September 17, 2008

JIM MATTHEWS’

PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. The number one pick is for trout anglers who can’t wait for the winter trout season locally. Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains has a very good bite with some quality fish to six pounds reported in the past week on boat floating baits in deep water and lures. Cool nights have really turned on the trout action here. For the recorded information line, call 909-867-2009.
2. A solid catfish bite continues at Lake Henshaw where the action has been very good on fish to six or seven pounds with a lot of quality stringers. This has been a sleeper pick all summer, but it’s the best bite seen at this lake in a number of years. Also some real quality bullhead being caught. For an update, call the Henshaw resort at 760-782-3501.
3. We have to keep this pick in the top three another week even thought the action will probably slow a little coming out of Monday’s full moon. Still, the striper bite has been excellent at Castaic Lake for over a month with a lot of quality fish into the 10-pound range being caught. The best bite has been on anchovies or trolled shad-like baits, and the fish are showing all over the lake. For an update, check with the marina at 661-775-6232.
 

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 has been tough, but the Mammoth Lakes and June Lake loop regions are improving with the cooler evenings. In Southern California, deep trollers are finding generally tougher action everywhere. There are still spotty bites at Diamond Valley, Casitas, Cachuma, Perris, with only Big Bear Lake getting better and better by the day thanks to the cool evenings up the mountain. In the Western Sierra, the upper Kern River is very good for the rainbows with dropping water levels.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: We’re in a general lull before the good fall bites kick off. Diamond Valley Lake is still fair, but it was slower this past week. Barrett Lake remains very good for anglers with a permit but it will close the end of the month. Casitas is also good but mostly on small fish, but some quality fish were caught this past week. Sutherland and Lower Otay, in San Diego County, and Perris in western Riverside county, remain top bets, too, but Castaic, Pyramid, Silverwood, Cachuma, Isabella, Skinner, Piru, and Wohlford have fair to bass bites. Poway, El Capitan, and Hodges, all have much slower action.
STRIPED BASS: Silverwood, Castaic, Skinner, and Pyramid have all been fair to good this past week, with Castaic the best bet, producing fish to 10 pounds. The best action at all four has been on anchovies or frozen shad (if you can get it). A few wipers are showing at Elsinore, too, but that action has slowed way down. 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. Havasu improve to fair and Mojave remains fair to good on small fish. Fair and improving action in the lower river.
PANFISH: Top bets for bluegill and redear include Perris, Lower Otay, Elsinore, and Diamond Valley, about in that order, with the Perris bite sizzling again this past week. On the Central Coast, Lopez has an excellent bluegill and redear bite with fish to a pound or better. Most Southern California crappie bites are off, but there is still a fair bite at Elsinore and Cuyamaca. The Central Coast lakes of Lopez and San Antonio both have been pretty fair for the crappie, too.
