Central California fishing report, Aug. 14-20: Delta bass and stripers bites are good. New Melones and Shaver Lake kokanee are hitting and rainbows are at Wishon and Bass Lake.
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 and stripers bites good, Alan Fong reported. New Melones kokanee limits the rule, Kyle Wise said. Shaver Lake Kokanee hitting, Dick Nichols reported. Wishon pumping out rainbows, Kelly Brewer said. Don Pedro kokanee still biting, Monte Smith reported. Bass Lake rainbows are back, Mike Beighey said. Eastman bass action strong, Michael Crayne 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 2 Catfish 3
In the northern sections of California Aqueduct and Delta Mendota Canals, the flows in the northern sections remains slow, and catfish remain the top species with chicken liver. Several access locations are being limited due to vandalism or excessive trash. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, striped bass action continues with cut sardines, anchovies, or jumbo minnows along with topwater lures early or late. Working around the moving water near the headgates is the key. Largemouth bass are found near slower moving water in the eddies.
Aqueduct anglers are always advised to use caution as well as wearing a PFD as the water is swift, cold, and dangerous.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-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 3 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne reported Eastman remains strong for largemouth bass early in the morning with jigs, topwater lures, deep-diving crankbaits, or jerkbaits in the early mornings while the night bite is best with big plastic worms to 10 inches, big jerkbaits, or topwater lures. Hensley remains limited to a few small bass, catfish, and carp. Both lakes are releasing water, and Eastman has dropped to 539.11 feet in elevation and 51% of capacity with Hensley receding to 492.00 feet in elevation and 34% 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
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported the kokanee are moving up into the river arm, and they are in varying stages of moving into spawning mode. Big Apex lures behind a 5.5-inch dodger at depths to 90 feet are producing limits. The kokanee are in better shape than nearby New Melones, but they will be turning into full spawning mode in the next week or two. Some of the 2nd-year kokanee are also showing up. Rainbow trout to 4 pounds remain a possibility as the trout are higher in the water column with similar lures. Bass fishing continues to be very slow with few tournaments on the scheduled. There is a limited topwater bite in the early mornings or evenings before heading to the bottom with jigs or plastics. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake is releasing water, and it dropped to 802.70 feet in elevation and 84% of capacity. There are only two club tournaments on the schedule through August.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
There hasn’t been much change on the bass fishing scene as small fish are the rule. Without tournaments scheduled during the month of August, fewer anglers are working the lake. There is a small window for topwater before working the submerged humps or islands with deep-diving crankbaits, Keitech swimbaits on an underspin, jigs, or plastics on a drop-shot. The lake dropped to 837.46 feet in elevation and 81% of capacity. The Merced River remains high at 1948 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
Without any recent trout plants, trout action is limited to the very occasional holdover from the banks. Trolling is the best option up the river arm with blue/chrome Kastmasters or Ruby Red Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a flasher. Information - https://mysplashndash.com/see-whats-new-in-2024/. The lake held at 87% 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 2 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2 catfish 2
Michael Crayne reported this lake remains the ‘Dead Sea’ at Millerton as the bass are small around a pound at best with jigs or plastics. The bass are holding around the shad schools in deep water. The lake dropped 12 feet within two weeks to 520.33 feet in elevation and 54% 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 481 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
Kokanee, rainbow trout, and catfish are the top species as bass fishing remains a challenge. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service reported kokanee are found at depths from 90 to 100 feet, and limits by 7 am are not unheard of on a daily basis. A few large fish to 18 inches are scraped off of the bottom, but the larger kokanee are losing their scales and changing into spawning mode rapidly. Rainbow trout to 4 pounds are taken at night under lights once the shad schools appear. Catfishing has been excellent with anchovies or chicken liver for whiskerfish to 10 pounds. The bass bite remains tough with small fish being the rule. There is a window for topwater, but the most consistent action is on the bottom with plastics.The lake is releasing water, and it dropped to 1,044.16 feet in elevation and 80% 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 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne reported all species of king salmon, rainbow trout, and bass are chasing the abundant shad schools, and the key is to find the bait. King salmon are taken at depths to 100 feet with shad patterned lures or anchovies on a harness rig while rainbow trout are located from 40 to 60 feet with shad-patterned spoons coated with scent. Bass fishing is best with small Keitech swimbaits on a ball head, small jigs in shad patterns, or topwater lures. You must search to find the bass, however. In the lower Kings, the lack of plants has slowed down interest, but there have been some holdovers taken near the Winton Bridge. The flows at Trimmer are becoming more comfortable for fishing at 533 cfs. The lake is releasing water, and it has receded to 825.85 feet in elevation and 51% 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.
