FISH REPORT — ONS-matthews – 26 February 2020 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. The limit-style action on crappie has continued at Lake Success in the western Sierra Nevada. Some of the fish are running over two pounds and some over three have been caught. The bite has been good for both shore and boat anglers fishing around any flooded structure with live minnows. For an update on this action and top spots, check with Bob’s Bait at 661-833-8657.

2. The California aqueduct has been good in both the Southern San Joaquin Valley and Antelope Valley stretches. The stripers are the best bet in the San Joaquin, with a lot of three to eight pound, fat, keeper-sized fish showing on both live minnows and Senko-type baits. In the Antelope Valley stretch, there has been a nice mix of smaller stripers from two to three pounds and catfish from two to 10 pounds showing. The stripers have been best on Rat-L-Traps, while the cats are best on cut baits. For updates on this bite, check with Bob’s Bait Bucket in the San Joaquin at 661-833-8657 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824 for the Antelope Valley.

3. Silverwood Lake stays in the top picks for its trout action, with another plant slated for this week. The trout bite has been pretty good around the marina and into both Miller and Cleghorn canyons on small spinners or plastics and PowerBait. For an update on the action, call the marina at 760-389-2299 or the Silverwood Country store at 760-389-2423.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: Continued fair trout action. The most recent plant was a small, 500-pound stock on Feb. 13, but a 2,000-plant is slated for this Thursday from Mt. Lassen. Most of the fish stocked are 1-8 to two pounds, but each plant has a few bigger fish to five pounds or better. Top spots this past week have been the drain, Finger Cove, and along the north shore. Best action continues to be on various PowerBaits and small trout jigs. Top in the past week was a 7-10 rainbow landed by Roy Fear, Victorville, using chartreuse PowerBait at Finger Cove. Phillip Hernandez, Victorville, caught a five-pound trout on a Black Minnow jig, also in Finger Cove. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: Little change here. The trout bite remains slow to fair, but a few fish are being caught in the mornings before 10 a.m. on PowerBait (especially salmon peach, corn yellow, and rainbow), nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs and lures. Hot spots include the northern and eastern shores of lake 2 and the grassy point and western shore near the drain of lake 3. The bass bite has been warming up with the weather, and a few more bass up to five pounds have been caught using Senko-type plastics on the western and northern shores of lake 2. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: This kids derby this past Saturday drew 61 anglers, and the big fish was a 1-15 rainbow caught by Elliot Simpson, Apple Valley from Horseshoe Lake near the boat house on PowerBait. Marvin Burell, Victorville, came in second with a 1-10 trout, while Dominic Guzman, Victorville, was third with a 1-8 trout. Fourth and fifth place fish were also 1-8 trout, caught by Ashley Sarahi, Pomona, and Devin Yord, San Bernardino. There are weekly 609-pound plants on Thursdays, and the DFW also planted last week for the derby. The park is only open Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION

APOLLO PARK LAKE:
APOLLO PARK LAKE: The trout bite has been slow with no plant since the one four weeks ago, but a big plant is slated for next week just before the March 7 derby. The few holdover rainbow being caught are showing on Black Drew’s jigs or PowerBait. And the hot PowerBait has been the natural scent garlic in Orange and Nymph colors (alone or mixed together). A few carp are also starting to show on dough baits, but mostly small fish right now. Still no bluegill or catfish reports, but those bites could break open any time with the warmer weather over the past week. 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): No fishing reports. The is still sheet ice around the edges of the lake, way too thin to walk on. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LAKE PALMDALE:There was a trout plant last week and another one is tentative slated for this week. Last week’s plant was 6,000 pounds with some fish over 10 pounds planted. The trout action remains excellent on a wide variety of baits and lures fished on light line (two-pound test), with PowerBait (nymph color with garlic is the best) and small yellow and silver jigs the top bets. Some trout on deep-trolled cranks. Limits are being landed in less than an hour by good anglers fishing off the docks. Other species are not getting any pressure, but drop-shot nightcrawlers are getting a lot of bass and catfish and even the odd crappie. The lake is open to members and their guests only, but memberships for 2020 are still available. 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 bite has really started to open up with much better action on both stripers and catfish this past week. Most of the stripers are smaller fish under three pounds, but the catfish are running up to six pounds or more. The best action for both species has been on cut baits, mostly sardines or frozen shad, fished drop-shot style or fly-lined. The afternoon bite is best. Also more reports of hand-sized bluegill fishing adjacent to Highway 138 in the ponds separated from the main lake by the old road bed. Top bait was nightcrawlers. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Hesperia to Quail Lake stretch): The catfish and striper bites are starting to get pretty good throughout the aqueduct, east and west. The stripers have been best on Rat-L-Trap-type lures and mostly two to three pounds, while the catfish are mostly showing on sardines, mackerel, or chicken liver with a wide range of sizes being caught, including some to 10 pounds. The best action for both stripers and catfish is at road crossings, siphons, or any spot where the flow of the water is changed, slowed, or increased. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): Still very tough, but a few bluegill and carp are starting to show. The bluegill are small, hand-sized fish on nightcrawlers. The carp are also small and showing on dough baits. No bass or catfish reports.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: No reports 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: Both the striped bass and trout bites have continued fair to good with much warmer weather and better conditions, and the brief rain didn’t seem to lull the action. DFW trout plants went in last Friday and three weeks ago, and fish are slated to go in again this week and next week. Top spots have been around the marina and into both Miller and Cleghorn canyons. The best trout bite was on small spinners or plastics and PowerBait, and the fish are running up to three pounds. The stripers are showing in the marina, Miller Canyon, and at the dam on anchovies, sardines, anchovies, or swimbaits. A few more largemouth have been reported for anglers fishing plastics off the points with the fish moving up into less than 30 feet of water, with some as shallow as six feet. Slow other species. Lake elevation was 3,341.33 on Wednesday this week. This is down .63 feet from last week. 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 action has been improving, with more and more bait and lure fish are being reported at the dam. 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. 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 fishing reports. Plants won’t begin until late April or May. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.

INTERSTATE 5 LAKES

CASTAIC: The larmemouth and smallmouth bites have really started to improve with the warming water conditions, with a major movement of fish out of deep water into water 20 feet and less. Drop-shot plastics and nightcrawlers have been best bet, and a number of limits have been reported with most fish up to 2-8. DFW trout plants last week and five weeks ago, and the trout action was just fair over the weekend on PowerBait with garlic scent or small spoons and jigs. Most are around a half-pound with some to 1-8. The stripers are fair, mostly showing on bait — sardines, anchovies, and lug worms — in deep water. A few bigger fish are showing on trout-like swimbaits, but most of the action has been on bait with those fish around 1-8 to three pounds. A few catfish have been reported in deep water off sandy beaches on sardines or chicken liver. The bluegill bite is slow, but ever-increasing numbers of crappie are being reported on small jigs (tipped with wax or meal worms)both the upper and lower lakes. The lake’s elevation was 1,481.60 feet on Wednesday, up 4.16 feet from last week. The lake is at 78 percent of full pool. The lake has risen more than eight feet over the past two weeks. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: The largemouth and smallmouth bites both been improving with the warm days, and the fish are just starting to move up out of deep water for the spawn. The fish are mostly still in 15 to 25 feet of water with some action shallower in the afternoons. Drop-shot plastics off the points or walls has been the best bet, with some fish showing on deep-diving cranks and jerkbaits. The trout bite has remained fair after the plant five weeks ago, but the lake was not on the plant list again for this week. Top areas have been along the rip-rap in front of the boat shop, Spanish Point, Bear Trap, and along the canal near the entrance booth. PowerBait, small spinners, trout jigs, and trout plastics all getting a few fish. A decent number of cats are showing for anglers targeting these fish with chicken liver, sardines, or anchovies on most sandy shoreline in Yellowbar. The striper bite has been slow, with a few beng caught in very deep water off Chumash Island and at the dam on sardines, jigging spoons, or trolling with umbrella rigs. Shore anglers fishing blood worms, lug worms, or nightcrawlers at the canal at the entrance booth are also getting a few. No reports on other species. The lake’s elevation was 2,564.49 95 feet on Wednesday this week, down .44 feet from last week. This is at 85 percent of full pool. 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: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 catfish bite from shore has really picked up (or there are more anglers fishing in the nice weather), and there have been some nice catches of fish from two to 10-plus pounds. Most of the action has been on dip baits, shad, and clams. The deep-water crappie bite is still perking along. The bite has been almost all on small minnows around flooded trees or marinas in 30- to 50-plus feet of water. The crappie are from ¾-pound up to two pounds. No largemouth, bluegill, or carp reports. There was a DFW trout plant two weeks ago but few rainbows have been reported. The lake elevation on Wednesday this week was 2,560.83, up .22 feet from last week. The lake remains at 30 percent full and very stable right now. 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 continues pretty fair in both the upper and lower river, but no plants have been slated for this week. Most recent plant was two weeks ago in the upper river. There are good numbers of holdover fish spread throughout the plant areas. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, Roostertails and Blue Fox spinners, and SuperDupers are the best baits and lures. Excellent fishing flows in both the upper (481 cfs) and lower river (325 cfs). Fly-fishing action fair on the upper river from Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge and above, but very cold water conditions. The bass and catfish action remains slow 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:The warm weather has really turned on the striper bite with no only a good volume of fish being caught, but the quality of the stripers has improved with a lot of healthy, fat three to eight-pound fish showing. The action has been best on minnows, blood worms, and sand worms, with a few on Fluke-type baits and jerkbaits. The catfish bite is slow on cut baits. 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: A few catfish continue to show here for anglers fishing nightcrawlers. No reports of carp or bluegill, yet.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: The Sheriff Activities League Trout Derby is this weekend and the lake will be planted with trout for this event. Before this week’s plant, the most recent DFW plant was over a month ago and the action was very slow. There have been a few bass starting to show, but other species have also been very slow. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: The warm weather has perked up the bluegill a little bit with fair action on wax worms. Also a few more bass showing on plastics and Brush Hawgs. Dead for trout with no plants in two-plus months, and the lake is not slated to get DFW trout this week or next week.