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 continues to crank out the biggest fish. All of the San Bernardino County Park lakes are being planted each week with catfish, and all are pretty good. Henshaw may have the best bite on non-weekly planted lakes with Diamond Valley rivaling Henshaw’s bite. Both are good to excellent. Silverwood, Skinner, and Pyramid are all good for cats, too. The lower Colorado River and river backwater, ditches, and canals have been consistently fair to 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 excellent catfish bite continues for the channel catfish. Top fish this week was a 5-8 caught by Gerald McAdams, San Bernardino, on anchovies and nightcrawlers at mid-lake. John Bube, Fontana, pulled out a 4-8 channel cat on chicken liver. The striper bite is just as good with the best action near the dam, off the docks, and in the coves on anchovies. Mandy Eikom, Hesperia, caught three striper for 10 pounds. Top fish was a 3-8. 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: The rainbow trout bite is fair to good, with the best bite for trollers or bait anglers using Nitro or nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week. Also some fair to good bass action on plastics. Smallmouth are showing near the observatory on plastics and small spinners. The largemouth have been reported in the four-pound range and have been caught off the east end on mackerel and stink bait. Upcoming events: Troutfest scheduled for October 4 and 5. Call 949-366-0030 for more information. 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. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The lake was stocked with 1,000 pounds of trout last week, although some holdovers from the Aug. 29 plant have still been reported. Andrew Acker, Green Valley Lake, pulled out a 6-13 trout on a silver Kastmaster. Shawn Murphy, Rancho Cucamonga, landed a 6-9 rainbow on an Atomic teaser. The weather is improving the already good bite. Recent night temps have dropped to the 40s, and the fish from deep are coming to the surface. 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: 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. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish bite excellent on mackerel, nightcrawlers, shrimp or anything dipped in stink bait off the north shore, by the drain, and the dam area. Fair sturgeon action with fish being pulled out on Power Bait and shrimp off the grassy bank and off the north shore. Trout plants begin in October and the next sturgeon plant is in November. 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 drastically. Top baits are nightcrawlers, Power Bait (lemon twist and spring green) and Senkos. Hot spots have been off the eastern and northern shores of lake 2 and the grassy point of lake 3. Bass bite fair off the western shore of lake 2 and the southeastern shore of lake 2 on Senkos. Fair bluegill action on meal worms with fish biting near the pump house and off the western shore of lake 2. 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: A fair bite for trout, bluegill and carp, with anglers reporting little sparks of better action. However, the catfish bite is on fire. Anglers have landed fish to nine-pounds on mackerel, shrimp or anchovies. Another plant went in this week, so the bite should continue. Information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair to good catfish bite on mackerel or nightcrawlers. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Catfish bite fair to good with some limits reported. Top baits have been shrimp, M&M (marshmallow and mackerel) combo and nightcrawlers.
YUCAIPA: Fair catfish action on anchovies, nightcrawlers, meal worms, or anything dipped in Sonny’s stink bait. Action is best in the afternoons. The daytime bite is sluggish. Weekly county plants continue for one more week 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. Trout plants should start soon, no more channel cat plants will go in. Information: 909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: No recent plants. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

DIAMOND VALLEY: Bass fishing still fair to good for small fish in the one to two pound range, mostly in 15 feet drop-shoting plastics or using Creature baits. The trout are still stubborn and only a few anglers have found luck. The lucky ones have reported action when drift fishing with nightcrawlers or trolling with Needlefish or Kastmasters. Sheldon Johnson, Hemet, landed a 4.31-pound trout in 45 feet on mackerel near the inlet tower. The striper bite is just around the corner with some action already starting on swimbaits. When the trout plants begin next month, the action should improve. The catfish bite has been sporadic. The third cove of shoreline fishing, the wave attenuator have been the hot spots for catfish. Mackerel, shrimp, or anchovies are top baits. Honree Davis, Winchester, caught the biggest cat of the week, a 25.5-pounder on a worm near the inlet tower. Sheldon Johnson, Hemet, landed a 12.11-pound catfish on mackerel in 45 feet near the inlet. The big ‘gills have been biting along the dams in 15 to 20 feet on live worms or jigs. Lake information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait & Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: The overall bite is steady, with the bluegill bite just a step ahead of all other species. The bluegill bite has been good to excellent with fish reported on crickets, wax worms or meal worms off the island and in the marina. Tim and Ethan Roberts, Perris, caught 43 bluegill. Top fish was a one-pounder. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, pulled out 30 bluegill. His fish were under a pound. Bass bite steady with the best action on plastic worms by the dam. Top fish was a six-pounder pulled out by Valerie Harris, Long Beach. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: The catfish action perked and is excellent. Most fish reported in the inlet, off Launch Ramp 2, and off the west end of the lake on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Top fish of the week was a 4-5 caught by Rob Scott, Corona. Steve Dunn, Vista, caught four catfish totaling 13 pounds. His top fish was a 3-8. The striper action is good with fish reported on anchovies in the inlet. Dan Feltner, Fallbrook, pulled out three striper totaling 11 pounds, with a 5-1 top fish. Largemouth bass bite fair to good with a few fish reported on Senkos. Nothing happening with the trout, although upcoming plants should shift the action. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
ELSINORE: Crappie bite good in deeper waters on nightcrawlers and small jigs. Bluegill still biting, although the bite is only fair. Best batis have been crickets or wax or meal worms. Wiper (striper-hybrid) action fair, but slowing down with a few fish in the four-pound range landed off shore on shad or for trollers using various lures. Carp fair to good off the east end on dough balls. Catfish and bass are hit and miss. Information: Catfishing R Us at 877-685-7752.
