Central California fishing report: Pine Flat bite, Lower Kings River attracting anglers
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
Best bets Delta sturgeon hitting, Steve Mitchell said. Don Pedro bass and crappie bites good, Kyle Wise reported. Pine Flat, Lower Kings River bite attracting anglers, Michael Crayne said. McClure Reservoir bass fishing solid, Ryan Denner reported. Bass lake pumping out big rainbows for patient anglers, Mike Beighey 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
Striperz Gone Wild Fifth Annual Toy Drive Fishing Tournament is this coming Saturday, Dec. 14 at Volta Road on the California Aqueduct. The tournament starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. with prizes in both the Adult and Kids (under 15) Division for first, second and third. The entry fee for the tournament is one unwrapped toy which will be donated to needy youth in Merced County. There are no boundaries, but boats are not allowed. There is food for purchase along with giveways from vendors and supporters, a raffle, and other prizes.
Aqueduct anglers are always advised to use caution as well as wearing a personal flotation device 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 heavy dose of trout-patterned swimbaits have been the story near the dam, and the sounds of the big lures hitting the water have been the most prevalent noise as it takes many casts to hook up on the swimbaits or glide baits. The largemouth bass are chasing the planted rainbows, and they are getting shy with all the gear tossed at them. There are followers and bass slapping at the baits, but hook ups are few and far between. The bass being caught are quality, however. Crayne said, “Plastics on a shakey head or jigs have been the most consistent offerings.” Hensley has been quiet after the big 22-pound limit a few weeks ago.
Eastman held at 534.16 feet in elevation and 47% of capacity with Hensley also rising slightly to 474.06 feet in elevation and 18% of capacity. No tournaments are scheduled at either lake through the end of the year. Trout plants are scheduled at both lakes the week of Dec. 15.
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 2 Kokanee 1 King salmon 2 Crappie 3
Bass fishing continues to be solid as experienced anglers are using Forward Facing Sonar to locate the bass as they are holding around submerged trees or cover. Big swimbaits along with jigs are working at depths to 30 feet as the fish are chasing shad. The recent trout plants have spurred on bank action close to the launch ramps with Power Bait. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide has been finding quality crappie to 2½ pounds using minijigs or live minnows. He is running crappie trips on Don Pedro for $200/angler. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake held at 774.41 feet in elevation and 69% of capacity. Only one club tournament is scheduled through December. The lake is currently aware of the situation with the golden mussel, and they are assessing potential impacts to Don Pedro. Further information will be provided as it becomes available. Boaters are reminded to complete Self-Inspection prior to launching.
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 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Ryan Denner of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported a solid bass bite at McClure with swimbaits along with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot. Some anglers are working big swimbaits, but the most consistent action has been with smaller swimbaits along with umbrella rigs at depths to 30 feet along structure. There are four club tournaments in December, and the lake is rounding into shape for these events. The Merced River is at 251 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain. The Reel Deal Market and Barrett’s Cove Marina will only be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays during the winter months. The lake held at 803.25 feet in elevation and 63% of capacity.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
The rainbow trout from the plant three weeks ago have spread out, and trolling has been the top technique for up to limits in the river arm. Shad-patterned spoons, blade/’crawler combinations, or Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler are the top techniques for trollers. The best bank action is early in the morning with garlic Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or Mice Tails with scent. The lake is at 90% 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 held at 2,557.78 feet in elevation and 27% of capacity with water releases at First Point at 385 cfs. Trout plants took place in the Bakersfield area parks of Ming and River Walk last week, and bank anglers are scoring with Power Bait, Mice Tails, trout jigs, or nightcrawlers. Trout plants are scheduled in the upper Kern River Sections 4, 5, and 6 the week of the 15th. With the lower water levels, the planters are holding in the pools. As the Kern River at Kernville has dropped from 627 to 385 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 four feet to 609.40 feet in elevation and 14% of capacity. A trout plant occurred last week, and the planted rainbows are being harassed by bank anglers as well as the lake’s largemouth bass. Glide baits or swimbaits are picking up the occasional largemouth while bank anglers are picking up the planters on Power Bait, spinners, nightcrawlers, or spoons. Crappie action is decent around structure near Horse Creek. Mooney Grove Park and Murry Park Pond were also planted with rainbows by the Department of Fish and Wildlife last week. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers dropped from 240 to 166 cfs.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake dropped slightly to 601.91 feet in elevation and 16% of capacity. A trout plant took place last week, and the largemouth bass are chasing the planters. This is the time for big swimbaits and glide baits. Shore anglers are scoring with Power Bait, nightcrawlers, spinners, or spoons.
