Central California Fishing Report

[daystarchis]

I will post weekly reports of Central California Fishing Reports here. Anyone hear of reports, post em for us.

[daystarchis]

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

Stripers **
Catfish **


Big lake striper fishing is decent for lots of 18- to 25-incher for anglers fishing with cutbait off Highway 152 and the Basalt areas, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait said. Boaters are catching small stripers in the back of Portuguese Cove on minnows and bait when they can get on the water between wind storms. Some catfish action continues at Check #12 in the Forebay, but anglers are complaining that they are catching 40-50 stripers in a day that are all just less than a legal 18 inches. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has a decent bluegill and crappie bite with a few small bass taking lures. Catfish to 8 pounds are on a good bite on crawlers at night, Bristow said.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

Bass *
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish **


Slow bass bite with a short topwater bite in the early morning, then plastics at 20 feet, Merritt Gilbert said. Ranger Keith Willis said catfishing is decent for anglers soaking 'crawlers and chicken livers at night, with one angler, Eddie Shipman of Chowchilla, getting seven cats from 2-5 pounds. Bluegill fishing is fair using waxworms or 'crawlers.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

Bass **
Trout *
Catfish ***


Fishing is slow, but decent numbers of small bass are taking plastics, Merritt Gilbert said. Crappie and bluegill fishing is decent to good. Catfish to 3 pounds are available for anglers working the channel below the 5-mph buoys.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

Trout ***


Trollers are on a good bite for limits of trout to 2 pounds working a flasher and Wedding Ring spinner tipped with a 'crawler, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers are struggling, but those using chartreuse Power Bait and 'crawler/marshmallow combos near the handicap dock are doing better when they are able to get into 30 feet of water.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

Stripers **
Crappie **
Catfish **


The Aqueduct has been steady for small stripers using cutbait, flukes and topwater plugs when it's windy, Larry Bristow said. A decent catfish bite is in the Delta Mendota Canal on cutbait, and there are lots of little stripers. Some small cats also being taken in the resort area.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

Bass **
Stripers *


Fair numbers of small spots are biting ripbaits and crankbaits in the mornings. Later in the day, suspended fish are taking dartheads and dropshotted plastics fished in the main lake, Merritt Gilbert said. As the water falls about a foot a day, the keeper-sized fish seem to have shut off as the low pressure system moved through the area. Both stripers and American shad have scattered with the storm fronts, with few fish reported. The logjam is about 20 yards wide, but might be passable at times as the water falls. Water flows into the lake are at about 2,200 feet/sec. Up-river rocks and towers are becoming hazardous for boaters as the water falls.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

Bass *
Trout **


Bass fishing has been tough, with most struggling to even catch a fish, Merritt Gilbert said. A recent Fresno Bass Club tournament had 18 of 43 anglers weigh in fish. The winning total of three fish for a weight of 5.96 pounds, which included the big fish of 3.16 pounds, by Nick Beck highlights the tough bite conditions. Most were taken on dropshotted and splitshotted rigs and jigs. Trout fishing is fair to good for limits of 12- to 14-inch rainbows. Trolled Cop Car, Bikini or Watermelon Needlefish pulled behind a dodger at 30-50 feet works in the dam area. A few trout are showing up in the river area on salmon eggs. Catfishing in the Sycamore and Big Creek areas is fair for fish to 3 pounds at night on chicken livers and mackerel.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

Bass **
Crappie **
Trout **
Catfish **


Lot of bass to 3 pounds are on a good bite at 20 feet on minnows and dropshotted watermelon red or black plastics, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Trout fishing in the river area remains the best spot for limits of fish 12-14 inches on crickets and dry flies. Catfishing has improved with cats to 5 pounds. Crappie bite has slowed.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

Bass *
Trout *
Catfish **


Success Market reported that bass fishing has been hit-or-miss on small fish because of falling water and hot water temps. Trout fishing is slow. Catfishing next to the dam is a best bet using cutbait.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

Bass **
Trout ***
Crappie **
Catfish ***


Bass anglers are having a ball catching up to a hundred small 8- to 10-inch spots per day on topwater lures in Cottonwood Cove. Few keepers, with the exception of a 12.8-pound hog taken off McClure Point by Steve Nua of Merced on a crawdad, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Most anglers are finding that using crawdads after 6 p.m. at 40 feet is working for a few better-quality fish. Trout fishing is good for limits of fish up to 3 pounds for trollers working a flasher/Wedding Ring and 'crawler combo almost anywhere. Trout fishing at night under lights in the back of Temperance Cove or the back of the Boat Club area with medium minnows is good for quality rainbows. Fish just below the lights at 15-25 feet. Crappie fishing has been slow. Channel catfish to 10 pounds are on a good bite working the shallow mudlines at around 10 feet. They are biting live crawdads and anchovies in the late evening to morning hours.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209)378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

Bass **
Trout ***
Kokanee **
King Salmon *


Trout fishing is excellent for anglers working the Mexican Gulch or BigOak Island areas at 22-35 feet with Uncle Larry's Red Tiger spinners tipped with a 'crawler or a shad-patterned Excel spoon, said Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service. Kokanee fishing is done for the season. King Salmon are deep, at 75-100 feet, with an occasional fish taken by anglers slow-trolling shad or anchovies in the open waters of Fleming Bay, the Flume or the Woods Creek arm. Bass fishing is tough, with the best lure bets being swimbaits, flukes or Senkos. These lures will stay in the strike zone longer for the suspending fish, said Dwayne King of Fisherman's Warehouse of Manteca. Working main lake points, underwater islands and the mouth of creek channels in deeper water (15-40 feet) is a good strategy for daytime bassing.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209)989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

HIGH SIERRA

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VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir
Bass **
Crappie **
Trout ***
Catfish ***
Kokanee **


Kokanee fishing has slowed, but the bite continues to be good for the spawn-mode fish, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Fish are holding deep over the bottom at a 50- to 80-foot depth with the far south side of the lake the hot spot. The best lures to troll behind a watermelon dodger or Sling Blade are the new Radical Glow lures or an Apex. Be sure to tip your hook with shoepeg corn soaked in a combination of Pro-Cure's garlic and Crawdad scents. Trout fishing has been good for trollers pulling spinners, brightly colored Apexes or spoons, without using flashers, at 40-60 feet in the main lake and larger creek arms. Most of the fish are about 2-plus pounds. Trout fishing under lights near the spillway area at night has been productive for anglers threading a 'crawler up on their line just above some chartreuse Double Glitter Power Bait on the hook. Bass fishing has been slow for bigger fish, but there has been some good action on small keepers. Dropshotted plastics in shad patterns or Carolina-rigged green weenie worms fished at 25-30 feet is working. Adding rattles, or "brass and glass" to the plastics has been effective in the stained water. Best areas are main lake points and steep banks for the suspended fish as the lake falls. Crappie fishing remains fair for anglers under lights in the trees at night. Catfishing is good for anglers at Tuttletown, Angel's Cove and 49Stevenot Bridge using mackerel or sardines. Fish to 8 pounds have been taken this week.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella
Bass *
Trout **
Crappie ***
Catfish ***


Several catfish in the 17- and 18-pound range and numerous smaller fish are taking crawlers, shad and cutbait fished in shallow water, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. Surprisingly, the best bait for the big fish has been salmon. Trout fishing is slow, but a few trollers working at 40 feet with Rapalas or white Mepps spinners have gotten some rainbows. Crappie fishing has been hit and miss for boat anglers, with limits possible off the east end of the lake on minnows. Bass fishing is slow, with most fish coming on big 10-inch plastic worms or deep running crankbaits. Several anglers have caught catfish to 4 pounds on topwater baits, Cordell said.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle, (760)379-4170, Bob's Bait, (661)833-8657; North Fork Marina (760)376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Stripers **
Catfish **


Big lake striper fishing is fairly good for small stripers, but two anglers weighed in four stripers taken deep on minnows that went from 18 to 25pounds, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait said. Anglers are finding the fish to be in very deep water and holding near the bottom, with both minnows and cutbait producing fish, Tim Mitchell of Mitchell's Outpost said. Bank fishermen are scoring early and late at the Basalt boat ramp, Goosehead Point and the Visitors Center areas. Striper action at Check#12 in the Forebay for linesides in the 18- to 24-inch range on white jigs has produced good numbers. Catfish to 6 pounds are on a fair bite in the Forebay, Aqueduct, Delta Mendota and dirt canals in the area. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has pumped out large bluegill, along with a fair bass bite on perch-colored crankbaits. Catfish are on a decent bite on crawlers at night, Bristow said.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209)826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake
Bass *
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish **


Very slow bass bite with a few early reaction fish coming on cranks and spinnerbaits, but the best bite has been on Carolina-rigged Baby Brushhogs or lizards fished in the creek channels at 25 feet, Jeff Huth said. A 3-pound red-ear perch was weighed in by Lester Grant of Fresno, Buck Deaner said. Fishing the willows, or 20-foot deep island tops with grubs or waxworms is the best bet for good numbers of perch. A few cats are taking cutbait at night.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake
Bass **
Trout *
Catfish ***


Decent numbers of small bass are taking dropshot or splitshotted purple 4- or 6-inch plastics fished by the rock piles, Jeff Huth said. Crappie and bluegill fishing is decent to good. Catfish to 3 pounds are available for anglers working the area above the 5mph buoys with mackerel or Hog Wild catfish bait, Buck Deaner said. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir
Trout ****


Trollers are on a hot bite for limits of nice "football-sized" trout to 2pounds, working a flasher and Wedding Ring spinner tipped with a 'crawler from the dam to Gilligan's Island, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Drifting a 'crawler and marshmallow combo has been good. Shore anglers are scoring limits on chartreuse Power Bait and 'crawler/marshmallow combos.

Call: McSwain Marina (209)378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough
Stripers **
Crappie **
Catfish **


The Aqueduct has been steady for small stripers, Larry Bristow said. A decent catfish bite continues in the Delta Mendota canal on cutbait, as well as for lots of little stripers. Some small cats also are being taken in the resort area, Jeff Huth said.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake
Bass **
Stripers *


A good spotted bass bite on jigs and crawdad-colored crankbaits fished at night produced some good weights for a recent tournament, Jeff Huth said. Daytime fishing has been mainly focused on easy-to-catch smaller-sized fish on shad-colored cranks and lures. The water continues to fall about a foot a day. Both stripers and American shad have scattered, with few fish being taken. The logjam is almost gone. Water flows into the lake are at about 2,200 feet/second, and the lake is at 330,000 acre/feet out of a capacity of 520,000. Up-river rocks and towers are becoming hazardous for boaters as the water falls. Beached boats camping overnight in the Temperance and river areas are in danger of getting stuck on shore, as the water quickly falls.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass *
Trout **


Bass fishing continues to be tough, Jeff Huth said. Most fish are being taken on darthead and smaller baits. A 10-pound bass was weighed in by an unidentified angler, Huth said. Trout fishing continues to be good for early limits of small 12- to 14-inch rainbows for anglers trolling Needlefish pulled behind a dodger at 15 feet in the dam area, as well as the area from Windy Gap to the mouth of Big Creek. A few anglers are working the river area for a few fish.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah
Bass **
Crappie **
Trout **
Catfish **


Lots of small bass are on a decent bite on minnows and dropshotted plastics, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Trout fishing in the river area remains the best spot for possible limits of fish 12-14 inches on crickets and dry flies. Crappie fishing has slowed.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success
Bass *
Trout **
Catfish **


Success Market reported that bass fishing has been slow on small fish. Trout fishing has been decent for anglers casting spinners in the river for planter trout. Catfishing next to the dam is the best bet using cutbait.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir
Bass **
Trout ***
Crappie *
Catfish ****


Bass anglers are picking up good numbers of small bass on early morning reaction baits, then they have had to go to plastics or live bait in deep water for the daytime bite, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Speedtraps in Trout and Baby Bass colors worked early near the shoreline structure were good, then anglers switched to junebug-colored plastics worked at 35 feet during the day. Live crawdads and minnows are the best action-producing baits for the bass. Trout fishing is good for limits to 4pounds for trollers working a flasher/'crawler and marshmallow combo from Barretts Cove to the Bagby area at 25 feet. Trout fishing at night under lights has been good for lots of 2-pound fish. Fish just below the lights at 15-25 feet under the houseboats. Crappie fishing has been slow. Channel catfish to 8 pounds are on a hot bite working the shallow mudlines at around 10 feet and biting live crawdads and anchovies in the late evening to morning hours all over the lake. Water is dropping about a foot a day.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209)378-2441

Lake Don Pedro
Bass *
Trout **
Kokanee *
King Salmon *


Trout fishing is decent for anglers working Wedding Ring spinners behind a dodger and tipped with a 'crawler at 35-50 feet early in the morning for possible limits of 12- to 14-inch rainbows, Tim Sellars of Fisherman's Warehouse of Manteca said. Kokanee fishing is done for the season. Bass fishing is tough, with the best lure bets being swimbaits, flukes or Senkos. Working main lake points, underwater islands and the mouth of creek channels in deeper water 15-40feet is a good strategy.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209)989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209)609-3115

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir
Bass **
Crappie *
Catfish***
Trout ***
Kokanee **


A few anglers are getting limits of kokanee, with some going to 3pounds, trolling pink E-chips or pink Apexes at 50-80feet deep in the main lake or the islands south of Tuttletown, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Be sure to troll the lures behind a pink or watermelon dodger or Sling Blade. Trout fishing has picked up for big Rainbows up to 3.7pounds, taken by trollers pulling spinners, brightly colored Apexes or spoons, without using flashers, at 40-60feet in the main lake and larger creek arms. Lots of fish are weighing in at 2-pluspounds. Trout fishing under lights near the spillway area at night at 20-30feet, over 80-100feet of water, has been productive for anglers threading a 'crawler on their line just above some chartreuse Double Glitter Power Bait on the hook. Bass fishing has picked up for anglers fishing main lake points and steep banks on the south side of the lake with dropshotted shad-patterned grubs or worms. Carolina-rigged 4- or 6-inch green weenie worms or Zoom Baby Brush Hogs in green pumpkin fished at 25-30feet with rattles has produced bass to 4pounds and some limits. A few topwater fish are coming early and late, as well as some bigger fish being taken on jigs. Crappie fishing has slowed, but catfishing is good for anglers using mackerel or sardines at Tuttletown, Angel's Cove and 49Stevenot Bridge.

