Fishing report, Aug 17-23: Florence Lake a ‘hidden jewel’ for trout; Bass Lake hot, too
Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
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Best bets
Best bets; Delta bass and stripers active, Vince Borges reported. New Melones kokanee and catfish action good, Kyle Wise said. Bass Lake trout hitting, Mike Beighey reported. Wishon and Courtright trout action keeping anglers cool, Kelly Brewer said. Don Pedro trout working bait, Monte Smith reported.
Roger’s Remarks: Serving others is its own reward
A friend recently asked if, after many years of guiding, do I still fish alone? Of course I do!
I love guiding but I’ve found that it takes a whole different skill and mindset than many anglers might expect. The big mistake most want-to-be guides make is thinking that if they help someone catch fish that will make them happy and all’s well.
Guests are looking for an entire experience. Most of the time it’s not enough to just catch fish.
It’s certainly much harder to take out a few guests to fish than it is to just go out by yourself. The payoff is when you’re able to help someone have an amazing experience. The opportunity to serve others comes with the risk of messing up. The antidote to this is focusing on doing your best to help and serve your guests while keeping their best interests foremost in your mind. Hard to do for sure, but people can usually discern what your motives are.
I listen carefully at the end of a trip to see how my folks measured the trip. Saying they loved catching the fish is great, but I know I did something right if they say, “I had a wonderful time and it was better than I could have hoped!”
It’s difficult and exhausting to serve guests who are hoping you’ll be able to deliver something extraordinary and fun for them to remember, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Helping someone else catch a nice fish has become a bigger thrill for me than me getting one. Takes more skill and focus, too, at least for me.
Never give up…serving others.
Roger George: rogergeorge8@protonmail.com , Rogergeorgeguideservice on Facebook and @StriperWars
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
Bill Sterling of the Sportsmen’s Warehouse in Fresno said, “There are plenty of bait fish running around in the aqueduct, and it will be just a matter of time before the stripers start feeding. I am predicting a great striper season. Largemouth bass continue to hit in the local canals as we landed 12 on Thursday with Senkos or creature baits worked around the bridges or cover such as hyacinths or moss.”
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, it is important to locate clean water as the algae is starting to stack up. Bouncing the bottom with flukes on a heavy jig head are working for largemouth and striped bass while cut baits are effective for both striped bass and catfish.”
Call: Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis 292-3474; Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield (661) 833-8657
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Heavy boat pressure for those in search of double-digit largemouth bass have contributed to much slower action on the lowered lake. Swimbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, or spoons have been the top baits for the big fish. Hensley is a solid spot for bow fishing for carp. Catfish are taken on chicken livers, cut baits, or nightcrawlers.” Both lakes dropped to 6%. Algae blooms are forming with the low water conditions and this week’s triple-digit temperatures will contribute to the blooms.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod Gun, Clovis 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, “The kokanee are all but down, heading up the river arm to spawn, and king salmon and rainbow trout are the top species. The bait schools are thick, and the fish are holding around the bait with rainbows from 40 to 70 feet with the kings around 65 feet. The fish are coming up to feed as the bait is high around 45 feet.” Bass fishing remains extremely slow. The lake dropped slightly to 58%. The Fleming Meadows, Blue Oaks, and Moccasin launch ramps remain open, but the Fleming launch requires a long walk to the parking lot.
Call: Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Kyle Wise – Head Hunter Guide Service – (209) 531- 3966; Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Fishing – 691-7008
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 3 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
Largemouth bass to 8 pounds have been taken on big plastic worms in the 7- to 12-inch range along with topwater lures in the early mornings or evenings or deep-diving crankbaits or jigs during the day. The best action remains around the grassy flats or submerged wood. Crappie are holding around certain submerged brush or rock with jigs or small minnows. Few trout are being landed, and they are mostly found by trollers working the river arm. In the lower river, catfish, bass, and carp are possibilities, and the smallmouth bass are taken on plastics on the drop-shot, deep-diving crankbaits, or live minnows. The river at Kernville have dropped from 527 to 176 cfs, and water releases out of the dam have also dropped at First Point from 463 to 313 cfs. The trout in the upper river are holding in the deep pools as the water is becoming very skinny.
