodriguez, Victorville, caught a 21-pound catfish. Devon Butler, San Bernardino, landed a 17 3/4-pound blue catfish. Matt McBride, Lake Elsinore, pulled out a 13-8 cat. 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: Trout bite improved this week and the overall bite is fair to good for anglers using Power Bait (rainbow, orange and lime twist), nightcrawlers or lures. Trout hot spots are off the eastern and northern shore of lake 2 and the grassy point of lake 3. Bass bite has also improved with anglers reporting fair action off the western shore of lake 3 and the southeastern shore of lake 2 on Senkos. Bluegill bite OK, but good at times with fish taking lures and meal worms near the pump house and off the western shore of lake 2. Overall best bite was before 10a.m. 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: Just a fair trout bite for anglers using Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Catfish bite good on various stink and blood baits, as well as meal worms and nightcrawlers in the cattails 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 continues to be slow, but a few fish have been pulled out on shrimp, mackerel and the M&M combo (marshmallow & meal worm). 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: Fair to good catfish bite on anchovies, nightcrawlers, meal worms, or anything dipped in Sonny’s stink. Action is best in the afternoons. 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: Bass bite fair to good. Fishing secondary points in 25 feet of water, drop-shotting four-inch straight tail plastics is a sure method. Flukes combined with underspins have been effective along the dams and Senkos work best around exposed humps. Louie Vega, San Jacinto, landed 5.80 and 5.87-pound fish on white spinnerbaits. Trout reports have been rare, and the action is slow. Trollers are bringing in a few on nightcrawlers, Excel lures, or Needlefish near the west dam and outside restroom 3. Chester Deemer, Hemet, landed a four-pound trout. The cats are on the attack. There is an excellent bite for anglers using mackerel or shrimp in the third cove or near the wave attenuator. Daniel Woodruff, Hemet, landed three cats totaling 43 pounds. Top fish was a 22-pounder on mackerel. Shane Prescott, Escondido, pulled out a 21.89-pound catfish on a jig by the inlet tower. Few panfish reports this week, but some anglers have had good luck fishing along the dams, specifically near the stairways on live worms or jigs. No striper reports were made this week. Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The bluegill bite is exceptional, and fishing for a number of other species, including bass and crappie, remains good. Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles, caught 15 bluegill totaling 8 1/2-pounds on crickets off shore. Top bass pulled out of the water was a 4-5 by Donald Gillian, Santa Ana, on plastics in the rocks. David Eaton, Stockton, pulled out a three-pound bass on worms near the dam. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The big catfish have been the main event here. The bigger cats are out from deeper water and are biting near the inlet and the dam. Smaller stocker trout have also been landed off Ramp 2. Top catfish was a 10-pounder pulled out by Bob Kortje, Pomona, on nightcrawlers. Lucus Moore, Temecula, landed a 9.4-pound catfish from the inlet on chicken liver. The striper bite is just fair with some action reported off the east end. Mark Flores, Oceanside, caught a 6-8 striper. Only a few bass have been reported. The fish are in the three to four-pound range. A few bluegill to a pound have been reported on wax or meal worms. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Crappie and bluegill lead the action with good bites for both. The bluegill are biting crickets or wax or meal worms. 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: Catfish and tilapia have been providing hot action. The tilapia are best on nightcrawlers with most fish in the 1 1/2 to two-pound range, with some at three pounds. The top catfish reported this week was a nine-pounder, but a lot of nice stringers of fish have been reported. The big fish was part of a five-fish, 16-pound stringer landed by John Smith, Los Angeles, while fishing with chicken liver in the flooded trees. Daniel Horst, Elsinore, caught 10 catfish that weighed in at 20 pounds. Charles Thompson, Hesperia, caught five cats that weighed in at 9 1/4-pounds. Catfish are planted each week, including fish to 15 pounds. Starting next week and continuing through Labor Day weekend, cats from 12 to 20 pounds are part of a series of bonus plants. In lternating weeks, carp and tilapia are also a component of the weekly stocks. There is 24-hour fishing each Friday and Saturday night, and Sunday night on Monday-holiday weekends. 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. 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 went in last 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. The bite is exceptional in the mornings before noon and in the afternoons. Catfish are planted when the current stock goes below 2,000 pounds. Extra fish are already going in for Labor Day. 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 two weeks ago. 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: Good catfish action with some quality fish reported. The top cat this past week was a 15-pounder landed by Sharon Green, Placentia, fishing shrimp with Nitro Gravy. Sam Bailey, Brea, landed a 14-pounder to top off his five-fish stringer that weighed in at 28 1/2 pounds. Max Hemsley, El Cajon, had a 14-fish stringer that weighed 51.5 pounds and included a 13 1/2-pounder, while Bob Adams, Cerritos, had a five-fish stringer with a 10.6-pounder that weighed 26.4-pounds total. Dominic Poggio, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a 9-8 cat. The best catfish bite is still for boat anglers fishing the deeper water, but nearly as many fish are coming from shore with the cats being caught all the way around the big lake, in Chris’ Pond, and the Catfish Lake. A wide variety of cut baits and prepared baits are working on the cats, but most anglers are adding scents to improve the action. Catfish plants go in each week all summer long, and trophy fish from five to 15 pounds are a component of each week’s plant. The average cat planted has been in 1 1/2 to two-pound range. But starting next week, more of the super-sized cats from 12 to 20 pounds be stocked. There is 24-hour fishing each Thursday through Saturday -- and through Sunday on Monday holiday weekends. 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 catfish bite with anglers filling their stringers easily. Not too many big fish, however. Fish are from two to five pounds, and have been taken at the flats, off the docks or at Trout Island on mackerel, shrimp or DuMong’s. Albert Ortega, Whittier, landed a 6.2-pound catfish. James, Kaitlyn and Eric Anna, Trabuco, pulled out a 15-catfish stringer totaling 48.1 pounds. Izaac Gonzales, Whittier, landed a five-catfish limit totaling 18.1 pounds. 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 and have been landed on drop-shot plastic worms (in dark colors) 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: Slow bite for trout, but OK for the few anglers putting in the extra work and trolling deep with Needlefish or Rapalas. Crappie bite not too hot 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: The good bass bite continues. Best bite has been on plastic worms, or nightcrawlers for bait anglers, and Rapalas for trollers. Brandon LeMay, Ojai, caught a nine-pound bass. Michelle Kane, Camarillo, pulled out a 7-8, and Daniel Castiellenos, San Fernando, brought in a six-pounder. The trout bite still exists with good action in 40 feet or more for trollers using Needlefish. Roger Snowbarger, Ojai, landed a limit of trout totaling 9-8. Bluegill and redear are biting aggressively in the shallows on nightcrawlers and red worms. Catfish action fair on nightcrawlers in deep water. Lisa Peterson, Oxnard, caught an 11-pound catfish. 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: Good to excellent largemouth bass bite this week. Anglers have pulled out fish in good numbers when using green plastics, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Andre Verhharst, 11, Sunland, pulled out the best fish of the week, a 12-pound largemouth bass on nightcrawlers from the Fish Arm. Todd Davis, Oxnard, caught a stringer of largemouth bass and stripers on Robo Worms. His top fish was a nine-pound striper. Striper bite also good, mostly on frozen shad. Tom Ohalin, Bakersfield, also pulled out a nine-pound striper on frozen shad. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: The trout bite is dying down with few anglers reporting catches, and only some trollers catching fish deep on Kastmasters, Rapalas or Needlefish. 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 during the cooler parts of the day, mornings and evenings. 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. 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: No recent plants.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
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: No recent plants. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
LEGG LAKE: No recent plants.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent plants.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Catfish action fair to good on mackerel or shrimp. 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 bass bite slowed down a bit over last week, although the action is still good. This week 131 anglers checked 1,172 bass, 53 bluegill and one crappie. Reservations for September are available through Ticketmaster. Call (619) 220-8497. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: Crappie bite slowed. This week 76 anglers checked reported 23 bass, 10 bluegill, nine crappie and two channel catfish. Sam Harris, Oceanside, caught a 4.05-pound bass on crankbait in the dam area. 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 84 anglers reported 121 bass, 16 channel 14 bluegill, 12 crappie, four blue catfish and two bluegill. 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 slowed drastically from last week, although out of the 130 anglers checked 155 bluegill. Anglers also reported 195 bass, four channel catfish and two rainbow trout. Ella Arneson, Imperial Beach, pulled out a 9.85-pound channel catfish on mackerel at the buoy line. Ta Oll, San Diego, landed an 8.40-pound bass on a shiner in Harvey Arm. 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: Good bass acton. This week 17 anglers reported 37 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: This week 81 anglers reported 158 bluegill, 98 bass and four channel 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 slowed down from last week, but decent action still remains. This week 71 anglers checked reported 31 bluegill and 12 bass. Arden Hanline Sr., Spring Valley, pulled out a 9.45-pound bass off San Carlos Point. 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 even more over last week. This week 45 anglers checked reported seven bluegill, three bass and three 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: This week 68 anglers reported 123 bass, 65 carp, 56 crappie, 14 bluegill and three channel catfish. Will Casey, San Diego, caught 16 crappie totaling 17.55 pounds. Top fish was a 2.15-pounder on shiners. Joe Marshall, Ramona, pulled out a 6.40-pound bass on plastic worms. Keith Wesley, Poway, pulled out two bass totaling 10.65 pounds. The big fish weighed in at 6.25. 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: The carp and channel catfish bites are the best, although the occasional bass has been caught for anglers fishing off shore early in the day. Charley Lott, Oceanside, found a couple of those fish and pulled out 6-1 and 4-15 bass on Senkos. Cheyenne McMasters, Lancaster, caught a four-pound bass on plastic worms off Crappie Rock. Crappie bite fair for anglers using shiners or jigs. Wolf McMasters, Lancaster, landed a 1-2 crappie. 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 this week.
DIXON LAKE: Catfish bite very good with fish being landed during both day and night on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Most catfish are from one to four pounders. Frank Garcia, San Diego, caught a limit of five channel catfish totaling 24-12. Top fish was a 9-12 near the buoy line. The lake is scheduled for 2,000 pounds of channel catfish to perk the weekend bite. Nightfishing will continue every Friday and Saturday night through the end of August. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Pretty good catfish action. Bryan Landhan, San Diego, pulled out a 10.1-pound channel catfish on mackerel at the Log Boom. Mike Rosell, Escondido, caught a 7.5-pound channel catfish on mackerel off Jumpoff Point. The odd trout still showing off Pine Point. Justin Shaw, La Jolla, caught a 7.5-pound trout. 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. Register at www.poway.org. Midnight Catfish Craze scheduled for Friday 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 are heading even deeper, and boat anglers are taking advantage. The action is the best on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Matt Ruan, Descanso, pulled out 16-pound and 8-12 channel catfish. Bass bite is good and very rewarding for anglers putting in the work. Wes Zimmerman, Lakeside, pulled out 8-7 and 5-14 largemouth off Eagle and Sentry Points. Small redears have been caught on wax worms. Another 1,000-pound plant of channel catfish went in last 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: Bass, bluegill and channel catfish all biting very good. Bass anglers are fishing with plastic worms or nightcrawlers. Top bass pulled out was a 6.5-pounder by Daniel Hogg, San Diego. Catfish anglers are using chicken liver or nightcrawlers along the shoreline, below the cabins. 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: Channel catfish bite dominates with good action on nightcrawlers. Ken Draper, Escondido, landed a 13-12 channel cat at the Lone Pine. 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. Upcoming events: free fishing class Saturday at 10 a.m. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: The channel catfish are biting in excess with excellent action reported for anglers using mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Al Gumabon, Fountain Valley, reported catching 53 channel catfish during two day’s fishing. His top two fish were 11 and 8-8. Keith, Ryan, Michael and Ken Craig, San Diego, pulled out 10 channel catfish. Top fish was four pounds. The crappie bite is good along the dam on white jigs. Naa and Ngaam Saliphiw, San Diego, caught nine crappie. Top fish was a 1-8. 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: 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 and have attracted an abundance of fish in the 13- to 18-inch range. The night catfish bite is also fair to good for anglers using lights and then fishing anchovies. Launching conditions at South Cove are 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: Still a 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 fair on topwater just before dawn. All these bites should perk with coming full moon Saturday. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Fair to good catfish action with some flatheads 12 pounds or better on shrimp and mackerel. Full moon this week should improve the bite. 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 channel catfish. Fair to good channel catfish, redear, and bluegill bite throughout the area. Catfish taking mackerel or shrimp, and redear and bluegill biting worms in the river and backwaters. The flatheads have been fair to good in the main river, mostly on live bluegill.

