FISH REPORT — ONS-matthews – 15 January 2020 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
1.The Silverwood Lake striper bite has been pretty decent this past week with a number of limits of fish to four or five pounds reported over the past week. The average fish is about 1 ½ pounds. The action has been best at the marina and at the dam on cut baits with anchovies and sardines the best. Some fish also showing on garlic nightcrawlers. For an update on this action check with the marina at 760-389-2299 or the Silverwood Country store at 760-389-2423.
2.There is however a continued fair to good winter bite on bigger crappie at Lake Isabella in deep-water around most marinas. This bite has been quietly going on for over a month now and while it requires patience to find and wait out the fish, it has been consistent. Best of all the crappie are generally good quality fish, running from ¾-pound up to nearly two pounds. The bite is mostly on small, live minnows. For an update on this action and top spots, check with Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.
3.The Kern River stays in the top picks for its consistent rainbow trout action on holdover planted fish. Three sections of the river are slated to get more trout next week so that should keep this bite perking. Cold weather and water temperatures mandate a patient approach, and the best action has been on salmon eggs or garlic nightcrawlers. The lower river continues to produce a few bigger fish. For an update on this bite, call Bob’s Bait Bucket at 661-833-8657.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
VICTORVILLE REGION
HESPERIA LAKE: Weekly trout plants from Jess Ranch have kept the trout fishing pretty fair with some limits and some better quality fish reported each week. This week’s plant is 500 pounds. The best action has been on has been on PowerBait in rainbow garlic, chartreuse garlic, or salmon peach or the Ultraheavyweight Jigs. Top spots have been along the north shore, the drain, and Finger Cove. Most of the trout are one to two pounds. Big fish of the past week was a 10-7 rainbow landed by Jorge Poveda, Ontario, on an Ultralightheavyweight Jig in Hopper Mealie color while fishing at the drain. Allen Johnson, Lancaster, had a 7-1 on garlic PowerBait at the drain. Ray Gonzalez, Hesperia, landed a 5-2. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH LAKES: Trout bite is still slow to fair. Top action has been on PowerBait in salmon peach, fluorescent orange, and rainbow, nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs and other small trout 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: The trout action has been fair with weekly 609-pound plants on Thursdays. The trout are from 1-8 to three pounds, and while no limits were reported, many anglers are getting one or two fish. The park is only open Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. No DFW trout plants on the schedule yet. Information, call 760-245-2226.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION
APOLLO PARK LAKE:
APOLLO PARK LAKE: Tough fishing over the past week with no recent plants. Next plant is tentatively the end of the month or first part of February. A few rainbows to three pounds have been reported on PowerBait or Drew’s plastics. Carp have been a better bet, but they are even pretty spotty with only a few to five pounds showing on dough baits, but anglers have to fish further from shore in deeper water. Bluegill slow. 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): Almost no fishing pressure again this past week. No reports of trout, bluegill or carp. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
LAKE PALMDALE:The lake closed to fishing until Feb. 2. The trout plants have already begun in preparation for the opener. More details as the opening date gets closer. 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: Generally slow fishing with only the occasional angler. There have been a few reports of stripers to three pounds on the chicken liver and nightcrawler combo at the outlet, and a few small largemouth to two pounds have been caught on small cranks along the tules. No other reports. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Hesperia to Quail Lake stretch): The aqueduct has not been flowing much this past week, especially on the west side of the Antelope Valley, and this has made fishing tough. There have only been a handful of stripers reports and no catfish reports. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): No reports again over the past week.
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 trout bite has remained very consistent with the odd limits still being caught. A DFW trout plant is slated for next week with the last plant Dec. 20. The best bite is in Cleghorn, Miller, around the marina, and up into the channel on PowerBait in chartreuse and garlic, Trout Magnet jigs, or inflated nightcrawlers with garlic. Steve Lewis, Ontario, had five rainbows from Miller on Panther Martins. The bite on stripers has also continued fair to good with a number of limits reported in the past week. The action has been best at the marina and at the dam on most cut baits (anchovies and sardines are the best and adding garlic scent helps) and blood worms. The fish are running up to five pounds, but most in the 1-8 range. There was a report of a 20-pound striper caught and released this week. Brad Wilson, Rancho Cucamonga, had 10 stripers to 4.5 pounds on anchovies off the dock. Other species have been slow, with only an occasional report of a largemouth or catfish. Lake elevation is 3339.74 feet, down 1.30 feet from last week. 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. Here’s 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: Cold and clear conditions until late this week. The lake is iced over pretty solidly most days now, but not thick enough to be safe for ice fishing. There is some open water in exposed areas in the afternoons, and the best shore fishing has been near the dam. No fishing reports. For information on fishing, call Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page.
GREGORY LAKE: No report available. Cold with lots of morning ice. 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 parkís Facebook page or website.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Lake mostly iced over. No fishing reports. Ice fishing is not allowed or safe. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.