Call: (209)736-4333

Lake Isabella
Bass *
Trout *
Crappie *
Catfish ***


Catfishing has been good for fish in the 4- to 5-pound range, and some occasional larger 12- to 13-pound whiskerfish taking crawlers, shad and cutbait fished in shallow water anywhere in the lake, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. Both trout and crappie fishing are slow, due to rapidly falling water levels. Bass fishing is slow, with most fish suspending in deeper water.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760)379-4170, Bob's Bait, (661)833-8657, North Fork Marina (760)376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Stripers **
Catfish **


Warmer weather and falling water have produced a lot of small stripers in the main lake that are taking cutbait fished on the bottom, Tim Mitchell of Mitchell's Outpost said. Anglers are finding most of the fish to be very deep, such as near the Trash Racks, and biting frozen shad and anchovies, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Tackle said. Some early morning anglers are working the shoreline with shad-colored ripbaits to score good numbers of stripers in the 16- to 18-inch range. Bank anglers fishing off deep points are scoring on bait with fish to 5pounds. Lots of small catfish and stripers are on a fair bite in the Forebay, with a few bigger fish coming from the 152bridge. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has had a fair bass bite on fish in the 2-pound range, and a decent bite on good numbers of perch and small crappie by the boat ramp area, Bristow said.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209)826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209)827-1522

Eastman Lake
Bass **
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish **


Bass bite has picked up for anglers targeting creek channels with dark purple or green pumpkin-colored Carolina-rigged Baby Brushhogs or lizards for fish to 3pounds, Jeff Huth said. The transitional areas near the dam have been good places to work the plastics. Some action on bluegill-colored crankbaits are producing a few good fish for anglers working the island tops, Buck Deaner said. A few cats are taking cutbait at night. There is a decent perch bite on waxworms.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake
Bass **
Trout *
Catfish **


Bass fishing is decent for good numbers of small bass to 2pounds for anglers working the rock piles or underwater structures with crankbaits or purple worms, Jeff Huth said. The dam area has been kicking out good bass action. Crappie and bluegill fishing is decent to good. Catfish to 3pounds have slowed but are available for anglers working the area above the 5mph buoys with mackerel or Hog Wild catfish bait, Buck Deaner said. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir
Trout ****


Trollers are getting easy limits of big Calaveras planted trout to 17inches, working a flasher and 'crawler from the dam to the floating restroom, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers are scoring limits on chartreuse Power Bait and 'crawler/marshmallow combos fished by the dam or handicap dock.

Call: McSwain Marina (209)378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough
Stripers **
Crappie **
Catfish ***


A good bite on small catfish is producing good numbers for anglers working the resort and duck club area of Mendota, Jeff Huth said. Anglers fishing the Mendota area should be careful to stay away from dove hunters this weekend. The Aqueduct has been steady for small stripers in the 5- to 7-pound range, Larry Bristow said. A decent catfish bite continues in the Delta Mendota canal on cutbait, as well as lots of little stripers.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209)827-1522

Millerton Lake
Bass **
Stripers *


A consistent spotted bass bite on worms and dartheads fished upriver above the no-ski buoys is producing lots of small fish, Jeff Huth said. Anglers need to target the shade areas and rock piles. There is some topwater and spinnerbait action early in the morning. The water continues to fall about a foot per day. Stripers and American shad have been hard to find. Water flows into the lake are at about 2,300feet/second, and the lake is at 310,000acre/feet (520,000capacity). Up river, rocks and towers are becoming hazardous for boaters as the water falls. Beached boats camping overnight in the Temperance and river areas are in danger of getting stuck on shore as the water quickly falls.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass **
Trout **


Trout fishing has improved for large Rainbows in the 17- to 20-inch range for anglers trolling shad-colored Excels from the power lines to the dam area, Buck Deaner said. One unidentified angler brought in a limit of trout that averaged 3pounds, including one 5-pounder, Jeff Huth said. They were taken on a Rapala pulled behind a Sep's dodger at 30-60feet. CD5 or CD7 Rapalas have been picking up the bigger trout. Daytime bass fishing has improved a little, but anglers focusing on the night bite and using spinnerbaits are picking up fair numbers of fish in the 2-pound class, Buck Deaner said. Main lake points fished during the day at 20-30feet with dropshot rigs or small jigs will produce fish, but anglers need to move a lot to find the fish. There is an early and late reaction bite.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah
Bass **
Crappie *
Trout *
Catfish **


Bass fishing has picked up for good numbers of fish to 3pounds for anglers working the 25- to 30-foot depth with dropshot plastics or jigs, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. There is a topwater bite early in the day. Trout fishing has gotten tough, but catfish to 4pounds are active at night by the dam on anchovies. Crappie fishing has slowed.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success
Bass **
Trout **
Catfish **


Success Market reported that bass fishing has picked up with one 8-pound largemouth taken on a live crawdad. Trout fishing has been decent for anglers working the river area. Catfishing is moderate for anglers working the dam area with cutbait or 'crawlers.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir
Bass **
Trout ***
Crappie *
Catfish ****


Bass fishing has picked up for good numbers of small bass on early morning reaction baits, as well as a huge 28.5-inch, 14.1-pound bass taken by Pete Holder of Mariposa, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Live crawdads and minnows are the best action baits to use during the day at about 20feet. Temperance and Cottonwood creeks have been the best areas. Trout fishing is excellent for nice rainbows to 17inches fishing near the dam area with trolled watermelon Apexes pulled behind a single blade flasher. Upriver fishing has slowed for trout. Trout fishing at night under lights is good for lots of 2-pound fish. Fish just below the lights at 15-25feet. Crappie fishing is slow. Channel catfish to 5pounds are on a hot bite working the shallow mudlines at around 10feet and biting live crawdads and anchovies in the late evening to morning hours. Working the houseboat areas and the area behind the entrance to the Boat Club is the best bet.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209)378-2441

Lake Don Pedro
Bass **
Trout ***
Kokanee *
King Salmon *


Trout fishing is excellent, with 1- to 3-pounders biting Glory Hole Hookers, E-Chip lures and shad-patterned Excels trolled at 25-40feet in the Mexican Gulch, Jenkin's Hill and Big Oak Island areas, Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service said. Kokanee fishing is done for the season. Bass fishing is fair for anglers fishing shad-colored dropshot rigs off main lake secondary points in 20-30feet, Dwayne King of Fisherman's Warehouse in Manteca said.

Call: (209)852-2369, (209)989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209)239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209)609-3115

[schefner]

Hey Robb,
Love the fishing reports but havent seen a new one in awhile...

Hef

[Capt Steve]

Look here...
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/outdoors/fishing/

[daystarchis]

Yep your right Hef. Here ya go. I didn't know anyone read them. I will keep posting them now. Thank for letting me know.

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Stripers ***
Catfish **


Striper fishing picked up for anglers fishing the Forebay and the big lake, with one 30-pound lineside coming from the Forebay at the Highway33 Bridge, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Tackle said. Big lake action also has picked up in the morning for anglers fishing the points off the Basalt ramp and the Trashracks on both bait and minnows. Water at the lake is rising about a half-foot a day, which has turned on the fishing in the morning after they pump into the big lake at night. Lake level is at 1,220,000-acre feet out of 2million-acre feet capacity. Lots of 5- to 6-pound stripers are falling for a variety of presentations. Catfish are on a fair bite in the Forebay. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has had a decent bass bite on fish in the 2- to 3-pound range, and some action on trout and crappie, Bristow said.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake
Bass ***
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish **


Bass bite for decent numbers of fish to 3 pounds has improved for anglers working Firetiger crankbaits and ripbaits in bluegill patterns, Buck Deaner of Fisherman's Warehouse said. Dropshotted plastics and spoons fished by the dam also have worked on the suspending fish. A good evening bite on the ABT Titan swimbait has been good for some bigger bass up to 8 pounds. Cats in the 3- to 4-pound range are on a decent bite at night on anchovies, Merritt Gilbert said.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake
Bass ***
Trout *
Catfish **
Crappie ***


Bass fishing has picked up for anglers tossing Senkos or crankbaits in the dam area, with most fish in the 11- to 13-inch range, but a few 3-pounders are showing up, Merritt Gilbert said. Purple Death, or watermelon/red flake worms, are kicking out about three to seven fish (in the 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-pound range) per angler when fished off river channel areas or island tops, Buck Deaner said. Crappie fishing has been good for night anglers using lights and working the dam area, Mark Inman of Kerman said. Catfish have slowed. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir
Trout ****


Bank anglers are getting easy limits of big Calaveras trout that seem to be holding near the bottom on chartreuse Power Bait or marshmallow/'crawler combo's, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. The handicap dock and the Brushpile have been the best areas. Trollers have had to work for limits, but pulling a flasher and 'crawler from the chimney to the bathroom has been the best bet.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough
Stripers ***
Crappie **
Catfish ***


A good bite on big catfish in the 10-pound range and some stripers in the 4- to 6-pound class is providing action in the Delta Mendota canal with cutbait, Larry Bristow said. Several anglers walked in to the "Y" area of the canal that is closed to cars and picked up 10 fish of 10 pounds or more on chicken livers. The Aqueduct near Pioneer Road kicked out a 26-pound and an 8-pound striper for one unidentified angler. There has been steady action for small stripers in the 5- to 7-pound range, as well as some catfish.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake
Bass **
Stripers *


Spotted bass are biting dropshotted worms, dartheads, ripbaits and topwater baits, with some better quality fish showing up at times, Merritt Gilbert said. Limits of bass are running at 10-12pounds for experienced anglers. Once anglers find a pocket of fish, they are able to do fairly well, but some fishermen are struggling. There also is some topwater action on Spooks early in the morning at the fast-falling lake. Stripers have been hard to find. The water continues to fall about a half-foot a day. The lake is at 270,000-acre feet out of a capacity of 520,000. Upriver rocks and towers are very hazardous for boaters as the water falls. Beached boats in the Temperance and river areas are in danger of getting stuck on shore as the water quickly falls.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass **
Trout **


Trout fishing for a few quality rainbows in the 19-to 23-inch range has been good for experienced anglers trolling chrome/blue Apexes or small Rapalas in gold/black and silver/black patterns at 35 to 60 feet in the river channel from Lombardo's to Windy Gap, Merritt Gilbert said. Flasher/'crawler combos also are producing trout. Daytime bass fishing has been tough to poor for anglers working main lake points and walls with dropshotted plastics in Pro-Gold or Hologram patterns, Buck Deaner said.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah
Bass **
Crappie *
Trout **
Catfish **


Bass fishing is decent for good numbers of fish to 3 pounds, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Trout fishing has been steady for anglers working Power Bait on the east side of the lake. Crappie fishing has slowed. Perch fishing with waxworms has been good.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success
Bass **
Trout **
Catfish ***


Success Market reported bass fishing has picked up, with one 8.49-pound bass taken by Ryan and Lacy Tom of Porterville on a plastic worm. Trout fishing has been decent, topped by a 5-pound Rainbow taken on Power Bait. Catfishing is good for big cats, as Pete Albiar of Shafter took a big 17-pound whiskerfish on anchovies, while another unidentified angler got a 121/2-pound catfish on 'crawlers.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir
Bass **
Trout ***
Crappie *
Catfish ****


Bass fishing has been slow for mostly small fish taking topwater lures and crankbaits early in the morning, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Daytime fishing has been strictly with plastics as anglers target main lake rocky points with deep water access. Trout fishing is excellent for nice rainbows 1 1/2 to 4 pounds for trollers working a flasher/Needlefish or flasher/Apex rig at about 45 feet off the first buoyline near the dam. The area around Horseshoe Bend has been another hot spot. Trout fishing at night under lights at 20 feet with medium-sized minnows has been solid. Crappie fishing has slowed with the cooling, low-pressure conditions. Channel catfish to 5pounds are on a hot bite; work the shallow mudlines at around 10 feet with live crawdads and anchovies in the late evening.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro
Bass **
Trout ***
Kokanee *
King Salmon **


Trout fishing has been good for trollers at 20-40 feet with flasher/'crawler combos or shad-patterned Excels in the Mexican Gulch and Fleming Bay and Graveyard Bay areas, Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service said. King salmon are moving up to 50 feet with the cooler weather, and taking rolled anchovies and shad or silver E-chip lures fished in Woods Creek and the river canyon area. Kokanee fishing is done for the season. Bass fishing has been slow for anglers using dropshotted rigs off of the main lake's secondary points in deep water.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

HIGH SIERRA

Bass Lake
Bass *
Trout **
Kokanee **


Kokanee fishing has been sporadic for anglers jigging with baits such as the Buzz Bomb and Gibbs Minnow, with one 21-inch monster taken by the technique, guide Todd Wittwer said. Bonnie Wittwer, Todd's wife, caught the huge salmon on a jig fishing above a large school of kokanee. Fishing for the big salmon has fallen off with cooler weather, but anglers still reported some bites on the jigs from the deep-spawning fish. Trollers are having to scratch hard for a few salmon and trout. Schools of salmon are holding at around 60 feet. Bass fishing has been fair for a few small fish.

Call: 642-3141, 642-3633, 642-3737, 779-2429

[schefner]

Awesome! Thanks Robb and Steve.

