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Southern California Lake Fishing Report

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Friday, February 3rd, 2017

  • Los Angeles County
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      Report: MikeR » Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:21 pm

      Meanwhile......Castaic is filling up. They turned the spigot on and haven't stopped for over a month. Filling it with water that goes through, and was stored in, two quagga infested lakes( Pyramid and Elderberry), and emptying Folsum at the same time. Just kidding about Folsum, but the water apparently comes from Folsum and they have been dumping water at Folsum to where it is now at 40%. All the lakes up North are in "dump mode", dumping water in anticipation of the upcoming snow melt and to maintain control of the water so as to prevent flooding I guess.

      I'm just glad to see water as most of us are. It will take a while for the lakes and fish to recover but at least most of the lakes will be fine. Casitas is still a concern. We still have almost 2 more months of the "rainy season" and Casitas could get enough to add another year to the 4 years the experts say is left.

      Mike

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

    • By

      Report: MikeR » Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:21 pm

      poacher wrote:
      they should give you a sticky for Lake level updates


      I've got more.... I spent Sunday through Tuesday in Cambria and the Paso Robles area with the wife, no fishing. The area is completely saturated. Every hill was leeching out water. Every road side creed was flowing. It was Ireland West, green as you can imagine.

      Stopped at Lake Margarita on the way back. The boys up north probably don't want me to post this but the lake looked awesome. I think it's 74% full this morning and the Salinas river is still running into it. Water is murky, cold (under 55 in places). I spoke with one angler getting off the water at about 2:30 pm and he said it was tough, he never got bit. Kind of expected with the amount of water that it just ingested. Fish are probably in shock and spread out until it settles down.

      I spoke with the Ranger on duty and asked about us "Southers" heading north to fish and what, if any, quarantine would be in effect. His response "None. Same day inspect and launching is allowed as long as your bone dry. "Dry as a popcorn fart" as Dave Poolman would say. They will tag you on the way out. He said tags were honored at Nacimiento last year and visa versa, but this year that might have changed. I'm supposed to be getting a phone call from his boss to clarify.

      Lopez's watershed did not receive the amount of rainfall the areas north of them did but it got a healthy amount and the lake is still receiving run-off. It came up a little over a foot this last 7 days and is at 34.8%. The historical data is tough to find on SLO website but it has come up from the 20% range this year.

      When we drove by Cachuma, the Santa Ynez river was still running into the lake. It was nice to see. It is continuing to increase in size but not very quickly. The lake is still in the channel all the way to the marina area. No coves. The storm today isn't producing much up here but hopefully the next couple of storms will. With Santa Barbara in the process of rebuilding their desalinization plant, I don't believe they will buy any water from the State Water project to fill Cachuma except for what they are required per their agreement with the State. I'm pulling permits at SB City hall next week and will check with public works to see what is in the plan this year and post it here.

      Meanwhile......Castaic is filling up. They turned the spigot on and haven't stopped for over a month. Filling it with water that goes through, and was stored in, two quagga infested lakes( Pyramid and Elderberry), and emptying Folsum at the same time. Just kidding about Folsum, but the water apparently comes from Folsum and they have been dumping water at Folsum to where it is now at 40%. All the lakes up North are in "dump mode", dumping water in anticipation of the upcoming snow melt and to maintain control of the water so as to prevent flooding I guess.

      I'm just glad to see water as most of us are. It will take a while for the lakes and fish to recover but at least most of the lakes will be fine. Casitas is still a concern. We still have almost 2 more months of the "rainy season" and Casitas could get enough to add another year to the 4 years the experts say is left.

      Mike

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016

  • Los Angeles County
    • By

      Water Temp: 77

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Aquarium. Sunday Fishing at its finest! It seemed to be a boat show last weekend. 3 grown guys in a canoe, so you can imagine the fun!
      Visibility was 10 foot. I have never seen puddingstone in such great shape! Here are some observations: Bass were in what I call a super school. They were pushing baitfish from the camper resort out along the east shore and toward the lifeguard beach. 100 to 200 yards off shore. Crankbaits and reaction baits burned as fast as you can reel them and you may get lucky. Pay attention to the birds. If you see baitfish under your boat moving throw behind them and burn it. Got 2 small keepers on one crankbait at the same time. Picked up two more keepers on the crankbait at different points along the route. To catch the bigger bass, you must be below the school. They are lazy. Total of 12 bass. 5 keepers that are happily swimming again. Biggest was 2.96. Good Fishing! Check out my ad on the link to the left under "Boat Insurance". I provide all types and specialize in business insurance.

