Weekly Fishing Report

September 1, 2010

JIM MATTHEWS’

PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. Diamond Valley Lake’s striped bass bite get this top billing this week. There have been some incredible 10-fish stringers of stripers come from this fishery in the past week (over 100 pounds total) and individual stripers topping 20 pounds. Lots of this action is topwater. Add in an excellent largemouth bass bite that just won’t slow down, and you have the top pick in Southern California. For an update on the action, call the marina at 951-926-7201 or Last Chance Bait and Tackle at 951-658-7410.

2. San Antonio Lake would have been our top pick if DVL’s stripers hadn’t broke wide open this week. San Antonio’s stripers are again wide open and there has been more surface action than trolling fish this week. The best reports continue to be on the Forum section of FishingNetwork.net, with most of those posted by guide Bob Caffey (www.troutonly.com). Lost of six to 12 pound fish and some in the 20-pound class. A 100-pound, 10-fish limit wouldn’t be impossible here, either. For updates, check the web sites or call the marina at 805-472-2818.
3. With so much excellent catfish action happening throughout Southern California, it’s hard to pick one spot as better than the others. But Hesperia Lake is both close for most of Southern Californians (especially compared to the Colorado River) and it has been producing a lot of quality fish over 15 pounds, so it gets the nod. The best bite has been in the evenings. For an update, call the tackle shop at 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

     TROUT: Top trout bets in Sierra continue to include Bridgeport Reservoir, Lake Crowley, Silver Lake, Rush Creek, South Lake, Lake Sabrina, North Lake and most of the Bishop Creek and Rock Creek drainage streams, which are getting heavily planted each week. Virginia Lakes has also been wide open on fish to two pounds, and the West Walker is very good now. For fly guys, the East Walker River is fair, but Bridgeport Reservoir and Crowley remain hot spots. At Crowley has more and more fish are working perch minnows in the backs of bays with water inflows, but there has also been more algae this week. In Southern California, there continues to be good action at just a handful of waters. Top bets are Green Valley Lake, Big Bear Lake, and Lake Hemet with all three pretty fair.
     BLACK BASS: The largemouth bass action has improved just about everyone this past week with surface action turning on a lot of places. Diamond Valley Lake has been wide open on topwater and other good bets include Casitas, Castaic, Skinner, Sutherland, Otay, Irvine, Perris, Silverwood, Pyramid and Puddingstone. The smallmouth action on the Colorado River has been very good in the lower river stretches and Topoc Gorge, but slowish in Lake Havasu with only a few fish showing on the points. Further up on the Central Coast, Santa Margarita improved, and Lopez is fair to good, too. The spotted bass are pretty fair in Nacimiento.
     STRIPED BASS: Diamond Valley Lake broke wide open this past week with a lot of 10-plus-pound class fish landed. It is better than San Antonio Lake on the Central Coast, and it is wide open again. Both places are have a lot of surface action on boiling fish. Striper bites are generally pretty good everywhere else, too, with Silverwood, Pyramid, Castaic, and Skinner all decent bets. The Colorado River mostly slowed, with one big exception: Willow Beach. There have been a number of quality stripers from 18 to 23 pounds this week. The California Aqueduct near Taft remains pretty good, too, with a lot of three to five pounders, but weed growth is a problem.
     PANFISH: Redear and bluegill bites are hot just about everywhere -- with Perris, Diamond Valley, Casitas, Lower Otay, Sutherland, and Puddingstone some of the top picks. Crappie have lulled most everywhere with far fewer fish this past week at Cachuma and Henshaw.
     CATFISH: Simply good action just about everywhere. Hesperia Lake (which got bonus plants of trophy fish this week), Henshaw, Elsinore, Corona Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, Irvine Lake, and even Big Bear Lake have been hot spots in Southern California with a lot of fish landed at all seven. Silverwood, Elsinore, Skinner, and Diamond Valley are also good with a lot of cats to eight pounds at these four. Isabella has been fair to good for cats from 1-8 to three pounds, and the California aqueduct near Taft has also been good, too. The channel and flathead action is pretty much wide open along the whole lower Colorado River, especially in the backwaters and irrigation ditches. This is a top bet for a quality fish over 20 pounds and big stringers of channels.

WATER BY WATER REPORTS

Compiled by Jim Matthews
Outdoor News Service

SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAIN WATERS

     SILVERWOOD: The striped bass and catfish bites have both been very good this past week, but the fishing pressure continues to be light. Top spots for striper have been the spillway and Chemise Bay with anchovies the best bait. The catfish are best on anchovies or chicken liver in Miller Canyon and Live Oak. Jimmy Miller, Riverside, had a four-pound cat on chicken liver. The largemouth have been just fair, but Mile Montgomerie, Riverside, had a seven-pounder on a Power Minnow. Bluegill are good all along the marina rip-rap on small plastics, wax worms, red worms, or crickets. Still a few trout showing in the mornings on small lures or floating baits from deep water. The park is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: marina 760-389-2299, state park 760-389-2281, Silverwood Country store 760-389-2423.
     BIG BEAR LAKE: Trout slowed during the full moon, but picked up as the moo waned. Best action has been from the surface down to 10 feet early and late in the day with the fish moving deeper later. Trollers are using Needlefish and Dick Nite spoons in pink and purple or pink and white. Bait anglers are fishing a slip-bobber rig keeping their baits in the 10 to 15-foot range. Both are getting limits. DFG trout plants again this week and last week. Catfish are still good (but no whoppers reported this week), mostly on cut baits fished on sandy bottoms. Smallmouth and largemouth are fair to good in the bays and along the rocky jetties on small jigs and spinners and the best smallmouth reported this week was over three pounds. The crappie and bluegill are also pretty good on mini-jigs tipped with Gulp! Nuggets. Carp are still cruising the shallows and providing fair to good bowfishing. Fishing information: Big Bear Marina 909-866-3218, Big Bear Sporting Goods 909-866-3222.
     GREGORY LAKE: DFG trout plants last week and two weeks ago, with still just fair overall action. Quite a few small crappie continue to be caught, along with a few bluegill and the odd bass. The boat house is open. Information: 909-338-2233.
     GREEN VALLEY LAKE: Fair to good trout action with quite a few two to five-pound fish reported but none over six pounds this week. Both Jess Ranch and Calaveras plants are slated for this week, and the DFG planted last week. Anglers win a free Green Valley Lakes tee-shirt if they land a trout over six pounds. Recorded information: 909-867-2009.
     ARROWBEAR LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     JENKS LAKE REGION: DFG trout plants last week and two weeks ago, and the bite is pretty good on Power Bait, small jigs, and trout plastics, with the float tube anglers having the best luck. Both the Santa Ana River in the Seven Oaks area and the South Fork were planted by the DFG three weeks ago. Slow to fair bite. Few reports on brown trout. Information: Mill Creek Ranger Station at 909-382-2881.

