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. Apollo Park stays in the top picks with good action continuing. The last was planted with 6,500 pounds of pan-sized trout and another 2,000 pounds of trophy fish for the derby two weeks ago, and they are still providing good action. Another plant could go in this week. Limits of rainbows averaging around 1-8 to two pounds each still showing. There is also a chance to get a bigger fish. For an update on this bite, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
2. River Walk Park Lake in Bakersfield stays in the top picks after heavy plants (around 3,000 pounds) for last weekend’s 8th Annual Bakersfield Firefighter’s Trout Fishing Derby. Many of those trout remain, and the bite has stayed pretty good with some quality fish showing. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
3. The Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show runs from Friday through Sunday at the Kern County Fairgrounds. This is the second in the Fred Hall Shows that kicked off last weekend in Long Beach. These events feature a solid slate of seminars and presentations, plus just about all the fishing and boating products available. Show hours and pricing are available at www.fredhall.com.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: The trout action has been good with weekly plants from Jess Ranch. The best bite has been on inflated nightcrawlers with garlic scent or salmon peach or rainbow garlic PowerBait. Most of the fish are in the two-pound class with some bigger. Top fish this past week was a four-pounder landed by Joel Lambert, Hesperia, to top off his five-fish limit, all on peach PowerBait at the inlet. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: The trout bite has been pretty fair on both lakes this past week with the best bite on rainbow, garlic, and salmon peach PowerBait. The trout are also showing on nightcrawlers, small trout jigs, and MiceTails. Most are two-pound class fish. 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 bass bite is starting to perk a little, but the bluegill and catfish bites are still slow. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: The trout action has continued to be fair to good. There are weekly county trout plants on Thursdays. The best bite has been on garlic-flavored nightcrawlers, PowerBait, or Mice Tails. Top spots have been the north and south shores of Pelican Lake and the back side of Horseshoe Lake near the spillway. Joe Vaughn, visiting from Virginia, landed four trout for a total weight of 10-8, including one at 3-2, all on nightcrawlers off the north side of Horseshoe Lake. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION

APOLLO PARK LAKE: The trout bite continues good here with the fish showing all around the complex. There continues to be a number of quality trout left-over from the derby two weeks ago, including fish at eight and 10 pounds in the past week. The best action has been on small jigs (in pink and white), PowerBait, and a new Mice Tail-like bait call the Drew’s Custom Bait Rat Tail. The best colors have been all white or the gree and orange. Stocks are twice a month this season with about 900 pounds per stock. The panfish, carp, and catfish bites are mostly slow. For more information or updates on the plants, contact Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

JACKSON LAKE (NEAR WRIGHTWOOD): Very cold at night and the lake is mostly frozen over. No reports. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LAKE PALMDALE: There continues to be a very steady bite on both trout and largemouth bass, with the bass already starting to move along the shorelines readying for the spawn. The bass are showing on plastics, Senko, or fly-lined nightcrawlers near structure and weeds. Lots of two-pound class bass. The trout are best trolling with Shad Raps in shad and firetiger colors for the boat anglers, while shore action has been best on nightcrawlers and MiceTails fished on the bottom on the outside edges of the weeds. Green pumpkin PowerBait is also still a good bet. Most trout are one to 1-8, with some in the three to five pound range. 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: Still light fishing pressures, but there continue to be some smaller stripers and increasing numbers of largemouth bass showing. Both species are running up to three pounds with an occasional bigger stripers. The best bite has been on Senkos fished around tules and brush, with a few stripers reported on umbrella rigs fished at the outlet. Very few catfish reports this week, and no panfish. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): The striper bite continues pretty fair throughout the system, and a few catfish are starting to show with the warmer weather. Probably the best striper action has been at 72nd East or 195th West, but fish are showing at most road crossings in the Palmdale to Pearblossom stretch. The best bite is still on white swimbaits bounced off the opposite bank and then worked slowly along the bottom. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The catfish bite has started to turn on with most of the fish in the one to two –pound range. Also some bluegill starting to bite. The best action has been on nightcrawlers.

Very little pressure this past week and no reports.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: Water level is high and spilling at spillway, but no reports from walk-in anglers. There had been a very good bite on crappie bite at the launch ramp or creek inlet on small jigs. Most of the fish are up to a pound with most hand-sized. Also some largemouth up to two pounds in this bite. 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 been pretty good with a number of limits and some quality fish showing in Cleghorn, Miller, and at the Gazebo near the marina. Best action on PowerBait and Mice Tails, but some on small spinners or spoons. The most recent DFW trout plant was two weeks ago, when 1,000 pounds of rainbows went in, but the action continues. Larry Smith, Apple Valley, had a limit of five rainbows for a total weight of 12 pounds, including one at five pounds, all on PowerBait in Cleghorn. Mike Long, Wrightwood, also had a five-pound trout from Cleghorn on PowerBait. A few stripers have been caught off the marina docks, mostly on sardines, anchovies or lug worms. A few more largemouth bass are stirring on swimbaits and plastics. 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 lake is still mostly frozen over with no fishing activity. For information on fishing, call Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page.