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir
Bass **
Crappie *
Catfish **
Trout ***
Kokanee **


Trout fishing really has picked up for trollers working the main lake, spillway area and under the 49er Bridge at about 30-50feet using shad colored Apexes or Excel's, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Most of the fish are in the 2- to 3-pound range. Trout fishing under lights near the spillway area at night has been productive. A 10-pound Brown was taken by Bob James of Murphys on a brown Rapala trolled at 20feet near the mouth of Carson Creek. Kokanee fishing is just about done for the season, but a few hooked jawed salmon still are taking trolled pink E-chips or pink Apexes pulled behind dodger or sling blade at 80 feet deep in the main lake. Bass fishing has been fair for anglers fishing visible wood with three-eighths-ounce white spinnerbaits with silver blades or white Flukes, Dwayne King said. Crappie fishing has slowed down. Catfishing has been fair with a 9.5-pound cat taken by Tom and Liz Jackson of Copperopolis in the back of Black Bart Cove with liver and mackerel.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella
Bass *
Trout *
Crappie *
Catfish ****


Water-quality tests have yet to be finished, determining if there is a problem with the lake, but catfishing is as good as it gets, with fish to 21pounds weighed in, said Cordell, of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle. Anglers fishing the Edison canal below the auxiliary dam are getting easy limits of lots of 1- to 3-pound cats, but there have been numerous fish in the high teens and up, biting salmon, shrimp, crawlers and most stinkbaits. The main lake area is also productive for lots of the whiskerfish.

Fishing for perch, trout, crappie and bass has been very slow at the slowly falling lake.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle, (760)379-4170, Bob's Bait, (661)833-8657; North Fork Marina (760),376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Stripers ***
Catfish **


Striper fishing has picked up for anglers fishing the forebay, with lots of fish in the 18- to 26-inch range coming on a variety of techniques, said Bristow, of Lucky Larry's Tackle. Flukes, minnows, cutbait and some plugs are producing lots of fish. A moderate catfish bite for fish to 5pounds has been consistent on cutbait. Big lake action has been steady for anglers fishing with bait and minnows for stripers in the 5- to 6-pound class. Water at the lake is still rising about a half-foot a day. Lake level is at 1,270,000acre-feet storage out of 2million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has had a continued decent bite on small bass in the 2- to 3-pound range, and some action on trout and crappie, Bristow said.

Call: (209) 826-5559 Mitchell's Outpost, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Eastman Lake
Bass **
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish **


Bass bite has slowed down, but experienced anglers working Carolina rigged lizards or worms by the dam or in the creek channels at 15-25feet deep are finding some fair-sized bass, Huth said. Ranger Keith Willis said that splitshotted worms were working well for smaller sized bass, and that there was a decent perch bite in the trees on live bait. There also have been a few spinnerbait fish as well as some jig action on the bass. Trout fishing has been slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake
Bass ***
Trout *
Catfish **
Crappie **


Bass fishing has picked up for fishermen throwing crankbaits near underwater boulder piles, Huth said. Fish to 3pounds, as well as good numbers of small fish, are coming on crawdad or shad colored deep diving crankbaits. Splitshotted purple blue neon worms also are working for the active fish. In addition, there is an early-morning reaction bite. Catfish have slowed down. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir
Trout ***


Bank anglers are getting limits of big Calaveras trout, on chartreuse PowerBait or marshmallow/'crawler combo's, while trollers are having to work for their fish, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Trollers working a flasher and Wedding Ring spinner tipped with a 'crawler at 35-40 feet have done the best.

Call: McSwain Marina (209)378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough
Stripers ***
Crappie **
Catfish ***


A big 32-pound, 43-inch striper was taken on a Rattletrap in the Delta Mendota canal near Newman by Anthony Aseltine, Bristow said. Several big stripers have been taken recently, possibly signaling a big fish bite. The aqueduct also is kicking out lots of 5- to 6-pound fish, but a couple of big 18- to 30-pound stripers have been caught by unidentified anglers. There has been steady action for small catfish.

Call: 655-2335, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Millerton Lake
Bass **
Stripers *


Spotted bass are on a moderate bite for lots of small fish, but some better quality fish are being taken in the main lake off points on dropshotted worms or dartheads, Huth said. Falling water conditions have caused the fish to suspend, so anglers will have to move around a lot to find the fish. Once anglers find a pocket of fish they are able to do fairly well. Threadfin shad schools are holding near the surface all over the lake. Stripers have been hard to find. The water continues to fall about a foot a day. Waterflows into the lake are about 1,100 sec/feet, and the lake is at 255,000acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000. Upriver rocks and towers are very hazardous for boaters as the water falls. Beached boats in the Temperance and river areas are in danger of getting stuck on shore as the water quickly falls.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass *
Trout **


Trout fishing for big quality rainbows to 20inches has been steady for anglers working #7, and #5 Rapalas from the dam to Windy gap at 25-30feet, Huth said. Trollers pulling 'crawlers behind a flasher, or a Needlefish also are getting some good numbers of smaller fish. Daytime bass fishing has been tough to poor for anglers working dartheads or dropshotted shad colored plastics in 10-30feet of water, Merritt Gilbert said.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah
Bass **
Crappie *
Trout **
Catfish **


Bass fishing is moderate for fish to 3 pounds, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Trout fishing has been steady for anglers working PowerBait on the east side of the lake. Crappie fishing has slowed down.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success
Bass **
Trout *
Catfish **


Success Market reported fishing has slowed down this week at the rapidly falling lake for all species, with few anglers working the reservoir.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir
Bass *
Trout **
Crappie *
Catfish **


Trout fishing has slowed to moderate for anglers trolling flasher/'crawler setups near the dam area at a depth of 45 to 50feet, Mello said. Shore anglers fishing by the dam are doing well on 'crawler/marshmallow combos fished on the bottom. Bass fishing also slowed way down with the full moon and rapidly falling lake conditions. Crappie fishing has disappeared with the cooling low-pressure conditions. Channel catfish to 4pounds have slowed to a fair bite on anchovies and chicken livers fished near the back of Temperance Creek or the Boat Club area.

Call: (209) 563-6505 A-1 Bait, (209)378-2441

Lake Don Pedro
Bass **
Trout ***
Kokanee *
King Salmon **


Trout fishing continues to improve as water temperatures drop for trollers working the 20- to 40-foot depth range with flasher/'crawler combos or shad patterned Excel's in the Mexican Gulch, Fleming Bay and Graveyard Bay areas, for fish to 3pounds, Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service said. King salmon still are available, and biting trolled anchovies and shad, behind ball trolls at 60-90feet in Woods Creek and the front of the dam, Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said. Kokanee fishing is done for the season. Bass fishing has been fair for anglers fishing light line-low visibility Carolina rigged green pumpkin Baby Brushhogs, King said.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209)989-2206, (209) 239-2248 Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca, (209) 609-3115 Dwayne King's Guide Service

[cliffey07]

are any of you central cal guys gonna be fishing near sacramento this next weekend oct.7-10. i am gonna be in that area and would love to get together and try to do some fishing

[daystarchis]

I could not get up there this weekend. I could get up there next weekend. I think Mudville is free as well.

[daystarchis]

New Melones Reservoir
Bass **
Crappie *
Catfish **
Trout ***
Kokanee *


Trout fishing has been steady for nice limits of fat rainbows up to 3.9 pounds for trollers working shad-patterned Excels or Needlefish in the main lake or upriver at 35-55 feet, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Trout fishing under lights at night has been productive. Kokanee season is about over, but a few hooked jawed salmon are moving into creek arms and coves to spawn. Bass fishing has been slow to fair for anglers fishing with dropshotted Roboworms at 15-30 feet off main lake points or tossing Deep "N" crankbaits near shore, Dwayne King said. Crappie fishing has slowed. Catfishing has been fair, with an 8.2-pounder taken near the spillway on mackerel.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella
Bass *
Trout **
Crappie **
Catfish ****


Water-quality tests still are not in for the lake, but catfishing is wide open for fish to 18 pounds, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. The Edison canal below the auxiliary dam is the best spot for anglers to pick up a full limit of channel cats feeding in the current on shad. Small 1/12th ounce Kastmasters fished in the current on 6-pound test line are the hottest way to get quick strikes, as the fish mistake the small chrome lure for schooling shad. Frozen shad and 'crawlers also are working. Bass are stirring for anglers working the north end of the lake with plastics tossed into the middle of the submerged brush. Trout are picking up for both trollers and shore fishermen. Trollers are getting limits of fish up to 2 pounds in front of the dam on Wedding Ring spinners tipped with a 'crawler at 30 feet. Perch up to a ½-pound are taking red worms and meal worms off the face of the dam. A few anglers have picked up limits of crappie at the north end of the lake.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle, (760)379-4170, Bob's Bait, (661)833-8657; North Fork Marina (760),376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Stripers **
Catfish **


Striper fishing remains steady for lots of small fish taking minnows, cutbait and some lures in both the big lake and the Forebay, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Tackle said. Big lake action is steady for anglers fishing with both bait and minnows for 5- to 6-pound stripers — but still no big fish. The Trash Racks, Goosehead and Portuguese Cove have been the best areas. A few cats up to 8 pounds are coming out of the Forebay on cutbait. Water at the lake is rising, and the lake level is at 1,304,000 acre-feet storage out of 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir continued its decent bite on 2- to 3-pound bass and some good action on small perch.

Call: (209) 826-5559 Mitchell's Outpost, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Eastman Lake
Bass ***
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish **


Bass bite has picked up for good numbers of small fish up to 3 pounds for anglers dropshotting by the dam and in the creek channels, Jeff Huth said. Some anglers also scored on Firetiger deep-running crankbaits, Buck Deaner said. Ranger Keith Willis said the lake is two-thirds full with no releases, and that the panfish bite was good on live bait. Trout fishing has been slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake
Bass ***
Trout *
Catfish ***
Crappie **


Bass fishing has been fair to steady for anglers throwing Firetiger crankbaits and watermelon/red Brushhogs for 10 to 12 fish days, Buck Deaner said. Fishing by the rock piles and the dam have been the best areas. Carolina-rigged lizards and purple worms also are working well for the active fish. Catfish are in the river area at 25 to 35 feet and on a good bite on mackerel and Catfish Dynamite. Anglers are catching up to 10 fish per rod, with the biggest cats going 5 pounds. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir
Trout ***


Fishing has been excellent for both trollers and bank anglers, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Trollers working a flasher and Wedding Ring spinner tipped with a 'crawler at 25 to 30 feet have done well working the area from the dam to Gilligans Island. Shore anglers using inflated 'crawler/marshmallow combos or chartreuse Power Bait are getting easy limits of the fat fish to 2 pounds.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough
Stripers ***
Crappie **
Catfish ***


Both catfish and stripers are on an improved bite in the Delta Mendota canal, Larry Bristow said. Stripers up to 10 pounds have been taken by anglers tossing pearl-colored Storm Swimbaits by the bridges. Cats to 9 pounds are on a good bite for anchovies and clams. The aqueduct also is kicking out lots of 5- to 6-pound fish. There has been steady action for small catfish.

Call: 655-2335, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Millerton Lake
Bass **
Stripers *


Spotted bass are on a moderate to slow bite for lots of small fish as the lake falls rapidly and pre-tournament angler pressure increased, Jeff Huth said. A major tournament with 55 boats produced a winning total of 9.41 pounds for Kirk Sakamoto and Tim Torres, with most of the fish taken on plastics in the main lake. Stripers have been hard to find. The water continues to fall about a foot a day. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,200 feet/sec, and the lake is at 242,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000. Up river, rocks and towers are hazardous. Beached boats are in danger of getting stuck on shore.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass *
Trout **


Trout fishing for big quality rainbows has slowed, but anglers willing to work can pick up about a fish per hour in the 17- to 20-inch range trolling a chrome or pearl Apex from Lombardos to the dam at about 40 feet, Buck Deaner said. Trollers pulling 'crawlers behind a flasher or a Needlefish are getting some good numbers of smaller fish. Daytime bass fishing has been tough for anglers working dropshotted shad-colored plastics or brown/purple ¼-ounce jigs in 15-30 feet, Jeff Huth said. The mouth of Sycamore and Big Creek have been producing fish, but anglers have to cover a lot of water to find them.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah
Bass ***
Crappie ***
Trout *
Catfish **


Bass fishing is good for lots of mid-sized bass, with some up to 8 pounds, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Dropshotted plastics and jigs have been working at 10-25 feet. There is also some crankbait action. Trout fishing has been slow. Crappie fishing is good for limits. Lake is holding stable, Perez said.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success
Bass **
Trout *
Catfish **


Success Market reported fishing has been slow for bass and catfish, with few anglers working the reservoir.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir
Bass ***
Trout **
Crappie **
Catfish ***


Bass fishing improved for anglers tossing minnows, crawdads and plastics for catches of up to 30 fish a day, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Aaron's Magic worms were working well at 15-30 off of island tops and rocky points near a creek channel. A decent early topwater bite on shad-colored lures also was producing fish. Trout fishing has slowed to a steady bite on trolled flasher/Wedding Ring spinners tipped with a 'crawler worked near the dam by the first buoyline. Night fishing under lights using medium minnows by the dam and houseboats has been solid. Crappie fishing has re-emerged for a fair bite in the Horseshoe Bend and Piney Creek areas. Try the trees in the channel with jigs and minnows. Channel catfish up to 4 pounds are on a hot bite for anglers mooching half an anchovy off the bottom in the Boat Club area, as well as the cove behind the houseboats in Arnold Bay.

Call: (209) 563-6505 A-1 Bait, (209)378-2441

[cliffey07]

is the 7th throught the 9th any good for you. i was thinking saturday the 8th if at all possible or the night of the 7th. the only thing, is i dont know if i will be able to bring my fishing stuff on the plane with all the other stuff i have to bring.

