Fishing report, July 20-26: Race on for big kokanee at Shaver; Bass Lake trout bite hot
Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
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Best bets
Delta stripers and bass active, Randy Pringle reported. Don Pedro kokanee on tap, Monte Smith said. Shaver kokanee bite rebounds, Dick Nichols reported. Wishon and Courtright trout staying cool with a hot bite, Kelly Brewer said. New Melones kokanee biting, Kyle Wise reported. Bass Lake trout bite solid, Mike Beighey said.
Roger’s Remarks: Never underestimate the power of confidence
Humbling lessons in life come in all kinds of ways. Here’s one I’ll never forget.
It was on a trip for stripers at Millerton. First, I stopped at the fishing store to get some lures. Another angler in the store was talking about fishing for stripers at Millerton. Of course, I wasn’t planning on eavesdropping, but I couldn’t unhear it, either. He was confidently telling his friend that he was going to get some anchovies, head up to the river area and catch at least one fish. He told me he didn’t even know where he was going to fish but he would figure it out! I didn’t give him much of a chance, but I had to give him an “A” for confidence.
Later on the lake, I came around a corner and saw him anchored in a place I never fish. He waved as I went by. I fished the lake at least once a week and would never have picked that spot or his technique.
I didn’t get a bite in my spot so I slowly drifted down the lake to finish up my fishing. I came around the corner and there he was. He asked if I caught anything. I confessed I hadn’t gotten anything. “What about you?” I queried, thinking I knew the answer.
“Oh, yeah, I got one!”
No way!
“How big?” He proudly lifted up a good fish around 10 pounds. I was dumbstruck.
I realized that he had done one thing right: He had confidently believed that what he was doing would work and he executed his plan.
My lesson: Never underestimate the power of belief in someone’s life, or fishing – it seems to continually trump the hard facts that we think can’t be overcome.
Never give up!
Roger George: rogergeorge8@protonmail.com, Rogergeorgeguideservice on Facebook and @StriperWars
Proposed new bag limit
The Department of Fish and Wildlife proposed eliminating the two-fish 15-inch size limit at Eastman, Hensley, Kaweah and Success since efforts to create a trophy fishery have been unsuccessful. The recommendation is to return to the state standard of a bag limit of 5 fish with a 12-inch size limit.
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
In the California Aqueduct, Bill Sterling of the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Fresno said, “Striper fishing has slowed a bit with Hilldale still being your best bet to catch stripers. Even though there haven’t been as many being caught, a number of larger in the 25- to 30-inch range have been coming out to feed. Stripers of this length have been landed this week, particularly in the afternoons. The bass bite in the local canals are producing largemouths to 5 pounds, and it is a matter of working the bridges with plastics and the frog bite has been solid as well into the hyacinth patches. I caught and released bass over 5 pounds this week.” Striperz Gone Wild is holding a Meet and Greet on July 30 at South Creek Road in Los Banos for fishing and a BBQ. A 46-inch, 41-pound striped bass was caught and kept in the Delta Mendota Canal this week.
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported the striped bass bite has slowed, but catfishing has been outstanding with Triple S Dip Baits, chicken livers, nightcrawlers, or cut bait.
Call: Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis 292-3474; Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield (661) 833-8657
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne at Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Both lakes have been plagued by low water conditions, and an algae bloom has formed on both Eastman and Hensley. The best action has been for largemouth bass at Eastman around rocky structures with topwater lures, 10-inch plastic worms or Senkos.” Catfish are taken at both lakes at night on chicken livers, cut baits, or nightcrawlers. Hensley continues to produce carp in the shallows or bluegill in the brush in the back of the lake. Eastman dropped from 9% to 7% with Hensley dropping from 16% to 13%.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod Gun, Clovis 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing was on Don Pedro three times this week, and he said, “Fishing is really good as we put in kokanee at over 18 inches and in excess of 2 pounds on Thursday and had three limits of kokanee by 10 a.m. on Friday. The quality is very good, and we are finding the kokanee in open water at depths from 50 to 80 feet. Pro-Troll’s Kokanee Killers in purple along with Paulina Peak’s Flutter Bugs or hoochies behind a Peak Performer dodger are working, and we are picking up the occasional king salmon. Michael Abourezk of Farmington and Matt Sublett of Modesto were out on Thursday, and Sublett landed an 18-inch-plus kokanee, a king salmon, and a rainbow trout. It is important to get out early in the morning for the best action.”
Kyle Wise of HeadHunter Guide Service has been alternating between his home lake of New Melones and Don Pedro, and he said, “We were able to find the biggest fish of the year at Pedro this week at 18.25 inches and 2.6 pounds. The big fish are holding on the bottom, and I am targeting them with stickweights on the downriggers at depths to 90 feet. They are glued to structure. Only a few boats have been out.”
Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “The best bass action has been with 3/8-ounce G-Money jigs in brown/purple with a brown/green twin tailed trailer with the skirt cut down at depths from 5 to 30 feet on main lake points. When the wind is blowing, the Berkley Choppo or Strike King’s Sexy Dog topwater baits are working.” The lake dropped slightly to 62%. The Fleming Meadows, Blue Oaks, and Moccasin launch ramps remain open, but the Fleming launch requires a long walk to the parking lot.
Call: Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Kyle Wise – Head Hunter Guide Service – (209) 531- 3966; Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Fishing - 691-7008
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2+ Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 2
The lake is low at 11%, and the best action for largemouth bass is with ripbaits in shad-imitation patters as the largemouths are loading up on shad. Dropping to the bottom when the reaction bite dies is the way to go, particularly with crawdad- or shad-imitation plastics. Crappie are holding near deep structure, and anglers are generally able to pick up a slab or two before moving onto the next submerged tree, bush, or rockpile. Catfishing remains outstanding with Triple S Dip Bait, anchovies, frozen shad, or shrimp. The trout bite has slowed as the holdovers have headed up the river arm in search of cooler water temperatures. The lake held at 11%. The river at Kernville dropped from 136 to 123 cfs, but water releases out of the dam have pushed the flows at First Point relatively high at 549 cfs. The trout in the upper river are holding in the deep pools with the best action in sections 3 to 6 with nightcrawlers, Panther Martins, or Atomic Tubes.
Call: Bob’s Bait Bucket in 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 Sierra Bass Club held a tournament on Saturday with the team of Ron Orbaker and Woody Zarate taking first with a 9.69-pound limit with Orbaker picking up the big fish of the event at 3.79 pounds. The bass bite is challenging in the dropping water conditions, but there is a reaction bite in the early mornings before dropping to the bottom with ice jigs, spoons, or jigs. Crappie are found near Horse Creek around the submerged wood, brush, or rockpiles with minijigs or small swimbaits. Small to medium minnows have been more difficult to obtain. The lake is starting to release water, and it dropped from 39% to 32%. The flows in the Kaweah River dropped from 54 cfs to 41 cfs at Three Rivers.
Lake Success/Tule River
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The bass are holding in the submerged trees and hitting plastic worms at dusk. With the heat, there is only a small window of opportunity, but it is a great bite during the short period. The lake dropped from 36 to 32%. The Tule River is fishing excellent with dry flies, Woolly Buggers, ants, or stimulators while spin casters are finding solid action with Panther Martin spinners.
Call: Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
The lake continues to drop as it is currently at 36%. The best launch ramp remains at Barret Cove South, but recreational boaters are taking over the lake. Not much change as the bass bite has been tough with the best action on ¼-ounce Kastmasters, 2.8-inch Keitech swimbaits on a 1/8-ounce G-Money Ned-rig head or a 1/8-ounce G-Money underspins along with topwater lures or jigs in a light sculpin pattern. The trout have gone deep, and the best action is for trollers pulling shad-patterned spoons near the dam.
Call: Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Guide Service - 691-7008
McSwain Reservoir
Trout 2
A trout plant is scheduled this week. Holdover rainbow trout are found in the deepest and coolest waters in the river arm with blade/’crawler combinations or ruby red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger. Shore fishing will improve after the plant in the early mornings with Power Bait, Panther Martin spinners, or 1/4- to 3/8-ounce Kastmasters at the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, and the peninsula around the marina. As the summer progresses, the rainbows will work their way up the river arm in search of cooler water.
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 1
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “It’s been a typical summertime bite at Millerton with the best action on the Madera side in the grass or at Winchell’s Cove depths from 20 to 30 feet with plastics on the drop-shot or 3-inch MegaBass Hazedong on a small jig head over the rocks. Catfish have been taken from the banks upriver from the campgrounds at Temperance Flat. There is submerged brush 100 yards out from the first launch ramp, and there have been both bass and crappie holding in the brush.” The lake dropped from 64% to 61%, and the San Joaquin River held at 248 cfs at Friant.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
The kokanee bite continues to be outstanding, but the amount of trollers has diminished greatly since the recent Kokanee Power tournament. The Tuttletown launch ramp, day use, and campgrounds were closed early last week, and it will remain closed due to low water levels. Apex lures behind a Paulina Peak’s gold hammered dodger are working for the larger fish which are holding tight to the bottom in the south part of the lake. The lake dropped to 31%, and numerous unmarked hazards remain throughout the lake. Boaters have to be extremely cautious. The Glory Hole is on the low water ramps, but it will be on the dirt ramp once the lake reaches 900 feet in elevation. The lake dropped from 907.22 to 904.90 feet this week. There have been gas thefts at the Glory Hole parking lot with entire tanks of gasoline siphoned out of vehicles while boaters were on the water.
