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
- Sierra Nevada trout opener is this weekend — and it may be the “last” opener if the state Department of Fish and Wildlife ultimately proposes and the Fish and Game Commission adopts a statewide, year-around trout season. That said, if you want to say you fished the last “trout opener,” the season in the higher elevation waters on both the east and west sides of the mountain range opens this Saturday. The fishing everywhere is expected to be excellent thanks good water conditions for three years in a row and heavy DFW trout plants for this weekend. Top picks will be Crowley Lake, Bridgeport Reservoir, and all of the June Lake Loop, but especially Gull. You will also be able to get a taste of what year-around trout fishing may hold in the future with many of the high elevation waters locked in ice and only available to anglers with ice fishing equipment. Please feel free to send your opener reports and photos to Jim Matthews at odwriter@verizon.net. We’ll get some of those updates in next week’s fishing report.
- The Crappie Mania at Lake Isabella continues to be the biggest, best, and hottest bite in the whole region. The action is excellent action with limits of 25 fish pretty common, and most of the fish are better than a pound and fish up to three pounds or better are being reported daily. The fish are stacked up on most shoreline trees, and showing on live minnow, jigs tipped with bait or Crappie Nibbles, and some bigger fish are eating nightcrawlers. The action is good for shore, float tube, or boats anglers, especially in the South Fork arm of the lake. For an update on this action, check with Bob’s Bait Bucket at 661-833-8657.
- Apollo Park stays in the top picks with very good trout action after a big plant for the derby this past weekend. Lots of big fish have been landed in recent days with most in the one to two-pound class, and lots of limits. Top fish reported was a 9-9. The carp bite is also nearly non-stop for anglers fishing dough baits on small treble hooks or hair rigs. Most of the carp are two to five pounds and showing around much of the lake. The bluegill and warmouth bite is also starting to get pretty decent. Great place to take kids fishing right now. For an update on this action, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
VICTORVILLE REGION
HESPERIA LAKE: The trout action continues fair to good with weekly Thursday plants. Most of the fish are from 1-8 to 2-8, but some bigger fish are being caught, with salmon peach PowerBait and inflated nightcrawlers with garlic the best baits. Hot spots have been Finger Cove, the inlet, and along the grassy bank. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH LAKES: Not much change from last week, with a slow to fair trout bite on both lakes, but fair to good bass action and improving bluegill action. The trout are best for anglers using PowerBait in spring green, chartreuse, and rainbow, garlic nightcrawlers, small jigs and trout plastics, and a few on small spoons or spinners. Most of the rainbows are around two pounds. The bass have been best on Senko-type baits, plastics worms, and nightcrawlers. Also some on blades and cranks. Top spots have been the northern and eastern shores of lake 2 with anglers reporting fish up to five pounds. The bluegill are finally starting to show in decent numbers on meal worms, wax worms, and nightcrawler pieces. Still few catfish (or few anglers fishing for them). For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: No report available. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION
APOLLO PARK LAKE: Very good trout action and a carp bite that is just as good. There was a big trout plant last week for the weekend derby, and the bite has been good since with a lot of two to three pound rainbows and fish up to 9-9 have been reported this week. The fish are showing on PowerBait in a variety of colors and flavors, Drew’s plastic worms with XXX Fish Attractant, and some on Kastmasters early in the day. The carp action remains almost non-stop on half-inch dough baits fished on treble hooks or hair rigs. The bluegill are starting to show in better numbers on micro jigs or meal and wax worms. Trout plants are twice a month this season with about 900 pounds per stock. There will be a youth fishing derby May 4, and the lake will be closed to fishing the days before this event and planted heavily. 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): Few reports, but quite a few small bluegill are starting to show. First DFW plant of the season slated for this week. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
LAKE PALMDALE: The trout, largemouth, and crappie are all pretty good here. The trout are still showing in good numbers, especially in deeper water off Dock 45. The bite is good on Roostertails, PowerBait and Mice Tails, small black jigs, or slow-trolling small lures. The largemouth bass are tight to the tules with fish hanging on isolated tules stick ups and patches. Best bite on nightcrawlers or plastic worms with fish to five pounds reported. The crappie are also pretty good around the tules on small jigs or nightcrawlers with a lot of two-pound class slabs, and the bluegill are just starting to show in decent numbers. 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 catfish and striper bites are both getting better with each warm day, and the largemouth bite is very good. Even the bluegill are really turning on with some nice stringers showing along the south shore tules. The stripers are showing on bigger jerk baits along the north shore and at the outlet. The catfish bite is best on chicken liver-nightcrawler combos with the best bite at dawn and dusk on cats up to 10 pounds or bigger. The largemouth are running up to two pounds and showing in very good numbers on white or yellow spinnerbaits and plastics fished along the edges of the weeds. More and more bluegill are starting to show on meal worms and wax worms. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): The stripers have taken over the bulk of the action, but the catfish also remain pretty good. Both are showing on lug worms or chicken liver fishing right on the bottom with stripers to seven pounds reported this week. Stripers also continue to show in one to 1 ½-ounce white jigs fished from one side to the other on a slow drag. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The catfish and carp bites are fair. The cats are in the one to two–pound range and showing on nightcrawlers, while the carp are showing on dough baits. The bass are fair to good on plastics and nightcrawlers. Some bluegill are starting to show on wax worms, red worms, and nightcrawler pieces.
LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: No reports this week. Water level is high and spilling at spillway, but no reports from walk-in anglers 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 stripers continue to show from the docks, around the marina, and at the dam on cut baits (anchovies and sardines), blood worms, and nightcrawlers. Most are one to two pounds, but some are bigger. Dave and Joe Tarango, both Apple Valley, had a pair of six-pound stripers and one at 6-8, all on sardines at the inlet. Joe Garcia, Apple Valley, Eric Butikofer, Covina, and Gary LeClair, Apple Valley, had seven stripers averaging two pounds each and the best was a 2-6, all on nightcrawlers at the dam. The fair to good crappie action has continued with most anglers getting their fish off the docks and around the marina on small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. Some fish are also showing in flooded brush in Miller Canyon and the main channel. Carol Harlan, Victorville, had 12 crappie to three-quarter pound on small jigs. The trout bite has slow, but a plant is slated for this week. The best action has been around the marina and in Cleghorn and Miller canyons, especially where water is flowing into the lake on chartreuse PowerBait, PowerWorms, or Mice Tails with garlic scent added. The largemouth bass bite is fair to good now with most of the fish shallow for the spawn, and some bluegill are starting to show. 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: While winds continue to hampered the trout bite, the action is still fair to good. The action is best at the dam and any areas where water is entering the lake or gravelly shorelines. Top action has been on Power Baits in bright colors with garlic scent or nightcrawlers fished on a Carolina-rig with a two to three-foot leader. Rapalas, Kastmasters, Thomas Bouyants, Jake’s lures all work well in the smallest sizes for the trollers with fish to four pounds reported. A reminder: the small streams themselves are closed to fishing from March 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day to protect the spawning trout. The crappie and bass bites have been getting better by the day with some nice quality crappie to nearly two pounds reported on small jigs with Crappie Nibbles. The bass bite, especially the smallmouth action, has really heated up with fish to four pounds this week on small plastics and reaction baits around rocky structure. All the lakes’ public and private launch ramps are open. For information on fishing, call Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page.
GREGORY LAKE: The action has been fair to good since the plant two weeks ago, mostly on small jigs, trout plastics, and PowerBait. The fish are cruising the shorelines. Fish to 1-8 reported. The Spring Trout Derby will be Saturday, May 18, with private plants planned before this event. The boat house is still closed due to storm damage this winter, but work is ongoing to get it open soon. 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 facilities are closed and won’t open until Memorial Day weekend in May, when private trout plants will begin. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.
INTERSTATE 5 LAKES
CASTAIC: Windy again much of the past week, and the lake has been closed to boat launching frequently. However, shore fishing has continued to be fair to good, and when boats have been able to get out, the action has been pretty good. The bite for stripers remains fair to good with a lot of fish showing on cut baits and lug or blood worms, and more catfish are starting to be caught in this bite. The stripers are mostly in 50 to 60 feet of water and showing for both shore anglers or boat anglers. Also some stripers showing for trollers. Kimstrong Leing, Norwalk, had six stripers to five pounds on sardine and anchovies. Vu Le, Monterey Park, landed three stripers to four pounds on sardines and bloodworms. The largemouth and smallmouth bass also continued to be fair to good as the fish move shallow for the spawn. The bite is best on plastics worms, nightcrawlers, Senko-like baits, or just about any reaction bait. The fish are mostly in four to 12 feet of water. Most of the bass are from 1-8 to three pounds. Trout were planted four weeks ago, and a few fish were reported in the past week for anglers fishing the back of Elizabeth Canyon or the back of the Fish Arm (where water is flowing in) on Kastmasters or small trout jigs. The crappie are slow, but a couple of slabs were reported this week from the upper lake. Bluegill are mostly slow, but a fair number are showing from the lower lake. 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 good with the fish mostly in less than 15 feet of water, and many in two to six feet of water on beds. The best bite has been on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs in the mouths of coves and around structure. Some fish are showing on reaction and jerk baits. The striper bite has been good with both boat and shore anglers getting fish in the one to two pound range and some bigger. Lug worms, blood worms and nightcrawlers have been the best baits for both boat and shore anglers, and more and more catfish are showing in this bait bite. Top spots for stripers have been the rip rap in front of the boat shop, the shoreline and points past the swim beach, and the canal by the entrance booth. Catfish have been best on the sandy banks and coves. Some trout have been landed in front of the boat shop and to the right side of the marina on PowerBait and inflated garlic nightcrawlers. Still few bluegill and 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: Crappie mania! The excellent crappie bite has continued this week with anglers continuing to reports slabs up to three pounds or better. Most are from three-quarter pound to 1 ½-pounds. The fish are showing