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 fishing is good at Bridgeport Reservoir with anglers catching plenty of fish near the Buckeye Inlet early in the morning. Recently, the fish have been concentrated in 12 to 15 feet of water. The hatches continue. Damsels, callibaetis, and midges are all over the place. The water temps at the East Walker remain 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 have very good fishing conditions. The bite at Grant isn’t as good because the levels are low, and the temps are high. Yellow and red streamers are a good choice along the weed beds at Silver Lake. Callibaetis and Damsel patterns have been good mid-morning. Gull has been fishing well with a variety of nymphs and midge patterns. Rush Creek is running low, and clear, but the water temps are up a little. The evening has been good for dry fly fishing with good caddis hatches. Information: Ernie’s Fishing Tackle (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina (760) 648-7726.
MAMMOTH AREA: The bite at Crowley Lake perked with a few new fishing areas producing fish, including Crooked Creek in eight to 13 feet of water, and in the Green Banks. Last weekend’s Stillwater Classic produced fish in very good numbers. McGee Bay did slow down over the weekend, however, due to the high pressure from the classic. The water is a perfect 57 degrees, but the bite is sluggish with only waves of action. 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: 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: Anglers were a bit distracted here with the fire that closed a few campgrounds and the South Lake Road, but it was quickly doused and it was back to business. A lot of hit and miss action, but ones that were patient were catching fish throughout the drainage. At Sabrina, John Angiuli, Glendora, pulled out a six-pound brute on a red worm. Randy Lussky, Simi Valley, caught a 4 1/4-pound trout on nightcrawlers. 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 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: Striper derby 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, although the bite is still sluggish. The Hatchery at Kernville has started planting the area with trout. Information: Kern River Troutfitter 760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.
RIVER WALK PARK: Few reports, little to no action.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The catfish bite is good to excellent on mackerel and clams. Billy Rosales, Bakersfield, caught a 20-pound catfish on chicken liver. Jose Benegas, Bakersfield, landed a 13-pond catfish. 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 decent. Doug Cardiel, Bakersfield, caught a 9-8 catfish.
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.
BRITE LAKE: Catfish bite fair on anchovies. Also a few bass showing.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Good catfish liver, mackerel or Sonny’s. Jim Huot, Bakersfield, caught 30 catfish 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. Fair bluegill on wax or meal worms. Levels are high. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