CORONA LAKE: A lake record 17-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass was landed by Randy Muirhead, Glen Ivy, fishing a plastic work. Muirhead also had bass at 12 1/2 and 12 3/4 pounds this past week, and all his fish were released. The catfish bite has also been very good, especially for boat anglers fishing deeper water, and anglers targeting tilapia are also getting some nice stringers of these tasty panfish. Top catfish was a nine-pounder caught by Steve Stone, Riverside, on a nightcrawler. A six-pound cat was caught by Jim Mitchell, Corona, while Hugo, Alex, Marcos, and Zeozimo Hernandez, all Santa Ana, had an 11-fish stringer that weighed 43 pounds topped with a 5 1/2-pounder. Dannie Vargas and Maria Alverez, both Anaheim, had 19 catfish, including a 4 1/2-pounder. LeRoy Chacon, Fontana, had 11 fish on his 24-hour fishing pass that weighed 21 pounds, including a four-pounder. A number of five-fish tilapia limits have been reported with most of these stringers having at least one fish from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds, and the average fish is over a pound. The hot bait for the tilapia has been nightcrawler pieces. 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, and fair action on small bluegill action around the shorelines.
RANCHO JURUPA: Catfish remain the name of the game here. Anglers are catching a fair number of fish to four pounds with an occasional bigger fish. Catfish plants end this week, although trout plants are slated to begin the first week of November. Upcoming events: Trout tournament scheduled for January 24. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Fair to good catfish bite from both lakes, with times of better action in the evenings through dusk. Top baits are shrimp, mackerel or DuMong’s. Catfish plants and fishing derbies every other week. 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 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: The catfish bite remains consistent, considering the heat. Mornings to about 11:30 is when the bite is best, and then things pick back up from 2 p.m. until sunset off the island. Mackerel, shrimp and stink baits are producing the most. The cats won't begin to hibernate until November, so the trout plants will begin Halloween. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday holidays. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS

LAKE HEMET: Slow trout action for shore anglers with a perk in the bite in the early morning and evening hours, with a few limits posted. Trollers are still getting fish on Needlefish, and bait anglers drifting nightcrawlers in deep water are also scoring. Most of the rainbows are 1/2 to 1 1/4 pounds with some bigger. Lorraine Martinez, West Covina, caught a 1-8 trout on nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week. Fair bass action on plastics and crawdads. Catfish fair 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: The catfish bite remains very good in spite of slowly dropping water levels, and many anglers are reporting five-fish stringers of 20 pounds or more. The top catfish landed this week were a pair of 8 1/2-pounders. One was landed by Doug Bader, Orange, to top off his five-fish 30-pound stringer caught on shrimp doused with Nitro Gravy while fishing from a boat. The other was landed by Tom Barlow, Norwalk, and his 8 1/2-pounder was part of his four-fish stringer that weighed 21 pounds. Jeff Winston, Whittier, caught a 7 3/4-pound cat to complete his five-fish 20 1/2-pound stringer, while Diane Landrum, Paramount, caught a six-pounder to top off her four-fish stringer. Big stringer of the week was on 24-hour pass, a 15-fish catch made by Scott Zimnicki, Garden Grove, that weighed in at 74 pounds. The water level is dropping slowly for the annual drawdown that will take place over the next few weeks. The lakes’ will remain open during the initial weeks of the lakes’ drawdown, and the complex will only close when the shoreline banks become too steep for safe fishing. This slow drawdown is expected to extend the catfish action at least through the rest of the summer, but 24-hour fishing has been curtailed. Information: 714-632-7830.
