FISH REPORT — ONS-matthews – 21 november 2019 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
- The striped bass bite at Lake Silverwood stays in the top spot this week with a lot of limits of stripers from two to three pounds reported by both bait and anglers trolling umbrella rigs with the dam and marina areas the hot spots. For an update on this bite, call the marina at 760-389-2299.
- The Kern River’s trout action, especially in the lower river, has been excellent with weekly trout plants for over a month and more each week. The big news is the quality fish that are showing in the lower river with fish to five pounds each week. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, and SuperDupers have been the best baits. For an update on this bite, call Bob’s Bait Bucket at 661-833-8657.
- The Taft Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby at the Buena Vista Lakes will be the place to be Saturday this weekend. The lake was planted with 2,000 pounds of rainbows for the event, including some trophy fish. Entry fee for the derby is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 13 and under. For information, call Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657 or Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
VICTORVILLE REGION
HESPERIA LAKE: First trout plant of the season this week on Thursday. These are Jess Ranch rainbows. The catfish bite has been fair on the marshmallow-meal worm combo, mackerel, shrimp, or sardines. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH LAKES: The trout action has continued to improve with good fishing in the mornings before 10 a.m. The best action has been on PowerBait in salmon peach, garlic and rainbow, nightcrawlers with garlic scent, small trout jigs, and trout plastics like MiceTails. Best spots include the northern and eastern shores of lake 2 and the grassy point and western shore near the drain of lake 3. Bass have been slow, but the odd fish to four pounds s still being reported on Senko-like lures or nightcrawlers, mostly from the northern and eastern shores of lake 2. No catfish or bluegill reports this week. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: No reports. The park is only open Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. While there is no news on when country trout plants will begin, it is tentatively slated to be for Thanksgivng weekend. No DFW trout plants on the schedule yet. Information, call 760-245-2226.
HIGH DESERT WATERS
ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION
APOLLO PARK LAKE: The trout action has continued pretty fair with fish to five pounds reported after a plant on Tuesday this week. Lots of one to two-pound rainbows. The rainbows are showing from around the lake, and the hot bait has been on pink Drew’s plastic worms, pink and white Mice Tails, and spring green and garlic PowerBait mixed together. County plants are tentatively slated to go in every two weeks (which means they should be planted this week). The weekly plants will be 800 pounds. Few anglers fishing carp or panfish. 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): Still some rainbows being caught on PowerBait or small trout jigs. The most recent reported DFW trout plant was over a month ago. There continues to be a fair bite on small bluegill but that bite is slowed down as the water cools. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
LAKE PALMDALE: The lake closed to fishing Sunday, Oct. 6 and will reopen to fishing on Feb. 2 for the trout season kickoff. 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: There continue to be fair numbers of catfish caught in the evenings on mussels, chicken liver, or mackerel, used in conjunction with nightcrawlers and added scent. Most of the fish are two to six pounds and showing from both the north and south sides near the outlet. Fewer stripers being caught but at least one 10-pounder was reported on a topwater lure. No reports of bluegill or largemouth this week as the water cools. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Hesperia to Quail Lake stretch): Generally fair overall action with a pretty good striper bite in the east end of the valley at 72nd, 89th, and 151st on stripers averaging three pounds but some to seven, and most are being reported on chicken liver. Catfish are showing throughout on a wide variety of cut baits fished with nightcrawlers and walk-drifted on the bottom. Bends, road crossings, weirs, and siphons are the hot spots. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The action has slowed with the cooler weather this week. Still a bluegill showing on nightcrawlers. No other reports.
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 striped bass bite has continued fair to good and a number of limits have been reported on two to three-pound stripers. The fish are showing on anchovies, garlic nightcrawlers, blood or lug worms fished at the dam, main lake points, or around the marina, mostly in deep water. Some anglers are also getting fish trolling or casting shad-like lures or trolling umbrella rigs, but most of the fish are fairly deep, with some to 10-plus pounds. Alexander McKenzie, Redlands, had 10 stripers to three pounds at the dam on an umbrella rig and jerk baits. The trout bite has also been pretty good in Cleghorn and around the marina on PowerBait and small spinners and spoons after the DFW plant two weeks ago, and the cold weather is helping this bite. Still some catfish showing on cut baits at the marina docks and into both Miller and Cleghorn Canyons, and some are also showing at the dam. A few small largemouth are showing on swimbaits and plastics, but also some showing on jerkbaits. Bluegill and crappie are slow. Water levels have been unchanged in recent days. 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: Very cold this week with some snow. The trout bite is fair. Bank anglers are getting a few trout from the Red House to Juniper Point along the North Shore. The action is best on Carolina rigs with long leaders of two to four-pound test fluorocarbon leaders and original or yellow garlic PowerBait. 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. The first Mt. Lassen plant of the season went in three weeks ago with a plant of 3,000 pounds of rainbows up to three pounds. Most recent DFW plant was 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 park’s Facebook page or website.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Some snow this week. Very slow fishing with no plants in over a month. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.
