spectr17
11-29-2007, 07:36 PM
FISH REPORT -- ONS-matthews-gollaz – 28nov07
Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz 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 in 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 (http://www.jesseshunting.com:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=odwriter%40earthlink.net) and/or Cyndi Gollaz at
cagurrola@charter.net (http://www.jesseshunting.com:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=cagurrola%40charter.net).
This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in Southern California each
week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is posted on the
Outdoor News Service web site (www.outdoornewsservice.com) and Jesse's Hunting
web site forum section (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually
posted by Thursday morning at both sites. The fish report is copyrighted and
any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited
without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor
News Service web site is allowed.
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.
MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. The largest trout planted in Southern California waters each year are the
super trophy trout from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms that go into sister waters,
Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake. SARL cranked out a 20-pounder and Corona
had a 17 ½-pounder this past week. The super trophies are to be planted each
week through the end of the year. There is no place where you can be sure of a
shot at a trout over 20 pounds -- except here. For an update, call the SARL
tackle shop at 714-632-7830 or the Corona Lake tackle shop at 951-277-4489, or
you can visit The Lakes website at www.fishinglakes.com, and you can see photos
of the latest big trout at www.fishingwebcam.com.
2. Between the trout and the sturgeon, Hesperia Lake remains in our top picks.
While no 100-plus pound sturgeon were caught this past week, there were several
over 25 pounds, and the trout bite remains very good with rainbows to 12 pounds
and browns to 7 1/2. For more information, call the tackle shop at 800-521-6332
or 760-244-5951.
3. Pyramid Lake’s striper bite is still holding strong and represents one of
the best fishing opportunities of the late fall. While the best action has been
on drifted cut baits, mostly sardines and anchovies, there are good surface
boils almost every day as the fish come up to chase shad. Lots of fish up into
the six-pound range and some bigger. Catches of eight to 20 fish per angler are
not uncommon. For an update on the bite, call the concession at 661-257-2790.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The urban trout bites have been good to awesome this past week. Santa
Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake each has a number of trout over 10 pounds, in
addition to good action on smaller fish, and both are being planted with
20-plus pounders. Hesperia Lake has produced brown trout to seven-plus pounds,
and excellent rainbow trout action. And Irvine Lake has just been wide open
with fish to 10-plus pounds reported. Diamond Valley Lake is a good bet with
fresh-planted rainbow to nearly eight pounds for shore anglers and holdover
trout to 7 1/2 pounds for trollers. Angler’s Lake in Hemet also came back on
with a good bite and some fish over the five-pound mark. All of the San
Bernardino County Park lakes -- Glen Helen, Cucamonga-Guasti, Prado, Yucaipa,
and Mojave Narrows -- are getting weekly plants, including a fair number of
quality fish each month. All of these lakes are sleeper picks with very good
fishing, especially right after the weekly 1,000-pound county plants. In San
Diego County, Cuyamaca continues to have a consistently good bite and Dixon
Lake is good after its weekly plants. Lake Isabella is also good.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Diamond Valley, Casitas, and Castaic again share the top picks
this week all with fair to good bites, but Piru, Pyramid, Cachuma, Skinner,
Perris, and Silverwood are all pretty fair for largemouth bass, too. The bite
can be highly variable with the fish up on top one morning and in 40 feet or
deeper later the same day. More and more fish being taken deep on ice jigs and
spoons. In San Diego County, El Capitan has a pretty fair bass bite for the
season. On the Central Coast, Lopez has been pretty decent, too.
STRIPED BASS: Pyramid, Castaic, Skinner, and Silverwood are continuing to have
pretty good bites on one to four pound fish, but all four are producing a few
fish to nine to 12 pounds each week. There is also early and late in the day
surface action at Pyramid and Silverwood. On the Colorado River, bites have
been up and down. This past week Mead and Havasu perked with the full moon, but
Willow Beach still didn’t crank any big fish. Some quality fish are starting to
show in Mohave in the trout planting areas.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are slowing most places. The best bet
for bluegill and redear continues to be Perris, but there was very light
fishing pressure here this week and only a few fish reported. Crappie have also
lulled almost everywhere, too, but there’s still fair action at Piru, Perris,
and Lopez (on the Central Coast). Casitas produced a whopping 3-8, but it was a
fluke catch. Cooler weather will slow all these bites even more.
CATFISH: Not a lot of good news left on the catfish front. Santa Ana River
Lakes, Corona Lake, and Hesperia Lake still have decent bites for the few
anglers fishing the cats here. Some catfish are still being caught at the
Colorado River, but the fishing pressure has dropped to almost nothing.
Sturgeon have been very good at Hesperia Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Excellent striper bite on swimbaits and anchovies off the docks, by
the spillway, in Cleghorn, Miller Canyon, Outhouse Cove, and near the dam. The
better stripers are from six to nine pounds, with the occasional beast over 10,
and a lot of smaller fish. Tim Chang, Laguna Niguel, caught a six-pound striper
on anchovies. Catfish action fair to good off the docks and in Cleghorn on
mackerel and anchovies. Largemouth bite fair on worms, plastics or plugs in the
early mornings. Trout action also very good on Power Bait. DFG trout plant
three weeks ago. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281,
Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The private marinas are all closed for the season and will
reopen in spring. The trout action has slowed but that might be due to the
light pressure rather than poorer fishing. Try Needlefish, Thomas Buoyants or
CD Rapalas. Trout Alley, Metcalf Bay, and the area near the west ramp are still
the most productive areas for trollers. Power Bait and nightcrawlers are the
top choices for bait anglers. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. The public launch
ramps on the north shore will be open until Dec. 1. After that the lake will
not be accessible by boat. Information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear
Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or bigbearmarina.com.
GREGORY LAKE: Still a slow to fair trout bite. Try Power Bait (rainbow) and
nightcrawlers. Crappie fair to good, but most fish are very small. Also some
bluegill and the odd catfish in the catch. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The lake is closed for the season. Recorded information:
909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No report.
JENKS LAKE: Closed for the season. Only walk-in access. Information:
909-794-1123, ext. 4.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Still decent action on sturgeon, but no whoppers caught this
past week. Top fish was a 36-pounder landed by Shawn Stevnson, Rialto, on a
nightcrawler off the east bank. Joseph Moreno, Adelanto, caught a 32 pounder,
while Andrew Hunt, San Bernardino, landed a 25-pounder. Willie Mays, Pacoima,
had a 22 pounder, and Pete Rangel, Fontana, landed an 18-pound sturgeon. The
trout action is still very good with rainbows to 10 pounds or better and brown
over five pounds showing. Top rainbow this past week was a 12-pounder caught by
Mario Gonzales, Victorville. Dave Mills, Apple Valley, landed a 10-4, while
Kurt Menting, San Bernardino, caught a 9-8. Mike Pearson, Riverside, had an
8-8, and Robby Wilson, Hesperia, landed a 7-8 brown trout. The catfish action
slowed but still a few cats showing for the few anglers fishing them.
Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action excellent on both lakes with anglers using power bait
(spring green, lemon twist and sherbet), inflated night crawlers, jigs and
lures. Lots of limits were taken this week with many trout over three
pounds. Hot spots include the grassy point, eastern logged shore and the
western shore of lake 3 as well as the northern, eastern and western shores of
lake 2. Todd Sinn, San Bernardino, caught an 8-2 rainbow on a pink Combat jig.
Anthony Lujan, Chino, landed a 6-13 trout on lime twist Power Bait. Matt
Pulver, Apple Valley, caught a 6-3 rainbow on a crappie jig with a Power Worm
tail. Ada Melendez, Fontana, caught a 5-5 trout. Kyle Contreras, 15, Adelanto
caught a five-pound trout on a nightcrawler. Vanessa Arrendondo, 8, Riverside
caught a 4-11 rainbow. Mark Kristler, Rialto, landed a 4-3 trout on a crappie
jig. Tom Walton, Montclair, caught a 3-15 trout on a nightcrawler. Michael
Moore, Perris, caught a 3-4 trout on a Thomas Buoyant. The lakes’ hatchery
stocks every Friday. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Good trout action with fish up into the four-pound range. Top
baits are Power Bait, nightcrawlers and plastic worms. Action is best in the
morning. A seven-pound fish was reported this week. County trout plants will be
weekly through April 17. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. The catfish action is
also good with fish to six pounds on mackerel and shrimp. Fair to good bluegill
action on meal or wax worms. Most fish are in the 1/4-pound range. Fair bass
action on plastic worms. Fish to two pounds. Information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Good trout action with a lot of limits reported on Power
Bait, jigs, and nightcrawlers. Many fish into the 2 1/2-pound range, and a 5-2
rainbow was landed by Jhon O’Brien, Fontana, to top off his five-fish limit.
Trout Derby set for Dec. 15 with a $10 entry fee. Both DFG and county trout
plants last week. County plants will be made each Thursday through April 17 and
trophy trout will be planted each month this year. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Good trout action on Power Bait (rainbow, chartreuse, spring green or
orange) and nightcrawlers in the mornings and late afternoons. The fish are
from one to two pounds. Carmelo Deraz, Corona, had one of the best trout landed
this week, a 5.3-pound rainbow landed on pink Power Bait. Some nice catfish in
the five-pound range are still being landed on shrimp near the dam and from the
cattails in basin 1. County trout plants of 1,000 pounds will be made each
Thursday through April 17, and trophy trout will be planted each month this
year. No fishing on stocking days. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Good trout action this week with the best bite on Power Bait,
mini-jigs, and small trout plastics. Most of the fish are 1 1/2 to two pounds,
but the week’s top rainbow weighed in at 8-6 and was landed by Jake Tiel,
Yucaipa, on a yellow and white mini jig. County plants will be made each
Thursday through April 17 and trophy trout will be planted each month this
year. There was also a DFG plant last week ago. Slow action on catfish,
bluegill and carp, but Robert Granado, San Bernardino, caught a 14-pound carp.
Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Good to excellent trout action with lots of limits reported on fish
averaging from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Mikayla Santiago, Fontana, landed a
10-pound rainbow on Thanksgiving day fishing in the small lake with lime Power
Bait and a Barbie fishing pole and reel. J.D. Coldwell, Ontario, caught a 7-2
rainbow on salmon eggs, while Lauryn Sinn, San Bernardino, caught a 3-10
rainbow on a Combat Jig. County plants will be made each Thursday through April
17 and trophy trout will be planted each month this season. DFG trout plant
last week. Top trout baits have been Power Bait (yellow or green) and
nightcrawlers. Slow to fair catfish action. Most of the fish are running two to
four pounds and are showing on mackerel, shrimp and Hog Wild. Information:
909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and
Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The big bass really starting to show in better numbers. Anglers
are using Z -Plugs, California Swimbabes, Spro BBZ, and Huddlestons for the
bigger fish, but drop-shotted plastics and ice jigs in deep water are also
producing fish. The east dam, the west dam, off the shore and point, and to the
left of the marina were the most reported fishing spots. John Getgen, El Cajon,
landed a 7.95-pound bass. Janelle Eberhard, 7, Big Bear Lake, caught a
7.1-pound bass off the north shore. Kevin Hitchcock, Murrieta, caught a
4.29-pound bass. The bass tournament over the weekend saw lots of limits. Top
five-fish limit was 30.55 pounds. Shore anglers continue to own the trout bite.
Good action in 10 to 25 feet near the marina mainly along the shoreline fishing
area. Kastmasters, mini jigs, Power Worms, and nightcrawlers are best. Shayne
Tucker, Cherry Valley, caught a 7.8-pound trout on a mini jig in the third
cove. Chris Mora, Hemet, caught a 6.84-pound trout on a jig. Cynthia Cliffton ,
9, Downey landed a 6.68-pound rainbow on nightcrawlers. Grover Kungman,
Aguanga, caught a 4.3-pound trout on a nightcrawler. Annelisa Zamora, 9, Hemet
landed a 4.02-pound trout on nightcrawlers. Striper action still hot on
swimbaits, plugs, or stick baits. Action best early in the morning, late in the
afternoon, or on overcast days. Fish the points near the marina or in the
inlet. Pete Hoffman, Foothill Ranch, caught a 17.6-pound striper. Nhan Doan,
Moreno Valley, landed 13.5 and 11.7-pound stripers. Akira Cornell, San Jacinto,
caught a 12.12-pound striper. Dustin Surgent, Temecula, caught a 12-pound
striper. Still a strong catfish bite in the third cove and near the rock quarry
or wave attenuator on anchovies, mackerel, and raw shrimp. Fish off the bottom
in 25 to 50 feet. Gary Stinson, Hemet, caught nine and 10-pound cats on shrimp.
Fair panfish bite along the dams, specifically near the stairways, in 20 to 30
feet with worms. Craig Allard, Riverside, caught a 1.84-pound redear on a
nightcrawler Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait &
Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: Trout action good on trout worms and on green, white and rainbow Power
Bait off the marina and at lots 5, 11 and 12. James Gillespie, Huntington
Beach, caught a 2-2 trout. DFG trout plant last week with fish to four pounds
in the stock. Bass action fair on swimbaits in the mornings and evenings.
Crappie action fair to good on small and red/white jigs off the marina docks in
the morning. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, caught a 2-8 crappie. The
bluegill and redear bites finally slowed, but the fishing pressure has been
very light this past week. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store
hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Good to excellent striper action with fish over 10 pounds. Top fish
was a 10-2 landed by Anthony Esparza, Corona, on anchovies at the inlet. Trout
action excellent at Launch Ramp 2 on floating nightcrawlers off the bottom and
Power Bait. DFG 500-pound trout plant last week. Very good catfish bite on
shrimp and mackerel. Robert Hernandez, Glendora, caught a nine-pound cat on
shad. Slow to fair bass action on worms with fish to three pounds. Information:
store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: Bite still on the slow side. The afternoon sun sparks the bite.
Carp action slow to fair on dough balls. The bass action is fair at the
southwest corner of the lake in the stickups on plastics. Decent catfish bite
on nightcrawlers, mackerel or shrimp at midlake. Dipping any bait in stink bait
will help the action. Spotty striper and crappie action. Information:
Catfishing R Us at 877-685-7752.
CORONA LAKE: Excellent trout bite with 16 rainbow trout over 10 pounds
reported. The top fish was a 17 1/2-pound rainbow, but no one landed any of the
20-plus pounders planted last week. The 20-plus pounders are to be planted each
week through the new year. Other big fish landed this past week include a pair
of 14 pounders, one landed by Tim Bryant, Corona, and the other by Chris
Lambeth, Chino Hills. A 13 3/4-pound rainbow was caught by Russ Thompson, Chino
Hills, while 13 1/4-pound trout were caught by Ryan Hobson, Upland, and Annette
Elias, Brea. Trout at 13 pounds even were caught by Ryan Maurivi, Grand
Terrace, and Jorge Nunez, Southgate. There were also a lot of five-fish limits
reported with the average trout from 1 1/2 to two pounds. The best action has
continued to be in the deeper water at the dam and off the far side of the
lake, with boat anglers able to reach and fish the deep water more effectively
than shore fishermen. Nitro Baits in chartreuse or with nightcrawlers doused
with garlic Nitro Gravy have been the best baits. A few fish are also showing
on trolled Kastmasters or small trout jigs. Information: 951-277-4489 or
www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: Few reports but some bullheads and catfish are showing, and the
bluegill action is improving on meal or wax worms.
RANCHO JURUPA: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout plants will go in every other week for the season.
Fair catfish bite from all three lakes on pieces of nightcrawlers, Power Bait,
mackerel or anchovies. Upcoming events: fishing derby every Saturday from 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 909-795-2411.
ANGLER'S LAKE: Good trout action with some trophy rainbows still in the mix
from two weeks ago, including several fish over nine pounds. The lake is closed
Mondays. Information: 951-927-2614.
REFLECTION LAKE: The lake will be planted with 500 pounds of rainbow trout each
week through spring. The bite has been very good on chartreuse Power Bait.
Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: The catfish action is good, especially on those sunny
afternoons. Some of the large catfish are feeding in preparation for winter
hibernation on mackerel, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Rainbow trout plants started
last week, and will continue twice a month through spring. The action is fair
on Power Bait or nightcrawlers. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 951-679-6562.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: Good trout action on Power Bait, plastic worms and nightcrawlers.
Lots of limits with the occasional trout over five pounds. Isaac Wellborn,
Scripps Ranch, caught a seven-pound trout off shore on a half nightcrawler. DFG
trout plant three weeks ago. Also a decent carp and bluegill bite on dough and
wax worms, respectively. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information:
Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: There were 14 rainbows that topped the 10-pound mark in
the past week, including the week’s top trout at 20 pounds, in an excellent
bite that produced limits for many anglers. The 20-even was caught by Marcello
Cannon, Chatsworth, while fishing with rainbow Nitro Bait in Chris’ Pond.
Cannon also caught a 12.1-pound rainbow. Other big fish include a 15.1-pounder
landed by Ritchie Jaime, Placentia, on rainbow Nitro Bait, and a 14 1/2-pounder
was caught by Lhorilyn Bautista, Long Beach. Thomas Lee, Westminster, caught a
14-pounder, while Paul Kish, Baldwin Park, landed a 12-10 rainbow. Top baits
continue to be Nitro Bait in lemon lime, corn, chartreuse, rainbow and white
lightning colors. Nightcrawlers inflated and doused with Crave Gravy or Grease
are also a good bet. Top spots have been La Palma Point, the pump house, near
the boat dock, three pipes, and Chris’ Pond. Information: 714-632-7830 or
www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is
closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or
www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: Too much pressure and the Santa Ana winds played havoc on this
lake. The trout bite has been on the slow side since Saturday, however, the
super 20-pound trout are still swimming the waters. Most anglers were using
half nightcrawlerse and salmon eggs. Some fish were caught trolling.
Roostertails are the best bet. David Luraschi, Buena Park, caught a 10.2-pound
trout on nightcrawlers off Trout Island. Craig Mizufuka, Del Mar, landed a
9.8-pound trout on a Power worm off the island. Steve Dudley, Lompoc, landed an
8.12-pound trout on nightcrawlers off the west shore. Phil Dobrick, Huntington
Beach, caught an eight-pound trout on a Kastmaster. Kevin Slape, Upland, landed
a 7.14-pound trout on Mira Shad off the West Shore. Trout anglers are still
landing some catfish by mistake on meal worms. The cats are from two to six
pounds. Bluegill bite fair on meal worms or wax worms. Bass action also fair
off the shoreline and Red Clay Cliffs on jigs and drop-shot baits. The lake’s
hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake and derby information: 714-649-9111 or
www.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Utah rainbows were planted this week and last. The action
has been slow due to the algae bloom, although it looks as if the cold water
and a slight breeze are clearing that up. A 4-8 was caught on Lip RipperZ trout
worm. Anglers also using nightcrawlers dipped in garlic. Plenty of bass action
in the one- to two-pound range. A 4-8 was landed on an imitation crawdad.
Crappie still showing in good numbers. A 2-8 fish was caught this week. The
occasional catfish on mackerel or nightcrawlers in the flats. The lake is open
6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Some good trout action at the dam. The fish are moving into shallow
water. Try nightcrawlers, pearl-bikini Needlefish, shad Rapalas or Power Bait
for the best action. The trout are from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Bass bite slowing
down. Fish in the mornings with spoons and Senkos in Cachuma Bay and behind the
island. Also try cranks and jerk baits off the points. Fish primarily in 20 to
50 feet. Catfish are showing on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers in the
narrows and in Little Cachuma, but bite is slowing. Also fair action in
Harvey’s Cove and by the Mohawk Fishing Pier. Crappie bite slow with only a few
in Little Cachuma on crappie jigs and meal worms. DFG trout plant last week.
Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass action has been a little tough, but some quality bass are
still showing and schoolie-sized fish are coming from deep water. Top fish this
past week was an 11-9 caught by Pifa Victoria, Oxnard, on a plastic worm from
shore. An eight-pounder was landed by Jason Rodarte, Ventura, on a
nightcrawler, and fish at seven, six and four pounds were weighed in by Cody
Lucky, Ventura. The six-pounder had a trout stuck in it’s throat. There was
also a seven-even landed by Don Zack, Oakview, on a plastic. Even with the cool
nights, shad were up early this week allowing for anglers to dip net shad for
bait, but most of the action has been on ice jigs or Johnson spoons in 30 to 80
feet of water. Mike Kane, Camarillo, did translate a live shad into a good
catch -- a 3-8 crappie. But the crappie are slow. Trout were planted last week
and there was fairly good action on spinners and Power Bait until late in the
week, including fish to 2 1/2 pounds. The catfish action has remained fair with
a few quality fish showin in the Wadleigh Arm. Robert Shirk, Ventura, landed an
18 1/2-poounder, while John Holste, Oxnard, caught a 15-even. Information:
805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The stripers have stolen the show. The action is good to excellent on
live shad, cut baits, worms or swimbaits with the fish showing right along the
shoreline. A 20-pound striper was landed near the dam on anchovies. Trout still
spotty, but some holdover fish showing in the lower lake, and both the upper
and lower lakes were planted last week. Try Power Bait, nightcrawlers or worms.
The largemouth bass action is fair on live shad and shad imitations.
Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: The trout action is picking up, especially for trollers using
Kastmasters, Rapalas or Needlefish in 65 to 85 feet. Also some good action on
Power Bait, plastic worms and nightcrawlers. Fair crappie action in 10 to 20
feet on white mini-jigs. Most fish are under a pound, with a few over. Jacob
Holiday, Perris, caught a 1-2 trout. Bass action fairon nightcrawlers, Power
Bait and plastic worms in 10 to 15 feet. DFG trout plant last week. Hours are 7
a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: The stripers are still holding strong. They are the dominant bite on
topwater lures, sardines and anchovies. Plenty of boils. Not too many big fish,
but quite a few in the three to four-pound range have been landed with the odd
bigger fish. The shad have moved up to the surface and the fish are all over
them. The dam, the channel, and Yellow Bar are the hot areas. Largemouth bass
bite slowing down. Try plastics and swimbaits. Not too much bluegill or crappie
action again this week. Fair to good trout action on Power Bait, nightcrawlers
and jerk baits. The bite is off and on, but should stabilize after a few more
plants. DFG trout plant last week. Water levels are up and boats are able to
launch. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No launching after 2 p.m. The lake will
close at noon on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. Information: USFS
661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: Few reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Better trout action as the temps continue to drop. Some anglers
are using Power Bait or Lip RipperZ plastics and worms. Slow to fair bass bite
off the east shore on drop-shot plastics, jerk bait and live worms. Most fish
are eight to 12 inches. Bluegill and redear fair on meal and wax worms. Crappie
bite fair on small jigs. The action is best in or around Sailboat Cove. Catfish
bite fair. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Fair to good trout action on nightcrawlers. Fair bluegill action
on worms and nightcrawlers in the afternoon. Most fish are under a pound. Fair
catfish action on mackerel, shrimp or chicken liver. DFG trout plant this week.
Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Some decent trout action at the drop offs. Some fair carp
action with fish in the 1-8 to two-pound range on dough balls. DFG trout plant
this week and last. DFG catfish plant one month ago. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: The lake is closed until May 2008. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: The lake is closed for the season. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Fair bass and crappie action. This week 162 anglers reported
catching 141 bass, 128 crappie, 11channel catfish and one blue catfish. Wayne
Brown, Santee, caught a 7.55-pound largemouth. The lake will be open Thursday
through Monday for fishing. Boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday only. On
Thursday, Friday and Monday permits must be purchased from the Iron Ranger pay
station. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental
boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
LOWER OTAY: No reports. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental
boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: No reports. Trout plant two weeks ago. The lake is open on a
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to
Upper Otay is closed to vehicles, but anglers may walk in to fish during lake
hours. The lake will be open Memorial Day. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Slow to fair bass action. This week 137 anglers reported catching
78 bass, 29 bluegill, 13 channel catfish, six redear and four blue catfish. The
lake is open Saturday and Sunday for fishing. Rentals are available both days.
The shoreline from the launch ramp to the buoy line is closed to all
activities. Lake information: 619-465- 3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: No reports. DFG catfish plant last week. The lake is open for fishing
and boating seven days a week, but during November there will be no boat
rentals. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental
boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: Rainbow trout action fair. This week 80 anglers reported catching 56
rainbow trout and 19 bass. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week, but
there are no boat rentals during November. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
SUTHERLAND: The lake is now closed to fishing until March, 2008. Information:
619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Jack Soup, San Diego, landed a 38-pound blue catfish for the new lake
record. He used mackerel on a 10-pound test line east of the South Shore Rock
Pile. The previous record was a 27-pounder set in 1967. The channel catfish
action is good all over on peanut butter and bread dough or shrimp. Vicente
Garcia, Vista, caught a 7-5 on shrimp off the Senior Shoreline. Some bass
action in the shallows on Senkos, swimbaits or plastic worms. The lake is
closed on weekdays and open on Saturday and Sunday. Trout season opener is set
for Dec. 15. There is a temporary ban on private boat launches, canoes, kayaks,
float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders and anchors due to quagga mussels.
Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week.
DIXON: A 1,200-pound plant will go in this week. The trout bite is good early
and late. The best action has been off pier 3 and in Boat Dock Cove on
nightcrawlers, jigs, Power Bait or Power worms. Bass action still very slow. A
few anglers reported catching some small bass in the one to two-pound range.
Some decent catfish action on Power Bait and nightcrawlers during the weekend’s
derby. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Lake is still closed, but the first trout plant, 4,500 pounds, is set
for Monday. Gates will open at 5 a.m the next day. Due to damages from the
Witch Creek Fire, erosion control curtains have been installed in the lake. No
fishing will be allowed in the area where the curtain is in the water. Lake
information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770,
concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Trout action good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Best action is
near Cactus Patch and in Shadow Cove. Some very good channel catfish action at
the Buoy Line or off Eagle Point on shrimp and nightcrawlers. The fish are
deep. The bass bite is fair in 30 feet of water off the points on crawdads. The
lake is open on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. Lake information:
Ranger Hugh Marx, 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: Bass bite fair on topwater baits in the mornings, in the shallows.
Senkos and Robo Worms are also producing along the shorelines. Crappie anglers
are using jigs and crankbaits. Try pieces of nightcrawlers in the stick-ups for
the bluegill. The catfish action is fair to good on mackerel or chicken livers
in the afternoons. Plenty of channels and whites biting at the brush line. The
trout are starting to move and the bite should pick up within the next couple
of weeks. Trout plants will begin in December. The boat launch is open. Boat
rentals are limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Information: 24-hour
fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: The lake now has a temporary ban on private boats due to quagga
mussels. Good trout action at the Lone Pine, off the Finger Jetty, and near
Chambers Park on scented nightcrawlers, dough bait, Power Bait, Power worms,
Rapalas (orange or fire tiger), gold Panther Martins or Roostertails. Timothy
Lambert, San Diego, caught a 3-4 Alpers’ on a nightcrawler. John Daffron,
Newport Beach, caught a 3.2 Alpers’ on a nightcrawler in Chambers Park. Steve
Jones, Harbison Canyon, landed a three-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler at the
Lone Pine. Also a decent German brown bite on Matukas and Wooly Buggers.
Alpers’ trout and an additional 1,500 pounds of rainbow trout and 500 pounds of
browns went in last week. Five tagged trout still remain. Landing one will land
you a “Day on the Lake” gift certificate. During the winter the lake will be
closed on Wednesdays and will open from noon to five on Sundays. Mon., Tues.,
Thur., and Fri. hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Upcoming events: free
fishing class Saturday at 10 a.m. Information: 760-765-0515 or
www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Crappie action good on crappie jigs, mini jigs and meal worms near the
dam and off the docks. Fair to good catfish action off the docks and near the
dam on shrimp, chicken livers or nightcrawlers. Also a fair bass bite on
topwater baits. Fish to four pounds reported. The water is low and launching
conditions are not ideal. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: The striper fishing at Lake Mead slower than usual, but is still
pretty good. Trolling crankbaits along steep shorelines in Greggs Basin was
yielding stripers. Catfish have been biting all day and night on anchovies and
liver. The ramp is open at South Cove, but it is a gravel ramp. Be careful when
launching here. The lake elevation remains fairly steady around 1,111 feet.
WILLOW BEACH: Trout are stocked every Friday. The fishing for trout has been
good from shore immediately following the stocking on floating baits, salmon
eggs, and small spinners. Stripers have mostly been absent and most locals
think they are moving downriver into Mohave at Cottonwood Cove area where
Nevada trout plants have begun. Some big stripers remain in the vicinity of
Willow Beach year round, and they could show with the coming full moon.
Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The striper bite has been good in spots with the schools of
smaller fish focusing on shad. Davis Dam and Telephone Cove are the best
fishing spots. Trout were planted at Cottonwood Cove last week, but no big
stripers reported. Some largemouth being caught in 25 to 35 feet of water on
dropshot plastics. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Trout plants go in every week. The fishing is exceptional
immediately following each plant. Very good striper and catfish action near
Harrah’s Casino on anchovies. Some good stripers have been landed along the Big
Bend area. Some good smallmouth action at Davis Camp.
NEEDLES: Fair to good striper action on small fish downriver in the Topoc area.
A few catfish are starting to show and some crappie are also biting in the
gorge. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: Fair striper bite. Nothing exceptional in size, but some fish in
the three to six-pound range. Bite best on anchovies and sardines. Catfish
action fair to good on mackerel, anchovies, worms or shrimp in the cattails and
flooded brush. Bass bite fair in the early morning and evening on topwater
plastics. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise,
and Five-Mile Landing. Information: 928-768-2350.