Call: Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816
Lake Kaweah
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
Not much change with the exception of heavy recreational boating pressure and dropping water levels. The bass bite is challenging in the dropping water conditions, but there is a reaction bite in the early mornings before dropping to the bottom with ice jigs, spoons, or jigs. The lake is starting to release water, and it dropped to 15%. The flows in the Kaweah River have dropped from 98 cfs to 35 cfs at Three Rivers.
Lake Success/Tule River
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
Bass fishing is decent in the mornings and evenings, but the lake is dropping fast as it has receded from 21% to 18%. Anglers are working around structure such as submerged trees or rock with plastics on a Texas-rig, deep-diving crankbaits, or Senkos.
The flows on the Tule are low, but trout action is excellent for fly fishermen with terrestrial dry flies or Woolly Buggers. Spin casters are scoring larger holdover browns or rainbows in the deeper pools in the lower Tule with Panther Martin spinners.
Call: Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
The lake continues to drop as it is currently at 30%. The best launch ramp remains at Barrett Cove South. Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “There is a good topwater bite in the evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. with Berkley Choppo 110’s or similar walking baits. Tubes at 35 feet are also productive, but the overall bite is tough.” The Angler’s Edge in Snelling reported decent bass action in deeper water with Roboworms in Baby Bass or Morning Dawn on a drop-shot. Trout trolling has been productive at depths to 80 feet near the dam with shad-patterned spoons.
Call: Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Guide Service – 691-7008
McSwain Reservoir
Trout 2
The Angler’s Edge in Snelling reported holdover rainbow trout from the original Calaveras Trout Farm plants months ago along with the catchables from the Department of Fish and Wildlife several weeks ago remain in the lake in limited numbers. The best action is in the deep water up the river arm for trollers pulling blade/’crawler combinations or ruby red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger while shore anglers have to get out in the early mornings from the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina with Power Bait, Panther Martin spinners, or ¼- to ⅜-ounce Kastmasters. The river below the dam is also producing fish that have migrated downstream. The lake rose slightly to 93%.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 1
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Spotted bass is best in the back of the lake with high recreational boating pressure on the Fresno side. In the evenings, the Madera side around Sky Harbor or Finegold Bay is a good location with the spots chasing bait. Catfishing is best near the Courthouse with chicken livers or cut baits.” The lake dropped from 53% to 50%, and the San Joaquin River flows held at 259 cfs at Friant.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
The lake dropped from 896.28 feet to 893.37 feet in elevation this week, but the overall capacity is at 29%. The launch ramp situation has improved with the ability to launch two at a time with a dock in the water. Kyle Wise of HeadHunter Guide Service said, “Kokanee fishing remains outstanding for the few boats trying with big gold Apex or J-Pex lures behind a large gold hammered dodger at depths from 80 to 90 feet. Catfishing is wide open with cut bait.” Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “The bass bite is decent with underspins, weightless Senkos on a wacky-rig, or ¼-ounce G Money jigs around rock or wood.” Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp, an area staple for 38 years, is set to close this coming Saturday, Aug. 20.
Call: Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; John Liechty Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The Sierra Bass Club held a night tournament with winning limits to just over 12 pounds with a big fish at 3.06 pounds. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “The bass are holding around the shad schools in deep water with spoons or ice jigs. Bluegill or crappie are taken around the docks near Deer Creek. Catfishing is a good option with chicken livers, dip baits, or cut bait, but the trout have gone into the deepest part of the lake near the dam.” In the lower Kings, a trout plant occurred a month ago, and the action has slowed. The best fishing is occurring far from the easily accessed areas. The flows have dropped once again from 1,372 cfs to 578 cfs at Trimmer. The lake dropped from 20% to 18%.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 1
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill said, “The striped bass action in the main lake has been good with the cooler weather bringing out the fall bite. There is a topwater bite early or late with Spooks or Rebel’s Jumping Minnows as this lure sits high on the water and rattles. The Forebay has been solid as well, but the weeds are an issue. Pile worms or J and P blue-dyed anchovies are working best.”
