Fishing report, Sept. 7-13: Chasing the elusive 20-inch kokanee at Shaver Lake tournament
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 bass and striper bites solid, Alan Fong said. Shaver trout steal spotlight, Dick Nichols reported. New Melones and Don Pedro catfish biting, Kyle Wise said. McClure bass hitting, Ryan Cook reported. Wishon still pumping out trout, Kelly Brewer said.
Roger’s Remarks: Staying positive pays off, illustrated by three stories
I know it’s just gotta be a great fishing day when:
Out of gas – I’m out on San Luis Reservoir with some guests and one of them asks if my gas gauge is working. I nonchalantly spy my fuel needle that’s screaming “empty.” Embarrassing. Sometimes you just get in too big a hurry. I make it back to the dock, load up the boat and off for a quick fuel run. Finally back on the water 40 minutes later, it hits me: Yep, it’s going to be a great day. We catch over 20 nice stripers.
Dropping the ball – It’s 4 a.m. and I have hooked up my trailer to the pickup for a scouting trip to San Luis. I pull the boat out of the shop and hear a loud crash. The receiver never seated on the ball hitch. The tongue is too heavy to lift alone and the trailer jack is locked in place against the floor. I get out my flat jack, find a block of wood to set it on and barely manage to get the trailer receiver high enough to get it on the ball the right way. Maybe this was a sign that today would be special? Later that day I’m ready to pack up and leave the lake, but I take one last cast. Halfway back to the boat I start reeling in fast to put the pole away when I get a massive strike, my SLR personal-best, 45.5-inch, 43.1-pounder.
Weathering the weather – On a fishing trip to Millerton with my father in 1998, we almost turn around and come home three different times due to bad weather. For some reason we keep going and I catch my 50.3-pound striper.
My perspective about how I see something as being either good or bad has changed from my early angling years. Too many coincidences have convinced me how important my attitude is to any angling success. Keeping a good outlook, even when challenging events cast negative shadows of doubt, can be a real difference-maker. Never give up…on seeing the positive!
Roger George: rogergeorge8@protonmail.com , Rogergeorgeguideservice on Facebook and @StriperWars
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
Bill Sterling of Striperz Gone Wild said, “Fishing in the aqueduct remains fair as there is a lot of baitfish running around with some bigger stripers chasing them. Topwater lures work best in the mornings prior to using umbrella rigs, swimbaits, or jerkbaits in the evenings. The hot weather is creating challenging conditions, and it is important to find moving water. Bass fishing has also dropped off. I went out this past week, and Frank Azevedo caught six and I landed four under the bridges in the irrigation canals.” Striperz Gone Wild will be present during the Gustine Recreation Department’s annual Kids Fishing Day at Harry Schmidt Park Duck Pond on Oct. 1 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.. They will be giving out tackle boxes for free to the first 50 entries. Non-residents can register online at CityofGustine.com with an entry fee of $1 including lunch. The derby is open to all youth under 16 with a registration deadline of Sept. 25. More information is available from Tiffany Vitorino, Recreation manager at 209-854-9411.
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop said, “Striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish have been taken in the upper sections of the aqueduct at Check 2, 3, and 4 from Mountain House to Patterson as the Department of Fish and Wildlife pushed fish out of Bethany Reservoir into the aqueduct. The Delta/Mendota has been slow, and the heat has been a major factor.”
In the south aqueduct, algae continues to build up throughout the aqueduct, and it is important to find clear moving water. Working the bottom with flukes or underspins on a heavy head are the best technique for linesides while cut baits are picking up a few striped bass along with catfish.
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 of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Boats can be launched with caution at Eastman, but the lake has become a ‘kayaker’s paradise’ with limited power boat access. Lipless crankbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, or big swimbaits in bluegill or shad patterns are finding some of the lake’s big largemouth bass near the dam. The MegaBass Sleeper Gil has been a popular lure. Hensley is limited to catfish, bluegill, or carp. The lakes are very low at 6%.
