Shasta Lake
Greg Agresta of Phil’s Propellers in Redding reported the lake is continuing to rise a couple of feet per day, and it is 88 feet from spilling, a climb of 35 feet in elevation since January 1st. Due to the inflow, the fish have scattered from the banks to 50 feet in depth, and there is no consistent depth as the fish are moving up and down with the rising. Most anglers are tossing Senkos from the banks and working the lures down to 50 feet in depth, staying with the fish once the proper depth is located. Jigs, Senkos and plastic worms are working best with a limited bite on swimbaits or spinnerbaits. Agresta said the trout are close to the surface chasing bait, and long-lined Rapalas 100 feet behind the boat are working for quality rainbows to 20-inches. There are twice as many launch ramps open as there were a couple of weeks past with the lake rising 13 feet this week to 990.10 vertical feet to 58% of capacity.
Lake Berryessa
Sweeney’s Bait and Tackle in Napa reported a fair trout bite at depths from the surface to 30 feet with the best action once you find the shad schools. There are a few kokanee starting to show up at 40 feet in depth with natural Radical Glow Tubes. Jigging, spooning or drop shotting are the top bass techniques.
Lake Amador
The Tackle Box Café at Lake Amador reported another plant of 3000-pounds of cutbows were released in the lake today for a season total of 58,500-pounds since October 12. The lake has risen 15 feet from the inflow, and the water is 30 feet from spilling. During the weekend’s sunny weather, chrome Kastmasters, Rapalas or white Power Worms were working from the banks just below the surface.The water is lightly stained with around 2 feet in visibility. There is a bit of debris floating near the northwest corner of the lake near the Dam. Anglers are picking up a few limits, but the norm is 2 to 3 of the quality cutbows to 7-pounds. Today’s plant included 15 fish over 10-pounds, in addition to more tagged fish for the annual derby. They are still at one launch ramp, and the lake will have to rise another 10 feet before the second ramp is in operation.
Lake Del Valle
Cheryl Skinner at the Del Valle Marina said limits of trout have been taken from the banks near the East Swim Beach with combinations of white Power Eggs and night crawlers. There were 500-pounds of Mt. Lassen trout planted today. A 4-pound/9-ounce rainbow was taken from the Swim Beach to go with a 5-pound/11-ounce striped bass on a chicken liver of all things. A 16-pound striper was reported last week. The water is muddy with some debris on the surface, but the lake has settled down a bit with much of the floating stuff sticking once again to the banks. The Marina is currently open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days per week.
New Melones Reservoir
Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reported continued good trout fishing from the banks at Glory Hole or Tuttletown Launch Ramps with Berkley chartreuse or green glitter Power Bait, Power Eggs or a crawler/marshmallow combination. Boaters are still fishing on the anchor with similar baits in the same areas, as well as Carson or Mormon Coves. Small silver/blue Kastmasters and shad or rainbow trout imitation lures such as a Countdown Rapala are also working. Trolling has been improving between the storms with quality brown trout to 6-pounds landed by Marty Morfey of Lodi on a rainbow trout Rapala in Coyote Creek. There have been some huge bass landed as evidenced by the 31.54-pound limit taken by John Chiarpotti of Bassin 1A Guide Service including a 13.3-pound largemouth and a 6.15-pound spotted bass. There were several spots landed in the 6-pound range, primarily on swimbaits such as the Huddleston ROF 12 in trout patterns when the wind is blowing. The spots are landed in large numbers, as they are oriented to wood near steep flats or drop-offs with brown/purple jigs with a trailer, watermelon/redflake or green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or other creature baits on a Carolina-rig or shaky head. The best numbers of smaller fish are taken on 4-inch shad-colored plastics. Catfishing should be slow at this time of year; and there were few reports this week. A few quality crappie continue to be landed on small or medium minnows or crappie jigs in a variety of colors at depths from 30 to 45 feet around submerged trees or structure. The lake rose two vertical feet to 971.03 in elevation and 50% of capacity.
Lake Don Pedro
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing had a great day on Friday, January 29th with 19 rainbows to 2.5-pounds to the boat, losing only 2 fish in the process. He has been trolling shad-imitation spoons such as Chucker T’s, Vance’s Slim Fins, ExCels, large Humdingers or Needlefish on lead core line or on the downriggers from the surface to 17 feet at speeds from 2 to 3 miles per hour. He said the water conditions are perfect with at least 8 feet in visibility and a steady water temperature in the 54 degree range. There have been only a few trailers in the parking lot, so fishing pressure has been minimal. Bobby Muhlbier of Sonora landed a limit of quality rainbows and a 5-pound king salmon trolling Speedy Shiners at speeds to 3 mph. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn reported a continued tough bass bite with the only action on dropshotting in deep water to 40 feet with the Pro Worm in 300 small redflake in leech pattern to 5-inch plastics or small profile brown jigs. There is no reaction bite. Trout fishing from the banks has been fair with rainbow glitter Power Bait or gold Kastmasters. Basi touted nearby Turlock Reservoir for easy limits of planted trout with Power Bait.
