Fishing report, Feb. 14-20: Delta sturgeon are biting, McSwain trout plan produced strong results and Pine Flat bass and trout bite has improved.
Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member 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
Delta sturgeon bite continues, Steve Mitchell said. McSwain trout plants producing strong bites, Dave Hurley reported. Pine Flat bass and trout action improved, Michael Crayne said. McClure bass hitting, Randy Pringle reported.
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
“It’s been about the same with anglers driving up and down the aqueduct and finding the fish breaking the surface.,” Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun said,.
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported extremely slow action in the northern section of the aqueduct from Byron to Los Banos due to heavily stained water.
“Clifton Court Forebay at night has been the top location for striped bass with live bluegill or mudsuckers. Pile worms or bloodworms are producing a smaller grade of lineside,” he said. “The grass in the aqueduct is thick.”
A 31-pound striped bass was caught and kept by Juan Carlos Carillo in the aqueduct near Los Banos during a memorial fishing tournament for the Castillo family of Los Banos.
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported the winter bite is still in effect with tough conditions in high winds and rainy weather. Striped bass ate cut baits after check gates with some anglers landing line sides on tube baits or fluke -style baits. Catfish picked up chicken liver and dip bait near outtake grates and bridge pylons. Largemouth reports were minimal last week.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported bass action at Eastman remains consistent for small fish, but there have been some larger bass landed on rainbow trout patterned swimbaits. The fish remain holding from the banks to 30 feet with a ‘dead-stick’ presentation such as jigs or plastics on a shakey head, drop-shot, or Neko-rig with a heavy weight to get it to the bottom. The planted rainbows are scattered, but a few trout are landed from the banks with Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or spoons. Crappie are found deep in the rockpiles or brush piles with minijigs. Hensley is starting to show signs of life for bass in the shallows by flipping plastics. Eastman rose three feet to 555.65 feet in elevation and 67% of capacity with Hensley rising six feet to 482.37 feet in elevation and 25% of capacity. A double trout plant is scheduled at Eastman this week with a single plant at Hensley.
Call: Eastman Lake (559) 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam (559) 673-5151.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 1 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
There hasn’t been much action for either trout or bass due to high winds and stormy weather, but the lake is scheduled to host 10 bass tournaments during the months of February and March.
“The bass bite remains challenging and working main lake points with finesse techniques are the best technique for mostly spotted bass,” Dylan Boss-Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto said. “For rainbow trout, the storms have created stained water in the inlets, and the action has slowed.”
The daily vehicle fee is $20 and with an additional $15 for boat launch. The lake rose 1 1/2 feet to 799.69 feet in elevation and 82% of capacity. Updates on the launch ramp are available at https://www.donpedrolake.com/.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake rose one foot to 2,567.30 feet in elevation and 38% of capacity despite minimal water releases from the dam at 313 cfs at First Point. Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported bass were on the rebound before the storms rolled through.
Lately, the bass bite is still on the slower side with anglers having to put some work in to get a bite. Bass can be found off primary lake points in 20 to 35 feet of water with deep diving crankbaits, jigs, big worms, or crawdad imitation baits. For the recently planted rainbow trout, shore fishing has been best around Red’s Marina with trout jigs, garlic scented Power Bait, spinners, or pinched crawlers. Trolling Tasmanian Devils, Needlefish, and Flicker Shad crankbaits on lead core near the dam has also been effective. A trout plant is scheduled this week. Crappie fishing remains fair to good with live shiners and minijigs in 15 to 25 feet of water over offshore structure. The 33rd Annual Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce Isabella Lake will be held from March 22-25.
The adult entry is $40 with youth entry at $15. Information and registration is available at https:// www.kernrivervalley.com/isabellalakefishingderby.
