FROM ALL ANGLERS

Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, a central San Joaquin Valley native and local fishing expert.

Key: 1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=excellent fishing

ROGER’S COMMENTS: I got an e-mail from a Kaweah angler who is very concerned about the destruction of that fishery by loads of anglers taking huge numbers of bass and crappie out of the tiny lake, who almost light up the lake at night like a city. It got me to thinking about other lake disasters we’ve seen as well as the general state of our Valley fishing and how we got to this point.

First of all, change is never easy, and it usually takes looking truthfully at the problem before we’re willing to do the hard things necessary to turn the ship around. The definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing, but expect a different result, which is what I believe we’re doing when the overall fishing is going downhill, but we’re doing nothing to address the reoccurring problems we face of enforcement, protection of a hard hit fishery, or the planting of fish to offset over harvesting.

VALLEY
New Melones Reservoir
Bass-2 Crappie-2 Catfish-3 Trout-3 Kokanee-1
Danny Layne of Fishin’ Dan’s Guide Service said despite a lack of fishing pressure, the trout bite is very good for trollers working the Spillway, and Shipwreck or Rose Islands with small shad-patterned spoons, ExCels, Vance’s Slim Fins, Triple Teasers, Shasta Tackle Matrix Paddle Tails or rolled shad from 40 to 60 feet for fish to 4-pounds. The surface temperatures are starting to cool, in spite of the triple-digit temperatures. Larry Williams of Murphys caught a limit or trout on crawlers/rainbow Power Bait while still-fishing from his boat upriver beyond the Parrotts Ferry Bridge. For browns, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods advised trolling Rapala Countdowns or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or roll shad, 50-60 feet deep (in the same areas, but closer to structure). Joe Aksamit of Joefish Guide Service predicts the new Finnish trolling blades are going to work great for big browns, as well as kind salmon and stripers in other local lakes. Night fishing for trout under a submersible light has been great with the light at depths of 20 feet and crawlers or crawler/Power Bait combinations 10 to 20 feet under the lights. No change in the bass bite which is rated fair to slow by Lewis with a good top-water bite going on at dawn and dusk with Zara Spooks, buzz baits, or Pop-Rs. When the sun is up, crawdad or shad-colored Carolina-rigged 6″ worms, rip-baits, spinnerbaits, Zoom Baby Brush Hogs, or Senkos are working along the strong mud lines that are forming on the lake right now. Catfishing remains strong with anchovies, night crawlers or mackerel from the banks. William Heine of Arnold landed catfish of 9 and 4-pounds on frozen shad at Glory Hole Point. Dave Rose of Jackson caught a 5-pound, 10-ounce cat on shad while bank-fishing near Tuttletown Crappie and bluegill action is slow with the best action at night under lights at depths from 10 to 30 feet around submerged trees with live small or medium minnows, or crappie jigs with jigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white in Bear, Carson or Mormon Creeks. The lake dropped one foot to 959.37 in elevation and 47% of capacity. The Angels Cove Launch Ramp is closed with the Tuttletown on the low water ramp and Glory Hole still at the mid-ramp. The lowest ramp at Glory Hole is usable until the lake hits 860 vertical feet in elevation. Call 736-4333, Monte Smith (209) 581-4734, Danny Layne -Fishn’ Dan (209) 586 2383, Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023.

San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Stripers-3 Catfish -2 Bass-2 Crappie-1
Ly Tu of Ly’s Fishing Goods in San Jose said the past weekend’s winds kept most boats off of the main lake, but there were limits of stripers in the 18 to 24-inch range at depths from 60 to 80 feet near the Trash Racks on bag anchovies or sardines. Anchovies have been difficult for area bait shops to obtain, so sardines have been a good alternative. There were limits of stripers to 32-inches landed on live grass shrimp by bank anglers willing to take the long walk to the water at Romero Visitor Center. Live grass shrimp has been very popular in the past couple of weeks. Throw nets or seine nets are illegal to use to harvest the shrimp-only a legal handled dip net is allowed. In the Forebay, the weeds are still heavy and keeping anglers constantly cleaning their terminal tackle. The area under the Bridge is still the location of choice for the occasional small striper. Catfish are found around Check 12 with sardines or mackerel. The lake has risen with 2233 acre-feet of Sacramento River water to 22% of capacity. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805. ; Call: Ly’s Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

Eastman Lake
Bass-3 Trout-1 Bluegill -2 Catfish-3 Crappie-2
Very few reports from anglers despite an improved bass bite for fish in the 2 to 4-pound class on baby Brush Hogs near the Dam or in the river channel. Catfish can be found with chicken livers or anchovies from dusk to midnight along the banks. The water is starting to show the effects of green algae. The lake is holding at 471.41 feet in elevation and 9% of capacity. CF22>Call: 689-3255.

Hensley Lake
Bass-2 Trout-1 Catfish-2 Bluegill-2
Not much change with anglers reporting an improved bass bite, most likely with bottom fishing techniques of plastics or jigs. The lake is holding at 477.02 feet in elevation and 21% of capacity. The swimming area is closed for the season due to a steep drop off caused by low lake levels. Both ramps are open, but the Buckridge – East side – of the lake closes at dark due to recent vandalism. Boaters using this launch need to be off of the lake by closing time. 225-1838, 292-3474, 673-5151.

McSwain Reservoir
Trout-3
McSwain Marina reported limits have been caught daily on blade/crawler combinations on the trolling pattern from Gilligan’s Island to the Dam and back at depths to 30 feet. A 7-pound rainbow was landed on a green Wedding Ring tipped with a crawler near Gilligan’s Island. Purple Passion or chartreuse Power Bait is working from the banks near E-Loop, the Handicapped Docks or the Brush Pile. The area of the lake near the Dam will be off-limits this weekend, including the Handicapped Docks, due to the Turlock Airplane Club’s annual event. A Calaveras Trout Farm plant is scheduled for the latter portion of this week. Call: (209) 378-2534.

Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs
Stripers-3 Catfish-2
The local aqueducts near Firebaugh remain steady for small stripers or catfish on bag anchovies. James Mize said striper rods and reels are starting to sell which is a sure sign of an improved bite in the canals or San Luis Reservoir. In the south Aqueduct, Pete Cormier reported the water flows have slowed down, and striper and catfish action is picking up with bait due to improved conditions with less debris on the water.

Millerton Lake /San Joaquin River
Bass-2 Stripers-1 Shad-1 Trout-2
James Mize of Valley Rod and Gun said you have to wade through a bunch of small fish in order to find keepers, but a 6.5 to 7-pound limit is possible with fish to 2-pounds. There is an occasional top water fish, but the most consistent action continues to be on the bottom with shad-patterned plastics or jigs from the banks to 30 feet along deep, sloping banks in the main lake. The 11th Annual Fundraiser for the Clovis Police Department Mounted Patrol is this coming weekend at the Fresno Ramp with a free tri-trip lunch for participants after the weighin. Stripers are very spread out, working the massive pin shad schools coming to the surface at dusk all over the lake. The lake is now holding at 539.66 feet in elevation and 68% of capacity due to over 314 acre-feet of inflow from upstream sources. A trout plant is scheduled this week on the lower San Joaquin River this week, and the river has slowed to very fishable conditions. Call: 225-1838, 292-3474.

Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass-2 Trout-2 King Salmon-1 Catfish-2
James Mize of Valley Rod and Gun reported an improved bass bite with reaction baits of buzz baits, spinner baits and top water lures such as Zara Spooks working early in the morning or in the evenings. Trout fishing is hit or miss with some good scores posted on Humdingers, ExCels or Needlefish in shad-patterns on a downrigger from 40 to 50 feet in the main lake from Deer Creek to Zebe Cove to the Dam. The trout are loading up on the shad and finding the schools is essential to finding the trout. The lake is holding at 759.41 feet in elevation to 20% of capacity. The lower Kings below the Dam has slowed down with minimal water releases from the dam. A trout plant is scheduled for this week, so action should be decent with Power Bait, spinners or inflated crawlers in the slow moving water. > Call: 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474.

Lake Kaweah
Bass-3 Crappie-3 Trout-1 Catfish-2
Sierra Sporting Goods in Exeter reported excellent bass action in the low, stable water. Jigs, top water, plastics, and crankbaits are all working for bass to 7-pounds. Live crawdads continue to take larger bass which are unfortunately generally being kept. Crappie are biting small minnows or minijigs in the rocks or near the Houseboats as most of the trees are out of the water. Live crickets are working for both bluegill and catfish. Anglers are concerned the heavy pressure and harvest of the small lake is going to drastically affect it very soon. The reservoir dropped one-half vertical feet to 579.80 feet in elevation and 6% of capacity. Call:592-5922.

McClure Reservoir
Bass-3 Trout-2 King Salmon-2 Kokanee-1 Crappie-2 Catfish-3
Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said things are pretty much the same with shad-patterned plastics on the drop shot or ¼ oz. dart head, brown/purple jigs or Baby Brush Hogs in watermelon/red, shad-patterns or watermelon/purple working form the banks to 30 feet. Trout fishing continues to be slow with the best action under lights at night at the Houseboats. Catfishing remains strong with bag anchovies, live crawdads or minnows in Piney Creek or any major creek arm along sloping banks. The lake dropped three vertical feet this week to 759.59 feet and 44% of capacity. Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505, Fishwrangler’s Guide Service (209) 604-8222, Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053.

Lake Don Pedro
Bass-2 Trout-3 Kokanee-1 King Salmon-2
Jay Graham of the Fresno Bass Club reported a tough bite during the past weekend’s tournament with only four limits boated out of 41 boats. The reaction bite is still non-existent with best action around the submerged trees holding fish. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford recommended shad-patterned plastics on the drop shot or dart head, as well as Baby Brush Hogs in watermelon/red fished from the banks to 30 feet in depth. Live medium and large minnows are also very effective. Danny Layne of Fishn’ Dan’s Guide Service reported continued good action for limits of trout to 3-pounds on shad-patterned Ex-Cel’s, Vance’s Slim Fin, Shasta Tackle Matrix Paddle Tails behind a Sling Blade at 2 MPH at Schoolhouse Point, Jenkins Hill, Laughlin Island and off of Copper Mountain at depths from 40 to 60 feet. A few king salmon have been found from 80 to 120 feet in depth on rolled shad. The water temperature is cooling at 76 degrees, and both Layne and Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing are predicting an outstanding fall. Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734, Danny Layne -Fishn’ Dan (209) 586-2383.

HIGH SIERRA
Bass Lake
Bass-2 Trout-2 Kokanee-2
Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service continues to search for the small pod of big fish that exists in the lake, and he anticipates the dropping water will push this group of large kokanee towards the Dam. Trout fishing is slow, but things will improve in the next month with the resumption of trout plants and cooling water temperatures. Now that the power boating season is all but over, there is renewed interest in bass fishing. Call: 642-3141, Todd Wittwer 288-8100, 642-3633, 642-3737; Mike Bieghy 642-3748.

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee-2 Trout-3 Smallmouth-3
Captain Jack Yandell reported continued outstanding trout fishing between Tunnel and Stevenson Creeks at depths to 20 feet on his Super Fat Bugs in perch or orange behind a Shaver Lake Dodger. Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters continues to boat limits of rainbows to 15-inchs on his Dick’s Trout Busters spinners tipped with a crawler behind a Captain Jack’s Shaver Lake Dodger. Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods also is enjoying great trout action on blade/crawler combinations. Saturday’s Kokanee Power Tournament was a struggle for most with the 15th place finisher weighing in a single fish. There were only 35 fish brought to the weighin with the majority of fish scraped off of the bottom at the ledge near Black Rock. The Shaver Lake Marina will remain open until approximately mid-October for boat rentals and other services. The lake rose to 70% of capacity with releases from Huntington. At Huntington, Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods reported the lake levels are on their way down, but limits of trout can be found on blade/crawler combinations, Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler or small spoons in the main channel. Kokanee fishing is all but over for the season after a fantastic year. Huntington has dropped to 87%, and the lake is expected to drop in the near future with boaters advised to remove their crafts from the Huntington marinas due to low water for dam maintenance.841-2522, 841-2740, Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435, Rancheria Marina 893-3234, Young’s Sporting Goods 841-8271, Dick’s Fishing Charters 841-5331.

Wishon/Courtright
Trout-2
Chuck Crane of Wishon RV Park said trout fishing at Wishon has really gotten slow with the best action early in the morning or from dusk to dark on night crawlers behind a large flasher at depths from 4 to 7 colors. He said, “You have to work hard to get a limit”. Speedy Shiners continue to pick up a fish or two. Shore fishing is fair at Short Hair Creek or the Helms Creek Parking Lot with orange Power Bait. Courtright has also slowed down with the lake dropping and getting low. Blade/crawler combinations, Thomas Buoyants or Needlefish in various colors are working at 4 to 6 colors. Shore fishing is slow with the best action at the Dam on inflated crawlers or Power Bait. There is minimal pressure at Courtright. Dinky Creek isn’t scheduled for additional plants in the coming weeks, so the few remaining fish are holding in the few local pools with crickets, salmon eggs or night crawlers. Crane said there was only a pair of bucks brought in for pictures over the weekend despite heavy hunter interest. Call Wishon RV Park 865-5361.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Brown Trout-2 Trout-3
Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods touts the Portal Forebay as a great location for fly fishermen on tubes working the surface. There was little fishing interest at the Kaiser Pass lakes due to increased vehicle traffic with the deer opener. Vermilion Valley Resort is holding a fall fishing special with 20% off for a three-night package Sundays through Wednesdays through October 7th. Edison is holding at 52% with the ramp in operation, Florence has dropped again to just 3% with Mammoth Pool dropping to 22%. Call: 259-4000.

OCEAN
San Francisco Bay
Halibut-3 Stripers-3 Rockfish- 3 Leopard Shark-2 Sturgeon-2
Rockfishing remains a solid option up the Marin coast or at the Farallon Islands. This week’s great weather conditions should make for an easy run to the Islands. Emeryville Sport Fishing sent out six boats to the Farallons or up the Marin coast on Saturday for 840 rockfish for 95 anglers, plus 25 lings to 12-pounds, 9 halibut to 13-pounds and a lonely 8-pound striper. Inside the bay, halibut fishing is still happening with party boats averaging a fish or more per rod. Jim Smith of the Happy Hooker stayed close to the harbor on Saturday, putting in 30 fish for 27 anglers with 8 stripers to 16-pounds included in this total. He said the majority of bass were in the 6 to 8-poun d range, but there were two or three pushing 16-pounds. There were also halibut to 16-pounds on board. James Smith on the California Dawn put in over a fish a rod on Saturday with 21 halibut to 14-pounds and 10 stripers for 25 anglers working similar areas in the Berkeley Flats. The striper counts have moved up in the past couple of days, perhaps due to the increased water movement. James took out 12 anglers on Sunday in the Berkeley Flats for over a fish a rod at 12 halibut to 10-pounds and 5 stripers to 8-pounds.
John Akina at Oyster Point Bait, Tackle and Deli said there was a 30-inch halibut taken off of the pier on Sunday morning with another large fish lost. The white sea bass action at the Alameda Rockwall has slowed down, most likely to the boat pressure pushing off the fish during the weekend. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait reported solid halibut action with Jim Cox on the Touch of Gray boated 5 halibut, 2 leopard shark and a 27-pound white sea bass on Saturday, and he had 4 halibut and another white sea bass on Sunday morning. The Predator out of Loch Lomond picked up 8 limits of stripers on mudsuckers or bullheads on Saturday near Buoy 4, which is within 10 minutes of the harbor. Bait fishing along the China Camp shoreline with bullheads remains excellent. Chris Seabourne at C Biscuits in Vallejo reported continued good striper action up the Napa River at the Dumps, Meadows, White Slough, Duxman Slough and South Slough with bullheads.

Monterey
Rockfish-3 Albacore-2
Todd Arcaleo of Chris’s Landing in Monterey said they had a local rockfishing out today for 10 limits. They were able to jig up fresh squid which they used to land the rockfish. They went to Point Sur yesterday for limits of quality rockfish. With this week’s good weather forecast, and the tuna grounds within reach, they plan on getting some live bait together for an albacore trip. Private boats out of Monterey reported took up to 26 fish 61 degree at 36/53 and 122/54 or from 36/54 to 122/49. The ride home was on the bumpy side. With the weather coming down, expect to see some great scores this week.Ly Tu reported fair fishing for small perch and the occasional striped bass off of the Santa Cruz County beaches. Call (831) 375-5951, Bayside Marine (831) 475-2173, usafishing.com.

San Luis Obispo
Rock Cod -3 Albacore-3
The albacore have arrived and Virg’s will be running trips daily departing at 11:00 p.m. and returning between 7 and 8 on the following evening for $235/angler. The Princess put in 66 longfins and a pair of skipjack on Saturday. An earlier crew trip on the Fiesta resulted in 51 albacore to 23-pounds near the Donut with half the fish on live bait. Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay reported 352 anglers landed 185 albacore to 28-pounds, 1 42-pound bluefin tuna, 2 skipjacks, 11 ling cod to 8-pounds, 429 vermilion, 1874 assorted rockfish, 58 coppers, 13 boccaccio and 22 bolina. Top local anglers were Sal Ortiz of Porterville and William Bolincue of Bakersfield with 8-pound lings, and Joe Newsome of Porterville with a 6-pound vermilion. Patriot Sport Fishing in Avila Beach is getting albacore fever with their first trip scheduled this coming Sunday, September 27th. They continue to average from one-half to full limits of assorted rockfish and bolina with up to 12 ling cod to 19.5-pounds during the current week. There were a total of 29 lings landed this week. Their annual Ling Cod Contest runs from August 15th through November 15th with a $3000.00 top prize. Patriot has given out a total of 78 free trips this season for releasing a 10-pound plus ling cod. Patriot Sport Fishing Call Virg’s Landing, (805)772-1 222, (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sports Fishing (805)595-4100; Port Side Marine Sports Launch (805) 595-7214.

OTHERS
Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez
Bass-3 Stripers-2 Catfish-2
Matt Short at Jim’s Pro Bass and Tackle in Paso Robles said Lopez has been the top area lake with top water action in the morning, and buzzbaits working throughout the day. Quality bass to 6-pounds have been common with some large limits taken. Santa Margarita is full of weeds, and the frog bite hasn’t materialized this year. Both lakes are dropping. San Antonio has dropped to the 3rd Ramp, and despite the plentiful bait fish, the shad haven’t been seen boiling on the surface. Shad are found in the Marina and back in Bee Rock Cove near the Dam. Catfishing has been a constant at this lake. At Nacimiento, spinnerbait or plastics in shallow water have been the top techniques with the best action in the afternoons. San Antonio has held at 721.50 feet in elevation and 32% of capacity with Nacimiento dropping two vertical feet to 709.15 feet and 13% of capacity. Call: (805) 238-1056 ext. 3, (805) 472-2818; Central Coast Bass Fishing.com (805) 466-6557.

Delta/Stockton
Bass- 2 Stripers-3 Sturgeon-2
There have been some large stripers moving into the Delta, particularly on this week’s big incoming tide. B and S Bait at McAvoy’s Harbor at Bay Point reported fish of 40, 38, 36, 32 and multiple linesides in the 20’s at the Firing Line or straight out from the harbor in the main Sacramento River on bullheads or fresh shad.
Jay Sorensen of Jolly Jay’s Guide Service was soaking butterflied shad doubled on an 8/0 hook on the incoming tide on September 18th with Richard Rogers of Fresno for a huge limit of stripers at 35 and 22-pounds. There are still reports of excellent striper fishing on the small bullheads rigged in the tail with a circle hook for fish to 3 to 9-pounds at Seal Island and the Middle Grounds. Allison Shawnego at Hap’s Bait in Rio Vista said bait fishing has been tops for stripers off of Decker Island or in Steamboat Slough due to the larger tides. The troll bite has slowed temporarily with the larger tide movement. The annual seminar for the Rio Vista Striped Bass Derby is this coming Saturday, September 26th at Hap’s. The schedule is as follows: 9:00 – Sturgeon Fishing with Barry Canevero, 10:30 – Clyde Wands, Shallow water trolling for stripers/smallmouth bass12:00 – Bait fishing for stripers on balance beams by Barry Canevero, 1:30 – Mark Wilson of Mark Wilson’s Sport Fishing – striper trolling, 3:00 – Captain’s Round Table. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, reported the largemouth bite is mediocre to fair with his clients landing a limit at 21-pounds on Monday, including fish to 6-pounds. The bread and butter continue to be the Zappu head on a Berkley Power Worm, Chigger Craws or Persuader E-chip jigs worked slowly on the outside weed lines at high tide. The higher tides have allowed the bass to move up into the rip rap and weeds, and there have been some quality fish landed on top water lures of the IMA Rumba or Big Stick. There are large numbers of smaller fish hitting the lures. The stripers on the San Joaquin have scattered with the larger tides, hot water temperatures and no wind early in the week.
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Kevin Yost, Lucky Strike Fishing (707) 301-8050, Mark Wilson Sport Fishing (916) 682-1630, Fin Addict Sport Fishing (209) 367-4665, Jolly Jay’s Guide Service (209) 478-6645.

Tournament Results

Don Pedro – Fresno Bass Club- September 19th – 1st: Scott Smith – 9.49-pounds (Big Fish – 2.88); 2nd – Ken Eddy – 7.79; 3rd – Cliff Woods – 7.31.

Upcoming

October 3rd: Delta/Brannan Island – Central Valley Anglers Fall Striper Shootout – Information:
(209) 369-0204.
Delta – Crockett Striped Bass Club
Delta/B and W Resort – Fresno Bass Club
McClure – Sierra Bass Club
Don Pedro – Future Pro Tour
Kaweah – Visalia Bass Club
Folsom – Kings River Bass Club
Upper Nacimiento River – Western Outdoor News

October 9-11: Rio Vista Bass Derby – information: bassfestival.com or (707) 374-2700.
October 18th: Don Pedro – Jig’s Bait and Tackle – info jigstackle@aol.com.

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