HIGH DESERT LAKES

     HESPERIA LAKE: Very good catfish action and plants totaling 4,000 going in this week, including a big load of brood stock with fish to 15-pounds. The evening bite continues to be the best bet, but with cooler weather this past week the rest of the day also saw good action. Many quality fish continue to show each week. Martin Campbell, Apple Valley, caught a 23-8 catfish on mackerel. Art Lopez, Hesperia, landed a 20-pound catfish using nightcrawlers with garlic. John Brown, San Bernardino, scored an 18-pound catfish using the marshmallow and mealworm combo. A few wipers are still making an appearance each week but the bite is mostly slow. There was also a nice sturgeon landed again this week with Elliot Perez, Lancaster, getting a 22-pounder on mealworms. Lake hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the night session from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $15 per angler. There are $2 off coupons available at Bass Pro Shops. Information: 800-521-6332 or 760-244-5951.
     JESS RANCH: Trout action is mostly slow with the best bite before 10 a.m. on Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and small trout jigs. Trout are planted every Friday with more and bigger fish going in now. Alen Cabrera, Rancho Cucamonga, caught a 4-8 rainbow on a crappie jig at the north shore of lake 2. The catfish are fair on shrimp and nightcrawlers. A few largemouth are showing on Senkos, spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers, and the bluegill bite remains pretty fair on meal worms and small jigs. The lake is open Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is stocked with trout each week on Friday from its own hatchery. Lake information: 760-240-1107 or www.jessranchlakesnews.com.
     MOJAVE NARROWS: County catfish go in each week through the end of catfish season, and the bite has been good with most fish from two to three pounds. Pretty good action on small bluegill, but the crappie and bass are slow. There’s a good bite on carp with the fish running to five pounds with some bigger. Horseshoe Lake is still temporarily closed due to flood damage. Pelican Lake is remains open. For lake information: 760-245-2226.

INLAND VALLEY LAKES
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

     CUCAMONGA-GUASTI: Fair catfish action. County catfish plants are weekly and will continue to go in each week through the end of catfish season. Information: 909-481-4205.
     PRADO: County catfish plants are weekly through the end of the summer season and action has been fair to good. The marshmallow-meal worm combo, marshmallow and nightcrawler combo, shrimp, or mackerel have been working best. There is also a fair bite on bluegill with wax worms, meal worms, or nightcrawler pieces. A few carp are also being landed. Luis Medrano, Santa Ana, caught an 16-4 carp on a marshmallow at Lot No. 8. Catfish baits are also now being sold at the park, and small boats (non-inflatable) under 16 feet with electric motors are now allowed. Information: 909-597-4260.
     YUCAIPA: Catfish bite is excellent for one to three-pound fish with the best bite before 9 a.m. each morning. There are 750-pound county plants each week, usually split between the top and bottom lakes. Shrimp, mackerel, and anchovies have been the best baits. Bluegill action is fair on small fish, with small pieces of nightcrawler the best bait. There is a decent carp bite for those targeting them as well. Other species are slow. Lake information: 909-790-3127.
     GLEN HELEN: County catfish plants are weekly through the rest of the summer season and the bite has been good on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and mackerel. Most of the cats are from 1 1/2 to two pounds. Fair to good trout bite. Bass, bluegill and carp are mostly slow. Information: 909-887-7540.
     MOUNT BALDY TROUT POOLS: The heavily stocked pools are open every Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is needed. Information: 909-982-4246.
     SECCOMBE LAKE: Good action on small bluegill, and the occasional largemouth is also being caught. Information: 909-384-5233.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

     DIAMOND VALLEY: Excellent striper bite with lots big fish reported this past week. There were several reports of limits over 140 pounds and one angler reported a total of 520 pounds of striper over three days of fishing. Mike Southerland, Fontana, caught a 22-4 striper near the west dam on a Z-plug. Honree Davis, Winchester, caught a 16-pound striper on a Kastmaster. Excellent topwater action for largemouth as well this past week. Most shad-like surface baits, cranks, and jerk baits are working. After the topwater slows, the plastic action is still very good. A few trout reported in 30 to 60 feet for trollers or anglers drifting nightcrawlers in the west end of the lake off the dam. Catfish action is good on anchovies, mackerel, or shrimp at the attenuator. Rosalina Mason, San Jacinto, caught a 12.85-pound catfish on mackerel near the attenuator. There is an excellent bluegill bite in Rawson Cove, the marina, east dam, and south corner of the west dam. For general lake, launch, and fishing information, call 800-590-LAKE, the marina at 951-926-7201 or www.dvmarina.com, or Last Chance Bait and Tackle 951-658-7410 or www.lastchancebaitandtackle.com.
     PERRIS: Both redear and bluegill are showing in good numbers. A large number of these fish are over one-pound with the highest concentration of larger panfish showing from the northwest side of the island. The largemouth action picked is good with anglers having success at Sail Cove, Bernasconi Beach, and Allessandro Island. Shane LaFever, Riverside, caught a 6.9-pound largemouth on a crankbait at Sail Cove. Ross May, Moreno Valley, caught two bass at 4.8 and 3.2 pounds using crankbaits at Bernasconi Beach. Carp, catfish, and trout mostly slow. The park is open seven days a week, and hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: marina 951-657-2179, state park 951-940-5600.
     SKINNER: Good catfish action. Nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and mackerel are all producing fish with the south shore, Ramp No. 2, the inlet, and the dam the top spots. Andre Dettway Jr., Lynwood, caught 10 catfish to nine pounds using shrimp and chicken liver at the dam. Kevin Hartman, Riverside, landed three catfish to seven pounds on chicken liver at the south shore. Largemouth bite is fair with a decent number of smaller bass showing on Roostertails in the coves. Bluegill numbers were down this past week but the fish being caught have been quality fish. Stripers are being primarily caught from deeper water near the dam, but this bite has been just fair. The best bite has been on chicken liver. Carp action has been fair for those targeting them. Information: store 951-926-1505 or marina 951-926-8515.
     ELSINORE: Light fishing pressure this past week, but the catfish bite is still good with a lot of fish from three to eight pounds on shrimp and nightcrawlers. The wiper bite has been more spotty this week with only a few fish reported on shrimp, nightcrawlers, or cut baits over sandy bottoms in the north end, with most around three to five pounds and over the 18-inch minimum size. The bluegill bite remains excellent, but most of the fish are small, but a few keeper-size half-pounders are being caught on crickets, wax worms, and meal worms fished under bobbers. Largemouth are fair with fish to three pounds. Crappie are still slow, but the few fish being caught are nice two-pound class crappie. Bowfishermen should note that the carp have backed out of the shallows and are less available now. Boat rentals are available through the William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental out of Elsinore West Marina. For more information, contact William’s Bait, Tackle, and Boat Rental at 951-642-0640 or go to www.williamsboatandtackle.com.
     CORONA LAKE: Catfish and tilapia continue to provide good action with a lot of cats to five pounds or better and the tilapia are running over a pound. Catfish have been best from shore off JD’s Point with long casts reaching out into deeper water, while boat anglers are finding the night bite very good, also in deeper water. Shrimp or mackerel doused with garlic Eagle Claw Gravy is the top bait. A seven-pound cat topped off a five-fish, 21 1/2-pound stringer caught by Darren Stillwell, Compton, on mackerel. A six-pound cat anchored a 34-pound, 15-fish catch posted by Dan and Aiden Kalapara, Yucaipa, fishing mackerel and shrimp off JD’s Point. Brian Torres and Alicia O’Dwyer, both Yorba Linda, had nine cats for 33 pounds on chicken liver at the reeds near the boat dock, and their top fish was also a six-pounder. Marcus Allen, Elsinore, who had 10 cats for 19 1/2 pounds fishing chicken liver and shrimp from a boat, and Rich and Todd Marshall who had 10 cats for 20 pounds, including a five-pounder, fishing mackerel from a boat. The tilapia have been best on a half a nightcrawler fished two feet below a bobber close to the shore. Joel Terriquez, Corona, landed a 1 1/2-pounder fishing a ‘crawler from shore. Corona Lake is planted at least twice a week with catfish, most from one to three pounds, but the regular trophy plants add fish from five to 20 pounds or more. Tilapia are also planted each week. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. For Corona Lake fishing information, call 951-277-4489 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
     EVANS LAKE: Fair bass action on small plastics and tiny jerk baits along the rocky shorelines early and late in the day with some fish to two pounds. Also a pretty decent bite on small bluegill and warmouth, and there have been reports of small crappie, too. Anglers targeting carp are also seeing a decent bite on dough baits.
     RANCHO JURUPA: Good catfish action with quite a few limits reported after a plant last week. Most of the fish around two pounds. Also a pretty decent bite for bluegill and carp. Slow other species. There is now a bait and tackle shop at the lake. Information: 951-684-7032.
     FISHERMAN’S RETREAT: No report. Information: 909-795-0171.
     ANGLER’S LAKE: The lake is currently closed.
     REFLECTION LAKE: Catfish remain good on cut baits, and plants are every two weeks with 500 pounds planted each time. There are monthly derbies. A few bass are showing. Bluegill fair. Information: 951-654-7906 or www.reflectionlakerv.com.
     JEAN'S CHANNEL CATS: The lake is closed and will remain closed through October for maintenance. Trout plants will begin November 1, or possibly even sooner if the weather cools down. Once the lake reopens it will be open only on weekends Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on all Monday holidays. Information: 951-679-6562 or 951-259-2021.

