Central California fishing report: McClure bass going strong
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.
Best bets
Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon all biting, Randy Pringle reported. Don Pedro trout best best , Monte Smith said. McClure bass going strong, Aaron Jones reported. Kaweah and Success bass bites good, Copes Tackle said. New Melones kokanee and bass action hot, Kyle Wise reported. Bass Lake trout hitting, Mike Beighey said. Pine Flat bass on a topwater bite, Tas Moau reported.
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
Valley/Westside waterways
Striper 3 Catfish 3
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported the striped bass bite is picking up with both lures and bait for linesides to 27½ inches. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, “In the California Aqueduct, larger A Rig or Yumbrella umbrella rigs are working for stripers for those casting into the moving current.” With the improved action in the south San Joaquin, most area anglers are avoiding the aqueduct in favor of the river. Striperz Gone Wild Annual Memorial Aqueduct Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 17th at Volta Road near Los Banos. The entry fee is 10 cans of unexpired food to be donated to residents of Merced County. In the southern section of the aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported the action has improved for striped with cut sardines, anchovies, or nightcrawlers after check gates. The schools are loaded with numbers of linesides ranging from12 to 22 inches striped bass were reported. Flukes on a jig head or jerkbaits are working early or late in the day. The largemouth bass bite picked up for anglers working plastics on the drop-shot in green pumpkin near outtake grates, bridge pylons, or in the eddies before and after check gates. Catfishing has been great for anglers using the bait rig with cut baits and dip bait.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DsWR-Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines-Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf
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 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported male bass are guarding fry in the shallows, and there is a topwater bite for the males. He said, “Bluegill are stacked up looking for the opportunity to feed on the baby bass. The larger bass are still chasing rainbow trout from the recent plants, and there are a few swimbait fish still being taken even though the window has been smaller. Using our Live Scope, we can see the schools of trout breaking the surface to get away from the bass. The best action is in deeper water from 25 to 30 feet with plastics. The bite was wide-open in the warmer waters of the north end.” At Hensley, Moau reported similar set ups to Eastman for bass in the 2- to 3-pound range. Topwater lures have been particularly effective for the smaller males. Carp are thick around the shorelines in both lakes Eastman rose ½-foot to 554.56 feet in elevation and 66 percent with Hensley dropping one foot to 504.58 feet in elevation and 48% of capacity. Only one event is scheduled at Eastman through the end of May.
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 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing has been focusing on king salmon and rainbow trout, and although the bite starts out slow in the mornings, it picks up as the day rolls on. With a slow king salmon bite on Friday, he switched over to his custom spoons for 11 rainbows to 21 inches near the dam. Both the kings and the rainbows are holding from 46 to 72 feet, and a few shad to three inches are showing up in their bellies. The key is covering lots of water, but the best action has been near the dam for both species,” said Smith. Alan Robinson of the United Kingdom landed a king pushing 5 pounds with Smith this week. For bass, Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle reported plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head on a slow presentation have been working best as many of the bass are now suspended halfway in the backs or coves or inlets. A slower presentation’s is necessary. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake is starting to release water, and it dropped slightly to 811.99.28 feet in elevation. The lake will be very busy with 10 tournaments scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 3 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake rose 1½ feet to 2,579.06 feet in elevation and 54% of capacity. Cope’s reported the crappie bite remains solid for up to 25-fish limits with excellent action near Camp 9, the Cages, or in the submerged brush in the South Fork. Live shiners, Keitech Easy Shiner two-inch swimbaits, white/yellow minijigs, or various other colors are working best. Mid diving jerkbaits, crankbaits, Zoom Trick Worms on a Shakey head, or natural shad Senkos are picking up bass along with rainbow trout imitation swimbaits for larger fish chasing the recently planted rainbows. Trout action continues to be steady as there were thousands of pounds of trout stocked in April. Trout jigs, Power Bait, spinners, or nightcrawlers are working from the banks while trollers are pulling Berkley’s Flicker Shad crankbaits, or Needlefish on lead core. The catfish bite improved this week on SSS Dip Bait, cut mackerel, or sardines. In the upper Kern River Cope’s reported the Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked trout this week in Section 4, Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville; and Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge. Trout have been found along the 20-mile stretch with eggs on a split-shot, minijigs, or spinners while fly fishermen are scoring in the warmer temperatures of the afternoons with nymphs, stripping streamers, or dry flies. The lower Kern was stocked in all three sections: Section 1, Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar; Section 2, Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach, and Section 3, Sandy Flat to Isabella Dam. Trout have been caught with salmon eggs, Panther Martin spinners, or minijigs. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action has been very good in the canyon and along the stretch leading into Bakersfield with jigs, worms, or small crankbaits. Catfish can be found with cut sardines and SSS Dip Bait. The flows in the upper Kern River are steady at 1,835 cfs at Kernville while water releases out of the lake rose from 555 to 620 cfs at First Point. Only two bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816.