HAVASU: The stripers are chasing shad in the coves and off the docks. Striper
action also good after sunset in the northern part of the lake and up into the
river. The largemouth and smallmouth bites have slowed, but some are still
being landed on straight-tailed soft plastic worms. Good channel catfish bite
on cut squid or mackerel in the evening after 6 p.m. near the bays and in the
coves. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Good smallmouth bass action on crankbaits and topwater lures.
Fair catfish action. The flatheads are biting goldfish and bluegill all along
the lower river. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
BLYTHE: Still some fair flathead action. The fish are in the 15 to 25-pound
range. The channel catfish bite is good, too, on mackerel and anchovies.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are also good in the afternoons on plastics.
Lots of fish to three pounds reported. Bluegill are fair to good in the
backwaters on worms. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Fair flathead action all along the lower river. The river levels
are up and fishing pressure is still light, but there's fair bass and bluegill
action in the backwaters, and an excellent carp bite on fish to five pounds.
Use plastic worms for the bass, wax worms for the bluegill, and dough for the
carp. Cibola Lake has a fair flathead bite on bluegill and goldfish and blue
catfish are showing on chicken livers. Some bass have also been landed in the
main river. Information: Walter's Camp 760-854-3322.
PICACHO AREA: Fair flathead, channel cat, bluegill and striper bite. The
largemouth bite broke open and the action is good.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Good largemouth bite on cranks, spinnerbaits and plastics.
Channel catfish bite decent on anything that stinks, and the crappie bite is
also fair on small live minnows. A few flatheads are showing in the main river,
too. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: The Gila Main Canal in East Yuma is still fair for channel catfish
and large redear and bluegill. All biting on worms. In the main Colorado River,
the channel catfish bite has been fair on chicken liver or worms dipped in
stink bait, but there is very light fishing pressure and very few flatheads
have been reported.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: No reports. Information: Red Hill Marina 760-348-2310, Salton Sea
State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052. Weather information:
760-352-3360, Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast 760-398-7211.
Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one.
ALAMO RIVER: Fair to good catfish action, but light fishing pressure. Several
flatheads in the 15 to 20 pound range.
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 reports.
WEIST LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 760-352-3308.
LAKE CAHUILLA: DFG trout plant last week. Crappie action good around the docks,
but most are small. Also a good bullhead bite. A few largemouth bass showing
along the rocky jetty. Information: 760-564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: Trout season is now closed throughout most of this region. For updated
road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop
Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Only the East Walker River remains open to catch-and-release
fishing in this region. Flows are down are very low and the fishing is tough.
Information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
MAMMOTH AREA: Only Hot Creek and the upper Owens River remain open to fishing,
and both of these waters are catch-and-release only. Both have been fair to
good with the upper Owens seeing a good mid-day bite with some dry fly action.
Also some big browns are showing from the Owens, fish moving up out of Crowley.
Fishing information: The Troutfitter 760-934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide
Service 760-935-4250.
BISHOP AREA: Only Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the lower Owens River (in both
the Gorge below Crowley Lake and below Pleasant Valley Reservoir) remain open
to fishing in this region. Both have been very good for fly anglers with good
dry fly action mid-day, but nymphing is the hot ticket. Information: Culver's
760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Only the Owens River and Diaz Lake remain open to
fishing in this region. Both have been slow. Information: 760-876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: Very good trout action on Gulp Power Bait, nightcrawlers and
garlic oil. A decent amount of fish being landed in the three to four-pound
range. Also a fair catfish bite at the dam. Other species slow. Information:
Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: The Kern River flows are low. Fish the pools with salmon eggs and
crickets for the trout in the lower River. Both the upper and lower stretches
of the Kern were planted last week. Information: Kern River Troutfitter
760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper bite on anchovies and blood worms. Fish
are from three to five pounds. Swimbaits also being thrown and enticing a few
fish. Danny Garland, Bakersfield, caught a 21-pound striper on blood worms.
Fair to good catfish bite. Try mackerel, shrimp, shad or liver. Fish in the
seven to 10-pound range.
HART PARK LAKE: Trout action very good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Plant
last week. Still some fair to good carp action on dough bait or corn meal. Fair
bluegill action on wax worms and crickets.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Carp action good on dough bait. Bluegill action fair to good on
wax worms and crickets. Good catfish bite. Good trout action. Plant last week.
MING LAKE: The lake is open for fishing. Some bass action has been reported on
plastic worms and minnows. Trout bite very good. Trout plant last week.
BRITE LAKE: Carp bite good on dough and corn meal. Good bluegill bite on
crickets and meal worms. Trout bite very good on Power Bait, nightcrawlers and
garlic oil. Trout plant last week.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Trout season in full swing. Look for the big trout topping
10 pounds left the derby two weeks ago. Top fish landed at the derby was a 7-8.
Best trout action on Power Bait, nightcrawlers or garlic oil. Still a decent
striper bite on blood worms and lug worms. The crappie bite is also decent on
small minnows. The catfish bite is good on shad or minnows. The bluegill bite
is fair on wax and meal worms.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair bluegill bite on wax and meal worms. The fish are from one
to a pound and a half on wax worms or crickets. Also a fair catfish bite on
mackerel.
SUCCESS LAKE: The levels are low, but anglers are still catching big numbers of
bass on Senkos and swimbaits. Trout plant last week. No launching, only bank
fishing. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Decent bass bite. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Decent striper bite near Bee Rock Cove and in Harris Creek on
anchovies and swimbaits. Fishing off the docks will also do the trick. Another
six-pounder was reported. Fish in the mornings. Some smallmouth action.
Largemouth action also slow with sparks of action around the rocky points on
swimbaits, spoons and plastic worms. Fair catfish action on anchovies.
Information: 805-472-2818.
SANTA MARGARITA: The trout action is coming to life, especially with cooler
temps. Try Power Bait or worms. Decent crappie action on jigs near the river.
Fair largemouth bass action on drop-shot plastics or Brush Hogs. DFG trout
plant this week. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Information: 805-438-1522.
NACIMIENTO: Fair to good spotted bass action in the early mornings and in the
late evenings with fish to 3 1/2 pounds reported. Anglers have been using
topwater baits and shad, which are concentrated around the marina.
Nightcrawlers have also been effective. Fair to good catfish action on mackerel
and shrimp. Fair bluegill bite on meal worms. Some crappie are also showing on
crappie jigs. The white bass are in Las Tables and the narrows in a fair bite.
Water level stable. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
LOPEZ: The trout are concentrated near the dam in 10 to 15 feet on
nightcrawlers and Power Bait. The action is best in Cottonwood and Mallard
Coves. DFG trout plant this week. A lot of 1/2 pounders are being brought in,
and a good number of holdovers from a pound to 2-8 are being landed. The
evenings are cooling way down with temps below the 30 degree mark, so the
action will only get better. Still some bass action, despite the colder waters,
on jigs, especially in Wittenberg. Plastics, swimbaits and live shad are also
top choices. The smallmouth bass action is also decent on jigs and spoons. Both
the largemouth and smallmouth are concentrated off the main lake points on
Senkos. Very good crappie action in 25 to 30 feet across from the marina and
near the boat house on jigs. Fair bluegill and redear action on meal and wax
worms. Most bluegill are from one to two pounds. Catfish bite spotty. Try
anchovies or shrimp. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks
and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be
restocked this week with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of
Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake,
Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake,
La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road
Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (East & West Forks), Santa Fe
Reservoir.
ORANGE: Laguna Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
SAN LUIS OBISPO: Atascadero Lake, Lopez Lake, Santa Margarita Lake.
END
CATFISH PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks
and personnel, the following lakes, listed by county, will be restocked this
week with one-pound channel catfish from the Department of Fish and Game
hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park
Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, Hansen Dam, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Lincoln Park Lake,
Magic Johnson Lake.
Compiled by Cyndi Gollaz 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 in 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 (http://www.jesseshunting.com:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=odwriter%40earthlink.net) and/or Cyndi Gollaz at
cagurrola@charter.net (http://www.jesseshunting.com:2095/3rdparty/squirrelmail/src/compose.php?send_to=cagurrola%40charter.net).
This report is published by 11 daily newspapers in Southern California each
week. Frequently it is edited for space. A complete version is posted on the
Outdoor News Service web site (www.outdoornewsservice.com) and Jesse's Hunting
web site forum section (www.jesseshunting.com). The updated report is usually
posted by Thursday morning at both sites. The fish report is copyrighted and
any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited
without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor
News Service web site is allowed.
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.
MATTHEWS’ PICKS OF THE WEEK
1. The largest trout planted in Southern California waters each year are the
super trophy trout from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms that go into sister waters,
Santa Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake. SARL cranked out a 20-pounder and Corona
had a 17 ½-pounder this past week. The super trophies are to be planted each
week through the end of the year. There is no place where you can be sure of a
shot at a trout over 20 pounds -- except here. For an update, call the SARL
tackle shop at 714-632-7830 or the Corona Lake tackle shop at 951-277-4489, or
you can visit The Lakes website at www.fishinglakes.com, and you can see photos
of the latest big trout at www.fishingwebcam.com.
2. Between the trout and the sturgeon, Hesperia Lake remains in our top picks.
While no 100-plus pound sturgeon were caught this past week, there were several
over 25 pounds, and the trout bite remains very good with rainbows to 12 pounds
and browns to 7 1/2. For more information, call the tackle shop at 800-521-6332
or 760-244-5951.
3. Pyramid Lake’s striper bite is still holding strong and represents one of
the best fishing opportunities of the late fall. While the best action has been
on drifted cut baits, mostly sardines and anchovies, there are good surface
boils almost every day as the fish come up to chase shad. Lots of fish up into
the six-pound range and some bigger. Catches of eight to 20 fish per angler are
not uncommon. For an update on the bite, call the concession at 661-257-2790.
FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS
TROUT: The urban trout bites have been good to awesome this past week. Santa
Ana River Lakes and Corona Lake each has a number of trout over 10 pounds, in
addition to good action on smaller fish, and both are being planted with
20-plus pounders. Hesperia Lake has produced brown trout to seven-plus pounds,
and excellent rainbow trout action. And Irvine Lake has just been wide open
with fish to 10-plus pounds reported. Diamond Valley Lake is a good bet with
fresh-planted rainbow to nearly eight pounds for shore anglers and holdover
trout to 7 1/2 pounds for trollers. Angler’s Lake in Hemet also came back on
with a good bite and some fish over the five-pound mark. All of the San
Bernardino County Park lakes -- Glen Helen, Cucamonga-Guasti, Prado, Yucaipa,
and Mojave Narrows -- are getting weekly plants, including a fair number of
quality fish each month. All of these lakes are sleeper picks with very good
fishing, especially right after the weekly 1,000-pound county plants. In San
Diego County, Cuyamaca continues to have a consistently good bite and Dixon
Lake is good after its weekly plants. Lake Isabella is also good.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Diamond Valley, Casitas, and Castaic again share the top picks
this week all with fair to good bites, but Piru, Pyramid, Cachuma, Skinner,
Perris, and Silverwood are all pretty fair for largemouth bass, too. The bite
can be highly variable with the fish up on top one morning and in 40 feet or
deeper later the same day. More and more fish being taken deep on ice jigs and
spoons. In San Diego County, El Capitan has a pretty fair bass bite for the
season. On the Central Coast, Lopez has been pretty decent, too.
STRIPED BASS: Pyramid, Castaic, Skinner, and Silverwood are continuing to have
pretty good bites on one to four pound fish, but all four are producing a few
fish to nine to 12 pounds each week. There is also early and late in the day
surface action at Pyramid and Silverwood. On the Colorado River, bites have
been up and down. This past week Mead and Havasu perked with the full moon, but
Willow Beach still didn’t crank any big fish. Some quality fish are starting to
show in Mohave in the trout planting areas.
PANFISH: The bluegill and redear bites are slowing most places. The best bet
for bluegill and redear continues to be Perris, but there was very light
fishing pressure here this week and only a few fish reported. Crappie have also
lulled almost everywhere, too, but there’s still fair action at Piru, Perris,
and Lopez (on the Central Coast). Casitas produced a whopping 3-8, but it was a
fluke catch. Cooler weather will slow all these bites even more.
CATFISH: Not a lot of good news left on the catfish front. Santa Ana River
Lakes, Corona Lake, and Hesperia Lake still have decent bites for the few
anglers fishing the cats here. Some catfish are still being caught at the
Colorado River, but the fishing pressure has dropped to almost nothing.
Sturgeon have been very good at Hesperia Lake.
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS
SILVERWOOD: Excellent striper bite on swimbaits and anchovies off the docks, by
the spillway, in Cleghorn, Miller Canyon, Outhouse Cove, and near the dam. The
better stripers are from six to nine pounds, with the occasional beast over 10,
and a lot of smaller fish. Tim Chang, Laguna Niguel, caught a six-pound striper
on anchovies. Catfish action fair to good off the docks and in Cleghorn on
mackerel and anchovies. Largemouth bite fair on worms, plastics or plugs in the
early mornings. Trout action also very good on Power Bait. DFG trout plant
three weeks ago. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281,
Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
BIG BEAR LAKE: The private marinas are all closed for the season and will
reopen in spring. The trout action has slowed but that might be due to the
light pressure rather than poorer fishing. Try Needlefish, Thomas Buoyants or
CD Rapalas. Trout Alley, Metcalf Bay, and the area near the west ramp are still
the most productive areas for trollers. Power Bait and nightcrawlers are the
top choices for bait anglers. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. The public launch
ramps on the north shore will be open until Dec. 1. After that the lake will
not be accessible by boat. Information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear
Sporting Goods 909-866-3222 or bigbearmarina.com.
GREGORY LAKE: Still a slow to fair trout bite. Try Power Bait (rainbow) and
nightcrawlers. Crappie fair to good, but most fish are very small. Also some
bluegill and the odd catfish in the catch. Information: 909-338-2233.
GREEN VALLEY LAKE: The lake is closed for the season. Recorded information:
909-867-2009.
ARROWBEAR LAKE: No report.
JENKS LAKE: Closed for the season. Only walk-in access. Information:
909-794-1123, ext. 4.
HIGH DESERT LAKES
HESPERIA LAKE: Still decent action on sturgeon, but no whoppers caught this
past week. Top fish was a 36-pounder landed by Shawn Stevnson, Rialto, on a
nightcrawler off the east bank. Joseph Moreno, Adelanto, caught a 32 pounder,
while Andrew Hunt, San Bernardino, landed a 25-pounder. Willie Mays, Pacoima,
had a 22 pounder, and Pete Rangel, Fontana, landed an 18-pound sturgeon. The
trout action is still very good with rainbows to 10 pounds or better and brown
over five pounds showing. Top rainbow this past week was a 12-pounder caught by
Mario Gonzales, Victorville. Dave Mills, Apple Valley, landed a 10-4, while
Kurt Menting, San Bernardino, caught a 9-8. Mike Pearson, Riverside, had an
8-8, and Robby Wilson, Hesperia, landed a 7-8 brown trout. The catfish action
slowed but still a few cats showing for the few anglers fishing them.
Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
JESS RANCH: Trout action excellent on both lakes with anglers using power bait
(spring green, lemon twist and sherbet), inflated night crawlers, jigs and
lures. Lots of limits were taken this week with many trout over three
pounds. Hot spots include the grassy point, eastern logged shore and the
western shore of lake 3 as well as the northern, eastern and western shores of
lake 2. Todd Sinn, San Bernardino, caught an 8-2 rainbow on a pink Combat jig.
Anthony Lujan, Chino, landed a 6-13 trout on lime twist Power Bait. Matt
Pulver, Apple Valley, caught a 6-3 rainbow on a crappie jig with a Power Worm
tail. Ada Melendez, Fontana, caught a 5-5 trout. Kyle Contreras, 15, Adelanto
caught a five-pound trout on a nightcrawler. Vanessa Arrendondo, 8, Riverside
caught a 4-11 rainbow. Mark Kristler, Rialto, landed a 4-3 trout on a crappie
jig. Tom Walton, Montclair, caught a 3-15 trout on a nightcrawler. Michael
Moore, Perris, caught a 3-4 trout on a Thomas Buoyant. The lakes’ hatchery
stocks every Friday. The lake is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
MOJAVE NARROWS: Good trout action with fish up into the four-pound range. Top
baits are Power Bait, nightcrawlers and plastic worms. Action is best in the
morning. A seven-pound fish was reported this week. County trout plants will be
weekly through April 17. DFG trout plant two weeks ago. The catfish action is
also good with fish to six pounds on mackerel and shrimp. Fair to good bluegill
action on meal or wax worms. Most fish are in the 1/4-pound range. Fair bass
action on plastic worms. Fish to two pounds. Information: 760-245-2226.
INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Good trout action with a lot of limits reported on Power
Bait, jigs, and nightcrawlers. Many fish into the 2 1/2-pound range, and a 5-2
rainbow was landed by Jhon O’Brien, Fontana, to top off his five-fish limit.
Trout Derby set for Dec. 15 with a $10 entry fee. Both DFG and county trout
plants last week. County plants will be made each Thursday through April 17 and
trophy trout will be planted each month this year. Information: 909-481-4205.
PRADO: Good trout action on Power Bait (rainbow, chartreuse, spring green or
orange) and nightcrawlers in the mornings and late afternoons. The fish are
from one to two pounds. Carmelo Deraz, Corona, had one of the best trout landed
this week, a 5.3-pound rainbow landed on pink Power Bait. Some nice catfish in
the five-pound range are still being landed on shrimp near the dam and from the
cattails in basin 1. County trout plants of 1,000 pounds will be made each
Thursday through April 17, and trophy trout will be planted each month this
year. No fishing on stocking days. Information: 909-597-4260.
YUCAIPA: Good trout action this week with the best bite on Power Bait,
mini-jigs, and small trout plastics. Most of the fish are 1 1/2 to two pounds,
but the week’s top rainbow weighed in at 8-6 and was landed by Jake Tiel,
Yucaipa, on a yellow and white mini jig. County plants will be made each
Thursday through April 17 and trophy trout will be planted each month this
year. There was also a DFG plant last week ago. Slow action on catfish,
bluegill and carp, but Robert Granado, San Bernardino, caught a 14-pound carp.
Lake information: 909-790-3127.
GLEN HELEN: Good to excellent trout action with lots of limits reported on fish
averaging from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Mikayla Santiago, Fontana, landed a
10-pound rainbow on Thanksgiving day fishing in the small lake with lime Power
Bait and a Barbie fishing pole and reel. J.D. Coldwell, Ontario, caught a 7-2
rainbow on salmon eggs, while Lauryn Sinn, San Bernardino, caught a 3-10
rainbow on a Combat Jig. County plants will be made each Thursday through April
17 and trophy trout will be planted each month this season. DFG trout plant
last week. Top trout baits have been Power Bait (yellow or green) and
nightcrawlers. Slow to fair catfish action. Most of the fish are running two to
four pounds and are showing on mackerel, shrimp and Hog Wild. Information:
909-887-7540.
MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and
Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
SECCOMBE LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-384-5233.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
DIAMOND VALLEY: The big bass really starting to show in better numbers. Anglers
are using Z -Plugs, California Swimbabes, Spro BBZ, and Huddlestons for the
bigger fish, but drop-shotted plastics and ice jigs in deep water are also
producing fish. The east dam, the west dam, off the shore and point, and to the
left of the marina were the most reported fishing spots. John Getgen, El Cajon,
landed a 7.95-pound bass. Janelle Eberhard, 7, Big Bear Lake, caught a
7.1-pound bass off the north shore. Kevin Hitchcock, Murrieta, caught a
4.29-pound bass. The bass tournament over the weekend saw lots of limits. Top
five-fish limit was 30.55 pounds. Shore anglers continue to own the trout bite.
