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. Pyramid Lake moves to the top spot with a good striper bite and black bass (both largemouths and smallmouths) action that is improving with each sunny day. The stripers are best on lug worms, chicken liver, sardines, and nightcrawlers, and the top areas are the rip rap in front of the boat shop, the shoreline and points past the swim beach, and the canal by the entrance booth. The black bass are moving shallow for the spawn and best on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs fished in six to 20 feet of water just about all around the lake on structure. For an update on this bite, call the landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155 or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.
2. After big trout plants – including trophy fish – for a derby last weekend, Mojave Narrows Regional Park moves into the top picks with good trout action which has continued all this week. Many nice fish over three pounds still showing. Best action has been on garlic-flavored nightcrawlers, PowerBait, small trout jigs, or Mice Tails. Top spots have been the north and south shores of Pelican Lake and the back side of Horseshoe Lake near the spillway. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For an update on the action, call the lake at 760-245-2226.
3. Apollo Park stays in the top picks yet another week with continued fair to good trout action with regular plants on pan-sized trout and a few fish over three pounds in each stock. Limits of rainbows averaging around 1-8 have not been uncommon, and fish to five pounds have been reported this past week. For an update on this bite, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: The trout action has been good with weekly plants from Jess Ranch. The best bite has been on inflated nightcrawlers with garlic scent or salmon peach or rainbow garlic PowerBait. Most of the fish are in the two-pound class with some bigger. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: The trout bite has been steady on both lakes. The bite continues to be best on a variety of PowerBait with spring green, garlic, and salmon peach the top colors over the past week. Fish are also showing on nightcrawlers, small trout jigs, and MiceTails. Most are two-pound class fish, but a 10.34-pounder was caught by Malcolm Harris, Barstow, fishing PowerBait off the eashore shore of Lake 2. Overall, the best areas to fish 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 is starting to perk a little, but the bluegill and catfish bites are still slow. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: A total of 167 anglers participated in Saturday’s trout derby, and a total of 85 trout were registered. It took a rainbow weighing 3-4 or better to get into the top 24 places and win a prize. Top fish was a 9-3 rainbow caught by Glenn Lott, Oak Hills on a gold Power Worm. Second place went to Lloyd Furness, Apple Valley, with an 8-6 caught on a white and gold shad-like lure. Buntary Huour, San Bernardino, landed an 8-2 for third place. The trout action has continued to be fair to good, and a decent number of bigger fish are still showing thanks to the trophy fish planted for the weekend derby. The best bite has been on garlic-flavored nightcrawlers, PowerBait, small trout jigs, or Mice Tails. Top spots have been the north and south shores of Pelican Lake and the back side of Horseshoe Lake near the spillway. The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Information, call 760-245-2226.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

ANTELOPE VALLEY REGION

APOLLO PARK LAKE: The trout bite continues fair to good here with the fish showing all around the complex. There continues to be a number of quality trout left-over from the derby three weeks ago, with fish to five pounds reported this week. The best action has been on Mice Tails (in pink and white), small jigs in dark colors (blue, black, dark red), PowerBait, and a new Mice Tail-like bait called the Drew’s Custom Bait Rat Tail worm. The best colors have been all white or the green and orange. 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): Still very cold at night and little activity yet. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

LAKE PALMDALE: The trout action has been wide open after a double plant last week and still a lot of holdover fish. The best action has been on Power Worms, Drew’s Custom Bait worms (both in white), small Rapalas, and Jakes lures in white with red dots. There is also a pretty fair largemouth bass bite on plastics, Senko, or fly-lined nightcrawlers near structure and weeds. Lots of two-pound class bass. Most trout are one to 1-8, with some in the three to five pound range. 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: Still light fishing pressures, but there continue to be some smaller stripers and increasing numbers of largemouth bass showing. Both species are running up to three pounds with an occasional bigger striper. The best bite has been on Senkos fished around tules and brush, with a few stripers reported on umbrella rigs fished at the outlet. Very few catfish reports this week, and no panfish. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): The warm days and the massive flights of butterflies this past week really kicked the catfish into gear. Anglers are reported the cats are stuffed full of butterflies that get blown into the water. Chicken liver, nightcrawlers, and sardines have all been good, especially when scent is added. The best action has been in the Mun’s Ranch and 110th Avenue stretches, but fish are showing throughout the Antelope Valley at all road crossings and where the current is broken or bent. Stripers also continue to show on small swimbaits or cut baits. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The catfish bite has started to turn on with most of the fish in the one to two –pound range. Also some bluegill starting to bite. The best action has been on nightcrawlers.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: Water level is high and spilling at spillway, but no reports from walk-in anglers 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 trout bite has continued fair with some good catches and good quality fish running from one to three pounds or better. PowerBait, Power Worms, Mice Tails, or small jigs are all getting the trout, especially when used with Bait Pro scent spray or dips. Carlos Avila, San Bernardino, had a four-pound rainbow from Miller Canyon, while Carlos Avila, also San Bernardino, had two rainbows to three pounds. The striper bite has also been pretty good with some decent stringers reported over the past week. Most are showing at the dam and in Miller Canyon, but also some off the dock and in the coves off the main channel. They are still best on anchovies, sardines, or lug worms, but also some showing on swimbaits. Rich Mooney, Adelanto, and Chris Garvin, Apple Valley, had nine stripers on Rat-L-Traps at the dam. Their top striper was four pounds. A few more largemouth bass are stirring on swimbaits and plastics, but this bite is just starting. No panfish reports, yet. 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 seeing light fishing activity, but some trout are starting to show 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 recent trout plants and very little fishing pressure. A few holdover rainbows are showing for die-hard trout anglers. 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 are closed and won’t open until late April or early May. The website is www.gvlfishing.com and the Facebook page is Green Valley Lake Fishing.