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 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3
Catfishing has been outstanding with chicken livers or cutbaits, but the bass bite continues to be brutal. Kokanee remain scarce, and trout trolling is fair at best with the possibility of a king salmon below 55 feet. The lake dropped slightly to 56%. 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 2 Bluegill 2
Topwater lures continue to be best in the early mornings and late evenings before working the mid-range with deep-diving crankbaits around rock or wood. Large 7- to 12-inch plastics on a Texas-rig have also been effective. The best locations for largemouth bass remain French Gulch, Piney Point, and Rocky Point. Crappie are holding around certain submerged brush or rock with jigs or small minnows. In the lower river, catfish, bass, and carp are possibilities, and the smallmouth bass are taken on plastics on the drop-shot, deep-diving crankbaits, or live minnows. The triple-digit heat is keeping most anglers at bay. The river at Kernville have dropped to only 90 cfs, and water releases out of the dam have also dropped at First Point from 261 to 237 cfs. The upper river has cleared significantly from the heavy runoff weeks ago, and the holdover rainbows are holding in the deep pools in the shallow river. The lake held at 8%.
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
Not much change with dropping water levels as the lake has receded from 8%. Bass fishing remains challenging with the triple-digit temperatures, and few anglers are trying. The bass can be taken with jigs, plastics, or deep-diving crankbaits, and the water level stabilization should help the overall bite. The Kaweah River dropped from 20 to 15 cfs at Three Rivers.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake is dropping fast as it receded to 12% this week. The triple-digit temperatures are limiting fishing interest with the best action in the early mornings or late evenings around the submerged trees with plastics on a Texas-rig, deep-diving crankbaits, or Senkos. Catfish are taken on cut baits while carp are inhaling dough baits in the shallows.
Call: Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “The bass continues to improve as the fish are suspended and landed on plastics on the drop-shot or spoons on steep canyon walls. There is a window for flukes and topwater lures on the shade lings with a few bass taken on ½-ounce G-Money Jigs in brown/purple with a green pumpkin twin-tailed trailer.” The lake continues to drop, now at 26%. The best launch ramp remains at Barrett Cove South.
Call: Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Guide Service – 691-7008
McSwain Reservoir
Trout 2
Holdover rainbow trout from the original Calaveras Trout Farm plants months ago along with the catchables from the Department of Fish and Wildlife several weeks ago remain in the lake in limited numbers. The best action remains in the deep water up the river arm for trollers pulling blade/’crawler combinations or ruby red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger while shore anglers have to get out in the early mornings from the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina with Power Bait, Panther Martin spinners, or ¼- to ⅜-ounce Kastmasters. The river below the dam is also producing fish that have migrated downstream. The lake dropped slightly to 91%. The Fall Trout Derby should take place in early October.
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, “Small spotted bass are the rule here with numbers of fish to 1 pound or slightly larger taken on Keitech swimbaits, plastics on the drop-shot, or small jerkbaits near Winchell’s Cove and on the Madera side of the lake. The bass are spitting up very small shad, and it is important to match the hatch by only using half of a shad-patterned worm on the drop-shot. Catfishing is best in the back of the lake near the Temperance Flat campground with chicken livers or cut bait.” The lake dropped slightly to 48%, and the San Joaquin River flows have dropped to 255 cfs at Friant.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
New Melones is the top producer for variety, and there are still kokanee to be caught in the main river channel heading upriver at depths from 80 to 110 feet with big Apex or J-Pex lures behind a 5.5-inch gold hammered dodger. Few trollers have been on the lake in the past week, but bass fishing has been the best of any of the Mother Lode lakes. Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “There is a half-hour window for flukes, topwater lures, or jerkbaits in shad patterns, and the key is finding bait. If you don’t find the bait schools, the bite is limited to working the mud line by rolling spinnerbaits. The bait is small, and small-profile lures like the Berkley Choppo 110 are working best.”
Kyle Wise of HeadHunter Guide Service has been focusing on evening catfish trips at New Melones. Wise noses his boat into the shoreline and sets out a variety of bait for catfish to 20 pounds. He said, “I also went to Don Pedro, and we found lights-out catfishing.” Few kokanee trollers are trying, but there are still fish to be had in the main river channel at depths to 125 feet with Apex or J-Pex lures behind a gold hammered dodger. The lake ramp situation has improved as two lanes are now open at Glory Hole Point. The lake dropped only 2 feet from 887.51 to 885.54 feet this week and held at 27%.
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
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “The best bass fishing has been at night, but that being said, one fish has been a good evening. A night tournament was held on Saturday night. Catfishing is best around the rocky banks near Deer Creek and Trimmer.” In the lower Kings, the last trout plant occurred six weeks ago, and the action remains slow. A few anglers continue to try with Berkley’s Atomic Tubes or Teasers along with finesse Trout Magnets. The best fishing is occurring far from the easily accessed areas. The flows have dropped once again from 272 to 231 cfs at Trimmer. The lake has dropped to 13%.