SAN JACINTO MOUNTAIN WATERS

     LAKE HEMET: Fair trout action but fishing pressure has been light. The fish are showing for trollers and shore anglers using Power Bait or similar baits along the south shoreline. There was a DFG plant this week and last week. The bluegill bite has been pretty good with few anglers targeting them, and the odd bass is showing up. Lake open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: Lake Hemet Market 951-659-2350, campground 951-659-2680.
     LAKE FULMORE: No DFG trout plants in over a month. Slow trout action, but a few small bass and bluegill are being caught. Information: 951-659-2117.

ORANGE COUNTY

     SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: The tilapia action has been “off the hook” and there is also still a very good catfish bite, with the cats getting the most pressure.      It has been easy to catch a stringer of five tilapia by simply fishing a half a nightcrawler on a No. 6 baitholder hook two feet below a small bobber. Mario Davila, Fullerton, landed five tilapia and his top fish was a two-pounder. He was fishing Chris’ Pond with nightcrawler pieces. The catfish bite is best on the marshmallow-meal worm (M&M) combo, shrimp, or nightcrawlers and adding one of the dip baits or scents is a good idea. Mauricio Santana, Bell, landed a stringer of six catfish for 18 1/2 pounds, and his top fish was a six-pounder. All were caught on meal worms. Trino and John Magana, La Habra, had nine cats for 20 1/2 pounds on shrimp and mackerel. Manuia and Lima Tuu, Long Beach, had six cats for 18 1/2 pounds, including a 4 1/2-pounder. The pair was fishing the M&M combo dipped in Hog Wild. SARL is getting twice-weekly plants of catfish with tilapia also added at least once each week, and broodstock cats over the five-pound mark are slated to go in throughout August and September this year. There is 24-hour fishing every Friday and Saturday night. Private boats are no longer allowed at Santa Ana River Lakes due to fears of invasive quagga mussels being introduced into the water system. Information: 714-632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
     ANAHEIM LAKE: Closed. Anaheim Lake only opens when Santa Ana River Lakes is closed for cleaning and maintenance. Information: (714) 996-3508 or www.fishinglakes.com.
     IRVINE LAKE: There will be a Labor Day Catfish Derby Saturday and the catfish bite has been good on mackerel, shrimp, Gulp! Catfish baits, and bonito fished in Boat Dock Cove and on Santiago Flats near any kind of structure. Phil Hildebrandt, Anaheim, have a fish-fish 26-12 stringer topped off by an eight-pounder fishing shrimp and mackerel on the flat. Elaine Dickerhoof, Artesia, had a five-fish limit that weighed 19-12. Heavy pressure slowed the largemouth bite, but it’s still fair and quite a few two to three-pounders have been landed on jigs, drop-shot baits, and Creature baits fished at the Red Clay Cliffs and Rocky Point. Danny Huitzell, Norwalk, caught and released a 9-8 largemouth on a Power Worm off the flats. Little pressure on other species, but a few wipers are being caught by catfish anglers, and the bite on bluegill and redear has been pretty good for anglers targeting these panfish. Also a few nice crappie checked in. The lake is closed on Tuesdays. The road to Trout Island is again usable. Lake information: 714-649-9111 or www.irvinelake.net.
     LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: No report. The lake is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Information: 949-362-3885 or www.lagunaniguellake.com.

LOS ANGELES AREA LAKES

     CACHUMA: The catfish bite was good again this week with a number of fish five to eight-pounds reported. Mackerel has been the top bait for the cats. Both the largemouth and smallmouth bass are just fair with some topwater action early and late in the day. The trout bite is slow with no recent plants. Bluegill are fair to good in most coves on small baits. Crappie are fair on small jigs in the Narrows or Cachuma Bay. There is also a decent carp bite all over the lake for those targeting them. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. The marina is open again with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.
     CASITAS: The bass bite remains fair to good in 20 to 30 feet of water on nightcrawlers, plastics, and jigs. Morning and evening are when the action has been best, with a quite a few topwater fish early. Eric Elshere, Ojai, has had a pair of five-fish limits at 20 and 25 pounds on buzzbaits this past week. Andrew Wedeking, Pacific Palasides, had a 10-pound bass on a plastic, and Jake Mazzarella, 8, Malibu, caught his first fish ever -- a four-pound bass on a plastic worm. The catfish bite has improved with a pretty fair bite in shallow water on mackerel and nightcrawlers. Bobby Blocker, Ventura, had a trio of fish on mackerel with his best a 21-pounder and the smaller two at eight and nine pounds. The redear are good on nightcrawlers, also in the shallows. Most hand-sized but some to two pounds. There continues to be a slow trout bite for trollers working eight to 10 colors of leadcore and Needlefish or by bait anglers drifting in about 60 feet of water near the dam. Most of the trout are two to three pounds and pink-meated. Private boats will be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The lake is open every day, including all holidays from dusk to dawn. Information: 805-649-2043.
     CASTAIC: Striper action has been mostly slow and the few that are being caught are smaller fish, but there have been some flurries of action with the odd fish over 10 pounds. Kong Island and Sharron's Rest have been the top spots. There has been a decent topwater bite in the backs of the coves for both stripers and largemouth in the morning and mid-afternoon. Plastics and nightcrawlers have also been producing quite a few largemouth in both lakes. Catfish action is good with Elizabeth Canyon and the buoy line the top spots. The panfish bite has slowed down but some are still showing in pretty good numbers on wax worms, mealworms, small jigs, and pieces of nightcrawlers at the lagoon. Trout slow. Information: 661-775-6232 or www.CastaicLake.com.
     PIRU: Light fishing pressure but fair to good overall action. There continues to be a decent pick on the crappie, and good bluegill and redear action on fish to a pound or so. The bass are showing on topwater early and then on plastics and swimbaits in the day with some quality fish showing. Tops recently was a nine-pounder. Information: bait shop at 805-521-1500, x208 or www.camplakepiru.com.
     PYRAMID: The striper action remains fair to good for anglers drifting with anchovies or sardines, and they continue to average from one to two pounds with an occasional bigger fish. Most of the fish are in deep water near the dam, in the main channel and off the island. There have also been some boiling fish in the morning off the island. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action is fair on one to three-pound fish on nightcrawlers and plastics and some topwater. The bluegill are showing in pretty good numbers with quite a few fish to half-pound. Crappie slow. Catfish have improved with a pretty good bite and some fish to 10 pounds or better in the evenings on cut baits. Trout spotty, but some showing for deep trollers. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155, concession at 661-257-2790, or Forest Service at 661-296-9710.
     QUAIL LAKE: No reports.
     PUDDINGSTONE: Fair action on largemouth bass on plastic worms and nightcrawlers around structure, with some topwater action early and late in the day. Bluegill action is fair to good on crickets, wax worms and meal worms with morning and evening best. Most are hand-sized and smaller but some bigger fish also showing. Carp are fair on dough baits. Catfish have improved with a fair bite on cut baits, especially in the evenings. No DFG catfish plants since state budget year ended because of lack of funding. Information: East Shore RV Park: 909-599-8355 (ask for the market).
     SANTA FE DAM: No recent DFG plants. Slow to fair bass and bluegill action. Information: 626-334-1065.
     ALONDRA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     BALBOA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     BELVEDERE PARK LAKE: DFG No recent DFG plants.
     CERRITOS PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     DOWNEY WILDERNESS PARK: No recent DFG plants.
     ECHO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     EL DORADO PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     ELIZABETH LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     HANSEN DAM LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 888-527-2757 or 818-899-3779.
     HOLLENBECK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 213-261-0113.
     JOHN FORD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     KENNETH HAHN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     LA MIRADA PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     LEGG LAKES: No recent DFG plants.
     LINCOLN PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     MAGIC JOHNSON LAKE: No recent DFG plants.
     PECK ROAD PARK LAKE: No recent DFG plants. Information: 818-448-7317.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES

     BARRETT: There were 46 anglers checked and they reported catching 524 bass and 58 bluegill. Reservations are available for August by calling Tickemaster at 800-745-3000. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
     HODGES: There were 69 anglers checked and they reported catching 74 bass, one bluegill, two crappie, and five catfish. The lake is open to fishing Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with rental boats only available on the weekend. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
     EL CAPITAN: There were just five anglers who reported catching seven bass and 12 bluegill. The lake is open Thursday through Saturday and on Monday for fishing. Rental boats are available Saturday and Sunday only. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
     LOWER OTAY: There were 252 anglers checked and they reported catching 170 bass to 6.8 pounds, 359 bluegill to 1.74 pounds, and 32 catfish to 15.1 pounds. Jerry Rhode, Spring Valley, caught five bluegill to 1.5 pounds and a 3.2-pound largemouth using nightcrawlers in Harvey Arm. Lory Williams, National City, scored two catfish to 15.1 pounds on mackerel in Bushlow Cove. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule. The lake only has boat rentals on Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
     UPPER OTAY: There were 13 anglers checked and they reported catching 31 bass and 15 bluegill. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for catch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single, barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is open. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
     MURRAY: No report. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind.
     MIRAMAR: There were 43 anglers checked and they reported just five bluegill and three bass. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. The lake is no longer renting boats of any kind, and the launch ramp is closed due to low water levels. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.
     SUTHERLAND: There were 85 anglers checked and they reported catching 117 bass, 24 bluegill, six crappie, 16 catfish, and 16 carp. Lake is only open Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-3274 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.
     WOHLFORD: The catfish bite is fair. The west buoy line and the south shore rock pile at the two top spots with mackerel and chicken liver the top baits. Last catfish plant of the season went in three weeks ago. Largemouth action has been fair with the best action early and late in the day when the fish are up chasing baitfish. Through the day, the bite moves deeper on dark plastics and crawdads. Crappie are showing in small numbers around reeds and submerged willows. Some bluegill showing in Oakvale Cove and Boat Dock Cove. The lake is currently open seven days a week but starting September 7th, the lake will be closed for weekdays and will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays through December 6. Seniors can rent boats for $20 every Tuesday (whenever the lake is open on Tuesdays). Active military will get the same $20 motor boat rentals on the first and third Saturday of every month. Quagga mussel fears still have a private boating ban. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.
     DOANE POND: DFG trout plants this week and three weeks ago.
     DIXON LAKE: Catfish action has been fair to good at the buoy line, Whisker Bay, Catfish Cove near Pier No. 4 with most of the fish in the two to four-pound range. The early morning and late evening have been the best times for catfish. Fair bass action with most of the fish reported from 15 to 20 feet of water on plastic worms and jigs. Trout Cove has seen the best action with lots of bass chasing schools of shad on the surface. Bluegill are fair along piers near weed covered areas but the bite has slowed the last few days. Last week was end of night fishing and the lake now closes at 7:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. for boaters. Lake information: 760-839-4345 or www.dixonlake.com.
     POWAY: The panfish bite has really turned on around the fish float and in Hidden Bay. The catfish action has been fair. Good bass action with a very good topwater bite whenever shad are boiling near the rock pile in front of the Log Boom. Night fishing is over for the season. Lake information: 858-668-4770, tackle shop 858-486-1234.
     JENNINGS: Fair to good catfish action but shore anglers have had a tough time with the fish being so deep. Cloister Cove and the buoy line off Eggert Point are the best spots. Some bass are showing in deep water as well but the action has been mostly slow. There has been a some surface activity for bass in the very early morning and late evening but it doesn't last long. Panfish slow. Night fishing will continue every Friday and Saturday until Labor Day. Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.
     MORENA: Good bass bite with excellent action on crankbaits and jerkbaits in the morning and evening. Bluegill are also very good with good action along most shorelines on meal worms, wax worms, and small jigs. Catfish are very good in the shallows on most cut baits and nightcrawlers. Carp still fair to good on homemade baits and for the fly anglers targeting them. Most of the action for carp has also been in the morning and evening. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or www.lakemorena.com.
     CUYAMACA: Good trout action. Nightcrawlers and Power Bait are working best and the top spot has been the T-Dock. There is also a good crappie bite with a lot of small fish reported. Trout were planted three weeks ago. A few bass and catfish reports are coming in each week as well with a 16-pound catfish reported this past week. Private boats are allowed on the lake, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.
     HENSHAW: Catfish action is very good with a lot of nice stringers reported and quite a few limits. Most fish in the one to two-pound range with a few bigger. Crappie are fair to good and they are suspended in deeper water (accessible by boat or on the fishing pier) with most around a 1/2-pound, but a few to two-plus pounds each week. Bass are fair, but few anglers are targeting them. Good carp action with fish to eight-pounds reported this week. Henshaw is open to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, dusk the rest of the week. Information: 760-782-3501.