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 said, “In the main lake, striped bass fishing has improved for bank anglers soaking anchovies, pile worms, or jumbo minnows. Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that he scouted alone last week for 20 plus stripers , with a 34” and a big 39” er released quickly due to the hot surface water . “ I hit it right, but a few days later I went back and the bite shut down . That’s San Luis! “ . In the O’Neill Forebay, the grass is so thick along the shorelines that anglers are avoiding the region, only working the channels without weeds from small boats or kayaks.” The main lake held at 43% of capacity with the forebay rising to 90% of capacity. 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 Guide Service said, “ Trout fishing has picked up again numbers of rainbows found in front of the Forks Resort to the dam at depths from 25 to 35 feet with orange Dick’s Trout busters or Mountain tubes, Apex lures, or orange Wiggle Hoochies tipped with nightcrawlers behind Dicks Mountain Dodgers in blue and gold mixed colors at speeds around 1.6 mph, Kokanee have yet to show . 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
Trout 3
Michael Crayne reported Edison has been the best of the Kaiser Pass lakes for both bank anglers and trollers at Edison. Planted trout are taken at Portal Forebay and Ward Lake after recent planting. 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 dropped slightly to 71, Florence dropped to 76 while Mammoth Pool dropped from 61% of capacity.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters, said, “The kokanee showed up at Shaver Lake, as experienced kokanee trollers are finding the pre-spawn fish hugging the bottom. First, 16-year-old Reed Stoneburner of Anaheim landed a 21-inch kokanee with guide Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service, and this was followed by a 22-inch fish by 9-year-old Ethan Penny of Garden Grove. I fished with three generations of the Quinto family of Fresno this week: grandfather Elmer, son John, and grandson, Anthony. We landed three limits of solid kokanee at depths to 82 feet with pink Mountain Tubes or Dick’s Koke Busters tipped with corn behind Mountain Dodgers in Pink Scale, Captain J, or Watermelon Mountain Dodgers. There seems to be a recent abundance of kokanee, possibly to the slow start of the third- year fish. The trout bite continues to be good, and you can find them at 20 to 30 feet almost everywhere on the lake. Last week, we found good action in front of the island, Black Rock, and Sierra Marina using Dick’s Trout Busters. On Sunday, Shaver guide, Paul Brown of ‘Fishing With Paul’ Guide Service took Jay and Delinda Irvine and Jody and Lisa Allen for 15 nice kokanee at 82 to 83 feet using purple Apex lures or purple hoochies behind J &J purple dodgers.” The presence of the largest kokanee in the state are good news for the final weeks of the kokanee season, but these big fish are in full spawn mode with hooked jaws, no scales, and deep scarlet red. The sold-out Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project Dinner on Saturday night was a great success, and it is the major fundraiser for the many projects of the association including planting of trophy trout, Trout in the Classroom, high school scholarships, and the Greg Marks Youth Derby.
Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Kelly Brewer of the Wishon RV Park and Store reported trout action is solid at both lakes for bank anglers soaking pink or green Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers. Trollers are pulling Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a flasher or Speedy Shiners at 3 colors of leadcore for success for a larger grade of rainbow or brown. Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706.
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 2+
There hasn’t been much change here as the offshore weather continues to limit boats seeking bluefin tuna or albacore. Coastal rockfishing remains outstanding for limits south of the harbor along with a few quality lings in the mix. Information: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=223904&inline.
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 solid with limits the rule for boats out of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey with a total of 23 limits on Sunday along with a few lingcod to go with 10 limits of rockfish working the local reefs on Monday. On the surf, Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported an improved striped bass bite with Duo Realis jerkbaits, Battlestar’s in Silver Sardine, hairraisers, or bucktail jigs for linesides to 27 inches. Perch fishing is improving from Santa Cruz to Manresa Beach for fish from 13 to 16 inches with Honey Badger’s motor oil/red flake grubs. Crappie Sliders have been hard to find recently. There is also an abundant of jack smelt in the area, and striped bass and halibut love to feed on the smelt.
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
San Francisco Bay and environs has been producing a cornucopia of species over the past week with many boats opting to target coastal rockfish and lingcod in addition to striped bass and halibut. Add shark to the mix, and anglers have a wide range of species to fill their freezers. The coastal rockfish bite has been solid, and Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley Marina headed up the Marin coast over the weekend, and after Saturday’s score of 3/4 limits of rockfish and 32 lingcod for 23 anglers, Sunday’s trip produced 20 exceptional halibut, 13 lingcod, and 1/2-limits of rockfish for 21 passengers.
Smith said, “The lingcod have been biting better than the rockfish, and they are of good quality on the local reefs. We ended up one halibut shy of a fish per rod working the North Bar, and these were big fish for the most part. We did an experimental trip for cow shark this week, and we released three huge shark from 125 to over 150 pounds. We will start running trips for the big seven-gill, six-gill, and cow shark in the coming weeks depending upon interest. For now, people are wanting rockfish and lings.” Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco put his Saturday group onto limits of striped bass, big coastal halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. “We started out in the bay for stripers before heading outside the Gate for the halibut, rockfish, and lings.” Also out of San Francisco, Flash Sport Fishing has been running full- or half-day trips for striped bass, halibut, or leopard shark. Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 has also been getting in on the potluck action with 22 halibut to 21 pounds, 27 striped bass to 10 pounds, 50 lingcod to 15 pounds, and 53 rockfish for 25 anglers on Sunday. Smith started off on the striped bass with the fleet off Angel Island before heading outside the Gate as far north as Point Reyes.
