Central California fishing report, July 24-30: Delta bass get top billing, kokanee limits are still possible at Don Pedro and the Bass Lake rainbows are big and hungry.

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.

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Best bets

Delta bass get top billing, Randy Pringle said. Don Pedro Kokanee limits are still possible, Monte Smith reported . Shaver trout hitting, Dick Nichols said. Bass Lake rainbows are big and hungry, Mike Beighey reported. Wishon and Courtright still kicking out limits, Kelly Brewer said.

Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother

Westside waterways

Striper 2 Catfish 3

In the northern sections of California Aqueduct and Delta/Mendota Canals, Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle reported catfishing is the best bet with chicken liver or anchovies. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Cope’s Bait and Tackle in Bakersfield reported few anglers are braving the high temperatures, and the best time has been in the mornings or at night. Catfishing is best with Triple S Dip Bait, cut bait, or chicken liver while chicken liver also worked to fool striped bass.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield – (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.

Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake

Bass 2 Trout 1 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported Eastman continues to kick out various grades of largemouth bass with big plastic worms, crankbaits, or lipless crankbaits worked slowly along the bottom. Crappie are taken by boaters scoring with small spoons, Crappie Stingers, minijigs, or live minnows. A few largemouth bass in the 3- to 4-pound range have been landed at Hensley, but the best options remain for catfish with chicken liver, nightcrawler, or cutbaits along with the abundant carp in the shallows with dough bait. Eastman dropped 3 feet to 549.48 feet in elevation and 61% of capacity with Hensley dropping nearly two feet to 498.97 feet in elevation and 41% of capacity.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151

Lake Don Pedro

Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3 King salmon 2 Crappie 2

he reported three limits of kokanee and a 4-pound rainbow trout early in the week at depths from 68 to 90 feet with an average depth of 75 to 83 feet. He said, “Small hoochies or T-Bone’s Tackle have been the top offerings behind various sizes of dodger. Big Apex lures behind a small dodger is also productive, and we landed the big rainbow on a Wiggle Hoochie. The kokanee are up to 17 inches, and we landed several in the 15- to 15½-inch range. The are starting to turn, and a kype is starting to form on their nose.” Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service found easy limits to kokanee on Monday working along points near the river arm.

He said, “The schools haven’t gone to the bottom yet, but they are clearly holding near the points. A custom-painted Apex lure behind a 5½-inch Paulina Peak dodger has been our best setup. It has been funny since the full moon hasn’t affected Don Pedro, but it has affected the bite at New Melones.” The lake continues to release water, and it dropped 2 feet to 812.63 feet in elevation and 91% of capacity. Launch ramp updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. There are only two club tournaments on the schedule through August. Bass fishing is limited to an early morning or evening topwater bite as the fish have moved out into deeper water.

Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.

Lake Kaweah

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 3

The lake dropped 11 feet to 637.61 feet in elevation and 29% of capacity with sustained water releases. Cope’s reported rapidly fluctuating water levels have pulled many bass off their usual holding spots, and anglers have had to adjust with slow sinking baits for the suspended bass. Senkos, weightless flukes, or jerkbaits are working along ledges or bluff walls while plastics on the drop-shot or other finesse baits are best near rocky structure on main lake points. . The Kaweah River has dropped to 199 cfs.

Lake Success

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2

The lake dropped 2½ feet to 634.94 feet in elevation and 58% of capacity. Cope’s reported decent bass action at depths from 10 to 20 feet with plastics on a drop-shot, Ned-rig, or shakey head for the smaller grade of bass while topwater poppers or walking baits are best at first light or in the evenings. Catfish are eating cut mackerel or chicken liver on a Carolina-rig while crappie are found in 10 to 20 feet of water around structure with minijigs or live minnows.

Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com.

McClure Reservoir

Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2

Ryan Denner of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto said, “The conditions haven’t changed much in the past week as the bass are moving into deepwater with the boat traffic and hot temperatures. There is a topwater bite in the mornings and evenings with small shad patterned lures along with deep-diving crankbaits before heading to the bottom with jigs at depths to 40 feet. There are no bass tournaments scheduled through the month of August. The lake dropped 3 feet to 850.47 feet in elevation and 89% of capacity. The Merced River has dropped to 1869 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain.

Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.