Good action in 10 to 25 feet near the marina mainly along the shoreline fishing
area. Kastmasters, mini jigs, Power Worms, and nightcrawlers are best. Shayne
Tucker, Cherry Valley, caught a 7.8-pound trout on a mini jig in the third
cove. Chris Mora, Hemet, caught a 6.84-pound trout on a jig. Cynthia Cliffton ,
9, Downey landed a 6.68-pound rainbow on nightcrawlers. Grover Kungman,
Aguanga, caught a 4.3-pound trout on a nightcrawler. Annelisa Zamora, 9, Hemet
landed a 4.02-pound trout on nightcrawlers. Striper action still hot on
swimbaits, plugs, or stick baits. Action best early in the morning, late in the
afternoon, or on overcast days. Fish the points near the marina or in the
inlet. Pete Hoffman, Foothill Ranch, caught a 17.6-pound striper. Nhan Doan,
Moreno Valley, landed 13.5 and 11.7-pound stripers. Akira Cornell, San Jacinto,
caught a 12.12-pound striper. Dustin Surgent, Temecula, caught a 12-pound
striper. Still a strong catfish bite in the third cove and near the rock quarry
or wave attenuator on anchovies, mackerel, and raw shrimp. Fish off the bottom
in 25 to 50 feet. Gary Stinson, Hemet, caught nine and 10-pound cats on shrimp.
Fair panfish bite along the dams, specifically near the stairways, in 20 to 30
feet with worms. Craig Allard, Riverside, caught a 1.84-pound redear on a
nightcrawler Information: 800-590-LAKE, marina 951-926-7201, Last Chance Bait &
Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.dvmarina.com.
PERRIS: Trout action good on trout worms and on green, white and rainbow Power
Bait off the marina and at lots 5, 11 and 12. James Gillespie, Huntington
Beach, caught a 2-2 trout. DFG trout plant last week with fish to four pounds
in the stock. Bass action fair on swimbaits in the mornings and evenings.
Crappie action fair to good on small and red/white jigs off the marina docks in
the morning. Lorenzo Martinez, Moreno Valley, caught a 2-8 crappie. The
bluegill and redear bites finally slowed, but the fishing pressure has been
very light this past week. Dock fishing is allowed for a $3 fee during store
hours only. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
SKINNER: Good to excellent striper action with fish over 10 pounds. Top fish
was a 10-2 landed by Anthony Esparza, Corona, on anchovies at the inlet. Trout
action excellent at Launch Ramp 2 on floating nightcrawlers off the bottom and
Power Bait. DFG 500-pound trout plant last week. Very good catfish bite on
shrimp and mackerel. Robert Hernandez, Glendora, caught a nine-pound cat on
shad. Slow to fair bass action on worms with fish to three pounds. Information:
store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
LAKE ELSINORE: Bite still on the slow side. The afternoon sun sparks the bite.
Carp action slow to fair on dough balls. The bass action is fair at the
southwest corner of the lake in the stickups on plastics. Decent catfish bite
on nightcrawlers, mackerel or shrimp at midlake. Dipping any bait in stink bait
will help the action. Spotty striper and crappie action. Information:
Catfishing R Us at 877-685-7752.
CORONA LAKE: Excellent trout bite with 16 rainbow trout over 10 pounds
reported. The top fish was a 17 1/2-pound rainbow, but no one landed any of the
20-plus pounders planted last week. The 20-plus pounders are to be planted each
week through the new year. Other big fish landed this past week include a pair
of 14 pounders, one landed by Tim Bryant, Corona, and the other by Chris
Lambeth, Chino Hills. A 13 3/4-pound rainbow was caught by Russ Thompson, Chino
Hills, while 13 1/4-pound trout were caught by Ryan Hobson, Upland, and Annette
Elias, Brea. Trout at 13 pounds even were caught by Ryan Maurivi, Grand
Terrace, and Jorge Nunez, Southgate. There were also a lot of five-fish limits
reported with the average trout from 1 1/2 to two pounds. The best action has
continued to be in the deeper water at the dam and off the far side of the
lake, with boat anglers able to reach and fish the deep water more effectively
than shore fishermen. Nitro Baits in chartreuse or with nightcrawlers doused
with garlic Nitro Gravy have been the best baits. A few fish are also showing
on trolled Kastmasters or small trout jigs. Information: 951-277-4489 or
www.fishinglakes.com.
EVANS LAKE: Few reports but some bullheads and catfish are showing, and the
bluegill action is improving on meal or wax worms.
RANCHO JURUPA: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 951-684-7032.
FISHERMAN'S RETREAT: Trout plants will go in every other week for the season.
Fair catfish bite from all three lakes on pieces of nightcrawlers, Power Bait,
mackerel or anchovies. Upcoming events: fishing derby every Saturday from 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 909-795-2411.
ANGLER'S LAKE: Good trout action with some trophy rainbows still in the mix
from two weeks ago, including several fish over nine pounds. The lake is closed
Mondays. Information: 951-927-2614.
REFLECTION LAKE: The lake will be planted with 500 pounds of rainbow trout each
week through spring. The bite has been very good on chartreuse Power Bait.
Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: The catfish action is good, especially on those sunny
afternoons. Some of the large catfish are feeding in preparation for winter
hibernation on mackerel, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Rainbow trout plants started
last week, and will continue twice a month through spring. The action is fair
on Power Bait or nightcrawlers. The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 951-679-6562.
SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS
LAKE HEMET: Good trout action on Power Bait, plastic worms and nightcrawlers.
Lots of limits with the occasional trout over five pounds. Isaac Wellborn,
Scripps Ranch, caught a seven-pound trout off shore on a half nightcrawler. DFG
trout plant three weeks ago. Also a decent carp and bluegill bite on dough and
wax worms, respectively. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information:
Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
FULMOR LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 951-659-2117.
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: There were 14 rainbows that topped the 10-pound mark in
the past week, including the week’s top trout at 20 pounds, in an excellent
bite that produced limits for many anglers. The 20-even was caught by Marcello
Cannon, Chatsworth, while fishing with rainbow Nitro Bait in Chris’ Pond.
Cannon also caught a 12.1-pound rainbow. Other big fish include a 15.1-pounder
landed by Ritchie Jaime, Placentia, on rainbow Nitro Bait, and a 14 1/2-pounder
was caught by Lhorilyn Bautista, Long Beach. Thomas Lee, Westminster, caught a
14-pounder, while Paul Kish, Baldwin Park, landed a 12-10 rainbow. Top baits
continue to be Nitro Bait in lemon lime, corn, chartreuse, rainbow and white
lightning colors. Nightcrawlers inflated and doused with Crave Gravy or Grease
are also a good bet. Top spots have been La Palma Point, the pump house, near
the boat dock, three pipes, and Chris’ Pond. Information: 714-632-7830 or
www.fishinglakes.com.
ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is
closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or
www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: Too much pressure and the Santa Ana winds played havoc on this
lake. The trout bite has been on the slow side since Saturday, however, the
super 20-pound trout are still swimming the waters. Most anglers were using
half nightcrawlerse and salmon eggs. Some fish were caught trolling.
Roostertails are the best bet. David Luraschi, Buena Park, caught a 10.2-pound
trout on nightcrawlers off Trout Island. Craig Mizufuka, Del Mar, landed a
9.8-pound trout on a Power worm off the island. Steve Dudley, Lompoc, landed an
8.12-pound trout on nightcrawlers off the west shore. Phil Dobrick, Huntington
Beach, caught an eight-pound trout on a Kastmaster. Kevin Slape, Upland, landed
a 7.14-pound trout on Mira Shad off the West Shore. Trout anglers are still
landing some catfish by mistake on meal worms. The cats are from two to six
pounds. Bluegill bite fair on meal worms or wax worms. Bass action also fair
off the shoreline and Red Clay Cliffs on jigs and drop-shot baits. The lake’s
hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lake and derby information: 714-649-9111 or
www.irvinelake.net.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: Utah rainbows were planted this week and last. The action
has been slow due to the algae bloom, although it looks as if the cold water
and a slight breeze are clearing that up. A 4-8 was caught on Lip RipperZ trout
worm. Anglers also using nightcrawlers dipped in garlic. Plenty of bass action
in the one- to two-pound range. A 4-8 was landed on an imitation crawdad.
Crappie still showing in good numbers. A 2-8 fish was caught this week. The
occasional catfish on mackerel or nightcrawlers in the flats. The lake is open
6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.
LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES
CACHUMA: Some good trout action at the dam. The fish are moving into shallow
water. Try nightcrawlers, pearl-bikini Needlefish, shad Rapalas or Power Bait
for the best action. The trout are from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Bass bite slowing
down. Fish in the mornings with spoons and Senkos in Cachuma Bay and behind the
island. Also try cranks and jerk baits off the points. Fish primarily in 20 to
50 feet. Catfish are showing on mackerel, shrimp or nightcrawlers in the
narrows and in Little Cachuma, but bite is slowing. Also fair action in
Harvey’s Cove and by the Mohawk Fishing Pier. Crappie bite slow with only a few
in Little Cachuma on crappie jigs and meal worms. DFG trout plant last week.
Information: 805-688-4040.
CASITAS: The bass action has been a little tough, but some quality bass are
still showing and schoolie-sized fish are coming from deep water. Top fish this
past week was an 11-9 caught by Pifa Victoria, Oxnard, on a plastic worm from
shore. An eight-pounder was landed by Jason Rodarte, Ventura, on a
nightcrawler, and fish at seven, six and four pounds were weighed in by Cody
Lucky, Ventura. The six-pounder had a trout stuck in it’s throat. There was
also a seven-even landed by Don Zack, Oakview, on a plastic. Even with the cool
nights, shad were up early this week allowing for anglers to dip net shad for
bait, but most of the action has been on ice jigs or Johnson spoons in 30 to 80
feet of water. Mike Kane, Camarillo, did translate a live shad into a good
catch -- a 3-8 crappie. But the crappie are slow. Trout were planted last week
and there was fairly good action on spinners and Power Bait until late in the
week, including fish to 2 1/2 pounds. The catfish action has remained fair with
a few quality fish showin in the Wadleigh Arm. Robert Shirk, Ventura, landed an
18 1/2-poounder, while John Holste, Oxnard, caught a 15-even. Information:
805-649-2043.