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: Excellent blue and channel catfish action continues here. The best action was reported from the Santiago Flats, off the west shore, off the docks and near the dam on Catmando, mackerel, chicken liver or shrimp. Ronson “Catmando” Smothers, Los Angeles, pulled out a 20-8 blue catfish. Phil Hildenbrandt, Anaheim, caught a 20-2 blue catfish on a bonito. Marty Sauceda, Costa Mesa, landed a 14-8 channel catfish. Tony Muniz, Tustin, pulled out a 10-8 channel catfish off Rocky Point. This week, 4,000 pounds of broodstock catfish in the 15 to 20-pound range were planted. The bass action remains good with anglers reporting good day and night action on reaction baits, including spinnerbaits and shad-colored Rapalas. Most fish are under three pounds. Crappie anglers are also catching two-pound fish on minnows. Plenty of bluegill and redear reported off the docks on meal worms and wax worms. The lake’s hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Bass bite fair to good with fish in the one to three-pound range. Top fish was a 4 1/2-pounder. Drop-shotted or Texas-rigged plastic worms, and topwater lures in dark colors are best with the most success in mornings and early evenings. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits are also good bets, but during the day only. Bluegill good on half nightcrawlers. Crappie good on assorted crappie jigs. Catfish bite good on nightcrawlers, mackerel and shrimp at the point, near the launch ramp and at the opening of the inlet. An eight-pounder was caught on mackerel. The launch ramp and the inlet entrance are the hot spots. 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: The trout bite continues to hang on, although the action should make an improvement after the fall plants begin early next month. Anglers and trollers are having to work extra hard for the fish. Trollers are working deep, 40 feet plus, with Needlefish, Kastmasters or Rapalas. Some bait anglers have reported fish on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Crappie bite spotty with a few fish on jigs. 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, but with a few sparks reported for the past few weeks on shrimp, mackerel or anything dipped in stink baits. John Turner, Pasadena, caught a three-pound catfish. 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: A good bite for the bass on plastic worms in 50 feet of water off the points and at the surface in the early mornings. Top bass of the week was a 10-pounder caught by Roger Snowbarger, Ojai. Brian Evans, Ojai, pulled out a limit of bass just under 30-pounds and took first at the Angler’s Choice Bass Tournament, along with the $1,200 prize. Mike Creidick, Ojai, caught a five-pound bass. Hal Paxton, Ventura, pulled out a limit of bass weighing in at 20 pounds. Fair to good catfish action on mackerel and shrimp. Robert Grub, Camarillo, caught a nine-pound catfish on mackerel. The trout went deep, 50 to 60 feet, not too many reports. Few redear and crappie in the weeds on nightcrawlers and red worms. 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 striper bite slowed slightly, although trollers are scoring fish in the two to four-pound range using Needlefish or Thomas Buoyants. A few bait anglers have reported fish from five to nine pounds on anchovies. Jessie Gil, San Fernando Valley, pulled out the top two stripers of the week, 12.5 and 11.7 pounders. Bob Caffey, Quartz Hill, pulled out a stringer of 10 stripers totaling 32 pounds. His top fish weighed in at 9.8 pounds. The largemouth bass bite also slowed, but anglers still reported waves of fair to good action on lures and plastics in 15 feet. Don Rubidoux, West Hills, pulled out a 7.2-pound largemouth from the Fish Arm on plastics. No bluegill, crappie or catfish reported. Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: Continued slow trout bite, although anglers have had a preview of the fall bass bite. Bass have been biting plastic worms and lures. Slow to fair crappie action on white mini-jigs. Most fish are under a pound. 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.