TRUXTUN LAKE:A few bass are starting to show on plastics here with the warmer weather. But still no carp, bluegill or catfish reported.

MING LAKE: There has been a fair and improving largemouth bite here over the past week with a lot of fish moving around in the shallower water and whacking Senkos, Brush Hawgs, and live minnows. Most recent DFW trout plant over a month ago, and no fish are scheduled for this week or next week. Other species still slow.

BRITE LAKE: There has been a fair bite on hand-sized crappie on small jigs fished under a float, and the trout bite has been fair on Drew’s plastics and PowerBait. Other species are slow.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: There was a Mt. Lassen trout plant last week, and a few trout continue to show on Mini Jigs, along with the usual array of Mice Tails, garlic nightcrawlers, and PowerBait. The bass have also started to show in decent numbers for anglers fishing Senkos along the tules. Few reports of other species, other than a few catfish. Fishing information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657 or www.bobsbaitbucket.com or Copeís Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.

WOOLLOMES LAKE: No reports.

SUCCESS LAKE: The good crappie bite has continued here with a lot of limits still being reported along with a few quality slabs up to four pounds. The fish are showing for both boat and shore anglers fishing live minnows. Most recent DFW trout plants was two weeks ago. Other species have been mostly slow, but a few more bass and bluegill are starting to show. The lake elevation is 605.93 feet as of Wednesday, up 1.39 feet from last week. The lake is at 20 percent capacity. Information: Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop at 661-679-6351 or www.tackleandrod.com.

KAWEAH LAKE: Most recent DFW trout plant was two weeks ago. The overall bite is still slow with very little fishing pressure, but some bass are showing on plastics and jigs in deeper water. No bluegill and catfish being reported. Lake elevation is currently 611.73 feet as of Wednesday, up 1.63 feet from last week. The lake is at 15 percent capacity. 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 San Bernardino County, the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek, Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake, and Yucaipa Park Lake are scheduled to get trout. In Inyo County, Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, section 2 of the Owens River, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Shepherd Creek, Symmes Creek, and Tuttle Creek are slated to get rainbows. Note that some of these plants in Inyo County are on waters that do not open to fishing until the early trout season opener on March 7. In Los Angeles County, Crystal Lake will get trout.

Next week’s trout plants (March 1-7): In San Bernardino County, Cucamonga-Guasti Park Lake and Silverwood Lake are on the plant list. In Inyo County, Diaz Lake, Lone Pine Creek, and the Owens River below Tinnemaha will get planted. Note that some of these plants in Inyo County are on waters that do not open to fishing until the early trout season opener on March 7.

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 the information will be included in the weekly report. If you have questions or comments, please call Matthews at 909-887-3444.