SAN ANTONIO: Crappie bite good. 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: The bluegill bite is exceptional with anglers catching large quanties of fish from quarter to one-pounders. Ivory Shepperd and Steve Molina, Bakersfield, caught 100 bluegill on wax worms and crickets in one day’s trip. The fish were from a half to one pound. Good crappie bite on crappie jigs and minnows. Fish to two pounds or better have been reported over the past few weeks. 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: Jackson Lake, Piru Creek at Frenchman’s Flat.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
SAN BERNARDINO: Lake Gregory, Santa Ana River, South Fork of the Santa Ana River.
INYO: Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (Intake 2), Bishop Creek Lower, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Sabrina Lake, Lone Pine Creek, Lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River below Tinemaha Reservoir, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, North Lake, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Rock Creek Lake, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek and Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Ellery Lake, Glass Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lake George, Lake Mamie, Mary Lake, Lee Vining Creek, lower Twin Lakes, lower Virginia Lake, Lundy Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek (from French Camp to upper bridge at Rock Creek Lodge and from Paradise Lodge to Tuff Campground), Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, South Fork of Lee Vining Creek, Tioga Lake, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Bridgeport (Upper), Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Lake (Upper).
FRESNO: Big Creek near Kings, Dinkey Creek, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, South Fork of San Joaquin, 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.
TULARE: Balch Park Eastern Lake, Balch Park Western Lake, Hedrick Pond Campground Pond, Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, 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, upper Peppermint Creek.
TUOLUMNE: Deadman Creek, Lyons Canal, Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork of the Stanislaus 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.

