Central California fishing report: Delta stripers and sturgeon bites rebounding
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 and sturgeon bites rebounding, Alan Fong said. McClure Reservoir bass and trout on solid bites, Dylan Bos Kinser reported. New Melones bass hitting, Dave Hurley said. Don Pedro trout and bass action heated up, Monte Smith 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 2
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop said, “I’ve been out in the northern section of the California Aqueduct twice this week for only small striped bass and catfish. The flows are fast, and there really hasn’t been much going on.” Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill had a similar report with minimal action in the aqueduct above the O’Neill Forebay. In the southern section of the aqueduct, it is much the same story as the flows are very low and the water is still. Fishing for both catfish and striped bass remains hit or miss. There have been striped bass to 27 inches landed in the aqueduct system, but they are few and far between.
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
“Eastman is still producing quality largemouth bass, but they have been seeing every big bait on the market,” Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said. “Some weeks a Hawg Hunter will work, then a MagDraft, followed by glide baits. They are getting used to a lot of gear being thrown at them. US National Team kayaker, Damian Thao of Fresno, was out three times for nothing, but on the fourth day, he landed an 8-pound, 25.25-inch largemouth bass. A lot of bass are locked on the bottom, and there is still a solid jig bite along with creature baits like Brush Hogs by slowly dragging the bait on the bottom.”
Not much change at Hensley as it remains very slow for largemouth bass with catfish or carp your best bets. Eastman rose slightly to 535.03 feet in elevation and 48% of capacity with Hensley also rising less than a half foot to 476.89 feet in elevation and 20% of capacity. The Kerman Bass Club has tournaments at Eastman in February and March along with one at Hensley in March.
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.
Don Pedro Lake
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said trout trolling has been solid for planted rainbows along with holdovers to three pounds running shad-patterned spoons in the top 20 feet on either the downrigger or three to four colors of lead core. The water is very clear with a surface temperature of 53 degrees. Limits of rainbows have been the rule for experienced trollers, and the fish are in great shape. With access to New Melones limited, more and more Mother Lode trollers have been heading to Pedro. Dylan Bos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported bass fishing is outstanding with jigs, tubes, or plastics on a shaky head at depths from 35 to 40 feet around main lake and secondary points, particularly when the wind is blowing. When the wind dies, the bite slows down. The bass are up shallow in the mornings before sliding out into deeper water by mid-morning. A few quality spotted and largemouth bass have been taken on rainbow trout patterned glide baits. Crappie can be found, but it takes Forward Facing Sonar to find and stay on the slabs. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake held at 774.07 feet in elevation and 69% of capacity. As the status of New Melones is uncertain, there are several bass tournaments at Pedro on the coming months with two in January, seven in February, and six in March.
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 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake basically held at 2,557.85 feet in elevation and 27% of capacity with water releases steady at First Point at 385 cfs. At Buena Vista Lake, periodic plants will continue until April 23, 2025. An annual trout fishing season pass is $125 payable by debit or credit card as no cash is accepted at this lake. Trout plants from the Department of Fish and Wildlife are scheduled for Ming and River Walk this week. Trout plants are scheduled in upper Kern River Section 5 along with at Brite Valley Lake in the Tehachapi’s. Crappie limits have been taken on minijigs in the dirt canals near Corcoran.
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.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 3 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Dylan Bos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported the spotted bass bite remains solid as the fish are up in the shallows in the mornings before backing off to deeper water around main lake and secondary points by mid-morning.
Wind is the best conditions for action as the bait will congregate around the points. Jigs, plastics on a shaky head, or tubes are all effective for numbers, but there have been quality spots in the 3- to 4-pound range landed regularly. Trout trollers are scoring running shad-patterned spoons near the surface on side planers near the dam. The Reel Deal Market and Barrett’s Cove Marina will only be open on Saturdays now from 10 am to 2 pm during the winter months. The lake rose to 804.06 feet in elevation and 63% of capacity.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
The last plant of 1,000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm rainbows was a month ago, and the lake needs another plant. Shore action continues to be slow as the remaining rainbows have spread throughout the lake. Trolling is the best option with silver/blue Kastmasters, red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger, or blade/’crawler combinations. The river arm above the First Fence Line is a good place to start for trolling. The lake rose to 97% of capacity.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2
The Fresno Bass Club tournament on Sunday was won with a five-fish limit of 11.65 pounds by Walt Austin with the big fish at 3.67 by A.J. Duncan. Grimsley said, “That’s about right for this time of year as the action is all finesse on the bottom with plastics on a Neko-rig, Ned-rig, shakey head, or finesse jigs.” Some of the bass are as deep as 75 feet, but they can also be found off bluff walls and near rock from 25 to 40 feet. The lake rose nearly a foot to 505.01 feet in elevation and 44% of capacity.
