Central California fishing report: Delta bass and sturgeon bites good
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 bass and sturgeon bites good, Vince Borges reported. Don Pedro bass and trout action steady, and Lake Success bass fishing solid, Dave Hurley said. New Melones bass fishing producing good bags, John Liechty reported. San Luis Reservoir bait fisherman doing well on stripers, Yahir Leon said.
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 2
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported a slow bite in the northern section of the California Aqueduct near Tracy as the current is ripping and it takes more than a 6-ounce pyramid sinker to hold the bottom. Striperz Gone Wild ‘Toys for Tots’ tournament is scheduled for Dec. 14 at Volta Road on the California Aqueduct. The entry fee for this tournament is an unwrapped children’s toy that will be donated to youth in Merced County.
In the southern aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported fair fishing in the southern sections of the aqueduct as catfish were the best bet with anglers catching good numbers of better grade whisker fish on a Carolina-rig or bait rig loaded with Triple S dip bait, chicken liver, or cut baits after check gates where fast moving water met calm. Other good catfish locations included eddies and outtake grates. Striped bass anglers reported cut baits and jumbo live minnows as the best way to hook up as lure anglers reported a slow bite on Flukes and tube baits. Bass anglers used finesse techniques with 4-inch Roboworms in Aaron’s Magic and Smokin’ Shad.
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 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported a recent trout plant turned up the big bait interest with Huddleston rainbow trout patterned or glide baits for the occasional quality largemouth bass, but the overall bite has been slow as the bass are focusing upon the planted rainbows. Hensley produced a huge 22-pound limit during a mid-November tournament. Crankbaits or plastic worms on a shakey head, drop-shot, or Texas-rig are also producing. Eastman rose slightly to 534.08 feet in elevation and 47% of capacity with Hensley also rising to 473.65 feet in elevation and 18% of capacity. No tournaments are scheduled at either lake through the end of the year.
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 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 1 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Bass fishing is taking center stage as a 31-pound five-fish limit took first during a small shootout over the weekend. The recent plant of rainbow trout at the launch ramps has the bass feeding on the planters, and the Huddleston bite is taking off for those willing to cast the big baits throughout the day. The rainbow trout are moving toward the surface as the water temperatures are cooling, and king salmon are also moving up. Bank anglers are finding tremendous action around the Blue Oaks or Fleming Meadows launch ramps with Power Bait on a 3-foot leader. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake is at 774.66 feet in elevation and 69% of capacity. Only one club tournament is scheduled through December.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
McClure has picked up considerably for spotted and largemouth bass with quality fish from 3 to 9 pounds landed recently. Jigs, plastics on the drop-shot, small swimbaits, or umbrella rigs are working, and the bait is moving up in the water column. A few trollers are working hard in deep water for the occasional king salmon or rainbow trout. There are four club tournaments in December, and the lake is rounding into shape for these events. The Merced River is at 263 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain. The Reel Deal Market and Barrett’s Cove Marina will only be open on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm during the winter months. The lake is currently at 803.56 feet in elevation and 63% of capacity.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
About 2,000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm rainbows were released two weeks ago, and after the initial action from the banks with Power Bait, Kastmasters, or nightcrawlers, the rainbows have spread out and moved up into the river arm. Trollers are scoring up to limits of quality holdovers with shad-patterned spoons. The lake held at 92% of capacity.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
The lake rose to 2557.58 feet in elevation and 27% of capacity with water releases at First Point at 382 cfs. Cope’s reported the heavy recent storms dropped the water temperatures to around 55 degrees, and the bass have settled in for winter. There are some crankbait fish off main lake points, but it’s quality over quantity right now. Rockey Point, Piney Point, and French Gulch are all good areas to check for some quality bites. Creature baits or jigs are also producing. A few crappie have been caught by the marinas with various colored jigs and live shiners, and dip baits or shad are working best for catfish. In the upper Kern River, the flows have kicked up a bit with the recent rain. Fishing in the Upper Kern has been great for some and slower for others. Fly anglers have been scoring fish with caddis in the afternoon.
In the 20-Mile stretch, anglers have had success with salmon eggs, crickets, or nightcrawlers.The fish are a little sluggish since the water temperature have cooled considerably. The Upper Kern was stocked this week in Section 4, Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville. In the lower Kern, the bass bite remains steady on crankbaits, jigs, or spinners. Catfish can be found on dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut bait. The Kern River at Kernville is running at 627 cfs.
