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

1. A trout plant this week at Apollo Park Lake has made this the top spot in the region. These fish – including a number of trophy fish topping five pounds – join those planted for the big derby that kicked off trout season. But the fish are cruising tight to the shoreline and spook easily. The best action is just four to six feet off shore on the usual array of trout bait fished on light tackle. For an update on this action, contact Apollo Park at 661-940-7701 or Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.
2. The California Aqueduct throughout the Antelope Valley and the southern Joaquin Valley has been very good over the past week for stripers. Stripers to 25 pounds have been reports, but most are two to three pounds and showing on shad-like artificiasl and cut baits. For an update on this fishing, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824 in the Antelope Valley or Bob’s Bait Bucket at 661-833-8657 for an update on the Taft Region.
3. The Big Bear Lake’s trout action stays in the top picks 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 shore anglers fishing inflated nightcrawlers drop-shot style at the dam early in the morning. This tactic is 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.

HIGH DESERT WATERS

VICTORVILLE REGION

HESPERIA LAKE: Trout plant this week for the holiday weekend. This first plant of the season by the city went in Monday and was 1,000 pounds of fish from Jess Ranch. Final catfish plant of the season was two weeks ago, but the bite has continued to be pretty good for the die-hard catfish anglers even though it has been cold in the mornings and evenings when the bite is best. 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 up to 10 pounds again this week. 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, spring green and chartreuse), 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 county trout plants of the season went in this week, and DFW fish were planted three weeks ago. No reports on trout yet, but the catfish bite has improved with a fair to good bite this past week for the catfish anglers still hitting this lake. The best action has been on the shrimp and marshmallow combo, or other combinations fished with the marshmallow. 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 excellent this week after another plant of rainbows, including some big fish to six or seven pounds, for the holiday weekend. Also still lots of holdover fish from the derby. The best bite has been very close to shore, no more than six feet from out, and the fish have been spooky. The besat action has been on Amazying Cheese Balls, PowerBait in garlic and nymph flavors, small trout jigs, and MiceTails. 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: The catfish bite has been good after dark in the evenings or before sunrise in the mornings this past week, but the cold weather those times of day have keep fishing pressure light. Fish to eight pounds again this week. 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. Very 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): The night bite has been very good this past week for catfish, and there has been a surge in the striper action. Stripers have been best in the west end of the valley and a 30-pounder was reported at 25th Avenue East and Palmdale Avenue on a swimbait. Also a 14-pounder reported. Most of the fish are four to seven pounds. The 130th and 180th west areas have been good, and anglers are reporting a lot of largemouths in these areas. The best catfish action had been in the 121st East region, and stripers are also showing there and at 72nd and 116th. The catfish have been best on cutbaits with a lot of fish up into the 10-pound class. For updated information, call Amaysing Fishing Bait & Tackle at 661-429-5824.

CENTRAL PARK LAKE (CALIFORNIA CITY): The carp action has been fair to good on dough baits with cooler weather slowing this bite. 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: The striped bass bite has been good this past week, especially for anglers trolling umbrella rigs and throwing swim baits or jerkbaits early and late in the day with some bigger fish finally in this bite. The marina area, the dam, and main channel points have been the best spots. The bait bite is also pretty good with a lot of small fish to two pounds showing on sardines. Top striper reported was an 18-pounder caught by Joel Ruiz, Desert Hot Springs, to top off a 10-fish catch (the other fish were mostly under two pounds). All were caught on topwater lures and swimbaits at the gazebo near the marina. Chris Herrera, Lake Elsinore, had eight stripers to 2-8 on jerkbaits, also at the gazebo. The crappie bite is still fair off the dock on small jigs tipped with bait or Crappie Nibbles. Trout plants last week and two weeks ago haven’t improved the trout bite much, but some fish are starting to show on PowerBait and small jigs or MiceTails. A few largemouth and bluegill, but over slow. 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: Continued good autumn trout action for shore anglers. Lots of the rainbows are from 1-8 to three pounds with some to five The best bite is on 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. Most of the private marinas have shut down, 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 last week. Overall, slow to fair trout action will a few rainbows showing 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 with some flurries of good action on the stripers. Overall, all the bites have been slowing as nights get cooler and the water temperature drops. 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, jigs, or umbrella riges in six to 20 feet of water. Bob Sulliven, Glendale, had 13 stripers to five pounds on nightcrawlers and anchovies. Smallmouth have been fair bouncing swimbaits on the bottom off the points, and some largemouth are also being caught on small swimbaits and finesse plastics. The crappie and bluegill bite have tanked in the upper lake, but some of the panfish are still being caught in the lower lake, but this bite has also slowed way down. The best bite has been on wax worms, meal worms, and nightcrawler pieces. The catfish bite has been slow 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, but the plant was small and the bite is slow. 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 to good 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. The trout bite has been fair after a DFW plant last week with some good catches over the weekend on PowerBait, inflated nightcrawlers with scent in the first few coves out of the marina. The largemouth and smallmouth bass have been fair on nightcrawlers, plastics and reaction baits fished in 20-plus feet of water on the points. 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 slow to fair on meal worms, wax worms, and small jigs. No crappie 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: The catfish action remains fair to good with most of the fish from two to four pounds and an occasional fish bitter. They are showing on shad clams, and dip baits early and late and at night. There also continues to be a few crappie continuing to be caught in 20 to 30 feet of water on small jigs or live minnows. Most of these fish are three-quarter pound or a little better. The bass have been fair but some nice fish to six pounds continue to be caught 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 but DFW plants this week and next week in the upper river (section 4, 5, and 6) should kick this action back into gear. Until this week, the most recent plant was four weeks ago, and the action was best 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 Johnsondale 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: Very good striper bite with some bigger fish starting to show. Fish at 25 and 16 pounds reported this week, and the best action has been on Gitzits, Flukes, Whopper Ploppers, and similar lures. The bait fish have mostly been on sardines, blood worms, and lug worms. Light pressure on cats, but some fish continue to show 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: No trout plants yet. The bluegill and carp action remains pretty fair. 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: Still no DFW trout plants. 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: No trout plants yet or even scheduled. 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 trout derby this past weekend was just fair with big crowds and spotty fishing. The lake was planted heavily and the bite has been a little better since, mostly on Mice Tails and nightcrawlers, but also some on PowerBait. There continues to be a fair to good bite on bluegill up to hand-sized with an occasional bigger fish, but the cold weather moving in could shut this bite down. There is a fair bite on smaller catfish, mostly on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, with a few on shad. The carp are fair on Powder Bait and Wussy Bait but getting little pressure. No bass reports. 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 while the largemouth bite has finally started to slow down a little but still fair to good. 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.