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.

This report is posted weekly on the Outdoor News Service web site (www.OutdoorNewsService.com) by Thursday afternoon. 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 Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

JIM MATTHEWS’S PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. While the topwater action dipped a little this week (blame the moon phase), the striper action at Castaic Lake stays the top pick. Still a lot of boiling fish the first two to three hours after the gates open with shad all over the surface during that time frame. The best bite has been on a wide variety of small (three to four-inch) shad-like swimbaits, cranks, jerk baits, jigs, and spoons. Anglers able to dip some live shad for bait are having non-stop action. Most of the fish are under three pounds, but some bigger fish to five and six pounds are mixed in. For an update on this bite, check with the Castaic marina at 661-775-6232.
2. Apollo Park Lake jumps back into the top picks because of a very good catfish bite that has broken open in the past week or so from quality fish from three to five pounds in the lake with the single island (lake two). There was even a 12-pounder reported. Add in the excellent bite on small panfish for the kids, and it’s almost as good as Castaic. For an update, call Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
3. The yellowfin tuna action for the boats running out of San Diego Landings on overnight to 2 1/2-day trips has been excellent over the past week with counts averaging two-fish to full five-fish limits for the anglers on board. The yellowfin are running up to 35 pounds, and there is always a nice bunch of skipjack, yellowtail, and dorado to add a nice mixed-bag element. Check with 976-Tuna.com for the latest counts.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: Weekly plants of catfish continue, with 1,000-pound stocks last Thursday and scheduled again for this Thursday. Most of the fish are running 1 1/2 to two pounds, but some bigger fish are being caught each week. The best bite has been from late afternoon until closing for anglers fishing shrimp, nightcrawlers, the M&M (marshmallow-meal worm) combo, or cut mackerel or sardines. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good on the northern and southern shores of lake 2 near the inlets, and on lake 3 near pump house. The best bite has been on Senko-type baits, spinnerbaits, and drop-shotted plastics or nightcrawlers with fish to four pounds. There is a pretty good bluegill bite on nightcrawlers and  meal worms with fish weighing up to a pound. Hot spots for bluegill are the western shore of lake 3 near the pump house and the western shore of lake 2 near the drain. The trout bite has continued to be very slow on both lakes for trout, with only a few fish showing early in the morning on PowerBait (especially hatchery pellet, garlic and salmon peach), nightcrawlers, and the usual array of small trout lure. Best spots include the northern and western shores of lake 2 and the eastern logged shore and western shore near the drain of lake 3. A few catfish are being caught on shrimp and garlic-marshmallow/nightcrawler combos. Best area to catch them is northern and western shore of lake 2. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: Fair to good catfish action with fish to five pounds on cut baits before 10 a.m., especially the shrimp and marshmallow combo, while mackerel-marshmallow and meal worm-marshmallow combos are also good. There is also a good bluegill bite on fish up to hand-sized on small baits fished beneath bobbers around the tules. County catfish plants ended for the season with last week’s plant. Trout season not expected to start until November. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION

APOLLO PARK LAKE: There are a lot of catfish from 3 1/2 to five pounds showing now on stink baits and mackerel, with a 12-pounder the top from this week. There were also some better cats to three pounds reported this week. The lake with a single island has been the hotspot (pond two).

There continues to be good action on small bluegill, warmouth, and small catfish to 10 inches long. All three species are showing on small worms, meal worms, red worms, crickets, or nightcrawler pieces fished under a bobber, especially in areas with shade on the water. There is also a pretty good bite on carp, with the bigger dough baits balls getting the bigger fish. Also a few bass to two pounds showing, but most are small and being caught on small spinnerbaits. For more information, contact Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