Heavy plants will occur prior to the derby weekend. In the upper Kern River, Cope’s reported the river was stocked in all three sections along the 20-Mile stretch last week with a plant in section 4 this week. Another plant is scheduled for all three sections next week as well. The trout bite was excellent for those that got out before the storms. Anglers have been scoring trout with Get Bent Baits, salmon eggs, spinners, or trout jigs. Fly anglers have had luck with nymphs or streamers. The lower Kern was stocked with trout this week in all three sections, Section 1, Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar, and Section 2, Democrat Beach to Sandy Flat; and Section 3, Sandy Flat to Isabella Dam. Trout have been going for minijigs, salmon eggs, or Power Bait. The lower Kern bass bite is fair to good on crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. Catfish can be found on dip baits, nightcrawlers and cut baits. The flows on upper Kern at Kernville have risen are steady at 567 cfs. Trout plants took place at River Walk and Ming last week, and both lakes will also be planted next week.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, 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 3
The lake rose 2 feet to 621.63 feet in elevation and 20% of capacity. The Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments held adult and youth events over the weekend, and although the winning weights in the adult division were less than a 2-pound average, the top finisher in the adult division landed a big bass at 7.61 pounds. Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported bass anglers reported fair to decent fishing with the best at depths from 10 to 40 feet with plastics on the drop-shot, Ned-rig, or shakey heads all working along with deep-diving crankbaits and vertical spoons. Crappie fell for small live minnows and small swimbaits near Horse Creek, and catfish ate cut baits, chicken liver, and dip bait in deeper coves around the lake. Planted trout went for Power Bait, minijigs, or various inline spinners. A trout plant took place in the lake last week with a plant at Murry Park Pond scheduled for this week.. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers has dropped to 82 cfs.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose six feet to 615.07 feet in elevation and 29% of capacity. Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported the recent storms kept many home, but those who made it to the lake targeted largemouth bass with crankbaits, spoons, or finesse baits in 10 to 40 feet of water. Crappie are taken on minijigs for a few fish near the marina, and catfish anglers used cut baits, chicken liver, and Triple S Dip Bait. Planted trout are taken from the shorelines with Power Bait, minijigs, or spoons. A trout plant is scheduled next week.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 3
The Feb. 10 70-boat Best Bass Tournament brought in a winning limit at 14.65 pounds with a big fish at 5.70 punds.
Tournament director Randy Pringle said, “swimbaits in the shallows in the afternoon produced the largest fish, but the most consistent bite has been to work finesse presentations in deep water or humps or submerged islands in the main lake.”
With the warmer than normal water, catfishing remains solid at night along sloping banks with chicken livers, nightcrawlers, or cut baits. Crappie continue to be found in deep water inside submerged trees in coves with live minnows or minijigs. The lake dropped slightly to 807.33 feet in elevation and 65% of capacity. The Barrett Cove South Marina and Café will open under new ownership weekends-only starting March 30 through Memorial Day.
Six bass tournaments are scheduled on the lake through March 2.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 3
More than 18,000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm rainbow trout were released into the lake within the month, and bank action remains strong in the normal locations of the Brush Pile, the Handicapped Docks, and the peninsula near the marina. The pressure continues to be heavy. Berkley Mice Tails, rainbow garlic Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or Kastmasters in gold or blue/chrome continue to be effective. Trout plants will continue through the spring months in preparation for the spring Merced Irrigation Trout Derby in April. Holdover rainbows can be found in the river arm near the Second Fence Line with Ruby Red Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler along with spinners. The lake dropped to 84% of capacity.
The McSwain Marina is closed through March 30 before opening for weekends only from April 1 through May 31.
