FISH REPORT — ONS-matthews – 27 november 2019 Compiled by Jim Matthews www.OutdoorNewsService.com
The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops, and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in this report. E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net.
The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission.
JIM MATTHEWS’S PICKS OF THE WEEK
- Lake Silverwood stays in the top spot this week. Not just because of its striped bass bite with fish to four pounds, but also because of the good action on crappie to 1-8, and planted rainbow trout averaging about a pound. While it will be rainy, snowy, and nasty cold much of this week at the lake, this bite has been good enough that die-hards might want to check it out. All three species are showing around the marina and into Miller and Cleghorn canyons, but also in the main channel and at the dam for boat anglers. For an update on this action, call the marina at 760-389-2299.
- The Kern Riverís trout action, especially in the lower river, has been very good for over a month. Trout plants each week in at least some of the stretches are keeping this bite hot, and there have been a lot of quality holdover fish being caught, especially in the lower river. Rainbows from two to five pounds have been reported. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, and SuperDupers have been the best baits. For an update on this bite, call Bobís Bait Bucket at 661-833-8657.
- The Buena Vista Lakes near Taft in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley kicked off its trout season this week with a 2,000-pound plant for its derby this past weekend and then another 1,000-pound plant on Monday this week. The action has been pretty good since, in spite of rain and cold. The usual trout baits are all working, but Mice Tails have been the top bait. For more information, call Bobís Bait 661-833-8657 or Copeís Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
VICTORVILLE REGION
HESPERIA LAKE: First trout plant of the season went in last Thursday, and more trout were slated for this week, but weather could delay that stock. No reports. The catfish bite has been fair on the marshmallow-meal worm combo, mackerel, shrimp, or sardines. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH LAKES: Cold weather and rain this week. The trout bite has been fair in both lakes, with anglers using Power Bait (especially salmon peach, garlic and rainbow), nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs and lures. Best spots include the northern and eastern shores of lake 2 and the grassy point and western shore near the drain of lake 3. Other species very slow. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: No reports. The park is only open Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Trout plants were slated to start this week, but the plants have been delayed because of weather. First county plant of the season will now be Dec. 5. No DFW trout plants on the schedule yet. Information, call 760-245-2226.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION
APOLLO PARK LAKE: The trout action has continued pretty fair with fish to five pounds reported after a plant last week. Lots of one to two-pound rainbows, even in the rain this week. The rainbows are showing from around the lake, and the hot bait has been on pink Drewís plastic worms, pink and white Mice Tails, and spring green and garlic PowerBait mixed together. County plants are tentatively slated to go in every two weeks (which means they should be planted this week). The weekly plants will be 800 pounds. Few anglers fishing carp or panfish. For more information on plants and events, contact Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
JACKSON LAKE (NEAR WRIGHTWOOD): Still some rainbows being caught on PowerBait or small trout jigs, but there is snow on the ground and the weather has been very cold this week. The most recent reported DFW trout plant was over a month ago. The bluegill bite has almost died. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
LAKE PALMDALE: The lake closed to fishing Sunday, Oct. 6 and will reopen to fishing on Feb. 2 for the trout season kickoff. Call the Palmdale Fin & Feather Club for membership and fishing information at 661-947-2884 or go to website at www.palmdalefinandfeatherclub.com.
QUAIL LAKE: Cold rain and even some snow this week. There continue to be a slow to fair bite on catfish in the evenings on mussels, chicken liver, or mackerel, used in conjunction with nightcrawlers and added scent. Most of the fish are two to six pounds and showing from both the north and south sides near the outlet. Fewer stripers being caught. No reports of bluegill or largemouth this week as the water cools. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Hesperia to Quail Lake stretch): Generally fair overall action in spite of cold weather and rain. The east end of the valley continues to produce fair striper action at 72nd, 89th, and 151st averaging three pounds. Most are being reported on chicken liver. Catfish are showing throughout on a wide variety of cut baits fished with nightcrawlers and walk-drifted on the bottom. Bends, road crossings, weirs, and siphons are the hot spots. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The action has slowed with the cooler, wet weather this week. Still a bluegill showing on nightcrawlers. No other reports.
LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: No reports again this week. The lake is normally open to walk-in fishing, but the Palmdale Water District has an ongoing sediment removal project and access is restricted at times. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: The winter bite is on, with stripers, crappie, and planted rainbow trout all providing fair to good action with limits of stripers to four pounds and trout averaging around a pound reported. Also a few catfish still showing, while the largemouth bass and bluegill are mostly slow. The stripers are showing on anchovies, garlic nightcrawlers, blood or lug worms fished at the dam, main lake points, or around the marina, mostly in deep water. Some anglers are also getting fish trolling or casting shad-like lures or trolling umbrella rigs, but most of the fish are fairly deep, with some to 10-plus pounds but most 1-8 to four. Sam Caldwell, Adelanto, had 10 stripers to four pounds on nightcrawlers off the dock. The crappie are best off the dock and in the coves of the main channel in deeper water around brush. Small jigs are the go-to lure, and tipping them with bait or Crappie Nibbles is the ticket. Carlos Avila, Redlands, and his son Litos, had a nice striper of slabs from one to 1-9, all on jigs off the end of the dock. The trout bite is best in Cleghorn, Miller, around the marina, and up into the channel on PowerBait in chartreuse and garlic. DFW plants last Friday and three weeks ago. Still some catfish showing on cut baits at the marina docks and into both Miller and Cleghorn Canyons, and some are also showing at the dam. Water levels have been unchanged in recent days. Anglers should be aware of health advisories for the consumption of fish from this lake because of high PCB and mercury levels in the fish flesh and skin. Hereís the direct link to a PDF brochure explaining consumption recommendations: http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/pdf_zip/081013KioskadvySilverwood.pdf. Dock fishing is allowed for $3 for adults, $2 for kids and seniors. Private boats must be inspected for zebra and quagga mussels. Boats with wet lower units will be turned away. Boats inspected and tagged at Diamond Valley and Perris will be allowed at Silverwood. The park is open seven days a week. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: Very cold this week with more snow. The trout bite is fair. Bank anglers are getting a few trout from the Red House to Juniper Point along the North Shore. The action is best on Carolina rigs with long leaders of two to four-pound test fluorocarbon leaders and original or yellow garlic PowerBait. For information on fishing, call Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the storeís Facebook page.
GREGORY LAKE: No report available. Most recent plants over a month ago. Lake and fishing information at 909-338-2233 or on the website at lakegregoryrecreation.com/fish . Fishing updates are posted infrequently on the park’s Facebook page or website.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: More snow this week. Very slow fishing with no plants in over a month. Lake is freezing at edges, likely to be iced up by the end of the weekend. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.
INTERSTATE 5 LAKES
CASTAIC: The bite has continued to slow over the past week and the rain this week wonít help the action (except for trout). The largemouth and smallmouth action has been mostly in deeper water and with finesse-style baits. They have been tough to located, but when you find a school, the finesse baits or deep-diving jerk baits and weighted swimbaits have been getting fish. Striper fishing has been tough as well with most fish coming off the troll or down deep on cut bait. Main lake points and deeper drop offs have been the areas to target. The trout bite has been decent and DFW fish were supposed to go in this week, but weather may have delayed that. Last plant was two weeks ago, and there are still holdovers from last year showing, and these are better sized fish. Most action has been on bright-colored PowerBaits and smaller trout lures. Catfish have been hard to locate with the colder temperatures. Bluegill and crappie still are tough and getting a lot harder to find. The lower lagoon has been the place for those species. The lakeís elevation is dropping slowly, currently at 78 percent full, which is down two percent from last week. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
PYRAMID: Trout were planted this week and three weeks ago, and the bite has been pretty good, especially in the canal by the entrance booth on PowerBait and trout plastics with fish to nearly two pounds. For stripers, shore anglers fishing the channel near the entrance booth and along the rip-rap were getting fish on anchovies, sardines, and nightcrawlers, at least before this big storm. Trollers working umbrella rigs or anglers metering fish and vertical jigging with spoons or ice jigs are getting fish around Chumash Island and Serrano Cove. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair, especially along the weed lines with plastics or nightcrawlers fished drop-shot style. The lakeís level is not changing much. It is at 92 percent full this week, the same as last week. There is a health warning about eating fish from Pyramid Lake (except the rainbow trout). More information at this link: http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/pyramidlake2013.html. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155 or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
COLORADO RIVER
ARIZONA FISHING REPORTS: The Arizona Game and Fish Department compiles a weekly report for most waters in the state, including the Colorado Rivers. Anglers can read the report at this direct link: http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/FishingReport/.
FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releases for the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web site with information updated hourly: www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/rivops.html.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: Snow this week, but there continues to be a fair catfish bite pm Triple S dip bait, clams, shad, sardines, chicken liver, all used with scent added. Many anglers are adding nightcrawlers to their cut baits to add motion. Lots of fish from three to six pounds and some bigger. The crappie bite continues to hang on with surprisingly good action for both shore and boat or tube anglers fishing minnows, especially around any of the marinas and in the French Gulch areas. The largemouth bite has slowed, as have the bluegill and carp bites. The lake level may be stabilizing with it staying at 29 percent full for the second week in a row. Few trout or carp reports, and the bluegill bite has slowed to nearly nothing. Information: Bobís Bait 661-833-8657 or www.bobsbaitbucket.com, North Fork Marina at 760-376-1812, or Copeís Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
KERN RIVER: The trout bite is good in both the upper and lower river, and there was a DFW plant slated for section 4 this week. Last week sections 2 and 3 were planted and 2, 3, and 4 two weeks ago. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, Blue Fox spinners, SuperDupers have all been getting fish. Some very good quality rainbows to five pounds continue to be reported from the lower river. Ideal flows for fishermen in both the upper (370 cfs) and lower river (480 cfs). Fly action fair on the upper river from Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge and above. The bass action in the lower river has also been fair to good on nightcrawlers and small reaction baits. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 or (www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or Gateway Market 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very light pressure, especially with this weekís rain, but the striper bite remains fair to good with a lot of keeper-sized fish from 20 to 24 inches. A few anglers have been reporting two-fish limits along with a lot of smaller fish that are released. The best bite has been on sardines or blood worms for bait and Gitzits, Flukes or Lucky Craft jerk baits (in shad colors) for artificials. The catfish bite is fair on cut baits and dip baits at most bridge crossings and weirs. Lots of fish on Triple S dip bait, mackerel, blood or lug worms, or chicken liver fished along the bottom. Anglers are reminded the limit on stripers is two fish greater than 18 inches, while the largemouth limit is five fish. Information: Bobís Bait 661-833-8657 or www.bobsbaitbucket.com or Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
MILL CREEK PARK AND CANAL: Rain and colder nights have really slowed this bite with few bluegill and catfish reported. Carp very spotty.
RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: Trout were planted three weeks ago, and the action has slowed way down with most of the fish caught out. The best trout action has been on gold spinners, Phoebes, and Kastmasters, along with mini jigs. Bait anglers are using PowerBait or nightcrawlers with garlic oil. Other species have slowed way down, too. Only a few carp and bluegill reported. Information Bobís Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Trout were planted again two and four weeks ago. The action has been mostly slow on PowerBait with garlic oil added. Mice Tails or other small trout plastics, gold spinners, or Kastmasters. A few fish are still being reported. Other species have slowed way down with only the odd bass or bluegill reported.
TRUXTUN LAKE: The carp and bluegill bites have slowed way down with the cold weather and rain this week. A few bass are showing on plastics or swimbaits, but darn few in recent days.
MING LAKE: DFW trout were planted last week and three weeks ago. This was the third plant of the season, and the bite has stayed pretty fair on the mini jig-wax worm combo, PowerBait or MiceTails with garlic oil, and garlic nightcrawlers. Still a few carp, bluegill, and bass showing, but those bites are pretty slow.
BRITE LAKE: DFW trout plant slated for this week. Weather might have impacted that stock. Rainbows were also planted three weeks ago. The trout action had been slow on PowerBait with garlic oil and Power Worms or Mice Tails. Other species have also slowed, but the odd crappie has been caught.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The trout season kicked off this past weekend with the Taft Chamber of Commerce Derby and a 2,000 pound plant for that event. Action has fair during the derby, and the event was won by Chad Gardner, Bakersfield, with a seven-plus pound rainbow. There was another 1,000 pound plant Monday this week, and the bite has been fair to good since on MiceTails and small jigs. Other bites had slowed way down with only a few bluegill, catfish, and bass reported. Fishing information: Bobís Bait 661-833-8657 or www.bobsbaitbucket.com or Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.
SUCCESS LAKE: The first DFW trout plant of the season went in last week. The bass bite has continued to slow but some fish are showing on structure on plastics with fewer on reaction baits and Senkos. Few crappie or bluegll reports, and catfish are also slow. The lake level is about as low as it can get, staying at 9 percent of capacity this week. Information: Sequoia Fishing Company at 559-539-5626, www.sequoiafishingcompany.com or Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
KAWEAH LAKE: The first DFW trout plant of the season was last week. The lake level continues to sit at just eight percent full. This is about as low as it gets. The bite is still slow to fair, but some bass are showing on plastics and reaction baits, but cooling water is slowing the action. Very few bluegill and catfish being reported. Information: Sierra Sporting Goods at 559-592-5212.
EASTERN SIERRA
Top Eastern Sierra fishing report web sites are: www.KensSport.com (Bridgeport region), www.TheTroutFly.com (Mammoth Lakes region), and www.SierraDrifters.com (Bishop and Mammoth Lakes region).
TROUT PLANTS
For trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFWís stocking page at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/.
This weekís trout plants: In Kern County, Brite Valley Reservoir and section four of Kern River were slated to be planted this week. In Los Angeles County, both Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lake were also on the list for trout, and in San Bernardino County, Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake was on the list.
OCEAN FISHING REPORT
For the most comprehensive and up-to-date ocean fishing available, go to www.976-TUNA.com.
YOUR FISHING REPORTS
Please feel free to send your freshwater or saltwater fishing reports and fishing photos to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, at odwriter@verizon.net and the information will be included in the weekly report. If you have questions or comments, please call Matthews at 909-887-3444.