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 minimal change with very slow bass fishing or interest, although there is some action for bluegill, crappie, and catfish in the main lake. A trout plant occurred at Woodward Park last week with another plant scheduled during the week of Dec. 22. 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.
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 1
The gates closed for all launch ramps on Saturday morning due to the potential impact of the golden mussel. Bank fishing is allowed similar to nearby Lake Camanche which is also closed to boaters until the decontamination station is established at the South Shore Marina. Staff at New Melones currently are developing and implementing a new inspection protocol that will be shared with the public once it’s finalized, the bureau stated. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards, may also be subject to inspection. Boaters who are interested in participating in the new program can obtain a quarantine seal to attach to their boat and trailer, which are available free of charge from a park ranger at the Glory Hole boat launch between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Obtaining the seal will begin a 30-day quarantine period prior to any future boat launching at the reservoir. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service said, “You can enter on the Glory Hole entrance site, and there is a Bureau of Reclamation Ranger waiting at the pay station. They will take down your CF number, put a light wire around your bow hook and your trailer frame, attaching a small locking device. You are advised to wait for 30 days before returning to the lake. If the rangers are not at the pay station, they will be down at the ramp.”
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 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne reported slowdown for spotted bass as the fish are holding in deep water chasing the shad schools. Spoons, ice jigs, or shad-patterned plastics on a drop-shot are the most productive techniques.
“The king salmon have been moving up in the water column, and they have moved into the river arm,” he said.
Trout plants are scheduled in the lower Kings the next two weeks prior to Christmas Day to add to plants over the past several weeks. The lower Kings has been crowded with anglers in the easily accessed locations, and fishing has been solid for many with Power Bait, trout jigs, Panther Martins, live crickets, or nightcrawlers. The catch-and-release section has been the location for several citations in the past few weeks for those attempting to keep the big trout in the restricted section located below the Alta Weir (also known as Cobbles Weir) extending downstream to the Highway 180 bridge. This area is a zero limit, catch-and-release zone where only artificial lures with barbless hooks are allowed. The flows dropped from 618 to 428 cfs at Trimmer, and the trout are holding in the deeper pools. The lake rose 2 feet to 830.87 feet in elevation and 42% of capacity. Four tournaments are scheduled in December. A trout plant is scheduled at Pine Flat next week, and plants occurred at Avocado Lake last week along with the next two weeks. A trout plant is also scheduled in the upper Kings river the week of Dec. 22.
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 continued solid action for striped bass with a variety of techniques.
“Jumbo minnows, blood worms, and anchovies are effective for both bank and boat anglers while there is a topwater bite with Spooks or castable umbrella rigs such as Hog Farmer’s, Picasso’s, or Yumbrellas,” he said.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that the bite has been sporadic with the water rising over a foot a day now.
“The water is about 62 degrees and pretty clear right now- and the trick is finding fish that are active,” he said. “There are a lot of suspended fish, and they seem to want a slower presentation with smaller lures. I fished with a buddy, Sonny Johansen on his birthday and we ended up with over 30 nice fish, and one kicker going 39 inches and 22.6 pounds, all let go . The fish we caught were in the 50-foot plus depth zone in the main lake. Later the same week I took out Vince Lacerda and his son Gio (14) of Gilroy for 20 plus fish and a 31-inches, 12½ pound new PB for Vince – all released. The same pattern using smaller baits in lower tones- like grey was the best tactic. There can be short periods of boiling fish but once the sun comes out they shutdown.”
In the O’Neill Forebay, the grass has dissipated, and the action is steady for limits of striped bass in the 18- to 20-inch range with the same techniques as used on the main lake. The main lake rose to 62% of capacity balanced between water imports and exports while the forebay is at 87% 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 3 Kokanee 0
“Bass Lake is kicking out some nice rainbow trout to five pounds or larger, and most are running from 14 to 20 inches. and better,” Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing said. “You never know when the big ones are going to hit as my son Bobby is picking up numerous trophy sized trout off the shoreline across from the Pines Resort on rainbow Power Bait. The lake is dropping fast, and it’s difficult to launch by yourself. The ramp is out of the water, and not many boats are out there.” Michael Crayne reported a ‘hit or miss’ bass bite as the best option for largemouth bass is to work the shallow rockpiles early in the morning while the spotted bass are holding deep near the dam in the rocks. He said, “I would set up over a drop off and retrieve my lures uphill.” A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. Trout plants are scheduled the weeks of Dec. 15 and 22.