COLORADO RIVER

     FLOW INFORMATION: Reservoir elevation levels and flow releases for the entire lower Colorado River are available at this web site with information updated hourly: www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/hourly/rivops.html.
     LAKE MEAD: Little change with slow to fair striper action under schools of shad in 40 to 50 feet of water in the main channel and mouths of most of the coves on cut anchovies, sardines, shad-like lures. Most fish under four pounds. The largemouth bass are slow to fair in eight to 25 feet of water on plastics, and the smallmouth have also been fair. Improving catfish action, but still just a fair number of fish showing in the coves on cut baits. Improving panfish action but still slowish.
     WILLOW BEACH: The striped bass bite is really starting to turn on as the evenings cool off with a flurry of fish from 15 to 23 pounds in the past few days. The best fish was caught Saturday when Allan Cole, Henderson, landed stripers at 23.48 and 18 pounds on his A.C. Plugs at Mile Marker 53. Leo Cappellia, New York, landed a 23-pounder on a homemade plug at Marker 53, while Bryan Bate, Henderson, caught an 18-pounder and a five-pounder at Marker 53 on a BBZ No. 1. The trout action remains pretty good after the weekly plants with the best action on salmon eggs, Power Bait, worms and Super Dupers. Information: Willow Beach Resort at 928-767-4747.
     LAKE MOHAVE: Still mostly tough fishing. The bass bite has been fair on plastics with some reaction bait and topwater fish. Slow-trolling or drifting with anchovies in 30 to 50 feet of water has been producing some stripers out of Katherine’s Landing off the island. Fair catfish action on cut baits in most coves. Information: Cottonwood Cove at 702-297-1464, Katherine’s Landing at 928-754-3245.
     LAUGHLIN-BULLHEAD AREA: Continued light fishing pressure with the heat. The trout bite has slowed, but a few are still showing. Dave Saale, Bullhead City, 1.82-pound rainbow on a brown Roostertail at Rotary Park. A few stripers are showing from the casino stretch all the way to Topoc. Some of the fish are running into the five or six-pound range, but most are one- and two-pounders. Most are showing on anchovies or crankbaits, with the Rio Lomas and Big Bend area best. Smallmouth are fair along rip-rap on small cranks, and a few catfish are showing from the deeper pools. Information: Riviera Marina at 928-763-8550.
     NEEDLES AREA: There is fair smallmouth action in the main river from Needles south to the I-40 bridge and on down into Topoc Gorge, mostly on small cranks, plastics, and nightcrawlers. Slowish striper action on anchovies in the main river from the upper end of Topoc Gorge to Needles. Catfish probably the best bet on cut baits, but still just fair. Still a few rainbows showing but most are nice quality fish up to four pounds. Information: Needles Marina at 760-326-2197.
     TOPOCK AREA: Overall fair to good action, especially in the gorge. Best action on stripers is down near the mouth of the gorge and Havasu with fish running up to five pounds on anchovies and some topwater. Bluegill remain fair in gorge backwaters. Catfish have been good in both the main river and marsh. There continues to be a good bite on smallmouth bass throughout Topoc Gorge with the best action on nightcrawlers, plastic worms, and small crankbaits. Early and late in the day has been best for everything. Topock Marsh can be accessed by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Information: Phil’s Western Trader at 928-768-4954 or Capt. Doyle’s Fun Fishing at 928-768-2667.
     HAVASU: Good to excellent redear and bluegill action adjacent to tule beds with nightcrawlers split shot on the bottom next to the tule. A lot of the redear are up into the two-pound class. The striper action in the lake has been spotty, with only a few surface boils in the morning until 9 a.m. The best action has been up into the river and through Topoc Gorge for anglers drifting anchovies, but the fish are all under two pounds. There’s a fair largemouth bite with topwater morning and evening and jigs or Senkos in browns and greens later in the day. Top bite has been around tules up in the river. Danny Locatis, Havasu, caught an 8.44-pounder last week. Smallmouth bite has been tough with a few fish early on white poppers and then crawfish-type baits on rocky points the rest of the day. Catfish are fair to good with most of the fish showing on cut baits in the bays and coves. Information: Bass Tackle Master (formerly Angler’s Pro Shop) at 928-854-2277.
     PARKER STRIP: Fair to good catfish and smallmouth bass action. The cats are showing in most of the pools on cut baits, while the smallmouth bass are along the rip rap and best on small cranks and swim baits. Bluegill and redear are good in the backwaters and quiet water in the main river. Few flathead reports.
     BLYTHE: Continued good flathead catfish action with a lot of quality fish in the catch, but not the numbers. Regular reports of fish to 35 pounds and better. Live goldfish, bluegill, and tilapia fished in deeper holes have been the hot ticket. Channel cats are good in the main canals, backwaters with most running from three to four pounds. The smallmouth bass bite is good in the main river along the rip-rap and in the canals. Most are small, but the action is very good on surface baits, cranks, and small plastics. Largemouth are good in the backwaters and ditches on plastics, cranks, and surface baits. Russell Venable, Blythe, caught an 8-12 largemouth on 26th Avenue this week. Also good panfish action in both the main river and canals. Stripers slow with only a few showing at the Palo Verde Diversion dam. Information: B&B Bait 760-921-2248.
     PALO VERDE: The flathead action has continued to be good with a lot of fish from eight to 30 pounds and a few bigger fish each week, but the fishing pressure is very light. The best baits are live bluegill, goldfish and tilapia. The channel catfish bite is also very good. Good action on bluegill and the largemouth bass bite has also been good, with morning and evening topwater and a lot of crankbait fish. Most of the day the bass are back in the tules with high water levels. Few reports on smallmouth and stripers in the main river, and still no crappie reports. Information: Walter’s Camp 760-854-3322 Thursday through Monday.
     PICACHO AREA: Fair largemouth bass action in the backwaters and river margins with the best bite early and late in the day, and the catfish -- both flatheads and channels -- are very good with some quality flatheads being caught. Bluegill good, too.
     MARTINEZ LAKE AREA: Largemouth bass action has been fair and improving with some flurries of good action on topwater, mostly at backwater entrances. Flatheads are really good on live bluegill and goldfish. Channel cats are good on cut baits in both the main river and backwater lakes. Bluegill also showing in excellent numbers, but most are small. Information: 928-783-9589 Thursday through Monday or www.martinezlake.com.
     YUMA AREA: Largemouth bass action is fair in the whole region with the fish whacking plastics, cranks, and spinnerbaits. There is also a good topwater bite early and late in the day. The catfish bite is also good with some good catches on channels on cut baits and continued decent action on quality flatheads with live goldfish and bluegill.

LOWER DESERT WATERS

     SALTON SEA: Very light fishing pressure, but the bite remains good for tilapia in spite of heat. The quality of the fish is better than it was earlier in the year with a lot of 1 1/2 to two-pound class fish. Most of the fishing pressure is at the state park headquarters and the Yacht Club jetty, and the best bite is on nightcrawler pieces. This is the time of year when red tides and cause oxygen-depletion problems here so anglers are always advised to call ahead. Information: Salton Sea State Recreation Area ranger station 760-393-3052 or visitor center at 760-393-3810 Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     ALAMO RIVER: No reports.
     COACHELLA, HIGHLINE CANALS: No reports.
     ALL AMERICAN CANAL: No reports.
     FINNEY-RAMER: No reports.
     WEIST LAKE: No reports. Information: 760-352-3308.
     SUNBEAM LAKE: No reports.
     LAKE CAHUILLA: No reports. Information: 760-564-4712.

EASTERN SIERRA

     For up-to-date road and campground information can call the following U.S. Forest Service offices: For the Big Pine to Lone Pine region, call 760-876-6222; for the Bishop Region, call 760-873-2500; for the Mammoth Lakes region, call 760-924-5500; for the Lee Vining region, call 760-647-3044; and for the Bridgeport region call 760-932-7070. Lodging and guide information: Bishop Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 or www.bishopvisitor.com, Mono County Tourism 760-924-1743. Top Eastern Sierra fishing report web sites are: www.KensSport.com (Bridgeport region), www.TheTroutFly.com, and www.SierraDrifters.com.
     WEST WALKER RIVER REGION: The West Walker River is very good on bait, lures, and flies from Pickle Meadows downstream through the canyon. The Little Walker River very fishable and has been good. Kirman Lake still has been picky with just fair action on the big brookies and no cutts. Damsels and midges seem to be top patterns. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707.
     BRIDGEPORT REGION: The trout action has been very good at the Twin Lakes. Most are pan-sized and the best action in both lakes at the inlets. The East Walker River has been fair on midges and nymphing. Bridgeport is still fishing excellent, with the top areas Buckeye and Robinson channels, the East Walker channel, Rainbow Point and right out in the middle about halfway between the marina and Buckeye Bay. Most fish are one to two pounds with some up to six pounds. Virginia Lakes remain good for fly, lure, and bait anglers. Information: Ken’s Sporting Goods 760-932-7707 or www.kenssport.com, Twin Lakes Resort (Lower Twin) 760-932-7751, Annett’s Mono Village (Upper Twin) 760-932-7071.
     JUNE LAKE LOOP REGION: Good trout action on all four lakes, June, Gull, Silver and Grant, on the usual floating dough baits, inflated nightcrawlers, and the fly-bubble combination, especially at the stream mouths and outlets. Trollers are also getting fish. Silver is getting Alpers trout each Monday for the next six weeks. The Lee Vining high country lakes have all been excellent for planted and holdover trout, especially at the inlets and dams. Information: Silver Lake Resort at 760-648-7525 or Ernie’s Tackle at 760-648-7756.
     MAMMOTH AREA: The Crowley Lake action for fly anglers has been good in the bays with a lot of fish to 22 inches on midges and perch imitations. Algae blooms are starting to hamper fishing, however. Convict Lake is good for planted fish. Fair action in Twin Lakes out of Mammoth and plants have been weekly. Rock Creek drainage planted again this week and the action has been very good. Information: The Troutfitter at 760-934-2517, Convict Lake Resort at 760-934-3800, Crowley Lake Fish Camp at 760-935-4301.
     BISHOP AREA: North Lake, South Lake and Sabrina are all pretty good with lighter crowds this past week. South Lake is still best at stream inlets. There have also been a lot of holdover rainbows to nearly five pounds in the past week. Kevin Oliver, Sann Diego, had a 3-8 rainbow on a gold Kastmaster. Sabrina has been good with a lot of limits showing all around the lake on a wide variety of baits and lures, with the inlets perhaps the best spots. All the forks of the Bishop Creek have been good for stream anglers, and all the forks of the creek were also planted this week. North Lake is still not receiving plants but the action has been pretty fair. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is good for planted rainbows on floating baits and small lures, especially at the inlet. Lower Owens just fair to good with some very good dry fly action. Information: Sierra Drifters Guide Service 760-935-4250, Culver’s 760-872- 8361, Brock’s 760-872-3581.
     BIG PINE TO LONE PINE AREA: Generally fair to good action after DFG plants again this week on all the creeks. Information: 760-876-4444 or go to www.lonepinechamber.org.

