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: Hopefully the end of the hot weather will be replaced with the predicted cool down that should have some very good impact on all the Fall bites. These lower temperatures should simultaneously bring the shad schools to the top, as well as kick starting the overall feeding cycle as conditions reach more optimal levels.

VALLEY
New Melones Reservoir
Bass-2 Crappie-2 Catfish-3 Trout-3 Kokanee-2
Danny Layne of Fishn’ Dan’s Guide Service reported fine action for large rainbow trout to three-pounds trolling the channel from Shipwreck Island to the Dam and back or in the deep water from Bear Cover to the mouth of Peoria Cove at depths from 40 to 60 feet. There are large schools of threadfin shad in the south part of the lake, and shad-patterned spoons, ExCels, Vance’s Slim Fins, Triple Teasers, Wiggle Hootchies, Needlefish or rolled shad are all working. The cooling water should continue to improve the bite. For browns, Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods advised trolling Rapala Countdowns or Trophy Sticks in rainbow trout or shad patterns, or rolling shad near structure at depths from 50 to 60 feet deep. Night fishing for trout under a submersible light continues to be solid 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 is good with anchovies, night crawlers or mackerel from the banks. Crappie and bluegill action continues to be 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 two feet to 957.77 in elevation and 46% 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. (209) 736-4333, Monte Smith (209) 581-4734, Danny Layne -Fishn’ Dan (209) 586 2383, Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023.

Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass-2 Trout-2 Crappie-4 Catfish-3 Bluegill-2
Big Ed Cordell of Big Ed’s Bait and Tackle at Lake Isabella closed their doors on Sunday, but he reported crappie to 2-pounds continue to be on an excellent bite with red/white or blue/white minijigs at depths from 2 to 18 feet in Rocky Point, the North Fork Marina or at Boulder Gulch. Butch Heinze caught and released a 13.9-pound largemouth on a Senko in the trees in Stein Cove. There have been a few quality bass taken on black or brown/purple jigs, but overall the bass bite has been slow. Channel catfish to 16-pounds continue on a strong bite with frozen shad, hot dogs or mackerel in Boulder Gulch or around the French Gulch Marina with the fish in shallower water near the banks in the early mornings or in the evenings. During the day, boaters take the majority of catfish in deep water. The trout bite is very slow with the planted fish heading to deep water. If these fish survive, fall trout fishing should be outstanding. The lake dropped one vertical foot to 2549.27 feet in elevation and 20% of capacity. In the Bakersfield area, the flows are the lower Kerns continue to drop, and crappie and bass are holding in the more secluded portions of the river. Small minnows or live crawdads working for these species. Carp fishing in the local lakes is starting up again with the Powder Bait. Bluegill, catfish and the occasional largemouth are the other options at all of the local lakes. Big Ed’s Bait and Tackle (760) 379-4170, Bob’s Bait (661) 833-8657, North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812.

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 there are loads of undersized stripers in the Forebay with the live freshwater or saltwater grass shrimp. Local anglers either purchase their bait or catch the freshwater shrimp in the grass. Live mudsuckers are also working. There is a top water bite with Ricos or PopR’s in the morning or evening. The grass in the Forebay will die off with the cooler water temperatures, and the pumping of water in and out of the Forebay causes the grass to ly down. In the big lake, anchovy fillets are still working for stripers in the 18 to 24-inch range at depths from 60 to 80 feet near the Trash Racks. The lake dropped to has 21% of capacity with heavy water releases down the Aqueduct. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805. Ly’s Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711.

Eastman Lake
Bass-3 Trout-1 Bluegill -2Catfish-2 Crappie-2
Merritt Gilbert said there have been numerous 2 to 3-pound fish reported on baby Brush Hogs in the trees with deep water access. The fish can be as shallow as 3 feet, but they must be able to get to deep water in a hurry, or they won’t stay on these trees. Watermelon/red or green pumpkin have been the top colors. There was a 12.5 and a pair of 5-pounders reportedly taken near the Dam. Catfish can still 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 471.37 feet in elevation and 9% of capacity. 689-3255.