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 34, Florence at 8, and Mammoth Pool at 23% 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 2
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “Fewer boats were on Shaver Lake this week, but a limit or two of trout was still possible as cold, but sunny, weather prevailed. Most trollers found the eastern part of the lake as the most productive. The Tunnel, Fishermen’s Club, and Stevenson Bay were the picks for most trips. Shaver regular Dave Loftin of Visalia hit the lake on Sunday and picked up two limits of catch-and-release trout and a second -year kokanee trolling Dick’s Texas Tea Trout Busters tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind Dick’s Mountain Mini Flashers with a setback of 100 feet.
The trout were mostly recent planters with nothing large, but Loftin said he hooked a big trout that ripped out line before coming unbuttoned. The big fish are out feeding on trout roe and smaller fish, and the trout traditionally move back to the Stevenson area as they are after kokanee eggs and other aquatic food. The 2nd- year kokanee is more proof of a successful natural spawn two years ago. Others like Dave McGlothlin of Clovis and his son Chris of Fresno have been doing the same on similar with Dick’s Mountain tackle. It’s not as good as it was a few weeks ago, but a couple limits is not bad. Both marinas are closed. The Edison ramp is out of water. The Sierra ramp is good to launch. Supplies can be found at Shaver businesses. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html
for conditions before going up as the marinas are closed.
Not much interest in Huntington except dedicated anglers small aluminum boaters working the edges for brown trout with trolling big plugs. Shaver is at 59% of capacity with Huntington holding at 63% of capacity. A trout plant is scheduled at Shaver the week of Dec. 22.
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 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crabs 3
Captain Melynda Dodds on the New Captain Pete loaded up with limits on their crab-only trip on Saturday with 13 limits after posting near limits at 149 Dungeness for 16 anglers on Friday. The Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing took a rockfish-only trip on Saturday for 17 limits, followed by a crab-only trip on Sunday for 17 limits of Dungeness crab. 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 Mickey Clements reported continued good surf perch action along the Santa Cruz beaches as co-worker, Tom Niccum, landed 15 perch on Sunday morning with with Honey Badger or Lucky 13 grubs on a Carolina-rig.
Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching out of Monterey continues to load up with deep water limits of rockfish along with a few ling cod. Sunday’s trip produced 28 limits of rockfish, 6 lingcod, and a bonus Bonito. Easy access to deep water more than 300 feet close to the harbor is a bonus for Monterey Bay party boats.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “In the final bottomfishing changeup for the year, December ushered in one more month of deepwater rockfishing. As per CDFW regulations, nearshore rockfishing is closed for 2024. Rockfishing is allowed only beyond the 50-fathom line (300 feet). It takes a little longer to get to the fishing grounds and conditions always seem to deteriorate as you move further offshore, but the rewards can be big. Deepwater species such as chilipeppers, green-spotted rockfish, vermilion and canaries are numerous, and usually average out as much bigger fish than their nearshore cousins. In Monterey, J&M Sport Fishing has hosted light loads on mid-week trips aboard the Kahuna. There is plenty of elbow room with only six or seven anglers aboard a boat of that size. They reported limits of rockfish plus one lingcod on each of their trips this week. Santa Cruz charter boats posted limits as well. Go Fish Santa Cruz Charters took an adventurous trip up the North Coast near Ann Nuevo on Sunday.
“We fished at The Island today. The clients caught limits of rock fish including browns, blues, blacks, vermillion and ling cod. We will be fishing the deep water until the end of the year,” Skipper JT Thomas reported.
Stagnaro’s Sportfishing also reported deepwater limits this week. Todd Fraser from Bayside Marine noted that private boaters were doing best by fishing the North Coast spots. On Sunday Fraser said, “The water was calm, and anglers fished the deep water today. There were limits of big rock fish caught near Wilder Beach and Davenport. The crab fishing was decent near the Soquel Hole.” Surf casting remains rather slow for most beaches ringing the Monterey Bay. An increase of structure from the heavy swells this week and last is creating conditions very favorable for wintertime perch fishing. We can expect to see some big grey bellies coming in from the broad mid-bay beaches soon as the perch enter their pre-spawn mode. Don’t forget about poke-poling! Wintertime features some wild tidal swings with big high tides and severe minus tides. These ‘super low tides’ expose rocks and reefs that are usually underwater. Poke-polers take advantage of the access to scrabble over the rocks, poking a baited hook into caves and crevices. Often, they are rewarded by incredibly big fish. Bob Christian is a dedicated lifelong angler from the Santa Cruz area and proved this point on Friday while fishing one of his traditional spots on the coast north of Davenport. Christian landed a 26-inch monkeyface prickleback eel while using squid at the tip of his 10-foot poke pole.”