WESTERN SIERRA

     BOB’S BAIT STRIPER DERBY: The month-long Bob’s Bait Striper Derby ended August 31. The $100 cash prize went to Alfredo Vasquez, Bakersfield, with a seven-pounder he caught from the aqueduct.
     LAKE ISABELLA: Light fishing pressure this past week, but the catfish action remains fair to good on frozen shad, clams, and Sonny’s dip bait with lots of fish from two pounds and up, with most anglers fishing at night. The largemouth bass bite has slowed but a few fish are still showing on Senkos, brush hogs, and deep-diving cranks. Dropping water level has the fish suspended and tough. The crappie action is slow. Trout action is fair at the auxiliary dam on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
     KERN RIVER: There has been continued very good action in the upper river and low flows. The upper stretch nearly to the Johnsondale Bridge was again stocked this week and the best bite has been on crickets, salmon eggs and spinners. Fly anglers are also seeing decent morning and evening dry fly action. The lower river has continued to drop with flows around 1,200 cfs this week and the bass action has been good in the Richbar and Hobo areas. The trout are also pretty fair. Information: Kern River Fly Shop 760-376-2040 (or www.kernriverflyfishing.com) or James Store 760-376-2424.
     AQUEDUCT NEAR TAFT: The catfish and striper action remains fair to good but there has been relatively light pressure. The moss and vegetation is a nightmare, too. Most of the stripers are in the three- to six-pound range and showing on blood worms, almost exclusively, with only a few on lures. Lots of cats showing on cut baits with a lot of four to six pounders. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
     HART PARK LAKE: Very good bite on bluegill with wax worms or crickets. Most of the bluegill are hand-sized. The carp are good on homemade dough baits or Powder Bait. Bass very slow with only a little action early and late in the day.
     TRUXTUN LAKE: Still a good bluegill bite, and the carp action has been good on Powder Bait. Fair catfish bite on nightcrawlers and shad. Bass and crappie spotty, but some bass showing early in the day.
     RIVER WALK PARK: The bluegill bite is good on wax worms, meal worms, and crickets, and the carp action is good on homemade dough baits and Powder Bait. There are a few bass showing on minnows, nightcralwers, and plastics early in the day, but this bite is mostly slow.
     MING LAKE: The carp bite is very good on Powder Bait and other dough baits. There has also been a very good bite on bluegill, mostly on wax worms and meal worms, and the bass action is slow with a few on plastics or topwater early in the day.
     BRITE LAKE: No reports.
     BUENA VISTA LAKES: Continued good catfish action on frozen shad, dip baits, or green garlic nightcrawlers, with most of the cats running from two to five pounds and showing from the small lake. The lake is being planted with catfish every couple of weeks, and there is a five-fish limit on the cats here. A fair bite on largemouth bass this past week with a few fish on topwater and live bait. The bluegill action has been fair to good on wax worms. Carp good for those targeting them. Not much on stripers or crappie. Information: Bob’s Bait 661-833-8657.
     WOOLLOMES LAKE: The bluegill bite is good on red worms, meal worms, or wax worms, and a few bass are showing on plastics or jerk baits early in the day. Pretty good carp action on dough baits.
     SUCCESS LAKE: Pretty good bass action Senkos and plastics, and some bluegill and catfish also starting to show. Water level coming up. Information: 559-781-2078.
     KAWEAH LAKE: The largemouth bass bite has been fair to good with a lot of fish on plastics and some on topwater and reaction baits. The redear and bluegill are really starting to take off in the shallows. Some catfish beginning to show. Information: 559-597-2526.

CENTRAL COAST LAKES

     SAN ANTONIO: The striped bass bite has continued to roll for trollers and anglers working boils with surface poppers. Lots of six to 12 pounds and some fish over 20 pounds. Lots of daytime action on boiling fish this week. The catfish action is also improving and there has been a pretty fair bass bite, with the some quality smallmouth showing. Carp are wide open if you target them. Information: 805-472-2818.
     NACIMIENTO: Both the smallmouth and largemouth bites have been fair. Some topwater early and late in the day and then better action in deep water after the dawn-dusk flurries on top. The white bass action is slow to fair on slow-trolled Roostertails and silver spoons. The crappie bite has slowed down with spotty action on live minnows or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles. The catfish bite is improving, and anglers targeting carp are seeing excellent action. Information: 805-238-1056 or www.nacimientoresort.com.
     SANTA MARGARITA: The bass, bluegill and redear, and catfish bites have all improved over the last week with fair to good action on all three. The bass continue are best on crankbaits, Senkos, jigs, and Creature baits. Most are two to three pounders with some up to five. There bluegill and redear are showing in very good numbers in most coves on bobber-suspended baits, and the catfish bite is finally kicking into gear on cutbaits. Crappie are very slow. The marina store is open Wednesday through Sunday. Information: 805-438-1522.
     LOPEZ: Fair bass action and a good bluegill bite in the mornings, especially off the F Dock on meal worms and red worms. The bass have been best on swim baits and cranks with the best action at the bridge. The crappie bite has slowed, and some catfish are showing. Information: 805-489-1006.

