FISH REPORT - ONS - Matthews - Jan 09

FISH REPORT – ONS – Matthews – Jan 09

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 California Aqueduct, both in the Taft Region and throughout the west end of the Antelope Valley, has been fair to good for striped bass. The fish are showing on shad-like Gitzit and Fluke-type baits fished near the bottom. Most of the fish are in the three-pound class in both areas, but a 33-pounder was caught near Palmdale this week. For an update on this bite, call Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield at 661-833-8657 for Taft information on Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824 for the Antelope Valley.
The striped bass bite at Castaci Lake has remained pretty darn good with quite a few five-fish limits reported. Most of the fish are two to three pounds, but fish to five pounds each week. Sardines and lug worms have been the best baits while ice jigs have been the best artificials. For an update on this action, call the marina at 661-775-6232 or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
Apollo Park Lake trout plants went in two and three weeks ago, and the bite has remained surprisingly good, especially in the back two lakes. The front lake has been slow. Mice Tails, PowerBait and nightcrawlers, all with garlic scent, have been the hot ticket. 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: Continued good trout action with weekly plants of rainbows to three pounds from Jess Ranch. The best action has been on PowerBait in garlic chartreuse, salmon peach, and garlic rainbow. The best action has been in Finger Cove, along the grassy bank, and at The Finger. Victor Soto, Victorville, had four rainbows to two pounds. No catfish reports this past week. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: The trout bite has been fair to good on both lakes over the past week. Top action has been on salmon peach and garlic rainbow PowerBaits, inflated nightcrawlers (and adding garlic oil helps), and Mice Tails. Most of the rainbows are in the two-pound class, and the top spots have been 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: County trout plants are weekly. No report. 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: Trout were planted last week and two weeks ago, and the bite has been fair to good this week, with the fish spreading out since the last plant. The best bite has been in the second or third lakes, while the front lake (with most of the fishing pressure) has been the slowest in recent day. The PowerBait, the marshmallow-meal worm combo, Mice Tails, and green trout jigs have all been getting fish up to 3-8. Stocks will be twice a month this season with about 900 pounds per stock, and the next plant could be next week. 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): While it has been cold, the sunny days have perked a little bite of a bite on small bluegill (four-inch class fish) in the afternoons. Very cold at night with sheet ice on the lake most mornings. 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 2, when trout season will kick off with heavy stocks of fish. A total of 88,000 pounds are scheduled to be planted for the upcoming season, and fish will be going in all month in preparation for the opener. 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 few reports this week with extremely cold nights (below freezing). But for the few braving the cold, there continues to be a decent winter catfish bite for anglers fishing right at the outlet and using big wads of chicken liver or mackerel heads fly-lined out. Most of the fish are around three pounds, but it seems like a fish or two over 10 pounds is caught each week. The late afternoon/evening bite has been best. No striper, 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): There continues to be a pretty fair bite on three-pound class stripers along most of the western end of the aqueduct from Pearblossom to Quail Lake, but the best action has been at 25th and Palmdale where there is a dike making a big eddy. One angler reported getting 10 fish here in the past few days, including a whopper 33-pounder. Most of the curves and road crossings, where the current flow is changed, have been pretty good. Most of the fish are showing on shad-like jigs bounced across the current along the bottom. A few catfish also continue to show on chicken liver or sardines with scent, especially in the Muns Ranch and 130th West spots. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): Very little pressure this past week. 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 slowed down.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: No reports. Access remains restricted some days because of heavy equipment use. Few walk-in angler reports this week. 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: The striper bite has continued fair to good off the pay dock, the Gazebo area in Cleghorn, and up into Miller Canyons. The bite is best on anchovies and sardines. Most of the fish are from 1-8 to three pounds, and an occasional fish bigger has been caught on a big, trout-like swimbait. A few largemouth bass have been caught on nightcrawlers or plastic worms fished slow and deep, and a few crappie are being caught off the dock on small jigs tipped with meal worms or Crappie Nibbles. 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: Very light fishing pressure with very cold mornings and evenings. Increasing shoreline ice and sheet-ice in the bays. Few reports, but some trout from 1-8 to three pounds are showing 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 deeply-fished 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: No recent trout plants and light fishing pressure. Only an occasional trout reported. 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 striper bite has been good this past week with some anglers reporting five-fish limits. The best bite has been at the buoy line, Kong Island, and Sharon’s Rest for boat anglers, while shore anglers have had their best luck along the dam next to the main launch ramp and the last point adjacent to the west ramp. The best bite for both shore and boat anglers has been on sardines, lug worms, and nightcrawlers. Also some on swimbaits. Boat anglers are getting some fish on trolled umbrella rigs on the points or on ice jigs on suspended fish. While most of the fish are under three pounds, some seven to five pounds reported this week. Seng Chin, Lakewood, had a limit of stripers to five pounds on sardines and nightcrawlers. Francisco Ortiz, Simi Valley, also have five stripers to three pounds on sardines and nightcrawlers. The largemouth and smallmouth bite is slow to fair with only a few fish showing on drop-shot plastics, swimbaits, or small jigs. The lower lake has been better than the upper lake. The crappie, bluegill, and catfish bites are all very slow in both the upper and lower lakes. There is a DFW trout plant two weeks ago. 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. A few catfish are showing for shore anglers on the same baits in the same areas. 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. The bluegill and crappie bites are very slow. DFW trout plant went in two weeks ago. No 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: Cold weather and light fishing pressure. 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. The catfish bite has been fair to good in the French Gulch area with some quality fish to 15 pounds or more on big chunks of mackerel. Clams, shad, and dip baits have also been good bets. Also a few crappie showing, but just for boat anglers on structure in deeper water on small minnows 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: Trout were planted in Sections 4, 5, and 6 last week in the upper river, and those areas are slated to get planted again next week. The trout bite remains pretty fair, but getting light fishing pressure. The best bite has been on crickets, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers are seeing fair fishing on small nymphs 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 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: The best bite in the region remains the fair to good striper action here. There are a lot of legal, fat stripers showing, primarily on Flukes or Gitzit-like baits in pearl with chartreuse dip or tails. Live minnows are also a very good bet. No huge fish reported, but a lot of stripers up to six or eight pounds. Catfish are slow with a few 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: Water level is way down, and there has been little fishing pressure. Slow overall, but one angler reported landing a pair of four-pound class bass. No trout are slated to be planted by the DFW this fall/winter season. 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. Water very low.