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 3 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
When the conditions allow, rockfishing is spectacular in the deepwater spot known as Rittenburg Bank. Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 was able to make it to the grounds on Friday for 31 limits of rockfish and a single lingcod on one drift before heading back to the hoops for 31 limits of Dungeness crab. The conditions were less than ideal on the weekend, and the California Dawn 2 returned with 31 limits of Dungeness crab, 127 rockfish, and a lingcod in the closer deepwater grounds around the North Farallon Island on Sunday. The California Dawn 1 was on a crab-only for 23 limits. Further north, Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing has the closest access to Rittenburg, and he put his load of 23 anglers onto limits of rockfish by 9:15 a.m. before setting gear for limits of Dungeness crab.
Also out of Bodega Bay, Captain Ryan Giamonna of North Bay Charters found 23 yellowtail, yes yellowtail, and an albacore on a mid-week trip 30 miles offshore. He previously had discovered the yellowtail the week prior with a six-way hookup.
From now until the season closes on Dec. 31, rockfishing is limited to 50 fathoms or deeper north of Point Lopez in Monterey County.
Inside the bay, striped bass are still very active, and Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Paradise in Marin County found a wide open bite in San Pablo Bay, saying, “We had 6 limits within an hour, ending up catching and releasing over 100 linesides on live bait or tubes.”
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, 18 anglers on two boats returned with limits of rockfish on Sunday consisting of 118 assorted rockfish, 47 Boccaccio, and 15 vermilion. Out of Virg’s Landing, the Black Pearl was also out on Sunday with 26 passengers for 200 rockfish. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, rockfish limits were the story for 33 anglers on two boats on Sunday with 283 assorted rockfish, 55 vermilion to nine pounds, 12 Boccaccio, and two lingcod to six pounds. 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 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The arrival of heavy was the story on Saturday morning, and any boaters out in the early morning had to creep to their locations. Sturgeon fishing had been tremendous with as many as 20 diamondbacks brought to the boat per trip, but the anemic tides brought hot bite to a crawl. Party boats found very tough action on Saturday and Sunday with some returning with not a single fish to the boat.
“The tides have a lot to do with it, but the change in barometric pressure is also a factor,” Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg said. “The sturgeon are everywhere in upper Suisun Bay, and you see them on the graph and think they are feeding. Once the tides become larger this week, the bite should improve as there are so many fish out there, it’s ridiculous.The water temperature shouldn’t be a factor since it was 50-degrees in the morning and rising to 53-degrees in the afternoons. The 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.
Striped bass have also been affected by the small tides as Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley reported.
“Sunday was one of the toughest days I have experienced as a guide. We ran all over and burned quite a bit of gas, ending up with only two keepers. The water is clearing up with a temperature around 50-51 (degrees) so that couldn’t have caused the slow bite,” he said. ‘I thought we would get them on the incoming tide like we did on a scouting trip on Saturday morning, but they are on the move.”
A small crappie tournament took place on Saturday out of New Holland Marina in the south Delta, and tournament director Marlin Carpenter of Crappie Closet said, “We had five teams entered, and Grant Olguin and his partner took first with a five-fish limit at 6.18 pounds with a big fish at 1.75 pounds.” Palm-sized slabs are the rule in both the north and south Delta sloughs.
With the colder water temperatures, the largemouth bass bite has slowed in response as the Florida-strain largemouths do not like a rapid change to cold water. Bass fishing is slow overall with the best action with finesse techniques such as plastics on the drop-shot on island tops or in deep vegetation. The bass are holding outside the weed lines inside the vegetation to keep as warm as possible. On sunny days, the bass will be holding on the north side of east/west running sloughs.
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
Dec. 7
Don Pedro – Sonora Bass Anglers
1st – N.Vantrece/A.Pearson- 15.78 pounds; 2nd – B. Hemphill/D.Hemphill – 14.52 (Big Fish – 3.53); 3rd – D. Brick/B.Vierra-Brick – 13.58.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Dec. 14-15
McClure – Hughson High School Bass Club
Dec. 14
California Aqueduct/Volta Road – Striperz Gone Wild 5th Qnnual ‘Toy Drive’ Striped Bass Tournament
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 10, 2024 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Pine Flat bite, Lower Kings River attracting anglers."