Top 5 fishing spots this week: Fresno lakes, Monterrey, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo
Fishing report compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother
Unless noted, area code is 559
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 3 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Damian Thao made a short trip to Eastman this week and complied a 37 lb total for 5 fish on swimbaits- highlighting the big fish possibilities at the lake. Tas Moua said that the bite has been the best in the morning. Some anglers are throwing jigs deep at 8-25’.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Trout 2
Aaron Jones reported that the bass bite goes deeper as the sun comes up, with some topwater action early and late. The pattern is similar to Don Pedro’s. Working jigs at 40-60’ is another tactic.
All boats must be quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated at the New Melones Marina.
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
King salmon and trout bites have been slow in the heat- as well as anglers focusing on the Kokanee bite and tournaments. Only one bass tournament, the Fresno Bass Club on July 26, is scheduled
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Shaver guide Dick Nichols said that Shaver Lakes water level dropped more this week and may have had a little negative affect on the kokanee fishing. We experienced a, “one day chicken and the next day feathers”, event Thursday and Friday. Bob Hatmaker of Arroyo Grande fished with me Thursday. After finding the right depth and location we picked up nearly 3 limits of kokes fishing across the island. Using Dick’s orange Mountain Tube’s and Silver Tiger Trout Busters behind Super Dave and Captain J Mountain Dodgers at 37 feet deep. On Friday I fished with 2 friends using the same tackle and depth in the same location and only picked up a limit.
David Geil of Sanger, fished Wednesday solo and found nearly 2 limits using a Mountain Hoochie behind a Sunrise Mountain Dodger. Guide Paul Brown of Fishin With Paul Guide Service, also had a difficult time with his 4 guests on Friday but was able to put them onto 8 kokanee and a 5.5 pound Brown caught by Frank Galas of San Jose. Jimmy Tartaglia, Greg Kimbel and Steve Theissen fished mid week and found the bite slow. They had most of their success from the Point to the island at 45 to 60 feet deep with Jimmy T’s Colorado Spinner in orange.
Over all, the fish are there, the heat is causing them to change depth and locations which results in trying more options. But one thing that has remained consistent is the color orange in your tackle choices.
At Huntington, the kokanee and trout bite continues to be consistent fishing the main body from the launch to the dam. The kokes are smaller than Shaver and the trout are planters for the most part.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Kelly Brewer said that the overall bite continues to produce limits for anglers pulling lures at the 3-4 colors depth range. Worms and power bait are also working at both the lakes . They are still holding at full capacity.
Road conditions – Sierra National Forest 297-0706 ext. 4961 or 392-0423.
All the rest
Valley/Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported that the bite remains unchanged for now. Working the spillways and canal bends is the best strategy for now. Some catfish showing up on bait.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle said that the bite has been decent for early and late fish. Choppo’s and topwater baits are working during lower light times, but the fish are going deep during the day- so switching to jigs and dropshot rigs and fishing as deep as 40-60’ has been effective. Deep cranks have also worked.
Monte Smith said that the Kokanee bite has been off and that the Kokanee tournament was won by Justin Ross with 3 fish going 5.5 lbs. Many anglers struggled to locate and catch any fish for the event. Monte said that he’s caught some nice kings, but it’s been work. Trout fishing has been good .
There are 7 bass tournaments on the schedule in July, and 5 of the 9 remaining tournaments are on Friday night. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. A self-inspection is required for launching. The lake dropped 3.5 feet to 815.53 feet in elevation. The Blue Oaks Upper Launch Ramp is open. With the limited restrictions for launching, recreational boating is high, particularly on the weekends.
Isabella/Kaweah/Success/southern California Aqueduct reports available at https://www.tackleandrod.com/weekly-fishing-report.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Kokanee 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported that the trout, Kokanee and king salmon bites are all doing decently. . The bass bite has been good, and some anglers are throwing topwater baits all day. The bass are running smaller, but the numbers are good. Upper river areas seem to be the best areas right now for the bass.
The Reel Deal Market is now open daily from 10am – 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 6:30 pm on weekends. The Barrett Cove Café is open weekends through September 7. The lake dropped 5 feet this week to 834.01 feet in elevation and 79%. There are no bass tournaments scheduled through the end of July.
Lake McSwain
Trout 3
Bait Bucket in Snelling reported that the trout bite has been good on small spoons- but the fish are holding deeper in the warming water. Chartreuse power bait has been a top angler choice. The bass have also gone deeper at McSwain and using natural colored Senkos is working.
The Splash-N-Dash Water feature dominates interest on the lake. Information on the Splash N’Dash is available at: https://mysplashndash.com/. The Reel Deal Market & Cafe is now open every day the Splash N’ Dash is operation, Mondays thru Fridays from 10 AM to park close; Saturdays from 8 AM to 7 PM; and Sundays from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Tas Moau reported that the fish are running small in the falling water. Finesse baits , dropshotting and underspins are the top choices lately.
There is only one bass tournament scheduled in July, the Sierra Bass Club on July 18.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Shore anglers have been showing a lot of interest over the past week – with bait and casted flukes and lures picking up fish around the shoreline near Romero and Dinosaur Point. Tas Moua said, “There is some topwater action at times on Duo Realis baits from shore.”