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir
Bass **
Crappie *
Catfish **
Trout ***
Kokanee *


Trout fishing has been good for limits of rainbows up to 4.9 pounds for trollers pulling blue/silver Excels, green Apexes or Cop Car Needlefish in the main lake or up river at 35-60 feet, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Trout fishing with lights at night continues to be productive. Kokanee season is about over, but a few soft salmon are moving into creek arms and coves to spawn. Bass fishing has been fair to good for anglers fishing with dropshotted worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Rattletraps. Fish are feeding aggressively. Target steep banks up river and the mouths of creek arms at a depth of 30-40 feet. Catfish are active and taking mackerel or anchovies fished near Tuttletown, Angels Cove or Glory Hole Point at night.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella
Bass *
Trout **
Crappie *
Catfish ****


Catfishing is wide open for anglers fishing almost anywhere on the lake, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. Two anglers brought in 10 fish that were all over 10pounds. The Edison canal below the auxiliary dam is another good spot for anglers to pick up a full limit of channel cats. Bass are sporadic at best as the storms have moved through the area. Trout are steady for both trollers and shore fishermen, but the big news has been the recent heavy plants of rainbows. Perch up to a half-pound are on a good bite, and taking red worms and meal worms off the face of the dam.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle, (760)379-4170, Bob's Bait, (661)833-8657; North Fork Marina (760),376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Stripers **
Catfish **


Striper fishing has been slow for small stripers up to 5 pounds taking cutbait fished on the bottom, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Tackle said. Low pressure fronts moving through the area have created a lot of wind and lower temps, which seem to have slowed the bite and moved the fish to the bottom. Portuguese Cove and Goosehead have been some of the best areas. Water at the lake is rising about a half-foot per day, and the lake level is at 1.34 million acre-feet storage out of 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has a decent bite on 2- to 3-pound bass. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805

Call: (209) 826-5559 Mitchell's Outpost, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Eastman Lake
Bass **
Trout *
Bluegill **
Catfish *


Bass bite has been steady for good numbers of small fish up to 3 pounds on plastics, but a quality bass bite on swimbaits and spinnerbaits is available for anglers willing to work, Jeff Huth said. A few of the bigger bass to 5 pounds are taking reaction-type baits, but anglers wanting more action are doing well fishing the sides of the dam and creek channels with worms at 10-15 feet. Ranger Keith Willis said the lake is two-thirds full and stable. Trout fishing has been slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake
Bass **
Trout **
Catfish **
Crappie *


Bass fishing has been fair for anglers fishing Carolina rigged lizards or Brushhogs around the submerged rockpiles, Jeff Huth said. Good numbers of fish to 2 pounds are taking the plastics near structure. The rock piles and the dam have been the best areas. Catfish are on a moderate bite in the river area above the 5 mph markers on mackerel and Catfish Dynamite. Trout fishing is slow, although regulars putting in some time are getting quality fish.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir
Trout ***


Fishing has been good for limits for bank anglers using inflated 'crawlers or Power Bait by the handicap dock or the Brushpile, McSwain Marina reported. Trollers had sporadic action working flasher/'crawler combos, with few limits. Some trout were up to 2 pounds, with another plant scheduled this week.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough
Stripers ***
Crappie *
Catfish ***


The Delta Mendota canal probably has the best catfish and striper bites in the Valley now for both quantity and quality, Larry Bristow said. Stripers up to 20 pounds have been taken by anglers fishing lures and jigs in the canal as well as in the bypass area of the Volta Duck Club. Cats are on a good bite on cutbait. The Delta Mendota water flow will be shut down soon, Bristow said.

Call: 655-2335, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Millerton Lake
Bass **
Stripers *


The lake is beat up, with a slow-to-moderate bite on spots, after three tournaments and heavy angler pre-fishing, Jeff Huth said. Better numbers of small fish are coming on plastics fished above the 35 mph zone, while the better cut of fish has been coming from the main lake area. Huth said a one-eighth-ounce darthead jig tipped with a 4.5-inch worm fished off a long cast and allowed to fall slowly was working well for bigger suspending fish feeding on the shad schools. Stripers have been hard to find, but a few busting schools have been working the main lake coves in the morning. The water continues to fall about a half-foot a day. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,200 feet/sec, and the lake is at 233,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000. New lake hours have changed to 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass *
Trout **


Trout fishing has slowed, with anglers getting fewer numbers of both big and small fish, Jeff Huth said. The best bet is to troll a Bikini or Cop Car needlefish at 20-40 feet deep from the dam to the first power lines. Bigger fish are taking the CD7 Rapalas trolled through the shad schools. Speed control is key to triggering the bite. Daytime bass fishing has been tough. Anglers are scratching their heads about the poor bite this year. The best news has been the emergence of smaller black bass at the lake this year.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah
Bass ***
Crappie **
Trout **
Catfish ***


Bass fishing is good for lots of small bass up to 4 pounds, on a wide range of lures and plastics, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Dropshotted plastics as well as some topwater and crankbait action has produced fish. Trout fishing has been slow, with deeper trolling and river angling the best bets. Crappie fishing has been kicking out up to 15 medium-sized slabs per rod once the fish are located. Catfish are on a good bite on chicken livers and anchovies, Perez said.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success
Bass **
Trout *
Catfish *


Success Market reported fishing has been slow for bass and catfish.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir
Bass *
Trout **
Crappie *
Catfish **


Bass fishing is at a complete stop, with suspended fish getting lockjaw, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Anglers felt the shut off was due to the low pressure system that passed through the area. Bass are holding fairly deep, with the best bet to fish submerged islands with shad-patterned plastics in 40-50 feet of water. Trout fishing for a few quality fish remained good as the numbers fell off. Anglers working flasher and Needlefish combos on downriggers or leadcore at 80 feet by the dam had the best chance of picking up one of the bigger rainbows in the 3-pound range, with most fishermen scoring about two fish per rod. Smaller trout were holding at a shallower depth of 35-50 feet. Windy conditions seem to shut off the bite, so finding calmer water has been important. Crappie fishing has been slow. Channel catfish up to 4 pounds are still on a good bite for anglers soaking an anchovy in the cove behind the houseboats in Arnold Bay.

Call: (209) 563-6505 A-1 Bait, (209)378-2441

[Mutt]

are any of you central cal guys gonna be fishing near sacramento this next weekend oct.7-10. i am gonna be in that area and would love to get together and try to do some fishing
i wont be in sac area but i will be at mossdale sunday the 9th if your in the area and want to meet up let me know. will be going out in the morning.

thanks for the fishing reports and talk about a shut down it has mcswain though is still good for trout if trolling with a flat fish or a pink hoochie tipped with corn or a crawler :p

[cliffey07]

how far away is mossdale from woodland. i would love to get some fishing in this weekend.

[Mutt]

its about 100 miles

[Mutt]

never heard back from ya last nite cliff missed a great day out fishing wife and i had a blast. lot of little ones but fun to catch anyways lol. couple of decent keepers and the wife caught her first legal size striper today too. she couldnt believe it on liver lol.

[cliffey07]

sorry about not being able to hook up with ya. The stress of the long week caught up to me so i wound up sleeping in sunday and catching an earlier flight than expected, but i will be up in northern california for good after the 23rd so we will definately hget together.

[Mutt]

hehe i know what its like to have the body shut down and go into sleep mode lol. hey great well i am trying to get a small gathering of boc guys toghter up here soon so you will prolly be up here by then anyways its a theread called a question if you want to read up on it. ok tal=ke it easy we will hook up and drown some bait soon

[cliffey07]

sounds good i will check the threads, but ill be there.

[vini]

thanks for the fishing reports and talk about a shut down it has mcswain though is still good for trout if trolling with a flat fish or a pink hoochie tipped with corn or a crawler


When i was younger, I think it was my senior year of highschool i worked up at Mcswain for the MID, cleaning the campsites and what not anyhow in the evening after work i would go down to the shorline and fish for crappie catch my dinner for the night usually 2-3 nice hand size crappie, fry those babys up for supper wonder if they're still around?

Also remember one time up there during the summer with family we were boating and we came into a cove that was jumping with fish, we noticed too that there were crasshoppers ALL OVER the shoreline and thats what the fish were after so we caught a bunch of grasshoppers and used them for bait, we filled 2 stringers with trout that day, fish after fish we caught :D

[Mutt]

yea you can still get some crappie there. grasshoppers work great from shore. what year did you work there ive been fishing that lake for many years.

[vini]

That would have been the summer of 1978

I worked the campsite areas we did all sorts of nasty things like bathrooms, trash haul off ect. i even had to bury someones German Shephard once that passed away while the family was out boating the grandfather asked me to bury him before the rest of the family got back. The nice thing was the girls LOL and of course being right on the lake i did alot of fishing.

[Mutt]

lol the girls are always good :D yep i was fishing the lake back then too prolly seen you around then but that was a long time ago lol. still a nice lake to fish. then just hop up the road to mcclure and go for kittys there.

[daystarchis]

Lake Isabella

**Bass **Trout *Crappie ****Catfish

Catfishing continues to be wide open for anglers almost anywhere on the lake, or at Edison canal, for fish 2-23 pounds, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. Some anglers are reporting catching up to 100 fish in 3 hours. Shad, crawlers and mackerel have been the best bets. Most of the fish are channel cats, rather than mud cats. Bass fishing has picked up a bit, with anglers having to work hard for a few fish. There have been a few 6- to 8-pound bass taken by regular anglers on chartreuse spinnerbaits. Trout to 4 pounds are on a steady bite for both trollers and shore fishermen after the recent heavy plants. Power Bait and 'crawlers have been the top baits. Perch up to 1 pound are on a good bite, and taking red worms and meal worms. Crappie are slow.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle, (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait, (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760), 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

**Stripers **Catfish

Striper fishing has been fair to good for mostly small fish up to 5 pounds in the main lake or the Forebay, Tim Mitchell of Mitchell's Outpost said. There has been some action in the morning in the main lake on topwater and bait near the Trash Racks after the pumps run all night. The stripers are staying close to the bottom and taking cutbait, with Portuguese Cove and the Trash Racks producing the most, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Tackle said. Anglers throwing the 4-inch Storm swimbait in the Forebay area or around the bridges of the Delta Mendota canal have gotten a lot of nice stripers. Small catfish to 5 pounds are on a bite all over the Forebay and Delta Mendota canal system on cutbait. Water at the lake is rising about a half-foot per day, and the lake level is at 1.4 million acre-feet out of a 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is producing a lot of small bass and a good perch bite. For wind conditions, call (800) 805-4805

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Anglers concentrating on deeper water in the 30-foot range by the edge of the dam and deeper rock piles with brown and purple 3/8 -ounce jigs are finding a better caliber of fish starting to bite, Mark Inman said. Lots of small fish in the 6- to 7-inch range are eating most plastics, Merritt Gilbert said. The little bass seem to be everywhere. One 8.7-pound bass was taken by Troy Burgess of Prather on a dropshotted 4-inch green weenie. Ranger Keith Willis said several bass in the 3- to 8-pound class were taken on swimbaits, and live bait was working on the bass and crappie near the dam and tower area. The lake is two-thirds full. Some water releases will start soon. Trout fishing has been slow, and few catfish have been taken.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass **Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing has been fair for lots of little bass, with a few to 2 pounds coming on ripbaits early in the morning, Merritt Gilbert said. Brown and purple Yamamoto jigs are starting to produce some nice-sized fish on the rocky points and rock piles in 25-30 feet of water, Mark Inman said. Deeper rock piles are the best structure to fish. Catfish are on a slowed bite in the river area. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

***Trout

Fishing has been good for easy limits of trout to 4.5 pounds for bank anglers using 'crawlers or Power Bait by the Handicap dock or the Brush pile, McSwain Marina reported. Most trout are running about 2 pounds. Trollers had moderate action working flatlined flasher/'crawler combos, with limits taking some work.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal is producing lots of nice stripers, with one 33-pound lineside taken by an unidentified angler in the canal near Highway 152, Larry Bristow said. Lots of small cats are on a good bite in the entire canal on cutbait. The Delta Mendota water flow will be shut down in a few weeks.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Bass are on a fair bite on dropshotted worms and dartheads fished in the main lake for mostly slot-sized fish, Merritt Gilbert said. Stripers have been hard to find. Tim Torres of Kingsburg got an unusual 12-pound catfish on a jigging spoon. There has been some catfish action on 2-pounders at the back of Squaw Cove on chicken livers. The water level has started to stabilize. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,500 feet/second, and the lake is at 227,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000. Up river, rocks and towers are hazardous. Beached boats are in danger of getting stuck on shore. New lake hours are 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

*Bass **Trout

Trout fishing has slowed, but a few quality rainbows in the 16- to 22-inch class are available to hard-working anglers trolling Rapalas, frog-colored Needlefish or Excels at 35-70 feet in the area from Windy Gap to Lombardo's, Merritt Gilbert said. Bass fishing remains tough with a light ripbait and crankbait bite early in the morning, and a daytime dropshot and darthead bite as deep as 35 feet in shad colors.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

**Bass **Crappie **Trout ***Catfish

Bass fishing is fair for lots of small bass up to 2 pounds, on Carolina-rigged worms or splitshotted plastics fished at 20 feet, Merritt Gilbert said. Trout fishing is slow. Crappie fishing is moderate. Catfish are biting chicken livers and anchovies.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Success Market reported bass fishing has been fair, with one 7-pounder taken on a 'crawler. A 21-pound catfish was taken by Dwayne Lewis of Bakersfield on an anchovy.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

*Bass **Trout *Crappie **Catfish

Bass fishing continues to be slow, with suspended fish holding over deep water, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. A few slot fish are coming from anglers working deep-water points with plastics at 45-50 feet. Bass are full of shad, often spitting them up when landed. Trout fishing slowed, but a few quality fish are taking trolled flasher/Wedding Ring spinner combos tipped with a 'crawler in the dam area at 45-60 feet. Water temperatures are running about 67 degrees. Crappie fishing has been slow. Channel catfish up to 4 pounds are on a moderate bite.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

