Eastman Lake and Reports

Limit:
Tuesday, Mar 19
Hi: 76 ° F
Lo: 50 ° F
Today
Sunny
Precip: 1%
Tonight
Clear
Precip: 2%

Monday, February 19th, 2024

  • Report: by jiggin4bass » Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:13 pm

    Swimbait fishing at the lake off to a great start
    There is a video on fishing MB559 Fishing showing a guy weighing a 13.24 last week his personal best
    Swim baits jigs drop shot and ned rigs are all working. In 15 to 30 feet of water. Trout plant is coming soon

Sunday, January 1st, 2023

  • Report: by jiggin4bass » Sun Jan 01, 2023 3:26 pm

    Eastman as of today is at 17% before any storms started it was at 6% I was told by park rangers it's come up over 20 feet. There was 4995 cubic feet pre second coming in as of Jan 1st with a couple more storms coming
    Lake is stained brown.
    Day use ramp was moved to main ramp but is still closed. The second ramp parking lot will be closed today. As the waters to the edge of the parking lot. East side ramp is been moved up the 3rd ramp it floated way from the ramp so they need to put it back in place and
    anchor it down there is alot of trash in front of the ramp and floating in the lake there trying to remove. I would call before heading up there.
    Ranger Station
    559-689-3255
    Hensley came up 18 to 20 feet Stained brown ramp on camper side is now on the second ramp 3 rd ramp parking lot should be closing soon. Day use side ramp in good to go.
    Ranger Station
    559-673-5151
    Trout plants were at both lakes last week

Sunday, July 31st, 2022

  • Report: by Mitch » Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:43 am

    Headed out to Eastman on Friday knowing it was low, but never expected it to be THAT low !! The day use ramp was closed and the camping use side was still open but not "Advised" !! So, we headed over to Hensley. The West side ramp was open but didn't look good. There was a guy that was just getting off the water after 30 min and said it was "UGLY" out there. Both lakes are mere "Puddles" with many hazards and terrible stinking Algae bloom !! I've fished these lakes since 1988 and had seen them Low, but NEVER this low. We ended up launching at Millierton, plenty of water there, using the #2 ramp, but #3 is starting to show so it won't be long until it'll be open. Fished for 5 hrs, ONE measly 1#'r by my Grandson !! The "Dead Sea" still living up to it's name !!!

Friday, July 9th, 2021

  • Report: by jiggin4bass » Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:49 pm

    The docks are out of the water
    They are still releasing water down about 25 feet
    It very low and alot of hazards
    Surface temp 85° today
    Be careful if your planning on fishing there.

Thursday, November 19th, 2020

  • Report: by jiggin4bass » Thu Nov 19, 2020 5:00 pm

    I wouldn't miss fishing Eastman or Hensley lakes right now with this weather the past several days the bass are in 18 to 25 feet of water on both lakes. Don't let the water color at Eastman keep you off. The bass are in 4 or 5 areas on Eastman and 2 or 3 areas on Hensley.

Saturday, May 19th, 2018

  • Water Temp: 72 to 78

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: On the water: 5:30 AM
    Off the water: 2:00 PM
    Air Temp:
    High: 84
    Low: 50
    Wind: from the WNW up to 12mph
    Water Clarity: Stained green with algae bloom
    Sky: Partly cloudy
    Barometric Pressure: 29.8 inHg
    Fish Activity: Slow
    Kayaks: Hobie Outback x 2
    Lures: Topwater, Ned Rig, Lizard, Stick Bait, Shaky Head Worm (Fatty's Worms MKA Magic)

    Fished the C.V.K.F. Eastman Lake Kayak Tournament today. Started out on the dam and hooked five fish in the first thirty minutes. Three keepers made it in the boat but only two were legal. One threw the bait, one was short, and the other one was hooked outside the mouth. I was throwing a popper right up on the rocks within six inches of the shoreline and they would slurp it in. The popper would just disappear and then the rod would load up. The top-water bite died pretty quick. I caught one short fish on a stick bait and then decided to make the run to the mouth of the river (first time I've ever fished the river at Eastman). I was throwing a lizard carolina-rigged, a shaky head worm, and a Ned Rig. I hooked one on the lizard but it came off. I then hooked a nice one on a shaky head that broke me off. That one was a heart-breaker, it felt like a good fish. I then fished the Ned Rig from 0 to 25 feet on a main lake point in the mouth of the river. I hooked a nice bass that ultimately shook off. I caught several more short fish. I then moved to the east side of the lake with no bites. I decided to make the run back to the point where I had the previous bites. I hooked a nice one almost 17" that made it into the boat, Hallelujah! I fished hard for the remainder of the tournament and just couldn't find that fourth keeper. Somebody please tell the fish in Eastman Lake that this was a FOUR FISH LIMIT Tournament!

    Tips: If you are looking for a fun, cost-effective kayak tournament circuit, you need to check out Central Valley Kayak Fishing. Their next event is scheduled for 6/16/18 on Hensley Lake.

    Report submitted by Motherlode Kayak Angler Kayak Bass Guide Service (209) 230-3159

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

  • Report: by jiggin4bass » Thu Mar 29, 2018 4:35 pm

    As of 10 am this morning its at 96% with no water been released :D
    When this last storm came through it was at 58%

    Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:21 pm

    If you know the structure in this lake in 10 to 50 feet of water and as muddy as it is and the color selection of your baits it can be a really good fishing day on the lake.