      Tips: Similar to ocean fishing, find the schools and be portable. Fast, fast fast. No plastic action. Spro BBZ baby caught the small guys in 2-5 foot of water. Strike King 1.5 5-7 foot shad color caught the keepers. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

  • Los Angeles County
    • By

      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Clear water today. Some visible small bass guarding fry along the shore to 5 foot deep. Caught 2 fish in 3 hours. Fish were caught off of South Pier. Finesse. Could not get a reaction bite. Active fish were in 10-15 foot of water.

      Tips: Dark colors. Soft plastic on bottom. Slower the better. Moderate to hard bites. Tried

Saturday, April 2nd, 2016

  • Los Angeles County
    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Celebrated a fishing friends birthday! We caught them well. 8 keepers, all respectfully released. Fishing is pretty good with several bank anglers getting fish from 10 inches to 2 lbs. I caught my personal best of 7 Lbs. We fished shallow. The girls are on beds and the males are aggressive. One 2 LB male was torn up pretty badly. He ate my finesse bait, solid center requiring a delicate light surgery. We fished from 7AM until 2 PM. Mainly in the sailboat cove.

      Tips: We had a great day. All soft plastics work well. Dropshot, Weightless Senko. Please try and pick up line when you see it. This is a nice park and resource for us all. Colors didn't matter. Big fish was on a Senko. Watermelon 4". Tight lines! Ben

Saturday, March 12th, 2016

  • Los Angeles County
    • By

      Water Temp: low 60s in most of the coves

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: Bite is really picking up on jerkbaits and deeper crankbaits running from 5 feet to 12 feet. Plastics seemed useless for the morning bite. Couple short hits on green with red flake worms. Fished Mar 3rd and picked up 9 averaging around 2 pounds and Mar 10th picking up 14 with little larger females showing up.

      Tips: Used Strike King KVD deep diver jerkbaits and Spro Rock Crawlers seemed to be the ticket for the last few trips.

Saturday, December 19th, 2015

  • Mohave County
    • By

      Report: From AZGFD
      LAKE MOHAVE – The lake level today is currently 635.8 feet above msl. The fishing dock at Katherine's Landing produced some nice fish. The bluegill and largemouth bass/smallmouth bass bite has dropped off with the cold weather. There are reports of a few smallmouth bass being taken off the shelves in the coves above the power lines.

      The striper bite is reported to be OK near the dam and the Princess Cove area and a little bit better above the power lines. Find the shad and the stripers will be there. Submersible lights fished during the new moon are an effective way to catch stripers. Check the moon phases before you go – the last new moon was Dec. 11. Next new moon will be Jan. 9. Cut anchovies usually work the best for stripers.

      Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife with the help of volunteers, National Park Service, Arizona State Prison-Kingman Complex and Bureau of Reclamation personnel have continued to install fish habitat in Carp Cove, Box Cove, Shoshone, Princess and Arrowhead. Prospect Cove (1st cove south of Princess Launch Ramp) is the latest addition on the Arizona side of the lake to get habitat deployed. Fish habitat consists of PVC structures, tamarisk bundles and a new type of habitat we call poly shrubs.
      The largemouth, smallmouth, bluegill and catfish are really utilizing the new structures. Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets.

      There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier just south of the main launch ramp at Katherine's Landing. If you fish Mohave and are having luck, please e-mail me at gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015

  • Mohave County
    • By

      Report: From AZGFD
      LAKE HAVASU – Oct. 28 report from John Galbraith of BassTackleMaster.com in Lake Havasu City:
      Lake Level 449.07

      Striper fishing is good if you can locate the schools of shad around the island, chalk cliffs and Winsor State Park. Green-tailed bass assassins rigged on 3/8- to ½-oz leadheads have been producing quality fish around sunup and sundown when cast offshoreor trolled near shad schools.

      Live shad are also producing plenty of quality sized stripers of 3-6 pounds.

      Smallmouth bass are hitting good on small white or shad-colored jerkbaits such as the pointer 78, 100 or 78DD.

      Deep diving crawdad colored crankbaits (8-15 feet) are working good around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines where smallies are hunting crawdads.

      Late season catfish bite is still good using live shad or bluegill for flathead cats. Channel cats are biting good on sardines, mackerel or shrimp.

Saturday, May 9th, 2015

  • Medeira County
    • By

      Water Temp: 73

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start at 10am and fished until 3pm with my wife. 5 bass went 1.5 to 2 lbs., and one that went 3.5 lb. Nice day with a little breeze...it would have been hot if not for the wind.

