Lake Camanche
Bruce Hamby of Sierra Sport Fishing reported good action for rainbow trout, averaging limits of quality fish in the 2 to 3-pound range each trip. Rainbow trout action is very good! Were averaging limits of quality fish 2 to 3 pounds on every trip. Becky Cooper of Elk Grove had an exceptional day landing a limit of bows in the 3 to 5 1/2 pound class. He is also seeing kokanee that slipped over the dam from Lake Pardee in the 16 ½ to 17 inch range. The trout and kokanee are holding on the deeper water around Little Hat and Big Hat at depths from 25 to 50 feet deep. He has been scoring with Vance's Slim Fins in Copper Red Head or German Brown, and with Ex-Cel blue silver and Rainbow Trout color smeared with Pro Cure Trophy Trout Gel. Camanche is now 75% full with a surface temperature of 74 degrees. The lake is still rising, and the added cooler water is making excellent fishing conditions.
New Melones Reservoir
Both Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing and Danny Layne of Fishn’ Dan’s Guide Service reported continued outstanding kokanee fishing for fish to 15-inches. The fish are holding at 40 feet in depth near Carson Cove, Shipwreck and Rose Islands at first light, before moving down between 50 to 62 feet in depth. Pink Marni bugs behind a nickel/silver/pink Vance’s dodger, Uncle Larry’s Blue Tiger spinners, glow blue or pink Shasta Tackle PPK hootchies behind a Vance’s dodger tipped with corn scented with vanilla, anise or garlic are the most productive set-ups. Smith has put in quick limits in his past four guide trips, and he fished in the southern portion of the lake on Monday due to heavy angling pressure near Shipwreck Island. He said there are schools of kokanee throughout the lake. Rainbow trout to five pounds are holding in the 30 to 40 foot depth, and they are hitting rolled shad, ExCel’s and blade/crawler combinations. An occasional brown trout can be landed on Countdown Rapalas or Trophy Sticks close to structure in 50 to 60 feet in depth. Larry Lipary of Concord landed an 8.75-pound brown at a depth of 25 feet under the Stevenot Bridge on a pink/green hootchie. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported a good bass with top water action at dawn or dusk with Zara Spooks, Pop-RE2s or buzz baits. Once the sun is up, Senkos, jigs, Carolina-rigged 6-inch plastics, or Zoom Baby Brush Hogs are all working. Catfishing is improving with nightcrawlers, chicken livers or mackerel. Steve Lawrence of Sacramento landed a 6.75-pound catfish still fishing from a boat. Crappie can be found around submerged trees at depths from 10 to 30 feet in Bear, Mormon or Carson Creeks with small minnows or red/white minijigs. The two-day Kokanee Power tournament is this coming weekend with signups at Glory Hole Sporting Goods Friday evening or Saturday morning starting at 4:00 a.m. The lake dropped one-half vertical feet to 982.98 feet in elevation and 55% of capacity.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Jean Cordell of Big Ed’s Bait and Tackle reported an improved bass bite as evidenced by 12 limits weighed in during the weekend’s ABA tournament which produced a winning weight of nearly 29-pounds. Deep-diving crankbaits, jigs are plastics are all working as the fish have moved off of the banks. A constant wind has been plaguing the lake. Trout fishing is starting to slow down with the best action near the Wilford Height Cemetery or Auxiliary Dam with garlic or spring green Power Bait or night crawlers. Another DFG trout plant is scheduled for this week. Crappie action is slowing down from the banks with the fish moving into deeper water to 20 feet in response to dropping lake levels. They are suspending in trees off of rocky points. Fishermen are locating the crappie with minnow, and then switching over to red/white minijigs to fill out their stringers. Catfish to 16-pounds have been taken throughout the lake with frozen shad, anchovies, or mackerel. Engineer’s Point has been a consistent hot spot for the whiskerfish. The lake has dropped to 42% of capacity and 2571.08 feet in elevation. In the Bakersfield area, nearly 400 anglers are competing for the top prize of $100.00 in the Bob’s Bait June Carp Derby, still led by an 11-pound carp despite great interest in this underappreciated species.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Ly Tu of Ly’s Fishing Goods in San Jose said the wind blew most of the week, and boaters stayed away from the main lake. A few boaters went out during calm periods with cut anchovy fillets for hit or miss action at depths of 40 to 60 feet in water off of Dinosaur Point. The heat is limiting fishing to early morning hours. The best action has been for catfish in the Forebay around Check 12 with clams or mackerel. A few stripers have been taken on white flukes. The majority of area striper fishermen continue to San Francisco Bay to take advantage of a hot bite in the bay for larger fish. The lake dropped another ten vertical feet to 392.40 feet in elevation due to 11,611 acre-feet of water releases down the aqueduct and canals for irrigation and municipal uses. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805.