CASTAIC: The stripers have stolen the show. The action is good to excellent on
live shad, cut baits, worms or swimbaits with the fish showing right along the
shoreline. A 20-pound striper was landed near the dam on anchovies. Trout still
spotty, but some holdover fish showing in the lower lake, and both the upper
and lower lakes were planted last week. Try Power Bait, nightcrawlers or worms.
The largemouth bass action is fair on live shad and shad imitations.
Information: 661-775-6232.
PIRU: The trout action is picking up, especially for trollers using
Kastmasters, Rapalas or Needlefish in 65 to 85 feet. Also some good action on
Power Bait, plastic worms and nightcrawlers. Fair crappie action in 10 to 20
feet on white mini-jigs. Most fish are under a pound, with a few over. Jacob
Holiday, Perris, caught a 1-2 trout. Bass action fairon nightcrawlers, Power
Bait and plastic worms in 10 to 15 feet. DFG trout plant last week. Hours are 7
a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: park 805-521-1500, marina 805-521-1231.
PYRAMID: The stripers are still holding strong. They are the dominant bite on
topwater lures, sardines and anchovies. Plenty of boils. Not too many big fish,
but quite a few in the three to four-pound range have been landed with the odd
bigger fish. The shad have moved up to the surface and the fish are all over
them. The dam, the channel, and Yellow Bar are the hot areas. Largemouth bass
bite slowing down. Try plastics and swimbaits. Not too much bluegill or crappie
action again this week. Fair to good trout action on Power Bait, nightcrawlers
and jerk baits. The bite is off and on, but should stabilize after a few more
plants. DFG trout plant last week. Water levels are up and boats are able to
launch. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No launching after 2 p.m. The lake will
close at noon on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. Information: USFS
661-296-9710, concession 661-257-2790.
QUAIL LAKE: Few reports.
PUDDINGSTONE: Better trout action as the temps continue to drop. Some anglers
are using Power Bait or Lip RipperZ plastics and worms. Slow to fair bass bite
off the east shore on drop-shot plastics, jerk bait and live worms. Most fish
are eight to 12 inches. Bluegill and redear fair on meal and wax worms. Crappie
bite fair on small jigs. The action is best in or around Sailboat Cove. Catfish
bite fair. DFG trout plant last week. Information: 909-599-8411, ext. 4.
SANTA FE DAM: Fair to good trout action on nightcrawlers. Fair bluegill action
on worms and nightcrawlers in the afternoon. Most fish are under a pound. Fair
catfish action on mackerel, shrimp or chicken liver. DFG trout plant this week.
Information: 626-334-1065.
ALONDRA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
BALBOA PARK LAKE: No plants.
BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week
CERRITOS PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: DFG trout plant this week.
ECHO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week
EL DORADO PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
ELIZABETH LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
HANSEN DAM LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
HOLLENBECK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
Information: 213-261-0113.
JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent plants.
KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LEGG LAKE: DFG trout plant this week.
LINCOLN PARK LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: DFG trout plant this week. DFG catfish plant this week.
PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: Some decent trout action at the drop offs. Some fair carp
action with fish in the 1-8 to two-pound range on dough balls. DFG trout plant
this week and last. DFG catfish plant one month ago. Information: 818-448-7317.
SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES
BARRETT: The lake is closed until May 2008. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/.
HODGES: The lake is closed for the season. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
EL CAPITAN: Fair bass and crappie action. This week 162 anglers reported
catching 141 bass, 128 crappie, 11channel catfish and one blue catfish. Wayne
Brown, Santee, caught a 7.55-pound largemouth. The lake will be open Thursday
through Monday for fishing. Boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday only. On
Thursday, Friday and Monday permits must be purchased from the Iron Ranger pay
station. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental
boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
LOWER OTAY: No reports. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
schedule. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.sandiego.ca.us/water/. Rental
boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
UPPER OTAY: No reports. Trout plant two weeks ago. The lake is open on a
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for fishing, sunrise to sunset. The road to
Upper Otay is closed to vehicles, but anglers may walk in to fish during lake
hours. The lake will be open Memorial Day. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
SAN VICENTE: Slow to fair bass action. This week 137 anglers reported catching
78 bass, 29 bluegill, 13 channel catfish, six redear and four blue catfish. The
lake is open Saturday and Sunday for fishing. Rentals are available both days.
The shoreline from the launch ramp to the buoy line is closed to all
activities. Lake information: 619-465- 3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274.
MURRAY: No reports. DFG catfish plant last week. The lake is open for fishing
and boating seven days a week, but during November there will be no boat
rentals. Information: 619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental
boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
MIRAMAR: Rainbow trout action fair. This week 80 anglers reported catching 56
rainbow trout and 19 bass. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week, but
there are no boat rentals during November. Information: 619-465-3474 or
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. Rental boat reservations: 619-390-0223.
SUTHERLAND: The lake is now closed to fishing until March, 2008. Information:
619-465-3474 or www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.
WOHLFORD: Jack Soup, San Diego, landed a 38-pound blue catfish for the new lake
record. He used mackerel on a 10-pound test line east of the South Shore Rock
Pile. The previous record was a 27-pounder set in 1967. The channel catfish
action is good all over on peanut butter and bread dough or shrimp. Vicente
Garcia, Vista, caught a 7-5 on shrimp off the Senior Shoreline. Some bass
action in the shallows on Senkos, swimbaits or plastic worms. The lake is
closed on weekdays and open on Saturday and Sunday. Trout season opener is set
for Dec. 15. There is a temporary ban on private boat launches, canoes, kayaks,
float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders and anchors due to quagga mussels.
Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
DOANE POND: DFG trout plant this week.
DIXON: A 1,200-pound plant will go in this week. The trout bite is good early
and late. The best action has been off pier 3 and in Boat Dock Cove on
nightcrawlers, jigs, Power Bait or Power worms. Bass action still very slow. A
few anglers reported catching some small bass in the one to two-pound range.
Some decent catfish action on Power Bait and nightcrawlers during the weekend’s
derby. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
POWAY: Lake is still closed, but the first trout plant, 4,500 pounds, is set
for Monday. Gates will open at 5 a.m the next day. Due to damages from the
Witch Creek Fire, erosion control curtains have been installed in the lake. No
fishing will be allowed in the area where the curtain is in the water. Lake
information: snack bar 858-679-5465, Poway information line 858-668-4770,
concessions 858-486-1234.
JENNINGS: Trout action good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Best action is
near Cactus Patch and in Shadow Cove. Some very good channel catfish action at
the Buoy Line or off Eagle Point on shrimp and nightcrawlers. The fish are
deep. The bass bite is fair in 30 feet of water off the points on crawdads. The
lake is open on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. Lake information:
Ranger Hugh Marx, 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
MORENA: Bass bite fair on topwater baits in the mornings, in the shallows.
Senkos and Robo Worms are also producing along the shorelines. Crappie anglers
are using jigs and crankbaits. Try pieces of nightcrawlers in the stick-ups for
the bluegill. The catfish action is fair to good on mackerel or chicken livers
in the afternoons. Plenty of channels and whites biting at the brush line. The
trout are starting to move and the bite should pick up within the next couple
of weeks. Trout plants will begin in December. The boat launch is open. Boat
rentals are limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Information: 24-hour
fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-694-3049.
CUYAMACA: The lake now has a temporary ban on private boats due to quagga
mussels. Good trout action at the Lone Pine, off the Finger Jetty, and near
Chambers Park on scented nightcrawlers, dough bait, Power Bait, Power worms,
Rapalas (orange or fire tiger), gold Panther Martins or Roostertails. Timothy
Lambert, San Diego, caught a 3-4 Alpers’ on a nightcrawler. John Daffron,
Newport Beach, caught a 3.2 Alpers’ on a nightcrawler in Chambers Park. Steve
Jones, Harbison Canyon, landed a three-pound rainbow on a nightcrawler at the
Lone Pine. Also a decent German brown bite on Matukas and Wooly Buggers.
Alpers’ trout and an additional 1,500 pounds of rainbow trout and 500 pounds of
browns went in last week. Five tagged trout still remain. Landing one will land
you a “Day on the Lake” gift certificate. During the winter the lake will be
closed on Wednesdays and will open from noon to five on Sundays. Mon., Tues.,
Thur., and Fri. hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Upcoming events: free
fishing class Saturday at 10 a.m. Information: 760-765-0515 or
www.lakecuyamaca.org.
HENSHAW: Crappie action good on crappie jigs, mini jigs and meal worms near the
dam and off the docks. Fair to good catfish action off the docks and near the
dam on shrimp, chicken livers or nightcrawlers. Also a fair bass bite on
topwater baits. Fish to four pounds reported. The water is low and launching
conditions are not ideal. Information: 760-782-3501.
COLORADO RIVER
LAKE MEAD: The striper fishing at Lake Mead slower than usual, but is still
pretty good. Trolling crankbaits along steep shorelines in Greggs Basin was
yielding stripers. Catfish have been biting all day and night on anchovies and
liver. The ramp is open at South Cove, but it is a gravel ramp. Be careful when
launching here. The lake elevation remains fairly steady around 1,111 feet.
WILLOW BEACH: Trout are stocked every Friday. The fishing for trout has been
good from shore immediately following the stocking on floating baits, salmon
eggs, and small spinners. Stripers have mostly been absent and most locals
think they are moving downriver into Mohave at Cottonwood Cove area where
Nevada trout plants have begun. Some big stripers remain in the vicinity of
Willow Beach year round, and they could show with the coming full moon.
Information: 928-767-4747.
LAKE MOHAVE: The striper bite has been good in spots with the schools of
smaller fish focusing on shad. Davis Dam and Telephone Cove are the best
fishing spots. Trout were planted at Cottonwood Cove last week, but no big
stripers reported. Some largemouth being caught in 25 to 35 feet of water on
dropshot plastics. Information: 702-297-1464.
BELOW DAVIS DAM: Trout plants go in every week. The fishing is exceptional
immediately following each plant. Very good striper and catfish action near
Harrah’s Casino on anchovies. Some good stripers have been landed along the Big
Bend area. Some good smallmouth action at Davis Camp.
NEEDLES: Fair to good striper action on small fish downriver in the Topoc area.
A few catfish are starting to show and some crappie are also biting in the
gorge. Information: Premier Sports 760-326-2727, Golden Shores 760-768-2325.
TOPOCK MARSH: Fair striper bite. Nothing exceptional in size, but some fish in
the three to six-pound range. Bite best on anchovies and sardines. Catfish
action fair to good on mackerel, anchovies, worms or shrimp in the cattails and
flooded brush. Bass bite fair in the early morning and evening on topwater
plastics. The marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise,
and Five-Mile Landing. Information: 928-768-2350.
HAVASU: The stripers are chasing shad in the coves and off the docks. Striper
action also good after sunset in the northern part of the lake and up into the
river. The largemouth and smallmouth bites have slowed, but some are still
being landed on straight-tailed soft plastic worms. Good channel catfish bite
on cut squid or mackerel in the evening after 6 p.m. near the bays and in the
coves. Information: 760-663-3811.
PARKER STRIP: Good smallmouth bass action on crankbaits and topwater lures.
Fair catfish action. The flatheads are biting goldfish and bluegill all along
the lower river. Information: June’s Unique 928-669-8883.
BLYTHE: Still some fair flathead action. The fish are in the 15 to 25-pound
range. The channel catfish bite is good, too, on mackerel and anchovies.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are also good in the afternoons on plastics.
Lots of fish to three pounds reported. Bluegill are fair to good in the
backwaters on worms. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
PALO VERDE: Fair flathead action all along the lower river. The river levels
are up and fishing pressure is still light, but there's fair bass and bluegill
action in the backwaters, and an excellent carp bite on fish to five pounds.
Use plastic worms for the bass, wax worms for the bluegill, and dough for the
carp. Cibola Lake has a fair flathead bite on bluegill and goldfish and blue
catfish are showing on chicken livers. Some bass have also been landed in the
main river. Information: Walter's Camp 760-854-3322.
PICACHO AREA: Fair flathead, channel cat, bluegill and striper bite. The
largemouth bite broke open and the action is good.
MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Good largemouth bite on cranks, spinnerbaits and plastics.
Channel catfish bite decent on anything that stinks, and the crappie bite is
also fair on small live minnows. A few flatheads are showing in the main river,
too. Information: 928-783-9589 or www.martinezlake.com.
YUMA AREA: The Gila Main Canal in East Yuma is still fair for channel catfish
and large redear and bluegill. All biting on worms. In the main Colorado River,
the channel catfish bite has been fair on chicken liver or worms dipped in
stink bait, but there is very light fishing pressure and very few flatheads
have been reported.
LOWER DESERT WATERS
SALTON SEA: No reports. Information: Red Hill Marina 760-348-2310, Salton Sea
State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052. Weather information:
760-352-3360, Coachella Valley Water District's weather forecast 760-398-7211.
Anglers fishing the sea use Citizen Band (CB) radios and tune to channel one.
ALAMO RIVER: Fair to good catfish action, but light fishing pressure. Several
flatheads in the 15 to 20 pound range.
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 reports.
WEIST LAKE: DFG trout plant last week.
SUNBEAM LAKE: DFG trout plant last week. Information: 760-352-3308.
LAKE CAHUILLA: DFG trout plant last week. Crappie action good around the docks,
but most are small. Also a good bullhead bite. A few largemouth bass showing
along the rocky jetty. Information: 760-564-4712.
EASTERN SIERRA
GENERAL: Trout season is now closed throughout most of this region. For updated
road and camping information: Interagency Visitor Center 760-876-6222, Bishop
Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405, or www.bishopvisitor.com.
BRIDGEPORT REGION: Only the East Walker River remains open to catch-and-release
fishing in this region. Flows are down are very low and the fishing is tough.
Information: Ken's Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
MAMMOTH AREA: Only Hot Creek and the upper Owens River remain open to fishing,
and both of these waters are catch-and-release only. Both have been fair to
good with the upper Owens seeing a good mid-day bite with some dry fly action.
Also some big browns are showing from the Owens, fish moving up out of Crowley.
Fishing information: The Troutfitter 760-934-2517 or Sierra Drifters Guide
Service 760-935-4250.
BISHOP AREA: Only Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the lower Owens River (in both
the Gorge below Crowley Lake and below Pleasant Valley Reservoir) remain open
to fishing in this region. Both have been very good for fly anglers with good
dry fly action mid-day, but nymphing is the hot ticket. Information: Culver's
760-872- 8361 or Brock's 760-872-3581.
BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Only the Owens River and Diaz Lake remain open to
fishing in this region. Both have been slow. Information: 760-876-4444.
WESTERN SIERRA
LAKE ISABELLA: Very good trout action on Gulp Power Bait, nightcrawlers and
garlic oil. A decent amount of fish being landed in the three to four-pound
range. Also a fair catfish bite at the dam. Other species slow. Information:
Bob's Bait 661-833-8657.
KERN RIVER: The Kern River flows are low. Fish the pools with salmon eggs and
crickets for the trout in the lower River. Both the upper and lower stretches
of the Kern were planted last week. Information: Kern River Troutfitter
760-376-2040 or www.kernriverflyfishing.com, or James Store 760-376-2424.
AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: Very good striper bite on anchovies and blood worms. Fish
are from three to five pounds. Swimbaits also being thrown and enticing a few
fish. Danny Garland, Bakersfield, caught a 21-pound striper on blood worms.
Fair to good catfish bite. Try mackerel, shrimp, shad or liver. Fish in the
seven to 10-pound range.
HART PARK LAKE: Trout action very good on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Plant
last week. Still some fair to good carp action on dough bait or corn meal. Fair
bluegill action on wax worms and crickets.
TRUXTUN LAKE: Carp action good on dough bait. Bluegill action fair to good on
wax worms and crickets. Good catfish bite. Good trout action. Plant last week.
MING LAKE: The lake is open for fishing. Some bass action has been reported on
plastic worms and minnows. Trout bite very good. Trout plant last week.
BRITE LAKE: Carp bite good on dough and corn meal. Good bluegill bite on
crickets and meal worms. Trout bite very good on Power Bait, nightcrawlers and
garlic oil. Trout plant last week.
BUENA VISTA LAKES: Trout season in full swing. Look for the big trout topping
10 pounds left the derby two weeks ago. Top fish landed at the derby was a 7-8.
Best trout action on Power Bait, nightcrawlers or garlic oil. Still a decent
striper bite on blood worms and lug worms. The crappie bite is also decent on
small minnows. The catfish bite is good on shad or minnows. The bluegill bite
is fair on wax and meal worms.
WOLLOMES LAKE: Fair bluegill bite on wax and meal worms. The fish are from one
to a pound and a half on wax worms or crickets. Also a fair catfish bite on
mackerel.
SUCCESS LAKE: The levels are low, but anglers are still catching big numbers of
bass on Senkos and swimbaits. Trout plant last week. No launching, only bank
fishing. Information: 559-781-2078.
KAWEAH LAKE: Decent bass bite. Information: 559-597-2526.
CENTRAL COAST LAKES
SAN ANTONIO: Decent striper bite near Bee Rock Cove and in Harris Creek on
anchovies and swimbaits. Fishing off the docks will also do the trick. Another
six-pounder was reported. Fish in the mornings. Some smallmouth action.
Largemouth action also slow with sparks of action around the rocky points on
swimbaits, spoons and plastic worms. Fair catfish action on anchovies.
Information: 805-472-2818.
SANTA MARGARITA: The trout action is coming to life, especially with cooler
temps. Try Power Bait or worms. Decent crappie action on jigs near the river.
Fair largemouth bass action on drop-shot plastics or Brush Hogs. DFG trout
plant this week. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Information: 805-438-1522.
NACIMIENTO: Fair to good spotted bass action in the early mornings and in the
late evenings with fish to 3 1/2 pounds reported. Anglers have been using
topwater baits and shad, which are concentrated around the marina.
Nightcrawlers have also been effective. Fair to good catfish action on mackerel
and shrimp. Fair bluegill bite on meal worms. Some crappie are also showing on
crappie jigs. The white bass are in Las Tables and the narrows in a fair bite.
Water level stable. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
LOPEZ: The trout are concentrated near the dam in 10 to 15 feet on
nightcrawlers and Power Bait. The action is best in Cottonwood and Mallard
Coves. DFG trout plant this week. A lot of 1/2 pounders are being brought in,
and a good number of holdovers from a pound to 2-8 are being landed. The
evenings are cooling way down with temps below the 30 degree mark, so the
action will only get better. Still some bass action, despite the colder waters,
on jigs, especially in Wittenberg. Plastics, swimbaits and live shad are also
top choices. The smallmouth bass action is also decent on jigs and spoons. Both
the largemouth and smallmouth are concentrated off the main lake points on
Senkos. Very good crappie action in 25 to 30 feet across from the marina and
near the boat house on jigs. Fair bluegill and redear action on meal and wax
worms. Most bluegill are from one to two pounds. Catfish bite spotty. Try
anchovies or shrimp. Information: 805-489-1006.
TROUT PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks
and personnel, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be
restocked this week with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of
Fish and Game hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake,
Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake,
La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Peck Road
Park Lake, Puddingstone Lake, San Gabriel River (East & West Forks), Santa Fe
Reservoir.
ORANGE: Laguna Lake.
SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
SAN LUIS OBISPO: Atascadero Lake, Lopez Lake, Santa Margarita Lake.
END
CATFISH PLANTS
Barring adverse weather, water, road conditions, and the availability of trucks
and personnel, the following lakes, listed by county, will be restocked this
week with one-pound channel catfish from the Department of Fish and Game
hatcheries:
LOS ANGELES: Alondra Park Lake, Belvedere Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park
Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, Hansen Dam, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Lincoln Park Lake,
Magic Johnson Lake.