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. Lake Palmdale (Fin & Feather) remains the top pick for this week. The lake was planted with 27,000 pounds of trout for this past weekend’s opener, and the bite has been good to excellent since. That is in spite of the rainy, cold, windy weather. Jake’s lures with scent have caught the biggest fish (to six-plus pounds), but all the usual trout fare is getting limits of nice trout. Call the Palmdale Fin & Feather Club for membership and fishing information at 661-947-2884 or go to website at www.palmdalefinandfeatherclub.com.
2. The striped bass bite at Castaic Lake stays in the top picks because the morning action has remained good for both boat and shore anglers even during the rotten weather this past week. Most anglers are getting from three to five stripers up to five pounds or more. The best bite has been on from three to five pounders with some smaller and some to 12 pounds. The best bite has been on sardines or lug/blood worms, but shad-like swimbaits have been getting bigger fish anglers. The hotspot has been the right side (mountain side) shoreline off the main ramp. For an update on this bite, check with the marina staff at 661-775-6232 or call Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
3. Apollo Park Lake wasn’t planted with trout last week which makes it even more likely that trout will go in this Thursday. Even without another stock the bite has continued to be pretty fair. The best action is in the front lake right after a plant, but as the fish spread out, the back lake tends to be the hot spot. The hot action has been on Mice Tails in pink and white, but marshmallow-meal worm combo, small jigs, PowerBait and nightcrawlers, all with garlic scent. Most of the rainbows are one to three pounds. For an update on this bite, call Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: There continues to be a good trout bite with stocks each Thursday. Most of the rainbows are from 1-8 to 2-8, and they are showing on garlic nightcrawlers and PowerBait in cheese, salmon peach, and rainbow garlic. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: Tough fishing conditions over the past week due to the weather made for slow action in both lakes this past week. A few fish were reported on PowerBait in rainbow, garlic, and salmon peach, garlic nightcrawlers, and small trout lures (jigs, Power Worms, and Mice Tails). The rainbows being caught are mostly two-pound class fishing and the best spots continue to be the northern and western shores of lake 2 and the eastern logged shore and western shore near the drain of lake 3. Very slow action on bass, bluegill, and catfish. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: Weather hasn’t slowed the action here, with a very steady trout bite thanks to weekly county trout plants. No bluegill or bass reports this week. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION

APOLLO PARK LAKE: The trout bite has remained fair to good over the past week, with the best bite on pink and white Mice Tails, although many other baits and small trout lures are getting fish. Green or chartreuse trout jigs and garlic nightcrawlers have also been productive. Trout were not planted last week, but they are scheduled for this week. The bite is best in the front lake for the first day or two after the stock, and then the fish spread out and frequently the best action has been in the back lake. 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: The trout opener was excellent this past weekend in spite of windy, rainy weather. The bite has continued very good through this first week. There were 27,000 pounds of trout planted prior to the opener (out of the season allotment of 85,000 pounds), and the weather didn’t keep the crowds away, with over 5,000 trout caught opening weekend, most running from two to four pounds. The big fish was a 6-4 Lightning trout caught by Eric Reynolds, Palmdale, on a black and red Jake’s. Limits of five fish only took 20 to 30 minutes for the better anglers. Jake’s Lures with Triple X fish attractant has been the hot lure. Nearly as good were the pink and white Mice Tails and white Power Worms fished drop-shot style. Lots of fish were also caught on a variety of small trout jigs, and rainbow and cheese color PowerBaits were also very good. Winds and cold have continued to be a problem through mid-week. There is also a fair to good bass bite on fish to three pounds on nightcrawlers. 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: Very cold with almost no fishing pressure over the past week, but one persistent angler continues to report a few stripers at the outlet – where water is flowing pretty good right now – while fishing with sardines or anchovies near the parking lot. No catfish, largemouth, or bluegill reports this week. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): The water is still flowing pretty decent, but there has been very light fishing pressure with the cold, windy, and wet weather over the past week. Some stripers in the two-pound class have been reported in the west end of the valley from 110th back to Sierra Highway, mostly on small swimbait (three-inches) or the chicken liver-nightcrawler combo. A few catfish also continue to show on chicken liver or sardines with scent, especially in the Muns Ranch and 110th West spots at the siphons. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): Very little pressure this past week. A few carp had been showing on dough baits, but there have been no reports of carp, bluegill, or catfish in the past week.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: Water level is high. The crappie bite has perked with the rising water level but the fish are small, six to seven-inch fish. Most reported on small jigs. Also a few bass and catfish reported this past week. The lake is open to walk-in fishing. 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: Continued light fishing pressure with the wild weather over the past week. But the striper and trout bites have remained pretty fair. The stripers have been best at the dam, around the marina docks, and the mouth of Miller Canyon near the launch ramp. Most of the stripers are small, under two pounds, and showing on sardines, anchovies, and blood or lug worms. Richard Burke, Rancho Cucamonta, had five stripers to two pounds fishing at the dam with sardines. Trout are best on floating baits with garlic scent, Mice Tails, and small spoons in Cleghorn and Miller canyons, with the most recent plant on Jan. 11. No more plants currently on the DFW schedule. Michael Long, Wrightwood, had a 4-12 trout on green PowerBait doused with garlic dip. Nate Haskell, Ontario, landed a three-pound rainbow, also on PowerBait with a garlic dip. Both big trout were caught in Cleghorn. A few reports of small largemouth, but no bluegill or catfish reported. 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: The lake is still mostly frozen over with no fishing pressure. 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 with snow and cold. 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: Horrible fishing weather over the past week, but the striper bite just won’t slow down. The morning bite for shore anglers has been very good on the right side or mountain side of the main ramp until mid-morning on lug worms, sardines, anchovies, and Fluke-type swimbaits. Bait fish to 13 pounds and swimbait fish to 17 pounds reported in the past week. The best action for boat anglers has been at the buoy line, Kong Island, and Sharon’s Rest, while shore anglers have had their best luck along the west shoreline from the dam to the main launch ramp and the last point adjacent to the west ramp. Ken Wong, Alhambra, had a limits of stripers to five pounds fishing sardines and anchovies. Trout slow with no plant for four weeks. The largemouth and smallmouth bite is slow to fair with a few fish showing on drop-shot or Carolina-rigged plastics, small skirted jigs, or nightcrawlers. The lower lake has been better than the upper lake for bass, with a fair bite. 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: In spite of the rainy, windy, cold weather over 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. 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. The largemouth and smallmouth bass have been slow to fair on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs fished in 20-plus feet of water on the points and steep drop-offs. Some smallmouth on deep-running cranks. The catfish bite has slowed way down, with only a few reported from deeper water. Yellowbar has been the best spot with a nice mixed bag of catfish and stripers. The bluegill and crappie bites are very 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: Continued very light fishing pressure with the cold, rainy weather over the past week. A few largemouth are showing for anglers jigging in deep water on structure for suspended fish. Silver Buddies have been the hot spoon. 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 big chunks of mackerel, clams, shad, and dip baits. There will be a closure to fishing in the area around the auxiliary dam on weekdays for work, but the area is open on weekends and for the whole upcoming 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: Trout were planted in Sections 4, 5, and 6 (upper river) last week and three weeks ago. The trout bite remains pretty fair, but getting light fishing pressure. The best bite has been on crickets, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. Cold weather and water has kept the the fly bite fair at best, but some fish are showing 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 very low and the bite has been slow on bass with a few on nightcrawlers or plastic worms. No DFW plants slated for the lower river this fall-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: Almost no flow this week. Light fishing pressure, but the striper bite has continued pretty fair. The best bite has been on Flukes (pearl with a chartreuse tail) when the water is flowing good and live minnows or blood/lug worms when the flow is low or off. Many of the fish are keeper-sized and up to six to 10 pounds. Catfish are slow with a few on shad, sardines, anchovies, blood worms, chicken liver, and Wussy Bait. There was a 16-pound cat reported by Rodney Bohannon, Bakersfield, fishing an anchovy. 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. Almost no one fishing.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: Very slow with little fishing pressure. No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: Very little fishing pressure and no reports again this past week due to weather and cold. No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season. All the other species are very slow. Water level is very low.

TRUXTUN LAKE: Light fishing pressure, but a few bass anglers have been fishing with plastics and cranks between weather fronts have reported some largemouth. Other species slow, but a few crappie on small minnows. No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season.

MING LAKE: Very light fishing pressure. A few bass have been reported over the past week on live minnows and plastics. No crappie reported, and the trout are very slow with the most recent DFW plant six weeks ago. One more 500-pound DFW plant was supposed to go in sometime in January, but it was never on the trout plant schedule and nothing on the docket this week or next. The bluegill, catfish, and carp are all slow.

BRITE LAKE: Very cold and wet weather over the past week. A few trout continue to show at the launch ramp, especially on rainbow PowerBait. The crappie bite is slow to fair on fish up to three-quarter pound on small jigs or small minnows fishing in deeper water, mostly from float tubes. The bite on small bass has slowed.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: Trout plant two weeks, and a few trout continue to be caught. Another plant is supposed to go in this week. The best bite has been on lemon twist PowerBait with garlic oil or nightcrawlers in garlic. Most have been one to two pounds. Very few crappie reports, and the bluegill, carp, and bass bites are very 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 be very slow. A few bass continue to show on smaller plastics fished drop-shot and split-shot style in deeper water, also some suspended fish on jigging spoons or ice jigs. 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 action remains slow with little fishing pressure. A few bass reported in the past week. This is mostly a deeper-water bite. 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/. No local plants 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.

END