FISH REPORT — ONS
10oct18

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.

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

• The catfish and striper bite are both good in the California Aqueduct across the whole Antelope Valley and has just kept getting better, especially for the catfish, which are being caught nearly everywhere in this stretch. There is also a steadily declining moss problem, especially in the east side of the valley. The cats have mostly been from five to eight pounds and showing on cut baits (for scent) with nightcrawler (for the wiggle), adding additional scents or using scented baits improves the action. The stripers are mostly 1 1/2 to two pounds and showing on cut baits or small lures. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
• Pyramid Lake moves into the top picks this week because of the very good to excellent striper bite. The fish are best on live shad if you can dip net some, but also showing in good numbers of cut baits or small swimbaits when they are on the surface. Most are smaller fish in the two-pound class or under. There is also a good black bass bite. For an update on this action, call the Pyramid entrance booth at 661-295-7155.
• Apollo Park Lake remains in the top picks yet another week because it is still the place to go with the family for the excellent action on panfish (bluegill and warmouth) and small catfish. The fact that a few quality catfish from two to five pounds continue to show in the lake with the single island (lake two), keeps this spot in the top picks. For an update, call Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: The catfish bite has been good as the season for planting these fish winds down. There are still weekly 1,000-pound plants going in, but that will be switching to trout later this fall. The best bite on the cats has been on shrimp, mackerel, chicken liver, or the marshmallow-meal worm combo. Most of the fish are one to three pounds with some bigger each week. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: The trout bite stayed mostly slow over the past week, but some fish are showing early in the morning, and the best action has been on PowerBait in rainbow, garlic, and salmon peach, nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs. The rainbows are averaging around two pounds, and the top spots have been the northern and western shores of lake 2, and the eastern logged shore and western shore near the drain of lake 3. 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 five 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. 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: The catfish bite is slow with only a few cats showing early or late in the day on the shrimp and marshmallow combo. There is still a fair bluegill bite on fish up to hand-sized on small baits fished beneath bobbers around the tules. County catfish plants ended for the season three weeks ago. 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: The broken-record report continues with continued 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. Great for kids. There continue to be a fair number of catfish from three to five pounds showing on stink baits and mackerel with early morning and evening the best times to fish. The lake with a single island continues to be the best spot (pond two) for these better fish. 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. Trout season is slated to start around Oct. 25 (first plant) and there will be a trout tournament the first weekend in November. For more information, contact Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

JACKSON LAKE (NEAR WRIGHTWOOD): Few reports, but a fair number of small bluegill continue to be reported on meal worms and nightcrawler pieces. No trout or bass reports. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LAKE PALMDALE: The lake is closed to fishing until February, when trout season will kick off with heavy stocks of fish. 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: The striper bite has stayed pretty fair over the past week with some fish to 10 pounds reported on fly-lined XXX Blood Bonito, chicken liver, and mackerel at the outlet. The evening and early morning bites have been the best. Also still quite a few catfish showing in this bite, also mostly at the outlet, but also off the points on the north side of the lake. Also some stripers in these spots on shad or ghost shrimp. The bluegill action has continued fair to good, especially right at the parking area and along the south shoreline tules(along Highway 138) on bobber-suspended baits. A few 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. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): The bite on both catfish and stripers has been pretty good. The catfish are showing throughout this stretch of the aqueduct with a lot of quality fish up to 10-plus pounds on cut baits or all kinds. The stripers have been best in the 60th west, 195th west, and 72nd east areas. Most of the stripers have been schoolie-sized fish around two pounds. There has been largemouth bass action at all the sand traps and bridges, and there was a very good tilapia bite reported in the Pearblossom area at 25th Avenue at the curve. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: This bite remains good with a lot of crappie from 10 inches to 1 1/2-pounds. They are mostly showing on small jigs tipped with bait or Crappie Nibbles. The bass also remain good on small reaction baits or plastics with a lot of fish from one to three pounds. 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 lake remains open, but the U.S. Forest Service (Angeles National Forest) may close the area in the near future. The Palmdale Water District has an ongoing sediment removal project.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: There is a fair striper bite at the inlet, quarry, and off the dock. Most of the fish are showing on anchovies, blood, worms, and lug worms in the mornings, but the bite on small swimbaits has continued to improve. Lots of small stripers under two pounds, but some bigger. The catfish bite is also fair on cut baits and some quality fish to six pounds or better are being caught. Most of the catfish are two to three pounds. The largemouth bass improved again this week, especially on bigger swimbaits, but most are still showing on plastics. The bluegill and crappie bites are fair along the outside edges of the weed lines on worms and 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 trout bite is pretty good. The best action is for morning trollers or shoreline anglers. The trout are cruising both the north and south shorelines from the dam to Windy Point, and trollers are working this whole region with small Ralapas or similar lures in perch, firetiger, or gold colors and two to three colors of leadcore. Shore angling is still best off the north shore between Windy Point and the Red House on suspended PowerBait and nightcrawlers on a slip bobber atop the weeds with a three to four foot leader. There were DFW plants last week and four weeks ago. The bass action is fair on jigs and plastics off Garstin Island, the old ski beach, and Papoose Bay. Not many reports on panfish or bullheads. 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. There will be a Kid’s Fishing Clinic Saturday, October 20. Space is limited and reservations can be made on-line at
www.lakegregoryrecreation.com by going to the Fit Kid link under the Events tab. There will also be a Veteran’s Day Trout Derby November 10. Pre-registration is $30 for adults (16 and older) and $20 for youths. Day-of-event registration is $40 and $25. Veterans entry is $15. First prize for the longest fish (not heaviest) is $1,000 for adults, $500 for second, and $250 for third. There will also be prize drawings among all entrants. The lake will be heavily stocked prior to this event, including some trophy fish. For more derby information, call 909-264-0973. 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 with a lot of two to three-pound rainbows. There was a Jess Ranch plant last Friday and two weeks ago. Both plants were 400 pounds. The top spot has been the shoreline between Fred’s Stump and the dam. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.