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 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose 9 feet to 605.24 feet in elevation and 13% of capacity. Cope’s reported bass anglers are working deep and slow with 3-inch plastic on a drop-shot, and there is a crankbait bite early in the day. Crappie reports have been on the slow side, but anglers did find biting fish with minijigs orsmall live minnows scoring bites. Catfish anglers used chicken liver and garlic scented nightcrawlers on the Carolina rig. There was a trout plant scheduled last week, and this should turn on the swimbait bite. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers rose to 240 cfs.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose 4 feet to 602.55 feet in elevation and 17% of capacity. Cope’s reported fishing has been good as bass anglers tricked largemouths with football head jigs and a craw trailer, Senkos, or plastics in greenpumpkin, brown, or Margarita Mutilator II on a Ned-rig in deeper water. Crankbaits or umbrella rigs are producing over rocky structure and near the trees. Crappie and catfish reports were on the slow side.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported the lake remains slow for bass anglers, but there is some action for bluegill, crappie, and catfish. The lake continues to drop, and it is at 496.51 feet in elevation and 39% 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 held at 428 cfs. One bass tournament is scheduled in December. Woodward Park in Fresno is scheduled for a trout plant this week.
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
John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service has been finding solid action for both shallow and deeper fish. He said, “With the recent trout plants, we have been picking up few larger fish on Huddleston rainbow trout patterned swimbaits along with glidebaits in the shallow as the larger fish are chasing trout. There are also fish holding around the shad schools at depths from 10 to 35 feet, and we are picking them up with spoons or plastics on the drop-shot. It’s a matter of finding where the fish are holding, and you must be ready to move if you aren’t finding action within a few minutes.” Alex Niapas of Catching California Guide Service added, “Brown jigs on main lake points and island tops at depths from 15 to 25 feet are producing numbers of 2- to 3-pound spotted bass.” The bass are very healthy with the consecutive years of high water levels. Rainbow trout are moving toward the surface and into the shallows, and with the plants, bank fishing has improved. Currently the lake remains open with no restrictions for golden mussels, but this may change by mid-week. There are two club tournaments scheduled in December. The lake is at 1,033.16 feet in elevation and 76% 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 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The Nov. 29 Black Friday tournament with a winning limit at nearly 12 pounds had 41 boats participating. The recent cold front slowed down the action, but umbrella rigs in deep water are producing as the bass are chasing shad.
Brian Klassen was out again chasing king salmon with his brother Evan, Dan Weaver of Clovis, and Joe Flores of Tulare.
“We fished hard from sunup to 1 p.m. in the Windy Gap area for only two kings to 28 inches on rolled shad and four rainbows to 16 inches on blade/’crawler combinations,” Klassen said. “The rainbows were found between 25 to 35 with the kings from 45 to 50 feet in depth.” Trout plants over the past several weeks in the lower Kings River have led to limits of quality rainbows to 9 pounds, but there have been several citations issued for anglers fishing in the catch-and-release section 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 flows have risen to 618 cfs, and the trout are holding in the deeper pools. The lake is at 828.67 feet in elevation and 41% of capacity. Four tournaments are scheduled in December.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 3 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Yahir Leon of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported a continued solid striped bass bite in the main lake with anchovies or jumbo minnows along with umbrella rigs loaded with shad-imitation swimbaits along with white paddletail swimbaits. The quality has been improving, but the numbers of fish has decreased.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said the fish are moving a lot in the 63 degree water.
“ I took out a group this week and we had to scout the whole lake before finally finding some active fish in the main lake,” he said. “The fish we found had moved deeper to the 70 plus depth range and were biting silver Shad imitation lures worked slower than usual. We ended up releasing over 30 nice sized fish to 25” inches for the day. It was not easy finding and working the roving schools . The rising water is changing where the fish are holding right now. The overall bite is still not that good .” George reported.
In the O’Neill Forebay, similar lures and bait are working, but the grade of lineside is smaller with numbers of undersized stripers in the mix. The grass is slowly dying in the forebay with the colder temperatures. The main lake rose to 56% of capacity balanced between water imports and exports while the forebay is at 86% 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 recently 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 2 Kokanee 0
Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing reported quality rainbow trout have been taken from the shoreline on Power Bait, saying, “My son Bobby limited out to 22 inches. The lake is dropping, but it is still possible to launch boats. I’m still seeing some bass fishermen out there, but there have been few trollers.” 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
Few anglers heading up Kaiser Pass as the fall months continue to advance. Edison is at 36, Florence at 18, and Mammoth Pool at 20% of capacity.