INTERSTATE 5 LAKES

CASTAIC: The bites for stripers and the largemouth and smallmouth bass continue to be fair to good, and the warm weather this past week has really started to push the black bass into the spawn and they are moving up into shallower water. The black bass are best on plastics worms and Senko-like baits is eight to 20 feet of water. The stripers are best on lug worms or frozen sardines or anchovies in deep water off the main lake points and at the dam. Fish to five pounds reported again this past week, including some nice stringers of fish. For boat anglers, trolling cranks or vertical jigging has produced fish at Necktie Canyon, the buoy line, Kong Island, and Sharon’s Rest. Trout were planted four weeks ago, and a few are still showing. The crappie, bluegill, and catfish bites are all very slow in both the upper lake, but some bluegill are starting to be caught in the lower lake. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: The largemouth and smallmouth bass bites are really starting to turn on with the fish thinking about the coming spawn and moving up out of deep water. The best bite has been on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs fished in six to 20 feet of water on the points and steep drop-offs, but some fish are moving up into shallower water and starting to nose around. Some fish have even been landed on jerk baits in 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 and some bigger. Lug worms, chicken liver, sardines, and nightcrawlers have been the best baits for both boat and shore anglers. Top spots have been the rip rap in front of the boat shop, the shoreline and points past the swim beach, and the canal by the entrance booth. No catfish, bluegill, or crappie reports this 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: Very light fishing pressure but better weather this past weekend. The lake level continues to come up. A fair number of bass are showing on plastics or jigs, mostly in deeper water but some fish are starting to nose up shallower. Some fish are still being caught on jigging spoons. 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 mackerel, clams, shad, and dip baits. There will be a closure to fishing in the area around the auxiliary dam on weekdays for work. 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: DFW trout are slated to be planted in section 4 and 5 this week. They were also planted in Section 5 two weeks ago, and in Sections 4, 5, and 6 (all in the upper river) four weeks ago. The bite has been slow to fair on crickets, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. Fly-fishing for wild fish has also been tough with the best action 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 still low except right after storms. The bite has been very slow on bass with a only a few on nightcrawlers or plastic worms. No DFW plants slated for the lower river this 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: The bite on small stripers remains fair to good and flows remain high. Still overall light fishing pressure. Best bite continues to be on Flukes (pearl with a chartreuse tail), live minnows, or blood/lug worms. 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: Few reports. A few bass, catfish, and carp have been reported.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: The trout bite has slowed way down since the derby two weeks ago. A few fish still showing on PowerBait, Mice Tails, and small trout jigs. Some bass also reported this week. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: No word on the DFW trout plant, but the bass and bluegill bites are starting to pick up. The bass are moving shallow for the spawn and showing on plastics and reaction baits.

TRUXTUN LAKE: Light fishing pressure but warmer weather this week is starting to perk up the bass and carp bites. The bass have been best on plastics, while the carp are starting to show on dough baits. No crappie reports.

MING LAKE: The trout bite has slowed with the last plant two weeks ago. A few fish continue to show on PowerBait with garlic or Mice Tails. A few more bass are being reported on live minnows, reaction baits, and plastics, with a major movement of fish into the shallows along the shorelines. No crappie reported. The bluegill, catfish, and carp are all slow, but some bluegill are starting to be caught.

BRITE LAKE: The few anglers fishing are still seeing a few crappie and small bass. No other reports. There will be a big trout derby April 19 with a big plant of private trout prior to that event.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: Trout plants two and four weeks ago. The action has slowed, but still some fish showing on chartreuse PowerBait, Mice Tails, or small trout jigs, and adding garlic scent is a good idea for any bait or lure. Most trout have been one to two pounds, but some to four pounds reported. Very few crappie reports, but the bass bite is starting to perk with the fish starting to poke around in the shallows for the spawn. The bluegill and carp 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 largemouth bass bite has really started to take off this past week with a lot of fish showing in water less than 15 feet deep on plastics as the fish move into the spawn. 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 action has started to take off with more and more fish flooding into the shallows for the spawn. Best action on small jigs and plastics. 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/.  In Inyo County, Cottonwood Creek, Georges Creek, section 2 of the lower Owens River, and Pleasant Valley Reservoir were scheduled to get trout 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]