Eastman Lake
Ranger Keith Willis reported the spring spawn has released millions of small minnows and bass fry throughout the lake. The larger bass are feeding heavily on the small fry and minnows. As a result, drop shotting and other bottom-fishing techniques have been generally unproductive. However, Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said some 12 to 13-pound limits have been taken by anglers who are keeping very quiet regarding their technique with one remaining club tournament. Minnow-imitation plugs or crankbaits at depths from 5 to 10 feet may pull out of few fish. There is no top water bite. The water quality is good with little algae. No trout report. The lake has dropped slightly through evaporation to 20% of capacity and 495.21 feet in elevation.
Hensley Lake
Merritt Gilbert said the lake is in the doldrums once again with few reports of fishing or of any success fishing. A few catfish are biting anchovies or chicken livers at nig ht up in the Headwaters of the lake with bluegill hitting red worms from the banks. The lake dropped a vertical foot to 34% of capacity and 492.15 feet in elevation.
McSwain Reservoir
McSwain Marina reported good trout action over the weekend with rainbow, spring green or chartreuse Power Bait at the Brush Pile. Trollers are pulling blade/crawler combinations, red or chartreuse Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger or small spoons trolled to 30 feet in depth along the normal pattern from Gilligan’s Island to the 2nd Fence Line working for trollers. A Calaveras Trout Farm plant is scheduled for this week.
Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs
Merritt Gilbert said they have been selling Lucky Craft 128’s in American Shad once again after several weeks with slow sales. Flukes thrown in the moving water at the headgates are also producing small stripers. A few catfish have been taken on chicken livers in Mendota Slough. Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield said striper action has been consistent in the south aqueduct with experienced anglers catching fish. There is a buildup of moss along the concrete walls of the aqueduct.
Millerton Lake
Merritt Gilbert said both the bass and striper bites have slowed down in the apst week with the high water and heavy recreational boating pressure. This was the most consistent bass bite in the area, but things have changed for the worse. The Fresno Bass Club tournament on Sunday had 63 participants with a total of 12 limits to just over 6-pounds. The lake is at 100% of capacity and 577.38 feet in elevation. The area below Friant Dam on the San Joaquin continues to be planted on a weekly basis, including the current20week. The flows down the San Joaquin remain fishable, and experienced anglers are locating fish in the higher water conditions. There is a group of regular fishermen who use yellow Power Bait at Lost Lake for limits of planters before 11:00 a.m.
Pine Flat Reservoir
Merritt Gilbert said there have been several bass in the 2.5 to 3-pound range taken on watermelon/red Hula grubs. The bite has been hit or miss with anglers working up and down the banks for no action, then hitting four quality fish on one bank. Most trout anglers are heading up the hill, but trout fishing should remain decent as long as the cool weather pattern holds. There haven’t been many reports with local anglers losing interest, perhaps due to heavy recreational boating pressure by mid-morning. The lake dropped six vertical feet to 65% of capacity and 885.23 feet in elevation. The lower Kings below the Dam continues to receive weekly trout plants, including this week. Experienced anglers continue to work limits with Power Bait, night crawlers, salmon eggs or lures.
Lake Kaweah
Jerry Williams of the Success Bass Club said the dropping water levels and heavy boat pressure over the weekend slowed down the bite during the Visalia Tournament. There were 50 boats in the tournament; and between the recreational boats and the dropping water, fishing was tough. Rockpiles that were holding fish are now exposed. Sierra Sport Fishing in Exeter said bass to 13-pounds have been taken in the past week on Senkos, Brush Hogs, or lizards with a top water or crankbait bite early or late. Crappie fishing is still good in submerged trees and brush at the Horse Creek Campground with small minnows or minijigs. No catfish reports. Trout fishing is best up the river with live crickets. The lake is releasing water and has dropped 11 vertical feet to an elevation of 694.48 feet and 48% of capacity.
Lake Success
Jerry Williams said the fish are off the bite with most boats averaging a couple of bass. Recreational boating is nearly in full, summer swing. The lake is holding at 628.71 feet in elevation and 48% of capacity. CF22> Call:</CF> 784-0215
McClure Reservoir
Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported there is a topwater bite early or late with dart-heading with the 1/8th oz. Revenge Flipper Wacker with Senkos in color 330 at depths from the banks to 20 feet. Live crawdads and minnows continue to work. The bass continue to be small in size. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling said trout fishing is good at depths from 30 to 40 feet in the river narrows from Barretts Cove to Bagby with blade/crawler combinations, Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a flasher or small spoons. Crappie fishing20is improving with the best action at night under lights at depths to 40 feet near structure in Temperance and Cottonwood Creeks. Catfish action is improving with live minnows or crawdads, anchovies or sardines along muddy, sloping banks at depths from 15 to 20 feet. No king salmon or kokanee reports. The lake is dropped a vertical foot to 809.64 feet in elevation and 66% of capacity.