 
NO PLANTS

OCEAN FISHING REPORT

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

SAN DIEGO DORADO AND EXOTICS UPDATE: The incredible bite for the overnight fleet out of San Diego and Orange County landings has continued with just excellent mixed bag action. The one-day to two-day trips have been a treat for anglers with good, limit-style dorado fishing and a nice shot of other species. Most overnight boats are returning with limits or near-limits of dorado and a few yellowfin, albacore, bluefin, or yellowtail. The two-day boats are all getting limits of dorado and a few more of the tuna and yellowtail. On Tuesday, the Freelance returned to port with 117 dorado for its 40 anglers along with a mixture of yellowtail and yellowfin. Most of this action is only 40 to 60 miles from port. The dorado are also in closer than this with a huge volume of fish from Dana Point to Newport Beach that just don’t want to bite as consistently as the fish further offshore, but even half- and three-day boats are seeing a shot of these fish on occasion. As the volume builds and the tides improve, this bite could break wide open from Catalina to Ensenada.
CHANNEL ISLAND WHITE SEABASS: The white seabass bite in the Channel Islands had lulled much of the past week with poorer tides, but the action is picking up again as we move into the full moon and better tides on Saturday. The Mirage out of Port Hueneme returned from a two-day trip Wednesday with 15 anglers, and they landed 33 white seabass along with limits of rockfish (300), 181 whitefish, five bonita, four sheephead, three lings, and a halibut. The Sea Jay, also from Port Hueneme, had 10 anglers who caught limits of calicos, a seabass, a barracuda, and a bonita.
LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY UPDATE: The local fleet along with Orange and Los Angeles counties region is mostly looking at kelp paddies for dorado, but the fish just hadn’t come on in any volume. The fall back has been a few bass, barracuda, and bonito. The few boats running to Catalina and San Clemente islands are seeing good bass action and a few spots of barracuda and bonito fishing, but not much in the way of white seabass or yellowtail.
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.

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 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.

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.