Inside the bay, Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters targeted striped bass off Red Rock on Sunday, and after catching and releasing 60 stripers in the 3- to 5-pound range on live bait on the anchor, they found a slow halibut bite. The best halibut action appears to be outside. We are anxiously waiting for the arrival of white sea bass, and Koyasako, known as ‘The Ghost Whisperer,’ reported a 50-pound ghost was landed by a commercial fisherman off Angel Island. For now, take your pick inside or outside of San Francisco Bay – fishing is better than good.
The Coastal Conservation Association of California is hosting a newmembers charter on the California Dawn I on Aug. 24, a full-day trip limited to 20 anglers. This trip will also be sponsored by CCA California Annual Financial Sponsor Promar & Ahi USA and includes a free raffle, giveaways, and a 1-year membership to CCA. Information and reservations - https://ccacalifornia.org/.
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
Limits of rockfish were taken over the weekend on boats from Morro Bay Landing and Patriot Sport Fishing. On Monday, 26 anglers went out of Morro Bay Landing for 175 assorted, 18 Boccaccio, 16 vermilion, 26 copper, and 4 lingcod for just a few fish shy of rockfish limits. The Fiesta and Rita G from Virg’s Landing were out on Saturday with a combined 41 anglers on ½-day trips for 151 assorted rockfish, 20 vermilion, and a rock sole for close to half-limits. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, 18 anglers were out on Monday for limits of rockfish consisting of 158 assorted rockfish, 2 vermilion, and 16 Boccaccio. 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/. As always, the longer trips far from the local waters produce the greatest scores of both rockfish and lingcod.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing.
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The fall striped bass run has started in earnest, and trollers are also returning to find spectacular action on the Sacramento side of the Delta. Striped bass generally start their migration from the bay and ocean during the month of August, and the linesides are respecting the calendar with their timely showing. There are still plenty of striped bass in San Francisco Bay, but the Delta is their Thorofare to the upper river in the fall months. Largemouth bass fishing continues to improve as the waters are starting to cool slightly, and there is a solid buzzbait or topwater bite whether you are north or south.
Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley found tremendous action with 22 keeper stripers to 16 pounds caught and released by 9:00 am on Saturday morning trolling deep-diving lures on the Sacramento side. He said, “They have been here for at least a week, and they were biting right out of the gate this morning. These are all fat, healthy stripers as the fish are pushing in from the bay. We had doubles and triples although we only had three rods out.” Soo Hoo was out with George Wight on both Saturday and Sunday, and they boated 44 legal stripers on Sunday. The San Joaquin side has been loaded with the pesty grass known as ‘witch’s hair,’ and trolling or drifting live bait has been challenging.
Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors continues to find action for both striped and largemouth bass in the north Delta with buzzbaits in water as shallow as a foot. He will start migrating into the central Delta as the waters continue to cool.
For largemouth bass, Nor Cal Bass held at 31-boat tournament out of Ladd’s Marina on Saturday, and Dave King, tournament director, stuck a 7.04-pound largemouth on a Whopper Plopper in the early morning. He was certain that they had the big fish of the tournament, only to be bested by an 8.05-pound bass taken by professional angler Christian Ostrander.
Sturgeon fishing is closed, but there are several agenda items regarding white sturgeon on the Aug. 15 agenda of the Fish and Game Commission including an item on the ability to catch and release sturgeon during the interim period of closure for research for California Environmental Protection Agency threatened status.
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
Aug. 10
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
1st – Christian Ostrander/Marc Jang– 26.85 pounds (Big Fish – 7.04);
2nd – Adam Aguilar/Kevin Soltas – 15.98; 3rd – Ron Rushing/Jim Grabill – 15.61.
Delta/Russo’s Marina –Best Bass Tournaments - Delta/Wine Division
1st - Tyler Bussart/Aaron Sapp – 22.86 pounds;
2nd –Michael Hitomi/Brandon Gee – 20.42; 3rd – Eric Pickard/Tim Meeks – 19.10.
Aug. 11
Delta/Russo’s Marina –Best Bass Tournaments/Northern Division
1st – Larry and Nicholas Fraser – 23.56 pounds;
2nd – Tyler Bussart/Aaron Sapp – 21.60; 3rd – Jesse Ochoa/Matthew Soule – 21.39.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Aug. 14, 21, 28
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Wednesday Night Shootout
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 August 13, 2024 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report, Aug. 14-20: Delta bass and stripers bites are good. New Melones and Shaver Lake kokanee are hitting and rainbows are at Wishon and Bass Lake.."