*Bass ***Trout *Kokanee *King salmon

Trout fishing is excellent for fish to 4 pounds for trollers working the area from the Stent-Jacksonville bridge to the Highway 120 bridge at 20-40 feet with flasher/'crawler combos, Needlefish or green Excels at 1.5 mph, Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service said. Kokanee fishing is over. Bass fishing has been tough, with falling water causing the fish to suspend over deep water, Tom Schulte of Fishermen's Warehouse said. Dropshotted plastics, dartheads and spoons are the best bet to pick up a few fish at 25-40 feet over main lake points.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[daystarchis]

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

**Stripers **Catfish

Striper fishing has been fair to good for small stripers up to 5 pounds, for anglers fishing the main lake or the Forebay, but two large fish going 25 and 30 pounds were taken from the Forebay on mudsuckers and shad, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. There has been some action in the morning in the main lake on topwater in some of the coves on Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks. The California Striped Bass Association had a tournament the day after the storm front pushed through that produced lots of small 3- to 5-pound stripers on bait and minnows, as well as two fish going 9.1 pounds and 9.8 pounds on trolled lures. Portuguese Cove and Goosehead were two of the best areas to find the fish. The Delta Mendota canal has been kicking out a lot of nice 5- to 9-pound stripers on Rattletraps and Rapalas fished around current structure, Bristow said. Water at the lake is holding steady, and the lake level is at 1,379,000 acre-feet storage out of 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is producing a lot of small bass and a good perch bite. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Windy conditions slowed the bass fishing, with most better-quality fish coming from a depth of 20-30 feet deep on dropshotted plastics or Texas rigged worms, Merritt Gilbert said. Jay Bradshaw won the Sierra Bass Club tournament with a four-fish weight of 15 pounds, Ranger Keith Willis said. Several bigger bass have been taken on swimbaits. The little bass are active and on a good bite. The lake is two-thirds full, with some releases. Trout fishing has been slow. Few catfish taken.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing continues to be fair for lots of little fish for anglers tossing Carolina-rigged, dark-colored 6-inch worms or Brushhogs in 20-25 feet of water, Merritt Gilbert said. The dam area has been good as well as the underwater rock piles to target the fish. Crappie fishing slowed to fair. Catfish are on a fair bite in the river area. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

***Trout

Fat "torpedo shaped" trout up to 4 pounds are on a good bite for trollers pulling flasher/'crawler combos at 25-35 feet deep from the up-river buoyline to the Gilligan's Island area, Diana Mello said. Boat anglers were picking up their limits in about 2 hours. Shore anglers using Power Nuggets in chartreuse or pink colors, or inflated 'crawlers had a good bite, fishing by the maintenance shed early in the morning. Once the water flow starts, then the Brushpile and the Handicapped docks were the best areas to shore fish.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal is kicking out lots of stripers in the 7- to 8-pound range for anglers tossing Rattletraps or Rapalas into any moving current behind structure or the bridges, Larry Bristow said. Lots of small cats are on a good bite in the entire canal on cutbait. The Delta Mendota water flow will be shut down in a few weeks.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Lots of small bass are on a fair bite on dropshotted plastics and jigs, but finding better-quality spots is difficult, Merritt Gilbert said. Main lake coves such as Winchells, Squaw and Finegold are good bets. Some small black bass to 2 pounds have been taken on spinnerbaits and jigs. Stripers have been slow, but action should pick up soon. Catfish to 2 pounds are on a decent bite at the back of Squaw Cove on chicken livers. The water level has started to stabilize and come up a little, which should help the bite. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,500 feet/second, and the lake is at 230,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000. New lake hours have changed to 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing is slow, but anglers working Rapalas, shad-colored Excels and watermelon-colored Needlefish at 30-70 feet deep in the main lake area up to Windy Gap are getting a few quality trout to 20 inches, Merritt Gilbert said. Bass fishing has picked up a little, with hope the bite might improve soon. Some fish to 3 pounds have been caught on three-quarter-ounce spoons and dropshotted worms.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

**Bass **Crappie **Trout **Catfish

Bass fishing is fair for lots of small bass up to 2 pounds, on Carolina-rigged worms or splitshotted plastics. Trout fishing has been slow. Crappie fishing has been moderate. Catfish are on a fair to good bite on chicken livers and anchovies.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Success Market reported fishing has been fair for bass.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

**Bass ***Trout ***Crappie **Catfish

Football-shaped trout in the 2-pound plus class are on a suddenly improved bite all over the lake at around 35 feet for trollers working Sonic Trout Killers or Wedding Ring spinners, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Lots of trout in the 3-pound range, and one 7-pound rainbow, make for high-quality fishing. Night fishing under lights with 'crawlers off a houseboat produced several nice trout for Dennis East of Fresno, as well as a good crappie bite on slabsides to 16 inches. Crappie fishing has picked up with wandering schooled fish moving from area to area, providing a good bite until they move into a new area. The crappie fishing should bust loose in the next few weeks as they get ready to spawn, Mello said. Bass fishing for small fish is good, with anglers catching 8- to 11-inch fish all day long on dropshotted plastics or live bait fished off rocky points. A few slot fish are coming from anglers working deep water points with plastics in 45-50 feet of water. Channel catfish up to 7 pounds are on a good bite on anchovies and small live crawdads fished in the back of Arnold Bay.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass ***Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

There is an excellent bite on trout in the 2- to 4-pound class for trollers working the area from the Stent-Jacksonville area into Woods Creek on flasher/'crawler rigs, Excels, Needlefish and Mepp's spoons, Danny Layne of Fish'n Dan's Guide Service said. Kokanee fishing is over. Bass fishing has been slow with dropshotted plastics, dartheads and spoons are the best bet to pick up a few bass.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[tigger_tat_55]

hey robb,

hope all is well,
im getting settled in, prob wont get any fishing in for a bit, hope to get back up your way when i get done playing army. take care, ill try to talk with you soon.

[daystarchis]

Hey brother Tim.....I was just think bout you Sunday. How ya been bro? Where Uncle Sam got ya? Really good to hear from you. I'm am doing good. First week with no fishing in months. lol. You come on up when you can. Been hitting the aquaduct with several of the brothers (Brian and Vini). I been drawing the elskunko lately. lol! My time is a coming..... You take care brother. Keep in touch now...

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

**Bass *Crappie **Catfish **Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing has slowed to a fair bite, with limits hard to come by, probably because the lake is about ready to turn over, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Excel spoons or the Cop Car Needlefish, in shad patterns, trolled at 25-60 feet deep in the main lake or upriver has been the best bet. Kokanee season is about over. Bass fishing has been fair for smaller fish using brown/purple jigs, dropshotted worms or reaper-style baits, Dwayne King of Fisherman's Warehouse said. Targeting steep banks upriver and the mouths of creek arms at 30-40 feet has been the best tactic. Catfish are on a decent bite on cutbait. Lake is currently at 80% capacity and holding steady.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

**Bass **Trout *Crappie ***Catfish ***Bluegill

Catfishing has slowed, but anglers picking the right spots are getting good numbers of fat cats on cutbait, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. Shad and chicken livers are best. The Edison canal is producing good numbers. One cat weighing 26 pounds was taken by an unidentified angler. Bass fishing is picking up, with one 11-pound, 15-ounce fish taken by an angler crappie fishing near a tree with a Kastmaster. Dropshotted dark-purple worms fished in 10-20 feet of water were producing some fish in the 2- to 5-pound range. Trout fishing picked up for trollers working flasher/'crawler combos by the dam at 3 colors, with fish averaging from 12 inches and up to 4 pounds. Bluegill are on a hot bite on waxworms by the dam, Engineer Point and the Marina. Rock and sand areas of shoreline are the best bet. Some Redear perch are starting to show. Crappie are slow. There is an advisory against eating fish from the lake.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

***Stripers **Catfish ***Bass

Striper fishing has improved at the Forebay with topwater lures, minnows and bait, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers worked off the shallow weedlines was a top producer for fish to 9 pounds, along with good numbers of smaller fish. Bait anglers working the Check 12 area picked up lots of 18- to 26-inch fish, and several 12- to 15-pound stripers. Black Bass fishing has exploded for bass to 7 pounds on flukes or Rapalas fished by the Madeiros area or the Boat dock region of the Forebay. Lots of 2- to 3-pound fish. There has been action in the morning in the main lake on topwater in some of the coves on Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks, but overall it's been slow to moderate. Mostly small fish in the 18- to 22-inch range are coming from the Trash Racks or the back of Portuguese Cove on cutbait. The Delta Mendota canal has been good for stripers in the 5- to 7-pound category, with one 20-pounder taken on a minnow fished at the Volta Bypass. Anglers working the bridges on the Aqueduct are doing well on lures like the Rattletrap. Water flow into the bypass has been shut down, Bristow said. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is producing a lot of small bass and a good perch bite.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing picked up for a better cut of fish that anglers are taking on swimbaits, plastics and topwater baits, Merritt Gilbert said. Matt Burgess of Madera got a 9-pound bass on a Senko. Fishing deeper rock piles in front of the dam or by the ramps at 25-30 feet has produced the best fish. Lots of active small fish, but some bigger bass have been showing up, Keith Willis said. Using wacky-rigged Senkos with a weighted end is working. The lake is fairly full, with some releases. Trout fishing is been slow. Few catfish biting.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing is fair for good numbers of little fish, with few quality fish above 2 pounds for anglers tossing jigs, splitshotted, dropshotted and Texas-rigged worms, Merritt Gilbert said. Senkos worked along the bank are producing a good bite on the aggressive small bass. Crappie, catfish and trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

***Trout

Bank anglers and trollers are catching limits of trout, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Trollers pulling flasher/'crawler or Wedding Ring spinners at 30 feet are doing the best for the fat Rainbows. Shore anglers working the handicap dock or the brush pile areas with inflated 'crawlers, white Power Nugget Eggs or Rainbow Power bait are scoring limits.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The canal is producing stripers in the 7- to 8-pound range for anglers working the gates with lures or minnows, Larry Bristow said. One 20-pound fish came out of the Volta Bypass area of the canal on a minnow. The bypass area water flow has been stopped into the refuge. Lots of small cats are on a good bite in the canal on cutbait. The Delta Mendota water flow will be shut down in a few weeks.

Call: Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522, 655-2335

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

A lot of reaction fish were taken early in the morning, in less than 10 feet of water, for decent numbers of bass to 3.3 pounds in the recent W.O.N. tournament, winner Tim Torres said. After 10 a.m., the bite is tough, with the main lake the best bet to find fish during the day on plastics. Spinnerbaits worked around big rocks early produced good spotted bass. It's easy to catch lots of small fish, but the quality bass are hard to find, Merritt Gilbert said. Stripers have been slow. The water level has started to stabilize, which should help the bite. The lake closes at 6 p.m.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing will take some work for anglers, but a few 16- to 18-inchers are showing up off downrigged Rapalas, Needlefish, Excels and Apexes, Merritt Gilbert said. Trollers working the region from the main lake to Windy Gap are finding the best bite. Bass fishing has picked up a little, with baitfish location the key to the best bite. Fishing the main lake with cranks and worms from the bank to 25 feet seems to be the best tactic.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

***Bass **Crappie *Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing has been good for lots of bass at the stable reservoir. Two bass in the 13-pound range and several from 6-8 pounds were taken, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Early morning reaction fish are shallow, but move out to 20 feet once the sun comes up. Jigs, spoons and dropshotted plastics are working. Crappie fishing has been good, while trout and catfish are slow.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Success Market reported a slow bass bite, but a fair bite on cats to 6 pounds on anchovies.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

**Bass ***Trout ***Crappie **Catfish

Trout in the 2-pound plus class continue to highlight the action, with anglers limiting out on Wedding Ring spinners tipped with a 'crawler, or a California Watermelon Needlefish pulled at 35-50 feet by the dam buoyline or in the Cottonwood creek area outside the 5 mph buoys. The Horseshoe Bend area is producing some bigger trout. Bass are deep and have lockjaw, with only a few small fish being caught. Crappie fishing at night under the lights below the moored houseboats has been averaging 11-15 fish per rod. The best areas are 35-40 feet deep and have submerged trees. Catfish are on a decent bite on live crawdads and cutbait fished off shallow sloping shorelines in 15-20 feet of water.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass **Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

Trout fishing has slowed, with the lake turnover not far away, Monte Smith of Gold Country Sportfishing said. Persistent trollers using pink E-chips at 45 feet can pick up a few fish. Lots of trout are holding in the Jacksonville Stent Bridge that are not willing to bite. Kokanee fishing is over. Bass fishing has been sporadic, with one 15-pound bass taken by an unidentified angler on a swimbait, Dwayne King said. Some anglers are using Zara Spooks over 30 feet to bring up the deep bass that are starting to feed on trout. Most are using dropshotted plastics for bass.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

**Bass *Crappie **Catfish **Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing has been slowing, but limits are still possible for anglers trolling shad-patterned Excels or Apexes in the main lake or up river at a depth of 30-50 feet, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Kokanee season is about over. Bass fishing has been fair for smaller fish using dropshotted 4-inch shad-colored worms over deeper structure. The B.A.S.S. Federation Tournament was won by Fresno angler Ron Red Jr. with 16.4 pounds over two days of fishing. The big fish of the tournament was a 3.73-pounder taken by Art Holman. Anglers struggled to find the bigger fish with jigs, Zara Spooks and Carolina-rigged lizards the other lures producing fish. Creek arms and submerged islands were good targets to find fish. Catfish are holding a decent bite on cutbait, while crappie and perch are slow. Lake is currently at 80% capacity and holding steady.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

*Bass **Trout **Crappie ***Catfish **Bluegill

Catfishing is hot for anglers using mealworms, waxworms or cutbait, Bob Rutledge of Bob's Bait said. Most fish are in the 2- to 4-pound range. Crappie fishing is just getting started and should improve in the next few weeks. Bass and perch fishing are slow to fair. Still waiting for the water-quality report. The advisory against eating fish from the lake is in effect.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