TROUT PLANTS

     Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and Game hatcheries this week. For updates in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, you can call the DFG recording at 562-594-7268, or for updates in the Western Sierra, you can call 559-243-4005, x183. For trout plants statewide, you can visit the DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/FishPlanting/index.asp.
     RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake.
     SAN BERNARDINO: Big Bear Lake.
     SAN DIEGO: Doane Pond.
     INYO: Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek Dam Intake No. 2, Cottonwood Creek, George Creek, Goodale Creek, Independence Creek, Lake Sabrina, Lone Pine Creek, lower Bishop Creek, lower Owens River from Stewart Lane to Laws, Middle Fork Bishop Creek, North Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Shepherd Creek, South Fork Bishop Creek, South Lake, Symms Creek, Taboose Creek, Tinemaha Creek, Tuttle Creek.
     MONO: Buckeye Creek, Convict Creek, Convict Lake, Deadman Creek, Ellery Lake, Glass Creek, Grant Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake, Lake George, Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, Lee Vining Creek, lower Twin Lake near Bridgeport, lower Virginia Lake, Lundy Lake, Mammoth Creek, McGee Creek, Mill Creek, Robinson Creek, Rock Creek from French Camp to upper bridge at Rock Creek Lodge, Rock Creek from Paradise Lodge to Tuff Campground, Rush Creek, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake, Sherwin Creek, Silver Lake, South Fork Lee Vining Creek, Tioga Lake, Trumbull Lake, Twin Lakes, upper Owens River from Benton Crossing to Crowley Lake, upper Twin Lake near Bridgeport, upper Virginia Lake, Virginia Creek, Walker River Little, West Walker River Section 2, West Walker River Section 3.
     KERN: Kern River from Powerhouse No. 3 to Riverside Park, Kernville, Kern River from Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach
     TULARE: Balch Park eastern lake, Balch Park western lake, Bone Creek, Dry Meadow Creek, Hedrick Campground pond, Kern River from Brush Creek to Fairview Dam, Kern River from Fairview Dam to Falling Waters Lodge, lower Peppermint Creek, Nobe Young Creek, upper Peppermint Creek.
     FRESNO: Dinkey Creek, Huntington Lake, Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir, Mono Creek, Portal Forebay, San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam, South Fork San Joaquin by Mono Hot Springs, South Fork San Joaquin near Jackass Meadow, Ward Lake, Wishon Reservoir.
     MADERA: Corrine Lake, lower Chiquito Creek, Rock Creek, Starkweather Lake, Upper Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River.
     TUOLUMNE: Lyons Canal, Middle Fork Stanislaus River, Moccasin Creek, Pinecrest Lake, Powerhouse Stream, South Fork Stanislaus River, Stanislaus River Clark Fork.

CATFISH PLANTS

     The following lakes, listed by county, will be stocked this week with one-pound catfish by private hatcheries under contract with the Department of Fish and Game.
     No catfish plans this week.

OCEAN FISHING REPORT

By Terrence Berg
www.976-TUNA.com

     LONG RANGE ACTION AWESOME: The multi-day boats heading down the Baja coastline continue to see awesome action at Cedros and Benitos islands on the way down or back from Alijos Rocks. The action a Alijos has been very good on yellowfin tuna to 110 pounds with some flurries of good wahoo action. At Cedros and Benitos, the yellowtail bite has been wide open on fish to 40 pounds.
     ONE- AND TWO-DAY TUNA ACTION: The bite has finally improved for the one- to three-day boats fishing south of San Diego from 60 to 120 miles with pretty good mixed tuna action over the weekend. Most boats returned with 40 to 75 yellowfin, bluefin, with a smattering of albacore. Some boats hammered them, getting up to 140 mixed tuna for 15 to 25 anglers. The fish are mostly nice quality fish from 16 to 40 pounds with the average around 25 pounds for both the yellowfin and bluefin, while the few albacore in the catch are 25 to 35 pounds. Skippers are also seeing more and more yellowtail and dorado on kelp on these trips. Seaforth’s Eclipse was on a two-day trip with 25 anglers who landed 64 bluefin, one yellowfin and one albacore in a trip that returned Tuesday. The Searcher was on a three-day trip, returning Monday, and it’s 16 anglers landed 134 yellowfin and three yellowtail.
     ISLANDS UPDATE: There continues to be a pick on the yellowtail at the Coronado Islands, but just a pick. At Catalina, there are still white seabass and squid. That bite and that bait should have been gone months ago, but there it is, and it’s still providing the best surface action along the coast. Clemente has been mostly off limits thanks to the military.
     NEARSHORE NEWS: Rockfish. Most half-day and three-quarter boat skippers are focusing on rockfish because the bass, barracuda, bonito action -- normally sizzling this time of year -- is non-existant. So it’s rockfish, and a pretty good bite on those. There is still a pick on the sand bass from Point Loma south.
     INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976-TUNA is hosting instructional charters throughout the year, offering advice to beginning or veteran anglers and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. The next trip is a two-day trip aboard the Holiday out of Point Loma Sportfishing leaving Sat. Sept. 4. This is an offshore tuna trip. The cost is $349 person. To find out about upcoming 976-TUNA instructional charters, call 562-352-0012 or go to the website at www.976-TUNA.com.

LANDING CONTACTS

     Southern California: Virg’s Sportfishing, Morro Bay, 805-772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, 805-595-7200; Sea Landing, Santa Barbara, 805-963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, 805-658-1060; Channel Islands Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-985-8511; Captain Hook’s Sportfishing, Oxnard, 805-382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing has merged with Channel Islands Sportfishing; Malibu Pier Sportfishing, 310-328-8426; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, 310-822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, 310-372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, 310-374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, 310-832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, 310-547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, 562-983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, 562-598-6649; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, 949-675-0550; Davey’s Locker, Newport Beach, 949-673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, 949-496-5794; Helgren’s Sportfishing, Oceanside, 760-722-2133; Fisherman’s Landing, San Diego, 619-221-8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, 619-222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, 619-224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-223-1627; Islandia Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-222-1164.
     Mexico Landings: Sergio’s Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.

The fish report is copyrighted and any use or reposting of the report, or portions of the report, is prohibited without written permission. Posting of links to the fish report on the Outdoor News Service web site is allowed.

The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hotline, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG's Internet web page is located at the following address: www.dfg.ca.gov.

For comprehensive saltwater fishing reports and information visit our companion site: www.976-tuna.com

RECENT BIG CATCHES

Photos are listed by date of catch, not when they are received. If you've recently submitted a photo or heard of a big catch, you might have to scroll down to find the image.

August 20, 2009 - Dustin Drewick, Las Vegas, caught this 45-pound striper at Willow Beach on a Big Storm crankbait.

June 4, 2009 - Adam Hinkle from La Mesa caught this 87-pound blue catfish out of the Lower Otay on a Scrounger with four-pound test line.

May 30, 2009 - Bob Gaines, Irvine, caught and released this 26.5-pound carp at Lake Perris on a damsel fly nymph using an eight weight flyrod.

May 25, 2009 - Kevin Bremer, Fontana, caught this 27.82-pound channel catfish near Gilner Point of Big Bear Lake. This monster eclipsed the old lake record by .79 pounds.

May 24, 2009 - Erin Dominguez, Trabuco Canyon, landed this 18.69-pound rainbow trout at the south shore of Big Bear Lake on a nightcrawler. Her fish shattered the old Big Bear Lake record by four pounds.

May 17, 2009 - Bob Stevens of Glendale with a 2.57 pound crappie he caught fishing along one of the dams at Diamond Valley Lake.

May 5, 2009 - Mike Luna of Bakersfield holds up a 30-pound striper he landed at the California Aqueduct near Taft fishing a big swimbait.

April 17, 2009 - Nanci Carbajal, Sylmar, caught this 13-8 bass on live shad fishing with guide Marc Mitrany of Ojai Angler at Casitas Lake.

April 9, 2009 - Chris Nickerson of Hemet broke the official lake record for largemouth bass at Lake Elsinore with this 8-6 fish.

April 9, 2009 - Jim Emmett of Canyon Lake caught this eight-plus pound wiper in three-feet of water on a Carolina rig just off the T-peninsula of the levee at Lake Elsinore.

April 9, 2009 - Will Clayton, of Stay Bent Guide Service in Bridgeport, caught this 30-inch-plus brown trout on the East Walker with a yellow conehead zuddler streamer.

March 15, 2009 - While it was caught after the end of the Poway derby, this was the best trout of the week and it was landed by young Abel Lopez of Poway, a 10.6-pounder.

March 15, 2009 - Mario Gonzalez, San Diego was the grand prize winner in the Lake Poway two-day derby with this nice 8.89-pound rainbow caught on Power Bait from Hidden Bay.

March 15, 2009 - Hector Acosta, Brea, (right) with a 10-pound rainbow he caught at Yucaipa Park Lake on pink Power Bait in the top lake. With him is Karen Phang.

