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.

JIM MATTHEWS’S PICKS OF THE WEEK

• 1. The California Aqueduct in the Taft region has been very good for striped bass from five to eight pounds this past week. The fish are showing on a wide variety of Fluke and Gitzit-style baits with most of the fish over the 18-inch minimum size restriction in this area. There was a 25-pounder reported a couple of weeks ago. For an update on this bite, call Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield at 661-833-8657.
• 2. Apollo Park Lake is tentatively slated to be planted this week, but the bite has been pretty fair since the last plant and has still been a good bet to bring home a couple of rainbows. The fish are running from 1-8 to two pounds with some rainbows up to seven pounds or better. MiceTails or wacky-rigged Power Worms have been the best bet. The plants are twice a month this season. For an update on this bite, call Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
• 3. This pick is a toss up between the Pyramid and Castaic lakes’ striper bites. Both have been pretty decent from both shore and boat. Trolled umbrella rigs are getting bigger fish, but cut baits are getting better volume of fish from one to three pounds. Wind has also hampered boat launching at both lakes over the past week. For an update on this action, check with the Emigrant Landing entrance booth at Pyramid at 661-295-7155 or the Castaic Lake marina at 661-775-6232. Tackle Express in Castaic has the latest for both waters at 661-251-8700.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: The trout bite is fair to good. There are 1,000-pound rainbow plants from Jess Ranch each week. Still fair catfish action, even with the last plant over a month ago. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: Trout bite was fair to good on both lakes this week, with anglers using PowerBait (especially rainbow garlic, salmon red, and hatchery pellet), nightcrawlers with some caught on small trout jigs, Mice Tails, or trout plastics. Most trout are around two pounds. Best spots include the northern and western shores of lake 2 and the eastern logged shore and western shore near the drain of lake 3. Cooler weather continues to slow the bass, bluegill, and catfish bites. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to
www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: County trout plants are weekly. Few reports. The cold weather has really hammering the remnant bluebill and bass bite. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION

APOLLO PARK LAKE: Good to excellent trout action in spite of cold weather. The fish have spread throughout the lakes complex, and the best action has been on drop-shot Power Worms fish wacky style. White and pink have been the best colors. The nightcrawler-salmon egg combo and PowerBait have also been getting a few fish. Most of the rainbows are in the two-pound class with some to seven pounds. The most recent plant was two weeks ago, so another plant should go in this week. Stocks will be twice a month this season with about 900 pounds per stock. The panfish, carp, and catfish bites have finally slowed down. For more information, contact Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

JACKSON LAKE (NEAR WRIGHTWOOD): The bite on small bluegill finally died this week with the cold weather. No trout plants yet, and no bass reported. 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: While the action and fishing pressure has slowed way down, a few die-hard anglers continue to get some decent catfish at the outlet and off the north shore points, including a 15-pound cat reported early this week. The best action has been on mackerel heads or sardines. There are also still a few stripers showing on swimbaits along the north shore with fish to six pounds reported this week. Other species have slowed way down. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): There has been a steady striper bite throughout the aqueduct across the Antelope Valley. Hot spots have been where there are obstructions to the flow at bridges, sand trap, or bends. The Palmdale and 25th Avenues spot (work is being done) has been good, producing fish to eight pounds this week. The fish are mostly one to three pounds. The best bite has been on white jigs or swimbaits bounced down the banks and fish slowed back on or just above the bottom. Catfish are also showing in cut baits in the same areas throughout the valley in a pretty fair bite for late fall. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The carp action has been slow to fair on dough baits with cooler weather slowing this bite and keeping anglers away. The bluegill and catfish bite have really slow down.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: No reports. Access remains restricted some days because of heavy equipment use. Few walk-in angler reports this week. Only a few bass, and crappie and bluegill are very slow. The Palmdale Water District has an ongoing sediment removal project, and the U.S. Forest Service (Angeles National Forest) may close the area in the future.

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

SILVERWOOD: Still a pretty fair striped bass bite, and a few largemouth and crappie were also reported this past week. Overall, fairly light fishing pressure, but the stripers have been showing around the dock and up into both Cleghorn and Miller canyon, mostly on sardines, anchovies, lug worms. Most are small — under three pounds — but a few bigger fish on swimbaits. Danny Burns, Adelanto, had four stripers and one four-pound largemouth, while Alan Riggs, Phelan, had three stripers to 2-8 on anchovies at the gazebo. The largemouth have been best on jerk baits, plastics, and nightcrawlers. Bobby Kennedy, Lucerne Valley, landed a five-pound bass off the dock on a jerk bait. A few crappie are showing on nightcrawlers and meal worms. 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: For the hardy few anglers braving the cold weather, there is a pretty fair trout bite with most of the rainbows from 1-8 to three pounds. The best bite is early in the morning from the dam buoy line east to the west public launch ramp along the north shore. Chartreuse garlic and salmon egg PowerBait have been the best bets, but inflated nightcrawlers on slip bobber rigs is still a good bet. All of the public and private marinas have shut down. For information on fishing, call Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page.