      Tips: Use the wind to target your fishing areas when its breezy.

Saturday, March 9th, 2013

  • Tulare County
    • By

      Water Temp: 59

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Wes Vannoy nailed a 17 lb toad on a Senko. Way to go Wes!
      City: Visalia

      Tips: Well, I guess throw Senkos!

Monday, January 21st, 2013

  • Tulare County
    • By

      Water Temp: 44-47

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: The water is rising the bite is off. Threw the sink today, found lots of fish but their jaws were wired shut. Should be turning on soon probably within about three weeks it's looking good out there.
      City: Hanford

      Tips: Fish slow or fast their not biting so it won't matter.

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

  • Los Angeles County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: i fished on shore fishing slow ,its a nice lake but it was unbelievable the amount of garbage on shore there was fishing line every five feet there was plastic bags cans bottles.You people that throw fishing line on shore kills birds and other small animals i have never seen a shore line with so much garbage ,fishermen take pride of your lake and clean up after your self. I have been there three times and it sad to see people are such slobs. Please enjoy your lakes and keep them clean .
      City: bayarea

Saturday, November 10th, 2012

    • By

      Water Temp: 62-64

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had our 2 day TOC and weather was cold and right after a storm. The shad are still deep 30-60 feet. On Saturday we caught 40+ fish mostly dropshot some cranks and some jig. Sunday we caught 10 fish and couldn't get a limit. Lots of 8-10 inchers. You have to weed through them to get some bigger fish. Lake is about 10 feet down from full pool. The dam produced some of the better weight, but even then you had to weed through the smaller ones.
      City: Bakersfield

      Tips: slow down find them on the finder and verticaly drop on them. 10-30 feet, DD22 worked for the cranks and jigs in watermelon or brown.

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

  • Tulare County
    • By

      Water Temp: 69

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Lights out jig bite. Blades & cranks around rock structure. 20-25 lb. limits. Some senko fish showing, but are undersized.
      City: Visalia

      Tips: Slow roll blades or cranks, light colors like citrus shad & american shad for cranks, chartreuse/white or shad colored blades. Jigs are brown with brown or pumpkinseed trailers.

Monday, October 8th, 2012

  • Monterey County
    • By

      Water Temp: N/A

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got a late start but picked up a nice 3lb smallmouth on the first point mid lake on topwater. One more blowup then slow for awhile. Moved towards the south shore and picked up two more about 2lb's. Slowed a bit then swithched to drop shot and picked one up on the first cast then nothing for about two hours. Then swithced back to topwater and stuck with it the rest of the day and finished with 9 fish all smallmouth. Had two pushing four pounds for a best five about 13-14 pounds. Not one striper boil and the shad have moved off the banks. Lake getting low but saw only 2 maybe 3 other fisherman so you have the lake all to yourself.
      City: SALINAS

      Tips: Get there at daylight and throw topwater all day.

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

  • Tulare County
    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fishing was on, cathing.... not so great. Fished from 8am-11am with no bites. Kid was fishing with spinner baits and jerk baits. I was fishing topwater super spooks and splash it's with no luck. Switched to jerk baits with still no luck. Saw other boats on the lake but only a couple pull in fish.
      City: Visalia

Monday, June 18th, 2012

    • By

      Water Temp: 70

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started early 5:30ish threw dropshot. first rod I grabbed. 6 casts, 4 fish. buddy threw everything but the kitchen sink, they only bit the dropshot. Ended day around 1:00, 37 fish between both of us.
      City: Bakersfield

      Tips: Fish shallow early, then be prepared to move deep when the sun get's overhead.

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Nice day on the lake. Was hoping to nail some nice largemouth but could only manage 8 spots in about 4 hours fishing. Started at about 7am and fished till around 11am. Seems the bite is better closer to the dam. Very, very clear water. Probably around 15 ft. Biggest was about a 2 pounder, nothing larger. Still a fun day tho.
      City: Fresno

      Tips: Used jigs and senkos. Probably a better jig bite. Didn't try reaction baits too much but will next time.

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

  • Tulare County
    • By

      Water Temp: 62

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: fished 9:45 - 2:20 Caught 1 Largemouth at 1:45, good just to get on the water. Lake is coming up.
      City: Lemoore

      Tips: Start early morning to mid afternoon, and slow. Pre-spawn.

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

  • Nassau County
    • By

      Water Temp: 57+

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: slow, cold,but getting better....
      City: bakersfield