***Stripers **Catfish ***Bass

Lots of stripers in the 8- to 9-pound range were taken in the Forebay on topwater baits worked in the shallow flats, while Check 12 action on insides biting bait and surface lures was also good, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers were the best choices for the fish, but the bigger stripers seemed to prefer the Pencil Popper. Black Bass fishing is good for fish to 5 pounds on Shad Rap lures and Rapalas worked near the Madeiros area of the Forebay. There has been some topwater action in the morning in the main lake near the Romero Point area. Most of the fish are small in the 18- to 22-inch range. The Delta Mendota canal and aqueduct have been steady for lots of stripers in the 5- to 7-pound category. Water at the lake is coming up, and the lake level is at 1.46 million acre-feet storage out of 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir has a good crappie bite going on small minnows, as well as a good perch and bluegill bite. Lots of small bass are working, while trout are slow. Wind conditions: 1-800-805-4805.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing is moderate for anglers working Carolina-rigged Baby Brush Hogs or worms off the creek channels at 15 feet deep, Jeff Huth said. Swimbaits have worked for fishermen willing to persevere, with fish 3-8 pounds showing up occasionally. The dam area has been a good place to fish. The overall bite slowed with more small fish this week, Ranger Keith Willis said. The lake is fairly full and stable. Trout fishing has been slow. Few catfish biting.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing is fair for good numbers of little fish, for anglers tossing deeper-running crankbaits over rockpiles. Limits of the small fish are easy to catch with either spinnerbaits or splitshotted plastics fished in the main lake. The area above the 5 mph buoys has not been as productive. Crappie and catfish fishing has been slow. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

**Trout

Bank anglers are doing better than trollers producing limits of smaller planter-sized trout, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers working the Handicap dock or the Brushpile areas with inflated 'crawlers or white Power Nugget Eggs were having the best success. Trollers pulling flasher/'crawler or Trout Killers were getting a few bigger fish, but limits took work.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal and aqueduct are both steady for lots of stripers in the 7- to 8-pound range for anglers working the gates or bridges with lures or minnows, Larry Bristow said. T.J. Yang of Fisherman's Warehouse said that he did well on small stripers to 5 pounds on white Zoom Flukes fished under the bridges of the Delta Mendota system. Lots of small cats are on a good bite in the entire canal on cutbait. The Delta Mendota water flow will be shut down in a few weeks.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Bass fishing for small spotted bass remains consistent for anglers working main lake points with one-eighth-ounce dartheads tipped with 6-inch worms, Jeff Huth said. Squaw Cove has been kicking out the best cut of fish, although it takes some work to find fish over 2 pounds. Stripers have been very slow. The water level has stabilized. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,300 feet/sec, and the lake is at 233,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing is fair to slow for Rainbows in the 16- to 18-inch range on chrome Needlefish tipped with a 'crawler at 40-80 feet deep and trolled in the main lake, Jeff Huth said. The trout moved slightly deeper, but the action should pick up as the water cools. Bass fishing has been an early morning bite on small one-sixteenth- or one-eighth-ounce dartheads worked off points on a slow fall. Once the sun comes up, the bite shuts off. Bait schools are starting to tighten up, so looking for the best concentrations of the bait schools is a good tactic to use during the day to home in on active fish. Windy Gap has been one of the best areas to fish. The spoon bite should kick in very soon, Huth said.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

***Bass ***Crappie *Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing has been great for good numbers of medium-sized bass, while also producing bigger fish on the Mission Fish swimbait. T.J. Yang said that the Senko bite had been very good, but angler pressure was getting heavier. Crappie fishing has been very good for nice-sized slabs on minnows. The water level is low.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Success Market reported a slow bass bite, while a trout plant might trigger the trout bite soon at the low water lake.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

**Bass ***Trout ***Crappie **Catfish

Crappie fishing exploded for anglers fishing during the day, at 35-40 feet deep, with jigs weighted down with heavier lead to reach the fish, Diana Mello said. The slabs seem to be coming from all over the lake as they school up before the spawn. Small Kastmasters and minnows are working for the crappie gorging on shad, weighing up to 1.5 pounds. Trout fishing under lights has been very good in the dam and houseboat areas, or wherever you find shad using 'crawlers. Trollers using Excels or flasher/'crawler combos are doing very good on the fat trout. Trolled Kastmasters in silver and reflector finishes are the best bet. Bass are all over the lake at around 40 feet, but getting a keeper-sized fish is a real chore. Dropshotted plastics in shad colors or spoons worked over the active schools of small bass will produce a lot of action on the small aggressive fish. Working deep water island tops is a good tactic Catfish are on a slowed bite on mackerel, crawdads and anchovies, and running smaller.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass **Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

Trout fishing has slowed to fair. Trollers using pink E-chips or Excels can pick up a few fish. Kokanee fishing is over. Bass fishing has been sporadic, but some anglers are doing well on bigger fish using swimbaits, Dwayne King said. Most anglers are using dropshotted plastics for the bass.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

**Bass *Crappie **Catfish **Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing has slowed, with limits hard to come by, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Trolling at 30-60 feet in the main lake, or upriver with shad-colored lures, are the best bets. The Kokanee season is about over. Bass fishing has been good for smaller fish using dropshotted 4-inch shad-colored worms or grubs fished over deeper structure. Main lake points and submerged islands are the best areas to work. Catfish are holding a decent bite on cutbait, while crappie and perch are slow. The lake is at 80% of capacity and steady.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

*Bass **Trout **Crappie ***Catfish **Bluegill

Catfishing is hot for anglers using mealworms, waxworms or cutbait for fish in the 1- to 3-pound class, Bob Rutledge of Bob's Bait said. Crappie fishing is improved. Trout fishing is good for trollers pulling Needlefish or Kastmasters by the dam or French Gulch areas. Bass are slow to fair. Perch fishing is slow.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

***Stripers **Catfish ***Bass

Stripers are on a good bite in the Forebay on topwater plugs and cutbait, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. One 24-pound fish and others in the 8- to 12-pound range have been taken by Check 12 or by the 152 bridge. Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers have been good for the topwater action stripers worked along the weedlines. Action on small fish in the 3- to 5-pound range has been good, with Portuguese Cove being a good bet. Black Bass fishing is good for fish to 5 pounds on crankbaits worked near the Madeiros area of the Forebay. The Delta Mendota canal and Aqueduct have been steady for lots of stripers in the 5- to 7-pound category. The Mendota refuge area is kicking out some bass to 5 pounds for anglers flipping jigs, Merritt Gilbert said. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805

Call: (209) 826-5559 Mitchell's Outpost, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing is moderate to good for anglers working Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hogs or jigs off the creek channels at 20 to 25 feet deep, Merritt Gilbert said. Ranger Keith Willis reported a strong bite for bigger bass on crawdads fished off 20 feet deep flats, with several anglers scoring fish to 8 pounds on the bait. Swimbaits are also working at times for fishermen willing to persevere. Trout fishing has been slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing is still fair for good numbers of little fish, for anglers tossing deeper running crankbaits or Senkos over rock piles. Dropshotted rigs, jigs and Carolina rigs are all producing a decent bite. Keepers are tough to find. Crappie and catfish fishing has been slow, with a few small cats working the day use area and biting cutbait. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

**Trout

Trout fishing slowed as the water was lowered in the lake, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers working with inflated 'crawlers or Kastmasters are doing the best. Trollers toplining Needlefish in shad colors are getting limits at times.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal and Aqueduct are both steady for lots of stripers in the 7- to 8-pound class, Larry Bristow said. Lots of small cats are still on a good bite in the entire canal on cutbait.

Call: 655-2335, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Bass fishing for small spotted bass is decent for anglers working dartheads, splitshot rigs, topwater and spinnerbaits, Merritt Gilbert said. Fish are showing up from the bank out to 40 feet deep, with the early bite best near the shore on shallow baits. Stripers have been very slow. The water level has stabilized. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,300 feet/sec, and the lake is at 237,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing is slow for Rainbows in the 14- to 18-inch range on trolled shad-colored Needlefish or Excels worked at 60 feet in the main lake, Merritt Gilbert said. Silver and black Rapalas in a #7 size were also working for the sluggish fish. Anglers are working for 2 to 3 fish a day. Bass fishing has been improving for small bass to 2 pounds on dropshotted plastics and crankbaits fished off main lake points and walls.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

***Bass ***Crappie *Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing has been good for numbers of medium sized bass on dropshotted plastics worked at around 20 feet deep, Merritt Gilbert said. Crappie fishing has been good using minnows. Water is low.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Few anglers at the very low water lake, but an expected trout plant should pick up the trout fishing soon.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

***Bass ***Trout ***Crappie **Catfish

Crappie fishing is still good for anglers fishing under houseboats or over rock piles or submerged trees Diana Mello said. The slabs seem to be schooling up in either small or large sized fish groups, and once you find a school of the bigger fish, minnows and jigs will produce limits. Trout fishing is good for trout to 3 pounds using 6 to 7 colors of leadcore and a watermelon or Bleeding Shad Needlefish. The dam or upriver area from Barretts Cove to Horseshoe Bend has been good. Bass to 4 pounds are very active as the lake turned over, with Aaron's Magic worms, Kastmasters and crawdads getting bit at a depth 20 feet. The fish seem to be ganging up on crawdads in shallow flat areas.

Call: (209) 563-6505 A-1 Bait, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass **Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

Trout fishing has slowed to fair. Trollers using 'crawlers can still get some fish that can go as high as 5 pounds, Don Pedro Marina reported. Kokanee fishing is over. Lots of anglers working the lake with dropshotted rigs as well as some action for bigger bass on swimbaits, Dwayne King said. Most anglers are using dropshotted plastics for the bass.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, (209) 239-2248 Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca, (209) 609-3115 Dwayne King's Guide Service

[Mutt]

i was fishing mcswain on saturday. man the lake is way down even the old servive road bridge and road are visible. most everything there on boats caught one to two fish never did see a limit i caught 3 1.5 2.25 and one 3.5 pounder. all on flashers with a wedding ring tiped with a night crawler trolled at 1.8 mph.

[daystarchis]

Nice report mutt. Sounds like you did pretty good.

[vini]

i was fishing mcswain on saturday. man the lake is way down even the old servive road bridge and road are visible. most everything there on boats caught one to two fish never did see a limit i caught 3 1.5 2.25 and one 3.5 pounder. all on flashers with a wedding ring tiped with a night crawler trolled at 1.8 mph.
I remember seeing that brige and road once, waaay back,

Nice fish mutt i sure could go for some fried trout ;)

[Mutt]

its been many years since i saw it forgot it was even there to be honest the bridge is in excelant shape still road is washed away for the most part the rock by it that has the bouy tied on it so no one hits it is around 35 feet or so out of the water its low real low

[vini]

Mutt i was raised in Merced and fished mostly the merced river , not sure you ever new about or got a chance to fish the dredge tailing near snelling? there used to be pools all over that area , by the Hatchery back there and we cought BASS, big BASS in those pools, Hell we even snagged salmon coming up the Bear creek that went thru merced but i've cought catfish, large mouth and small mouth in bear creek, trout that got out of yosemite lake, turtle, once and muskrat once LOL.

I stopped snagging salmon when i watched a Jacque Custo series about salmon found out where the salmon were coming from and how tough it was on them then i stopped doing it.

Fished alot of the ponds in the foothills too where the cows get water most were stocked with bluegill and bass.

[Mutt]

oh ive fished the tailings a few times. some good fishing in there. used to carry a pole that would extend in my saddlebags on my harley and stop off now and then in snelling and go fishing was fun. need to hook up sometime and go do some trolling at mcswain or mcclure

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

**Bass *Crappie **Catfish **Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing has slowed, with limits hard to come by, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Trolling at 30-60 feet in the main lake, or upriver with shad-colored lures, are the best bets. The Kokanee season is about over. Bass fishing has been good for smaller fish using dropshotted 4-inch shad-colored worms or grubs fished over deeper structure. Main lake points and submerged islands are the best areas to work. Catfish are holding a decent bite on cutbait, while crappie and perch are slow. The lake is at 80% of capacity and steady.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

*Bass **Trout **Crappie ***Catfish **Bluegill

Catfishing is hot for anglers using mealworms, waxworms or cutbait for fish in the 1- to 3-pound class, Bob Rutledge of Bob's Bait said. Crappie fishing is improved. Trout fishing is good for trollers pulling Needlefish or Kastmasters by the dam or French Gulch areas. Bass are slow to fair. Perch fishing is slow.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

***Stripers **Catfish ***Bass

Stripers are on a good bite in the Forebay on topwater plugs and cutbait, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. One 24-pound fish and others in the 8- to 12-pound range have been taken by Check 12 or by the 152 bridge. Zara Spooks and Pencil Poppers have been good for the topwater action stripers worked along the weedlines. Action on small fish in the 3- to 5-pound range has been good, with Portuguese Cove being a good bet. Black Bass fishing is good for fish to 5 pounds on crankbaits worked near the Madeiros area of the Forebay. The Delta Mendota canal and Aqueduct have been steady for lots of stripers in the 5- to 7-pound category. The Mendota refuge area is kicking out some bass to 5 pounds for anglers flipping jigs, Merritt Gilbert said. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805

Call: (209) 826-5559 Mitchell's Outpost, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing is moderate to good for anglers working Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hogs or jigs off the creek channels at 20 to 25 feet deep, Merritt Gilbert said. Ranger Keith Willis reported a strong bite for bigger bass on crawdads fished off 20 feet deep flats, with several anglers scoring fish to 8 pounds on the bait. Swimbaits are also working at times for fishermen willing to persevere. Trout fishing has been slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing is still fair for good numbers of little fish, for anglers tossing deeper running crankbaits or Senkos over rock piles. Dropshotted rigs, jigs and Carolina rigs are all producing a decent bite. Keepers are tough to find. Crappie and catfish fishing has been slow, with a few small cats working the day use area and biting cutbait. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

**Trout

Trout fishing slowed as the water was lowered in the lake, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers working with inflated 'crawlers or Kastmasters are doing the best. Trollers toplining Needlefish in shad colors are getting limits at times.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal and Aqueduct are both steady for lots of stripers in the 7- to 8-pound class, Larry Bristow said. Lots of small cats are still on a good bite in the entire canal on cutbait.