JACKSON LAKE (NEAR WRIGHTWOOD): Fair to good action on small bluegill on any small bait, with meal worms and nightcrawler pieces the best. No trout or bass reports. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LAKE PALMDALE: There has been a good largemouth bass bite in the mornings and evening on small plastics fish around most shoreline structure. The best catfish bite has remained in deeper water on the outside edges of the weed beds. Most cut baits doused in scent is the best bet when fly-lined in deeper water at the front of the lake or other deep spots from a boat. Adding nightcrawlers to any bait seems to add to their effectiveness, giving the bait both scent and wiggle. This bite continues to be on better quality fish from six to 15 pounds, with only a few smaller fish. There is also good bluegill action, but weeds are still a problem for shoreline fishing. Most of the bluegill are hand-sized and showing in decent numbers. The carp bite is also good on dough baits. The lake will close to fishing Oct. 2. Call the Palmdale Fin & Feather Club for membership and fishing information at 661-947-2884 or got to www.palmdalefinandfeatherclub.com.

QUAIL LAKE: The bluegill action has continued good, especially right at the parking area and along the south shoreline tules(along Highway 138) on bobber-suspended baits. The largemouth bass also continue to show along this south shoreline along the tules on plastics and cranks, or off the north side points on the same baits. There continue to be a few boiling stripers on the far northeast end of the lake along the rip-rap. Catfish remain fair with fish to six pounds at the outlet. Mackerel, lug worms are best. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): The moss, grass, and weed problem is still ongoing, but the bites are improving as the nights cool. There has been pretty good catfish action, especially in the east end of the valley from 110th West all the way to Quail Lake. The striper bite has been fair from Pearblossom all the way to Three Points, but especially in the East Barrel Springs area with quite a few two to three pounders reported on Flukes or similar baits, and there was one 13-pound striper reported. There has also been better largemouth bass action this week with the fish at all the sand traps and bridges. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOR: There has been a pretty good largemouth bass bite over the past week on fish to three pounds. Most of the action has been on small reaction baits or plastics. There is also a pretty good bluegill bite on meal worms or wax worms, and there are some catfish showing, mostly on cut baits. The crappie action dwindled a little this week, but some are still showing around the stickups. Most any of the small jigs are getting fish, especially when tipped with a meal worm or Crappie Nibble. The lake remains open, but there is a likelihood the U.S. Forest Service (Angeles National Forest) will close the area in the near future. The Palmdale Water District started construction in July on a grade-control structure to protect the endangered arroyo toads. Building the arroyo toad structure also marks the beginning of PWD’s Littlerock Reservoir Sediment Removal Project, a plan to remove about 1.165 million cubic yards of accumulated sediment from behind the dam to increase capacity at the nearly century-old dam. This project is not scheduled for completion until 2032, with 120,000 cubic yards of material removed a year until the 1.165 million yards of accumulated sediment and debris is removed. Apparently, there is not going to be an effort to rescue the fish population existing in the lake and relocate them to other nearby waters like Apollo Lake or Jackson Lake. More information will be provided as it become available.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: Fair to good striper and catfish action at the inlet, quarry, and off the dock. Most of the fish are showing on anchovies, blood, worms, and lug worms, but the bite on small swimbaits has continued to improve. Lots of small stripers under two pounds, but some bigger. Most of the catfish are two to three pounds with some to six over the past week. The largemouth bass improved a little last week, but slowed again this week. A few are even showing on topwater early and late in the day, but most are on plastics. The bluegill and crappie bites improved over the past week. The bluegill are showing along all the weedlines on worms under a bobber, while the crappie have also moved into less than 15 feet of water and are eating fry and being caught on small jigs. A reminder: the dam is closed to angler access. 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: The cooler nights continue to slowly cool the water, but the trout bite remains pretty tough except for a brief early morning window. The fish are still in deep water, but some are still showing for trolling working 15-plus feet of water slow-trolling Needlefish and nightcrawlers from Papoose Bay to the buoy line and then east along the North Shore to the old Gray’s Landing. Shore anglers are only getting fish early in the morning from 4:30 to 8 a.m., and weeds are a problem. Best bet is to fish between the old dam (visible now) and the buoy line with a slip bobber rig set for six to 12 feet with a nightcrawler or garlic PowerBait. There is a DFW plant slated for next week and the last plant was two weeks ago. The bass action is fair on jigs and plastics off Garstin Island, the old ski beach, and Papoose Bay. For information on fishing, call Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page.

