spectr17
05-24-2006, 07:07 PM
FISHING REPORTS -- Matthews-ONS -- 24may06
Compiled by Cyndi Gurrola and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service
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 n this report. Faxes can be sent to (909) 887-8180.
E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@earthlink.net and/or Cyndi Gurrola at cagurrola@charter.net. Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com (http://www.turners.com/)) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (a href="."/" eudora="AUTOURL">www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com (http://www.outdoornewsservice.com/). The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet Web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/).
PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. How good is the tilapia bite at the Salton Sea? It took one family of skilled fish cleaners over 1 1/2 hours to dress all of the tilapia filling their two ice chests. Most anglers are using nightcrawler pieces on two-hook rigs, and catching two fish at a time is pretty easy. Most are eight to 10 inches long, but some to 1-8 have been reported and there are more and more 1-0 class fish each week. For more information, contact the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. 2. The catfish bite exploded at Hesperia Lake this week with over 100 catfish topped the 10-pound mark landed. The lake is being planted with 6,000 pounds of trout a week, including 3,000 pounds of trophy fish. Plants are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and one of the cats planted this week weighed 58 pounds. Best catfish this past week was a 38-pounder and there were two 35-pound class fish. To illustrate how good the action on big fish has been, the office staff has been keeping an unusual statistic: This past week there were 22 rods and four lawn chairs (with rod holders) jerked into the lake and lost by anglers. The hot baits have been the marshmallow-shrimp combo, fondly called the shrimp cocktail, and the marshmallow-meal worm (or M&M) combo. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. 3. Diamond Valley Lake has been cranking out so many quality bass that regulars here expect to catch at least a couple of honest 4-0 to 5-0 class bass each time they fish this lake. The fish are mostly in water less than 15 feet deep and plastic baits have been as effective as anything else. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com (http://www.dvmarina.com/). For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410 if you want to local a guide.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Sierra Nevada waters, both east and west slopes, are the best bet for anglers wanting trout right now. In the Eastern Sierra, Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir are the top two picks, with most of the region's streams and rivers blown out by runoff. In the Western Sierra, Isabella remains good, while the Kern River is also very high with runoff. Trout season in Southern California's low elevation lakes is winding down, and the best fishing is shifting from the likes of Santa Ana River Lakes and Irvine Lake to deep-water lakes that can holdover trout all summer, like Casitas and Silverwood, and higher elevation waters like Big Bear Lake. Casitas has been dismal for trout all winter, but the trolling bite is finally starting to take off. Silverwood continues to be pretty good for trout and Piru and Pyramid are also decent bets. Big Bear Lake, Gregory Lake, and Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains are both good, too. Of the lowland, planted waters Corona Lake might have the best fishing right now, but Santa Ana River Lakes, Irvine Lake, and most of the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino county park waters are slowing down as plants diminish or cease and water temperatures warm up. LARGEMOUTH BASS: Top pick is still Diamond Valley Lake, but Casitas, El Capitan, Lower Otay, and Barrett are pretty good, too. Bass at all these waters are pretty much done with the spawn and have moved to deeper water during the bulk of the day with the best action in 20 to 40 feet of water on plastics, live baits, and jigs. Other spots that rank almost as good include Perris, Piru, Cachuma, Lopez, Santa Margarita, Nacimiento, San Antonio, Isabella, and the whole lower Colorado River. There is also some topwater action early and late in the day starting already. STRIPED BASS: The striped bass bite is very good in the California Aqueduct near Taft and where the Kern River dumps into the aqueduct. Lots of sub-legal fish under the 18-inch minimum size, but a lot of 3-0 to 5-0 bass are showing on lug worms. For Southern California waters, Silverwood and Skinner have consistent bites on small fish, and Castaic and Pyramid are also starting to come out of a long funk. The best bets are still on the Colorado River. Lake Mead has an excellent morning surface bite as fish bust shad on the surface in Vegas Wash, Willow Beach cranked out a 37-pounder this week, and Havasu fish are improving with each warm day. Another sleeper spot is San Antonio on the Central Coast which produced a fish over 60 pounds recently. PANFISH: Lower Otay's bluegill bite is wide open right now with stringers of 20 to 100 fish up to a pound pretty common. Other good bluegill bites are happening at Barrett, El Capitan, Hodges, San Vicente, Sutherland, Perris, Piru, Lopez, and San Antonio. There is also a very good Sacramento perch bite on Lake Crowley in the Sierra, and the tilapia action in the Salton Sea is awesome. CATFISH: On the Colorado River, the flathead bite is breaking wide open in the lower river with a number of flatheads to 40-0 reported the past couple of weeks, mostly on live bluegill, goldfish or tilapia. Lake Isabella has a good bite on channel cats to 4-0 near the dam on frozen anchovies or shad. Best bet closer to SoCal would be Hesperia Lake on planted fish. There were over 100 cats topped 10 pounds landed this week at this lake, which is getting 3,000 pounds of trophy fish each week as part of its 6,000-pound planting allotment each week. There's also a lake record-sized cat at 58 pounds in the lake.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Trout action has remained good around the marina docks; Cleghorn Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Quiet Cove. DFG trout plants this week in the lake and Miller Canyon Creek should keep this bite perking along. Stripers and largemouth are good near shore in Miller and Cleghorn. Catfish are headed deep near the dam. Karen Quinn, Chino, landed three trout on anchovies in 15 feet at Cleghorn. Jason Storm, Apple Valley, landed two stripers at 4-0 and 8-0 in Outhouse Cove. Bluegill and crappie are still spotty. For more information, contact the marina at (760) 389-2299, the state park at (760) 389-2281, or the Silverwood Country store at (760) 389-2423. BIG BEAR LAKE: After the May Trout Classic this past weekend, there are still a lot of 5-0 to 6-0 trout showing throughout the lake in a very good bite. A lot of limits posted by anglers trolling two to four colors with Needlefish or Thomas Buoyants. Flat-lining Rapalas is also a good bet. Nitro and Power Bait have led to easy limits for bait anglers, but it's also time to change rigs from sliding egg off the bottom to slip bobbers suspended from the surface. Water temps have also risen about five to seven degrees in the past week. Upcoming events: Third Annual Carp Round-Up will be June 10-11. Contact Mike Stephenson at (909) 866-5796. For fishing information, call Big Bear Marina at (909) 866-3218 or Big Bear Sporting Goods at (909) 866-3222. GREGORY LAKE: Fair to good action after a DFG plant last week. Some limits with trout to 1-8 and a few bigger. The best action has been on Power Worms, trolled Needlefish, and Power Bait. Upcoming events: 20th Annual Free Youth Fishing Derby will be June 10. For derby info call (909) 338-2233. For fishing information, call the boat dock at (909) 338-2233. GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Great week for anglers with hot spots on the south shore and close to any aerators. Kastmasters, small trout jigs, Thomas Buoyants, and Power Bait are all working. Top fish was a 9.1-pound trout landed by Jake Trappe, Glendora, on a Kastmaster. Michael Sanchez, Moreno Valley, caught a stringer of five, with one at 7.9 pounds on Power Bait. Yenny Tal, Lakewood, caught a 7.2-pound fish on Thomas Buoyant. DFG trout and a bonus private plant for upcoming holiday weekend. Fishing fee is $15 per adult. For more information, call the lake recording at (909) 867-2009. ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plants this week. For information, call the Mill Creek Ranger Station at (909) 794-1123.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish season is here with weekly plants of both trophy fish over 10 pounds (3,000 pounds) and pan-sized cats (another 3,000 pounds). Broodstock catfish to 45 pounds are being planted this season, and this week a new lake record 58-pounder was planted. But it has yet to be caught. Overall, the catfish bite is wide open. There were several 100-pound, five-fish catfish stringers, and over 100 fish were reported in the 20-0 range this week. Doug Cope, Granada Hills, had a five-fish, 117-pound limit. His best was a 35-0. He was fishing the shrimp-marshmallow combo. Nate Zamora, Hesperia, caught a 40-8 cat, while Brian Angle, Apple Valley, had a 36-8. Zack Taylor, Hesperia, landed a 27-0, while Andy Cabrera, Victorville, caught a 23-0. Fishing fee is $15 per person. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. JESS RANCH: Continued very good trout action with improved shoreline accessibility. Most of the trout are 1-8 to 3-0 but a few bigger fish are caught each week. Top trout this week was a 5-6 landed by Gloria Moreno, Colton. Marvin Milton, Apple Valley, landed a 3-9 rainbow, while Scott Svedin, Apple Valley, landed trout at 3-8 and 3-4. Best action on Power Baits, jigs, spinners and nightcrawlers. Bluegill are showing a strong bite on meal worms. Bass are fair to good on spinnerbaits and Senkos. The lakes are open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they are planted each Friday. Tagged trout have been added to the weekly plants. For more information, call (760) 240-1107. The web site is www.jessranchlakes.net (http://www.jessranchlakes.net/). MOJAVE NARROWS: There continues to be a fair to good mixed bag bite with trout, catfish and bluegill showing in decent numbers. Not a lot of limits, but many anglers are getting a trout or two with fish to 2-0 reported. Adam McDonald, Apple Valley, caught a catfish at 4-0 on mackerel. Matt Crase, Hesperia, caught a one pound trout on nightcrawlers. Several other catfish to 3-0 reported on nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week, and county catfish plants start this week. For more information, call (760) 245-2226. INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants start this week. For information, call (909) 481-4205. PRADO: County catfish plants start this week. For information, call (909) 597-4260. YUCAIPA: The trout bite has tanked, but the catfish action has been fair, even without any plants yet this season. Most of the cats reported have been from 2-0 to 3-4. County catfish plants start this week. For park information, call (909) 790-3127. GLEN HELEN: Still a few holdover trout showing but this bite has slowed to nearly nothing. The catfish action is fair on holdover fish from previous summers' plants. The first county catfish plant of this year will be for this Memorial Day weekend. For more information, call (909) 887-7540. MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. For information, call (909) 982-4246. SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, call city parks at (909) 384-5233. RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The post-spawn bass bite has moved into deeper water with most fish showing in 30 feet of water on purple, pink or oxblood straight tail plastic worms fished on a drop-shot rig. The north side of the lake has been best. Trout are still pretty good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers for shore anglers, and a trout plant is slated for this week. Trollers are getting trout to 5-0 and above trolling flashers and nightcrawler combos or fishing Needlefish at 30 to 40 feet on leadcore line. Catfish and panfish are both pretty good, with the cats showing on cut baits and the bluegill best on mini jigs and live worms. A few stripers are showing in open water mid-lake on the top and fish to nearly 6-0 have been reported this week on big plugs or swimbaits. Plant scheduled for this week. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com (http://www.dvmarina.com/). For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410. PERRIS: The trout action has continued good in the marina, launch ramp area, and lots 11 and 12, and the DFG planted trout this week. Catfish action has improved on east end and south of the island. Travis Dolph, Menifee caught a 15.2-pound channel catfish on power bait from the east end. The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good on plastics and reaction baits. Bluegill, crappie, and redear are all showing around the marina and east end. Damien Smith, Perris, caught a 1.6 pound bluegill on a waxworm from the east end. Some huge carp cruising the shorelines, but few anglers are fishing them. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. For more information on fishing call the marina at (951) 657-2179 or the state park at (951) 940-5600. SKINNER: There has been a good bite on quality largemouth bass here in the past month, and that action continues. Top largemouth reported this week was an 8.9-pounder landed by Adam Koda, Fontana, in the east end. The stripers are showing in better numbers early and late in the day at the inlet. Bluegill are also starting to show. Henry Jordan, Corona, caught a 1.8-pound bluegill from the east end on nightcrawler. The trout bite is waning, but Joel Pratt, Yucaipa, caught a 4.1 pound rainbow trout at the marina point on nightcrawler. Catfish also fair. For fishing information, call the marina at (951) 926-1505. LAKE ELSINORE: No reports. CORONA LAKE: The trout bite continues very good for boat anglers fishing deep water at mid-lake and near the dam, but the catfish and bluegill are starting to over shadow the rainbow action. The top fish of the week was a 20 1/2-pound catfish landed by lake regular Donnie Ballew, Moreno Valley, fishing Redneck Catfish Bait in the flooded trees. Aaron Velasquez and Frank Vivaros, both Upland, caught 10 cats that weighed 30-2 and the big fish was a 5-0. Hot catfish baits have been mackerel, shrimp, and Nitro Biscuits with Gravy, with the top spot the flooded trees. There were also nine rainbow trout over 10 pounds reported, including four trout in the 14-pound class. The biggest was a 14-12 caught by Joe Jennaro, Upland, on chartreuse Nitro Bait at the dam. Buddy Young, Corona, landed a 14-8. There has also been a great bite on bluegill up to 3/4-pound or a little better. The best action has been on wax worms and red worms, and a lot of nice stringers are being caught. For more information, call the tackle shop at (951) 277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com (http://www.fishinglakes.com/). EVANS LAKE: No reports. RANCHO JURUPA: Catfish plants last week. For more information, call (951) 684-7032. FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout season is over, but catfish plants are every other week now. Plants last week. For information, call (909) 795-2411. ANGLER'S LAKE: Catfish plants start this week. Catfish and trout action has been fair to good. Catch and release bass action is fair on plastics. For information, call the lake at (951) 927-2614. REFLECTION LAKE: Fair trout action after the final trout plant of the season two weeks ago. First catfish plants this week. For more information, contact the lake at (951) 654-7906. JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Good catfish action on chicken liver dough baits for fish to 2-0 and better. Major stock last week and plants will be regular through October. Lake open Wednesday through Sunday, as well as on all Monday holidays, including Memorial Day. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. For more information, call (951) 679-6562 SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: A DFG trout plant this week. Fair to good action. For more information, contact the Lake Hemet Market at (951) 659-2350 or the campground at (951) 659-2680. FULMOR LAKE: DFG plant this week. For more information, contact (951) 659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: The warm weather has driven the trout into deep water, but anglers fishing from boats are still scoring limits of rainbows by fishing those deep water pockets. The big trout this week was a 14-pounder caught by Richard Rivas, Colton, while Terence Chang, Los Angeles, landed a 9-4 rainbow. John Aguilar, Torrance, had a limit of five trout that weighed in at 8 1/2 pound total, and his stringer had a 4-0 kicker fish. Catfish are showing in fair numbers with fish to 5-0 reported. Huge plant of cats, including trophy fish, next week. For more information, call (714) 632-7830 for the information recording or log on at www.fishinglakes.com (http://www.fishinglakes.com/). ANAHEIM LAKE: Lake is closed. For more information, call (714) 996-3508 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.fishinglakes.com (http://www.fishinglakes.com/). IRVINE LAKE: This week marks the end of trout plants for this season, but there is still a pretty good trout bite for trollers working firetiger-colored CD3 or CD5 Rapalas along the west shore and near the dam. A few catfish showing, and the bluegill bite is wide open in the shallows on mealworms, red worms, and wax worms. Bass fish is good for anglers fishing Carolina rigged plastics near the Red Clay Cliffs and Rocky Points. For information, call (714) 649-9111. LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: For a recorded fish report, call (949) 362-3885 or visit the lake's Web site at www.lagunaniguellake.com (http://www.lagunaniguellake.com/).
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Good trout and bass action. The trout action has shifted into Cachuma Bay with trollers getting fish in 15 feet of water on the usual small lures. There was also a DFG plant last week. The largemouth action is fair to good with most of the action in 4 to 12 feet of water, and quite a few smallmouth are showing, too. The crappie bite has started to kick into gear with some fish showing in the Mohawk area. More redear and crappie are also starting to show off Jackrabbit Flats and in Harvey's Cove. For fishing information call the boat dock at (805) 688-4040. CASITAS: The bass action continues good and anglers have been able to dip net shad for bait this week. The live shad have led to some wide open fishing, but a lot of 2-0 class fish, but plastics and big swimbaits are also still good bets. Top bass this week was a 14-3 caught by Jerry Thoreson, Bishop. Thoreson also had a 13-5 and 10-8. The trout bite for trollers has been pretty good this week with a few limits of rainbows were posted. A few catfish to 4-0 have been reported, and there are some crappie on small jigs or shad. Redear and bluegill fair. For more information, contact the marina at (805) 649-2043. CASTAIC: Largemouth bass action remains good with the best bite on nightcrawlers and plastics, but not big fish reported this week, just consistent action on fish to 3-0. Stripers are improving and a few quality fish are showing in 20 feet or less of water at the buoy line and west ramp. Galen Tsabetsaye, Canyon Country, landed an 18-0 striper on home-made plug. Trout plant this week. For more information, contact the marina at (661) 775-6232. PIRU: Overall fair fishing. The trout bite has been fair to good with some limits taken by trollers fishing Needlefish behind four to five colors of leadcore line. Most of the fish are under a pound, but Bob Reader, Los Angeles, caught a 2-10 rainbow on a Pin Minnow. Limits were posted by Kevin Klima and Martin Pye, both Moorpark, while trolling. Bluegill and redear are fair with more and more fish shallow. Crappie are spotty. There will fishing derby Saturday, June 10, with a $250 cash prize for the adult angler catching the biggest fish. The junior angler with the biggest fish will win a new bicycle. Lots of other prizes. The event is being held on Free Fishing Day, when no state fishing license is required to fish. For more information call the marina at (805) 521-1231 or check out the web site at www.lakepiru.org (http://www.lakepiru.org/). PYRAMID: DFG trout plant this week will keep the trout action steady for bait anglers and trollers. The best action is in the channel near the marina for the fresh planters and at the dam for holdover rainbows. Stripers continue to be spotty, but the smallmouth and largemouth are pretty good in four to 18 feet of water on plastics. No panfish reports. For information, call the USFS at (661) 296-9710 or call the concession at (661) 257-2790. TAIT RANCH TROUT PONDS: These fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release trout ponds in Frazier Park have fish to 5-0. Fishing billed by hour, 1/2-day, or full day. For information, call (661) 245-6315. QUAIL LAKE: No reports. PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout plant last week. SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plant last week. For more information call (626) 334-1065. ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. BALBOA PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant last week. ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, call (888) 527-2757 or (818) 899-3779. HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. For more information, contact the Hollenbeck Recreation Center at (213) 261-0113. JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Call (818) 448-7317 for information.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: Excellent bass action. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule by reservation only. Overall, there were 151 anglers who reported 803 bass, 316 bluegill, 25 crappie and one smallmouth bass. Reservations are available through Ticket Master at (619) 220- 8497, or go to www.TicketMaster.com (http://www.ticketmaster.com/). They go on sale the second Tuesday of each month and usually sell out that day for the following month. July reservations go on sale June 13. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). HODGES: Fair fishing overall, with decent bites on bluegill and crappie and spotty bass fishing. There were 414 anglers who reported 237 bluegill, 116 crappie, 65 bass, and 22 channel cats. Adam Perez, San Diego landed a 5-11 largemouth. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). EL CAPITAN: The crappie and bass bites remain fair to good, and the bluegill bite continues to build. Overall, 471 anglers reported 528 bass, 432 bluegill, 166 crappie, 85 channel cats, and 28 blue cats. The top four spots in an ABA event here over the weekend all had just over 12 pounds of bass for five fish. The lake is open Friday through Sunday. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. LOWER OTAY: Bass and crappie bites are fair to good, and the bluegill bite is wide open. There were 619 anglers who reported catching 2,114 bluegill, 399 bass, 206 crappie, 25 channel cats, and five redear. Top bass was a 7.55-pounder caught by Derek Harris, Chula Vista, on a brown jig. Sarah Lucas, Spring Valley, had a stringer with 126 bluegill to just a tick under a pound. Gary Smith, Compton, had five channel cats that weighed 53-9, including a 16-10. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. UPPER OTAY: Fair action on the bass with 32 anglers reporting 22 bass. The lake is open to catch-and-release fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). SAN VICENTE: Holdover trout continues fair for anglers targeting the rainbows, while the bass bite is also fair. Bluegill are fair to good. This past week, 144 anglers reported 287 bluegill, 236 bass, 60 trout, 38 channel cats, 24 redear, and six crappie. pretty good. The lake is open on a Thursday through Sunday schedule. For more information call the City Lakes information line at (619) 465- 3474 or log on to the web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. MURRAY: Tough fishing overall, with only a spotty bite on bass and some decent bluegill action. This past week, there were 186 anglers who reported 106 bluegill, 62 bass, eight rainbow trout, and two channel cats. The launch ramp and T-Floats are temporarily closed. Only small boats are able to launch. For more information contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. MIRAMAR: Spotty trout action on holdover fish with a few bass and catfish showing. There were 163 anglers this past week who reported 58 rainbows, 49 bass, 14 channel cats and six bluegill. The lake is open on a Saturday through Tuesday schedule. Water levels should be back up for this weekend. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. SUTHERLAND: Fair to good action in a mixed bag bite. There were 135 anglers who reported 135 bass, 111 bluegill, 92 crappie, and 86 channel cats. The lake is open on a Friday through Sunday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). WOHLFORD: Trout have moved into deeper waters as lake temps grow warmer. Trout anglers need to be in boats or float tubes to have success. Use green Power Bait and nightcrawlers in combination with light tackle for success. Eugene Carle, Oceanside, caught a 12-12 catfish with Rat-L-Trap lure at the west buoy line. Bass are spotty. Shad are moving into shallows in the early morning. Crappie also starting to stir. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4346 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.wohlfordlake.com (http://www.wohlfordlake.com/). DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week. DIXON: The final trout plant of the season went in last week. The lake will shift to its summer hours June 15, where night fishing will be allowed only Thursday through Saturday nights. Trout action has remained good, with fly-lined nightcrawlers the best bet. Bass action was a little slow again this week, but a number of fish to 5-0 reported. Fishing reports are on the Internet at www.dixonlake.com (http://www.dixonlake.com/). For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4345. POWAY: Trout are moving deeper and the best action has been for boat anglers trolling along the east shore, near Bucktail Bay and off Jump-Off Point. Still the odd limit showing up. Catfish have improved with decent action at the log boom's east corner. Excellent bluegill action in Hidden Bay, the Fishing Pier, and Half Moon Bay. Bass still very spotty. Lake is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more fishing information, call the snack bar at (858) 679-5465, the Poway information line at (858) 668-4770, or concessions at (858) 486-1234. JENNINGS: The bass bite is improving and catfish action is good. Trout are slower and have moved to deeper water. The buoy line and the north end of the Half Moon Cove are best spots using fly-lined crawlers. Lake is open Friday through Sunday. Areas near the dam that were closed last week are now open to anglers fishing from boats. Eggert Point and Shadow Cove are now open. Upcoming events: Free fishing class 1 p.m. Saturday. The 2006 night fishing season June 2. For more information, contact the ranger office at (619) 390-1300 or visit the web site at www.lakejennings.org (http://www.lakejennings.org/). MORENA: Bluegill and crappie are good with some limits posted on jigs. Bass fair to good on jigs crick baits. Catfish are biting fair to good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. Carp action is very good on corn or dough baits. The boat launch is open. The 24-hour fishing update line is (619) 478-5473. For lake information, call (619) 694-3049. CUYAMACA: Good trout action on power baits or inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent and fished on 20- to 30-inch leaders. The Lone Pine, pump house cove, tee dock, west shore and buoy lines are hot spots. Lots of limits after a Mt. Lassen plant this past week. For more information call (760) 765-0515 or visit the Web site at www.lakecuyamaca.org (http://www.lakecuyamaca.org/). HENSHAW: A great improvement this week on crappie and catfish, and a few bass are showing. Tom Weber and Chad Scott, Buena Park, caught 35 crappie to nearly 2-0. Bill Bayless, Fresno, caught 25 crappie to 1-0. Kevin Sly, Vista, landed eight catfish to 4-0 and Shawn Brown, Los Angeles, landed eight cats to 3-0. Howard Florence, Los Angeles, caught four bass to 6-0. For more information, call (760) 782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: There is a very good early morning striper bite from Vegas Wash to Hole 33. The fish are running to 6-0, with most in the 1-8 range, and they are pushing shad on the surface in the mornings and showing on shad-like swimbaits. Later in the day bait anglers are getting stripers off Sand Island. Water levels falling. Largemouth fair in coves and points. For more information, call Laker Plaza at (702) 564-3058. WILLOW BEACH: The striper bite is good but mostly on small fish to 6-0 at Monkey Hole. However, Gary Gates, Prescott, Ariz., landed a 36-pound striper with imitation trout lure. For more information, contact the marina at (928) 767-4747. LAKE MOHAVE: Good action on small stripers from 1-0 to 3-0 on anchovies and squid with some bigger fish to 6-0 on trolled lures. Best action has been from the Arizona side to Cottonwood Cove. Some largemouth bass action on nightcrawlers and some catfish showing on chicken livers in the coves. For more information, call Cottonwood Cove at (702) 297-1464. BELOW DAVIS DAM: Mostly slow action, with only a few small stripers and catfish showing on cut baits. NEEDLES: Very light fishing pressure, but a few catfish are showing on cut baits, and even fewer stripers to 2-0 on cut anchovies. Largemouth bass are good in area backwaters and irrigation ditches. For more information, call Premier Sports at (760) 326-2727 or Golden Shores at (760) 768-2325. TOPOCK MARSH: Very slow; very hot and windy and not too much activity. For information, call Five Mile Landing (928) 768-2350. HAVASU: Largemouth bass action is good with the best bite still on slow-fished jigs or drop-shotted plastics, with a lot of fish still in shallows. A fair number of stripers have been caught in 18 to 20 feet of water on anchovies. Most of the stripers are 2-0 to 5-0, with most on the smaller end. For more information, call Black Meadow Landing at (760) 663-3811. PARKER STRIP: Fair smallmouth bass action in the main river for anglers fishing rocky structure. Fair catfish action on fish to 3-0 on cut baits or stink baits, but fishing pressure is light. Largemouth gradually improving on backwaters and around docks. BLYTHE: The catfish bite is in full swing here, and the bass, bluegill, and crappie are all pretty decent, and there's a budding striper bite at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. Lance Lonie, Blythe, landed a 20-pound channel cat and a five pound carp on flour tortillas. Jose Vaca, also from Blythe, landed 10 stripers to 8-0 on bucktail jigs. The large and smallmouth bass are also decent on cranks and live bait. Good top water action in the early morning and late afternoon. For more information, call B&B Bait at (760) 921-2248. PALO VERDE: Channel catfish action is good in the backwaters, canals, and main river, and the flathead action on live goldfish or tilapia is also good. Largemouth bass fishing is good on plastic worms, reaction baits, and live minnows in backwaters. PICACHO AREA: Bass fishing is good on live bait and plastics. The catfish bite has also turned on with a lot of channel cats and flatheads showing with warmer weather. MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: After a tournament last weekend a lot of bass to 4-0 are showing on cranks and live shiners. There is also a good crappie bite on small shiners. Stripers showing to 5-0 with a lot of 2-0 class fish reported. Flathead and channel catfish action is good to excellent with fish over 20-0 reported each week now. For more information, contact the Martinez Lake Resort at (928) 783-9589 or check out the Web site at www.martinezlake.com (http://www.martinezlake.com/). YUMA AREA: Bass fishing has been good, especially on live minnows in the main river and local backwaters. Channel catfish action is good on cut baits, and the flathead bite has improved with the best action on live minnows.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Excellent tilapia action at the state park with anglers catching two fish at a time at Salt Creek and the state park headquarters. The fish are mid-spawn right now and stacked up along the shorelines. Most of the fish are small -- hand-sized -- but there are some bigger fish to 1-8 reported. Other species still slow. For current fishing information, Red Hill Marina (760) 348-2310 or the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. For weather information, call (760) 352-3360 for a recording, or the Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast at (760) 398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one. ALAMO RIVER: Few reports. Channel catfish are fair on mackerel or anchovies. COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass have been reported. ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure. FINNEY-RAMER: No report. WEIST LAKE: No report. SUNBEAM LAKE: No report. For information, call (760) 352-3308. LAKE CAHUILLA: No report. For more information, call (760) 564-4712. EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: For updated road and camping information on the region, contact the Interagency Visitor Center at (760) 876-6222 or the Bishop Chamber of Commerce at (760) 873-8405. The Web site is www.bishopvisitor.com (http://www.bishopvisitor.com/). BRIDGEPORT REGION: Bridgeport Reservoir continues to have very good to excellent trout action, with a lot of 2-0 to 4-0 class rainbows being taken. Fly and bait anglers both scoring. The bite at both Upper and Lower Twin lakes have been relatively tough with only a few rainbows and browns showing. The West Walker is a torrent with flows at 2,200 cfs and very tough fishing. The East Walker is flowing at 810 cfs, but anglers are still having decent luck on midge and caddis pupae patterns. Virginia Lakes are also still good. For more information, contact Ken's Sporting Goods at (760) 932-7707. JUNE LAKE LOOP: Weekly trout plants are keeping all of the lakes -- June, Gull, Silver, and Grant -- in the loop pretty decent, but the bite has been best early and late in the day. June is just fair but some trout to 4-0 reported. Grant has produced browns to 6-10 this past week on Rapalas and nightcrawlers. Gull has been consistent with quite a few limits and a 6-2 rainbow was landed by Art Alonzo, Palia. Lundy Lake is open with a fair to good bite. For more information contact, Ernie's Fishing Tackle at (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina at (760) 648-7726. MAMMOTH LAKES REGION: The Crowley Lake bite remains good for anglers, with the best action at Sandy Point and Green Banks. Limits are still common for bait anglers, trollers, and fly anglers. There is also an excellent perch bite in Crowley. The Owens River is high and off-color, and even Hot Creek is flowing at 140 cfs and off color. Fly anglers are still getting fish on flashy nymphs fished under strike indicators. Twin Lakes is starting to have more open water, but Mary, Mamie, George, and all the lakes above are still mostly ice-covered. The road is open to Rock Creek Lake and the action is good for bait anglers. Convict Lake is good with fly fishing near marina. For more information contact the Troutfitter at (760) 934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide Service at (760) 935-4250. BISHOP AREA: Sabrina Lake is open with most of the ice gone, and there is pretty good action. Bishop Creek and Intake II remain good with weekly plants. South Lake's road is cleared and it was stocked by the DFG last week. North Lake is still inaccessible. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been fair to good and the perch bite is wide open. The Wild Trout stretch of the Owens and points downstream had been slow with ripping flows. The Owens River gorge above Pleasant Valley has been good for fly anglers. For more information, contact Culver's at (760) 872- 8361 or Brock's at (760) 872-3581. BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Diaz Lake is fair. Cottonwood, Georges, Independence, Lone Pine, Sheperds, Symmes, and Tuttle were all planted this week. For more information, contact the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce at (760) 876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: There continues to be a very good catfish bite at the dam and Camp 9 on frozen shad and Sonny's Catfish Bait. Bass are fair are starting to pick up around Wofford Heights Park. Lots of stringers of bass averaging around 1-8 to 3-0 with some bigger. Crappie remain tough. Trout also remain good for trollers working small spoons or for shore anglers at Camp 9. Limits common. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. KERN RIVER: Both the upper and lower Kern are torrents this week. Flows entering Lake Isabella are over 5,700 cfs and release flows are 4,500 cfs. Anglers are still getting a few trout in the upper river fishing calm spots close to shore and with big spinners. No smallmouth action reported this week. For more information, contact the James' Store at (760) 376-2424. AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper and catfish action. Stripers are excellent right off Highway 119 where the Kern River enters aqueduct on blood worms. Lots of food flowing in has really turned on the bite and anglers are getting lots of fish on both sides of the 18-inch minimum size. Also still very good action near the Buena Vista golf course. Blood worms, lug worms, big minnows, Gitzits and white jigs are all catching fish. The catfish bite has been best on Sonny's Catfish Bait, chicken liver, and frozen shad. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. HART PARK LAKE: The warm weather has really turned on the bluegill bite with nice stringers of fish coming out on crickets, nightcrawlers, and wax worms. Bass have sputtered, but a few are showing on nightcrawlers. TRUXTUN LAKE: The bluegill and bass bites are both pretty good here. Lots of bluegill on small baits, and the bass have been best on plastics, nightcrawlers, and live minnows with fish to 3-0 reported. MING LAKE: Closed. BRIGHT LAKE: The trout action has been pretty good since the trout opener with a number of fish to 3-0 and better. Floating baits and small lures are the best bets. No crappie reported. BUENA VISTA LAKES: The catfish action is very good on shad. Bass are spotty. Bluegill is good on wax and meal worms. Michael Stewart, Bakersfield, landed a 35-pound cat on shad. For more fishing information, call the concession at (661) 763-1268 or contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair to good bass action and the bluegill bite is really starting to break wide open with the warm weather on crickets. Catfishing on mackerel. SUCCESS LAKE: Water level has skyrocketed and the bass bite has been very good as the fish move into the newly flooded shallows. Plastics best. Trout action fair. The bluegill bite is also really starting to kick into gear. For more information, call the Lakeside Mini Mart at (559) 781-6878. KAWEAH LAKE: The bass bite has been very good with a lot of fish still shallow. Matt Phines, Bakersfield, landed a 10-10 pound bass on a plastic worm. Plastics and jigs have been the top baits. Trout biting at Horse Creek. Bluegill improving by the day, crappie still spotty. For more information, call the marina at (559) 597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES SAN ANTONIO: The smallmouth and largemouth bass bite is on all over the lake, with the best action at the dam, Harris Creek, and near the North Shore Store. Lots of fish to 18-0 have been reported in the past week on shad, and a 64-pounder was caught last week. Also a decent afternoon and early evening catfish bite on fish to 6-0. Bluegill are showing in good to excellent numbers. Stripers good in morning on anchovies. For more information, call (805) 472-2818. SANTA MARGARITA: The bass bite is still fair to good, and the crappie action is improving. Trout action is great and a DFG plant went in last week Best action on Power Bait and red worms. Bluegill and redear are starting to pick up. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call the marina (805) 438-1522. NACIMIENTO: The white bass are showing in up into the narrows in good numbers. The spotties, largemouth, and smallmouth are also all good with the best bite on dropshot plastics, jigs and cranks. Crappie also turning around with a lot of 3/4-pound fish and some bigger. For more information, call (805) 238-1056, or log on at www.nacimientoresort.com (http://www.nacimientoresort.com/). LOPEZ: Everything seems to be biting. The bluegill and redear bites are both very good on live baits and small jigs. A number of fish over 1-0 reported. Catfish also improving with warm weather. Crappie good on white jigs with limits posted everyday. The largemouth bass are fair to good early and late in the day on reaction baits. For more information call the marina at (805) 489-1006. END
TROUT PLANTS Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked the week of May 22, 2006 with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lake, Cuddy Creek Pond, Elizabeth Lake, Hansen Lake, Jackson Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Piru Creek (Frenchman's Flat), Pyramid Lake. ORANGE: Trabuco Creek. RIVERSIDE: Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake, Perris Lake, Strawberry Creek. SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Gregory Lake, Jenks Lake, Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork), Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake. VENTURA: Rose Valley Lakes. FRESNO: Big Creek (Huntington and Kings), Courtright Reservoir, Dinkey Creek, Hume Lake, Huntington Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, San Joaquin River-South Fork (Mono Hot Springs and Jackass Meadow), Shaver Lake, Tamarack Creek, Tenmile Creek (Upper), Ward Lake, Wishon Reservoir. KERN: Alder Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Brite Valley Reservoir, Cedar Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Kern River (Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach, and KR#3 to Riverside Park, Kernville). MARIPOSA: Merced River (From Redbud Bridge downstream to South Fork and from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls), Yosemite Lake. MERCED: Merced River from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls. TULARE: Balch Park Lake (Upper and Lower), Big Meadow Creek, Bone Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Bravo Lake, Deer Creek (CA Hot Springs), Dry Meadow Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Kern River (Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge and Brush Creek to Fairview Dam), Kern River-South Fork (Kennedy Meadows), Nobe Young Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Peppermint Creek, Poso Creek (Posey), Redwood Lake (Hedrick Pond), Stoney Creek, Tule River Middle Fork (Coffee Camp), Tule River North Fork of Middle Fork (Wishon Campground), Tule River South Fork of Middle Fork (Camp Nelson and Ceder Slopes), White River (Pine Flat Area).
TUOLUMNE: Basin Creek, Beardsley Reservoir, Beaver Creek, Deadman Creek, Herring Creek, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake (Strawberry Lake), Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River (Clarks, Middle, North and South forks), Sullivan Creek, Tuolumne River (Middle, North and South forks).
CATFISH PLANTS
The following waters, listed by county, will be planted by the Department of Fish and Game with one-pound channel catfish during the week of May 15, 2006. ORANGE: Trabuco Lake.
Compiled by Cyndi Gurrola and Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service
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 n this report. Faxes can be sent to (909) 887-8180.
E-Mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to Jim Matthews at odwriter@earthlink.net and/or Cyndi Gurrola at cagurrola@charter.net. Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com (http://www.turners.com/)) and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site (a href="."/" eudora="AUTOURL">www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is www.outdoornewsservice.com (http://www.outdoornewsservice.com/). The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet Web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/).
PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. How good is the tilapia bite at the Salton Sea? It took one family of skilled fish cleaners over 1 1/2 hours to dress all of the tilapia filling their two ice chests. Most anglers are using nightcrawler pieces on two-hook rigs, and catching two fish at a time is pretty easy. Most are eight to 10 inches long, but some to 1-8 have been reported and there are more and more 1-0 class fish each week. For more information, contact the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. 2. The catfish bite exploded at Hesperia Lake this week with over 100 catfish topped the 10-pound mark landed. The lake is being planted with 6,000 pounds of trout a week, including 3,000 pounds of trophy fish. Plants are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and one of the cats planted this week weighed 58 pounds. Best catfish this past week was a 38-pounder and there were two 35-pound class fish. To illustrate how good the action on big fish has been, the office staff has been keeping an unusual statistic: This past week there were 22 rods and four lawn chairs (with rod holders) jerked into the lake and lost by anglers. The hot baits have been the marshmallow-shrimp combo, fondly called the shrimp cocktail, and the marshmallow-meal worm (or M&M) combo. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. 3. Diamond Valley Lake has been cranking out so many quality bass that regulars here expect to catch at least a couple of honest 4-0 to 5-0 class bass each time they fish this lake. The fish are mostly in water less than 15 feet deep and plastic baits have been as effective as anything else. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com (http://www.dvmarina.com/). For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410 if you want to local a guide.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: Sierra Nevada waters, both east and west slopes, are the best bet for anglers wanting trout right now. In the Eastern Sierra, Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir are the top two picks, with most of the region's streams and rivers blown out by runoff. In the Western Sierra, Isabella remains good, while the Kern River is also very high with runoff. Trout season in Southern California's low elevation lakes is winding down, and the best fishing is shifting from the likes of Santa Ana River Lakes and Irvine Lake to deep-water lakes that can holdover trout all summer, like Casitas and Silverwood, and higher elevation waters like Big Bear Lake. Casitas has been dismal for trout all winter, but the trolling bite is finally starting to take off. Silverwood continues to be pretty good for trout and Piru and Pyramid are also decent bets. Big Bear Lake, Gregory Lake, and Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains are both good, too. Of the lowland, planted waters Corona Lake might have the best fishing right now, but Santa Ana River Lakes, Irvine Lake, and most of the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino county park waters are slowing down as plants diminish or cease and water temperatures warm up. LARGEMOUTH BASS: Top pick is still Diamond Valley Lake, but Casitas, El Capitan, Lower Otay, and Barrett are pretty good, too. Bass at all these waters are pretty much done with the spawn and have moved to deeper water during the bulk of the day with the best action in 20 to 40 feet of water on plastics, live baits, and jigs. Other spots that rank almost as good include Perris, Piru, Cachuma, Lopez, Santa Margarita, Nacimiento, San Antonio, Isabella, and the whole lower Colorado River. There is also some topwater action early and late in the day starting already. STRIPED BASS: The striped bass bite is very good in the California Aqueduct near Taft and where the Kern River dumps into the aqueduct. Lots of sub-legal fish under the 18-inch minimum size, but a lot of 3-0 to 5-0 bass are showing on lug worms. For Southern California waters, Silverwood and Skinner have consistent bites on small fish, and Castaic and Pyramid are also starting to come out of a long funk. The best bets are still on the Colorado River. Lake Mead has an excellent morning surface bite as fish bust shad on the surface in Vegas Wash, Willow Beach cranked out a 37-pounder this week, and Havasu fish are improving with each warm day. Another sleeper spot is San Antonio on the Central Coast which produced a fish over 60 pounds recently. PANFISH: Lower Otay's bluegill bite is wide open right now with stringers of 20 to 100 fish up to a pound pretty common. Other good bluegill bites are happening at Barrett, El Capitan, Hodges, San Vicente, Sutherland, Perris, Piru, Lopez, and San Antonio. There is also a very good Sacramento perch bite on Lake Crowley in the Sierra, and the tilapia action in the Salton Sea is awesome. CATFISH: On the Colorado River, the flathead bite is breaking wide open in the lower river with a number of flatheads to 40-0 reported the past couple of weeks, mostly on live bluegill, goldfish or tilapia. Lake Isabella has a good bite on channel cats to 4-0 near the dam on frozen anchovies or shad. Best bet closer to SoCal would be Hesperia Lake on planted fish. There were over 100 cats topped 10 pounds landed this week at this lake, which is getting 3,000 pounds of trophy fish each week as part of its 6,000-pound planting allotment each week. There's also a lake record-sized cat at 58 pounds in the lake.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Trout action has remained good around the marina docks; Cleghorn Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Quiet Cove. DFG trout plants this week in the lake and Miller Canyon Creek should keep this bite perking along. Stripers and largemouth are good near shore in Miller and Cleghorn. Catfish are headed deep near the dam. Karen Quinn, Chino, landed three trout on anchovies in 15 feet at Cleghorn. Jason Storm, Apple Valley, landed two stripers at 4-0 and 8-0 in Outhouse Cove. Bluegill and crappie are still spotty. For more information, contact the marina at (760) 389-2299, the state park at (760) 389-2281, or the Silverwood Country store at (760) 389-2423. BIG BEAR LAKE: After the May Trout Classic this past weekend, there are still a lot of 5-0 to 6-0 trout showing throughout the lake in a very good bite. A lot of limits posted by anglers trolling two to four colors with Needlefish or Thomas Buoyants. Flat-lining Rapalas is also a good bet. Nitro and Power Bait have led to easy limits for bait anglers, but it's also time to change rigs from sliding egg off the bottom to slip bobbers suspended from the surface. Water temps have also risen about five to seven degrees in the past week. Upcoming events: Third Annual Carp Round-Up will be June 10-11. Contact Mike Stephenson at (909) 866-5796. For fishing information, call Big Bear Marina at (909) 866-3218 or Big Bear Sporting Goods at (909) 866-3222. GREGORY LAKE: Fair to good action after a DFG plant last week. Some limits with trout to 1-8 and a few bigger. The best action has been on Power Worms, trolled Needlefish, and Power Bait. Upcoming events: 20th Annual Free Youth Fishing Derby will be June 10. For derby info call (909) 338-2233. For fishing information, call the boat dock at (909) 338-2233. GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Great week for anglers with hot spots on the south shore and close to any aerators. Kastmasters, small trout jigs, Thomas Buoyants, and Power Bait are all working. Top fish was a 9.1-pound trout landed by Jake Trappe, Glendora, on a Kastmaster. Michael Sanchez, Moreno Valley, caught a stringer of five, with one at 7.9 pounds on Power Bait. Yenny Tal, Lakewood, caught a 7.2-pound fish on Thomas Buoyant. DFG trout and a bonus private plant for upcoming holiday weekend. Fishing fee is $15 per adult. For more information, call the lake recording at (909) 867-2009. ARROWBEAR LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. JENKS LAKE: DFG trout plants this week. For information, call the Mill Creek Ranger Station at (909) 794-1123.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Catfish season is here with weekly plants of both trophy fish over 10 pounds (3,000 pounds) and pan-sized cats (another 3,000 pounds). Broodstock catfish to 45 pounds are being planted this season, and this week a new lake record 58-pounder was planted. But it has yet to be caught. Overall, the catfish bite is wide open. There were several 100-pound, five-fish catfish stringers, and over 100 fish were reported in the 20-0 range this week. Doug Cope, Granada Hills, had a five-fish, 117-pound limit. His best was a 35-0. He was fishing the shrimp-marshmallow combo. Nate Zamora, Hesperia, caught a 40-8 cat, while Brian Angle, Apple Valley, had a 36-8. Zack Taylor, Hesperia, landed a 27-0, while Andy Cabrera, Victorville, caught a 23-0. Fishing fee is $15 per person. For information and directions, call (800) 521-6332 or (760) 244-5951. JESS RANCH: Continued very good trout action with improved shoreline accessibility. Most of the trout are 1-8 to 3-0 but a few bigger fish are caught each week. Top trout this week was a 5-6 landed by Gloria Moreno, Colton. Marvin Milton, Apple Valley, landed a 3-9 rainbow, while Scott Svedin, Apple Valley, landed trout at 3-8 and 3-4. Best action on Power Baits, jigs, spinners and nightcrawlers. Bluegill are showing a strong bite on meal worms. Bass are fair to good on spinnerbaits and Senkos. The lakes are open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they are planted each Friday. Tagged trout have been added to the weekly plants. For more information, call (760) 240-1107. The web site is www.jessranchlakes.net (http://www.jessranchlakes.net/). MOJAVE NARROWS: There continues to be a fair to good mixed bag bite with trout, catfish and bluegill showing in decent numbers. Not a lot of limits, but many anglers are getting a trout or two with fish to 2-0 reported. Adam McDonald, Apple Valley, caught a catfish at 4-0 on mackerel. Matt Crase, Hesperia, caught a one pound trout on nightcrawlers. Several other catfish to 3-0 reported on nightcrawlers. DFG trout plant this week, and county catfish plants start this week. For more information, call (760) 245-2226. INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: County catfish plants start this week. For information, call (909) 481-4205. PRADO: County catfish plants start this week. For information, call (909) 597-4260. YUCAIPA: The trout bite has tanked, but the catfish action has been fair, even without any plants yet this season. Most of the cats reported have been from 2-0 to 3-4. County catfish plants start this week. For park information, call (909) 790-3127. GLEN HELEN: Still a few holdover trout showing but this bite has slowed to nearly nothing. The catfish action is fair on holdover fish from previous summers' plants. The first county catfish plant of this year will be for this Memorial Day weekend. For more information, call (909) 887-7540. MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. For