Call: 655-2335, (209) 827-1522 Lucky Larry's Bait

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Bass fishing for small spotted bass is decent for anglers working dartheads, splitshot rigs, topwater and spinnerbaits, Merritt Gilbert said. Fish are showing up from the bank out to 40 feet deep, with the early bite best near the shore on shallow baits. Stripers have been very slow. The water level has stabilized. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,300 feet/sec, and the lake is at 237,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing is slow for Rainbows in the 14- to 18-inch range on trolled shad-colored Needlefish or Excels worked at 60 feet in the main lake, Merritt Gilbert said. Silver and black Rapalas in a #7 size were also working for the sluggish fish. Anglers are working for 2 to 3 fish a day. Bass fishing has been improving for small bass to 2 pounds on dropshotted plastics and crankbaits fished off main lake points and walls.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

***Bass ***Crappie *Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing has been good for numbers of medium sized bass on dropshotted plastics worked at around 20 feet deep, Merritt Gilbert said. Crappie fishing has been good using minnows. Water is low.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Few anglers at the very low water lake, but an expected trout plant should pick up the trout fishing soon.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

***Bass ***Trout ***Crappie **Catfish

Crappie fishing is still good for anglers fishing under houseboats or over rock piles or submerged trees Diana Mello said. The slabs seem to be schooling up in either small or large sized fish groups, and once you find a school of the bigger fish, minnows and jigs will produce limits. Trout fishing is good for trout to 3 pounds using 6 to 7 colors of leadcore and a watermelon or Bleeding Shad Needlefish. The dam or upriver area from Barretts Cove to Horseshoe Bend has been good. Bass to 4 pounds are very active as the lake turned over, with Aaron's Magic worms, Kastmasters and crawdads getting bit at a depth 20 feet. The fish seem to be ganging up on crawdads in shallow flat areas.

Call: (209) 563-6505 A-1 Bait, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass **Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

Trout fishing has slowed to fair. Trollers using 'crawlers can still get some fish that can go as high as 5 pounds, Don Pedro Marina reported. Kokanee fishing is over. Lots of anglers working the lake with dropshotted rigs as well as some action for bigger bass on swimbaits, Dwayne King said. Most anglers are using dropshotted plastics for the bass.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, (209) 239-2248 Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca, (209) 609-3115 Dwayne King's Guide Service

[vini]

oh ive fished the tailings a few times. some good fishing in there. used to carry a pole that would extend in my saddlebags on my harley and stop off now and then in snelling and go fishing was fun. need to hook up sometime and go do some trolling at mcswain or mcclure


That sounds real good mutt just let me know when and if i'm not booked up with work i'll meetya there.

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

**Bass *Crappie **Catfish **Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing has slowed with the warmer weather and full moon, but the quality is good for the fish being caught, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Trolling with Cop Car or Threadfin Shad Needlefish at 30-60 feet in the main lake with shad-colored lures is the best bet for fish that are going as big as 3 pounds. Once falling temperatures return, the bite should re-ignite. Kokanee season is over. Bass fishing for smaller fish in the 1- to 2-pound range has been decent, as the fish have moved to deeper water. Keeper fish are hard to come by. Darterhead and dropshotted plastics have been the best bet, Dwayne King said. Catfish up to 9.9 pounds have been taken on chicken livers in the Tuttletown area. Crappie and perch are slow. The lake currently is 81% of capacity and holding.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

**Bass **Trout *Crappie ***Catfish ***Bluegill

Catfishing for 1- to 3-pound fish is good, Bob's Bait reported. Lots of anglers are scoring good numbers of the feeding whiskerfish. Bass fishing has picked up to fair, but the quality has been good on shad-colored crankbaits. Several fish in the 8-pound class have been weighed in this week. Trout fishing has been fair with a few fish coming for trollers and shore anglers by the dam. Perch fishing is good due to the warmer-than-usual water temps. Crappie are slow but should pick up as the temps fall.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

**Stripers **Catfish ***Bass

A few stripers up to 25 pounds, as well as lots of small linesides, are on a fair to good bite in the main lake on minnows and cutbait fished 45-80 feet on the bottom, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. Two fish, one 20 pounds and the other 25 pounds, were taken on minnows in the main lake by unidentified anglers. The area by the pumps, Goosehead and Portuguese Cove were all key areas that held fish. Eric Wuhl of Fresno got six small fish in the 18-inch range on minnows fishing deep near the bottom, Tim Mitchell of Mitchell's Outpost said. The Forebay is kicking out lots of undersized stripers on a variety of baits. Bass to 6-plus pounds are on a good bite on flukes and small spinnerbaits fished near the weedline, Bristow said. A few cats to 9 pounds have been taken on cutbait at night. Water at the lake is rising and the level is 1.6 million acre-feet out of 2 million capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is producing lots of small bass and some action on perch, Bristow said. Trout are slow. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

***Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing has picked up to a good bite for anglers using swimbaits, buzzbaits, jumbo minnows and dark plastics, Ranger Keith Willis said. Michael Goodwin of Merced picked up 12-pound and 8-pound bass on a Huddleston swimbait. Shane Soriano of Merced and a friend caught 14 bass from 3-7 pounds in the evening on a buzzbait in shallow water. Betty Polson, a volunteer at Eastman, got a 4-pound bass on a worm. Large minnows fished at 20-40 feet also produced 20 bass, to 5 pounds, as well as an 11-pound cat for James and Jake Clarkson of Fresno. The lake is fairly full and stable. Trout fishing has been slow. Few catfish are biting.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Good numbers of little fish to 2 pounds are biting jigs and plastics, Merritt Gilbert said. A tournament produced a winning four-fish total of around 10 pounds, with lots of other teams also weighing in totals of around 8 pounds. The best colors seemed to be green pumpkin, brown and shad. Small cats are on a slow bite. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

***Trout

Trout fishing has been good for both trollers and bank anglers, with some fish up to 4 pounds, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers were doing best on white or green Power Nuggets, as well as rainbow Power Bait for limits. Handicap dock and the Brushpile were the best bets. Trollers were using Wedding Ring spinners tipped with a 'crawler behind flashers at 30 feet, with the best action coming from the area around the second fenceline to Gilligan's Island. Limits are possible.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

***Stripers *Crappie ***Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal has been producing decent stripers in the 15- to 22-inch range for bait anglers as well as fishermen throwing Rattletraps, Merritt Gilbert said. The Aqueduct has been steady for lots of small stripers along with several up to 10 pounds. The Delta Mendota water flow will be shut down in a few weeks.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Small spotted bass fishing is fair for anglers working dartheads and dropshotted plastics, Merritt Gilbert said. The best area to fish continues to be the main lake, with most running from slot-sized to around 2 pounds. Stripers have been slow. The water level is stable. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,000 feet/sec, and the lake is at 248,000 acre-feet out of 520,000.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing is good for fishermen trolling frog-colored Needlefish tipped with a 'crawler and pulled behind a silver dodger at around 40 feet in the main lake area, James Mize of Valley Rod and Gun said. Several limits of nice-sized Rainbows have included fish over 18 inches, giving anglers some quality to go with the better numbers. Bass fishing has settled into a decent bite as anglers tossing plastics and dropshotted Senkos are picking up good numbers of medium-sized bass. A W.O.N. tournament was won with a 12-pound total, and a big fish of 3.2 pounds Mize said. There is a reaction bite producing some bass at times. The Lake is rising.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

***Bass ***Crappie *Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing has been good for numbers of medium-sized bass in the 2- to 4-pound range, but the big news was a 16.02-pound bass taken by Ray Russell of Tulare on a dropshotted worm, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Trout fishing picked up after the recent plants with anglers picking up several fish per rod on Power Bait. The water is low.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Few anglers are at the lake, which has very low water.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

***Bass ***Trout **Crappie *Catfish

Bass fishing is good for fish to 3 pounds on dropshot plastics, Senkos and Hula grubs in pumpkin green colors. Chet Elia of Fresno and Jim Snow of Dinuba proved that by winning the Angler's Choice tournament with a weight of 15.01 pounds, and a big fish of 6.26 pounds, James Mize of Valley Rod and Gun said. Lots of bigger spotted bass are taking plastics and live bait in 20-25 feet of water, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Trout fishing is good for limits for trollers pulling Cop Car or Nasty Boy (bleeding shad) Needlefish tipped with a 'crawler behind a flasher at 25 feet. The dam area and the Cottonwood Creek arm are the best bets for the trout. Shore fishing is picking up with a fair bite on smaller-sized trout on Power Bait. Crappie fishing slacked off as the schools moved into new areas, but persistence in finding the fish should produce some good fishing. If the weather holds, the fishing should only get better, Mello said. Cats have slowed down.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass ***Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

Trout fishing has picked up to a good bite on nice-sized trout biting shad-patterned Excels or Cop Car Needlefish trolled at 20-25 feet, Dwayne King of Fisherman's Warehouse in Manteca said. Fishing for big bass has picked up for anglers tossing bigger swimbaits, Senkos or spoons. A good number of fish in the 6-pound-and-up range have been taken, King said. Kokanee fishing is over.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

*Bass *Crappie **Catfish ***Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing has been very good for big 3- to 4-pound rainbows, with both trollers and shore anglers producing fish. Trollers are doing best in the main lake using shad-patterned lures such as the Excel, Needlefish or the Countdown Rapala at about 20-25 feet. Angels Cove and Glory Hole Point are the best areas for shore anglers to soak rainbow or chartreuse PowerBait as well as 'crawler/marshmallow combos, for fish to 4 pounds, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Bass fishing has been tough for keeper-sized fish, with most coming on crawdad-colored dropshot plastics. A few bigger fish to

6 pounds have been taken on swimbaits, Dwayne King said. Kokanee season is over. A few cats to 6 pounds are taking chicken livers at night. Crappie and perch are slow. The lake is at 81% of capacity and rising slightly.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

*Bass **Trout *Crappie **Catfish *Bluegill

Colder weather slowed fishing this week, but the trout bite picked up to fair for both shore anglers and trollers, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. The dam area has proven to be best for rainbows. Trout fishing below the dam in the Kern River has been hot, with some trout going 8 pounds. The area from below the dam to Bakersfield has been very good. Catfishing has slowed to moderate for anglers using shad or 'crawlers along the shoreline of the lake. Bass fishing came to a full stop as the front passed, with few bass biting. Perch and crappie fishing are very slow. A report finally came in that said the water problem was caused by a blue-green algae and was not poisonous. The advisory to not eat the fish still is in effect.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

**Stripers **Catfish **Bass

Small linesides in the 5- to 8-pound category are showing up frequently for anglers working both the main lake and the Forebay with minnows and cutbait fished on the bottom, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. There is a topwater bite on smaller fish on Zara Spooks in the shallow flats type areas that are only 3-4 feet deep. A few 12- to 15-pound fish have been caught. Water at the lake is fairly stable, with a lake level of 1.6 million acre-feet storage out of 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is producing lots of small bass, with a spotty bite on crappie and perch, Bristow said. Trout are slow. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout **Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing has slowed with the cooler temps, but fish are willing to bite, Ranger Keith Willis said. Ken Eddy of Madera got a 9- and a 4-pound bass on a Huddleston swimbait. Carolina-rigged plastics and jigs fished on the humps was a good strategy for some bass in the 2- to 3-pound class, Gilbert said. A trout plant in the next few weeks should trigger the swimbait bite as well as produce some rainbows for trollers and shore anglers. The lake is fairly full and stable. Trout fishing has been slow. Few catfish biting.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish **Crappie

Numbers of little fish to 2 pounds are biting lizards and pumpkin green Brush Hogs fished 20-30 feet deep over humps, Gilbert said. Moving from area to area to find the fish first, before stopping to fish, has been a good tactic. Some anglers are scoring on decent numbers of medium-sized crappie on minnows. Trout fishing is slow.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

***Trout

Trout fishing has been good for both trollers and bank anglers, said Mello of A-1 Bait. Shore anglers were doing the best on white or green Power Nuggets, as well as rainbow PowerBait for limits. Handicap dock and the Brushpile were the best bets. Trollers were using Cop Car Needlefish, Excels and Wedding Ring spinners tipped with a 'crawler behind flashers at 30 feet deep, with limits possible.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

**Stripers *Crappie **Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal and Aqueduct are steady, with lots of 5- to 7-pound fish coming on anchovies, sardines, pile and blood worms, Bristow said. Flukes and Rattletraps also are working.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Spotted bass fishing is fair for anglers using dropshot plastics or dartheads for the transition fish, Gilbert said. Finding the fish has been the main problem, as the bait moves from area to area, which also moves the fish. There has not been much of a reaction bite. The best area to fish continues to be the main lake, with most fish running from small to an occasional 2-pounder. Stripers have been very slow. A few stripers have been working the coves, but anglers have not been able to coax a bite from the picky fish. The water level is coming up. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,000 feet/sec, and the lake is at 255,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing remains good for anglers working the Windy Gap area with pink hoochies pulled behind a dodger at about 40 feet on downriggers or leadcore line, Gilbert said. Fish to 14 inches are coming in good numbers, with some fish also taking trolled Rapalas. Bass fishing has a decent bite going for anglers working dropshotted shad-patterned plastics and jigs. Chet Elia and Jim Snow won the Fresno Open Tournament with a five-fish total of 11.50 pounds. Tim Wells and his young son, Tyler, took second with a five-fish total of 11.44 pounds, with Tyler taking big-fish honors with a 4-pounder. Fishing main-lake points, once you found the fish and the bait, was the key to success, Gilbert said.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

**Bass **Crappie *Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing remains good for numbers of medium-sized bass on jigs, dropshotted worms and Senkos fished at around 35 feet, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Crappie fishing has been spotty, but once the school is located it can be good fishing on minnows. A 31-pound catfish was taken by an unidentified angler. Two trout plants have been dumped into the lake recently, but it will take a few more plants to pick up the trout bite, Perez said. The water is low.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

There are few anglers at the low-water lake.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

**Bass ***Trout **Crappie *Catfish

Bass fishing is fair to good for fish to 4 pounds on shad-colored deep-diving crankbaits, dropshot plastics, green pumpkin Senkos, and minnows fished at 25 feet, Mello said. Quality trout fishing remains very good for trollers using anything shad colored around the Temperance Creek or dam areas at 35 feet.