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
Michael Crayne said, “The O’Neill Forebay is the top location for boaters working umbrella rigs or flukes bounced on the bottom outside of the weed lines. Anglers are wading into the main lake and also into the forebay and tossing swimbaits such as the River2Sea Rig Walker in shad patterns. Trolling flies in the forebay in the manner known as ‘fly core’ by using lead core and jigging the line has also been productive. Bill Sterling of Striperz Gone Wild said, “The forebay is still the hot spot in the Los Banos area if you’re on a boat. Troll at lower levels with A rigs or use flukes bouncing them off the bottom just outside the weeds.” The main lake held at 28% with the forebay rising to 90%.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the fish appear to be acting more normal, and that trollers are getting a few nice school fish early in the day before it begins sizzling. “The algae is getting very thick and the water temp on Sunday got up to an incredible 84 degrees around 4 p.m. I scouted on Sunday from 1 to 6:30 pm with a friend and we got 12 fish to 26 inches trolling the 40- to 65-foot range with Lucky Crafts. It wasn’t the best bite window to hit but it worked for us – although it hit 108. The full moon coming this Saturday may set the bite back a few days if things go as usual. The Dinosaur dock No. 1 launch depth is getting down to around the 7-foot mark, and I expect the park will move it sometime soon if the lake keeps slowly falling.”
A blue-green algae advisory warning has been posted for San Luis Reservoir near the Basalt boat launch area with another caution advisory in the forebay at boat launch area, Check 13, and the Gianelli Power Plant within the caution range for microcystins.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711; Roger George – rogergeorgeguideservice.com – 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
Few anglers were out on the lake during the weekend. Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing, said, “I did not fish heading into the Labor Day weekend, but there is an abundance of trout still available between Miller’s Landing and the dam with Dick’s Trout Busters, Rocky Mountain Plankton Spinners, or Dick’s Mountain Tubes in pink or orange tipped with crawler or maggot, behind a Dick’s Mountain Dodger in blue and pink or Rocky Mountain Signature Dodger. I anticipate good to excellent trout fishing following the holiday and few boats will be on the lake, and it should be a great opportunity for anglers to load up on some nice trout.” Bass fishing is best with jerkbaits, but few anglers are trying. The lake will be releasing water after the Labor Day holiday, but it is currently at 79%.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
All the lakes should be mostly fished out with the catchables by now. Michael Crayne said, “The fall is the best time at Edison as the trout will become active as the water continues to cool.” Edison held at 20%, Florence dropped slightly to 62% with Mammoth Pool dropping from 64% to 57%.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee 2 Trout 3
Shaver is traditionally the final stop on the Kokanee Power tournament circuit, and this year is no exception as the best kokanee fishermen in Northern California will converge on the lake this week in search of the elusive 20-inch kokanee. Shaver has been a highlight of the 2022 California kokanee season with the largest fish of the year at up to 21 inches landed this summer. Anglers who normally don’t make the trip south have arrived to find great success, but that was earlier in the season.
Dick Nichols, Shaver’s retired guide emeritus, said, “Extreme temperatures and a high-water level at Shaver are contributors to a drastic slowdown of a kokanee bite, but the trout fishing remains good to excellent. After a slow fishing morning Wednesday, I changed my tactics and decided to fish for early kokanee and then head to the trout water on my Thursday trip. Fishing with longtime buddies Todd Donell and Scott Haberkorn, both of Southern California, we struck out on kokanees and headed to Black Rock and Eagle Point picking up our three limits of trout. You get more hits than fish, making the action worth the trip. Using Dick’s Trout Busters in Stevenson- or Scout-style tipped with a piece of crawler behind weighted Dick’s Mountain Flashers, we had no problem in keeping busy. With the weighted Mountain Flashers, we use a setback of 100 to 125 feet. That got us down to 25 to 30 feet where most of the trout are located. The trout bite has been good most of the season. At this time last year, we were picking up three limits of nice kokes, this season for the most part has been a disappointment at season’s end.”
The number of trollers will increase dramatically starting on Tuesday, and they won’t be searching for the lake’s trout, although there is a trout side pot in the upcoming tournament. Kokanee Power has had a very successful season with over 100 participants in many of their events. Shaver held at 79%.