INTERSTATE 5 LAKES
CASTAIC: The bite has slowed down for most species over the past week and the rain added to the slowdown – at least in angler numbers. The best action has been on the rainbow trout planted two weeks ago with some limits reported on garlic-scented floating baits in bright colors. Gabriel Gomez, Bakersfield, landed five rainbows to 1-8. The best action has been around the marina. A few stripers and largemouth are showing on shad imitations, and the bait bite on stripers in deeper water is still fair, mostly on sardines or anchovies. The bluegill and crappie have slowed down, with the lower lagoon being the best bet. The lake’s elevation is dropping slowly, currently at 80 percent full, which is down two percent from last week. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
PYRAMID: Trout were planted two weeks ago, and the bite has been pretty good since, especially in the canal by the entrance booth on PowerBait and trout plastics with fish to nearly two pounds. For stripers, shore anglers fishing the channel near the entrance booth and along the rip-rap are getting fish on anchovies, sardines, and nightcrawlers. Trollers working umbrella rigs or anglers metering fish and vertical jigging with spoons or ice jigs are getting fish around Chumash Island and Serrano Cove. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair, especially along the weed lines with plastics or nightcrawlers fished drop-shot style. No report of trout or panfish this week. The lake’s level is not changing much. It is at 92 percent full this week, the same as last 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: Little change here even with the rain. There’s a fair catfish bite. The action has been best in the morning and again later in the evening. Top baits have been the 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. Lots of fish from three to six pounds and some bigger. The crappie bite continues to hang on with surprisingly good action for both shore and boat or tube anglers fishing minnows, especially around any of the marinas and in the French Gulch areas. Still fair largemouth bass action, especially early and late in the way when the fish are chasing bait. The lake level may be stabilizing with it staying at 29 percent full this week. Few trout or carp reports, and the bluegill bite has slowed to nearly nothing. 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 is good in both the upper and lower river, and there were DFW plants in sections 2 and 3 this week and in sections 2, 3, and 4 last week. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, Blue Fox spinners, SuperDupers have all been getting fish. Some very good quality rainbows to five pounds continue to be reported from the lower rive. Ideal flows for fishermen in both the upper (380 cfs) and lower river (600 cfs), with little change from last week. Fly action fair on the upper river from Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge and above. The bass action in the lower river has also been fair to good 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: Very light pressure, but the striper bite remains fair to good with a lot of keeper-sized fish from 20 to 24 inches. A few anglers have been reporting two-fish limits along with a lot of smaller fish that are released. The best bite has been on sardines or blood worms for bait and Gitzits, Flukes or Lucky Craft jerk baits (in shad colors) for artificials. The catfish bite is fair on cut baits and dip baits at most bridge crossings and weirs. Lots of 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: Rain and colder night have really slowed this bite with few bluegill and catfish reported. Carp very spotty.
RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: Trout were planted two and four weeks ago, with fish going into both lakes. The action has slowed way down with most of the fish caught out. The best trout action has been on gold spinners, Phoebes, and Kastmasters, along with mini jigs. Bait anglers are using PowerBait or nightcrawlers with garlic oil. Other species have slowed way down, too. Only a few carp and bluegill reported. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
HART PARK LAKE: Trout were planted again this week after the first plant of the season two weeks ago. The action has been good with a number of limits reported on PowerBait with garlic oil added. Mice Tails or other small trout plastics, gold spinners, or Kastmasters are also getting fish. The bass bite is fair, while the carp and bluegill bites are slow to fair. The bass are best on plastics, jigs, and reaction baits morning and evening. The bluegill are best on wax and meal worms or red worms. The carp are best on Powder Bait, Wussy Bait, or other dough baits. A few smaller catfish are being reported on cut baits or paste baits.
TRUXTUN LAKE: The carp and bluegill bites have slowed way down with the cooler weather and rain. A few bass are showing on plastics or swimbaits in the morning or eveing.
MING LAKE: DFW trout were planted this week and two weeks ago. This was the third plant of the season, and the bite has been very good with limits reported on the mini jig-wax worm combo, PowerBait or MiceTails with garlic oil, and garlic nightcrawlers. Still a few carp, bluegill, and bass showing, but those bites are pretty slow.
BRITE LAKE: DFW trout plant two and four weeks ago. The action has slowed but some fish are still being caught on PowerBait with garlic oil and Power Worms or Mice Tails. Other species have also slowed, but the odd crappie has been caught.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: The trout season kicks off Saturday with Taft Chamber of Commerce Derby. The lake was planted with 2,000 pounds of rainbows for the event, including some trophy fish. Entry fee for the derby is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 13 and under. General trout season will start after this event. Other bites had slowed way down with only a few bluegill, catfish, and bass reported. 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 first DFW trout plant of the season was set for this week. The bass bite has continued to slow but some fish are showing on structure on plastics with fewer on reaction baits and Senkos. Few crappie or bluegll reports, and catfish are also slow. The lake level is about as low as it can get, staying at 9 percent of capacity this week. 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 first DFW trout plant of the season was set for next week. The lake level continues to sit at just eight percent full. This is about as low as it gets. The bite is still slow to fair, but some bass are showing on plastics and reaction baits, but cooling water is slowing the action. Very few bluegill and catfish being reported. 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, sections 2 and 3 of the Kern River along with Ming Lake, will be planted. In Tulare County, both Kaweah and Success reservoirs are on the DFW list. In Inyo County, Diaz Lake, the Bishop-to-Big Pine and Tinnemaha stretches of the lower Owens River, and Pleasant Valley Reservoir will be planted.
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.