Lake Kaweah
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose five feet to 696.06 feet in elevation and 79% of capacity. Cope’s reported the largemouth and spotted bass bite improved significantly with Hula Grubs, plastics on the drop-shot or Carolina-rig, and Senkos as water temperatures reached spawning range. Green with black or gold flake, Aaron’s Magic, or Tequila Sunrise were the top color choices. Crappie are found in the submerged bushes and trees with small live minnows or minijigs. With last week’s trout plant, orange, green, or rainbow Power Bait scented with garlic is working along with spoons or spinners, especially within a few days of the plant. The Kaweah River dropped from 1944 to 1094 cfs at Three Rivers as snow melt is slowing down. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose 2½ feet to 647.48 feet in elevation and 87% of capacity. Cope’s reported bass fishing is solid with deep-diving crankbaits, Keitech swimbaits, or Senkos for the larger grade of fish in deeper water on main or secondary lake points along with submerged trees. One- to two-pound males are taken near the shorelines. Planted rainbow trout have been landed on Thomas Buoyant spoons, minijigs, or Power Bait and bass anglers have also been picking up trout incidentally on thin Senkos. Crappie went after small live minnows while catfish anglers took advantage of improved weather to land whisker-fish where sandy flats met deeper water cut anchovies or garlic scented nightcrawlers.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto said, “The bass are chewing good at McClure as 19 pounds took first during a recent tournament.” The best action is with plastics on the drop-shot or Senkos on a wacky-rig as the bass are starting to pull off the banks. Suspended fish are found halfway back toward the end of coves. Best Bass Tournaments held at 34-boat tournament on Saturday, and the top limits were in the 12- to 14-pound range. The Reel Deel Market at Barrett’s Cove is open weekends to May 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays before opening daily on May 24. The lake rose to 844.08 feet in elevation and 85 percent. McClure will be busy with eight tournaments scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
The lake is due for a trout plant anytime soon, but there hasn’t been much change as regular trout plants are needed to keep this lake going. Shore anglers continue to pick up a few fish per rod with rainbow glitter Power Bait, garlic Power Bait, Kastmasters, or inflated nightcrawlers from the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina. A larger grade of holdover rainbow is found by trollers working the river arm near the Exchequer Dam. The Reel Deal Market at McSwain is open weekends on Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday until Memorial Day Weekend. The lake dropped slightly to percent. The lake will soon turn into a summer waterpark with the Splash and Dash opening on Saturday, May 24. Information: https://mysplashndash.com/knowbeforeyougo/#hours.
Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 2 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Tas Moau reported a good bite up the river arm as the bass are chasing the threadfin shad schools. There is a good spinnerbait bite along with topwater lures and other reaction baits. American shad are up in
the upper reservoir for their run up the San Joaquin River. The lake rose 5 feet to 560.62 feet in elevation and 84 percent. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant risen from 428 to510 cfs. Sycamore Island is open every day from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. No tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Kokanee fishing has been the top draw, and Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service was out on Saturday afternoon, and they had 8 in the box with an hour. He said, “I was out on Thursday for 20 kokanee for four clients by 9:30 a.m. before heading back Friday morning with outdoor writer Jack Naves for 10 kokanee to 16 inches, finishing up an afternoon trip with 6 clients for 30 kokanee within 2½ hours. The kokanee are gorging on plankton, and they are all fat footballs. I can’t wait until August. Orange or pink Yamashita hoochies are the story behind a gold dodger at 55 feet.” The bass bite remains wide open with jigs, jerkbaits, topwater lures, or Brush Hogs. The kokanee bite is attracting more and more boats to participate in the 30-day quarantine process. Only the Glory Hole launch ramp is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to obtain a red tag to start a 30-day quarantine period. Boats must be off the water by 4:00 pm to receive a green tag to relaunch without quarantining or decontamination. Bank fishing is allowed. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards, may also be subject to inspection. The lake dropped around a half foot to 1051.90 feet in elevation and 83 percent. Downstream Lake Tulloch has established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed. The first day the lake will be open is May 16 if the boat was red-tagged on April 16. Tulloch is at 88% of capacity.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734.