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that the full moon slowed the big lake bite for most anglers the last few days. “I took out two guests on Saturday just as the full moon set and I had told them it could be tough fishing but we ended the day with 15 nice fish. I had to rely on finding a few active fish and hitting them on the head with Lucky Crafts. The fish are holding on flats in the 40- to 60-foot range.”
Bill Sterling of the Sportsmen’s Warehouse in Fresno said, “The best action in both the forebay and the main lake has been in the early morning with topwater lures, while in the afternoons, flukes are working best.” The main lake has dropped to 30% with the forebay at 88%.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711; Roger George of rogergeorgeguideservice.com 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1
Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Guide Service said, “The trout bite remains good from Sheriff’s Tower to Miller’s Landing using Dick’s Mountain Tubes in orange or pink or Rocky Mountain Tackle’s hoochies tipped with Maggots behind a Dick’s Big Blue Dodger at depths to 20 feet. The kokanee remain scarce.” Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Bass fishing is best with jerkbaits or Magnum Trick Worms or Strike King Rage Tails on the bottom on a Texas-rig.” The lake held at 80%.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis touted Edison as being a better bet for trout than last year, but he likes Florence as a “hidden jewel” for trout fishermen with few anglers making this journey. Portal Forebay and Ward Lake were planted at the start of the month. Edison dropped from 32% to 27%, Florence dropped slightly to 64% with Mammoth Pool also dropping slightly to 76%.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee 2 Trout 2
It’s been a tough fishing week at Shaver, but according to Shaver’s retired guide emeritus, Dick Nichols, the kokanee action experiences a slowdown when the transition occurs prior to rebounding toward the end of the month before the Sept. 10 Kokanee Power Tournament.
The rebound may have already started as Nichols was on the lake on Monday with his retired California Highway Patrol colleague, Steve Stava of Fresno, and Stava put together a limit to 21 inches, leading Nichols to say, “This was the first time in weeks that we have been marking big schools.”
Prior to Monday’s rebound, Nichols said, “I am hearing from several truly good kokanee fishermen that they picked up one, maybe two of the current pre-spawn kokes. Part-time Shaver resident Mike Giubinni fished hard around the island to Black Rock picking up a couple nice pre-spawn mode kokes and some trout, finishing out a mixed limit for him and his brother, Bob of Templeton, with pink Dick’s Mountain Hoochies or tubes tipped with scented corn behind a Dick’s Mountain Dodger at 60 feet. On the other hand, Shaver regular Jay Irvine of Visalia only picked up a single trout on his trip Friday. Shaver guide Jared Romero of Jrods Guide Service reported that he took the Fresno Police chief and his son out Saturday and only picked up a couple limits of trout along with one kokanee using white hoochies and pink spinners. Romero is one of the more successful guides at Shaver. If he is having problems picking up kokanee then it is truly an off bite at Shaver. The trout bite has decreased some but a couple limits are possible. Most successful trout trollers are fishing in the upper 25 feet. Our last trip out, Stevenson-style Dick’s Trout Busters tipped with crawler and corn behind weighted Mountain Flashers with a 100- to 125-foot setback were very successful around the island, Black Rock, Dorabella Cove, and Scout Cove. Hopefully, the kokanee will completely jump into a pre-spawn mode and start schooling up as they approach their fall, early winter spawn up in Stevenson Creek.”
It seems like the pre-spawn mode has begun. Shaver rose from 64% to 69% this week with releases from upstream Huntington, which continues to produce small kokanee on small spinners or hoochies at depths to 30 feet.
Todd Wittwer – Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Jerad Romero – Jrods Guide Service – 392-6994; Tom Oliveira – Tom Oliveira Fishing – 802-8072
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Kelly Brewer of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store said fishing is still the same in both lakes. Trollers are working 30 to 40 feet of water for fish 10 to 12 inches, some to 14 inches. The bank bite is slower with a lot of 10-inch fish. Everything is basically the same in both lakes with 10- to 14-inch trout taken on green, pink, or rainbow Power Bait off of the banks. The dock is back in at Wishon.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Salmon 2 Rockfish 3 Striper 2 White seabass 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
The salmon are still hanging around north of the Half Moon Bay harbor toward the Pacifica Pier, but rockfish have clearly taken over as the top species. The Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing was able to scratch up 8 salmon to 22 pounds for 11 anglers at the end of the week, but all the other boats focused upon rockfish.