McClure Reservoir
Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said things haven’t changed much with tough bass fishing throughout the lake. The best action has been on drop shotting Pro Worms in 300 small redflake at depths from the surface to 40 feet or small profile jigs. Trout trollers have been scoring with small spinners tipped with a night crawler on the surface. The only two launches available for large boats are Barrett’s Cove or McClure Point with small aluminums able to be launched at the Horseshoe. The lake needs to rise another 10 feet before the launch at Horseshoe or Bagby to be used by large boats. The water temperature ranges from 53 in the main lake to 46 degrees in the river canyons with the water stained in the river canyons. No catfish or crappie reports. The lake came up 2 feet to 758.58 in elevation and 44% of capacity.
McSwain Reservoir
Bank anglers continue to have the advantage over trollers in the stained water conditions. Trolling will continue to be slow until the water clears. The lake is scheduled to be planted again in February. Various colors of Power Bait and Power Eggs have been working for near limits from the Handicapped Docks or Brush Pile access areas.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Ly Tu of Ly’s Fishing Goods in San Jose said the heavy inflow from the surface creeks and pumping from the Delta, causing the lake levels to rise, have contributed to a slower striper bite in both the main lake and the Forebay. The main lake has been very slow with anglers coming home disappointed. The top water bite has slowed with the cold water, and the only fish on lures are coming on swimbaits or something tossed under the surface. Tu said there have been a few boats trolling in the Forebay with chrome/blue or chrome/black P-Line Predators or Rapalas for stripers to 3-pounds. The area around Check 12 will turn on when the flood gates are opened up, but when the water is still, fishing is very slow. The lake won’t improve until there is a period of stable weather. Eventually, the inflow from the rains should improve the striper bite by turning over the lake and bringing in nutrients to the water. The lake rose another 9 vertical feet to 468.36 with 13,423 acre-feet of inflow and Delta water. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805.
Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs
James Mize said stripers from 18 to 28-inches have been landed on Lucky Craft 128’s in ghost minnow, American shad or royal blue in the Delta-Mendota or the California Aqueduct. There had been some larger stripers taken in previous weeks, but no fish larger than 28-inches were reported this week. In the south aqueduct, Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait said a few stripers in the school-size have been taken on Gitzits, shad-patterned swimbaits such as Sexy Shad in chartreuse or top water lures. Carp to 10-pounds have been landed on dough baits with catfish on frozen shad or mackerel. They were not able to obtain sand or blood worms this week, but a supply is expected to arrive by mid-week.
Eastman Lake
Bob Scharton of Herb Bauer’s fished the lake on Sunday, and he reported a very slow bass bite despite trying all sorts of techniques, including jigs. He observed trout trollers netting fish on blade/crawlers or Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler. Bank fishing for planted trout with Power Bait remains strong, but interest is minimal. Ranger Keith Willis said the water temperatures will need to rise another six degrees before the bass bite gets going. The lake rose three vertical feet to 489.12 feet in elevation and 17% of capacity.
Hensley Lake
Bob Scharton of Herb Bauer’s Sporting Goods said limits of planted trout continue to be taken from the banks with chartreuse Power Bait, although interest is minimal. Bass fishing continues to be nonexistent. The lake rose two vertical feet to 490.28 feet in elevation and 32% of capacity.