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the heavy winds continue to be the biggest issue for boaters- but finding active schools of stripers is the other problem for most trollers. “ I’ve had anglers calling me and saying they just weren’t seeing many fish scanning the main lake. The schools seem to be holding over deeper flats near structure- but they are also moving a lot too . I fished with a buddy on Saturday in some windy conditions and we released two 33”, 13 lbers working the West Bank at 80’ with the typical silver Shad baits. Finding the fish was not easy . The lake is falling slowly , currently at 1,154,000 acre feet , and water temps are around 67 degrees. “ George said.
In the forebay,.” Golden mussel watercraft inspections are no longer needed at San Luis and the O’Neill Forebay. Los Banos Creek Reservoir was scheduled to open this month, but the opening has been postponed to August 1.
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
Mike Beighey Bass Lake guide Mike Beighey of Fishing Bass Lake with Mike said,”
Bass lake has been slow after the fourth of july but will pick back up in a week or so. Does this every year. Went out today just to keep an eye on what’s happening with the kokanee and haven’t seen anything yet . Some nice sized trout getting ready to be caught out there. Been fishing at 18 to 20 feet ,between the Forks Resort and Miller’s landing.
Dicks Mountain tube spinners in orange, or pink are what im using tipped with corn.
Dicks Silver tiger in green got some this morning also.
Dicks Mountain Dodgers are all i use and when the fish are biting they work great.
I’ll keep looking for the Kokanee but till then ill keep catching these monster trout.”
A webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. No future bass tournaments are schedule through the end of July.
Ocean
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Salmon 3 Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch
Allen Bushnell reported, ’High winds offshore are keeping the tuna hunters on the inside. Big bluefin are out there from the Davidson Seamount area stretching up past San Francisco, thanks to “The Blob” and incipient El Nino conditions. The bay is alive with bait, especially just a few miles offshore. Salmon anglers are finding their fish, even some limits, near the deep submarine canyons that point shoreward towards Moss Landing.
Anglers from Moss Landing are all about salmon right now. Traveling straight out of the Harbor and working the canyon edges in 180 to 270 feet of water, they continue to find the fish on the bottom, right in the mud. The average size of salmon caught locally is increasing slightly as the schools mature. There are tons of bait in the central part of Monterey Bay including Pacific mackerel, anchovies plus a smattering of sardines. The best fishing grounds are often teeming with life. Whales, dolphins, sea lions and an array of birds feeding on the abundant bait have been a common sight lately. Boaters from the Santa Cruz and Monterey harbors have been are concentrating mostly on salmon. Get them while you can. The steady bite has provided limits for many since the season opener. Most reports indicate 1 to 1 1/2 fish per angler, and straight skunks are not uncommon.
Rockfishing remains a mainstay, especially from the deep reefs a few mile offshore. Big chili peppers, vermilion, yellow and green spotted rockfish are the typical catch, along with bocaccio and the occasional lingcod. Local charter operations continue to report limits of rockfish for clients. they are usually trailing towards the deep reefs which provide more abundant, and bigger fish. Inshore, limits are absolutely possible, with a good showing of big blue rockfish, lots of browns and the occasional big vermilion or lingcod.
The halibut bite is slowly picking back up after the latest series of south swells. We can expect to find the flatties in 30 to 50 feet of water on the flat sandy areas. If conditions remain calm, even the surfcasters have a shot at legal halibut when fishing the more protected areas. Surfcasting in general is decent, and getting better. North Coast beaches above Santa Cruz are a good bet for striper action and casting for barred surf perch. The northern side of Monterey Bay has been slow for perch, though striper action is improving.
Most of the bass are school sized, or barely legal. But, they are here, and they are biting. Sundown on an outgoing tide is the best bet for striped bass from a variety of locations. They are following the mackerel schools that move inshore at dusk. South of Moss Landing the striper action improves exponentially, with more fish and bigger fish biting a variety of baits and lures. Perch fishing also improves as one moves south from Moss Landing. For big game striper fishing right now, travel north to the Pacifica area where the bite is hot and the fish are bigger.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay/Half Moon Bay
Salmon 3 Halibut 2 Striper 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2
Salmon fishing has been very good in the Bay Area with limits of bigger salmon showing up this week. Trolling along the coast and just outside the gate has been the most successful tactic . Striper bass and halibut bites have been steady. Leopard shark have also been biting.
Morro Bay
Rockfish 3 Surf Perch 3
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Randy Pringle “ The Fishing Instructor” said that the frog bite has already started, but anglers need to target calmer waters out of the wind. “ Low wind areas are the key, however you need to also look for weeds waving in the water. You don’t want the current to be too strong, but the movement of the weeds shows there’s a current that keeps the water cooler for the bass. The punch bite has also been good hitting weed patches in current. Rip rap and small weeds are the best structures to fish. Stripers are coming into the system and walking baits, swimbaits, Bubba Shad and P- Lune Lazer Minnows are good choices. I’m working the shore from 0 to 20’ deep along the shallows. Avoiding the wind over 15 mph if possible is a good idea right now.
River salmon fishing on the Sacramento and Mokelumne rivers starts on July 16, and it will be the first time since 2022 that anglers can work the Sacramento River. Mepp’s Flying C’s or Blue Fox spinners, Silvertrons, Flatfish, and Wiggle Warts are starting to fly out of area tackle shops in anticipation of the upcoming salmon season.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 10:37 AM with the headline "Top 5 fishing spots this week: Fresno lakes, Monterrey, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo."
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