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moau reported a solid topwater bite with Whopper Ploppers or flukes as the bass are aggressive. He said, “They are chewing.” For king salmon, Rick Bradley rolled shad from Trimmer to Sycamore for limits on two days within the past week. In the lower Kings River, the flows remain high, and waders or kayakers need to use caution. The flows rose slightly to 3527 cfs at Trimmer, and anglers must be very careful and wear a properly functioning life vest in the high flows. Spinners such as Roostertails or Panther Martin’s are working around Winton Park. The catch-and-release section is located below the Alta Weir (also known as Cobbles Weir) extending downstream to the Highway 180 bridge. This area is considered a zero limit, catch-and-release zone where only artificial lures with barbless hooks are allowed. The lake rose over 3 feet to 910.38 feet in elevation and 77% of capacity. One bass tournament is scheduled through the end of May. Trout plants took place in the lower Kings and at Pine Flat Reservoir last week.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported trolling or drifting minnow remains the story in the main lake, and P-Line’s Predator Minnows, Lucky Craft 128’s. or Duo Realis 130 jerkbaits are producing near the dam, the mouth of Portuguese Cove, or around Goosehead Point. Spooning with 1.75-ounce Duh! Spoons in shad patterns is also effective when the schools are located.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that the falling water , coming full moon and recent wind storms have created a difficult bite for anglers the past few days. “ A lot of the stripers are going into spawning behavior mode, with males milting- as the full moon approaches on the 12 th. Trolling and jigging can produce a few fish- if you can find an active school. The main lake seems to be the best best right now- although Portuguese Cove is a good bet too. The bite is slow at best right now . “ George reported.
In the O’Neill Forebay, largemouth bass are showing up with chatterbaits, Senkos, or topwater lures near the weed lines while small striped bass are the rule around Check 12 as the pumps have been ramped up. The main lake dropped to 81% of capacity with the forebay also dropping to 74% of capacity. Boat inspections at San Luis Reservoir, O’Neill Forebay, and Los Banos Creek Reservoir in Merced County are required when exiting these lakes to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. At O’Neill Forebay, golden mussels were detected. Boats leaving these San Luis Recreation Area lakes will not be granted a “clean boat” tag. After boating in waterways, always remember to clean, drain, and dry to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. To check the real time wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.
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 Fishing reported Lightning trout along with rainbows were planted for last weekend’s Bass Lake Fishing Derby. He said, “Most of the action is in the 5-foot range as the trout are feeding on spring bugs. The bite is best from 7:30-10 a.m. with orange Apex lures, orange or pink Wiggle Hoochies, Dick’s Trout Busters, or Radical Glow Tubes in blue or pink tipped with pink maggots behind any of Dick’s Mountain Dodgers. There were 1431 participants in the weekend’s annual derby, and a total of 129 tagged fish were landed including one of the $10,000 trout, 17- $100 trout, and 111 - $20 rainbows.” A 9-pound largemouth bass was landed from the shoreline during the weekend, and 10-inch Huddleson swimbaits have produced largemouth bass to 8 pounds. Brush Hogs or plastics on a drop-shot or shakey head near the docks are working best for bass. 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 closed to vehicle traffic with only snowmobile access available. Edison rose to 36, Florence dropped slightly to 21, and Mammoth Pool also dropped slightly to 89% of capacity with snowmelt slowing down.
Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Shaver Lake Captain Emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Mountain Tackle reported Shaver continues to kick out a good amount of second-year kokanee and trout from recent plants, but only a few third-year kokanee have been reported. Captain Paul Brown of ‘Fishing With Paul ‘Guide Service, opened the season with Shane Miller of The Modern Savage and his group from Porterville, and they were able to land 12 kokanee to 17 inches along with two rainbow trout along with losing a few at the boat. Brown said, “One hit started taking line before he shook loose. We were working at depths from 18 to 30 feet in Edison Bay and down the middle out by Eagle Point, and Dick’s pink Mountain Tube tipped with corn behind a Dick’s Pink Mountain Dodger was the hot set up.” Terry Walton of Sierra Gold and ExCel Tackle was out with Chris Hansen of Tollhouse, and using Walton’s terminal tackle, the, the duo caught and safely released over 30 kokanee and trout, but no kokanee were 3rd year. The Department of Fish and Wildlife planted two weeks ago, providing most boats with action. Nichols advised carefully releasing the smaller 2nd-year kokanee while still in the water to grow for next year as this year’s 3rd-year crop is limited due to the lack of planting in 2023. Bringing them on board damages the fish and increases the odds of not surviving. Dave McGlothin of Clovis fished solo to catch and release a dozen kokanee and a rainbow trout on a Doom Mountain Hoochie, a pink Mountain Tube, and a Doom Mountain Tube with scented corn Dick’s watermelon or D-MAC Mountain Dodgers at depths from 20 to 28 feet. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. Huntington is thawing out, and bank fishing should be picking up soon at the mouth of Rancheria Creek. Shaver rose to 78 with Huntington also rising to 68% of capacity with snowmelt flowing down the inlets.