Millerton Lake
James Mize said the bass bite has been good for experienced fishermen with a pair of limits at 13.03-pounds during Sunday’s Fresno Bass tournament. Drop shotting shad-imitation plastics at depths to 50 feet has been the top technique. Eric Kaai of the Fisherman’s Warehouse said some anglers have been dropping plastics to 75 feet in depth. There is a very small window for crankbaits early in the morning. The water temperature is rising with the warmer inflow. No striper report. The lower San Joaquin is scheduled to receive another trout plant this week, but fishing has slowed down in the Lost Lake area. Bob Scharton touted Avocado Lake as a good shore option for limits of planters on Power Bait. Another plant is scheduled for Avocado this week. Both this lake and Woodward Park are good alternatives to take children for a bank fishing experience. <CF22>Call:</CF> 225-1838, 292-3474
Pine Flat Reservoir
James Mize reported a good bass bite with a limit over 12-pounds winning Saturday’s Western Outdoor News tournament with the fish found on jigs in shallow water and drop shotting depths to 70 feet. There is a small window for reaction baits in the early morning, but the window closes quickly. Larry Kerns weighed in a 7.5-pound four-fish limit on drop-shotting or jigs at depths to 45 feet with the area around Windy Gap being discolored from the run off. The trout bite is still going strong with shad-imitation spoons such as bikini or Cop Car Needlefish, Shasta Tackle Humdingers or Cripplures, or Vance’s Slim Fins from the surface to 20 feet and as deep as 80 feet on the downrigger. The key continues to find the bait balls, and there will be trout in the vicinity of the bait gorging themselves. The fish are holding from the Second Power Lines to Windy Gap and in front of the Deer Creek Marina. The lake rose five feet to 829.02 feet in elevation and 42% of capacity. Doyal’s Store reported seven of the large brooder trout from 6 to 8-pounds were landed over the weekend with gold Kastmasters, Super Dupers or Power Bait. Bob Scharton said the water has cleared, and fly fishermen are scoring with streamers. Another trout plant is scheduled this week.
Lake Kaweah
Larry Kerns of the Visalia Bass Club said the bass bite has been “hit or miss” with the fluctuating water levels and the large full moon. The Visalia Bass Club fun tournament is this weekend. The residents at the Houseboats continue to land crappie on small minnows, and trout are found at the river inlet near the motel. Water releases from the lake caused the lake level to drop an additional seven feet to 586.19 feet in elevation and 7% of capacity.
Lake Success
Not much information from this impoundment, but trout fishing is still the top option with the recent plants with various colors of Power Bait along the Rocky Hill side of the lake. The Rocky Hill and Tule Point launch ramps are both open. The lake was lowered nearly two feet to 593.09 feet in elevation and 11 % of capacity.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
There is great anticipation for the 21st Lake Isabella Derby will take place at the end of March, and the 2010 registration forms are available online at http://derby.kernrivervalley.com. The derby will feature eleven trout worth $10,000 and one trout at $21,000, and it is expected to be the largest fishing derby in the United States with over 8000 participants. A second delivery of Alpers trout was trucked to the lake this week, and there are two more truckloads to arrive prior to the derby. These fish are being fed in pens by volunteers from the community. The Forest Service has removed the dock at Lauch 19 on the west side of Engineer Point for repairs to be completed by March 1st. Pete Cormier at Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield catfish from the banks with frozen shad is still the most consistent bite at the lake, but experienced fishermen are pulling out quality bass with brown jigs with a large trailer at depths from 15 to 20 feet. Trout fishing has been slow with few reports. The lake came up a ˝ foot to 2551.80 in elevation and 22% of capacity. In the Bakersfield area, the local lakes of Truxton, Ming, the River Walk and Hart Park were planted last week, and anglers have been scoring limits with live minnows, night crawlers, or Power Bait in Chunky Cheese, garlic or Spring Green Power Bait. The Trout Trap minijig under a rattle bobber continues to be popular at all of the small impoundments. The Buena Vista Trout Derby was won with a 13.5-pound rainbow landed by Jose Rodriquez on a swimbait. The lake was crowded with derby participants both Saturday and Sunday
Bass Lake
James Mize of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said a few bass are being caught, but bass fishermen are keeping their techniques very quiet. The trout bite has slowed down with the last plant taking place a few weeks ago. There is still some snow around the edges of the lake. The weather needs to stabilize prior to an improvement in the consistency of the trout action. Anglers can check on launch conditions on the webcam at basslakeca.com.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters reported Shaver Lake is still snowed in after the recent storms, but Sheldon Sandstrom of the Sierra Marina plowed the main ramp over the weekend. There have been no anglers out in the past week, but Nichols thought the bite would be good if you could get out on the water. He expected an excellent spring season for both trout and kokanee. The webcam at Sierra Marina was damaged during the storms, but it has been repaired, so fishermen can get a view of the ramp at sierramarina.com. Huntington Lake is still blanketed with snow.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Kaiser Pass is closed due to snow levels, but the Vermilion Valley Resort is planning early season quad trips in search of trophy German brown trout starting on April 22 through May 13th. Information on the specifics of the trips is available at vvrjim@edisonlake.com or (559) 259 – 4000. Jim Clements of Vermilion Valley said the Department of Fish and Game planted 50,000 brown trout fingerlings in September, and he expected the fish to be healthy. The quad trips are expected to sell out soon.
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