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 2 Crappie 2
Both Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis and Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported an overall tough bass bite as most bass anglers are heading to other lakes. The best action is up the river arm with underspins, swimbaits, finesse jigs, or small plastics on a drop-shot. Crappie continue to be found in deep water around submerged brush or rock piles, but you must hunt to find the slabs with electronics. The lake rose to 528.05 feet in elevation and 59% of capacity. Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant have risen from 419 to 516 cfs. Only two bass tournaments are scheduled within the next five weeks, both on February 17th. A trout plant is scheduled for Woodward Park this week and Sycamore Island next week.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 1
The trout bite has slowed as regular guides are heading to nearby lakes such as Camanche to take advantage of the concessionaire’s planting program. About 1800 pounds of Mt. Lassen rainbow trout to 8 pounds were released in Camanche this week, and trollers aren’t getting anywhere near that grade of trout at Melones. Limits of planters are possible for trollers working the main river channel with Apex lures. Wiggle Hoochies, or shad-patterned spoons near the surface. Side planers with Rapalas are also effective. A few big bass continue to be found on swimbaits, but numbers remain with jigs or plastics on a finesse presentation along steep bluff walls at depths from 10 to 45 feet. The Kokanee Power net pens are loaded with rainbows, and they will be released in the spring. New Melones has a daily use fee of $8 with a boat launch of $10 (day use included). The lake held at 1050.98 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity. Nine bass tournaments are scheduled within the next two months including three large tournaments.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The lake has seen plenty of tournament action, and the Fresno Bass Club produced a winning limit at 19.64 pounds with a big fish at 7.72 by Timmy Wells Jr. on Sunday.
“The bass are schooling in the shallows at depths to 15 feet, and jigs in green pumpkin or brown/purple along with shad-patterned plastics on the drop-shot are working best,” Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle said.
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis added, “trout trolling is improving at depths from 40 to 50 feet near the dam with Needlefish or hoochies, and there have been king salmon landed at depths from 70 to 80 feet.”
Crappie action is best with Slab Hunters, Bobby Garland’s in Monkey Mike or Glimmer Blue, or Strike King’s Mr. Crappie are producing over submerged brush or rock in deep water. In the lower Kings, recent trout plants have brought out the anglers, and it has been crowded on the weekends. Atomic Tubes, spinners, nightcrawlers, or Power Bait are working for up to limits. Finding less pressured water is the key.
The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer have risen from 671 to 849 cfs while the lake rose over 15 feet to 899.78 feet in elevation and 67% of capacity. Pine Flat is hosting most tournaments in the region over the next two months with seven more events scheduled. Both the lower Kings and Avocado lake are scheduled for trout plants for the next two weeks.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273. Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, because of the muddy water along the shoreline, bait fishing with anchovies has been best. The banks around Dinosaur Point are producing a few stripers to seven pounds. The reaction bite has slowed with the muddy water. In the O’Neill Forebay, largemouth bass are the top billing with Senkos or jigs flipped into the tules. Keeper stripers are found with jerkbaits.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that the heavy rain has caused murky runoff conditions throughout the lake with lots of debris and weeds in the water in some spots.
“The murkier off color water with about a five-foot visibility changed the game this week for just about all anglers tossing bait, trolling or casting reaction lures. The rising water has also thrown in another variable – making it harder to pattern the fish. I scouted the lake a couple days ago looking for active fish and when I fished with my buddy Andy Bedell of Watsonville on his 77 th birthday we released over 20 fish to 23” in the stained water working the 50-foot and deeper water column with Lucky Crafts in Shad silver colors. I guided two guests on Monday and we trolled up 25 fish to 24 ½ inches - again using regular shad colored minnow lures working the Portuguese Cove area. The real keys right now are to hit the fish on the head , along with finding active fish willing to bite. “ George said.
The main lake rose to 63% with the forebay holding at 86%.
To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/ san_luis_reservoir.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger
George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954.
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
“Bass Lake has come up a bit from the storms, and the main ramp is a go for launching,” Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Guide Service said.
“Trollers can now head out for the recently planted trophy rainbows in the top 15 feet. They will stay high in the water column until the lake warms up. The trout are biting good from shore with Power Bait. Dick’s Mountain Trout Busters in orange or orange/chartreuse behind a Rocky Mountain Tackle’s Blue Ice dodger is a winning set up,” Beighey said.
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis added, “bass fishing has slowed, but there are bluegill and crappie to be had.” A webcam of the launch ramp is available at https://basslakeca.com/.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing (559) 676-8133.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
The gate to Kaiser Pass Road closed on Nov. 15. The Kaiser Pass lakes are starting to release water with fewer anglers heading over the pass to fish the small impoundments. Edison held at 32% of capacity with Florence rising to 11% of capacity while Mammoth Pool rose to 34% of capacity.