Hensley Lake
Bass-1 Trout-1 Catfish-2 Bluegill-2
Merritt Gilbert said the bass bite is tough with few reports. Catfish are the top species with chicken livers or anchovies in the deeper holes up the river arm or from the banks near the Campgrounds. The lake dropped one-half foot to 476.75 feet in elevation and 20 % 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
Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported limit fishing at the Brush Pile or Handicapped Docks with Kastmasters in split chrome, corn yellow or chartreuse Power Bait combined with a white marshmallow or Power Egg. Trollers have been picking up limits in the early morning with green Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger from Gilligan’s Island to the Dam and back at depths to 30 feet. There will be numerous trout plants in the next couple of weeks in preparation for the big Merced Irrigation Trout Derby on October 17/18th. (209) 378-2534.

Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs
Stripers-2 Catfish-2
The local aqueducts near Firebaugh remain steady for small stripers or catfish on bag anchovies. In the south Aqueduct, Pete Cormier reported the water flows have slowed down, and the lack of debris has allowed for more fishable conditions.

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass-2 Stripers-1 Shad-1 Trout-2
Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun said the lake is dropping 6 to 7-inches per day, and as a result, the bass bite has gotten tougher. There were limits to 10.3-pound at the Clovis Mounted Patrol tournament with good action on drop shotting or dart-heading shad-patterned plastics or crank baits. The reaction bite is slow. Gilbert said the high lake levels this late in the year have allowed for an excellent spawn of largemouth bass. There are unlimited numbers of 5-inch largemouths in the lake, but their cover will disappear with the dropping water, making these fish vulnerable to predation. No striper report with zero linesides landed by any of the 43 boats during the tournament. CAST For Kids will be holding their annual event next Sat. and Larry Hodge says they need more volunteer boaters quickly, to handle the number of children signed up. Call him at 276-0712. The lake has remained steady at 539.48 feet in elevation and 67%, capacity. The lower San Joaquin has slowed, but the water is warm. Releases into the river will start on Oct. 1st. 225-1838, 292-3474.

Pine Flat Reservoir /Kings River
Bass-2 Trout-2 King salmon-1 Catfish-2
Merritt Gilbert reported a continually improving bass bite with better fishermen locating 9 and 10-pound limits. The reaction bite is starting with PopR’s or Ricos with buzzbaits working throughout the day. Shad patterned plastics or Keeper Green Weenies drop shotted from 0 to 15 feet are also working. Trout reports have been mixed with some boats finding fat fish to 15-inches. The majority of action appears to be in the main lake near the Dam, around the Power Lines and in front of Zebe Creek with shad-patterned Needlefish, ExCels, Thomas Buoyants, and Apex lures. The key, once again, has been to find the shad schools which seem to be concentrated at 25 to 30 feet in depth. The lake actually rose a ½ foot to 759.81 feet in elevation and 20% of capacity. The lower Kings below the Dam has slowed down with minimal water releases from the dam. There hasn’t been much interest in the lower river with the hot temperatures and warm water. 787-2387, 225-1838, 292-3474.

Lake Kaweah
Bass-4 Crappie-2 Trout-1 Catfish-2
Larry Kerns of the Visalia Bass Club reported a “wide open” bass bite with crankbaits, jigs, and plastic worms in shad-patterns during the day with top water lures and ripbaits in the mornings and evenings. He put in quality largemouth to 5-pounds on Sunday, but there were numerous smaller fish, including a surprise 3-pound channel catfish on a jig. The low water conditions have concentrated the baitfish, and there are shad schools throughout the lake with the bass close behind. The banks continue to be lined with anglers tossing out live minnows and crawdads for the larger fish. The reservoir dropped close to a vertical foot to 579.00 feet in elevation and 5% of capacity. 592-5922.

Lake Success
Bass-3 Trout-1 Catfish-2
Jerry Williams of the Success Bass Club reported consistent action with drop-shotting or dart-heading shad patterned plastics in shallow water. Crank baits are also working. There are shad schools throughout the lake, and the bass are keying on the baitfish. The lake dropped a vertical foot to 582.76 feet in elevation and 6% of capacity with the launch ramp becoming more difficult to access in the low water. 784-0215.

McClure Reservoir
Bass-3 Trout-2 King Salmon-2 Kokanee-1 Crappie-2
Catfish-2 Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reported a great bass bite with shad-patterned plastics or brown/purple Bass Patrol jigs. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn said Cottonwood Creek has been the top location with heavy concentration of threadfin shad. The shad are schooling, and the bass are pushing up the baitfish. He found great fishing on Sunday with small PopR’s for spots to 2-pounds. Drop shotting with a ProGold 300 red flake 4LEE is also a good choice, as the leech pattern approximates the size and color of the shad. Live crawdads smeared with Smelly Jelly or minnows are also working near the launch ramp at Barrett’s Cove or McClure Point. Trout fishing has been slow, but one boat put in two mixed limits of king salmon and trout at depths to 100 feet on shad-patterned ExCels near the Dam. Under lights at the Houseboats is producing a few fish. The catfish bite has slowed down with a few whiskerfish found in deep water on the anchor. No crappie reported this week. The lake dropped 2021 acre-feet this week. 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-1
Danny Layne of Fishn’ Dan’s Guide Service advised targeting the waters of Fleming Bay for rainbow trout to 4-pounds at depths from 45 to 60 feet with Vance’s Slim Fins, silver Cripplures, Matrix Paddletails, ExCel’s or rolled shad in tandem with a Vance’s gold dodger or a Shasta Tackle Sling Blade. The water temperature is cooling at 76 degrees, and both Layne and Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing predict an outstanding fall. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said schools of shad are moving up in the water column, and the top water bite is picking up with small Vixens or Zara Spooks. During the day, the Pro Worm Pro Gold 300 small red flake on a ¼ oz. dart head or drop shot is working at depths to 24 feet. The lake is at 778.86 feet in elevation and 71% of capacity. Monte Smith (209) 581-4734, Danny Layne -Fishn’ Dan (209) 586-2383.

HIGH SIERRA
Bass Lake
Bass-2 Trout-2 Kokanee-1
Not much happening at this impoundment, and the launch ramp will be out of the water in a few weeks if the lake continues to drop at the same rate. Once launching gets difficult, most bass boaters will not risk their vessels on the ramps. Trout fishing continues to be slow, but things will improve in the next month with the resumption of trout plants and cooling water temperatures. The lake dropped to 66% of capacity after being stable at 75% throughout the summer. 642-3141, Todd Wittwer 288-8100, 642-3633, 642-3737; Mike Bieghy 642-3748.

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee-2 Trout-2 Smallmouth-2
Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said the hot trout bite at Shaver cooled quite a bit this week, but limits can still be found near Scout Island, Black Rock and Stevenson Creek Bay areas with the chartreuse and orange Dick’s Trout Busters tipped with night crawler at depths from 15 to 20 feet. Fishermen will have to work very hard for a chance at limits. The Captain Jack’s green Fat Bug is also working with both lures effective behind the Shaver Lake dodger. There was a plant of 2 to 4-pound rainbows at the Edison Dock this week, so there should be some quality fish in the lake for the fall season. Captain Jack Yandell and Nichols went searching for the large trout on Monday, and Nichols caught and released a 4-pounder on one of his Trout Busters. Both anglers advise releasing the large fish to allow them to grow and firm up through the winter. Kokanee fishing is slow with only 38 fish brought to the weighin at last weekend’s Kokanee Power Derby. The Shaver Lake Marina will remain open until approximately mid-October for boat rentals and other services. The lake dropped to 68% of capacity.with releases At Huntington, Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods said the lake levels are dropping to the point of making it very difficult to put in or take out a boat. There have been kokanee taken in the shallow inlets at Rancheria Cove with Kastmasters as they are schooling for an attempt to spawn. The majority of these fish are snagged instead of hitting the lures. Huntington has dropped to 77%, and the lake is expected to drop in the near future with boaters advised to remove their crafts from the 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-3
Chuck Crane of Wishon RV Park said trout fishing at Wishon has picked up in the past week with the best fishing early in the morning or from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at depths from 5 to 7 colors on orange or copper Speedy Shiners. He has consistenly landed limits within 2 hours in the evenings on the lure. Shore fishing has been slow with a few fish found on night crawlers, Power Bait or salmon eggs. Things at Courtright are also improving with blade/crawler combinations trolled very slowly at 4 to 6 colors. Brown trout make up one or two fish in a limit. Shore fishing is slow near the Dam with Power Bait or inflated crawlers. Crane reported improved deer hunting with 9 bucks to the store over the weekend, in addition to a pair of black bear. 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. Bob Scharton of Herb Bauer’s Sporting Goods in Fresno reported continued good fly fishing on the South Fork of the Kings at Cedar Grove. He expected the action to continue through the fall. Wishon RV Park 865-5361.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Brown Trout-3 Trout-3
Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods continues to tout Portal Forebay as a great location for fly fishermen on tubes working the surface. Trollers at Edison are picking up brown trout to 14-inches long-lining Rapalas on the surface. 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 1% with Mammoth Pool dropping to 17%. 259-4000.

OCEAN
San Francisco Bay
Halibut-3 Stripers-3 Rockfish- 3 Leopard Shark- 2 Sturgeon-2
James Smith on the California Dawn took a lingcod special out to the south Farallons on Sunday for 20 limits of ling cod and ½ limits of rockfish. He originally was going to head up to Point Reyes, but a red tide along the coast forced Plan B which turned out to be very successful. This is only the second limit trip for ling cod reported by a party boat at the Farallons this season. Smith is tentatively planning another ling cod special on Sunday of next weekend.
Rockfishing at the Islands or up the Marin coast is producing limits with Emeryville Sport Fishing putting in 147 limits of rockfish and 34 lings to a whopping 26-pounds on Saturday. Inside the bay, the miniscule outgoing tide put a temporary hold on halibut fishing, but James Smith on the California Dawn put in an excellent score on Saturday with 16 stripers to 13-pounds and 15 halibut to 17-pounds for over 2 fish/rod for a light load of 15 anglers. They found the bass in San Pablo Bay on the outgoing tide with the halibut around Angel Island in deeper water. Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker was in the same area, and he reported numerous missed opportunities by good fishermen as they were flylining live sardines on the incoming tide in San Pablo Bay. They ended up with 10 stripers and 9 halibut, but he thought the count could have easily been twice the number of bass and halibut, as the experienced anglers were a bit premature on the hooksets. With the large sardines, you have to let the fish have time to eat the bait. He thought that next weekend would bring around some great halibut tides, as the fish are still around but with the smaller tides, they are more reluctant to bite.
Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait is looking forward to next weekend’s tides, and he gave a “guarantee” of good fishing. In the south bay, John Akina of Oyster Point Bait, Tackle and Deli said there were halibut to 29-inches coming in to the harbor from a variety of locations: including; the Berkeley Flats, Alameda Rockwall, Treasure Island, and outside the Gate. Joel Sinkay of Leonard’s Bait at Port Sonoma said there have been a few stripers taken up in the Petaluma River near the Miramonte Hole on bullheads.

Monterey
Rockfish-3 White Sea Bass-3 Albacore-3
White sea bass have been the rage in Monterey Bay with some great scores off of the Monterey Beach Hotel on live squid. Private boaters are jigging up squid off of Lover’s Point and heading over near the Yellow Buoy by the Hotel for the sea bass to 48-pounds. Sonny Arcaleo of Chris’s Landing confirmed the hot white sea bass on the live squid, as there is a thick school of squid in Monterey Bay. He added that there are still a load of jellyfish in the bay, and you are limited for fishing from the surface to 10 feet in depth to stay out of the jellies. Successful anglers are flylining the live squid for the sea bass. On the other side of the bay near Capitola, Arcaleo said the schools of white sea bass are thick, chasing the big sardine schools. The commercial sardine boats have met their quota, and the commercial season is over. On the rockfish front, Arcaleo said they are back on the chomp with good scores both down at Point Sur and local trips. They also have been jigging up the squid and using it either cut or whole for the rockfish. They run trips south to Point Sur on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz reported the albacore waters were calm on Sunday, and anglers were loading their boats as early as 11:00 a.m. The scores were coming from the same areas around 36′17/122′55 and 36′15/122′58.
Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951, Bayside Marine (831) 475-2173, usafishing.com

San Luis Obispo
Rock Cod -3 Albacore-3
The albacore are offshore, 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.They reported 264 passengers landed 113 albacore to 28-pounds, four bluefin tuna, 6 skipjacks, 13 ling cod to 7-pounds, 208 vermilion, 1027 assorted rockfish, 149 coppers, and 22 boccaccio. Top local anglers were Crystal Wall of Porterville and Brian Demarak of Bakersfield with 7-pound lings. Their next two-day trip is scheduled for October 17/18th for $205/angler. Jerry Williams went on a private boat on Sunday 30 miles straight out of Morro Bay for 12 tuna from 17 to 30-pounds, all on jigs. Patriot Sport Fishing in Avila Beach had an albacore trip out on Sunday for 20 fish to 17-pounds for 14 angler fishing 50 miles out of the port. On their rockfishing trips, they boated limits plus 10 lings to 9-pounds on one trip with an average of ½ to ¾th limits. The top local angler was Raul Espinosa of Visalia with a 7-pound ling. A 33-pound thresher shark was also taken during the week. There were a total of 12 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 81 free trips this season for releasing a 10-pound plus ling cod. Patriot Sport Fishing. Virg’s Landing, (805)772-1 222, (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sports Fishing (805)595-4100; Port Side Marine Sports Launch (805) 595-7214.

Delta/Stockton
Bass- 3 Stripers-3 Sturgeon-2
Benicia Bait reported very good striper fishing over the weekend, despite the smallish tides. Curtis Hayes of Benicia Bait took out three friends on Sunday with bullheads at the Fleet for three limits to 15-pounds. The small outgoing tide has been producing big numbers of schoolie bass on ¾ oz. RatLTraps in silver/blue back at the State Park. Shore anglers are picking up small keepers on anchovies or pile worms. Bullheads continue to be in high demand. There was a 29-inch halibut landed in the Big Cut this week which is a very sad statement on the amount of salt water that has intruded into the Delta. There have been some large stripers in the 30-pound class taken at the Firing Line near Buoys 23 and 24 on bullheads.Captain Jay Sorensen of Jolly Jay’s Guide Service felt the wrath of triple-digit heat and small tides, only managing to land a 19.5-incher on the incoming tide in the same area off of Decker Island where he boated fish of 35 and 22-pounds the previous week. Trollers used the smaller tides to their advantage with reports of fish to 7-pounds in decent numbers on shallow-running Yozuris in 8 to 10 feet of water from Decker Island to Broad Slough. The bass are pushing bait up against the tules, and trolling near the banks is the key as the bass are ambushing the bait.
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, caught and released unlimited number of shaker stripers on Monday on a variety of techniques, including: ¾ oz. Hopkins Smoothies in green or blue, Roadrunners, or Berkley Mullets at depths from 6 to 20 feet. He traveled far and wide from the Mokelumne River to Frank’s Tract, but he wasn’t able to find larger stripers. He predicts an outstanding fall season as the water continues to cool with this weather change. The largemouth bite is similar with large fish difficult to locate, but the weather change will turn on the crankbait and top water bite in the next few weeks. 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
Shaver – Kokanee Power Derby – September 19th – 1st: Robbie Mannon; 2nd – Fred McCallister; 3rd –Sal Costanza.

Delta/Russo’s – Future Pro Tour – September 19th – 1st: Edward and John Zinda – 22.31-pounds; 2nd – Lemaj Plaza/Ron Berg – 21.67; Wayne Hodge/Harvey Pulliam – 19.75 (Big Fish – 7.03)

Delta/Russo’s –Walmart FLW National Guard Western Division– September 23- 26th( Four-day totals); – 1st:Rusty Salewske– 75.5-pounds; 2nd – Charlie Weyer – 74.12; 3rd – Chris Zaldain – 73.5.

Upcoming
October 6th: Kokanee Power meeting – 7:00 p.m. Carrows Restaurant on Shaw Ave.
Upper Nacimiento River – Western Outdoor News

October 9-11th: Rio Vista Bass Derby – information: bassfestival.com or (707) 374-2700

October 10th: San Joaquin Delta College/Stockton – Fishing 123 by Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor. Information – thefishinginstructor.com

October 17/18th: McSwain – Merced Irrigation Tagged Trout Derby – Information (209) 378-2521.

October 18th: Don Pedro – Jig’s Bait and Tackle – info jigstackle@aol.com

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