Call: Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; John Liechty Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Similar to Millerton, triple-digit temperatures have brought out the recreational boat fleet. The bass bite remains very tough with the best action on the bottom with 5-inch Yamamoto single grubs in clear/blue flake in the early morning hours before the recreational boats arrive. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported the best bass action has been in the river arm in the coves around Sycamore or Big Creek with topwater lures in the mornings and evenings. The trout have dropped in the water column, and trollers are having to find the shad schools around Sycamore or Big Creeks to stay on top of the holdover rainbows with shad-patterned spoons. In the lower Kings, a trout plant is scheduled for this week, but the trout action has slowed down due to the lack of recent plants and most anglers heading for the high country. Fly fishermen continue to score in the catch-and-release section. The flows have dropped from 536 cfs to 452 cfs at Trimmer. The lake dropped from 41% to 35%.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 1
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, “The lake continues to drop water, receding from 37% to 35% this week with the O’Neill Forebay rising from 81% to 84%. There is a reaction bite in the main lake with Sixth Sense or Lucky Craft ripbaits in the shallows in the early morning hours. The area to the left of Dinosaur Point as well as on the left-hand side of Portuguese Cove have been the most productive areas for lure casters. With the lack of large, extra-large, or jumbo minnows, boaters have been dropping 1.75-ounce Duh! Spoons for decent action for school-sized stripers. Bank fishing is predominant on the Dinosaur Point side of the lake with blood worms or pile worms for a smaller grade of striped bass. Check 12 at the O’Neill Forebay continues to be the most popular destination with blood worms or pile worms, but there have been a number of undersized stripers to 15 inches in the forebay. “Trolling in the main lake continues to be slow with only the most dedicated of trollers finding action after a long day.”
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the overall bite has been affected by the full moon — one of the brightest of the year — and it’s shut down a lot of action. “The fish feed all night and then just sit around all day, waiting for the next full moon night to feed again. It can be a real grind to find active fish during these periods and I tend to avoid the brightest night periods.”
There are warning and lake closure lights on the main reservoir near the Basalt Entrance Station, Quien Sabe Point, and the Romero Visitor Center. In the O’Neill Forebay. Warning lights are located near the old Medeiros boat ramp and above South Beach. Amber lights signify caution conditions for winds or other concerns while red lights mean the lake is closed for boating and all vessels must immediately vacate the lake when the red lake closure lights are on.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George of rogergeorgeguideservice.com 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1
The kokanee are still no-shows, but Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing said, “The trout bite for rainbows from 13 to 19 inches is still on from Miller’s Landing to just past the Sheriff’s Tower at depths from 12 to 25 feet with Rocky Mountain Wiggle Hoochies or Dick’s Mountain tubes in orange or pink tipped with a nightcrawler or Maggots behind a blue Dick’s Mountain dodger. Grass is starting to form from the Forks to the shallow part of the lake from all of the boat traffic. Limits are possible, but you have to get on the lake early.” Bass fishing is plastics on a shaky head or dart head along with reaction lures. A webcam of the launch ramp is available at basslakeca.com. The lake held at 82%.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Portal Forebay and Ward Lake are scheduled for trout plants this week. Edison received a trout plant over the Fourth of July weeekend. There haven’t been many reports from either lake, but the trout plants at the smaller lakes will help draw up a few more fishermen. Edison dropped slightly to 33%, Florence dropped slightly to 71% with Mammoth Pool holding at 83%.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee 3 Trout 2
After last week’s 20-inch kokanee, it only took a few more days for Bob Stevenson of Rancho Murrietta to land a 21-inch, 2.12-pound kokanee with Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service. Anglers are champing at the bit for the upcoming Kokanee Power Team Tournament at Shaver Lake on Sept. 11, and there is hope that there will be a few of these beauties remaining in the lake within the next five weeks.
Dick Nichols, Shaver’s retired guide emeritus, said, “The kokanee action picked up some this week even with a full moon and extreme heat. The bulk of the lake’s kokanee have dropped down from 40 to 58 feet, but we also found a few in shallower water at 34 feet down. Cami Giofrre and Terra Brusseau both of Clovis produced two limits of mixed trout and kokanee with Terra landing a kokanee at 19.3 inches with Cami’s big fish just short of this at 18.9 inches. The ladies were using a donated gift certificate from last year’s Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project, and they had never fished before. The trout bite remains pretty consistent, but the difference is the trout and kokes have separated in the water column with the trout holding in the top 23 feet. Dick’s Trout Busters on the side poles behind my Mountain Dodger’s at a setback of 130 feet on the side poles with a weighted Mountain Flasher ahead of the Trout Buster to get it down deeper, and trollers without downriggers are going to have to use a similar combination to get down to 20 or more deep to catch trout. For those without downriggers, kokanee are pretty much out of the picture. A couple limits or more of kokanee are possible, but patience and determination can be very important on some days. For kokanee, Dick’s Mountain Hoochies in pink and pink/white mix, Mountain Tubes in pink or Mountain Candy in pink tipped with scented corn, behind the new blue/pink Dick’s Mountain Dodgers were our best tools this week.”
Shaver guide Jared Romero has been picking up multiple limits of mostly kokanee to 20 inches this past week with either a chartreuse hoochie or Jpex lure behind a dodger at 30 to 45 feet down earlier in the week before dropping deeper with the heat.
At upstream Huntington, Jay Irvine of Visalia was out with his wife, Delinda, and college roommate, Ralph Perry of Chowchilla, for three limits composed of 14 kokanee and a rainbow trout. He said, “The kokanee were hitting pink/brass metallic action bugs behind a Paulina Peak brass/gold dodgers or pink orange dodgers at 27 feet with a setback of 50 feet on the downrigger. Side rods were set at 115 to 120 feet with a one-ounce line weight and dodger.”
Shaver’s launch ramp conditions can be checked via webcam at sierramarina.com/camera.html. Huntington rose slightly to 98% with Shaver holding at 61%.
Todd Wittwer – Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Tom Oliveira – Tom Oliveira Fishing – 802-8072
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Kelly Brewer of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store said, “The trout bite is back on with plenty of 10- to 14-inch rainbows taken from the banks with rainbow Power Bait while trollers are scoring with Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger, or blade/’crawler combinations at depths from the surface to 40 in the early mornings to 60 feet later in the day. The bite started up once the water began moving between the reservoirs to generate power.” Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis advised moving as far away from the dam as possible in order to locate better action. The mouth of Short Hair Creek or the inlet on far side of the lake at Wishon remain the best options for shoreline anglers. Courtright is scheduled for a trout plant the week of July 24 with Dinkey Creek receiving a plant this week.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Salmon 3 Rockfish 3 Striper 2 White seabass 2 Sand Dabs 3 Surf Perch 3
The salmon bite continues along the San Mateo coastline, although the action is not as hot and heavy as it was over the previous several weeks. The wind blew for most of the week, clearing up the water and changing the conditions, but the scores over the weekend show great promise.
Sherry Ingles of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing said, “The big wind previous week moved the salmon up the hill, but the northwest winds this past week have brought them back home in front of Half Moon Bay harbor. The Queen of Hearts was out on Saturday with 18 anglers for near-limits at 33 salmon to 25 pounds while our six-pack, the Reel Screamer, also came in with near-limits on Sunday with 11 kings to 27 pounds for their six passengers. There are some big fish out there, and the norm has been between 10 and 24 pounds. A private boater landed a 39 pound right in front of the buoys, and looking at the pictures, it seems all of that. Rockfishing remains great with the Queen of Hearts loading up with limits for a private charter on Sunday. The salmon have all been within a 5-mile radius of the harbor.”
The Riptide and Ankeny Street were also rockfishing on Sunday with both boats bringing home 17 limits of rockfish along with a few ling cod and cabezon in the mix.
Captain Tom Mattusch, formerly of the Huli Cat, said, “The third annual Cowboy Fishing Derby was held this weekend. In 2020, this event raised money for the CZU Lightning Fire needs of people. Last year, the event raised $32,788 for the Big Wave Project, Sea Hugger, Save The Waves, and Coastside Fishing Club. This year’s proceeds will generate $10,000 towards the roof for the American Legion in Princeton, Post 474. There were nine boats and close to 50 anglers. Prior contests had biggest salmon, halibut, and lingcod. The ocean was rough, and conditions were not favorable to going far; however, many boats caught quality salmon. The halibut didn’t cooperate, and quality lingcod were too far away. The entry fee was $150 per angler. To give you an idea on the weigh off for the top boat, every single boat’s top three fish they submitted exceeded 50 pounds. The top boat was the Jada Ann with 58.3 pounds. The first-place fish was Casey Smith with a 26.8-pound salmon caught on a small green flasher with a hoochie at 80 feet on the wire. Second-place fish was Jimmy Cecil of San Bruno at 23.1 lbs. salmon on the Que Sera Sera. Third place fish was John Larson of El Granada at 22.3 lbs. who fished on his own boat solo, the Dream Catcher. The event started Friday with camp opening at Noon. There was a Happy Hour, dinner by Breakwater BBQ, a poker game, and fish talk by the fire pit. The Fishing Derby started at dawn on Saturday with the weigh in at 3:30 p.m., followed by a raffle. Taj Sharma of the Coastside Grill Crew grilled starting with hamburgers, following up with fish tacos. Sam’s Chowder House donated clam chowder. Spanglers Market supplied cole slaw. Sponsors included Sam’s Chowder House, Old Princeton Landing, Spanglers Market, Alifano Tech, Hoop Dogma, HMB Distillery, Breakwater BBQ, Blue Ocean Brewing, and Powerlines.”
Call: Captain Michael Cabanas – New Captain Pete (510) 677-7054; 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
Salmon 2 Rockfish 3 Striper 2 White seabass 2 Sand Dabs 3 Surf Perch 3
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surfcasting Guide Service said, “A long period south swell is sweeping the coast which, combined with winds forecasted to reach gale force, means anglers will have to pick their go-out days very carefully this week. NOAA is calling for northwest wind waves of seven to eight feet pushed by winds up to 30 knots. The south swell is only two to three feet high, but with a long period up to 20 seconds. The long period indicates a lot of power. On Saturday, the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor sent out an alert for boat owners to beware of an expected “strong” surge within the harbor, and advised all moorings be checked and strengthened.
The south swell didn’t seem to have a negative effect on halibut fishing near Santa Cruz on Sunday. Veteran kayak angler Alain Sartre reported in early Sunday morning while still on the water. Sartre caught first one, then two halibut for the day. A smattering of rockfish and a legal lingcod rounded out his catch for the morning. With the south swell rolling through it would be a good bet to fish for halibut a little deeper, in the 60- to 70-foot range. Last week, prior to the swell they were settling inside at 30 to 40 feet of water. Even a two-foot south swell can roil the bottom in 30 feet of water, especially a long-period, 20-second swell. Halibut like nice clear water and clean flat sandy areas for their ambush feeding.
The salmon bite is not what you’d call “hot,” but remains ongoing. Latest reports from private boaters indicate decent fishing in 200 to 240 feet of water on the canyon edges near Moss and Soquel. The fish are holding deep right now. A good number of boaters had success trolling below Moss Landing near Soldier’s Club and Mulligan’s Hill, again 180 to 240 feet of water with most fish down deep. Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching Trips out of Monterey sent a few salmon trips out this week. They mooched up just shy of a fish per rod which means anglers aboard the Check Mate or Caroline have at least a 50/50 chance of bringing home fresh-caught king salmon. Also, the indication of salmon schools in the southern portion of Monterey Bay is a positive sign they will stick around. There are tons of anchovy bait in the bay, and the fish travel north.
JT Thomas from Go Fish Santa Cruz Charters has been switching between salmon and rockfish trips all week, according to the clients’ wishes. The rockfish trips all resulted in full limits of quality vermilion, browns and assorted rockies. His salmon trip on Thursday brought home six big king salmon for the anglers aboard the beautiful Miss Beth.
Surfcasters around the bay are still waiting and hoping for the appearance of striped bass. A few were reported caught over the past couple weeks, but there’s no pattern or concentration of stripers to speak of. We are probably looking at another “off year” for the big surf fish. Perch anglers however are doing very well these days. The average size of fish is going up, and most beaches are hosting nice little pockets full of barred surf perch. A good number of walleyes are scattered here and there as well. The challenge this week for surfcasters is finding clean water in the surf zone. High winds and the south swell are piling kelp and seagrass detritus at water’s edge and making retrievals impossible in many spots. Clean beaches can be found with a little diligence. Good bets include the bigger broader beaches close to the center of the bay as well as the smaller pocket beaches near Santa Cruz. From Capitola down to Rio Del Mar is just kelp soup right now.”
Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell – Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Salmon 2 Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 2
For whatever reason, perhaps the full moon, big tides, or the horrible winds along the coast, the salmon went off the bite on Thursday with far less than limits for all of the boats that have been limiting out. Tuesday was a solid day with Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing finding action 5 miles below the fleet at Pigeon Point with 11 limits to 27 pounds. However, the bite turned into a grind on Thursday. Captain Trent Slate had scored limits near Duxbuxy on Monday, but Tuesday was a slightly different story with 5 big fish between 18 and 25 pounds. The Hog Heaven and New Ray Ann were able to find the Mother Lode on Thursday with a combined 24 limits of salmon, but they were clearly the highliner with the Outer Limits, which had been limiting out consistently, returning with 11 salmon for 14 anglers while the Salty Lady scored a half-fish per rod with 8 big salmon to 32 pounds for 16 anglers. Friday was a much different day with the same two boats that scored limits on Thursday, the Hog Heaven and New Ray Ann out of Sausalito, returned with only 16 salmon for 30 anglers. I have learned that just because limits have been taken day in and day out for weeks, it doesn’t mean that you are going to get them every time out, especially when the wind blows and clears up the water, changing the conditions. The California Dawn I and II went salmon fishing on Friday for a combined 30 salmon for 40 anglers. Limits are never a guarantee.
However, while the big boats were struggling, Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Loch Lomond was able to round up 8 salmon on Saturday and 10 on Sunday for his customers trolling from Muir Beach to Duxbury. He said, “It has been tough out there, but we have been able to make our bite stick. Dan Davis of San Francisco put in a big limit with two fish over 20 pounds, and the salmon have been running from 18 to 25 pounds.”
Coho salmon have been finding their way to baits intended for kings, and the silvers have resulted in more than a few 2.5-pound lead balls dropped to the bottom of the ocean within the past week. Coho salmon are to be released alongside the boat without touching the fish, and a small pick used for rockfish is the best tool to reach down and reverse the barbless hook without contacting the fish.
With the winds too heavy to drift for halibut on the North Bar or head to the Farallon Islands for rockfish, party boats have been opting to head up the Marin coastline for rockfish. Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley Marina went north for 14 limits of rockfish and 4 lings on Sunday along with three bonus California halibut after posting 22 limits of rockfish, 13 lings, and 12 halibut on Saturday. Smith’s brother, Captain James of the California Dawn II was also up at the Towers on Sunday for 22 limits of rockfish including a cabezon, 14 ling cod, and two halibut.
Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Sport Fishing out of San Francisco took a half-day trip to Tennessee Cove earlier in the week for ½-limits of rockfish and a few ling cod, and he said, “We tried to make a go of it at the North Bar, but it was rough and the big part of the tide.”
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of Pier 45 in San Francisco was able to make it outside the Gate for 5 salmon to 30 pounds before the weather drove them back inside of the bay, and he said, “It just got too rough out there and drifting the bars for halibut was also out of the question. The entire salmon bite has slowed with the water turning clear after a few days of high winds. The boats that have been getting them have been leaving as early as 4:30 a.m. to get up to Point Reyes before the wind starts up heavy. I checked out the rock piles for striped bass, but we didn’t stop since there we only spotted three bass. We ended up in San Pablo Bay on the rocks on the incoming tide for limits of striped bass.”
The King Tides as large as minus 1.7 feet were a clear deterrent to the halibut and striped bass bite throughout the past week, and the key was finding clear water, if that was possible. Better times are on the horizon this week as the tides back off, and the muddy water should clear within a few days.
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of Pier 45 in San Francisco was out on a half-day trip on Sunday, and he said, “The central bay was very muddy, and we worked hard for four striped bass and a halibut. The group wanted to stay in the bay on the half-day trip, but we knew it was going to be a grind. I was able to make it outside of the Gate for 5 salmon to 30 pounds on Friday before the weather drove us back inside of the bay. It just got too rough out there and drifting the bars for halibut was also out of the question. The entire salmon bite has slowed with the water turning clear after a few days of high winds. The boats that have been getting them have been leaving as early as 4:30 a.m. to get up to Point Reyes before the wind starts up heavy. I checked out the rock piles for striped bass, but we didn’t stop since there we only spotted three bass. We ended up in San Pablo Bay on the rocks on the incoming tide for limits of striped bass.”
Inside the bay, Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Loch Lomond Marina opted to work the San Francisco waterfront for a few legal halibut before heading back into San Pablo Bay to find a spot of clear water for a steady bite for limits of striped bass to 10 pounds. He said, “The big tides and the winds have muddied up the bay, but it is a matter of finding a bit of clear water that will make all of the difference.”
Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Fishing out of San Francisco confirmed the tough bite in the bay, saying, “We took a half-day trip for halibut to F Buoy and the Barges, and we ended up with numbers of undersized halibut along with a couple of small keepers. It has been tough inside of the bay, and we ended up taking a tour of the South Bay after struggling for a few legal fish.”
Captain Joey Gamez of Golden State Sport Fishing has been out targeting the big seven-gill, six-gill, cow, and soupfin shark in the deep water near the Golden Gate Bridge, and they have routinely landed limits of the big shark, but he encourages his customers to release all shark over 100 pounds.
Call: Captain Trent Slate Bite Me Charters (415) 307-8582; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 2 Salmon 2 Surf Perch 3
Rockfishing is up-and-down, and the farther you are able to travel from the harbor, the better the grade and numbers of rockfish. Ling cod remains scarce, and it takes a long-range or overnight trip to put a hurt on the lings. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Patriot, Flying Fish, and Phenix were out on half-day trips on Sunday with 61 anglers for a total of 518 fish composed of 39 vermilion, 305 assorted rockfish, 162 Bolina, 5 Boccaccio, 5 cabezon, and two lings to 7 pounds. Out of Morro Bay Landing, the Avenger and Starfire were on Sunday with 61 anglers for 24 vermilion, 10 Boccaccio, and 279 assorted for a total of 313 fish. Out of Virg’s Landing, the Fiesta was out on Saturday with 29 fishermen for 190 assorted rockfish, 13 vermilion, a cabezon, a ling cod, and an ocean whitefish. A 25-pound ling was landed on the Black Pearl over the weekend. 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 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
For some reason, the striped bass haven’t either received or read the memo that they are supposed to be in San Francisco Bay or the ocean at this time of year before starting to move back to the Delta in August through November, and perhaps a literacy program should be started for the lineside since this is confusing longtime bay/Delta anglers. The water in the Sacramento-Delta has reached the high 70’s, but quality linesides to 10 pounds continue to be found from Liberty Island downstream along the West Bank. Smallmouth bass are making their normal summertime push long the rocky structure in the Old Sacramento River and in Steamboat Slough with plastics on the drop-shot or medium-diving crankbaits. Triple-digit temperatures are driving the smallies deeper in the water column. The river salmon season opened on the Sacramento River on Saturday, but the action was less than stellar with the best fishing taking place at the first opportunity for cold water at the mouth of the American River.
Bill Crooks of Sacramento was out with Ron Retzlaff of Orangevale and Mike Steer earlier in the week, and they stayed out on West Bank for 20 keeper striped bass to 10 pounds along with a number of shakers trolling deep-diving lures from the Red Barn to Collinsville. The heat finally drove them back to the boat launch as the action was strong throughout the morning. Why these stripers are here are the subject of conjecture, but the continued further intrusion of saltwater eastward into the Delta may be a factor.
Striped bass are also found in the grassy flats in Liberty Island, and since they are loading up on crawdads, red chatterbaits such as Z-Man’s Jackhammers in Red Craw continue to produce despite the nearly 80-degree water.
The Brannan Island State Recreation Area is open on weekends-only from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until September 1st. A new concessionaire is being recruited for full time duty. Only the launch ramp and nearby day-use area is open as the other parts of the park remain closed.
Few sturgeon fishermen are trying, but a legal 46.5-inch diamondback was landed off the First Street Pier in Benicia.
The two large frog tournaments in the California Delta are just a few weekends away, and the triple-digit temperatures are just what the tournament directors ordered for the emergence of the frog bite. The original frog tournament, the Snag Proof Open, will take place out of Russo’s Marina on August 6/7th while the 8th annual Ultimate Frog Challenge will occur the previous weekend, also out of Russo’s Marina.
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor and director of the Snag Proof Open, said, “With the hot temperatures, the topwater bite has taken off, and we are scoring with Furbet the Frog along with the ima Heli P prop bait. The Heli P is very effective now since it emulates small bait fish in a frenzy, giving the illusion of fish being attacked by other fish, attracting larger fish to the area. Surface and moving baits are working best right now, and it is a matter of finding moving current around weeds. The moving water and the weeds are the areas with the most oxygen, and the bass clearly need oxygen with the hot water temperatures. The ima Pinjack or Squarebilled crankbaits are also working, and we have come out with the Baby Stick which is smaller and can be easily thrown on spinning rods with a 12-pound test. Punching the weeds is great for tournament action if you know there is a fish there under a certain weed patch, and many anglers will go out and find the fish during prefishing for a tournament. If not, you are fishing blind while punching and hoping for a few large fish as the numbers will always been limited. With the hot temperatures, we are really looking forward to the Snag Proof Open which will payout 100% of the entry fees.”
Obedie Williams and his 14-year-old son, Amari, took last weekend’s Delta Summer Shootout with a two-day limit over 40 pounds with a first-day limit over 21 pounds tossing River2Sea Whopper Ploppers or punching the weeds in windy conditions. The wind died down the following day, and the father/son team took advantage of the calm and hot conditions to throw frogs, and the big fish of the tournament at 8.94 pounds was taken on River2Sea’s Ish’s Phat Mat Daddy frog.
Dave King of NorCal Bass kept his three-month promise to young Trevor Hill of Atwater by partnering with him during Saturday’s Gold County Junior Event out of Ladd’s Marina. He said, “Trevor asked me months ago to be his partner as his regular partner for the lake series, Steve Cardoza was not available. I will fish with any youngster, anytime, and I took the Dejong brothers out earlier in the week to prefish for this event. As an adult, you can only contribute two fish to the five-fish total, and if I had been able to keep all of my fish, we would have had 15/16 pounds. I was throwing a combination of topwater lures or the white Scum Frog by American Bait Works. I had on a black frog, and I wasn’t getting bite so I called Vince Mina, and he said, ‘Switch color and keep trying,’ so I went to the opposite of black at white, and his tip worked. The bass weren’t hitting the frog on top of the mats, but within a few feet of open water outside of the mat, they were just blowing up on it. Trevor landed a 2-pound bass at the end of the day, and although we weighed in only three fish, we came in first with over 7 pounds. The water temperature in the east Delta is between 78 and 81 degrees, and it was very interesting that I was out earlier in the week and couldn’t by a topwater bite. It was the complete opposite on Saturday with the River2Sea Whopper Plopper and the Scum Frog both working. When I was out with the Dejong brothers, we landed close to 40 fish with a new Chigger Craw-type bait from American Bait Works that is to be introduced at ICAST this week. I gave the brothers the remainder of the pack of the bluegill-patterned baits, and they also did well during the tournament. There is so much shad in the water right now, and this is why I think the white frogs did so well.”
Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen Outdoors next tournament out of Holland Riverside Marina is this coming Saturday, July 23rd, and it will be interesting to see how the tournament field attacks the hot waters of the south Delta.
Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, said, “There are still striped bass in Disappointment Slough, both sides of Mildred Island, Bacon Island, and Empire Tract for those drifting live bluegill or mudsuckers. Double-digit linesides from 10 to 12 pounds have been landed. Fishermen’s Cut is another good location with chatterbaits as the stripers are loading up on crawdads. Bass are everywhere, but finding quality fish has been a challenge.”
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell – Hook’d Up Sport Fishing – (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges – Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828
Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez
Bass 3 White bass 3 Striper 0 Catfish 3 Crappie 2 Bluegill 2 Trout 2
At Nacimiento, there hasn’t been much change as bass fishing is solid for both white and spotted bass. There is a good reaction bite with topwater lures such as walking-style baits in the early mornings or at dusk with the ima Finesse Popper or Whopper Ploppers. Spoons or ice jigs are working on the bottom when the bass are working the shad schools, and squarebilled or lipless crankbaits are effective at medium depths. Once the sun is on the water, dropping to the bottom with plastics on the drop-shot or jigs is best. White bass are boiling on occasion, and the boils have become more frequent with the hot weather. When the boils are located, small white spoons, spinners, swimbaits, or topwater lures are working. Trollers continue to work the subsurface schools of whites with similar lures. Bluegill and red ear perch continue to be taken on red worms, jumbo red worms, or meal worms. The lake held at 23%. Recreational boating is taking over on the weekends. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/lake-nacimiento-live-webcam/. At Lopez, despite the boat launch out of the water for the past several weeks, bass fishing remains good with those renting boats, launching kayaks, or casting from the shoreline scoring with plastics on the drop-shot or Ned-rig along with swimbaits at depths to 20 feet. Jumbo red worms or red worms are working for bluegill or red ear perch. The launch ramp remains closed, but anglers can rent a boat at the marina. The lake is at 26.3% of capacity. Anglers can view a live webcam of the lake at https://805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam/. At Santa Margarita, the Saturday’s 19-boat Best Bass Tournament produced some heavy bags and big with the winning limit at 19.23 pounds by the team of Jerry Davis/Tanner Kuhnle besting the second-place team of Tucker Mount/Landon Ralston by 0.01 ounce. The 8.17-pound kicker was the difference, but the second-place team also landed a big bass at 6.25 pounds. There are more and more five-fish limits taken, and there is an early morning topwater or reaction bite before dropping to the bottom with plastics.
Bluegill and red ear perch are taken on jumbo red worms or red worms around structure, and catfishing continues to improve with the warm water conditions with cut baits scented with garlic. The planted rainbows have gone deep, and they are reluctant to bite. The lake is at 57.0% of capacity. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/santa-margarita-lake-webcam-california/. At San Antonio, catfish are the main species with mackerel coated with garlic scent along with Triple S Dip Bait, frozen shad, or chicken livers. Crappie have been holding around submerged brush at depths to 15 feet with minijigs. Bass fishing is slow overall, and it has been for some time. Carp are throughout the shallows and easy to catch on doughbaits. The launch ramp is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends and from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. The lake held at 11%.
Call: Lake Nacimiento Marina (805) 238-3256; Lopez Lake Marina (805) 489-1006; Santa Margarita Marina Store (805) 438-1522; Lake San Antonio Marina (805) 472-2313
Reminder: consuming white bass, black bass, crappie, catfish, or carp are subject to safe eating guidelines due to excessive mercury.
Events
Tournament results
Kaweah – Sierra Bass Club – July 16th: 1st –– Ron Orbaker/Woody Zarate - 9.69 pounds (Big Fish – Orbaker – 3.79); 2nd – Joe and Traci Phoharz – 8.33; 3rd – Mitch Mitcheltree/Jeremy Nagy – 7.23.
Santa Margarita – Best Bass Tournaments – July 16th: 1st –– Jerry Davis/Tanner Kuhnle - 19.23 pounds (Big Fish – 8.17); 2nd – Tucker Mount/Landon Ralston – 19.22; 3rd – Wyatt Debusk/Brandon Medieros – 13.40.
Upcoming Tournaments (subject to change)
July 23rd –
Delta/Holland Riverside Marina – Dan Mathisen Outdoors
Delta/Big Break Marina – Bass N’ Tubes
July 24th –
Delta/Big Break – Bass N’ Tubes
July 30th/31st –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Anglers Press
July 30th –
New Melones – Oro Madre Bass Angler
