Central California fishing report: Don Pedro bass, trout and king salmon action good; Delta Sturgeon still biting
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 sturgeon continue biting, Steve Mitchell said. Don Pedro bass, trout and king salmon action good, Monte Smith reported. McClure bass fishing wide open, Randy Pringle said. New Melones trout and bass hitting, Kyle Wise 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
The northern stretch of the California Aqueduct has increased the flows as San Luis Reservoir is rising every week, and cold, muddy water from the south Delta is flowing south. Catfish and striped bass action remains slow. Striperz Gone Wild Annual Memorial Aqueduct Tournament is tentatively scheduled for April 5 at Volta Road near Los Banos. In the southern section of the aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported cut sardines, lugworms, or jumbo live shiners after check gates are producing fair to decent results for striped bass while lure anglers found some action with white Magnum Flukes or Rat-L-Traps. Catfish were the best bet with chicken liver and dip bait scoring bites. Largemouth bass were lethargic, and a slow retrieve with finesse baits was the best way to get bitten. 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.
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
Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Quality largemouth bass remain a possibility with large profile jigs, swimbaits, or glide baits along the face of the dam. A few largemouths to 7 pounds have been caught and released within the past week. Jackie Hawj landed a personal-best 7.25-pound largemouth this week. After the first hour of light, the fish drop to the bottom with large profile jigs or plastics from 7 to 10 inches. The recent trout plant has brought anglers to the shoreline at Hensley. Catfish and carp are other possibilities. Eastman rose a half foot to 535.88 feet in elevation and 49% with Hensley rising over a foot to 479.21 elevation and 22%. The only tournaments scheduled at Eastman and Hensley are single tournaments in March at both lakes by the Kerman Bass Club.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army 2Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 1 King salmon 3 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing continues to score limits of rainbow trout to 3 pounds along with releasing plenty of king salmon to 14 inches. He has been trolling custom shad patterned spoons on side planers or on 3 to 5 colors of lead core, and even the king salmon have been hitting on the shallower lead core. The key is to find working birds as flocks of grebes are feeding heavily on the lake’s shad schools. Bass fishing has been solid with swimbaits in the early mornings or late afternoons along with plastics on a finesse presentation by mid-morning at depths to 60 feet. The new Hover Strolling technique is also productive for boats with Forward Facing Sonar. The Sonora Bass Anglers tournament on Saturday produced the top three limits over 14.5 pounds. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake rose 3 feet to 776.78feet in elevation and 70%. As the ongoing status of New Melones is uncertain, Pedro will be very busy in the coming months with nine more tournaments scheduled in February and five 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 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
The lake rose to 2558.71 feet in elevation and 28% with water releases at First Point at 288 cfs. Cope’s reported not much has changed here as bass anglers are having to put some work in to get quality bites. Sonars and blade baits are plucking an occasional keeper size bass while quality bites are coming on 3/8th or ½ ounce football black/blue jigs with Rapala black/blue Clean Up Craws and brown/purple jigs with Berkley’s Chigger Craws near Rocky, Engineer’s, or Piney Points. Triple S Dip Bait, cut baits, or nightcrawlers are picking up a few catfish, but the overall bite has been tough. The crappie bite has tapered down a bit, but the slabs can be found at depths from 15 to 40 feet with natural-colored jigs or live shiners. In the upper Kern River, Cope’s reported an excellent trout bite before the storms with Get Bent Baits, salmon eggs, spinners, or trout jigs while fly anglers are scoring with nymphs or streamers. The Upper Kern River was stocked last week in Section 4, River side Park in Kernville to Powerhouse #3 and Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge.
In the lower Kern, Cope’s reported trout can be found above Democrat to Keysville with salmon eggs, trout jigs, or Panther Martins. There have been no trout plants in the Lower Kern this year, but it’s still holding good numbers of trout. The bass bite is fair on crankbaits, jigs and spinners while catfish can be found on dip baits, nightcrawlers and cut baits. The lower Kern River was flowing at 487 cfs at Kernville. Cope’s Rod and Tackle hosted the 1st Annual Bakersfield Kid’s Outdoor Fishing Derby at the River Walk last Saturday, and stringers of planted rainbows were landed by very happy children. The event was a huge success.