Working the coastal reefs, the Ankeny Street consistently posted limits of rockfish including an occasional cabezon with 12 limits on Friday along with 7 lings to 11 pounds and two halibut to 14 pounds. The Riptide loaded up with 23 limits and 4 lings to 12 pounds. The weather turned rough over the weekend, and the boats were tied up in response.
Earlier in the week, the New Captain Pete conducted rockfish research trips for the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program out of Moss Landing Laboratory both in the MPA near Ano Nuevo along with the open zone from Pescadero to Pigeon Point. Fishing in the closed zone on Tuesday, the 12 volunteer anglers landed a season-record of 25 lings as part of 444 bottom from 16 different species. Wednesday’s haul in the open zone near Pescadero resulted in 280 rockfish from 12 species including 13 cabezon to a whopping 31.3 inches. These trips provide reliable data on the rockfish populations within and outside of the MPA’s. Information- https://mlml.sjsu.edu/ccfrp/.
Call: Captain Michael Cabanas – New Captain Pete (510) 677-7054; Captain Chris Chang – Ankeny Street – (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith – Riptide – (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing – Queen of Hearts – (510) 581-2628
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Salmon 2 Rockfish 3 Striper 2 White seabass 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “Weather and sea conditions are becoming milder, which is normal for August and September on the Monterey Bay. What that means for anglers is more days of fishing, longer fishing days and more remote locations becoming available. Boats can go farther for fish because they don’t have to fight the ocean in order to get back home.
In Monterey, that usually means heading down to Big Sur. Chris Arcoleo at Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching Trips always has a preference to send his boats past Point Pinos and towards Big Sur. Often heavier winds or swell means they’re held to fishing the reefs off 17-Mile Drive and Carmel. That’s not bad news, those reefs can be very productive, and Chris’s fish counts for the past couple weeks bear witness to that fact. They’ve pretty much limited out every day, every trip.
With the swell virtually nonexistent in Monterey this week, halibut have begun to filter back into the shallower waters near Del Monte Beach, the “Hotel” area and Sand City. A vast sand area bordered by underwater shell beds in the 60- to 120-foot depths is perfect habitat for the big flatfish as well as sole and sand dabs. The shell beds also hold larger rock fish and lingcod to round out an angler’s bag.
Santa Cruz continues to enjoy great halibut fishing this season. This week the hot bite was from Capitola down to Pajaro in 60 to 70 feet of water. There’s still plenty of halibut caught from Pleasure Point up to Wilder’s Ranch off the North Coast. Monterey enjoyed a brief flurry of white sea bass a couple weeks ago as big squid spawns occurred in that area. Right now, the commercial seiner boats are working the squid every night below Capitola. Exactly where the halibut bite is best. We’ve received no reports of sea bass from that area which is surprising. It may be that the fleet is just so condensed over the spawn areas that’s it’s impossible to fly line live squid which is the proven method of taking the tanker seabass.
Incredibly, salmon are still firmly in the mix. The best reports came from anglers trolling deep while fishing below Moss Landing. While the salmon bite is not “hot,” they are still available, and we would not be surprised to see a few more pulses occur soon as new schools enter the bay.”
Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell – Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Salmon 2 Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 2
High winds starting toward the end of the week into the weekend severely curtailed the ability to hang onto salmon, and the big boats struggled to get close to a fish per rod. The good news is that the fish are large with several over 30 pounds landed within the past week. The scores dipped precipitously over the weekend as not only is it difficult to stay on top of the bait with the big swells, but it is very hard to bring in the wild and large fish with the boat rocking up and down. However, Monday was a new day, and the scores ranged from a fish per rod to limits of big salmon to 33 pounds on the Marin coastline.
Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady out of Sausalito has been scratching out scores to nearly a fish per rod throughout the week, but the size of the salmon has been impressive with one limit coming int at 36 and 39 pounds. He said, “There is a big wave of salmon heading down the coast, and this is the time to get out there. The big spawners are migrating toward the coastline, and this next month should be a continuation of big fish and plenty of them.” The water temperatures had risen, but the northwest wind over the weekend brought the water temperatures down to a more salmon-friendly range.
Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing was out in the slop on Saturday, and overall, he had a productive day with 8 big salmon for his 9 passengers, losing a few in the process. Losing salmon on the troll is common when the fish are big and the conditions are rough as the barbless hooks go through a workout. Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco had a first-eye view of losing fish with only 4 brought to the box out of 12 hooked during Saturday’s high winds.
Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters had a productive day mooching during the middle of the week with a big fish per rod for five crew members, and he said, “It was a tough bite overall.”
Rockfishing has been limited to working the coastal reefs and hugging the Marin shoreline to avoid the highest winds, but interest in rockfishing waned over the weekend. Salmon will be the top draw for the coming month. The majority of halibut are outside the Gate on the North or South Bar along with the coastal beaches, but the weekend’s weather made for impossible conditions for drifting outside of the Gate.
The largest tides of the summer left San Francisco and San Pablo Bay with a mess of chocolate water, and the halibut and striped bass scores suffered as a result. California halibut and halibut feed frequently, but they bite best when the water is clear. The good news is the tides are backing off with no large minus tides on the horizon for some time.
Inside the bay, Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael said, “There hasn’t been much going on this week with a -1.2 on Wednesday, -1.3 on Thursday and Friday, and a -0.9 on Saturday. This isn’t good for either halibut or striped bass. The good news is the minuses are over for most of the rest of the year with only a -0.1 in the future. We had seven straight days of good weather which is a first for this summer.”
Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Sport Fishing continues to work the leopard sharks over in the south bay near the Red Stack, and he said, “Shark fishing remains wide open in 50 feet of water with salmon roe or salmon bellies. We have been keeping the undeveloped roe from the salmon we have been landing when the ocean is calm, and the sharks are inhaling it. We have been picking up a few halibut when the tides are slow, but the shark are keeping us busy.”
Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Berkeley Marina stayed in the bay on Sunday, and he said, “We are picking up a load of shaker halibut with a few keepers in the Berkeley Flats, and we are going to check out the Barges as the key is finding the clearest water which is in short supply right now.”
Call: Captain Trent Slate Bite Me Charters (415) 307-8582; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Salmon 2 Surf perch 3
Rockfishing is the big game in town out of the San Luis Obispo ports, and perhaps no two ports will be as affected by the 2023 rockfish regulations shortening the season to 5.5 months. Ling cod counts remain very limited, and the best action occurs far from the safety of the ports. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Patriot and Flying Fish were out on ½-day trips on Sunday with 27 anglers for 13 vermilion, 155 assorted rockfish, a ling cod, and a rock sole for a total of 170 fish for 2/3rd limits. Out of Morro Bay Landing, the Avenger, Endeavor, and Starfire were out on Sunday from ½-day to 12-hour trips with 68 anglers on Sunday for 45 vermilion, 15 copper, 10 Boccaccio, 476 assorted rockfish along with 2 ling cod to 16 pounds. Out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, the Black Pearl, Rita G, and Fiesta were out on Sunday on trips ranging from ½- to 3/4th- day with 74 anglers bringing home 23 vermilion, 507 assorted rockfish, 1 sand sole, one cabezon, and one Petrale sole. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3 Salmon 2
Striped bass continue to migrate into the Sacramento and San Joaquin side of the Delta, joining the linesides that have opted to stay in the Delta throughout the summer instead of heading to the cooler waters of San Francisco Bay. Trollers are finding good action on both the West Bank of the Sacramento and the lower San Joaquin River near Eddo’s Marina until the muddy water from the wind and big tides showed up at the end of the week into the weekend.
Bill Crooks of Sacramento went out early this week in 3-foot waves with Ron Retzlaff and Neil Koepke. He said, “Thank God we were in Neil’s big boat as we tried to fish the Sacramento at the West Bank with outgoing water and in coming wind, but all we caught was wet so we went over to the San Joaquin and then down to Broad Slough for a few. We went back into the Sacramento when the waves died down, and we caught better fish before quitting at 1:30 p.m. with 8 keepers to 7 pounds and 11 shakers.” Dave Houston of Livermore said, “Even with the big outgo tide, we found fish from Three Mile Slough to Broad Slough on San Joaquin. Then the fish showed up on the West Bank, ending up with 19 keepers and 16 shakers.”