on crappie jigs in all colors with white, yellow and black tops, and tipping the jig with Crappie Nibbles is a good bet. Small minnows are a sure thing. The bite has been good in all the coves in the South Fork area, but fish have been caught all around the lake. The key has been to fish the flooded trees and brush in four to 12 feet of water. This bite is attracting anglers from Fresno to San Diego, it’s that good. The lake level continues to come up (at over 41 percent full now), and the catfish and bass bites are also pretty good. The cats are showing on a wide variety of cut baits, especially in the French Gulch area. The best action has been on dip baits and clams. The bass have been best on jerkbaits, cranks, and underspins, but also a lot of fish on plastics. Most of the fish are in 15 feet of water or less. The trout bite is also pretty good on MiceTails and PowerBait after heavy plants for last weekend’s annual trout derby. 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: Flows continue to come up with the warm weather this past week hitting the snowpack. The upper river has been flowing around 4,000 cfs, and the lower river bank-to-bank through Bakersfield and flowing at 3,100 cfs in the canyon. DFW trout were scheduled to be planted in section 2 through 6 this week and they were planted in sections 1 through 6 two weeks ago. Flows are making the trout fishing challenging, but the bite is pretty fair. 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 bite has been fair and improving for bass on nightcrawlers, small reaction baits, or plastic worms, but flows are way up. The catfish action has been improving 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: Little change here. The bite remains good for stripers blood worms, lug worms and minnows, with some on Rat-L-Traps and Flukes. More and more fish are above the keeper size. The catfish bite is also starting to take off, mostly on cut sardines, chicken liver, and Wussy Bait. The flows are up and anglers need to be prepared to use heavier weight to get down through the heavy current. 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: Quite a few bass are being reported on plastics and reaction baits, and the carp bite is very good on Wussy Bait and Powder Bait.
RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: The carp bite is good on dough baits. The bass and bluegill bites are also pretty fair. The bass have been best on plastics and Senko-type baits, and the bluegill best on wax worms or red worms. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: The carp, bass, and bluegill bites are pretty good. The bass are moving shallow for the spawn and showing on plastics, jigs, and reaction baits, while the usual array of dough baits are working for the carp. Bluegill best on wax and meal worms or red worms.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Good carp and bass bites, and more and more bluegill are showing with fair to good action now. The bass have been moving shallow for the spawn and best on plastics or swimbaits. The carp are best on Wussy Bait, Powder Bait, or a variety of homemade dough baits. The bluegill are showing on wax worms, red worms, and meal worms.
MING LAKE: The carp and bass bites are both good. The carp are showing all around the lake on dough baits, especially Wussy Bait and Powder Bait. The bass are best on dark plastics, but some are also showing on small swimbaits, cranks, buzz baits, or live minnows. Bluegill are also pretty good with continued warm weather and they are showing on meal, wax, and red worms, or micro jigs tipped with bait.
BRITE LAKE: The trout action has been pretty good since the derby this past Saturday, and while most of the fish are pan-sized a few bigger trout are being caught on PowerBait, MiceTails, and small trout plastics or jigs. More and more bass and crappie are also starting to show as the lake warms.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The bass and crappie bite are both fair to good. The bass have been best on plastics and jerk baits, while the crappie are best on small minnows or jigs with Crappie Nibbles. The carp bite is also good on a variety of dough baits, with Wussy Bait and Powder Bait the two best bets. The bluegill action is improving with pretty fair action this week on wax worms. Catfish are still slow. The most recent plant was a month ago, and the rare trout is still being caught on PowerBait with garlic. Mice Tails, or garlic Gulp! Pinchced ‘Crawlers. 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 good crappie action continues here with a lot of nice stringers and some quality slabs. The best action continues to be on small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles or small minnows. The bass bite is also pretty good on drop-shot plastics and reaction baits as the fish move up shallow for the spawn. The bluegill are fair to good on small worms, while the catfish are finally turning on with a fair bite on cut baits. The lake is nearly 58 percent full. 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: Lake levels are coming up rapidly with runoff, but the lake is 32 percent full and rising rapidly. The bass action has been good on plastics and reaction baits in less than 15 feet of water with 20 to 30 fish days common. The bluegill are starting to show in better numbers and a few catfish and crappie are being caught. 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/. Most roadside waters in Inyo and Mono counties are being planted for the trout opener this weeked. In Kern and Tulare counties, the Kern River is being planted in sections 2 through 6. In San Bernardino County, Silverwood Lake is one the stocking list, and in Los Angeles County, Jackson Lake near Wrightwood is slated to get its first plant of the year.
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.
