The Fresno Bee
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 | 06:58 AM
Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, a central San Joaquin Valley native and local fishing expert.
BEST BETS
New Melones still kicking out trout limits, Melanie Lewis said. South Valley aqueduct striper bite is steady, Pete Cormier said. Pine Flat rainbow bite is picking up pace, Patrick Movey said. Delta sturgeon are on the prowl, Tony Lopez said. McClure trout action is "very good," Manny Basi said. Don Pedro trout are on a heavy feeding binge, Monte Smith said. Huntington rainbows are hitting, Dave Hurley said.
ROGER'S REMARKS
One of the little things about fishing trips that I hate is the tired trip home. The weather, how far it is, how long and hard you fished, your excitement level, your company and how well you've eaten all contribute to how difficult the drive home is -- and whether it's one of those seemingly endless white-line experiences where you can barely keep your eyes open.
The worst are all-nighters. These are tough trips and even before I get going
At this point, even a short drive home is tough as I try to stay awake, pouring down any caffeine-laced liquid I can find. My wife knows once I get home after an all-nighter that usually I'm going to crash for at least a couple of hours before I'm any good to anybody -- I'm pretty much a slug the next day, too!
The drive back from San Luis Reservoir after a nocturnal excursion can especially seem like forever as I crank up the music and keep the junk food going on boring old Highway 152. This drive can be a real exercise in will power as I mentally count up the miles and time it's going to take to get home. Many times, I've gotten so tired I've had to pull over and take a short siesta by some grazing cattle. Probably saved me a couple of times, I'm sure.
If it's been a very good fishing trip, I find that excited buddies may try to harass me into making the trip all over again -- right now -- so they can get in on it. I've learned to stop and really think about the price I've just paid -- one I'm still not fully recovered from yet. In most cases when I've gone right back, it's rarely been as good and I end up wondering how I got prodded into another death march trip with my buddies that I should have avoided!
So, if you're out on 152 someday and you see a Yukon with a boat parked off to the side by the weeds, right next to some cow pasture, with a guy inside with his head back snoring -- do me a favor and don't honk, just wave! It's probably just me enjoying a peaceful 10-minute post-fishing snooze -- the best part of a hard fishing trip.
Roger George is The Bee's fishing expert.
He can be reached at rogergeorge8000@sbcglobal.net
PHOTO GALLERIES
Check out catches from local anglers that have submitted photos from their outings ...
Gallery #51 (New November 3)
Gallery #50
Tournament Gallery #3 (New July 4)
Archived Galleries
Take your digital camera with you so you can send us your pictures for our galleries. Please send your photos to fishpictures@fresnobee.com. Please include the following information: Your name, city, type of fish, length and weight of fish, when and where caught, and what type of bait used. Large photos work best – we can crop and reduce a picture, but we can't expand a small picture and make it look decent. You can also send photos to rogergeorge8000@sbcglobal.net.
KEY:
* Try dynamite
** Have to work hard
*** Limits possible
**** Fish jumpin' in boat
VALLEY
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass ** Crappie ** Catfish ** Trout *** Kokanee **
Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said, "The trout bite slowed down a bit this week with most anglers catching fish but having a little trouble getting a limit." Bank anglers are scoring with Power Bait, marshmallows, or night crawlers. Lewis added, "It is very important that your bait floats, and small hooks, plenty of Power Bait or a worm inflator will help to achieve this desired presentation." Trolling remains very good for planters with small flashers or dodgers followed by a night crawler at 3 to 5 feet. Dodgers such as Sep's Sidekick or Micro Mini's work well. Lewis recommended using light line and a fluorocarbon leader for more strikes in the clear water. The planters are hitting on the surface with the bigger fish down at 15 to 25 feet. There also have been reports of kokanee to 15 inches landed near the surface by anglers targeting trout. Lewis said, "This is not common for this time of the year, but neither is the weather." Bass fishing is decent with the majority of fish taken off main lake structure at depths from 25 to 65 feet. The fish are fat, healthy and gorging themselves on threadfin shad. As a result, shad-patterned plastics on the drop-shot are working with reports of a good jig bite as well. Yamamoto Hula Grubs in natural crawdad colors have been effective, and if the wind, rain or cloud cover ever arrives, large swim baits such as a Spro BBZ or a Huddleston are best for the larger fish. Few anglers are targeting catfish, but Lewis advised trying at depths from 35 to 70 feet along deep ledges and main lake points with night crawlers, frozen shad or anchovies. Crappie and bluegill action is still slow to fair with the best action on small minnows, red worms or mealworms on a slip-float rig at depths from 15 to 25 feet with 4- to 6-pound test. The lake held at 1,050.04 feet in elevation and 82% capacity.