George Wight, one of the few remaining original charter members of the California Striped Bass Association, said, “There were more stripers in the system within the past two weeks, and I was out three times this week, two times trolling and once drifting bluegill. I ended up with 13 stripers drifting bluegill at the West Bank, and another 15 stripers within an hour and a half trolling on the West Bank with Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows at depths from 14/15 feet. A month or so ago, there were few stripers out here, but it has all changed.”
Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait the salmon remain absent off of the Benicia shorelines, but anglers targeting salmon at the Dillon Point State Park have been picking up stripers to 35 inches on either Vee-Zee or Flying C spinners. The big tides have muddied up the shoreline. The salmon are coming, but the conditions with warm water and big tides have been less than ideal.”
The big news on the Delta is the August 24th meeting hosted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. within CDFW’s Fisheries’ Branch headquarters at 1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, 95605, in the California Poppy Conference Room to receive input on a proposed regulation changes for a striped bass slot limit. Those interested can attend and participate either in person or remotely (online or by phone). Participants can visit the following link to join the meeting online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81676220423. Those wishing to listen or participate by phone can do so by calling (866) 390-1828.
Brannan Island State Recreation Area is open on weekends-only from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until September 1st. A new concessionaire is being recruited for fulltime duty. Only the launch ramp and nearby day-use area is open as the other parts of the park remain closed.
On the San Joaquin side, Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors said, “The largemouth bass bite has been very good, and I have been using the new Reaction Innovation’s 8.5-inch Flirt like a Trick Worm with a nail weight along with Strike King’s Rage Tail Toad. The punch bite has been solid with Sweet Beavers, and chatterbaits have also been working. It is a matter of choosing what you want to use since the bite is that good. We have been averaging limits between 18 and 25 pounds on our guide trips, but my tournament trips have been another story. Out of 48 guide trips this year, we have only had two trips with less than 20 pounds. I was out on Sunday in an afternoon tournament, and my game plan is to punch, toss frogs, and through swimbaits over the grass in the flats. The flats are holding fish, and when the evening comes around, I will be switching over to a double-buzz bait.”
Dave King of Nor Cal Bass said, “We drew 34 boats out of Ladd’s Marina on Sunday, and the biggest limits came by punching or with frogs. I through a Rat-L-Trap throughout the morning along with a white Scum Frog and catching bass wasn’t a problem, but it was hard to find any size. The bass are loading up on crawdads, and we had crawdad parts all over the live well at the end of the day.”
The Best Bass Tournaments held their last event of the year out of Russo’s Marina on Saturday with 94 boats, and a third of the field weighed in over 10 pounds up to the winning weight of 20.36 pounds. Big fish were hard to come by, but there were two over 8 pounds brought to the scales.
Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, said, “The stripers are coming in, and we are seeing more and more fresh fish with blue backs showing up. Drifting live bluegill has been productive around Mildred Island and in Disappointment Slough, and bass fishing has been outstanding throughout the system.”
