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. Posting of links to the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

JIM MATTHEWS’S PICKS OF THE WEEK

• The Big Bear Lake trout bite moves into the top spot this week for its good action on holdover trout from plants earlier this season and last year. These fish are running from 1 1/2 to four pounds. The action has been good for both trollers and shore anglers, with the shore anglers fishing inflated nightcrawlers drop-shot style at the dam early in the morning getting the best fish. For an update on this action, check with Big Bear Sporting Goods at 909-866-3222 or visit the store’s Facebook page for photos of some of the latest catches.
• Trout season is moving to full swing, and Silverwood Lake has been planted the last two weeks in a row. The action is starting to take off with the best bite around the marina launch ramp and up into Cleghorn and Miller canyons on Kastmasters, PowerBait, and small trout jigs and plastics. Most of the fish are around a pound. For and update on this bite, check with the marina 760-389-2299 or the Silverwood Country store at 760-389-2423.
• The California Aqueduct throughout the Antelope Valley has received far less fishing pressure this week, but the bite remains pretty darn good for catfish from five to eight pounds throughout the Antelope Valley. The best action has been on cut baits at all the gates, road crossings, and sand traps. For an update on this fishing, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: Trout season kicks off next Monday (Nov. 19) with a 1,000-pound plant of rainbows from Jess Ranch. Most will be 1-8 to two pounds. The catfish plant last week, the final one of the season, had a bunch of trophy fish and the action was very good on big catfish since the plant last Thursday. The best bite has been on shrimp, mackerel, or nightcrawlers and adding scent improves their effectiveness. The north shore, Sandy Point, and the finger have been the best spots this week. While most of the cats have been around two pounds, there were a number of bigger fish this week. Kody and Nathan Berry, brothers from Hesperia, each had five fish limits of cats. Kody’s weighed 46 pounds total and included fish at 15 and 12 pounds, while Nathan’s five weighed in at 35 pounds, and his biggest pair were nine and eight pounds. All were caught on shrimp off Sandy Point. Terry Scott, Victorville, had a 10-9 catfish on nightcrawlers off Catfish Point, while Truc Nguyen, San Bernardino, landed a 10-pounder on mackerel off the finger. Jimi and Crystal Baladez, Rancho Cucamonga, had cats at 10 and seven pounds on the shrimp-meal worm combo. Lake information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

JESS RANCH LAKES: The trout bite has been very good in both lakes on PowerBait (especially rainbow/garlic, salmon egg, and salmon peach), nightcrawlers, and a variety of small trout lures, especially small jigs and scented plastics. Most of the fish are at two pounds, and the best spots this week have been the northern and western shores of lake 2 and the eastern logged shore and western shore near the drain of lake 3. Fair bass action on the northern and southern shores of lake 2 near the inlets and on lake 3 near pump house. Senkos, spinnerbaits, and drop-shotted nightcrawlers have been the best baits, with fish up to two pounds reported. A few catfish and bluegill are also still showing. For more information call (760)240-1107 or go to www.jessranchlakesnews.com.

MOJAVE NARROWS: The first DFW trout plant of the season went in two weeks ago. County plants are set to kick off Thanksgiving week, with the first plant of the season set for next Wednesday. No trout reports. Catfish plants are over for the season. The catfish bite is slow with only a few cats showing early or late in the day on the shrimp and marshmallow combo. There is still a fair bluegill bite on fish up to hand-sized on small baits fished beneath bobbers around the tules. 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 been fair to good with the best bite at fish and last light on Mice Tails fished close to shore. Some anglers reported five-fish limits of rainbows to two pounds, mostly from the front lake. Other baits working include PowerBait in garlic and nymph flavors, small trout jigs, Kastmasters, and Amazying Cheese Balls. Stocks will be twice a month this season with about 900 pounds per stock. Next plant should be Thanksgiving week. The panfish and catfish bites have finally slowed down, but a fair bite for those targeted these species. 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 has slowed with just a few small bluegill (under four inches), but a few hand-sized ‘gills are showing on small jigs tipped with meal worms. 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: Much lighter fishing pressure with the cooler weather, especially at first and last light when the bite has been best. The catfish bite has continued pretty fair with fish to eight pounds. The catfish have been best at the outlet but some fish off the north shoreline. Cut baits are still the best baits and adding scent (or pre-scented baits) has been the hot ticket. Few striper reports this week, but fish have been showing on the far northeast end of the lake on white swimbaits. Most of two to four pounds, but some bigger. Few bluegill or largemouth reported over the past week. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT (Little Rock to Quail Lake stretch): Still fair to good catfish action throughout the aqueduct, east to west, but much lighter fishing pressure this week with the cooler morning and evening temperatures. The catfish have been best on cutbaits with a lot of fish up into the 10-pound class. There are still scattered reports of stripers. There were a couple of good catches reported a 235th East in the whitewater below the gates on swimbaits with fish to three pounds reported. There are also still big schools of small largemouth bass eight to 14 inches long that have been providing fun action on Road Runner-type bladed jigs ripped near the surface. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The carp action has been good on dough baits, with a lot of smaller fish reported, but some to 15 pounds landed. Also still a fair bite on small bluegill on meal worms and wax worms. Still some catfish showing around the reeds in the main lake on chicken liver, nightcrawlers, and mackerel.