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 5.5 feet to 626.64 feet in elevation and 23% despite heavy water releases directed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers via a presidential executive order. Cope’s reported fair action for largemouth bass at depths from 10 to 30 feet with plastics on the drop-shot or Senkos. Bullhead jigs with a smaller profile took fish along ledges and submerged humps while vertical spoons like blade baits and Kastmasters fooled bass in deeper water. Catfish anglers used Carolina rigged cut baits, and dip bait to land a few whisker fish. Trout were reported by anglers hooking rainbows while using rainbow Power Bait or Pinched Crawlers. Only one tournament is scheduled through the end of March. The Kaweah River is running at 175 cfs at Three Rivers.
Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose 2 feet to 606.71 feet in elevation and 20% even after water releases directed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers via a presidential executive order. Cope’s reported fair action for bass with Roboworms in Natural Shad, Oxblood, or Green Pumpkin on the drop-shot while small Keitech swimbaits or Senkos are also picking up fish. In deep water, spoons have been effective. Catfish were active with Triple S dip bait, cut baits, or chicken liver to land fish. There are few trout reports although the last plant was the week of January 19. There are no bass tournaments scheduled in February, but three are scheduled in March.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, was the tournament director for Saturday’s Best Bass Tournament Mother Lode Division event, and he said, “74 boats arrived for Saturday’s Best Bass Tournament, and although the winning limit was less than the 20 pounds the previous week, a 16-pound limit remains outstanding for this lake. The bass bite is wide open, and there is a window for trout-patterned swimbaits in the mornings. After the fish move out by mid-morning, the jig bite is excellent along with plastics on a drop-shot or dart head on light 6- to 8-pound fluorocarbon line on spinning rods. The bass will move up in the late afternoons when the water warms up.” The 1000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm rainbows planted two weeks ago has helped the swimbait along with trollers working 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 Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
The last trout plant was 2000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm trout were planted last Monday on January 26, but the farther away from the plant, the action slows. The lake has been planted on a biweekly basis, and another plant may occur soon. A few fish per rod are possible at the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina with rainbow glitter Power Bait, garlic Power Bait, Kastmasters, or inflated nightcrawlers. The remaining trout from the recent plant are migrating toward the river arm, and trolling with red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger or blade/’crawler combinations in the river arm above the First Fence Line are picking up holdover rainbows. The lake is at 94 percent.
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 3 Crappie 2
Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun reported Millerton remains a grind for bass anglers as the spotted bass are holding deep near rock by mid-morning before coming into the shallows around boulders when the sun is out in the afternoons. Plastics on the drop-shot or dart head along with jigs on a football head on a slow presentation remain the story at depths from 40 to 60 feet, and there are bait balls observed as deep as 90 feet. The lake rose nearly 2 feet to 512.34 feet in elevation and 49 percent. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant held at 419 cfs. Millerton will also be busy in the coming months with three more tournaments in February and one in March. Sycamore Island is reopened, and the park will be open every day from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. The park is free Monday through Friday, and $9 per vehicle on Saturday and Sunday. Yearlong passes are available for $85. 2-person canoes and 1-person kayaks are available for rent on the ponds for $10 per hour with lifejackets and paddles included. The gate is at 39664 Ave 7 1/2 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 3
With the 30-day quarantine restrictions, few boats have been working the lake, but both trout and bass action has been tremendous. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been putting his clients onto quick limits of rainbow trout running Wee Tad’s in a variety of colors at depths from the surface to 25 feet at 2..6 mph. The bass have moved off of the banks to depths to 50 feet, but as the weather levels out, they will be returning to the shallows in the mornings and late afternoons. Plastics on the Ned-rig, dart head, or drop-shot along with tubes are working on light line on spinning rods. Only the Glory Hole launch ramp is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to obtain a red tag to start a 30-day quarantine period. Boats must be off the water by 4:00 pm to receive a green tag to relaunch without quarantining or decontamination. Bank fishing is allowed. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards, may also be subject to inspection. The lake rose to 1041.72 feet in elevation and 79 percent. Initially, there were two bass tournaments scheduled in February and another four in March, but these are being moved to other bodies of water. 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