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell – Hook’d Up Sport Fishing – (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges – Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828
Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez
Bass 3 White bass 3 Striper 0 Catfish 3 Crappie 2 Bluegill 2 Trout 2
At Nacimiento, bass fishing remains excellent for both spotted and white bass, and anglers are catching and releasing up to 50 fish. The white bass have been more active than the spots in the hot weather, and there is a solid reaction bite with topwater lures in the early mornings before dropping over the shad schools with spoons. The fish are oriented to the shad schools, and once you find the bait, you will find the fish. Whopper Ploppers, Berkley Choppo 100’s, ima Finesse Poppers, or buzzbaits are all working. There is a good bottom with with plastics on the drop-shot. White bass are primarily taken by trolling white Kastmasters or Roostertails through the submerged schools, but there is a good bite with lipless crankbaits in shad patterns. Hot weather makes for a long day after 11:00 a.m., so it is best to get out there and off early. Bluegill and red ear perch continue to be taken on red worms, jumbo red worms, or meal worms. The lake held at 21%. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/lake-nacimiento-live-webcam/. At Lopez, there is a good bass bite for largemouths to 5 pounds with topwater lures or lipless crankbaits in the early mornings before heading to the bottom with plastics, jigs, or Senkos. Small Keitech swimbaits on an underspin are also effective. Rental boats are available at the marina, and kayakers are able to launch from the shoreline as the launch ramp is out of the water. The lake dropped to 25.0% of capacity. Anglers can view a live webcam of the lake at https://805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam/. At Santa Margarita, the bass bite is improving with a reaction bite in the mornings and evenings before heading to the bottom with finesse techniques. Topwater lures, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, or Keitech swimbaits on an underspin are all working. After the reaction bite dies when the sun comes up, anglers are heading to the bottom at depths to 20 feet with plastics on the drop-shot, jigs, or Senkos. Catfish have been active with the hot weather, and they have been taken on bass gear, much to the dismay of bass fishermen who think they have gone double-digits. Crappie are found intermittently around submerged structure while bluegill and redear perch are taken on meal worms, waxworms, or jumbo red worms. The lake dropped to 55.0% of capacity. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/santa-margarita-lake-webcam-california/. At San Antonio, the best fishing all year has been taking place for crappie, catfish, or carp from the shorelines and off of boats. The carp are in the shallows with dough baits while crappie are found around submerged bushes with minijigs. Catfish are inhaling mackerel coated with garlic spray. Bass fishing has also improved with a topwater bite in the early morning followed by working the bottom with plastics. The launch ramp is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends and from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. The lake held at 10%.
Call: Lake Nacimiento Marina (805) 238-3256; Lopez Lake Marina (805) 489-1006; Santa Margarita Marina Store (805) 438-1522; Lake San Antonio Marina (805) 472-2313.
Reminder: consuming white bass, black bass, crappie, catfish, or carp are subject to safe eating guidelines due to excessive mercury.
Events
Tournament Results:
Delta/Ladd’s Marina –Nor Cal Bass –August 13th: 1st – Christian Ostrander/Hunter Schlander – 22.54; 2nd –Vincent Mina/Alex Sanchez – 21.37; 3rd –Kolton Cody/Austin John – 17.75 (Big Fish – 8.62).
Delta/Russo’s Marina –Best Bass Tournaments – August 13th: 1st – Cesar Laguna/Derek Allred – 20.36; 2nd – Mark Casey/Ed Christo – 20.15; 3rd –Britt Brittain/Michael Chen – 18.95 (2nd Big Fish – 8.59).
Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club – August 13th: 1st – Ken Eddie – 13.33 pounds; 2nd – Jeff Short – 12.30; 3rd – Tim Turner – 11.65 (Big Fish 5.08)
Bass Lake – Sierra Bass Club Night Tournament – August 13th: 1st – Tony Lopez/Jerry Siligo – 12.27; 2nd – Ron Orbaker/Traci Lucchesi – 9.08; 3rd –Mitch Mitcheltree/Nathan Jones – 7.24. Big Fish – Tie – Ron Orbaker and Briden Hunt Jr. – 3.06.
Upcoming Tournaments (subject to change)
August 20th/21st –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Wild West Bass Trails
August 27th –
Delta/Big Break – Bass N’ Tubes
September 4th –
Delta/Contra Costa County – Delta Teen Team
September 10/11th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
New Melones – American Bass Association
Millerton – Bass 101
September 10th –
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Shaver Lake – Kokanee Power Team Tournament
September 11th –
Don Pedro – Kings VIII Bass Club
McClure – Gold Country Bass Team
September 15th-17th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Wild West Bass Trails
September 15th –
Delta/B and W Resort – Calvary Christian Center
September 16/17th –
New Melones – Nor Cal Bass
September 17th –
Delta/B and W Resort – Bass N’ Tubes
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Christian Bass League
New Melones – Sonora Bass Anglers
Kaweah – Golden Empire Bass Club
Isabella – American Bass Association
Santa Margarita – Bakersfield Bass Club/Orange County Bass Club
Lopez – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
September 18th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Hook, Line, and Sinker