Guide Bob Tilles and a friend got two limits of big trout that ranged from 3 to 6 pounds on Excels and Needlefish, Mello said. Crappie fishing has been good for anglers fishing minnows under almost any houseboat at night. Some anglers have gotten up to 20 slabs in one evening. Cats have slowed down.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass ***Trout *Kokanee *King Salmon

Trout fishing is very good for anglers toplining Cop Car and Firetiger-pattern Needlefish in Fleming Bay. Bass fishing has been fair, but regulars are using swimbaits to score some big bass. Dropshotted worms and spoons are producing greater numbers of medium-sized bass. Kokanee fishing is over.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[daystarchis]

Anyone doing any fishing this weekend?

[Mutt]

not me laid up with a bum foot so i am going to get one of my friends to help me winterize my boat since i wont be using it for a few months. and i got to get a new hitch put on my pickup grrrrr

[vini]

Dang mutt good luck with the foot if you can't find any help let me know we'll come up and help .

[Mutt]

Dang mutt good luck with the foot if you can't find any help let me know we'll come up and help .
Thanks vini! i got the hitch installed today buddy of mine came over and after that we winterized my boat :sad: really bites too since the stipers are running and all the other fishing i will miss out on for a bit :crying: but my foot is doing better but a whays to go yet. hmm wonder if the wife would come unglued if i climbed into it and worked on the interior lol i really would like to neaten up some of the wires in the console and stuff. keep telling her i am going to remove the forward livewell and make it into a tackle box but she says no makes a great ice chest lol.

[daystarchis]

VALLEY

New Melones Reservoir

*Bass *Crappie **Catfish ***Trout *Kokanee

Trout fishing is excellent for big rainbows to over 5 pounds, with both shore anglers and trollers getting in on the early morning action, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports said. Trollers are doing well pulling shad-patterned Countdown Rapalas, Cop Car Needlefish or Excels at 10-25 feet deep, at least 100 feet behind the boat, so as not to spook the shallow fish. The dam and spillway area, and the mouths of major creek arms and coves have been the best areas to target. Shore anglers are throwing spoons along with the usual rainbow or chartreuse Power Bait fished on the bottom for a good bite. Bass fishing is tough with mainly small fish in the 1- to 2-pound range. Dropshot rigs in shad or crawdad patterns have been the most effective baits, although jigs, spoons and some swimbait fish have produced fish. Spoon fishing over submerged islands 30-40 feet deep is a good choice. Kokanee season is over, with a few incidental fish being picked up at times. A few cats are taking chicken livers at night. The lake is 81% of capacity and rising slightly.

Call: (209) 736-4333

Lake Isabella

*Bass ***Trout *Crappie **Catfish *Bluegill

Trout fishing picked up to a good level for both shore anglers and trollers, Ed Cordell of Big Ed's Bait and Tackle said. Trollers flatlining Kastmasters, Excels and Roostertails were picking up limits of rainbows that went from 1-7 pounds. Shore anglers soaking Power bait and 'crawlers were doing well on the suddenly active fish. Bass fishing was very poor, with a recent tournament producing zero fish for 75% of the teams. Catfishing has been fair on numbers, but the quality has been good for boat anglers fishing a little deeper in the 20- to 25-foot range. A 16.9-pound cat and two other 15-pound fish were weighed in that were taken on either 'crawlers or shad. The daytime bite has been producing fish, as most anglers avoid the cold nights. Crappie fishing has disappeared, while perch anglers are finding the bite has gone down with the freezing weather. A report came in that said the water problem was caused by a blue-green algae and was not poisonous. The advisory to not eat the fish remains in effect.

Call: Big Ed's Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay

**Stripers **Catfish **Bass

Good numbers of stripers in the 5- to 7-pound range are coming on a variety of baits from both the Forebay and the big lake, Larry Bristow of Lucky Larry's Bait and Tackle said. A topwater bite is showing up at times by the Basalt ramp area as well as the coves by Goosehead, for smaller-sized fish taking Spooks and Pencil Poppers. Portuguese Cove is kicking out good numbers of small fish on bait, minnows and trolled lures. A 37-inch striper was weighed in that was taken with a Senko by an unidentified angler working the Forebay by Check 12 for bass. Winter conditions have slowed the lake traffic, and most anglers working the lake have caught fish, Bristow said. Frozen shad and mudsuckers have been in high demand and are working well fished on the bottom in both the Forebay and main lake. Water at the lake is coming up, with a level of 1.646 million acre-feet storage out of 2 million acre-feet capacity. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is producing lots of small bass and some crappie, Bristow said. Trout are reported to have been planted, which should turn on the bite very soon. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805.

Call: Mitchell's Outpost (209) 826-5559, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Eastman Lake

**Bass *Trout *Bluegill *Catfish

Bass fishing has been decent with Carolina-rigged lizards and Brushhogs fished off the underwater creek channels the best bet for bass from 2.5-3.5 pounds, Jeff Huth said. Huth rates the lake as the best local bass bite right now. Jigs and splitshotted plastics were producing fish for anglers working the 25- to 30-foot range around bottom contour changes. Ranger Keith Willis reported that Sam Balbas got a 10-pound bass on a green Brushhog, while Matt Dolph won the Kerman Bass Club Tournament with a total weight of 13 pounds and a big fish of 7 pounds. Dropshotted plastics in green and brown are working, along with a few fish on swimbaits. Stabilized water temps and a slowly falling lake level have brought consistency to the bite, Huth said.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 842-5799

Hensley Lake

**Bass *Trout **Catfish *Crappie

Bass fishing has improved to a fair bite on small- to medium-sized fish taking some spinnerbaits or crankbaits worked near the dam area, as well as splitshotted or dropshotted Aaron's Magic worms, Jeff Huth said. Anglers soaking cutbait in the channel upriver above the 5-mph marker buoys are catching catfish from 1-3 pounds on a fair bite.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151, 842-5799

McSwain Reservoir

***Trout

Trout fishing is very good for both shore anglers and trollers working deeper water, Diana Mello of A-1 Bait said. Shore anglers were doing the best working the deeper channel above the second fenceline for regular-sized planters using Power Bait, inflated 'crawlers, salmon eggs and marshmallow/'crawler combos. The maintenance shed and handicap dock were good areas to fish. Trollers were picking up some bigger holdover trout working as deep as 40 feet with pinkish colored Apexes or Excels in shad patterns.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Slough

**Stripers *Crappie **Catfish

The Delta Mendota canal and Aqueduct are steady, with lots of 5- to 7-pound stripers and medium-sized catfish coming on anchovies, sardines, pile and blood worms, Larry Bristow said. Mudsuckers have been a very hot bait. Flukes and Rattletraps are working.

Call: 655-2335, Lucky Larry's Bait (209) 827-1522

Millerton Lake

**Bass *Stripers

Spotted bass fishing is fair for good numbers of small-sized fish on 4-inch darthead worms fished at around 25 feet off underwater points and contour changes, Jeff Huth said. Winchell and Squaw coves have been good spots to work plastics in the main lake area. Dropshot and splitshot rigs are working for the bass. Stripers have been very slow. Water flow into the lake is at about 1,000 feet/second, and the lake is at 262,000 acre-feet out of a capacity of 520,000.

Call: 225-1838, 292-3474

Pine Flat Reservoir

**Bass **Trout

Trout fishing remains good for easy limits of planter-sized fish taking a variety of regular trout lures fished shallow, while a few of the oversized rainbows are coming on deeper trolled CD7S or CD5S Rapalas, Jeff Huth said. Small trout are coming from the 20- to 40-foot depth range, but the holdover fish are tending to come from the 60- to 80-foot depth on the shad-imitating Countdown Rapalas, with the CD5S being the best bet. A full day of fishing will produce 2-3 of the bigger trout for experienced anglers. Bass fishing is coming around, with a decent jig and spoon bite. Anglers fishing the first half-hour of sunlight with a 3/8th- or half-ounce Spider jig in purple or green in 5-15 feet of water are scoring some good fish. After the initial bite, the fish will move deeper, into 50-60 feet of water, and go into a suspended mode where a dropshot rig does the most good. Hopkin spoons in half-ounce weights are working for the deeper-holding fish that are following the bait. Huth was optimistic that conditions were getting better.

Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474

Lake Kaweah

***Bass **Crappie **Trout *Catfish

Bass fishing remains good for numbers of medium-sized bass to 6 pounds on jigs and dropshotted worms fished at around 45 feet, Jimmy Perez of Sierra Sports said. Crappie fishing has been fair. Trout fishing is fair with another plant dumped into the lake in the past few days.

Call: 592-5922

Lake Success

**Bass *Trout **Catfish

Few anglers are at the low-water lake.

Call: 784-2235

McClure Reservoir

***Bass ***Trout **Crappie *Catfish

Bass fishing has improved to good for both shore anglers and boat fishermen tossing crawdad- or shad-colored plastics in 20 feet of water. Bob Anders and his daughter got large numbers of slot-sized or bigger spotted bass on a 4-inch Roboworm in a salt-and-pepper pattern. Bass to over 18 inches have been taken, with the average size close to the upper side of the slot limit. Trout fishing for big rainbows to 5 pounds is good for trollers working the dam area and the mouth of Temperance Creek from the surface to 30 feet deep with Wedding Ring spinners or Cop Car needlefish behind a dodger or baby Cowbells. Limits are possible with the average fish weighing in around 2 pounds. Crappie fishing is steady for anglers targeting houseboats with minnows or pearl or salt-and-pepper mini jigs. Fishing at around 25 feet deep with trees and rocks is productive. Fishing has been good in the daytime.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, (209) 378-2441

Lake Don Pedro

**Bass **Trout *Kokanee **King salmon

Trout and King salmon fishing is on a fair bite in the Jenkins Hill, Big Oak Island and Fleming Bay areas. The trout are taking Excels, Needlefish and Uncle Larry's spinners trolled in the top 30 feet and are up to 3 pounds. Mexican Gulch and the dam are producing King salmon at depths of 30-40 feet on rolled shad or Speedy shiners. The Speedy Shiners need to be trolled slightly faster than other lures. Bass fishing has been tough, but regulars are using swimbaits to score some big bass to 8 pounds, while dropshotted worms and spoons are producing a few fish, Dwayne King said. Kokanee fishing is over.

Call: (209) 852-2369, (209) 989-2206, Fisherman's Warehouse Manteca (209) 239-2248, Dwayne King's Guide Service (209) 609-3115

[daystarchis]

Hey fellows..... I hear the trout bite is hot at Pineflatt. Big rainbows 2-4 lb.

[centralcalcat]

Hey fellows..... I hear the trout bite is hot at Pineflatt. Big rainbows 2-4 lb.


Well I am willing to show you the spot if you want Robb

[daystarchis]

Just let me know bro.

[centralcalcat]

Just let me know bro.

I am here for you Robb. Definately before I leave I wil take you up there.

[vini]

I'mna fly fish that Kings river just below pineflat on the river i saw alot of guys out there last time I was up.

[daystarchis]

thats the spot were the dfg is planting them 2-4# rainbows. It was also in the Bee today.

[vini]

Heres the plan i'm taking off work from my regular job this week and doing the university job then i'll be OFF this weekend, see if i can swing that:cool:

I got that speaker to work Robb it was one of the coils, had a broken off wire my neighbor the electronic genus fixed it for me, that kids middle eastern:confused: makes me a little nervous he's always getting packages in the mail:crying:

[vini]

thats the spot were the dfg is planting them 2-4# rainbows. It was also in the Bee today.


maybe head up tomorrow or Saturday? what about that Brutha'zzz:confused:

[daystarchis]

that kids middle eastern:confused: makes me a little nervous he's always getting packages in the mail:crying:
I dunno bro, remember the story where I turned in my proffesor at college as the unibomber?:rolleyes:
If you get bored at home, you can have fun watching the FBI ran sack his home:p ......OK OK , bad idea:cool:

Let me know vince. I got my light stuff ready.

[centralcalcat]

The Kings River can be tough fishing, don't be discouraged. That area gets heavily fished. I will take you guys to Pine Flat soon and show you some good trout fishing. Might be pig hunting Saturday, so it might have to wait until next weekend

[vini]

Robb he's a good kid i wouldn't turn him in unless i really thought something was going on.

Well i got Skewed today could not get out of work and the jobs turning into a 2 dayer now so forget about saturday maybe sunday..:mad:



Ah brian why you got to go kill some lil piggys man:sad: all they want to do si roam free and be happy rutting up stuff and rutting LOL

[centralcalcat]

Vini same reason why I kill catfish, because they taste good.:p

[daystarchis]

Hey Vince...... No problem brother:) Seen a nice boat today on craigs list in tracy (stockton craigs list). $700 I think. lil 15ft. tri like mine. $700. Check it out vince. Gots brand new swivel capt chairs and stands. Brand new marine carpet. Says engine runs trong. Ready to fish......

[jtrew]

Anybody that fishes saltwater out of San Louis Obispo, let me know, and I'll put you on fish in 60' of water.