PYRAMID: Shore fishing has been prohibited until further notice. Boat fishing is still allowed, however. The striper bite is good with fish reported in the five-pound range, with the occasional 10-pound or better brought in. Boils reported all over. Best action on cut baits or shad-like swimbaits and cranks. Down below the gatehouse is the best area for stripers. Largemouth and smallmouth bites have improved over the weekend on plastics and swimbaits. Some catfish reported in the channels 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 remains fair for a majority of the day. The bite improves to good in the later part of the day, and anglers have landed fish to four pounds on mackerel, shrimp or chicken liver. Fairish 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 on cut 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: Excellent bass bite and a turn around on the bluegill action. This week the 99 anglers checked reported 779 bass, 163 bluegill and two smallmouth bass. Reservations for September are available through Ticketmaster. Call 619-220-8497. The lake is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Sept. 28 will mark the last fishing day of this year. The lake will reopen next spring. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: Bass action still on the slow side. This week 113 anglers reported 37 bass, 17 bluegill, seven channel catfish and one crappie. The lake is open for fishing and boating Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Fair bass action. This week 85 anglers reported 96 bass, two crappie and one channel catfish. The lake is open Thursday through Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 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: Very good bluegill bite, although not as hot as last week’s. Good bass bite, too. This week 241 anglers reported 539 bluegill, 315 bass and eight channel catfish. Ella Emerson, Imperial Beach, caught three channel catfish for 21.95 pounds. Top fish was a 10.65-pounder caught near the buoy line on mackerel. Emerson also pulled out four bluegill for 2.9 pounds, with a 1.20-pound top fish. Basillio Tavarez, San Diego, landed an 8.55-pound channel catfish. Amanda Snookhiram, Chula Vista, caught an 8.50-pound channel catfish off Handicap Dock. 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 to good bass action. This week 10 anglers checked reported 29 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: The lake is closed and is expected to remain closed for six to nine years for dam reconstruction. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
MURRAY: Overall slow action. This week 73 anglers checked reported 12 bass, 10 bluegill and three channel catfish. The lake is open for fishing and boating seven days a week. Boat rentals are available Saturday and Sunday only. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: Overall slow action. This week 34 anglers checked reported 14 bass, one bluegill and one crappie. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Boat rentals are available on Saturday and Sunday only. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
SUTHERLAND: This week the 48 anglers checked reported 90 bass, 24 crappie, 21 carp, five channel catfish and two bluegill. 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 bite good with plenty of smaller bass caught off the south shore on shiners. Top fish this week was a 2-14 bass caught by Dustin Hoskings, Vista. The channel catfish bite also picking up with fish reported on cut mackerel, chicken liver, nightcrawlers and shrimp. Abram Villa, Fernando James and Christian Navaro, San Diego, caught a stringer of channel catfish totaling 15-6 with a 3-3 top fish on shrimp off the West Buoy Line. Crappie bite also fair on shiners. Jerry Harris, Riverside, caught a 1-4 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: No recent plants.
DIXON LAKE: The cats are in the one to two-pound range and have been landed mostly on mackerel and shrimp. A 2,000-pound plant went in two weeks ago. The bass action picked up this week on Senkos and plastics in the heavy weeds. Zach Green, pulled out a 12-pound bass. Pier No. 1 remains closed due to construction. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: A good early morning topwater bite for the bass with fish reported near the Rock Pile and Log Boom on plastics. Bluegill bite fair in Hidden Bay on wax worms or meal worms. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to sunset. Lake information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770, concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Improved bass action with fish reported in the 1-to 4-pound range on topwater baits, including plastic worms. The catfish have gone deep, so the bite isn’t as hot, but some have still been reported on mackerel or nightcrawlers. First trout plant slated for Oct. 22. 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: The bluegill continues to lead the action with a good bite on wax and meal worms. Good catfish action on nightcrawlers and mackerel off Paradise Island. 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: Good channel catfish and bullhead action reported this week with a 20-pound channel pulled out on mackerel. The trout bite is slow, but will pick up as plants begin. First one is slated for next week, with over 3,000 pounds going in. 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. the 10th Annual Orville P. Ball Memorial Fishing Derby is set for Saturday, Sept. 27. The 27th is also National Hunting and Fishing Day and no fishing license will be required. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: The catfish action remains good to very good with the most fish reported on nightcrawlers, chicken liver or shrimp off the docks. Brett Jorgenson and Maureen MacManus, San Diego, as pulled out five catfish with a six-pound top fish. Don Ford and Elizabeth Banon, Inglewood, caught four catfish with their heaviest at three pounds. Bill Nelson, Huntington Beach, caught a three-pound catfish. Tony and Irene Whiteeagle, Santa Ysabel, pulled out seven catfish. Top fish was a two-pounder on chicken liver. Dennis and Shirley Gadbois, Cathedral City, caught a three-pound catfish. Gene and Cindy Butler, Lakeside, pulled out a limit of bullheads with a five-pound top fish. Bass bite good on Rapalas off the shore. Dylan Olson, 12, Huntington Beach, caught a two-pound bass. Some bluegill action on wax worms and nightcrawlers has been reported recently. Don Ford and Elizabeth Banon, Inglewood, caught twenty bluegill on wax worms to the right of Monkey Island. The lake is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Nightfishing is over. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