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
Trout 2 Kokanee 1
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “Following a few days of mixed snow and rain, Shaver cleared up, and boaters returned in pursuit of winter trout. What was a steady bite leading into the storm came out of the damp weather with a slower bite. Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project Vice President, Dave McGlothlin of Clovis and his son Chris of Fresno hit the lake Saturday. The duo found a slower bite but managed a couple of limits of catch-and-release rainbow trout to 15 inches. They found Black Rock to be non-productive and moved on to the Fisherman’s Club where the action picked up. Fishing from the beginning of Fisherman’s Club to the mouth of Stevenson Creek, they scored with Dick’s Mountain Tackle orange tube’s, Mountain Candy, or Hoochies in pink along with purple Koke Busters behind various patterns of Dick’s Mountain Dodgers depths from 17 to 23 feet. McGlothlin said there were about 4 or 5 boats working Black Rock without much success, but he added a troller working the Tunnel Creek area had picked up seven rainbows. Possibly due to the barometric weather change, the action slowed down from primarily multiple limits taken prior to the storm. It should return to good action with fair but cold weather returning. Both marinas are closed. The Edison ramp is out of water. The Sierra ramp is good.” Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html
for conditions before going up as the marinas are closed.
At Huntington, the snowfall is leading toward big brown trout time, but as is the usual practice for the dedicated ‘brown baggers,’ reports will be on the minimal side. Shaver is at 58% of capacity with Huntington holding at 62% of capacity.
Call: Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072; Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100;
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
Not much happening at either lake as the winter storms are bringing inclement weather to the high country. The gate Courtright Way just past the turnoff for McKinley Grove Road will remain closed until the regularly scheduled reopening on Memorial Day 2025 Weekend, depending upon weather. The Wishon RV Park and Store has closed for the season.
Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 2 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crab 3
Limits of Dungeness crab are the rule on crab-only or crab/rockfish combination trips. Captain Melynda Dodds on the New Captain Pete loaded up with limits on crab-only trips prior to Thanksgiving while the Queen of Hearts posted 13 limits of crab and 3/5 limits of rockfish with 89 rockfish and 5 lingcod on their last shallow water trip. Deep water rockfishing greater than 50 fathoms started on Sunday, and the Queen of Hearts returned with 11 limits of rockfish and a lingcod. Rockfishing is limited to 50 fathoms for the rest of the season ending Dec. 31.
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
From the surf, Yahir Leon reported good surf perch action from Watsonville to Santa Cruz with Honey Badger or Lucky 13 caramel or root beer grubs on a Carolina-rig while some anglers are tossing small jerkbaits such as Lucky Craft Flash Minnows.
Deep water rockfish season open on Sunday, and two boats from Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching out of Monterey loaded up with 45 limits of big deepwater rockfish along with three lingcod.
“Last week we covered some scary stories about shore beak, surf and currents taking people out while fishing,” Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported. “Most of those who have surfed have learned to read the beach, waves and conditions. Those who are not as familiar with being in the ocean should play things a bit more conservatively. It’s best to watch the surf and conditions for twenty minutes or so before getting your feet wet. Look for the highest wave line at the moment, and for side sweeping waves that might be present. Learn to identify rip currents and the signs of strong sideways currents in the surf line. “
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 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
For most of the month of November, coastal rockfish action out of the Golden Gate was limited to a few fish per rod to ½ limits, but during Thanksgiving Week, the waters along the Marin coast cleared up, and the rockfish counts climbed. Dungeness crab fishing has been solid for a large grade of crustaceans, but the overall biomass is down.
Flat, calm ocean conditions greeted anglers prior to Thanksgiving, and the party boats were able to find rockfish willing to bite for the first time in a month.
Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady, currently running out of Emeryville Marina, put his customers onto limits of Dungeness crab on crab-only trips leading up to Thanksgiving. Friday’s trip produced limits of rockfish along with over 7 crab per angler as they spent more time on the reefs working for limits.
Further north, Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing has been consistently loading up with both rockfish and crab limits throughout the month of November, and Saturday’s trip produced 29 limits of rockfish and crab to 2½ pounds along with a solitary 13-pound lingcod.
Captain James Smith of the California Dawn Sport Fishing has been out throughout the week for ½ to ¾-th limits of rockfish along with limits of crab, and he said, “The overall biomass of crab is down, but the grade is much larger than norm as there are lots of jumbos in the hoops. Saturday’s scores for both of our boats were a combined 53 limits of crab including crew limits along with 168 rockfish and 23 lingcod. We found a much-improved lingcod bite at Point Reyes.” Sunday’s deep water opener produced Deep water rockfish opened up on Dec. 1, and we have favorable ocean conditions forecast for the next few weeks.” Deep water rockfishing started on Sunday, and although the crab action was solid, the rockfish bite was tough as the California Dawn 1 and 2 were out at Rittenburg for a combined total of 270 rockfish and 4 lingcod to 24 pounds along with 46 limits of Dungeness crab. The action rebounded on Monday with the California Dawn 2 posting 30 limits of huge deepwater rockfish and Dungeness crab along with three lingcod.
From now until the season closes on Dec. 31, rockfishing is limited to 50 fathoms or deeper north of Point Lopez in Monterey County. When the weather cooperates, the long run to deep water out of Half Moon Bay, the Golden Gate, or Bodega Bay is more than worth it as limits of rockfish can be taken in a single drift.