INTERSTATE 5 LAKES
CASTAIC: Most recent DFW trout plant was four weeks ago, but there is a plant slated for next week. In spite of that, a fair number of trout continue to show on PowerBait, garlic nightcrawlers, and Mice Tails, mostly in deeper water. Frederick Yoo, Stevenson Ranch, had a pair of half-pound rainbows on PowerBait. The bite has been best around the main launch ramp. A few stripers are showing in deep water with spoons, ice jigs, or small shad swimbaits. Finding fish has been difficult. Overall, this bite has been tough. The largemouth and smallmouth action has been mostly in deeper water and with finesse-style baits. They also have been tough to locate, but when you find a school, the finesse baits or deep-diving jerk baits and weighted swimbaits have been getting a few fish. Catfish and bluegill bites are slow, and no crappie reports. The lake’s elevation is 1,474.18 feet, down 6.21 feet from last week. The lake is 74 percent of full pool. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
PYRAMID: The water level tumbled over the past week and the bite slowed way down. The striper bite has been the best bet with some fish showing on sardines and lugworm for shore anglers at the rip-rap on the point past the swim beach. Trollers are working the points around Chumash Island. Most are smaller class fish with some to five pounds. Still a fair trout bite thanks to plants four, five, and six weeks ago. The DFW also is slated to plant trout next week. PowerBait, trout plastics or jigs, and inflated garlic scented nightcrawlers are the best bets. Top spots have been the marina area and the shorelines adjacent to the marina. Jonathan Goodman, Los Angeles, land two catfish, including one at nine pounds, and a three-pound striper fishing sardines. The largemouth and smallmouth bites both been slow with light pressure. Soft plastic, cranks, and small swimbaits have all been getting fish along most shorelines. No reports on other species. The lake’s elevation is 2,565.33 feet, down .73 feet from last week. This is 86 percent of full pool. 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: Still very light fishing pressure, but the deep-water crappie bite has continued for anglers fishing in 50-plus feet of water around most of the marinas. The crappie are mostly quality fish, running from ¾-pound up to nearly two pounds. The bite is mostly on small, live minnows. There also continues to be a fair catfish bite on fish to six pounds on 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. Best area has been near the dam. Few anglers are targeting the cats. Only a few largemouth from deep water, and no bluegill, carp, or trout reports this week, although the DFW planted the lake two and four weeks ago. The lake elevation is 2,560.41, up .09 feet from last week. The lake remains at 30 percent full. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657 or www.bobsbaitbucket.com, North Fork Marina at 760-376-1812, or Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
KERN RIVER: The trout bite continues pretty good in both the upper and lower river, in spite of no plants for two-plus weeks. The river was, heavily stocked since late fall, and there are good numbers of fish spread in the plant areas. Good anglers are still getting limits, and some bigger fish continue to show in the lower river. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, Roostertails and Blue Fox spinners, and SuperDupers are the best baits and lures. Very low flows for fishermen in both the upper (414 cfs) and lower river (368 cfs). Fly-fishing action fair on the upper river from Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge and above, but very cold water conditions. The bass action in the lower river has also been slow 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: Little flow this past week, and the few anglers fishing are having a tough go of it. A few stripers are being caught, but the action has all been pretty much on bait, with blood worms and lug worms the best bet, but minnows are also pretty good. Some of the fish showing are keeper-sized 18 to 24-inch fish showing. The catfish bite is slow on cut baits and dip baits at most bridge crossings and weirs. Most 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: Bob’s 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: Overall very slow with almost no fishing pressure and no reports of carp, bluegill, or catfish.
RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: DFW trout plant this week has perked the action. The last plants were four and five weeks ago. Best action on Mice Tails, PowerBait (with garlic oil), gold spinners, Phoebes, or Kastmasters. Other species are very slow, too. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Dead for trout with no plants in over six weeks, and the lake is not slated to get DFW trout this week or next week. No fishing pressure this past week and very slow action on all other species, too.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Almost no fishing pressure and there have not been any carp, bass, or bluegill reported.
MING LAKE: There was a DFW trout plant this week, and the last plants were four and five weeks ago. Pretty fair action since the plant with some limits reported, mostly on Mice Tails, the mini jig-wax worm combo, PowerBait with garlic oil, or garlic nightcrawlers. Very slow other species.
BRITE LAKE: DFW trout plants this week and four weeks ago, and there has been fair to good action for anglers fishing PowerBait with garlic oil, Power Worms, or Mice Tails on light tackle. A few small crappie reported this past week. Other species are slow.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The lake was planted last Monday, and it is slated to get trout again next week. The action has been fair, with a number of nice quality trout showing from these Mt. Lassen trout plants. Fish to five pounds reported. The best action continues to be on Mice Tails with a few fish on garlic nightcrawlers, PowerBait, and small trout jigs. Other bites are very slow with no bass, carp, crappie, or bluegill reported. Fishing information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657 or www.bobsbaitbucket.com or Copeís Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.
SUCCESS LAKE: DFW trout plants this week and three weeks ago. Overall slow fishing with little pressure, but a few bass continued to show on structure with plastics or jigs. No crappie, bluegll, or catfish reports. The lake level stayed at eight percent full this week. The lake elevation is 597.25 feet, up 2.40 feet from last week. The lake is at 13 percent capacity. Information: Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.
KAWEAH LAKE: DFW trout plantsthis week and three weeks ago. The overall bite is still slow with very little fishing pressure, but some bass are showing on plastics and jigs in deeper water. No bluegill and catfish being reported. Lake elevation is currently 603.26, down 11.16 feet from last week. The lake is at 12 percent capacity. 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 DFW’s stocking page at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/.
This week’s trout plants: In Kern County, Brite Valley Lake, Ming Lake, and River Walk Lake were added to the plant list in recent days. In Tulare County, both Kaweah and Success reservoirs are slated to get trout.
Next week’s trout plants (Jan. 19-25): In Kern and Tulare counties, sections 3, 4, and 6 of the Kern River are slated to get trout. In Los Angeles County, Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lake are both on the list. In San Bernardino County, Mojave Narrows Park Lake and Silverwood Lake are on the plant schedule.
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 the information will be included in the weekly report. If you have questions or comments, please call Matthews at 909-887-3444.