Lake McSwain

Trout 2

About 1,000 pounds of trout were planted last week, and the best action for the remaining holdovers are from the normal locations of the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, and the peninsula near the Marina with live grasshoppers. The lake rose slightly to 89% of capacity.

Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River

Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2

The Fresno and Sierra Bass Clubs held night tournaments over the weekend, and the action was brutal to say the least with few limits. Bill Kunz of St. Croix Rods took the Fresno event with a 13.27-pound limit while the big fish was a 5.76-pound spotted bass by second-place finisher Junior Lor. Michael Crayne reported the bass are either suspended or on the bottom with the dropping lake level, and the surface temperature is 87-88 degrees. The lake dropped 8 feet to 540.97 feet in elevation and 69% of capacity. Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are stable at 462 cfs. No tournaments are scheduled through August.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3

Limits of a mixed grade of kokanee continue to be a possibility, and the schools remain as deep as 110 feet. Pink or red Apex lures or Paulina Peak’s Platinum Skinny Flutter Bugs behind a 5½-inch dodger are the best setup. The bass have moved out into deeper water with the heat and the heavy boat traffic. . The lake is releasing water, and it dropped over a foot to 1050.18 feet in elevation and 82% of capacity. There are only two club tournaments and a kayak tournament scheduled here through the end of August.

Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Alex Niapas, Catching California Guide Service (209) 728-4225; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734.

Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River

Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

The trout and king salmon bite has improved as Brian Klassen and his brother took a group of trollers for a total of 10 king salmon between 18 and 21 inches along with 15 rainbow trout and a bonus 18-inch brown trout from 5:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Klassen said, “In spite of the surface temperature at 84 degrees, the rainbows were high in the water column from 25 to 40 feet while the kings were found from 70 to 105 feet. The kings were landed by rolling shad coated with Pro-Cure Shad Gel behind a dodger while the trout took blade/’crawler combinations or shad-patterned Needlefish behind a Moon Jelly dodger from the dam to Zebee creek area. We found big schools of shad at 20 to 40 in the Zebee creek area.“

Jim Tartaglia was also in the area, and he landed 10 kings to 23½ inches. It was a bit slower on Saturday, but there were huge bait balls near the rockwall on the south side of the lake across from the Lakeview Marina launch ramp. The rainbows were found at the same depths while the kings came up from 65 to 95 feet rolling 3- to 4-inch shad behind an 8-inch 360 dodger. There were a few catching 10- to 12-inch kings on both days which tell me the recent plant of kings are taking hold.”

For bass, Michael Crayne reported a good topwater bite as the fish are loading up on the lake’s shad. Finding the bait balls is the key. . In the lower Kings, most anglers are targeting planted rainbows near the bridge or by Avocado Lake, but with the heat, the action has been slow. The flows at Trimmer are at 998 cfs. The lake is releasing water, and it receded 10 feet to 898.03 feet in elevation and 71% of capacity. The next scheduled tournament is a Fresno Bass Club event on Aug. 18.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626.

San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay

Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2

Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported continued slow action from the banks due to excessive heat and the lack of minnows, blood worms, or pile worms. Anchovies are the top bait now, and the O’Neill Forebay has been more productive from the banks .

Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported heavy algae in the main lake and water temps to 81 degrees. He scouted alone on Saturday and ended up with 11 fish - plus a 34½ inch, 13.1 striper working the 40-50-foot depth range with shad colored baits in a slow trolling bite .

Information on the wind stations - https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30713.

Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954

High Sierra

Bass Lake

Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 0

Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Guide Service said, “Rainbow trout to 5 pounds can be had from the Sheriff’s Tower to the Forks Resort in the 15- to 20-foot range with chartreuse/orange Dick’s Trout Busters tipped with a piece of nightcrawler . The water temperature is 82 degrees where the trout are in the shallow end of the lake.” For bass, Michael Crayne reported few anglers trying due to the heavy boat traffic in the narrow lake

A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.

Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool

Kaiser Pass Road is fully open, and the Vermilion Valley Resort hosted the first annual High Sierra Trout Rodeo at Lake Edison last Saturday, with 35 participants . Kyle Walker was the winner at 17.25 inches and 1.54 pounds. A raffle was the culmination of the first-year event Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra. Fire danger is extreme in the high country. Edison has risen to 77% of capacity, Florence dropped to 87% of capacity, and Mammoth Pool also dropped to 81% of capacity.