Inside the bay, striped bass and leopard shark are the top species in the bay, and there are still linesides holding out in the central bay. As the water continues to cool in the California Delta, more and more striped bass will be migrating upriver. The live bait receiver is closed for the season. A few boats will be targeting sturgeon on catch-and-release trips in the south bay and in San Pablo Bay.
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, two boats were out on Sunday with 29 passengers for limits of rockfish consisting of 230 assorted rockfish, 25 Boccaccio, 35 vermilion, two black cod, and 4 lingcod to 15 pounds. Out of Virg’s Landing, the Rita G was on a 3/4th-day and the Fiesta on a 12-hour trip on Sunday with 35 anglers for a combined 242 assorted, 54 vermilion, 4 black rockfish, and 4 lingcod. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, two boats were out on Sunday with 30 anglers for 129 assorted rockfish, 58 vermilion, one Boccaccio, 2 lingcod to 8 pounds, and a bonus halibut. The regulations for rockfishing below Point Lopez are from 50 fathoms offshore from October 1 through Dec. 31, 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 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Heavy fog arrived over the weekend, and dirty water from the atmospheric river moved into the Sacramento side of the Delta, slowing down the striped bass action for trollers and plug casters. The water is clearing quickly with several days of good weather, and the colder water temperatures are attracting more and more striped bass into the system. Sturgeon fishing has been outstanding outside the Pittsburg Marina with party boats catching and releasing up to 20 diamondbacks per outing. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg was out on Friday and Saturday, and he said, “We are experiencing pretty much non-stop action except for the slack tide. On Friday, Jason Johnson and his daughter Aubrey were out on a scouting trip, and we let Aubrey reel in several fish, including one over 80 inches.”
The boats that are fishing are concentrating right in front of the Pittsburg Marina, but Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service went downstream towards McAvoy’s Boat Harbor in Bay Point, and he said, “The bite has been amazing as we brought 43 sturgeon to the boat in three days, and these fish have been everywhere. I had one customer out solo, and he tapped out after bringing 14 fish to the boat – and that was with only four rods out.”
Cured salmon roe remains the top bait. New regulations require that any sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately, and sturgeon of any size shall not be held out of the water suspended by the gills, gill plates, mouth or solely by the tail, and shall not be dragged across the ground, boat decks or piers. Crappie are schooling up around structure in the north Delta, and anglers are reporting limits of palm-sized slabs. Salmon remain lost in the back sloughs searching for a location to spawn. On the San Joaquin side, the water temperatures have dropped into the low 50’s, but Fresno-native Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors found tremendous action for over 60 largemouth bass on Saturday afternoon in the east Delta sloughs with reaction baits such as umbrella rigs, underspins, or ripbaits. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, added, “Light 8-pound fluorocarbon line on a spinning rod is helpful as the bass are moving on the outside edge of the weeds with the colder water temperatures.” Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported a 30-pound striped bass was caught and released at Mossdale on fresh shad. He said, “The majority of the stripers are on the San Joaquin River around Antioch, Oakley, and Frank’s Tract, and jumbo live minnows or fresh shad is working best. Below the Mossdale Bridge, catfish in the big story with anchovies or chicken liver. Crappie are taken off the banks in the south Delta sloughs, particularly Whiskey Slough. As the water clears, the striped bass action will improve until the water falls into the mid-40’s. Invasive golden mussels pose a major threat to the state’s water conveyance projects, and the mussels have been found in several locations on the San Joaquin side of the Delta.
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
Jan. 16-19
International Sportsmen’s Exposition – Cal Expo, Sacramento
Information: https://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento/.
Tournament results
Nov. 29
Pine Flat – California Bass Nation Black Friday Tournament
1st –Allen Xiong– 11.98 pounds; 2nd – Michael Her/Anthony Her/Kevin Cheng Moua– 11.44 (Big Fish – 4.76); 3rd- Wayne Arnold/Steve Clark – 10.98.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Dec. 7
New Melones – Westside Bass
Tulloch – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies
Don Pedro – Sonora Bass Anglers
Pine Flat – Kerman Bass Club
Kern County/Various Waters – MB559 Fishing
Dec. 14-15
McClure – Hughson High School Bass Club
Dec. 14
California Aqueduct/Volta Road – Striperz Gone Wild annual ‘Toys for Tots’ Tournaments
New Melones – Folsom Bass Team
Kern County/Various Waters – Tulare Elk
Nacimiento – American Bass Association
Dec. 15
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole, Inc.
McClure – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Millerton – Fresno Bass Club
Dec. 28
Pine Flat – Bass 559
Jan. 1
Pine Flat – New Year’s Tournament
Jan. 4
Lopez – American Bass Association
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Delta bass and sturgeon bites good."