information, call (909) 982-4246. SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, call city parks at (909) 384-5233. RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The post-spawn bass bite has moved into deeper water with most fish showing in 30 feet of water on purple, pink or oxblood straight tail plastic worms fished on a drop-shot rig. The north side of the lake has been best. Trout are still pretty good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers for shore anglers, and a trout plant is slated for this week. Trollers are getting trout to 5-0 and above trolling flashers and nightcrawler combos or fishing Needlefish at 30 to 40 feet on leadcore line. Catfish and panfish are both pretty good, with the cats showing on cut baits and the bluegill best on mini jigs and live worms. A few stripers are showing in open water mid-lake on the top and fish to nearly 6-0 have been reported this week on big plugs or swimbaits. Plant scheduled for this week. Lake reservations can be made by calling the toll-free line 800-590-LAKE or online at www.dvmarina.com (http://www.dvmarina.com/). For fishing info, call the marina at (951) 926-7201 or Last Chance Bait & Tackle at (951) 658-7410. PERRIS: The trout action has continued good in the marina, launch ramp area, and lots 11 and 12, and the DFG planted trout this week. Catfish action has improved on east end and south of the island. Travis Dolph, Menifee caught a 15.2-pound channel catfish on power bait from the east end. The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good on plastics and reaction baits. Bluegill, crappie, and redear are all showing around the marina and east end. Damien Smith, Perris, caught a 1.6 pound bluegill on a waxworm from the east end. Some huge carp cruising the shorelines, but few anglers are fishing them. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee. For more information on fishing call the marina at (951) 657-2179 or the state park at (951) 940-5600. SKINNER: There has been a good bite on quality largemouth bass here in the past month, and that action continues. Top largemouth reported this week was an 8.9-pounder landed by Adam Koda, Fontana, in the east end. The stripers are showing in better numbers early and late in the day at the inlet. Bluegill are also starting to show. Henry Jordan, Corona, caught a 1.8-pound bluegill from the east end on nightcrawler. The trout bite is waning, but Joel Pratt, Yucaipa, caught a 4.1 pound rainbow trout at the marina point on nightcrawler. Catfish also fair. For fishing information, call the marina at (951) 926-1505. LAKE ELSINORE: No reports. CORONA LAKE: The trout bite continues very good for boat anglers fishing deep water at mid-lake and near the dam, but the catfish and bluegill are starting to over shadow the rainbow action. The top fish of the week was a 20 1/2-pound catfish landed by lake regular Donnie Ballew, Moreno Valley, fishing Redneck Catfish Bait in the flooded trees. Aaron Velasquez and Frank Vivaros, both Upland, caught 10 cats that weighed 30-2 and the big fish was a 5-0. Hot catfish baits have been mackerel, shrimp, and Nitro Biscuits with Gravy, with the top spot the flooded trees. There were also nine rainbow trout over 10 pounds reported, including four trout in the 14-pound class. The biggest was a 14-12 caught by Joe Jennaro, Upland, on chartreuse Nitro Bait at the dam. Buddy Young, Corona, landed a 14-8. There has also been a great bite on bluegill up to 3/4-pound or a little better. The best action has been on wax worms and red worms, and a lot of nice stringers are being caught. For more information, call the tackle shop at (951) 277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com (http://www.fishinglakes.com/). EVANS LAKE: No reports. RANCHO JURUPA: Catfish plants last week. For more information, call (951) 684-7032. FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout season is over, but catfish plants are every other week now. Plants last week. For information, call (909) 795-2411. ANGLER'S LAKE: Catfish plants start this week. Catfish and trout action has been fair to good. Catch and release bass action is fair on plastics. For information, call the lake at (951) 927-2614. REFLECTION LAKE: Fair trout action after the final trout plant of the season two weeks ago. First catfish plants this week. For more information, contact the lake at (951) 654-7906. JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: Good catfish action on chicken liver dough baits for fish to 2-0 and better. Major stock last week and plants will be regular through October. Lake open Wednesday through Sunday, as well as on all Monday holidays, including Memorial Day. This is a pay-by-the-pound fishery. For more information, call (951) 679-6562 SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: A DFG trout plant this week. Fair to good action. For more information, contact the Lake Hemet Market at (951) 659-2350 or the campground at (951) 659-2680. FULMOR LAKE: DFG plant this week. For more information, contact (951) 659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: The warm weather has driven the trout into deep water, but anglers fishing from boats are still scoring limits of rainbows by fishing those deep water pockets. The big trout this week was a 14-pounder caught by Richard Rivas, Colton, while Terence Chang, Los Angeles, landed a 9-4 rainbow. John Aguilar, Torrance, had a limit of five trout that weighed in at 8 1/2 pound total, and his stringer had a 4-0 kicker fish. Catfish are showing in fair numbers with fish to 5-0 reported. Huge plant of cats, including trophy fish, next week. For more information, call (714) 632-7830 for the information recording or log on at www.fishinglakes.com (http://www.fishinglakes.com/). ANAHEIM LAKE: Lake is closed. For more information, call (714) 996-3508 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.fishinglakes.com (http://www.fishinglakes.com/). IRVINE LAKE: This week marks the end of trout plants for this season, but there is still a pretty good trout bite for trollers working firetiger-colored CD3 or CD5 Rapalas along the west shore and near the dam. A few catfish showing, and the bluegill bite is wide open in the shallows on mealworms, red worms, and wax worms. Bass fish is good for anglers fishing Carolina rigged plastics near the Red Clay Cliffs and Rocky Points. For information, call (714) 649-9111. LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: For a recorded fish report, call (949) 362-3885 or visit the lake's Web site at www.lagunaniguellake.com (http://www.lagunaniguellake.com/).
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Good trout and bass action. The trout action has shifted into Cachuma Bay with trollers getting fish in 15 feet of water on the usual small lures. There was also a DFG plant last week. The largemouth action is fair to good with most of the action in 4 to 12 feet of water, and quite a few smallmouth are showing, too. The crappie bite has started to kick into gear with some fish showing in the Mohawk area. More redear and crappie are also starting to show off Jackrabbit Flats and in Harvey's Cove. For fishing information call the boat dock at (805) 688-4040. CASITAS: The bass action continues good and anglers have been able to dip net shad for bait this week. The live shad have led to some wide open fishing, but a lot of 2-0 class fish, but plastics and big swimbaits are also still good bets. Top bass this week was a 14-3 caught by Jerry Thoreson, Bishop. Thoreson also had a 13-5 and 10-8. The trout bite for trollers has been pretty good this week with a few limits of rainbows were posted. A few catfish to 4-0 have been reported, and there are some crappie on small jigs or shad. Redear and bluegill fair. For more information, contact the marina at (805) 649-2043. CASTAIC: Largemouth bass action remains good with the best bite on nightcrawlers and plastics, but not big fish reported this week, just consistent action on fish to 3-0. Stripers are improving and a few quality fish are showing in 20 feet or less of water at the buoy line and west ramp. Galen Tsabetsaye, Canyon Country, landed an 18-0 striper on home-made plug. Trout plant this week. For more information, contact the marina at (661) 775-6232. PIRU: Overall fair fishing. The trout bite has been fair to good with some limits taken by trollers fishing Needlefish behind four to five colors of leadcore line. Most of the fish are under a pound, but Bob Reader, Los Angeles, caught a 2-10 rainbow on a Pin Minnow. Limits were posted by Kevin Klima and Martin Pye, both Moorpark, while trolling. Bluegill and redear are fair with more and more fish shallow. Crappie are spotty. There will fishing derby Saturday, June 10, with a $250 cash prize for the adult angler catching the biggest fish. The junior angler with the biggest fish will win a new bicycle. Lots of other prizes. The event is being held on Free Fishing Day, when no state fishing license is required to fish. For more information call the marina at (805) 521-1231 or check out the web site at www.lakepiru.org (http://www.lakepiru.org/). PYRAMID: DFG trout plant this week will keep the trout action steady for bait anglers and trollers. The best action is in the channel near the marina for the fresh planters and at the dam for holdover rainbows. Stripers continue to be spotty, but the smallmouth and largemouth are pretty good in four to 18 feet of water on plastics. No panfish reports. For information, call the USFS at (661) 296-9710 or call the concession at (661) 257-2790. TAIT RANCH TROUT PONDS: These fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release trout ponds in Frazier Park have fish to 5-0. Fishing billed by hour, 1/2-day, or full day. For information, call (661) 245-6315. QUAIL LAKE: No reports. PUDDINGSTONE: DFG trout plant last week. SANTA FE DAM: DFG trout plant last week. For more information call (626) 334-1065. ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. BALBOA PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant last week. ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. For more information, call (888) 527-2757 or (818) 899-3779. HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. For more information, contact the Hollenbeck Recreation Center at (213) 261-0113. JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No DFG plants in over a month. KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Call (818) 448-7317 for information.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: Excellent bass action. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule by reservation only. Overall, there were 151 anglers who reported 803 bass, 316 bluegill, 25 crappie and one smallmouth bass. Reservations are available through Ticket Master at (619) 220- 8497, or go to www.TicketMaster.com (http://www.ticketmaster.com/). They go on sale the second Tuesday of each month and usually sell out that day for the following month. July reservations go on sale June 13. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). HODGES: Fair fishing overall, with decent bites on bluegill and crappie and spotty bass fishing. There were 414 anglers who reported 237 bluegill, 116 crappie, 65 bass, and 22 channel cats. Adam Perez, San Diego landed a 5-11 largemouth. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). EL CAPITAN: The crappie and bass bites remain fair to good, and the bluegill bite continues to build. Overall, 471 anglers reported 528 bass, 432 bluegill, 166 crappie, 85 channel cats, and 28 blue cats. The top four spots in an ABA event here over the weekend all had just over 12 pounds of bass for five fish. The lake is open Friday through Sunday. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. LOWER OTAY: Bass and crappie bites are fair to good, and the bluegill bite is wide open. There were 619 anglers who reported catching 2,114 bluegill, 399 bass, 206 crappie, 25 channel cats, and five redear. Top bass was a 7.55-pounder caught by Derek Harris, Chula Vista, on a brown jig. Sarah Lucas, Spring Valley, had a stringer with 126 bluegill to just a tick under a pound. Gary Smith, Compton, had five channel cats that weighed 53-9, including a 16-10. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. UPPER OTAY: Fair action on the bass with 32 anglers reporting 22 bass. The lake is open to catch-and-release fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). SAN VICENTE: Holdover trout continues fair for anglers targeting the rainbows, while the bass bite is also fair. Bluegill are fair to good. This past week, 144 anglers reported 287 bluegill, 236 bass, 60 trout, 38 channel cats, 24 redear, and six crappie. pretty good. The lake is open on a Thursday through Sunday schedule. For more information call the City Lakes information line at (619) 465- 3474 or log on to the web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 668-3274. MURRAY: Tough fishing overall, with only a spotty bite on bass and some decent bluegill action. This past week, there were 186 anglers who reported 106 bluegill, 62 bass, eight rainbow trout, and two channel cats. The launch ramp and T-Floats are temporarily closed. Only small boats are able to launch. For more information contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. MIRAMAR: Spotty trout action on holdover fish with a few bass and catfish showing. There were 163 anglers this past week who reported 58 rainbows, 49 bass, 14 channel cats and six bluegill. The lake is open on a Saturday through Tuesday schedule. Water levels should be back up for this weekend. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). For rental boat reservations, call (619) 390-0223. SUTHERLAND: Fair to good action in a mixed bag bite. There were 135 anglers who reported 135 bass, 111 bluegill, 92 crappie, and 86 channel cats. The lake is open on a Friday through Sunday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/ (http://www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/). WOHLFORD: Trout have moved into deeper waters as lake temps grow warmer. Trout anglers need to be in boats or float tubes to have success. Use green Power Bait and nightcrawlers in combination with light tackle for success. Eugene Carle, Oceanside, caught a 12-12 catfish with Rat-L-Trap lure at the west buoy line. Bass are spotty. Shad are moving into shallows in the early morning. Crappie also starting to stir. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4346 or log on to the lake's Web site at www.wohlfordlake.com (http://www.wohlfordlake.com/). DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week. DIXON: The final trout plant of the season went in last week. The lake will shift to its summer hours June 15, where night fishing will be allowed only Thursday through Saturday nights. Trout action has remained good, with fly-lined nightcrawlers the best bet. Bass action was a little slow again this week, but a number of fish to 5-0 reported. Fishing reports are on the Internet at www.dixonlake.com (http://www.dixonlake.com/). For more information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4345. POWAY: Trout are moving deeper and the best action has been for boat anglers trolling along the east shore, near Bucktail Bay and off Jump-Off Point. Still the odd limit showing up. Catfish have improved with decent action at the log boom's east corner. Excellent bluegill action in Hidden Bay, the Fishing Pier, and Half Moon Bay. Bass still very spotty. Lake is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more fishing information, call the snack bar at (858) 679-5465, the Poway information line at (858) 668-4770, or concessions at (858) 486-1234. JENNINGS: The bass bite is improving and catfish action is good. Trout are slower and have moved to deeper water. The buoy line and the north end of the Half Moon Cove are best spots using fly-lined crawlers. Lake is open Friday through Sunday. Areas near the dam that were closed last week are now open to anglers fishing from boats. Eggert Point and Shadow Cove are now open. Upcoming events: Free fishing class 1 p.m. Saturday. The 2006 night fishing season June 2. For more information, contact the ranger office at (619) 390-1300 or visit the web site at www.lakejennings.org (http://www.lakejennings.org/). MORENA: Bluegill and crappie are good with some limits posted on jigs. Bass fair to good on jigs crick baits. Catfish are biting fair to good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers. Carp action is very good on corn or dough baits. The boat launch is open. The 24-hour fishing update line is (619) 478-5473. For lake information, call (619) 694-3049. CUYAMACA: Good trout action on power baits or inflated nightcrawlers doused with scent and fished on 20- to 30-inch leaders. The Lone Pine, pump house cove, tee dock, west shore and buoy lines are hot spots. Lots of limits after a Mt. Lassen plant this past week. For more information call (760) 765-0515 or visit the Web site at www.lakecuyamaca.org (http://www.lakecuyamaca.org/). HENSHAW: A great improvement this week on crappie and catfish, and a few bass are showing. Tom Weber and Chad Scott, Buena Park, caught 35 crappie to nearly 2-0. Bill Bayless, Fresno, caught 25 crappie to 1-0. Kevin Sly, Vista, landed eight catfish to 4-0 and Shawn Brown, Los Angeles, landed eight cats to 3-0. Howard Florence, Los Angeles, caught four bass to 6-0. For more information, call (760) 782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: There is a very good early morning striper bite from Vegas Wash to Hole 33. The fish are running to 6-0, with most in the 1-8 range, and they are pushing shad on the surface in the mornings and showing on shad-like swimbaits. Later in the day bait anglers are getting stripers off Sand Island. Water levels falling. Largemouth fair in coves and points. For more information, call Laker Plaza at (702) 564-3058. WILLOW BEACH: The striper bite is good but mostly on small fish to 6-0 at Monkey Hole. However, Gary Gates, Prescott, Ariz., landed a 36-pound striper with imitation trout lure. For more information, contact the marina at (928) 767-4747. LAKE MOHAVE: Good action on small stripers from 1-0 to 3-0 on anchovies and squid with some bigger fish to 6-0 on trolled lures. Best action has been from the Arizona side to Cottonwood Cove. Some largemouth bass action on nightcrawlers and some catfish showing on chicken livers in the coves. For more information, call Cottonwood Cove at (702) 297-1464. BELOW DAVIS DAM: Mostly slow action, with only a few small stripers and catfish showing on cut baits. NEEDLES: Very light fishing pressure, but a few catfish are showing on cut baits, and even fewer stripers to 2-0 on cut anchovies. Largemouth bass are good in area backwaters and irrigation ditches. For more information, call Premier Sports at (760) 326-2727 or Golden Shores at (760) 768-2325. TOPOCK MARSH: Very slow; very hot and windy and not too much activity. For information, call Five Mile Landing (928) 768-2350. HAVASU: Largemouth bass action is good with the best bite still on slow-fished jigs or drop-shotted plastics, with a lot of fish still in shallows. A fair number of stripers have been caught in 18 to 20 feet of water on anchovies. Most of the stripers are 2-0 to 5-0, with most on the smaller end. For more information, call Black Meadow Landing at (760) 663-3811. PARKER STRIP: Fair smallmouth bass action in the main river for anglers fishing rocky structure. Fair catfish action on fish to 3-0 on cut baits or stink baits, but fishing pressure is light. Largemouth gradually improving on backwaters and around docks. BLYTHE: The catfish bite is in full swing here, and the bass, bluegill, and crappie are all pretty decent, and there's a budding striper bite at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. Lance Lonie, Blythe, landed a 20-pound channel cat and a five pound carp on flour tortillas. Jose Vaca, also from Blythe, landed 10 stripers to 8-0 on bucktail jigs. The large and smallmouth bass are also decent on cranks and live bait. Good top water action in the early morning and late afternoon. For more information, call B&B Bait at (760) 921-2248. PALO VERDE: Channel catfish action is good in the backwaters, canals, and main river, and the flathead action on live goldfish or tilapia is also good. Largemouth bass fishing is good on plastic worms, reaction baits, and live minnows in backwaters. PICACHO AREA: Bass fishing is good on live bait and plastics. The catfish bite has also turned on with a lot of channel cats and flatheads showing with warmer weather. MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: After a tournament last weekend a lot of bass to 4-0 are showing on cranks and live shiners. There is also a good crappie bite on small shiners. Stripers showing to 5-0 with a lot of 2-0 class fish reported. Flathead and channel catfish action is good to excellent with fish over 20-0 reported each week now. For more information, contact the Martinez Lake Resort at (928) 783-9589 or check out the Web site at www.martinezlake.com (http://www.martinezlake.com/). YUMA AREA: Bass fishing has been good, especially on live minnows in the main river and local backwaters. Channel catfish action is good on cut baits, and the flathead bite has improved with the best action on live minnows.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: Excellent tilapia action at the state park with anglers catching two fish at a time at Salt Creek and the state park headquarters. The fish are mid-spawn right now and stacked up along the shorelines. Most of the fish are small -- hand-sized -- but there are some bigger fish to 1-8 reported. Other species still slow. For current fishing information, Red Hill Marina (760) 348-2310 or the Salton Sea State Recreation Area (760) 393-3059 or (760) 393-3052. For weather information, call (760) 352-3360 for a recording, or the Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast at (760) 398-7211. Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one. ALAMO RIVER: Few reports. Channel catfish are fair on mackerel or anchovies. COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: Few reports but some channel cats and the odd bass have been reported. ALL AMERICAN CANAL: Very little fishing pressure. FINNEY-RAMER: No report. WEIST LAKE: No report. SUNBEAM LAKE: No report. For information, call (760) 352-3308. LAKE CAHUILLA: No report. For more information, call (760) 564-4712. EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: For updated road and camping information on the region, contact the Interagency Visitor Center at (760) 876-6222 or the Bishop Chamber of Commerce at (760) 873-8405. The Web site is www.bishopvisitor.com (http://www.bishopvisitor.com/). BRIDGEPORT REGION: Bridgeport Reservoir continues to have very good to excellent trout action, with a lot of 2-0 to 4-0 class rainbows being taken. Fly and bait anglers both scoring. The bite at both Upper and Lower Twin lakes have been relatively tough with only a few rainbows and browns showing. The West Walker is a torrent with flows at 2,200 cfs and very tough fishing. The East Walker is flowing at 810 cfs, but anglers are still having decent luck on midge and caddis pupae patterns. Virginia Lakes are also still good. For more information, contact Ken's Sporting Goods at (760) 932-7707. JUNE LAKE LOOP: Weekly trout plants are keeping all of the lakes -- June, Gull, Silver, and Grant -- in the loop pretty decent, but the bite has been best early and late in the day. June is just fair but some trout to 4-0 reported. Grant has produced browns to 6-10 this past week on Rapalas and nightcrawlers. Gull has been consistent with quite a few limits and a 6-2 rainbow was landed by Art Alonzo, Palia. Lundy Lake is open with a fair to good bite. For more information contact, Ernie's Fishing Tackle at (760) 648-7756 or June Lake Marina at (760) 648-7726. MAMMOTH LAKES REGION: The Crowley Lake bite remains good for anglers, with the best action at Sandy Point and Green Banks. Limits are still common for bait anglers, trollers, and fly anglers. There is also an excellent perch bite in Crowley. The Owens River is high and off-color, and even Hot Creek is flowing at 140 cfs and off color. Fly anglers are still getting fish on flashy nymphs fished under strike indicators. Twin Lakes is starting to have more open water, but Mary, Mamie, George, and all the lakes above are still mostly ice-covered. The road is open to Rock Creek Lake and the action is good for bait anglers. Convict Lake is good with fly fishing near marina. For more information contact the Troutfitter at (760) 934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide Service at (760) 935-4250. BISHOP AREA: Sabrina Lake is open with most of the ice gone, and there is pretty good action. Bishop Creek and Intake II remain good with weekly plants. South Lake's road is cleared and it was stocked by the DFG last week. North Lake is still inaccessible. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been fair to good and the perch bite is wide open. The Wild Trout stretch of the Owens and points downstream had been slow with ripping flows. The Owens River gorge above Pleasant Valley has been good for fly anglers. For more information, contact Culver's at (760) 872- 8361 or Brock's at (760) 872-3581. BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Diaz Lake is fair. Cottonwood, Georges, Independence, Lone Pine, Sheperds, Symmes, and Tuttle were all planted this week. For more information, contact the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce at (760) 876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: There continues to be a very good catfish bite at the dam and Camp 9 on frozen shad and Sonny's Catfish Bait. Bass are fair are starting to pick up around Wofford Heights Park. Lots of stringers of bass averaging around 1-8 to 3-0 with some bigger. Crappie remain tough. Trout also remain good for trollers working small spoons or for shore anglers at Camp 9. Limits common. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. KERN RIVER: Both the upper and lower Kern are torrents this week. Flows entering Lake Isabella are over 5,700 cfs and release flows are 4,500 cfs. Anglers are still getting a few trout in the upper river fishing calm spots close to shore and with big spinners. No smallmouth action reported this week. For more information, contact the James' Store at (760) 376-2424. AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper and catfish action. Stripers are excellent right off Highway 119 where the Kern River enters aqueduct on blood worms. Lots of food flowing in has really turned on the bite and anglers are getting lots of fish on both sides of the 18-inch minimum size. Also still very good action near the Buena Vista golf course. Blood worms, lug worms, big minnows, Gitzits and white jigs are all catching fish. The catfish bite has been best on Sonny's Catfish Bait, chicken liver, and frozen shad. For more information, contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. HART PARK LAKE: The warm weather has really turned on the bluegill bite with nice stringers of fish coming out on crickets, nightcrawlers, and wax worms. Bass have sputtered, but a few are showing on nightcrawlers. TRUXTUN LAKE: The bluegill and bass bites are both pretty good here. Lots of bluegill on small baits, and the bass have been best on plastics, nightcrawlers, and live minnows with fish to 3-0 reported. MING LAKE: Closed. BRIGHT LAKE: The trout action has been pretty good since the trout opener with a number of fish to 3-0 and better. Floating baits and small lures are the best bets. No crappie reported. BUENA VISTA LAKES: The catfish action is very good on shad. Bass are spotty. Bluegill is good on wax and meal worms. Michael Stewart, Bakersfield, landed a 35-pound cat on shad. For more fishing information, call the concession at (661) 763-1268 or contact Bob's Bait Bucket at (661) 833-8657. WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair to good bass action and the bluegill bite is really starting to break wide open with the warm weather on crickets. Catfishing on mackerel. SUCCESS LAKE: Water level has skyrocketed and the bass bite has been very good as the fish move into the newly flooded shallows. Plastics best. Trout action fair. The bluegill bite is also really starting to kick into gear. For more information, call the Lakeside Mini Mart at (559) 781-6878. KAWEAH LAKE: The bass bite has been very good with a lot of fish still shallow. Matt Phines, Bakersfield, landed a 10-10 pound bass on a plastic worm. Plastics and jigs have been the top baits. Trout biting at Horse Creek. Bluegill improving by the day, crappie still spotty. For more information, call the marina at (559) 597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES SAN ANTONIO: The smallmouth and largemouth bass bite is on all over the lake, with the best action at the dam, Harris Creek, and near the North Shore Store. Lots of fish to 18-0 have been reported in the past week on shad, and a 64-pounder was caught last week. Also a decent afternoon and early evening catfish bite on fish to 6-0. Bluegill are showing in good to excellent numbers. Stripers good in morning on anchovies. For more information, call (805) 472-2818. SANTA MARGARITA: The bass bite is still fair to good, and the crappie action is improving. Trout action is great and a DFG plant went in last week Best action on Power Bait and red worms. Bluegill and redear are starting to pick up. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call the marina (805) 438-1522. NACIMIENTO: The white bass are showing in up into the narrows in good numbers. The spotties, largemouth, and smallmouth are also all good with the best bite on dropshot plastics, jigs and cranks. Crappie also turning around with a lot of 3/4-pound fish and some bigger. For more information, call (805) 238-1056, or log on at www.nacimientoresort.com (http://www.nacimientoresort.com/). LOPEZ: Everything seems to be biting. The bluegill and redear bites are both very good on live baits and small jigs. A number of fish over 1-0 reported. Catfish also improving with warm weather. Crappie good on white jigs with limits posted everyday. The largemouth bass are fair to good early and late in the day on reaction baits. For more information call the marina at (805) 489-1006. END
TROUT PLANTS Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked the week of May 22, 2006 with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lake, Cuddy Creek Pond, Elizabeth Lake, Hansen Lake, Jackson Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Piru Creek (Frenchman's Flat), Pyramid Lake. ORANGE: Trabuco Creek. RIVERSIDE: Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake, Perris Lake, Strawberry Creek. SAN BERNARDINO: Arrowbear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Gregory Lake, Jenks Lake, Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork), Seccombe Park Lake, Silverwood Lake. VENTURA: Rose Valley Lakes. FRESNO: Big Creek (Huntington and Kings), Courtright Reservoir, Dinkey Creek, Hume Lake, Huntington Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay, Rancheria Creek, San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, San Joaquin River-South Fork (Mono Hot Springs and Jackass Meadow), Shaver Lake, Tamarack Creek, Tenmile Creek (Upper), Ward Lake, Wishon Reservoir. KERN: Alder Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Brite Valley Reservoir, Cedar Creek (Greenhorn Mtns. Area), Kern River (Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach, and KR#3 to Riverside Park, Kernville). MARIPOSA: Merced River (From Redbud Bridge downstream to South Fork and from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls), Yosemite Lake. MERCED: Merced River from McSwain Dam to Merced Falls. TULARE: Balch Park Lake (Upper and Lower), Big Meadow Creek, Bone Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Bravo Lake, Deer Creek (CA Hot Springs), Dry Meadow Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Kern River (Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge and Brush Creek to Fairview Dam), Kern River-South Fork (Kennedy Meadows), Nobe Young Creek (Lloyd Meadow Road), Peppermint Creek, Poso Creek (Posey), Redwood Lake (Hedrick Pond), Stoney Creek, Tule River Middle Fork (Coffee Camp), Tule River North Fork of Middle Fork (Wishon Campground), Tule River South Fork of Middle Fork (Camp Nelson and Ceder Slopes), White River (Pine Flat Area).
TUOLUMNE: Basin Creek, Beardsley Reservoir, Beaver Creek, Deadman Creek, Herring Creek, Lyons Canal, Lyons Reservoir, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake (Strawberry Lake), Powerhouse Stream, Stanislaus River (Clarks, Middle, North and South forks), Sullivan Creek, Tuolumne River (Middle, North and South forks).
CATFISH PLANTS
The following waters, listed by county, will be planted by the Department of Fish and Game with one-pound channel catfish during the week of May 15, 2006. ORANGE: Trabuco Lake.