March 14, 2009 - Art Marquez, Victorville, set the Mojave Narrows Park lake record with an 18-pound fish two weeks ago and then won the trout derby and a $1,200 cruise with this fat 7-14 rainbow caught on a green jig.

March 14, 2009 - A Bass Federation tournament at Lake Elsinore was won by Chris Darvey, Temecula, with five fish that weighed 16-6. He's holding his two top fish.

March 14, 2009 - Jonathan Hardy, San Diego, tossed a Thomas Buoyant to fool his 11-2 rainbow at Lake Morena.

March 14, 2009 - This near lake-record 13-2 largemouth was caught by Doug Rice, Atascadero, while fishing aSenko at the beginning of the narrows in Santa Margarita Lake on the Central Coast. The current lake record is a 13.33-pound bass.

March 13, 2009 - Top trout of the week at Jess Ranch Lakes was this 5-15 caught by Richard Cervantes, Ontario, on a nightcrawler near the drain at Lake 3.

March 12, 2009 - Jake Park, Beaumont, landed this nice eight-pound rainbow while fishing at green jig at the bottom lake at Yucaipa Park.

March 12, 2009 - Paul Zook, Ladera Ranch, landed this six-pound Lightning Trout at Laguna Niguel Park Lake on a Power Mouse (chartreuse Power Worm with white Power Bait).

March 8, 2009 - Gary Anderson of Bloomington caught this 10.81 pound bass fishing with a plastic shad on the east dam at Diamond Valley Lake.

March 7, 2009 - Robert Gutierrez, Riverside, landed this 2.7-pound slab crappie from Diamond Valley Lake.

March 1, 2009 - Jeff Fleck of Garden Grove caught this 3-0 rainbow near the Big Bear Dam on Power Bait. He said he saw three other trout in the two-pound range landed the same morning.

February 27, 2009 - Art Marquez, Victorville, set a new Mojave Narrows Park lake record with this 18-pound rainbow. He was fishing with two-pound test and an orange and green trout worm.

February 26, 2009 - Lake Morena’s 10-year- old lake record for rainbow trout fell this week when Stan Kieniewicz of Vista landed this 13-pound, eight-ounce rainbow while fishing with Power Bait.

February 20, 2008 - Steve Weitzel, Murietta, landed this lake record rainbow trout from Corona Lake -- a 24.5-pounder -- fishing orange Nitro Bait. This catch ties the previous record set in 2003.

February 19, 2009 - Mikhail Rudyak, North Hollywood, holds up a 12-pound carp he caught at Lake Perris using a home-made cornmeal dough bait.

February 14, 2009 - Art "Dr. Hook" Villa of El Modena nailed this 14-pound, 10-ounce rainbow, the largest trout caught at Irvine Lake over President's Day Weekend. It took a Power Mouse combo bait off the west shore.

February 14, 2009 - Joshua Woodall, Norwalk, landed this 3 3/4-pound rainbow at Santa Ana River Lakes on chartreuse Nitro Bait from Chris' Pond.

February 13, 2009 - Jorden Cook, Murietta, landed this six-pound rainbow trout at Corona Lake while fising from a boat near the dam with chartreuse Nitro Bait.

February 12, 2009 - Mark Dahl, Santa Clarita, topped off his 23-pound, five-fish limit at Santa Ana River Lakes with this eight-pound rainbow caught out of Chris' Pond.

February 8, 2009 - Jason Rondeau, Yucaipa, landed this nice four-pound rainbow fishing in the pouring rain at Yucaipa Park Lake.

February 7, 2009 - Frank Youso, Ridgecrest, caught this 22-inch, six-pound rainbow in the Owens River at Laws Bridge on salmon eggs.

February 5, 2009 - Frank Youso of Ridgecrest with a 7-0 trout he caught at Pleasant Valley Reservoir in the Eastern Sierra.

February 4, 2009 - Art Hasegawa, Diamond Bar, caught this huge 19 1/2-pound Mt. Lassen Trout Farms rainbow at Santa Ana River Lakes while fishing a nightcrawler off Levitz' Corner.

February 2, 2009 - Lang Nguien, San Marcos, caught this 6-7 trout at Wohlford Lake on a mixture of cheese and Power Bait in Boat Dock Cove.

January 31, 2009 - Eddie “Fish Taco” Martinez, Fontana, caught this pair of six and seven-pound stripers at Diamond Valley Lake fishing a swimbait. He had a 15-pounder a few days before this catch.

January 31, 2009 - Katie Reynolds, Diamond Bar, holds a stringer of trout and crappie she and her dad, Russ, caught at Corona Lake. Katie landed the four-pound rainbow on the stringer and Russ caught the 3 1/4 pound crappie.

January 22, 2009 - Bob Caffey, Palmdale, with an eight-pound broodstock rainbow caught from Pleasant Valley Reservoir in the Eastern Sierra.

January 19, 2009 - James Patterson, Palmdale, holds up a pan-sized tilapia he caught while fishing the Salton Sea. Patterson had never fished the Sea before, but came with friends from church who are regulars. They were all filling their ice chests with the tasty fish.

January 15, 2009 - Jay Preston of La Puente with 23-inch and 19-inch trout caught in the Lower Owens.

January 10, 2009 - Here are the top three fish from the Glen Helen derby this past week. Listed from top to bottom: Alex Valenzuela, Los Angeles, with his 12-8 trout, Gary Rodriguez, San Bernardino, with a 10-11, and Richard Rivas, Fontana, with a 10-9.

January 4, 2009 - Matt Herrera, Vista, with a 4-12 rainbow trout he landed at Wohlford Lake fishing a yellow trout plastic.

December 26, 2008 - Glen Casale, Trabuco Canyon, landed this 14-2 rainbow trout at Irvine Lake the day after Christmas.

December 26, 2008 - Wilton “Big Willie” Mays, Pacoima, caught seven, 10, 11 and 20-pound catfish at Hansen Dam lake fishing mackerel dipped in a home-made attractant.

December 21, 2008 - Stan Santos, Corona, holds up his 20 1/2-pound Mt. Lassen Trout Farms rainbow caught at Corona Lake on an orange Nitro Worm while fishing from a float tube.

December 16, 2008 - Rick Clark, Escondido, landed this 27-pound striper (and two other smaller stripers) while fishing at Lake Skinner with topwater plugs at the inlet.

December 7, 2008 - Cobra Rondeau, Yucaipa, age 12, with a three-pound rainbow trout caught from Yucaipa Regional Park lake.

December 6, 2008 - Aaron Karbowski of Azusa with a three-pound Nebraska Tailwalker caught at Santa Ana River Lakes.

November 29, 2008 - Peter Steinwald, 12, of Upland caught and released this two-pound smallmouth bass -- his first -- while fishing the Coachella Canal south of Indio. He was throwing a spinnerbait.

November 28, 2008 - Brenden Gates of Fullerton shows off his 21 1/2-pound rainbow caught at Santa Ana River Lakes while fishing strawberry Nitro Bait at the boat dock.

November 26, 2008 - Ryan Webb (left) and Allan Cole, the designer of the A.C. Plug, where fishing Lake Mojave the day before Thanksgiving to land 27 striped bass totalling 270 pounds. They are holding up the four biggest fish 28, 26, 20 and 20 pounds. All caught on A.C. Plugs. The pair are from Henderson, Nev.

November 9, 2008 - Stefan Guintoli of San Diego caught this 8-4 trout on spoons in Half Moon Bay of Lake Poway.

October 30, 2008 - Glenn Harwood, Long Beach, caught this nice three-pound rainbow while trolling in Bridgeport Reservoir.

October 30, 2008 - Frank Duarte, Huntington Beach, with his 12.2-pound rainbow trout taken from Irvine Lake's Sierra Cove while fishing a yellow and white mini jig.