The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant dropped slightly to 424 cfs. Millerton will also be busy in the coming months with six bass tournaments scheduled in January, two in February, and one in March. Another trout plant is scheduled at Woodward Park in Fresno this week, Sycamore Island reopened its gates last Friday, and the park will be open 6 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. daily. The park is free Monday through Friday, and $9 per vehicle on Saturday and Sunday. Yearlong passes are available for $85. Two-person canoes and one-person kayaks are available for rent on the ponds for $10 per hour with lifejackets and paddles included. The gate is at 39664 Ave 7½ in Madera, or you can hike or bike in through the entrance across from the Valley Golf Center.
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
Boats were able to get on the lake starting Jan. 7 as they were the first boats to receive their red tags for a 30-day quarantine on December 7. The marina will be operating the decontamination unit for a fee within the near future. Only the Glory Hole launch ramp is open from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. to obtain a red tag to start a 30-day quarantine period. Boats must be off the water by 4 p.m. 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. Trout fishing has been much slower than downstream Lake Tulloch, but bass anglers are finding good action at depths to 40 feet with plastics, jigs, or tubes. An occasional quality largemouth or spot has been taken on a glide bait or a rainbow trout patterned swimbait on a slow presentation on the bottom. The lake rose to 1039.66 feet in elevation and 78% of capacity. Downstream Lake Tulloch has been excellent for experienced trout trollers
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 2Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Brandon Grimsley reported a continued slowdown on the bass front as the fish are in the shallows early in the mornings before heading into deep water by mid-morning. He said, “There is an opportunity for a quality spot on swimbaits in the morning when they are up, but after that, it’s all on the bottom with finesse techniques of dragging a jig or plastics on a Ned-rig or drop-shot along bluff walls at depths from 25 to 40 feet.”
Last week’s trout plant spurred some interest and some action as the rainbows are holding from the surface to 20 feet while king salmon are also on the move higher in the water column. Only four lakes have the possibility of being planted with inland king salmon due to an outbreak of IHN, ruining three of the four lots of eggs from the Feather River Hatchery. If the final lot of eggs is viable after April’s testing, Pine Flat will be one of the lakes that will be planted as it does not have a hatchery downstream of the lake. In the lower Kings River, limits of planted rainbows are possible with spinners such as Mepp’s, Roostertails, or Panther Martin’s, small Rapalas, Berkley’s Atomic Tubes, Power Bait, or inflated nightcrawlers. Interest has been high with all the plants, and another plant is scheduled this week.
Former NBA player and high school champion coach, Del Beshore of Sanger, landed a 23-inch, 5.1-pound rainbow on a Joe’s Fly with a meal worm spinner. Anglers continue to take trout out of the catch-and-release section, and citations have been a fairly common occurrence for fishing with barbed hooks or in possession of trout.
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 flows have dropped to 424 cfs at Trimmer. The lake rose 2½ feet to 841.62 feet in elevation and 46% of capacity. There are four bass tournaments scheduled in January with three in February.
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 the water is rising in the main lake, and the striped bass schools have dispersed. There have been schools holding on the bottom, and boaters are dropping live jumbo minnows on them. Pile worms have been effective from the banks around Dinosuar Pint and the rockwall around Highway 152. Trollers are pulling Lucky Craft 128s for decent action.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the bite continues to be sporadic- with fishing biting one day and dead the next. I guided a dad and a son (12) this week and we had to scratch out every one of the 15 fish we caught. The 12 yr old released a very nice new PB 26”, 7 lber. I was trolling flats areas in the main lake that were in the 70 plus depth range with Rapalas. Some guys are using 1½ ounce Duh spoons for a few fish too. We suspect that the full moon and rising water has the fish off balance. Water temps remain at around 58 degrees and the visibility is nearly 10’ in some areas. We are almost at the 500-foot lake elevation-, it could be a good year, “ George said.
In the O’Neill Forebay, pile worms are the best bet around Check 12. In the California Aqueduct, the water is running fast from the south Delta pumps to the main lake, and fishing has been slow. Below the O’Neill Forebay, the flows are very slow, and there hasn’t been enough flow to get the stripers active around the headgates.
The main lake rose to 72% of capacity balanced between water imports and exports while the forebay dropped to 78% 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 said, “The lake came up enough to get boats on the water after the recent storms, but it takes two people to launch. The best location to launch is at the dam. Limits of rainbow trout are possible from the surface to 15 feet with Dick’s Trout Busters or Rapalas in front of Miller’s Landing to the Sheriff’s Tower and down the middle of the lake. Rainbows to 5 pounds have been caught and released. It has been very cold in the morning, so dress in layers. The sun is out and warms up to the 50’s around noon. Shore fishing has also been producing some very nice trout with Rainbow Glitter Power Bait across from the Sheriff’s Tower on the west side of the lake”. A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. A trout plant occurred last week.