At Huntington, Jay and Delinda Irvine took out Scott and Bonnie Bosler of Visalia on Sunday. In spite of no dock in the water, Irvine was able to launch his boat and pick up two limits of kokanee. There was no trout bite to speak of. They caught all the kokanee on downriggers with Dick’s Mountain Hoochies in pink/purple, pink, white/purple with a pink or purple spinner blade behind Paulina Peak gold pink and purple 4.5-inch dodgers. The bite was between 40 to 60 feet deep, with most of the fish caught at 43 feet deep in the deeper water at the west end of the lake. Irvine said, “The kokanee caught were big for Huntington and still pretty bright. A great morning fishing taking a gamble on being able to launch.” The lake has dropped to 67%.
Todd Wittwer – Kokanee.net Guide Service – 288-8100; Jerad Romero – Jrods Guide Service – 392-6994; Tom Oliveira – Tom Oliveira Fishing – 802-8072
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Kelly Brewer of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store said, “Courtright is extremely low, but Wishon remains relatively high. Trollers are scoring with blade/’crawler combinations, Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a dodger, or Rapalas at Wishon in deep water.” Holdovers are found in Wishon near the mouth of Short Hair Creek and the inlet at the back of the lake. The dock is in at Wishon.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Salmon 2 Rockfish 3 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
With the bulk of the salmon migrating north to the Marin coastline, Half Moon Bay boats are picking away at the remaining fish around Martin’s Beach, in front of the entrance buoys, and north near Pedro Point. Rockfishing is taking over as the primary species, and limits of rockfish, a healthy ling cod count, and a few bonus halibut are taken south of the harbor. The Pacifica Pier is limited to fishing-only until early November when Dungeness crab season opens.
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 Bluefin Tuna 2 Rockfish 3 Striper 2 White seabass 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “As hoped, this week saw a few more tuna caught in our general area. Big bluefin tuna are moving in. Sightings of the giant tuna have occurred in the deep waters off the Big Sur Coast, and some 30 to 60 miles from Half Moon Bay. A trio of anglers from Emeryville took the long trip last weekend and trolled up one fish just north of the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy, about 50 miles offshore. Since then, a number of boats have been out to the deep blue waters offshore, on the hunt. A few bluefin have been reported caught since then, all in that general area. There’s still tons of bait in Monterey Bay, and it’s spreading towards the north coast above Santa Cruz. With luck, we’ll get some big schools of bluefin in our area to test our equipment, stamina, and patience soon.
In the meantime, there’s still plenty of action going on inshore. Rockfishing is still going full blast. Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching Trips in Monterey caught limits on every trip this week, up to 350 rockfish for the clients aboard the Star of Monterey on Saturday. Stagnaro’s Sportfishing in Santa Cruz also reports limits for their seven-hour trips and north coast trips this week with up to four lingcod in the mix as well.
The six pack charters from Santa Cruz are heading north for full limits of big rockfish between Wilder’s Beach and Davenport. Migrating salmon are coming in shallow which is not unusual for fall in those waters, and the boys are cashing in on a few flatties in the area also. Rodney Armstrong at Santa Cruz Coastal Charters reported, “Today we went back up to Davenport. The rockfish bite remains steady. We had all our limits of rockfish and four nice ling cod. We had about four or five hitch hikers let go and about four more short lingcod. Then we trolled for salmon on the way home and picked up a nice 25 pounder.” Well-done Captain Armstrong!
Six-pack charter Go Fish Santa Cruz has traveled up the Davenport area nearly every day this week for fine quality rockfish. (Quality means “big fish.”) Skipper JT Thomas said, “We have been fishing for rock cod. The bite continues to be really good near Davenport. The clients are catching limits of a variety of rock fish including big vermillion, yellow tail and coppers.” The bottom dwelling verms and coppers especially can get very big and are almost always very grumpy, which makes for fun and oft times furious action.”
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 2 Sturgeon 2
2022 has been the ‘Year of the Salmon’ for the Golden Gate fleet, but even the best of times has to come to an end. We are far from the end as the season lasts until October 31st, but instead of limits on a regular basis, a fish per rod is a good score. The hot bite south of the Golden Gate has slowed, and most private boaters, six packs, and party boats are working along the Marin coast. With the salmon scores starting to wane, bottomfishing is becoming more prevalent, and it is only a couple of months before the popular crab/rockfish combination are expected to start on November 5th.
Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady in Sausalito said, “It was a tough scratch on Saturday on the northside, and the boats have scattered out looking. We grinded it out at Muir Beach to Muir Point for 5 big salmon, losing another five in the process. I think it will pick up again as the big tides in September usually will pick things up, and there is a series of big times this coming week from Tuesday through Sunday.”
Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters went mooching off of Duxbury on Monday for three big salmon for three anglers. He said, “We only had a handful of bites, and the bait wasn’t as thick as we would like.” The high boat was the California Dawn II with a total of 13 salmon on Monday.
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions in San Francisco switched over to rockfishing on Saturday for limits along with several ling cod up the coast above Duxbury, and he said, “We went back into the bay for halibut after scoring limits. There have been some big white sea bass hooked on the North Bar by commercial halibut anglers, and we are looking forward to finding the ‘ghosts’ in the bay.”
Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, organized a charter on the California Dawn II this week, and after loading up the bait tank with sand dabs on the way out to ‘The Nest,’ they posted limits of big rockfish including Boccaccio’s to 13 pounds along with ling cod to 18 pounds. Wang said, “I landed five lings including the largest one along with a limit of quality rockfish.” ‘The Nest’ is past the Farallon Islands close to the Soap Bank.
Along the Marin coastline, Captain Joey Gamez of Golden State Sport Fishing put his group onto limits of rockfish and a healthy ling cod count on Sunday. Western Outdoor News columnist, Clara Ricabal, was on board, and three ling cod came over the rail on her first three drops using a swimbait.
Inside the bay,, the worst red tide in 40 years has been responsible for a major fish kill in shallower sections of the bay. However, over the past three days, the harbors are becoming clear after weeks of experiencing ‘blood red’ water. Lake Merritt in Oakland has been the epicenter of the fish kill with thousands of anchovies, striped bass, bat rays, and clams laying waste on the shoreline, requiring a major cleanup effort throughout the week. In the south bay, the Dumbarton Bridge has been sturgeon kill central with up to 44 dead diamondbacks on the shorelines within a 1.5- kilometer area. Dead sturgeon have been found in San Pablo Bay in the Napa River, and there is concern that this week’s record hot temperatures will create a rebound for the algal bloom.
As the red tide has subsided in deep water, halibut fishing has been solid for the few boats trying. Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Sport Fishing out of San Francisco said, “The shark bite has gone belly-up with the slower tides as we have only been picking up from 2 to 4 leopard shark on our half-day trips, but the halibut bite has been solid near the Barges or on the west side of Alcatraz Island. Captain Charles Kimberly found 10 legal halibut near the Barges over the weekend along with a number of shakers. The halibut are found in small pockets, and it is a matter of finding the fish holding on the shelves. The red tide has really dissipated over the past few days.”
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco made two drifts for halibut on Saturday on the west side of Alcatraz after limiting out on rockfish outside the Gate, and they put 4 halibut in the box out of 7 bites.
In San Pablo Bay, Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle said, “We have not seen any evidence of the red tide the past three days, and the water is clear in the harbor. This weekend’s tides were miniscule, and with only 0.7 feet of water movement, the lack of current makes for tough fishing. The red tide clearly affected the striped bass bite, but the halibut bite has been decent, both for boats and for shore anglers. Salmon trollers are starting to work California City at the top of the tide, and the largest salmon landed so far is 19 pounds which, by the way, isn’t a large fish for California City.”
Red tides are caused by a particular group of phytoplankton called dinoflagellates, which seem to prefer warmer and calmer waters, and the bay’s waters clearly meet these criteria. The blooms occur when the nutrients from wastewater treatment plants, including nitrogen and phosphorous, reach a threshold that allows for uncontrolled algae growth. The toxic algae called “Heterosigma akashiwo” has been blooming inside the bay, resulted in murky, brown water and creating deadly conditions for marine life. This is not only the largest algae bloom within the bay in memory, it is also the longest lasting, peaking within the past week. There has been an increase in the number of blooms occurring in parts of the world where they never occurred before. The increased red tide activity is most likely related to the amount of nutrients entering coastal waters along with continued hot temperatures.