INTERSTATE 5 LAKES

CASTAIC: The action continues good, but the topwater bite has slowed with the cooler evenings. Still some shad on the surface in the coves, but almost no activity in the marina. Dipping shad for bait is still the best bet, but other jerk baits and swimbaits are also working. The deep-water bait bite has been fair on sardines, lug worms, or blood worms. Most are two-pound class, but some bigger fish from six to 10 pounds. There are also a lot of largemouth and smallmouth bass showing in a good bite on jerk baits early and then plastics and nightcrawlers is good during the rest of the morning. The largemouth have been up to six pounds, and the smallies to three pounds. Manuel Muero, San Fernando, caught and released 30 bass, both smallies and largemouth, on live shad with fish to three pounds. The lower lake is still very good for panfish to 1-8, with lots of bluegill and redear being caught on small jigs and bait. There is also a good largemouth bite in the lower lake on plastics, and some smaller crappie showing on jigs. The catfish bite has been fair to good in the evenings on cut baits doused with scent in both the upper and lower lakes. 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 for shore anglers fishing the rip rap in front of the boat shop and in the canal by the entrance booth. Boat anglers are getting a lot of fish at Yellowbar, Spanish Point, and in the marina area. Still lots of topwater action early in the morning fishing to boils, and then a good bite on sardines, lug worms, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver later in the day. Lots of small stripers under two pounds (many even under a pound), but finally a few more fish from two to three 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 in the morning. 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. Bluegill are fair 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: Both the catfish and crappie bites remain pretty good, and there has been a good bluegill bite over the past week on hand-sized fish. The crappie bite has been best in deeper water structure for boat or float tube anglers fishing 20 to 25 feet of water. 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 bluegill are best in less than 10 feet of water on meal worms or wax worms, and the Boulder Gulch area has been particularly good. A few bass continue to show in 12 to 25 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: Trout plants this week in section 4, 5, and 6 (upper river), and there were plants two weeks ago. Plants in the same sections are also slated for the week of Oct. 21-27. The bite has been pretty good and the action will just improve with plant this week. A lot of the fish have been into the 12 to 13-inch range. The best bite has been on salmon eggs and crickets. Fly anglers continue having decent action on wild fish in the low flows, especially in the upper reaches of the roadside water and up into the wild trout water past the Kernville bridge. The lower river flows have dropped again and the bite has been good on bass with nightcrawlers or plastic worms. Also more and more catfish showing in the lower river. 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 bait bite is as good with blood and lug worms the best baits, and the weed problem is slowly getting better. The catfish bite is fair and improving on sardines, anchovies, blood worms, chicken liver, and Wussy Bait. 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 pretty fair. 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 or late evening. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill bite continues 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 small reaction baits and plastics. The morning, evening, and night bite on catfish has been stayed pretty fair for anglers fly-lining cut baits. The carp bite is fair 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 and late 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 dawn, dusk, and night catfish bite has also continued to be pretty good, especially for anglers fishing super meal worms or cut baits in combination with nightcrawlers.

BRITE LAKE: There crappie bite remains fair to good for float tubers fishing deeper water off the launch ramp, mostly on small jigs tipped with meals. There have been lots of 10 to 12-inch fish reported again in the past week. 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 continues to be a good bite on bluegill up to hand-sized with an occasional bigger fish. The best action is on wax worms and meal worms. There continues to be a fair bite on catfish, wth most of them smaller fish under a pound, mostly on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, with a few on shad. The carp are fair to good on Powder Bait and Wussy Bait but getting little pressure. Bass are fair at best, but some are showing along the weed edges 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: Very good crappie and bass action with the fish population all packed into the low water. Many bass anglers are reporting 20 to 30 fish days on Senkos or smaller plastics fished drop-shot and split-shot style. Most of the bass are in the two-pound range but a few to five pounds are showing in this bite. The crappie are decent fish around three-quarter pound to a pound and the action is mostly on small minnows with some on jigs. Bluegill are fair 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

The yellowfin tuna action for the San Diego fleet is wide open – including the one-day boats — with limit-style fishing the rule during the new moon cycle. There has also been a good mix of skipjack, yellowtail, and dorado on these overnight to 2 1/2-day trips. There also continues to be a good bite on the bigger bluefin tuna for the 1 1/2-day trips targeting these fish. Most are 40 to 80 pounders, but there are still a lot of cows pushing both sides of 200 pounds. 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.