Road conditions (559) 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake (559) 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Trout 2 Kokanee 2
“Recent storms kept most anglers away from Shaver. Most kokanee hunters are still finding them at 25 to 35 feet deep near the Fisherman’s Club with purple or orange hoochies along with purple or orange spinners or tubes tipped with corn behind a large dodger,” Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle said.
“The yearling trout bite from the island to Stevenson Bay has been productive. Trout also have been found in front of the dam. Dick’s Trout Busters in orange or purple or orange or purple tubes behind dodgers or flashers have shown some success. The next few days will have good weather before a storm arrives late in the weekend. Shores are snowed over, but the ramp has been plowed,” he said.
The Shaver Marina is closed, but the Sierra Marina launch ramp is open, but launching requires some finesse.
A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http:// www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html. Shaver is at 50% of capacity with Huntington at 40% of capacity.
Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service (559) 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service (559) 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing (559) 802-8072.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
The gate to McKinley Grove Road closed on Dec. 1, limiting access to the high elevation lakes. The road is anticipated to be reopened in April.
Call: Wishon RV Park (559) 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crab 3
Limits of 10 crabs remain a possibility, but the New Captain Pete has completed its crab season to head to the boatyard for annual maintenance. There are six-packs and large party boats still opting for crab-only trips. Commercial crabbers are selling live Dungeness off the docks.
For the public’s safety, the Pacifica Pier was scheduled to be closed until Feb.14 when it is anticipated a partial opening of the main pier will be feasible. The City’s Public Works Engineering Division closed the pier until a structural assessment could be performed on an expedited basis.
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
Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “Anglers around the Monterey Bay region found themselves in the middle of yet another major weather phenomena again this week. Locally, sustained winds were clocked around 40 miles per hour while gusts on nearby peaks hit 80 to 100 mph this week. Precipitation is always appreciated, especially after the recent years of drought in California but things get kind of scary when terms like “atmospheric river” and “bomb cyclone” begin to be bandied about.”
“Ocean swells and wind waves are forecast to ease from around 20 feet to a more manageable four to six-foot range by this weekend. Crabbers dropping pots for local Dungeness should have no problems while targeting the 180- to 220-foot depths, where the crabs are crawling right now. Prudent crab anglers made sure to pull all their traps before this latest weather system hit. When weather like this moves in, traps tend to “walk,” getting dragged across the bottom from the forces of current, swell and wind,” he said. “Crab anglers carefully track the placement of each pot using GPS to facilitate an efficient run when they return and pull the pots. Marked by buoys, the pots are easy to miss visually if they have moved very far from the spot where dropped. Sometimes the pots can get buried in bottom sand or mud because of storm currents.”
Considering that each crab trap setup represents at least $300 investment for the angler, it pays to keep losses to a minimum. As usual this time of crab season, we find the biomass of Dungeness moving generally towards the edges of our deep submarine canyons. That includes the central Monterey Bay Canyon as well as the northern offshoots of Pajaro and Soquel Holes, Bushnell said.
For recreational anglers, it’s a great plan to zip out to those areas, drop the crab pots, then fish the bottom for sand dabs and Petrale sole. Give it a few hours and pull your pots on the way back in. Or leave the pots to soak overnight and pull them the next morning before hitting the flats for more flatfish. Sand dabs are so numerous they can be counted by the bucketful. These fish are very delicate however, and do not take well to freezing for table fare. Same-day eating is really the best for any fish, but especially these little soles. Conscientious anglers will only keep what they can use.”
Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said perch fishing is picking up well around Manresa Beach while many of the other beaches are chocolate milk with debris all over.
“Once the ocean settles down, the perch action will be outstanding with most of the fish over 8 inches. Motor oil red flake grubs from Mekini Baitz, Honey Badger Baits, or Lucky 13 remain effective. Striped bass in the 22- to 24-inch range have been landed on Duo Realis Tide Minnows,” he said.
Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
Crab-only or Petrale sole/sand dab/crab combination trips remain the only game in town until the reopening of rockfish season. Live Dungeness crab is sold off the docks in Berkeley on the Pacific Dream over the weekend.
For large orders or to reserve crab, text (510) 322-0493. New rockfish regulations for 2024 will be upcoming soon with the possibility of opening to 20 fathoms. The 2024 California ocean salmon sport and commercial fishing seasons have not yet been determined. Season openings that would take effect between April and May 15, will be decided at the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting in March.
Season openings and regulations that would take effect on or after May 16, will be recommended by the PFMC at its meeting in April. Striped bass remain in the bay, and Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Loch Lomond found great action with live mud and ghost shrimp on the incoming tide near the Pumphouse in San Pablo Bay.
They caught and released 18 legal linesides within a few hours. March 2 is the first day of operations for Emeryville Sport Fishing boats, and they will be offering halibut/crab combination trips as well as striped bass and shark trips.
Live bait won’t be available so it will be trolling with frozen herring or anchovies along with hoochies. The occasional herring spawn continues, mostly near the Marin County shorelines. The annual central bay closure for white sturgeon continues through March 15. During this period, white sturgeon may not be taken in the following described area: That portion of San Francisco Bay included within the following boundaries: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Pt. Lobos and Pt. Bonita.
Crab-only or Petrale sole/sand dab/crab combination trips remain the only game in town until the reopening of rockfish season. Live Dungeness crab continue to be sold off K Dock at the Berkeley Marina on the weekend. At $10/per crab off the Pacific Dream is the best bargain in the Bay Area if not northern California as $8/ pound is the commercial price in San Francisco. The Pacific Dream is selling crab caught within a few hours right off the docks. Rockfishing regulations have not been established, but there is hope of a season open from the shoreline to 20 fathoms along with a separate season deeper than 50 fathoms to protect the quillback rockfish.
The shallow water rockfishing would allow kayaks to participate since they were shut out of the shallows starting from September through December. Inside the bay, a herring spawn broke out at Spinnakers in Sausalito on Saturday morning at low tide, and boaters were able to net up ice chest full of herring. The limit is 10 gallons or approximately 520 herring per day.
Runoff from the Delta and bay inlets have muddied up the bay, but there has been solid striped bass in both the Petaluma and Napa Rivers. San Pablo Bay remains very slow for sturgeon, but this may change with the influx of fresh water from the Delta. The annual central bay closure for white sturgeon continues through March 15. During this time, white sturgeon may not be taken in the following described area: That portion of San Francisco Bay included within the following boundaries: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Point Lobos and Point Bonita. The 2024 California ocean salmon sport and commercial fishing seasons have not yet been determined. Season openings that would take effect between April and May 15, will be decided at the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting in March. Season openings and regulations that would take effect on or after May 16, will be recommended by the PFMC at its meeting in April.
Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388.
San Luis Obispo
Surf perch 3
During the winter months, boats from Morro Bay and Port San Luis will be running whale watching and nature trips until the rockfish season opens. Regulations are being formulated for the upcoming rockfish season, and significant changes are anticipated once again. 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 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Clear weather is anticipated for at least a week, but the atmospheric river of the past week brought more dirty water into both sides of the California Delta. The sturgeon do not seem to mind the dirty water as they continue on a tear in Suisun Bay, but for largemouth bass and striped bass, it is much more of a grind. Largemouth bass fishing has been tough for most as the main San Joaquin River has only a few inches of clarity, but Dave King of Nor Cal Bass found clarity of up to a foot in the east Delta sloughs north of Stockton.
“It was muddy at the mouth of the Calaveras River and into the main channel. We had 31 boats at Ladd’s on Saturday for our second Delta tournament, and it took nearly 17 pounds at 16.95 with a big fish at 7.52 for the team of Ian and Jeremy Maynard,” he said. “Overall, our weights were consistent with our first tournament in late January. Finding clear water was the key.”
Fresno-native Vince Borges the Nor Cal Bass event with Chad Frie.