Brandon Grimsley reported a respectable Pine Flat limit at 13-plus pounds took Saturday’s Bass 101 tournament, and there is a swimbait bite early in the mornings before the bass back off into deep water by mid-morning as deep as 80 feet. Small jigs or plastics on a Neko-rig are working best when the bass move deep. In the late afternoons, after the water warms up, the bass will move up again into the shallows. For trout and salmon, Brian Klassen reported very slow fishing this past week with three kings to 15 inches and a rainbow at 12 inches. He said, “We fished the same loop right out of Trimmer at 75 to 90 feet with rolled shad or Brad’s Cut Plugs, and it was a busy area as there were several boats working the same area. The high barometric pressure may have been a factor as the best score I heard was from Brett Dodds of Sanger with 7 king salmon to 21 inches in the same area but depths from 90 to 100 feet. He added that two of these fish had mud in their bellies, and I find it surprising that the fish are so deep this early in the year with the surface temperature at 54 degrees.” In the lower Kings River, the last trout plant was two weeks ago. Interest in trout fishing remains high in the easily accessed locations such as Winton Park. The action has slowed with the lack of plants, but a few fish per rod of planted rainbows remain possible with Roostertails, Atomic Tubes, Joe’s Flies, small spinners, or nightcrawlers. 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. Citations remain a common occurrence for fishing with barbed hooks or in possession of trout. The flows rose from 531 to 1296 cfs at Trimmer. The lake rose 5.5 feet to 850.15 feet in elevation and 50 percent.
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 trollers are finding good action toward the dam area with Lucky Craft Pointer 128’s in shad patterns at depths around 45 feet
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the bite has been sporadic for trollers and reaction anglers lately. The trollers are getting a few fish on Arigs and minnow type lures working the Portuguese Cove area in the 60-70’ depth range. I fished with a friend this week and we released over 20 fish, with one 33”, 13.5 lb kicker in the mix. Finding active biting fish remains the key to success right now in the 56 degree water. The forecast upcoming storm system may help the bite. “ George said.
The O’Neill Forebay remains the same with small stripers the rule with pile worms or jumbo minnows near Check 12. The main lake continues to rise with increased exports out of the south Delta, and it is now 78% while the forebay is releasing water, dropping to 74%. 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
With the cold weather, there have been few boats out, and the low water level has been a deterrent to putting a boat in the water. Shore anglers are braving the cold for decent trout action from the banks across from the Sheriff’s Tower with yellow or rainbow glitter Power Bait. A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Kaiser Pass Road is closed to vehicle traffic with only snowmobile access available. Edison is at 22, Florence at 9, and Mammoth Pool at 26%.
Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Shaver Lake will be under the microscope this spring/summer as the question remains: Will there be a viable 3rd-year kokanee population despite no planting from the Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2023? A shortage of kokanee eggs in 2023 led to four smaller reservoirs left unplanted, but Shaver is the only lake without a plant annual hosting a major tournament. Shaver guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “As my fellow guide Todd Wittwer and I discovered a few years ago under the same circumstances, it’s quite possible that the natural spawn three years ago will supplement the missing planters. The department said the 2nd-year kokanee should be larger than normal this year due to less competition for food. But this is double jeopardy there because a heavy take of 2nd-year kokanee will decrease next year’s mature group,” adding, “Between storms, a few boats hit the water as a half dozen were on the lake Saturday. Most are focused around Black Rock and the Boy Scout Cove. Fishing at 10 to 20 feet down with an assortment of spinners or tubes tipped with crawler behind a bright dodger on the riggers and similar tackle on weighted flashers on the side poles with a 100 setback are the best option for a couple limits of trout to 17 inches. Kokanee are still few in the mix. The water level should continue to rise slowly until reaching a peak during the summer.”