TRUXTUN LAKE: Water is level very low, and the bite has slowed down. Still an occasional crappie on small minnows. Also a few bass 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 very slow.

MING LAKE: Very light fishing pressure. There was a DFW trout plant three weeks ago and one more 500-pound DFW plant is supposed to go in sometime this month. The crappie bite has remained pretty fair on small, live minnows. Most of these fish are eight to 10-inch fish reported. The largemouth bite is also pretty fair on plastics and nightcrawlers. Bluegill, catfish, and carp are all slow.

BRITE LAKE: While no DFW trout plants have gone in, there has been a fair trout bite from a park plant. The best bite is at the launch ramp, especially on rainbow PowerBait. The crappie bite is picking up again with a pretty good bite 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: The trout bite has taken off again this week after a county trout plant Wednesday this week. The last plant was three weeks ago, and the bite had been slowing down. Garlic Mice Tails, garlic nightcrawlers, or small trout jigs are all getting fish. 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 be 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: As the water level drops, there has been a pretty decent bass bite with almost no pressure on the fish. 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 PLANTSFor trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFW’s stocking page at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/. Of note this week: In Inyo County, Diaz Lake is slated to get rainbows. In San Bernardino County, Glen Helen and Prado Park lakes were on the list (and these lakes are planted weekly by the county).

OCEAN FISHING REPORTFor the most comprehensive and up-to-date ocean fishing available, go to www.976-TUNA.com.

YOUR FISHING REPORTSPlease 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.