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. Lake capacities: Edison 29%, Florence 8%, and Mammoth Pool 27%.
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, “There are good reports of yearling and holdover rainbows taken around Black Rock with Dick’s Trout Busters behind a weighted Mountain Flasher on side poles at a setback of 100 feet or at 20 to 30 feet on the downrigger. Dan Weaver and Mike Holdridge of Clovis launched at 9:30 am and headed over to Black Rock to land two limits consisting of 9 rainbow trout to 19 inches and a 17-inch brown trout using green, pink, or red Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler at depths from 20 to 30 feet. They were the only boat in the Black Rock area.”
Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions before going up as the marinas are closed.
There hasn’t been any additional snow along the shorelines at Huntington, and fishing interest is left to the most dedicated brown trout trollers.
Call: 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 will remain closed until the regularly scheduled reopening on Memorial Day 2025 Weekend, depending upon weather.
Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crabs -3
Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete was out on Sunday with 8 anglers for limits of Dungeness crab on a crab-only trip. She is running these trips based upon demand for $155/angler.
Crab only trips or crab/sand dab trips are the story until at least April. When the weather cooperates, it is either limits of Dungeness crab or limits of rockfish. Surf perch action has been limited by the high surf over the past few weeks. According to the city’s website, the Pacifica Pier remains closed until further notice due to high tides and swells. Information: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/public-works/field-services/pacifica-pier.
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
Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
From the beaches, Mickey Clements reported the big swells continue to make perch fishing a challenge, but surf anglers are finding windows when the swells back off to find decent action for large barred perch to 14 inches with Lucky 13 grubs in motor oil/red flake. The small jerkbait bite remains slow.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “Recreational anglers around the bay are on the hunt for wintertime flatfish these days. Species available are sanddabs, Petrale and sand sole and an occasional bonus halibut. Those hunting for Dungeness crab got a boost recently when the CDFW approved the resuming of long-soak crab pots again. Reports from private crabbers suggest things are a bit slow. This is not surprising with the commotion of double-digit series of swells we’ve received over the past four weeks. Charter operations are up ready to ferry sport anglers out for some food and fun. Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey counted “lots of sandabs,” and up to 10 Petrale sole for a light load of ten anglers this weekend on the Caroline. Stagnaro’s Sport Fishing up in Santa Cruz had similar results.
On Friday, owner Ken Stagnaro reported, “Our first sanddab trip of the season yielded about 21 ‘dabs per person!” That’s plenty for dinner for the family and enough to share with the neighbors as well! We have had two years in a row now without a recreational or commercial salmon season. The decision for a 2025 season will not be confirmed until March (State regulations) and April (Federal regs). A true crusader for preservation of our salmon populations in California, and protection of the fragile Sacramento River systems, Dan Bacher of the Fishsniffer Magazine, had this to say on the topic, ‘A record high number of fall-run Chinook salmon have returned to the California’s Mokelumne River to date, while an alarmingly low number of Chinooks have come back to the Upper Sacramento River’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek. A low return of adults to Battle Creek has resulted in only 5½ million eggs being collected this fall. As a result, the hatchery management requested and received millions of salmon eggs from multiple hatcheries operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, including the Mokelumne River, Nimbus, and Feather River hatcheries.’ At this time, it is impossible to predict whether or not we’ll be able to resume fishing the salt for king salmon in our area come spring. Historically, salmon season is the biggest draw for both recreational and commercial anglers in Monterey Bay. The season, with its influx of anglers also contributes mightily to ancillary economics in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, with restaurants, hotels, fuel sales, and a host of other retail entities that benefit from the hundreds or thousands of visitors who come along for the season. We will have to wait and see. We may have a “regular” season, a closed season or a hybrid season with restrictions on fishing windows or size and bag limits.”