LAKE MEAD: The night striper action in the Vegas Wash continues to be the best action on anchovies and plastics. Fish are still showing in the Vegas Wash during the day, and it’s just exceptional at night. 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 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: Small striper bite good on cut anchovies. The schools of shad should be emerging soon. Lake levels are steady. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: The striper action perked with a few anglers reporting fair action with fish three-inches long or better. Little to no trout bite, although plants should begin in late October.
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: The bite has been slow. Only a few bass have been caught on Senkos. 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 fair with the best bite in the early morning around the reefs and points. Early morning casting and trolling with jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps will also help turn on the bite. Large and smallmouth bass fishing fair 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. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
BLYTHE: Flathead bite fair to good with some fish close to 20 pounds, and a rare one 30 or more. 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 on mackerel. Few reports. Bass action slow to fair with some action on plastic worms or nightcrawlers.
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 is the best fishing spot, 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 tilapia bite with waves of actions and some reported stringers of fish. The heat and flies can be unbearable so 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 fair to good at Bridgeport Reservoir with anglers catching loads of fish in the inlet and springs where the water is cooler. Recently, the fish have been most active in the mornings. Damsels, callibaetis, and midges are all over the place. The water temps at the East Walker have dropped drastically. The early morning and late afternoon bite is best. Flows are around 90 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, Silver and Grant Lakes have all been excellent with plenty of surface activity in the mornings and evenings. When the sun comes up the fish go deep. The best technique at all lakes is fishing sinking lines with nymphs and streamers. All colors of wooly buggers are producing when trailed behind a hares’ ear. Rush Creek is running low, but slightly hiher, 30 cfs. A small improvement in the fishing has been seen. The evening bite remains best for dry fly fishing with good caddis hatches on all the lakes. Information: Ernie’s Fishing Tackle (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina (760) 648-7726.
MAMMOTH AREA: The bite at Crowley Lake is wide open for fly-fishermen. The best spot continues to be in McGee Bay, although the fish are a lot deeper than last week. Nice fish in the 20-inch plus range have been pulled out with plenty from 15 to 16 inches reported. The bite at Hot Creek is fair to good, the water is clear and the flows are around 50 cfs. Lots of weed growth make fishing tough. Good stocker trout action in Mammoth Creek and all the Mammoth Lakes -- Mary, Mamie, Gull, and George. Bait anglers are scoring in 20 to 50 feet at Mary. Not much action in less than 20. Mainly bait anglers scoring. The fly-fishing options are best at Mamie and Twin Lakes. The San Joaquin River is really coming down and the fishing is good for wild and stocked fish. Starkweather Lake is fishing better than the river now, so try fishing dries in the evenings. Convict Lake bite good for rainbow trout at the inlet and outlet on nightcrawlers, Power Bait, Thomas Buoyants and Kastmasters. 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: A lot of hit and miss action, but patient anglers are catching fish throughout the Bishop Creek drainage. Improved trout action at Lake Sabrina. Fish the inlet with salmon eggs, Power Bait or Gulp. Shore anglers are using nightcrawlers and a bobber or Power Bait and Gulp combined. Joseph Perat, Big Bear City, pulled out a 6 1/3-pound rainboaw in the inlet. Leif Arntsen, Bishop, pulled out a 5 1/4-pound Alper on a Thomas Buoyant, while Fred Crespin, Rialto, pulled out a 4 1/2-pound Alper. Bob Severson, Glendora, landed a 3 1/4-pound Alper on Power Bait. 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 in slower water and eddies. 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 the lower Owens River and local creeks coming off the Sierra, mostly for planted trout. Diaz Lake slow. Plants this week at Baker Creek, Big Pine Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, and Tuttle Creek. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA

LAKE ISABELLA: Catfish bite fair to good on clams and live. Fair to good bluegill on wax worms. Bass bite OK on crankbaits. 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 flows are also down to about 600 feet so the area is very fishable. Both the trout and smallmouth bass bites have picked up to fair on nightcrawlers and platstic worms. The hatchery at Kernville has started planting the area with trout, and the bite is picking up. 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 fair on mackerel and shad. Fair to good action on small stripers with blood worms.