LITTLE ROCK RESERVOIR: Light fishing pressure, and access remains restricted some days because of heavy equipment use, but walk-in anglers fishing on days when the lake is open have been finding pretty fair crappie action again, with some fish topping 3/4-pound. Also decent bass on jigs and small swimbaits, and the bluegill are still being caught in good numbers and there have been a few catfish. 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: Trout plant last Friday by the DFW (just 400 pounds), but another has been slated for this week. There was also a plant three weeks ago. The trout action is starting to take off a little with fair action on Kastmasters and PowerBait jigs. Most of the fish are around a pound and showing around the marina and into Cleghorn and Miller canyons. There continues to be a fair to good bite on small stripers (most under two pounds) with a few five-pound class fish in the action. Mike Thompson, Phelan, had 10 stripers in Cleghorn fishing small swimbaits and sardines. The best striper action is at the inlet, the dam area, and around the marina and up into both Cleghorn and Miller canyons. Most of the fish are showing on anchovies, blood, worms, and lug worms. The bluegill and crappie are still fair off the dock on small jigs or jigs tipped with wax worms or meal worms. The largemouth have been fair off the dock and in most coves on cranks and swimbaits. Some catfish showing on cutbaits. 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 good autumn trout bite for both shoreline and trolling anglers continues this week. Lots of the rainbows are from 1-8 to three pounds with some to five pounds. Bank anglers are using PowerBait or inflated nightcrawlers on slip bobber rigs from the dam Red House east to Gray’s Landing. There is also a good bite early in the morning from the old dam to the buoy line with a lot of nice holdover rainbows showing in this area on small jigs or drop-shot nightcrawlers and trout plastics. Trolling and drifting from boats has been best from the observatory to Windy Point or in the Trout Alley area (SS Relief to the west public ramp and off the south shoreline. The fish are mostly in six to 14 feet of water. Rapalas, Needlefish, and nightcrawlers drifted on a wedding ring harness are getting the most fish. Most of the private marinas will shut down by mid-November, but the west public ramp should remain open to Nov. 30. 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 slated for this week. The trout bite has continued fair with diligent anglers getting a few fish on small jigs and trout plastics fished in deep water early and late in the day. Lake and fishing information at 909-338-2233 or on the website at http://lakegregoryrecreation.com/fish. Fishing updates are posted infrequently on the park’s Facebook page or website.

GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Very slow. No plants in over a month. 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 and largemouth bites have been fair. Both bass species have followed the shad down into deeper water as the lake cools. The stripers have been best on cut baits, especially sardines and anchovies, blood or lug worms, and nightcrawlers. Some fish early and late on trout- or shad-like swimbaits and jigs in six to 20 feet of water. Also some stripers showing on trolled umbrella rigs. Ryan Cabrera, Los Angeles, landed a 10-pound striper on a swimbait from shore. John McConico, Santa Clarita, had four stripers to three pounds on sardines and anchovies. The largemouth are still whacking reaction at mid-depths or in deeper water on finesse plastics in a fair bite. Also a pretty consistent bite on crappie and bluegill in the upper lake on wax worms and jigs tipped with wax worms or meal worms. The lower lake is still very good for panfish, both redear and bluegill, but most of the fish are hand-sized now. The best bite has been on wax worms, meal worms, and nightcrawler pieces. The catfish bite has been slow to fair in the evenings on cut baits doused with scent in the upper lake, with a little better action in the lower lake. DFW trout plant went in last week and a few rainbows have been landed on PowerBait and Kastmasters. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: The trout bite improved after a DFW plant last week with some good catches over the weekend on PowerBait, inflated nightcrawlers with scent, and small trout jigs or Kastmasters. Most around a pound. The striper bite also came back on with pretty good action on sardines 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. Mark Perry, Frazier Park, had a four-pound striper while trout fishing with garlic PowerBait. Zac McIntyre, Frazier Park, landed eight stripers on chicken liver with the best at two pounds. The largemouth and smallmouth bass have been fair on nightcrawlers, plastics and reaction baits, especially cranks and jerk baits along most shorelines and along the edges of the vegetation. Lots of fish to three pounds, but the bite is mostly in the morning, with the fish moving deeper. The catfish bite is slowing with just fair action on sardines, chicken liver and nightcrawlers in deeper water in all coves and rip rap areas, with the boat launch area a top spots. Bluegill are fair on meal worms, wax worms, and small jigs. No crappie reports. DFW trout plant slated for this week, the first of the season. 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 water level is very low, but the catfish action remains fair to good with most of the fish from two to four pounds. They are showing on mackerel super meal worms, dip baits, and clams. There also continues to be a fair bite on crappie from three-quarter pound to a little better than a pound for boat and float tube anglers fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water with small jigs and minnows, especially in the French Gulch area. The bass have been pretty fair good with some nice fish to six pounds on plastics and Senkos in 12 to 25 feet of water. Few bluegill reports. 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 slow to fair with the most recent plant three weeks ago in sections 4, 5, and 6. The best bite has been on crickets, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers continue having decent action on wild fish in the low flows, especially in the upper reaches of the roadside water and up into the wild trout water past the Kernville bridge. The lower river flows are very low and the bite has been fair to good on bass with nightcrawlers or plastic worms. The catfish action has also been pretty 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: There has been a very good striper bite on small fish (most undersize) on blood and lug worms, sardines, and Gitzit-type lures. Some anglers have reported 20 to 30 fish days. The largemouth bass bite has also been fair to good on Gitzits and Flukes. The catfish bite is 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: A few catfish showing on cut baits or nightcrawlers, especially morning and evening. A few carp also being caught on dough baits and Powder Bait.