Road conditions 297-0706.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake

Trout 3 Kokanee 2

Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters and Mountain Tackle said, “I was out with Todd Donell, his son Ryan, and friends, Andrew Gordon and Kyler Frued, from southern California on Monday. We found kokanee at 38 feet deep and an abundance of yearling rainbows. Gordon landed a 4.5-pound trophy . . The trio of college students picked up 25 mixed fish on pink or orange Dick’s Mountain Tubes tipped with corn behind Watermelon or Doc Barb Mountain Dodgers on the downriggers. Mixed limits are the rule, but the kokanee bite is slow with a ratio of trout to kokanee is about four to one.

The trout are found from 10 to 30 feet while the kokanee are 24-to-45 in depth. Pink or orange tackle continues to be the best colors . I expect the kokanee bite to improve when they drop down into cooler water in August.”

A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http://www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html.

Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072.

Wishon/Courtright

Trout 3

Kelly Brewer of the Wishon RV Park and Store reported trout fishermen are having to work harder for the larger fish due to higher temperatures. Despite having to work harder, limits are still the rule out of both lakeswith trollers scoring with Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a flasher, small spoons, or Rapalas. Bank fishermen are finding smaller rainbows with green or pink Power Bait near the launch ramp or along both sides of the dam.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361.

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3

The six-pack Codfather out of Alameda went on a two-day venture offshore early last week, and after spending 30 hours on the water , they saw bluefin tuna both days . There are bluefin out there, but the weather is uncooperative for the immediate future. Captain Chris Chang of the Ankeny Street continues to return with up to 17 limits of rockfish.

Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628.

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3

Rockfishing remains tremendous out of Monterey with boats from Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching scoring a combined 19 limits working the reefs south of the harbor. Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill said, “The striped bass have moved out into deeper water as the weeds came in thick, dirtying up the water. We are still selling loads of Duo Realis Tide Minnow Lance or Sprats 140 to 170 in red head/white body, pearl, Genkai Sardine, Mazumi Sardine while Midnight Purple has been effective during the night.”

Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.

Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay

Halibut 3 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 0 Crab 0

Tides and water conditions have a tremendous effect on the fisheries within San Francisco Bay, particularly for halibut which need clear water to find their prey. The beaches outside of the Golden Gate were spectacular early in the week for the boats willing to burn the fuel, and Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2, Captain Shawn Taylor of the California Dawn I and, Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream went south down the San Mateo coastline to Mussel Rock for a combined total of 53 limits of big halibut to 25 pounds and 70 striped bass to 31 pounds. The California Dawn 2 landed two stripers over 30 pounds, and both large fish were released. This is an encouraging trend that has been occurring on party boats over the past few years. Previously, releasing a large striper on a party boat rarely occurred, but many captains are following James Smith’s lead by advocating for release of the increasingly scarce double-digit linesides.

Monday’s halibut scores rebounded as both California Dawn boats went outside the Gate for a combined 25 limits halibut to 25 pounds and 3 striped bass. Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco said, “It was a struggle on Saturday with brown water even inside the harbor. We had found quick limits of stripers at Red Rock on Friday, but the conditions were more than challenging on our half-day trip on Saturday. We rescheduled Sunday’s trip until August due to the dirty water.”

Captain Steve Mitchell was out on a shark trip on Saturday for plenty of action for leopard shark. After landing at least 20 sharks, the group only kept one .

Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388.

San Luis Obispo

Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3

The best rockfishing comes on the longer trips , and the scores on the ½- to three-quarter day trips remain around half- to two-thirds limits of rockfish. One boat was out of Morro Bay Landing on Monday with 24 passengers for total of 135 rockfish including 42 vermilion and one lingcod. The Fiesta and Rita G Virg’s Landing were on half and three-quarter day trips on Saturday with 41 fishermen for 284 rockfish, and four lingcod. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, one boat was out on Monday with 17 anglers for 106 rockfish and a pair of lingcod. Rockfishing below Point Lopez from July 1 through September 30 are limited to 50 fathoms inshore while from October 1 through December 31, the regulations are from 50 fathoms offshore.

Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/.

Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing.