Friday, March 23rd, 2018

  • Report: by jiggin4bass » Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:32 pm

    Eastman rose 8 feet in 24 hour period
    5400 cu feet per second flowing into the lake at 10am this morning.
    Hensley rose 5 feet in 24 hour period
    They are moving up fast

Thursday, January 28th, 2016

  • Water Temp: 48

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Bass are hold in in 18 to 30 feet water is stained water target isolated rock piles and humps vertical jiggin with a dead stick approach very slow movement has been working on bass to 3 pounds. Trout plant last week so active will start thing moving for bigger fishing in a week or so. Black/blue jigs arkie or football jigs 3/8 oz.or 1/2 oz. Trailers Yamamoto smoke black/blue flake 5" double tail or single tail grubs work.also junebug colors are also working 5/7 fish in 8 hour trip is possible per angler water is slowly coming up and is stained but fish are there if your hitting the right targets and fishing the dead stick approach.

Sunday, January 3rd, 2016

  • Water Temp: 57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Well, the recent rains have helped this poor, low lake. Last report I heard was it was at 7% capacity. I can tell the recent rains have risen the lake about 3 feet. Several of the abundant islands are now under water (drive carefully!!). Fished for about 5 hrs. with the wife. Fished plastic worms and managed only one bite and one fish...but it was a toad, just over 6 pounds. Nice day on the lake.

    Tips: Fish Slooowww.

Saturday, February 21st, 2015

  • Water Temp: 58.3

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Wife and I hit the water around 11 AM and fished until 4 PM. Caught 10 bass, all good sized,(1.5 to 2.5 lbs.), no dinks!
    Great weather and great day fishing!

    Tips: Fish the drop-offs.

Monday, August 19th, 2013

  • Water Temp: Warm

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: The word is it is quite low and slow. Not a lot of action, and when there is, fish are small and lean. We Need Rain in a big way to turn this around.

    Tips: Rain Dance?

Monday, March 11th, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: 54-57

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Caught about 8 fish total with a friend. 20-30feet of water submerged rock piles. All of them on drop shot. We used wtrmln color worms. One about 3lbs the rest under 2. Didn't have any reaction bites and no shallow fish.

Sunday, February 24th, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: n/a

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Jig bite is still working well in depth of 15 to 35 fett. The bigger bass are hold on or around isolated structure in the 25 to 35 foot range.also i gone from tossing arkie and football head jigs to now throwing bullet head jigs. Changing skirt designs and adding the right yamamoto trailers matching the jigs color has made a big difference in putting the bigger fish the boat. BBT tournament trail is there march 9th. I would think it would take 19 pounds or better to win the tournament. Ill be bowling a tournament that saturday and fishing hensley lake on sunday. Kenny let me know when your headed up too the lake ill drive up and bring you some jigs and yamamoto trailers to match. i only live 15 minutes from the lake and i will point out some areas to hit that will be holding fish. Weather going too warm this coming week.
    City: madera ca

    Tips: ISOLATED STRUCTURE

Monday, February 18th, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: Unknown

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: MARK: What is the word? Jig bite still a factor? Coming up soon and want to get a gauge on bite. Water Temp? February normally good to me at Eastman of you fish slow.
    City: PacificGrove

    Tips: Looking for ANY before first trip of year.

Monday, January 28th, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: 49.9 to 51. 7

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: The bass have move up to 25 to 30 feet of water now and are hold on and around isolated rock piles and movig up on flats in mid afternoon. Bass to 5 1/2 lbs were caught this weekend on 3/8 oz jigs and baby brushogs. Boat traffic is still light on the weekends but with the warmer weather later in the week will pull the fish up even more there alot of good areas to fish right now. Water is still stained some but its not stopping the bass from biting.The bite is holding up well thru out the morning and into the afternoon.
    City: madera ca.

    Tips: jigs and baby brushogs fished slow. vertical jigging is still working well also. isolated structure hold the better fish.

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

  • By

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: If this weather pattern hold up thru the weekend it will pull the fish up into 25 to 30 feet of water and move them off of tight structure water is stained but it wont make a difference any watermelon/red & blk flake or green pumpkin patterns are working well right now
    City: madera ca.

Saturday, January 19th, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: 47.9 to 48.2

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: We got on the lake at 1:15pm and fished til 4:30pm
    we caught and released 10 bass to 2 1/2 lbs. all were caught on 3/8 oz jigs in 30 to 35 feet of water traffic was light.
    City: madera ca.

    Tips: Fish slow & vertical jigging is working well

Friday, January 18th, 2013

  • By

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Water level is now covering the second ramp ramp on the day use side main ramp turn around is still out of the water. The second ramp on camper side is being use now third ramps also under water. feb & march will have a good bite this year. Its starting to pickup some now the bass are keying in 30 to 35 feet right now.
    City: madera ca

Thursday, January 17th, 2013

  • By

    Water Temp: 47.7 to 48.0

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: There a mild algae bloom on the lake bass to 4 pounds are holding in 30 to 35 feet of water and jigs in 3/8 or 1/2 oz are landing most of the fish there holding around rocky structure the bite is light vertical jigging work very well right now.
    City: madera ca.

    Tips: Fish slow the key depth right now is 30 to 35 feet of water. Solid bass can be caught right now