Call: Paul Brown 300-4001; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072; Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100;
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
McKinley Grove Road is closed, limiting access to both reservoirs. McKinley Grove Road was to open on May 1, depending upon weather. A trout plant occurred in Dinkey Creek last week.
Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706.
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
Shallow water rockfishing opened on Thursday, May 1, and the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing loaded up with 14 limits of rockfish and three lingcod working the shallows less than 120 feet. The nearshore rockfish season remains open until Sept. 30, and more private boaters including kayakers along with party boats will be operating. As the salmon are traditionally found in the early season along the San Mateo County coastline, this port will be a hot spot for the first of the two-day openers on June 7/8. Spots have been filling up fast on the party boats and six-packs. The recreational quota for the early season is 7000 salmon, and the quota may be reached within two days. Rock crab and rockfish are possible from the North or South Jetty with surf perch from the beaches.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819;
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “Wednesday April 30 marked the last day of deepwater rockfishing in our area for the time being. Many anglers are disappointed because deepwater rockfish species on average are usually larger than their inshore cousins. Some, especially the chilipeppers, are also highly desirable as one of the best rock cod for table fare. Chilipeppers are only located in the deeper portions of the bay along with a few other RCG species such as the greenblotched rockfish. The California Department of fish and Wildlife regulations for this year opened rockfishing on April 1, but only beyond the 300-foot depth line. As of May 1, that area is now closed while the inshore areas have opened up. We can fish for RCG species out to 120 feet of water until Sept. 30. Some of the desirable rockfish found from the deepwater also inhabit nearshore areas. These include vermilion and canary rockfish, both very tasty representatives of the rockfish genus. Other, shallow water rockfish that are not found in the deep will now be available for targeting, including black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, and olive rockfishes, plus the flamboyant treefish. The nearshore opening is a great benefit for anglers using smaller craft such as skiffs, paddle boards or kayak fishing. Getting out to the 300-foot depths usually means many miles of traveling, too far for the smaller boats and human powered options.”
Call: Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2
While striped bass were the topic of blame for the demise of the salmon run in the upper river, they were keeping the private and party boats afloat during a weekend of big tides and muddy water. The tides will back off throughout the week, and we will find out what we have on the halibut front by next weekend. To say it was a struggle for halibut over the weekend is an understand, and the party boat scores tell the story. The California Dawn 1 and 2 were out on Sunday with 38 passengers, and they returned with 49 striped bass and seven halibut.
Also on Sunday, seven boats out of Emeryville Sport Fishing took out a combined 72 anglers for 116 striped bass and 8 halibut. The Happy Hooker out of Berkeley posted 27 stripers and one halibut on Sunday after posting 23 striped bass and a single halibut for 24 on Saturday. Big tides make a big difference on the halibut front as the flatfish need clear water to ambush their prey. The size of live bait has improved in the past week, and if there is a mass of halibut inside the bay, the coming weekend should give us a clue. Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco was out on half-day trips on both Saturday and Sunday.
“We started out with a few stripers at Angel Island on live bait before heading over to join the fleet around Treasure Island. The linesides were chewing, and we put in quick limits ranging from just keepers to 5 pounds.” Shallow water rockfishing started on May 1, but few boats have headed outside the Gate. One boat out of Emeryville was along the Marin coast on Friday for 17 limits of rockfish and 4 lingcod. Most SF Bay boats will be focusing on striped bass and halibut for the next few months before heading outside the Gate for rockfish. The key is picking days with smaller tides if you want a good shot at California halibut.”
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
Out of Morro Bay Landing, three boats were out over the weekend with a combined 77 anglers for 322 assorted rockfish, 102 vermilion, 62 Boccaccio, 40 Bolina, 8eight copper, and five lingcod. The Patriot out of Patriot Sport Fishing was out on Monday with 17 passengers for 98 assorted rockfish, seven Boccaccio, one vermilion, and two lingcod to 10 pounds. Out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, the Rita G was out on the 1st with 18 anglers for sublimits of vermilion as part of their overall 10-fish limits including at least six chili peppers in each bag fishing the deep water. The rockfish season is open at all depths from April 1 through June 30.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing.