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 carp bite on dough bait. Catfish bite decent.
MING LAKE: Fair to good bluegill bite on crickets and meal worms. Good carp bite on dough bait.
BRITE LAKE: Catfish bite fair on anchovies. Also a few bass showing.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The best catfish bite in the area on shad.
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 bite good on wax worms and crickets. The levels are still very low. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Fair bass bite on Senkos. Fair bluegill on wax or meal worms. Levels still high. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

SAN ANTONIO: Crappie bite fair to good, sometimes excellent depending on the day. The bite has been consistent off shore on crappie jigs and minnows. Fish to two pounds have been caught. Striper action good with the best bite in Bee Rock Cove and Harris Creek on anchovies or swimbaits. Little to no smallmouth action, however the largemouth action remains 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: The good largemouth bass bite continues on Brush Hogs, plastics or crankbaits. Anglers have pulled out limits with largemouth to five pounds or better on some. Some smallmouth also starting to show. The early morning bite from sunrise to 9 a.m. is the best time. Fair 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 spotties are still the leading species with a good to excellent bite 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 remains red hot on crickets and wax worms. Anglers have landing up to 100 bluegill in one trip with fish from one half to three-quarter pounds. A few one pound or better fish have also been pulled out. 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. Trout bite fair. Lake temps are dropping so the action is improving. 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.
RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake.
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 (Section 2), Rock Creek Lake, Sabrina Lake, South Lake, Taboose Creek, Tinnemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
MONO: Convict Creek, George Lake, Lee Vining Creek South Fork, Little Walker River, Mamie Lake, Mammoth Creek, Mary Lake, McGee Creek, Owens River (Section 3), Rock Creek (Sections 1 and 2), Rush Creek, Trumble Lake, Twin Lakes Mammoth, Virginia Lake (Lower and Upper), West Walker River (Sections 2 & 3).
FRESNO: 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: Corrine Lake.
TULARE: Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, South Fork of Middle Fork Tule River at Camp Nelson.

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

CHANNEL ISLANDS UPDATE: There continues be a hit and miss yellowtail and white seabass bite in the Channel Islands this past week. Mostly with misses in recent days, but some days have been excellent and the volume of yellowtail swimming around the Channel Islands suggest a good fall bite is one the way The Island Tak out of Channel Island Sportfishing continues to catch limits of calico bass with some exotics mixed in. The Coroloma out of Ventura Sportfishing has also had great bass fishing, a few exotics and plenty of fine eating rockfish. This area bears watching. The fall bite can be spectacular.