Lake Don Pedro
Danny Layne of Fishn’Dan’s Guide Service said rainbow trout to 3-pounds continue to be on a good bite at depths from 30 to 40 feet with shad-patterned= lures or blade/crawler combinations. Kokanee to 14-inches are hitting Sockeye Slammers, Humdingers or Wedding Rings tipped with shoepeg corn scented with anise or garlic at depths to 50 feet off of Jenkins Hill, Copper Mountain and Graveyard Bay. King salmon are in Fleming Bay at depths from 70 to 120 feet on rolled shad or anchovies. Manny Basi reported bass fishing is improving with 5-inch Senkos in watermelon/red or greenpumpkin/pepper on a 1/8th oz. Revenge Flipper Wacker head at depths from the bank to 15 feet. There is a dawn or dusk top water bite with Zara Spooks or PopR’s. Brown/purple jigs with a brown/purple trailer are also productive, as well ½ oz. Revenge jig heads with a 4-inch Hula Grub in watermelon/red. There is no swimbait bite. The lake is holding at 808.88 feet in elevation and 87% of capacity.
Bass Lake
Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service said a few rainbow to 2.5-pounds are taken on occasion, but kokanee action continues to be very slow. There are few active groups of fish in the lake with most holding tight to the bottom. A group=2 0of fish will rise to 30 feet in depth in the middle of the lake, but these fish haven’t been biting and appear to be in the 14 to 16-inch range. He thought warm weather is needed to improve the kokanee bite. Bass fishing has been best for spots to 2-pounds on Senkos around docks in the early evenings. The lake is still holding at 76% of capacity.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Captain Jack Yandell reported limits of kokanee to 15.5-inches are possible in the middle of the lake to the Point to Ski Island at depths from 50 to 65 feet with green or fire tiger Fat Bugs behind a Jumbo Jack silver/yellow blade. The bite isn’t red-hot by any means. Rainbow trout are still abundant with the small rainbows biting everything. Dick Gomez of Young’s Tackle reported a larger grade than normal of smallmouth are holding in the submerged trees with live crickets. Gomez continues to tout Huntington as the place to go for kokanee and rainbow trout with Apex lures and hootchies at depths from the surface to 25 feet from the first Dam=2 0west in the deepest water in the lake. The kokanee have been pushing 17-inches. Merritt Gilbert reported two customer brought in tlimits from 15 to 17-inche at depths from 25 to 28 feet with a pink hootchie behind a Sling Blade. Anglers are advised to get on the lake early on weekends, as the sailboat regattas are taking over in mid-morning. Merritt Gilbert said the bank bite has at the Dam with pink lemonade Power Bait has slowed down this week. Shaver is holding at 97% of capacity with Huntington rising to 98% of capacity. The majority of the high country creeks are scheduled for trout plants this week.
Wishon/Courtright
Chuck Crane of Wishon Village RV Park said the weather has stabilized, and fishing continues to be excellent at both Wishon and Courtright. Rainbows averaging from 12 to 14-inches are hitting night crawlers 24-inches behind a Sling blade or dodger at 3 colors of lead core at Wishon. Speedy Shiners, Thomas Buoyants or #2 Needlefish in copper or black dot frog or drifting night crawlers under a bubble are also working. Bank fishing continues to be good orange or rainbow Power Bait or night crawlers three feet below a bubble at Short Hair Creek or the Dam. The bite around Woodchuck Creek has been fair. Yellow or yellow/black Rooster Tails continue to be effective. Action at Courtright is good for trollers pulling Rapalas or blade/crawlers on the surface. There haven’t been many shore fishermen with the colder temperatures at the higher elevation, but a few fish have been taken on Power Bait or night crawlers. Both lakes are nearly full and launching is easy. Dick Gomez said Dinkey Creek is producing some limits of planted trout with crickets or small spinners. Bob Scharton of Herb Bauer’s Sporting Goods in Fresno flyfished in Helms Meadow with trudes and wolfs, and he reported good action, catching and releasing several native trout.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
No reports from the Kaiser Pass lakes, but Patrick Movey=2 0of Fishermen’s Warehouse in Fresno made the 2.5-hour drive to Mam= moth Pool for the reopener. He reported excellent trolling action for 13 to 15-inch fish on blade/crawler combinations or ExCel spoons. Rick Lyons of Lyons Guide Service landed a 6-pound brown at Mammoth Pool. Edison has risen to 57 %, Florence has risen to 98% with Mammoth Pool at 96%.
Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez
Jim’s Pro Bass Fishing a good spotted bass bite in Nacimiento with rip bait along shallow flats. White bass are boiling in the middle of the lake, and Roostertails, Kastmasters or anything shiny will work when thrown into the boils. Santa Margarita has slowed quite a bit, but there are a few large fish still landed on the Jackall Flick Shake worm on the outside20weed line in 15 to 18 feet of water. The bass at San Antonio are hitting plastics in the brush and trees. Stripers are starting to boil throughout the lake. Lopez is producing numbers of small fish on the Jackall Flick Shake and other plastics over submerged humps or island tops. Both Monterey County lakes have dropped a vertical foot with San Antonio at 737.20 feet in elevation and 45% of capacity with Nacimiento at 737.30 feet and 30% of capacity.
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