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 3 Salmon 2 Surf perch 3
Rockfishing remains the story out of the San Luis Obispo ports. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Patriot, Flying Fish, and Phenix were out on ½-day trips to full day trips on Sunday with 59 anglers for 31 vermilion, 237 assorted rockfish, 3 Boccaccio, 7 cabezon, 9 ling cod to 14 pounds, and an ocean whitefish for a total of 398 fish for close to 2/3rd limits. Out of Morro Bay Landing, the Avenger, Endeavor, and Starfire went on trips ranging from ½- to 3/4th to full day trips on Sunday with a combined 90 anglers for 183 vermilion, 110 Boccaccio, 453 assorted rockfish, and 9 ling cod to 14 pounds. Limits were landed on the Endeavor on their full day trip. Out of Virg’s Landing, the Black Pearl, Rita G, and Fiesta were out on Sunday with 79 anglers for 114 vermilion, 485 assorted, 20 Boccaccio, and 11 ocean whitefish. 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 Salmon 2
Triple-digit temperatures continue to fry Delta residents, and after last week’s heat wave, it couldn’t get much hotter out there, but it has. Temperatures ranging from 109 to 114 degrees are expected this week before the temperatures cool into the relatively balmy mid-90’s by next weekend. However, in spite of temperatures hot enough to fry eggs, bass and striped bass fishing continue to be solid.
In the north Delta, Alan Fong of Alan Fong’s Outdoors You Tube channel was out twice this week, and he said, “I took out a fireman who hadn’t had success punching before but we smashed them. He said, ‘I didn’t realize it was this easy.’ The key is using a 1- to 1.5-ounce weight in the thick grass with a Brush Hog, and I like to get it deep in the weeds. In the thick weeds, the Brush Hog will hold on the surface of the mat, and the bass will come out and eat it on top. Crawdads hold in the roots of the weeds, and the bass are feeding heavily on crawdads. We have also been finding a few striped bass with topwater lures in the early mornings, and I released one at 12 pounds with Warren Trumbly releasing a 10 pounder. Our next video will be on advanced frog fishing techniques, and it will come out on the channel this week.”
For striped bass, Bill Crooks of Sacramento went out with Neil Koepke in Ron Retzlaff’s boat this week, and he said, “We started trolling just below Sandy Beach on the Sacramento River. With incoming wind and water, conditions were not bad except for dirty water. The further we went down stream the worse it got. When the tide turned it really got bad! We went over to the San Joaquin for cleaner water, but only slightly less waves. We were totally comfortable in our winter jackets until 1200. On the way back upriver, it got hotter. Tough day for Captain Ron. At times we could only troll two rods. We ended the day with 8 keepers to 8 pounds and 7 shakers. No hot spots. Four keepers on San Joaquin, and 4 on the Sacramento. It was a tough day, but no place I’d rather be.”
Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, trolled the West Bank this week, and they picked up three legal stripers in the 5- to 6-pound range with both deep- and shallow-diving plugs. He said, “The fish were there, but we got off the water by noon as it was really hot.”
Kyle Wise of HeadHunter Guide Service was sturgeon fishing outside of Pittsburg Marina on Saturday, and they landed a slot-limit diamondback along with releasing an oversized on his ‘Fire Cure’ salmon roe.
Pam Hayes of Benicia Bait said, “We haven’t had a single salmon come off of our shoreline as of yet, and normally, we would have a few by Labor Day. This is when the action generally takes off. The salmon must be staying out in the deeper, cooler water and not coming in within reach of the banks. Striped bass action has been decent for keepers with grasp shrimp, pile worms, blood worms, sardines, or anchovies from the shorelines.”
Tony Lopez of Bay Point Tackle said, “It’s been hot and windy in our section of the river, and fishing interest has been limited. I haven’t heard of a single salmon from the river yet.”
In the San Joaquin River, the hot temperatures are keeping most fishermen off of the water, but there is some relief coming before next Saturday’s Nor Cal Bass Tournament out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton. This will be the final 6-hour tournament before the restriction is lifted on September 15th. Dave King, director of Nor Cal Bass, said, “I launched out of Paradise Point on Saturday with Jonathan Ashcraft, and we found great action on topwater lures or frogs. I picked up a 3 pounder on a white Scum Frog, and Jonathan said, ‘I didn’t bring one of those, but I do have a blue Snag Proof frog.’ I told him to give it a whirl, and he landed a bass pushing 5 pounds. We tore it up pretty good on the East Delta near Fourteen Mile Slough. The best action for larger fish was int the cooler morning, but once it got hot, the bite stayed strong, but the bass were much smaller.”
Dan Mathisen Outdoors is hosting the ‘Dee Thomas Memorial Tournament’ on September 24th out of Holland Riverside Marina, and all proceeds from the tournament will be dedicated to one of Thomas’s favorite activities – providing youth fishing opportunities.