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 3 Striper 2 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3

Largemouth bass dominate fishing in the California Delta during the summer months, but it will soon be time for striped bass to start migrating back into the river system. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, was on the river twice this past week, and he said, “There are plenty of bass there, but you must slow down for an opportunity for a larger grade in the 3- to 5-pound range. I have been targeting areas with current with weeds on top, and the weeds need to be swaying in the current. The main river arteries have the greatest water movement so I have been working these locations. Soon, I will be heading west toward Honker Bay or Spoonbill Slough to target striped bass which should be returning from the bay within the month.”

The first of the frog tournaments arrives this weekend with the Ultimate Frog Challenge 10 out of Russo’s Marina, and various types of topwater frogs can be used. The original frog tournament, the Snag Proof Open, is the following weekend out of Russo’s on Aug. 3-4, and in addition to Snag Proof or American Bait Works topwater frogs, the new Zoo Dog, Zoo Pup, and Zoo Pop are also allowed. To prepare for the upcoming frog tournaments, professional angler, Ish Monroe, will conduct a seminar on ‘Locating Big Frog Fish’ this Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm at the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Manteca. Dave King of Nor Cal Bass has been scoring with either a Whopper Plopper or the Snag Proof Fat Frog in bluegill pattern in the central Delta. He said, “I have been throwing the Whopper Plopper down the center of channels outside of the weed lines while the frog is best inside of pockets of dead vegetation.” The larger female bass are starting to come out of their post-spawn, and buzzbaits, popper-style baits, Horny Toads, frogs, chatterbaits, frogs, or plastics are all working along island flats with deep water access. The bass are moving into the shallows on the high tide and feeding.

Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045.

Events

Tournament results

July 20

Delta – Yak ‘A Bass

1st –Robert Yamamoto – 92.75 inches; 2nd –Daniel Balaba – 87.75 inches (Big Fish – 23.00 inches); 3rd – Shawn Leytem– 87.75 inches.

Salt Springs – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies

1st – Jesse and Jake Hopper – 18.50 pounds; 2nd – Willie and Rick Higle – 16.10 (Big Fish – 4.95); 3rd – Robert Hernandez – 15.35.

Tulloch – 17/90 Bass Club

1st – Dave and Roy – 25.60 pounds (Big Fish – 8.52); 2nd – Loren and TJ – 19.30; 3rd – Jason and Curtis – 18.30.

Isabella – Bakersfield Bass Club

1st –Brian Kennemer – 22.73 (Big Fish – 5.44); 2nd –Darren Palmer/Bruce Ramey – 21.19; 3rd – Jesse Aguilar/Jeremy Barela– 12.79.

July 20-21

Millerton – Fresno Bass Club All Night Tournament

1st – Bill Kunz – 13.27; 2nd – Junior Lor – 11.06 (Big Fish – 5.76); 3rd – Mark Corrente – 10.83.

Millerton – Sierra Bass Club Night Tournament

1st – Mitch Mitcheltree/Jamal Lane – 5.76 (Big Fish – Mitcheltree – 3.63); 2nd – Randy Rowe/Darren Harper – 5.59; 3rd – Martin Dehaven/Brian Orange – 4.76.

Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)

July 24-31

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Wednesday Night Shootout

July 26

Tulloch – Friday Night Shootout

July 20-21

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Kern County Bass Masters

Amador – Modesto Ambassadors

July 20

Isabella – American Bass Association/

Nacimiento – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers

July 27-28

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Ultimate Frog Challenge

July 27

Pardee – Nor Cal Bass

New Melones – Food Allergy Kayak Bass

July 28

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Valley Backlashers

Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Wednesday Night Shootout

Aug. 2-9

Tulloch – Friday Night Shootout

Aug. 3-4

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Snag Proof Open – information - https://www.bestbasstournaments.com/.

Aug. 6

Delta/Contra Costa County – LTA Fishing

Aug. 10

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments

Aug. 11

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments

Aug. 13

Delta/Contra Costa County – LTA Fishing

Aug. 17-18

Don Pedro – Modesto Ambassadors

Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club

Aug. 17

Isabella – America Bass Association

Santa Margarita – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers

Aug.18

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Angler’s Press

New Melones – Riverbank Bass Anglers

Aug. 24-25

Tulloch – Valley Backlashers

Aug. 24

New Melones – Oro Madre Bass Anglers

Santa Margarita – 805 Bass Addicts

For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.

This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report, July 24-30: Delta bass get top billing, kokanee limits are still possible at Don Pedro and the Bass Lake rainbows are big and hungry.."