GREGORY LAKE: No fishing report. The lake was on the DFW trout plant list for three weeks 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: The bite continues to be pretty decent. Not a lot of volume, but some good quality fish from two to three pounds continue to show on a wide variety of baits. Richard Steward, Green Valley Lake, landed a 6-2 rainbow on a nightcrawler off Norma’s Point. Both DFW trout and Jess Ranch trout were planted three weeks ago. The best bite continues to be in deeper water. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.

INTERSTATE 5 LAKES

CASTAIC: The wide open striper action finally lulled to just good, with few boils this week, but still excellent concentrations of shad on or near the surface. Anglers able to dip net shad for bait are having wide open action, and the best bite has been in the coves. Most of the fish are one to three-pound fish with a few to five or six pounds. There is still a decent topwater in the boils on shad-like imitations no more than four inches long. The cut bait bite has also been good on chunks of sardines, anchovies, or blood worms drifted down into deeper water (down to 80 or 90 feet), especially at the mouth of Dry Gulch and dam. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action has also been good, with good topwater action on cranks and swimbaits early and then plastics later in the day. There is also a very good bluegill, redear, and crappie bite, with the best action in the afterbay near the launch ramp and to the spillway. There have been a lot of redear in the pound class with some to nearly two pounds, and the best bite has been on bobber-suspended nightcralwers or other small baits. The crappie are mostly eight to 10 inches and showing on jigs. The catfish bite has been fair to good in the evenings on cut baits doused with scent. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: The striper bite has remained very good on sardines, lug worms, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver. The boils are also pretty common most morning now, and topwater or jerk baits are producing fish in the marina rip-rap, canal by the entrance booth,, Yellowbar, Bear Trap, Spanish Point, and Serrano. Lots of small stripers under two pounds (many even under a pound), but finally more fish from two to three pounds. Salem Hawatmeh, Delano, had eight stripers and largemouth to two pounds on topwater and jerkbaits. The catfish bite is also pretty good on sardines, chicken liver and nightcrawlers in deeper water in all coves and rip rap areas, with the boat launch area a top spots with fish to 15 pounds. The largemouth and smallmouth bass bass have been good on nightcrawlers, plastics and reaction baits, especially cranks and jerk baits along most shorelines and along the edges of the vegetation. Lots of fish to three pounds, but the bite is mostly early in the morning. Bluegill are pretty good on meal worms, wax worms, and small jigs. No crappie reports. 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: The crappie bite has continued very strong for anglers fishing structure in deeper water from boats in 20 to 25 feet of water, mostly off Rocky and Piney points. The bite continues to be on either small jigs or small minnows with a lot of fish in the three-quarter pound class. The catfish action remains very good with a lot of fish from three to four pounds, mostly on shad, clams, Triple S Channel Catfish Bait (Sonny’s), and cut baits doused with scent also producing. The bass action has been fair with flurries of pretty good action. The fish are mostly in 15 to 30 feet of water on drop-shot plastics, but a few on cranks or topwater early and late in the day. The carp bite remains inconsistent, but still fair on dough baits with fish to eight pounds. For fishing 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 flows are very low in the upper river (around 180 cfs), and the trout action has been slow to fair with a few holdover DFW planters, but most of the bite is on wild fish. The best action for the few remaining holdover stockers has been on salmon eggs, crickets, nightcrawlers, and Roostertails fishing in the bigger pools. Fly-fisherman are having good luck on wild fish, especially in the upper stretch of the river, mostly on small nymphs. The lower river flows are getting more fishable with the outflow in the 350 to 500 cfs range this past week. There are a lot of bass showing, mostly on plastics and nightcrawlers, and the catfish bite has been pretty good on clams and nightcrawlers. The Sandy Flats and Hobo areas are best for both bass and catfish. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 or (www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or Gateway Market 760-376-2424.

AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: There continues to be a fair number of stripers showing on topwater and near surface baits like Flukes or Gitzits with a decent number of keeper fish being caught. The best bait action has been on blood worms or lug worms. There has also been a major upward tick in the largemouth bass bite, mostly on Flukes and Gitzits. Moss is still a problem, but the surface baits help avoid that issue. There is also improving action on baits fished for catfish for anglers battling the moss and weeds. Sardines, anchovies, blood worms, chicken liver, and Wussy Bait, all are working. 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: There are a few more catfish showing on cut baits or nightcrawlers, especially morning and evening. A few carp also being caught on dough baits and Powder Bait.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: The bluegill and carp action remains fair to good. Bluegill are best on wax worms with meal worms the next best. Carp are best on Powder Bait or Wussy Bait and other dough baits. Slow other species with only an occasional bass being caught on plastics and Senkos early morning. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill bite has been pretty good, mostly on wax worms, but meal worms and nightcrawler pieces also a good bet. A few bass are also showing very early in the morning or at night on reaction baits, mostly topwater and jerkbaits. There are also a lot of small bass, under 10 inches, hitting in volume on small reaction baits and plastics. The night bite on catfish has been pretty fair for anglers going out after dark and fly-lining cut baits. The bluegill and carp bites remain fair to good. The carp are best on Powder Bait, Wussy Bait, or other dough baits.

TRUXTUN LAKE: The bluegill and carp bites remain fair. Bluegill have been best on wax worms, meal worms, or nightcrawler pieces, while the carp are best on dough baits. An occasional bass showing early on topwater or plastics.

MING LAKE: The carp and bluegill remain the top bets. The carp are best on Powder Bait or Wussy Bait, while the bluegill bite is still pretty good on meal worms or wax worms. Still Lots of small bass showing on reaction baits here, with the best action morning and evening, also still a few bigger fish showing on Senko-type baits and live minnows. The night catfish bite has also continued to be pretty good, especially for anglers fishing super meal worms or cut baits in combination with nightcrawler (scent and wiggle).

BRITE LAKE: There crappie bite remains fair for float tubers fishing deeper water off the launch ramp, mostly on small jigs. Most are under 10 inches. There also continues to be an excellent bite on small bass from six to 10 inches on small lures and garlic nightcrawlers with topwater action early and late in the day. Also fair to good action on bluegill on small baits like meal worms and jigs, and the odd catfish continues to show.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: There is a fair to good bite on little catfish under 10 inches long, mostly on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, with a few on shad. Occasionally a bigger catfish is reported. There also continues to be a pretty decent bluegill bite on wax worms, with meal worms and nightcrawler pieces also getting fish. The carp are fair to good on Powder Bait and Wussy Bait. Bass are fair at best, but some are showing along the weed edges in deeper water on plastics and most are small. Fishing 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.

WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.

SUCCESS LAKE: The very good bass bite has continued in spite of the falling water level. Many anglers are reporting 20 to 30 fish days on Senkos or smaller plastics. Most of the bass are in the two-pound range but a few to five pounds are showing in this bite. The crappie bite remains pretty good with some decent fish around three-quarter pound to a pound on small minnows. Bluegill are good on red worms, wax worms, and meal worms, mostly fished under a bobber. Also a few catfish showing on cut baits and dip baits. The water level has dropped enough that the main ramp is not being used, and anglers are launched at Lure Point. 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 water level continues to drop, but there continues to be a pretty fair bass bite on plastics and small swimbaits, but the fish are mostly in deeper water except early and late in the day. The bluegill bite remains good, and the catfish bite has been pretty fair. 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 page is frequently updated after this news report is published so the current week, next week’s, and even previous week’s plant information may change.

OCEAN FISHING REPORT

For the most comprehensive and up-t0-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.