RIVER WALK PARK LAKE: The bluegill and carp action remains pretty fair with the warmer weather keeping the bite perking along. Bluegill are best on wax worms with meal worms the next best. Carp are best on Powder Bait or Wussy Bait and other dough baits. Slow other species with only an occasional bass being caught on plastics and Senkos early morning or late evening. Information Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.

HART PARK LAKE: The bluegill bite remains a fair to good bet with the best bite on wax worms, meal worms, and nightcrawler pieces. A few bass are also showing very early in the morning or at night on reaction baits. The morning, evening, and night bite on catfish has been stayed pretty fair for anglers fly-lining cut baits. The carp bite is fair on Powder Bait, Wussy Bait, or other dough baits.

TRUXTUN LAKE: The bass bite has been pretty good on Brush Hawgs, nightcrawlers, and plastics, and the bluegill and carp bites remain fair to good. Bluegill have been best on wax worms, meal worms, or nightcrawler pieces, while the carp are best on dough baits. Bass are best on reaction bait, plastics, or nightcrawlers.

MING LAKE: The bluegill action continues to hang on with a pretty good bite action on meal worms or wax worms, and the bass action has been fair on plastics, nightcrawlers, and reaction baits morning and late afternoon. The carp are fair on Powder Bait or Wussy Bait. Catfish best on super meal worms, but this action is slow to fair.

BRITE LAKE: There continues to be a good bite on small bass from six to 10 inches on small lures and garlic nightcrawlers with topwater action early and late in the day. There crappie bite remains fair to good for float tubers fishing deeper water off the launch ramp, mostly on small jigs tipped with meals. Also fair to good action on bluegill on small baits like meal worms and jigs, and the odd catfish continues to show. There were also some trout reports, but there hasn’t been a DFW trout plant yet this season.

BUENA VISTA LAKES: The Taft Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby is slated for this Saturday. Entry fee is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 13 and under. Registration forms available at the lake, Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop, and Bob’s Bait Bucket. The lake is expected to be heavily planted just before the derby. There continues to be a fair to good bite on bluegill up to hand-sized with an occasional bigger fish. The best action is on wax worms and meal worms. There is a fair bite on smaller catfish, mostly on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, with a few on shad. The carp are fair to good on Powder Bait and Wussy Bait but getting little pressure. Bass are fair at best, but some are showing along the weed edges on plastics and most are small. 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 crappe bite has continued to be fair to good, while the largemouth bite has finally started to slow down a little. The bass are best on smaller plastics fished drop-shot and split-shot style. Most of the bass are in the two-pound range. The crappie are decent fish around three-quarter pound to a pound and the action is mostly on small minnows with some on jigs. Bluegill are fair on red worms, wax worms, and meal worms, mostly fished under a bobber. Also a few catfish showing on cut baits and dip baits. The water level has dropped enough that the main ramp is not being used, and anglers are launched at Lure Point. 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 water level continues to drop, but there continues to be a fair bass bite on plastics and small swimbaits, but the fish are mostly in deeper water except early and late in the day. The bluegill bite remains good, and the catfish bite has been pretty fair. 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 will go into Diaz Lake, the Owens River below Tinnemaha and near Bishop, and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.

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.