GREGORY LAKE: DFW trout plant four weeks ago. Light fishing pressure and not reports of trout this week. 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 closed Oct. 31 and plants won’t begin again until next April. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.

INTERSTATE 5 LAKES

CASTAIC: The lake has been hammered by winds off and on again this past week, which has led to boat launching closures. Overall, the striper action has remained pretty fair for both shore and boat anglers. The shore bite has been best at the dam near the tower, while boat anglers are focusing on the buoy lines near Necktie Canyon and at the Elderberry Dam. Sharon’s Rest and C-Point are also good bets. Shore anglers are mostly using sardines, anchovies, lug worms, and nightcrawlers, while boat anglers are using the same baits or trolling umbrella rigs with four to six-inch shad-like swimbaits or hurling the same. The largemouth and smallmouth bite is fair on dropshot plastics or small jigs. The crappie, bluegill, and catfish bites have slowed in the upper lake, but some panfish are still being caught in the lower lake. DFW trout plant went in four weeks ago, but none on the list in the near future. First plant was small. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: The striper bite has been fair on sardines, lug worms, and chicken liver for both boat and shore anglers. The fish are in deeper water off the points and (for shore anglers) in the canal by the front entrance booth and the rocks near the boat shop. Few fish over three pounds. Also some surface action early in the morning on jerkbaits and topwater. The trout bite has been slow, and the most recent plant was four weeks ago and the lake isn’t on the stocking list any time soon. The largemouth and smallmouth bass have been fair on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs fished in 20-plus feet of water on the points. The catfish, bluegill, and crappie bites are slow. 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: The best action remains for catfish, and the bite is fair to good with most of the fish from two to four pounds and an occasional larger fish. Top baits have been super meal worms, shad, and clams, but fish are showing on a wide variety of dip baits and cut baits. While the bite is best early and late, some fish are showing throughout the day and night (if you want to brave the cold). There have again been a few decent crappie reports in the French Gulch area on small minnow or jigs tipped with bait. Very few bass or bluegill reported. 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: The trout bite remains pretty fair, but getting light fishing pressure. The upper river was planted with trout two and three weeks ago, and section 5 and 6 are slated for fish this week. The best bite has been on crickets, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers are seeing tougher fishing with the cold weather, but some fish are still showing on small numphs fished in deeper runs in the low flows, 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 very low and the bite has been slow to fair on bass with nightcrawlers or plastic worms. No DFW plants slated for the lower river this fall-winter season. The catfish action has been pretty slow to fair 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: This is the best action in the region with a very good bite on stripers and the fish are mostly healthy, nice fish over the minimum keeper size with a lot of fish from five to eight pounds. Flukes, Gitzit, and Lucky Craft-style lures are all getting fish, and some fish are also showing on sardines or jumbo minnows. Catfish are also still fair 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: Very slow, no reports of catfish or carp this week.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season. The bluegill and carp action is slow. Carp are best on Powder Bait or Wussy Bait and other dough baits. Very slow other species with only an occasional bass being caught on plastics or nightcrawlers. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season. All the other species are slow, with only a few bass and carp being reported.

TRUXTUN LAKE: There has been a pretty fair bite on crappie to 10 inches on small minnows, and some bass are being caught on drop-shot plastic, jigs, or nightcrawlers. No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season. The bluegill and carp bites are also slow with a few bluegill still being caught by anglers fishing nightcrawler pieces on the bottom, and a few carp still being caught on dough baits.

MING LAKE: The crappie action has been fair to good on small minnows with some nice catches of eight to 10-inch fish reported. The largemouth bite is fair on plastics and nightcrawlers. Also a few on small jigs. A DFW trout plant is slated for next week. Plants will be 500-pounds and there will only be one in December and another one in January. Bluegill, catfish, and carp are all slow.

BRITE LAKE: No DFW trout plants yet this season, but there is a pretty good crappie bite for anglers fishing mid-lake from float tube with small jigs. Most of the fish are eight to 10 inches long. In addition, there continues to be a lot of small bass around a pound also showing in this action. Anglers targeting the bass are doing best on garlic nightcrawlers or small plastics fished along the shore.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: Fair trout action on two to three pounders after a stock for this past weekend. The bite has been best on Mice Tails and salmon eggs. Last month’s trout derby was won by Enrique Nuno, Bakersfield, with a 3-2 trout that won him $1,000. There were 750 entrants. Very few crappie reports, and the bluegill, carp, and bass 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 bite here has continued to slow down with the cooler weather. A few bass continue to show on smaller plastics fished drop-shot and split-shot style in deeper water. Most of the bass are in the two-pound range. 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 bite has slowed way down with fair deep-water action on finesse baits fished on structure. Other bites have slowed way down. 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

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.
END