“The Delta was tough, and although we got the bites we needed, they just didn’t stick. The river is very dirty, but we found cleaner water on the outgoing tide, and once we found clean water, we were able to pick up fish to 5.20 pounds using Reaction Innovation’s Skinner Dippers,” Borges said.
“We went even shallower with spinnerbaits in the dirty water and had some hard hits that didn’t stick, ending up with three fish around 13 pounds. Finding clean water is the key as the water temperature dropped three degrees this week with the cold nighttime temperatures,” he said.
The clarity should improve this week, but baits with scent and vibration will be the most effective. Spinnerbaits are a solid option along with big plastics with scent in the stained water. There are varying degrees of clarity in the Delta, and water in the south Delta remains some of the most stained.
“Crappie fishing with minijigs has been solid for slabs to two pounds in a couple of locations,” Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoorsman in Stockton, said. “In the south Delta, Whiskey Slough off Highway 4 has been producing while Eight Mile Road northwest of Stockton is another option. Anglers with boat access are finding the best action.
“For striped bass, with the dirty water, cut or live bait has been the best options, and my friend’s Gabe and Paul Cruz of Stockton caught and released two oversized sturgeon on frozen shad or a live mudsucker while targeting striped bass near Collinsville,” he said.
In the south Delta, “the south San Joaquin is extremely dirty with lots of debris,” Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle said. “My customers have been complaining about the water conditions with fast, muddy flows, and most are heading north to Isleton or west to Sherman Island to fish off of the banks with frozen shad, blood worms, or pile worms. The best location in the area has been Clifton Court Forebay with keeper stripers at night with live bluegill or mudsuckers.”
He added that most of his customers are bank fishing from Sherman Island upriver to Isleton with most around Isleton where the water is clearest. Live mudsuckers or blood worms are working best for these bank anglers. The south San Joaquin is very muddy, and most anglers are heading to the Clifton Court Forebay with live mudsuckers or bluegill along with pile worms or bloodworms are bringing in undersized linesides.
The muddy water with warm temperatures between 53 and 55 degrees has been just what the doctor ordered for sturgeon fishing.
Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg put together the rare trip this week with three sturgeon falling between the tight 42- to 48-inch range, keeping two due to the restriction on two-fish per boat per day. His Saturday trip produced plenty of action, but only undersized sturgeon. One six-pack reported catching and releasing 12 sturgeon at the mouth of Montezuma Slough. Cured salmon roe remains the top bait, but they are also getting action on ghost shrimp, grass shrimp, or eel. Sturgeon action is anticipated only to improve as the water temperatures rise in the coming months.
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. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045.
Events
Feb. 24
Stockton – Free Coast Guard Boat Inspection at the Reel Custom Boat Shop, 8090 Rio Blanco Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 2
Oak Grove Regional Park – Bob McMillen Memorial Trout Derby
March 15-17 Bakersfield – Central Valley Sportsmen’s Boat and RV Show – information - https://www.calshows.com/.
March 24
Oakley – Bass Hole Tackle Swap Meet – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
April 6
Roosevelt High School Bass Fishing Club Spring Fishing Tackle Faire at The Boat Shoppe, 2125 Ventura Ave. Fresno, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Feb. 17
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association Don Pedro – Christian Bass League/Gilroy Bass Masters McClure – Oro Madre Bass Anglers
Millerton – Sierra Bass Club
Pine Flat – Kerman Bass Club/Kern County Bass Masters
Feb. 18
McClure – Kings River Bass Club
Feb. 24
Don Pedro – Nor Cal Bass
Millerton – Best Bass Tournaments
Pine Flat – Golden Empire Bass Club
Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments
Lopez – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
Feb. 25
Delta/B and W Resort – California Bass Federation
March 2
New Melones – Angler’s Press
Tulloch – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies
Eastman – Kerman Bass Club
Pine Flat – Central Valley Kayak Fishing
March 3
Lake Pardee – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Santa Margarita – Bakersfield Bass Club
March 9
Bass Lake – 559 Bass Kayak
March 10
Pine Flat – California Bass Nation
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing