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop said, “Locally from Mossdale to Two Rivers on the south San Joaquin, it has been very slow as a number of fish have died from the agricultural waste release last week, removing the oxygen from the river. The shad have disappeared from the south San Joaquin, but our shadder continues to bring up to 190 pounds of shad every day. We are bagging and freezing what isn’t sold fresh, and we plan on keeping 3000 pounds of frozen in the shop during the winter months.”
Brannan Island State Recreation Area is open on weekends-only from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and it has been extended until October 1st. A new concessionaire is being recruited for fulltime duty. Only the launch ramp and nearby day-use area is open as the other parts of the park remain closed. Toxic blue-green algae has been present in many areas of the Delta including Frank’s Tract Recreational Area.
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, triple-digit temperatures are limiting anglers to either the early mornings or late evenings, and there has been a good bite for spotted and white bass to 3 pounds. There is a solid reaction bite with topwater lures and buzzbaits early in the mornings before working the shad schools on the bottom with spoons or ice jigs. The key is to find the bait balls which are thick in certain locations. Grebes have been working the bait balls, and it is a matter of locating the birds. White bass are taken by trolling with white Kastmasters or Roostertails through the submerged schools. Bluegill and red ear perch continue to be taken on red worms, jumbo red worms, or meal worms. The lake held at 20%. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/lake-nacimiento-live-webcam/. At Lopez, despite the heat and lack of a boat launch, bass fishing remains decent for quality largemouth bass in the 5-pound range with a solid topwater bite early or late before working the suspended fish with underspins or crankbaits. The plastic bite on the bottom has slowed down. Rental boats are available at the marina, and kayakers are able to launch from the shoreline as the launch ramp is out of the water. The lake dropped to 24.4% of capacity. Anglers can view a live webcam of the lake at https://805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam/. At Santa Margarita, bass fishing continues to improve with the best action early or late with topwater lures, Rat-L-Traps, deep-diving crankbaits, or underspins before heading to the bottom with plastics, Senkos, or jigs at depths to 20 feet. Bass fishermen have been picking up the incidental catfish striking the reaction lures, but the best action for the whiskerfish is with anchovies, mackerel, or sardines coated with garlic spray in the evenings. The crappie are holding in tight schools around structure, and it is a matter of locating the right tree or brush with minijigs. Bluegill and red ear perch are taken on meal worms, red worms, or mini-crawlers. crankbaits, underspins, squarebill or Pinjack crankbaits in shad patterns. The lake dropped to 53.4% of capacity. A webcam of the lake is available at https://805webcams.com/santa-margarita-lake-webcam-california/. At San Antonio, similar to the other coastal lakes, the bite is for a variety of species is decent despite low water conditions and triple-digit temperatures. Catfish, crappie, and carp highlight this lake with the carp landed on dough baits while catfish continue to inhale mackerel dipped in garlic scent. Crappie are biting minijigs on light fluorocarbon monofilament line. Bass fishing is also improving with jigs worked on a slow presentation on the bottom. 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 10%.
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:
No results
Upcoming Tournaments (subject to change)
September 10/11th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
New Melones – American Bass Association
Millerton – Bass 101
September 10th –
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Shaver Lake – Kokanee Power Team Tournament
September 11th –
Don Pedro – Kings VIII Bass Club
McClure – Gold Country Bass Team
September 15th-17th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Wild West Bass Trails
September 15th –
Delta/B and W Resort – Calvary Christian Center
September 16/17th –
New Melones – Nor Cal Bass
September 17th –
Delta/B and W Resort – Bass N’ Tubes
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Christian Bass League
New Melones – Sonora Bass Anglers
Kaweah – Golden Empire Bass Club
Isabella – American Bass Association
Santa Margarita – Bakersfield Bass Club/Orange County Bass Club
Lopez – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
September 18th –
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Hook, Line, and Sinker
New Melones – Nor Cal High School Bass
September 21st – 23rd –
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Western Outdoor News
September 24/25th –
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Angler’s Press
Delta/B and W Resort – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
Lopez – California Bass Contenders
September 24th –
Delta/Holland Riverside Marina – Dan Mathisen Outdoor’s ‘Dee Thomas Memorial’
New Melones – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies
Santa Margarita – Kern County Bassmasters
September 25th –
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Discovery Bass Community