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
May is one of the best months for fishing in the California Delta before the summer doldrums arrive in June, July, and August due to triple digit temperatures and heavy recreational boating, but right now is the time for stripers, largemouths, and sturgeon.
Striped bass are coming and going through both sides of the Delta, and the Sacramento side along the West Bank from Rio Vista to Collinsville has finally woken up. Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley said, “I’ve been staying on the San Joaquin, and striped bass action is great. I’ve had some really big live bait this week, and we have found early limits by 8:30 a.m. in a wide-open bite when we find the fish. We ran upriver on Thursday to get out of the wind, and we released striped bass to 16 pounds. I was out in the wind again on Saturday with my son, Darren, and we left them biting. We are working in 20 to 28 feet of water with live bait. It’s interesting despite all the complaints about striped bass loading up on salmon smolts, I have only found two smolts apiece in two fish. One real key is watching for birds, and I saw three terns working the surface, and that’s where we found the wide-open action.”
For sturgeon, few boats are targeting the diamondbacks, but the bite remains tremendous from Pittsburg downstream to Martinez with cured salmon roe.
For largemouth bass, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, launched out of B and W Resort to fish the Central Delta, and he and his client found great action for striped bass working the Santa Clara Shoals with 5-inch Optimum’s Bad Bubba Shad along with largemouth bass on a shad-patterned Little Stick topwater lures or the ima Squarebilled crankbait in red craw. He said, “There are balls of fry close to the weed beds, and you must release the males quickly to allow them to do their job of guarding the fry. Our topwater bite came near the fry balls with moving water around bends and oxbows. The bite is very good for bass to 3.75 pounds.”
In the south Delta below the Mossdale Bridge, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported drifting minnows in the Old River and near Weston Ranch has been productive along with anchovies, pile worms, or sardines from the banks around Dos Reis Park and further downstream. Clifton Court Forebay is also starting to produce legal linesides on the same baits.
Call: 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
May 17
Striperz Gone Wild Annual Memorial Aqueduct Tournament at Volta Road near Los Banos. The entry fee is 10 cans of unexpired food to be donated to residents of Merced County.
Tournament results
April 26-27
Santa Margarita – Golden Empire Bass Club
1st – Nathan Towes/David Childress – 41.43; 2nd – Billy and Wyatt Moore – 39.47; 3rd –Jeff, Jimmy, and Jaxon Mitchell– 36.40 (Big Fish – 9.44).
May 3
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Christian Bass League Tournament of Champions
1st – Jonathan and Chuck – 22.88 pounds); 2nd - Ed Zuckerman/Josh Lucas – 21.36; 3rd – Jeff Edding/Eladio Garcia – 19.02 (Big Fish – 7.84)
May 3-4
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Angler’s Press Big Bass Challenge
Top 3 largest fish:1st – Rob Cloutier – 8..78; 2nd – Larry Fraser – 6.47; 3rd – Anthony Hunt – 5.85.
May 3
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments Mother Lode Region
1st – Seth and Justin Rowe – 16.12(Big Fish – 6.19); 2nd – Trey and Shane Hawkins – 14.54; 3rd – Boris Bogacheck/Youri Kaganovitch – 13.93.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Note – tournaments scheduled for New Melones, Camanche, Tulloch, or Pardee are subject to change and will not be listed
May 9-10
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
May 9
Don Pedro – Tulloch Friday Nights
May 10
Delta/ San Joaquin County – California Bass Federation
May 16
Don Pedro – Stanislaus County Sheriff
May 17-18
Don Pedro – Sierra Bass Club/Valley Backlashers
Nacimiento – C.A. B.A.S.S. Nation
May 17
Delta/Big Break Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
McClure – Bass Anglers of Northern California/Kerman Bass Club
Bass Lake – Bass 101
Success – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments/Bakersfield Bass Club
Isabella – American Bass Association
San Antonio – Best Bass Tournaments
Santa Margarita- Kern County Bassmasters
Lopez – Golden Empire Bass Club
May 18
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association
Delta/B and W Resort – California Bass Federation
Don Pedro – Fresno Bass Club/Kings VIII Bass Club
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments
May 24
Delta/San Joaquin County – Yak A Bass
Pardee – Angler’s Press Outdoors
New Hogan – 17/90 Bass Club
Santa Margarita – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
May 25
Delta/Big Break Marina – California Bass Federation
May 30 – June 1
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Bass Angler Inc.
May 31-June 1
Don Pedro – Modesto Ambassadors
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: McClure bass going strong."