GREGORY LAKE: No recent trout plants and very little fishing pressure. 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: No report. The lake is frozen. The lake facilities are closed and won’t begin again until late April or early May. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.

INTERSTATE 5 LAKES

CASTAIC: The bites for stripers and the largemouth and smallmouth bass has been pretty fair and improving with each warm day. The largemouth starting to move up into shallower water for the spawn. The black bass are best on plastics worms and Senko-like baits is eight to 20 feet of water. The striper are best on lug worms or frozen sardines or anchovies in deep water off the main lake points and at the dam. Fish to five pounds reported again this past week, including some nice stringers of fish. For boat anglers, trolling cranks or vertical jigging has produced fish at Necktie Canyon, the buoy line, Kong Island, and Sharon’s Rest. Kimstrong Leing, Norwalk, had six stripers to four pounds on sardines and anchovies. Trout were planted three weeks ago, and a few are still showing. The crappie, bluegill, and catfish bites are all very slow 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 largemouth and smallmouth bass bites are really starting to turn on with the fish thinking about the coming spawn and moving up out of deep water. The best bite has been on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs fished in 10 to 20 feet of water on the points and steep drop-offs, but some fish are moving up into shallower water and starting to nose around. Some fish have even been landed on jerk baits in the past week. The striper bite has remained fair to good with both boat and shore anglers getting fish in the one to two pound range and some bigger. Lug worms, chicken liver, sardines, and nightcrawlers have been the best baits for both boat and shore anglers. The fish are in deeper water off the points for boat anglers and in the canal by the front entrance booth and the rip-rap near the boat shop. No catfish, bluegill, or crappie reports this 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: Very light fishing pressure over the past week, but the lake level continues to come up. A fair number of bass are showing on plastics or jigs, mostly in deeper water but some fish are starting to nose up shallower. Some fish are still being caught on jigging spoons. There are also still some crappie showing around most marinas on live minnows, and the catfish bite has been slow to fair in the French Gulch area on mackerel, clams, shad, and dip baits. There will be a closure to fishing in the area around the auxiliary dam on weekdays for work. 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: DFW trout were planted in Section 5 last week, and in Sections 4, 5, and 6 (all in the upper river) three weeks ago. Next plants are slated to go in next week in all three stretches of the upper river. The bite has been slow on crickets, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. Runoff flows in the upper river peaked at just under 10,000 cfs last week, but have settled back down to under 1,500 cfs this week and the water has cleared. Fly-fishing for wild fish has also been tough with the best action on small nymphs fished in deeper runs, especially in the upper reaches of the roadside water and up into the wild trout water past the Johnsondale bridge. The lower river flows are still low except right after storms. The bite has been very slow on bass with a only a few on nightcrawlers or plastic worms. No DFW plants slated for the lower river this winter season. The catfish action has been very slow in the pools on clams and nightcrawlers. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 or (www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or Gateway Market 760-376-2424.

AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The bite on small stripers remains fair, but overall little pressure. There is a lot of water moving through the system right now. Best bite continues to be on Flukes (pearl with a chartreuse tail), live minnows, or blood/lug worms. Catfish are slow with a few on shad, 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: Few reports. A few bass, catfish, and carp have been reported.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: There was a very good trout bite during the big derby this past Saturday, and the bite has been pretty decent since. A number of quality fish were reported over the weekend, including some to six pounds. Also quite a few limits. A variety of PowerBait, Mice Tails, and small trout jigs all getting fish. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: Very slow fishing with very little fishing pressure. The DFW is expected to plant trout this week, but this plant is not on the DFW stocking list. All the other species are very slow, but some bass are starting to show.

TRUXTUN LAKE: Light fishing pressure but warmer weather this week is starting to perk up the bass and carp bites. The bass have been best on plastics, while the carp are starting to show on dough baits. No crappie reports.

MING LAKE: The trout bite was pretty good through last week after a plant a week ago Monday. Best action has been on PowerBait with garlic or Mice Tails. Still a few fish showing this week. A few bass have been reported on live minnows and plastics. No crappie reported. The bluegill, catfish, and carp are all slow.

BRITE LAKE: The few anglers fishing are still seeing a few crappie and small bass. No other reports. April 19. Derby. Big private plant.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: Trout plant last week and three weeks ago, and the action was pretty good through the weekend on chartreuse PowerBait, Mice Tails, or small trout jigs. Most have been one to two pounds, but some to four pounds reported. Very few crappie reports, but the bass bite is starting to perk. The bluegill and carp bites are slow. 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 largemouth bass bite has really started to take off this past week with a lot of fish showing in water less than 15 feet deep on plastics as the fish move into the spawn. The crappie are getting little pressure but a few continue to be caught on small minnows. Bluegill very slow and few catfish reported. 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 bass action has started to take off with more and more fish flooding into the shallows for the spawn. Best action on small jigs and plastics. No reports of other species. 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/. In Inyo County, Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, section 2 of the lower Owens River, and Pleasant Valley Reservoir were scheduled to get trout this week.

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.