LOS ANGELES LANDINGS UPDATE: For the Los Angeles County-base fleet, the Tanner Banks exploded with bluefin tuna and yellowtail to 45 pounds this past week. The Freedom from 22nd St landing in San Pedro had 80 bluefin tuna along with 40 yellowtail on a trip early this week. Fall is the best time of the year for fishing the Tanner and Cortez and everything seems to be falling into place for a banner year. Remember to bring an outfit with 40-pound test for the bigger, tougher yellowtail. A 20-pound rig has been effective for the eight to 20-pound bluefin tuna, but you need a fluorocarbon leader to get strikes. Yellowfin tuna have also been good this week. The Chubasco III out of Long Beach Sportfishing had 21 yellowfin tuna for only six anglers, while 25 Liberty anglers decked 54 yellowfin tuna and 1 albacore. This boat is also out of Long Beach Sportfishing. The yellowfin range from 20 to over 40 pounds. At Catalina Islands there is fair yellowtail action with good calico bass and bonito action, and even a few barracuda in the bag here. Catalina is yet another venue where there are a lot of big yellowtail swimming around, setting the stage for a nice fall bite. The yellows here are to 35 pounds so make sure you have a heavy outfit in your tackle arsenal. On the local, nearshore scene, the action has been mostly slow with only a few barracuda and bass this past week, and many boats were falling back on sculpin. Don Ashley from Pierpoint Landing is predicting a good fall run of barracuda.
ORANGE COUNTY LANDINGS UPDATE: There is tremendous yellowfin tuna for the local and overnight fleet from Dana Wharf Sportfishing. Anglers on the Seahorse had 72 big yellowfin tuna on an overnight trip early this week, while Fury anglers had 31 yellowfin tuna. On board the 3/4-day Dana Pride, anglers hooked over 60 yellowfin tuna to get 19, and even more important, they saw more fish than ever as we head in to late September. Bongos II skipper Joe Berrian said the action has been on fire lately with great yellowtail and yellowfin tuna fishing out of Davey's Locker in Newport Beach. One day, Berrian took his six anglers offshore for 29 big yellowfin tuna in a 2 1/2 hour stop. The next day, Berrian's group of four anglers opted for Catalina Island, and they caught 21 yellowtail in the 20 to 35 pound class. The local, nearshore bite has had some yellowtail flurries for anglers on the 3/4-day Clemente out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing as well as some bass and bonito and a few barracuda. Sculpin fill in between.
SAN DIEGO UPDATE: The San Diego fleet’s overnight trips have been hit and miss just like everywhere else. You go one day and it's the slowest fishing you'll ever experience. Go another day and it could be the most spectacular day you've ever had in your life. One thing is for sure, there are a lot of fish in a lot of different areas. They don't always bite but when they do, it's good. Skippers are all saying the fall bite should be spectacular. Anglers on the New Lo An out of Point Loma Sportishing had 89 bluefin tuna on a trip this week, while the Pacific Voyager out of Seaforth Sportfishing had 17 anglers catch 170 bluefin. Several boat skippers, including the Legend’s, reported good action on yellowfin tuna to 45 pounds as well as some catches of 5 to 20 pound dorado. The 3/4 day fleet out of San Diego has enjoyed a great summer and is looking down the barrel of a very promising fall. Big numbers of yellowfin tuna, albacore, skipjack, and an occasional marlin have all been part of an extraordinary local year. It's still hit and miss but when it's on, it has really been hot. The 1/2 day boats continue to pick at the bass, bonito, and barracuda with a few yellowtail. Once again, there are a lot of yellows zooming around here. Everyone is looking toward a great fall.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA is hosting a whole series of September charters during the peak of the fall 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 September trips are all two-day adventures. The leave date and boats are as follows: 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.

September 8, 2008 - Terrence Berg holds up Patrick Raahauge’s 27-pound yellowfin tuna caught 20 miles off Mission Bay.

August 22, 2008 - Donavan Swan, Fontana, caught a stringer of catfish totaling 24-8 on mackerel fishing near the boat dock at Santa Ana River Lakes.

August 18, 2008 - Eddie Rodriguez and Freedie Lopez, both of Wilmington, caught this nice bunch of catfish totaling over 27 pounds while fishing with mackerel at Santa Ana River Lakes.

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 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.