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 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 3 Crab 3
Crab only and crab/sand dab trips are the story until the next rockfish season opens in April. Emeryville Sport Fishing had a single boat out on Sunday for 21 limits of Dungeness crab. The commercial crab season opened on Jan. 5 with a 50% of capacity crab pot reduction. Recreational anglers can use crab pots until the Dungeness season ends on June 30. Inside San Francisco Bay, herring spawns are popping up throughout the Marin shorelines near Sausalito, and kayaks, boaters, and shore anglers are tossing cast nets for bucketloads of herring when the spawns are thick. This week’s full moon has brought out more spawns, and there are anglers who drop everything and run for their nets when the word of a spawn is on. The daily limit on herring is 10 gallons (approximately 10 pounds or 520 fish). Sturgeon anglers are heading to the south bay or San Pablo Bay, and for the first time in a few years, the action has been solid. Captain Steve Gutierrez of Deadliest Kast Guide Service caught and released four diamondbacks in the south bay sloughs over the weekend. There is a seasonal sturgeon closure from January 1 through March 15 within the following boundaries in San Francisco Bay: A direct line between Point Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Point Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Point Lobos and Point Bonita. Leopard shark and striped bass from the shorelines are the constant while sturgeon action has improved in the south 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
Surf perch 2
It’s boat maintenance, whale watching, nature cruises, and surf perch time on San Luis Obispo County coast as the final day for the 2024 boat-based rockfish season was Dec. 31. The next party boat trips will take place in April for rockfish. 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 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
The waters of the California Delta are starting to clear up after a heavy inflow of muddy water and debris from upstream sources, and the coming spring brings optimism for tremendous action for striped bass and white sturgeon. The signs are already starting to emerge as three years of high water flows seem to have bolstered the populations of both species. Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors found good action for limits of striped bass in the 6- to 7-pound range in the north Delta near Liberty Island on shad-patterned umbrella rigs.
He said, “The water is clearing up around 10 to 12 inches, and the water temperature has risen to 52 degrees. Things are shaping up for a great spring. Where the water is far less visible around Rio Vista, boaters are soaking frozen shad or sardines for limits of school-sized stripers. You must work at it with the lethargic bite, but if you stay with it, you will be rewarded. The white sturgeon are also on the move with the inflow from the upper river, and the banks around Merritt’s Landing and Hood are good locations to intercept the diamondbacks.” Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoorsman in Stockton, was on the anchor off of Decker Island with frozen shad for five linesides to 14 pounds for three anglers. He said, “Boaters are also finding keeper stripers on bait on the San Joaquin River on the shoals downstream of the mouth of the Mokelumne River.”Sturgeon fishing has been solid despite the cold water ranging from 49 to 51 degrees, and party boat captains are putting their clients onto 5 to 7 opportunities per trip. It’s not the 20 fish to the boat of a month or so ago, but there is enough action to create interest. Although most of the party boat action remains from Pittsburg downstream toward Martinez, more and more sturgeon are migrating up through Rio Vista into the upper river. 2024 Sturgeon Report Cards are due Jan. 31, and information on returning your report card online or via mail is available at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Sturgeon/Report-Card. In the past, only 31% of capacity of report cards were returned, leading to a lack of angler-generated data. Largemouth bass remains tough with the cold, dirty water, and it’s a matter of slowing way down to entice stripers from the sluggish bass. Tournament action will resume toward the end of the month as the bite should improve as the water clears and warms up. In the south San Joaquin River below the Mossdale Bridge, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported very slow action with the dirty water and presence of sea lions thrashing fish. A few stripers to 8½ pounds have been landed on live minnows near the Manteca Sportsmen’s Club. Nguyen added, “There is a solid crappie bite in Paradise Cut near Tracy for boaters working live minnows or minijigs. There are still crappie in Whiskey Slough, but the bite has slowed down.” Fresh shad is over for the season due to the cold water, but Mega Bait has plenty of frozen shad.
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
Jan. 12
Millerton – Fresno Bass Club
1st- Walt Austin – 11.65: 2nd – Timmy Wells – 9.24; 3rd – A.J. Duncan – 8.72 (Big Fish – 3.67).
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Jan. 18
Don Pedro – Christian Bass League
McClure – TriValley Bassmasters
Millerton – Kern County Bassmasters
Pine Flat – Sierra Bass Club
Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments
Jan. 19
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Pine Flat – Kings River Bass Club
Jan. 25-26
Millerton – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
Jan. 25
Nacimiento – Golden Empire Bass Club
Feb. 1
Delta/Pittsburg Marina – 18th Annual Diamond Classic Catch and Release Sturgeon Derby – Information: Pittsburg Marina (925) 439-4958.
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments/Kerman Bass Club
Feb. 2
Millerton – California Bass Federation
Feb. 8
Don Pedro – Sonora Bass Anglers
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments
Pine Flat – Bass 101
Santa Margarita – American Bass Association
Feb. 9
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments/Kings River Bass Club
Millerton – Kings VIII Bass Club
Feb. 15
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
Don Pedro – Bay Area Bassbusters
Eastman – Kerman Bass Club
Pine Flat – Golden Empire Bass Club
Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments
Feb. 16
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Don Pedro – California Bass Federation
Feb. 22
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Amador – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies
Tulloch – Outlaw Bass Club
Don Pedro – Christian Bass League
McClure – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
Millerton – Sierra Bass Club
Pine Flat – Kern County Bassmasters
Nacimiento – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
Feb. 23
Don Pedro – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club
Feb. 28-March 2
Don Pedro – Bass Angler Inc.
March 1
Lake Pardee- Westside Bass
Eastman – Kerman Bass Club
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Delta stripers and sturgeon bites rebounding."