Richard Mendenhall of TNK tackle was out with two friends recently, and they found success for two limits of trout from 12 to 16 inches along with two kokanee to 17 inches. Mendenhall said, “We did find schools of kokanee around Stevenson and Boy Scout Coves, and we scored with top line at a setback of 200 feet with the TNK Tackle’s Slo-Go Spinners in Black Widow, Krill Bil, l and Watermelon as well as Micro Hyper Bugs in Orange/Char, Wonder Bread and Copper Red. We used TNK Pro Kick Large dodgers in watermelon and various colors and TNK Rudders on the Slo-Go’s when not using a dodger to prevent line twist. Our downriggers were set from 13 to 22 feet with 80 and 100 ft setbacks, and we trolled at 1.3 to 1.5 mph. We also ran two Hybrid Lead core setups between 3 and 4 colors.” The early season 17-inch kokanee was a good sign, but with the bulk of the kokanee season on the horizon, only time will tell if the gamble not to plant the lake pays off.
Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions
At Huntington, fishing interest is left to the most dedicated brown trout trollers. Shaver is at 62% and Huntington at 46%.
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 2
Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete was the last boat out for 8 limits of Dungeness crab. Boat-based fishing is over until at least April except for Dungeness crab which is open until June 30. Boat maintenance for party boats takes center stage while rock crab and rockfish are possible from the North or South Jetty with surf perch from the beaches. The Pacific Pier has partially reopened after several weeks of closure.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819;
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crab 3
From the beaches, Tom Niccum of Coyote Bait and Tackle reported an excellent perch bite from the beaches from Watsonville south to Marina with Honey Badger or Lucky 13 grubs in motor oil/red flake. He added, “There are stripers hanging around the mouth of the Salinas River, and I don’t know if they recently came out of the estuary with the bar opening. Ripbaits have been the ticket for the linesides.” The big event of the near future is the sold-out Sand Crab Surf Perch Classic on March 9.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “Chris Arcoleo of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching reported ‘Lots of sanddabs, and lots of mackerel” plus 20 Petrale sole for anglers aboard the Caroline this week. The big charter boats continue to make multiple trips per week, with light loads and plenty of fish being brought in. Saturday’s medium sized load on the Chubasco for J&M Sportfishing did pretty well. Sixteen anglers brought in 127 Dungeness crab, 603 sand dabs, 50 mackerel, and eight Petrale sole. Private boaters are finding the Dungeness crab in 180 to 200 feet of water north of the Harbor, but shy of the Moss Landing Submarine Canyon.
Out of Moss Landing, there are as many sand dabs out there as any angler is willing to take. Using a # 6 Sabiki rig tipped with squid, the little flatfish are coming over the rail in doubles, tripes and quadruples. Boaters from Moss Landing are working the sand flats for Dungeness crab at 180 feet on both sides of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon, with slightly higher counts coming from south of the canyon. Repositioning pots is a must, as the crab are on the move. Here today, gone tomorrow.
From Santa Cruz, crabbers are traveling more towards the middle of the Bay on their hunt for Dungeness. Depths vary from 140 feet to 200. Crab counts are lower than most years for this month, and repositioning pots seems to be key. The sand flats near Pajaro and Soquel Canyons are still the best bet, though some are finding success straight out of Santa Cruz Harbor and even slightly north of town. Sand dabs are blanketing the flats from 120-300 feet of water, with a decent mix of Petrel Sole as a bonus. The offshore crabbers and dabbers are reporting plenty of bait out in the deep, with big schools of anchovies and plenty of mackerel to catch for those inclined.”
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 3 Sturgeon 2 Crab 2
It’s been a week with only commercial crab boats heading outside the Golden Gate, and only a few commercial boats are working with the crab counts on the downward spiral. The California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife’s annual Salmon Information Meeting via webinar on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 10:00 am, and this meeting should provide a glimpse into any possibility for a 2025 ocean salmon season.
Inside the bay, private and party boats are gearing up for halibut season, and a few boats have been trying around Oyster Point, but the pickings are slim as it is way too early for consistent success. Traditionally, the clearest water in the bay is found from Oyster Point to Coyote Point, and around the middle of March, the fleet will be out trolling. Herring spawns are on their way out, but there has been the occasional small spawn along the Marin County or East Bay shorelines. Few sturgeon anglers are working the south bay, but Captain Steve Gutierrez of Deadliest Kast out of Oyster Point continues to find success soaking ghost shrimp around the Dumbarton Bridge. Leopard shark are the best option for action, and there are several locations throughout the bay where the sharks can be found. There is a seasonal sturgeon closure from January 1 through March 15 within the following boundaries in San Francisco Bay: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Pt. Lobos and Pt. 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
Although boat-based rockfishing is over until April, the Black Pearl out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay targeted sand dabs, sole, and black cod on a recent trip, returning with 64 black cod, bucketloads of sand dabs, and several quality sole. Other than the occasional fishing trip, it’s boat maintenance, whale watching, nature cruises, and surf perch time on San Luis Obispo County coast. 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
Sturgeon fishing remains solid for 5 to 7 opportunities per trip with cured salmon roe in the Pittsburg area, but with the high water, the diamondbacks are migrating upriver. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing had two solid trips over the weekend, catching and releasing a few upper slot to oversized sturgeon per trip. There has been some good action from the banks around Merritt’s Landing and Clarksburg. Grass dominates the river as the past two heavy storms have unleashed and broken up vegetation from throughout the river system. Visibility is very limited throughout the Sacramento side of the Delta, but ultimately, the high water will pay dividends once the water temperatures rise from the current 49 degrees to the 54-degree range and the water clears. Striped bass action should be outstanding by mid-March. Largemouth bass continues to be slow, but Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors landed a 9.17-pound largemouth on a ½-ounce spinnerbait in chartreuse/white with silver/gold Colorado blades in the north Delta in shallow water prior to the storms.
On the San Joaquin side, last week’s two atmospheric rivers have reacquainted the south Delta to muddy and grassy conditions, but there are still some areas with clearer water in the back sloughs. As a result, action for striped and largemouth bass has slowed considerably. For largemouth bass, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, will hold the first of four ‘Golden Mussel’ events this coming Saturday, February 15 in the Delta, and these are open tournaments for all levels of bass fishermen. He said, “Largemouth bass fishing is very slow as you must keep your bait in the strike zone as long as possible. The ima Flit 120 in shad patterns on a ‘dead stick’ retrieve or plastics, such as the Berkley Pit Boss in natural colors on a Zappu head are producing a few bass, but it’s far from solid.” The best action for largemouth bass has been coming in the shallows from 6 inches to 4 feet on the high tide with umbrella rigs, jigs, or Senkos as the bass are holding in the weeds, eating crawdads or other life. Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported continued slow action in the south San Joaquin River, but crappie have been taken via bank or boat with live minnows in Whiskey Slough although the bite isn’t red hot. Fresh shad is unavailable with the cold water, but Stockton-area bait shops have 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:
Tournament results:
Don Pedro – Sonora Bass Anglers – February 8th: 1st – C. Adams/J. Fernandez – 14.77; 2nd –J.Wood/J.Smith – 14.67; 3rd – D. Robbins/T. Hollenbeck – 14.53. Big Fish – 4.69 – J.Rose/C.Rose.
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments Mother Lode Division – February 8th: 1st – Mark Weiglein/Scott Burke – 17.91; 2nd – Mark Mendenhall/Greg Woods – 16.73; 3rd – Scott Paraons/Doug Naruo – 16.04.
Pine Flat – Bass 101– February 8th: 1st – Nick S./Jordan P. – 13.45; 2nd – Derek B./Austin B. – 12.85; 3rd – Jarod G./Eddie A. – 12.12.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Santa Margarita – American Bass Association
February 15th –
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
February 16th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Don Pedro – California Bass Federation
February 22nd –
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
February 23rd-
Don Pedro – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club
February 28th/March 2nd –
Don Pedro – Bass Angler Inc.
March 1st –
Lake Pardee- Westside Bass
Eastman – Kerman Bass Club
March 9th –
Santa Cruz – Sand Crab Classic Perch Derby
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Don Pedro bass, trout and king salmon action good; Delta Sturgeon still biting."