Call: (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan (209) 586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass ** Trout *** Crappie ** Catfish ** Bluegill **
Trout fishing continues to be the best thing going, and most anglers are targeting trout near the Auxiliary Dam, Piney Point and the French Gulch Marina with night crawlers or Power Bait in rainbow garlic. The next trout plant is scheduled for the week of Jan. 22. The 23rd annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby is set to offer record prizes of over $250,000 this year, and it is scheduled for March 31-April 2. Applications for the Derby are available at the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce office, several local merchants in the Kern River Valley, as well as in Bakersfield. Visit the website at www.isabellafishingderby.com to enter and get additional information. They must receive your entry by 6 p.m. March 1. The next DFG trout plant isn't scheduled until the week of Jan. 22. Bass fishing remains slow with local anglers heading to the coastal lakes as an alternative, but there have been reports of a few quality fish taken on swimbaits or large plastic worms. Catfish are still worth pursuing with frozen shad, clams or anchovies from bank access areas. The crappie have moved out from the Rocky Point area, and they either have relocated around the submerged trees in the middle of the lake or up the river arm. The lake remained stable at 2,559.88 feet in elevation and 29% capacity. There have been few reports of the upper river, but Pete Cormier of Bob's Bait in Bakersfield touted the lower river with salmon eggs, live crickets or night crawlers for catfish, trout or smallmouth bass. Buena Vista continues to produce trout, and there are two more trout plants scheduled by February. The crappie bite at Buena Vista is very good, and small minnows have been in high demand. Bob's ran out of minnows this week, but another shipment is due Thursday. The small local lakes of Truxton, Woollomes, Ming, Hart Park and the Park at River Walk will be planted this week and again during the week of Jan. 22. The pressure at the River Walk remains high, and Hart Park and Ming offer less crowded conditions. Rainbow garlic Power Bait or night crawlers are the top baits.
Call: Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812
San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
Striper ** Catfish ** Bass ** Crappie *
Jeff Boyle of Bass Pro Shops in Manteca took a trip from his home in Modesto to fish the main lake instead of his normal haunts in the Delta, and he was rewarded with a limit at 6 and 8 pounds on shad-patterned swimbaits. Larry Kerns of the Visalia Bass Club tossed Lucky Craft 128s in the early morning hours Sunday for linesides to 10 pounds in Portuguese Cove. He said the bite had slowed from the hot action in the past several weeks, but there were bank fishermen in Portuguese Cove with some large striper in the 10-pound range. Jason Chin of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported an up and down striper bite, but Paul Jolley of the shop caught and released striper over 10 pounds on consecutive casts with 6-inch Lunker Punkers. Once again, the key is to search for the schools of bait with electronics or watching for active birds. Pile worms, anchovies, frozen shad or jumbo minnows are working from the banks. In the Forebay, fishermen are catching the fresh water mudsuckers with red worms and using the live bait for good action for striped bass near Check 12 or the 33 Bridge. The main lake remains high at 95% with heavy inflows from the Delta.
Important note: EFFECTIVE OCT. 1, VESSEL INSPECTIONS FOR QUAGGA AND ZEBRA MUSSELS TO BEGIN AT SAN LUIS RESERVOIR SRA. All boats, personal watercraft, kayaks, canoes, sailboards, inflatables and float tubes must undergo a mandatory inspection. These invasive species threaten recreational opportunities, the water delivery infrastructure of California and the aquatic habitat of San Luis Reservoir SRA. Failure to allow inspection of any watercraft will result in the refusal to launch.
Call: Ly's Fishing Goods (408) 629-9644; Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711
Eastman Lake
Bass ** Trout ** Bluegill ** Catfish ** Crappie *
Most area bass anglers have been focusing on Millerton or Pine Flat due to the upcoming tournament, but Eastman has been producing a few fish in the 3-pound range while drop-shotting or jigs off the face of the dam at depths from 35 to 50 feet and in and around brush piles and isolated rocks and near drop-offs in 25 to 40 feet. Merritt Gilbert said, "Eastman continues to be better than Hensley for bass." Larry Kerns of the Visalia Bass Club dropped ice jigs at depths from 17 to 42 feet on Sunday for small bass. Trout fishing has been slow with a few fish taken at the Day Use Area or launch ramps with Power Bait or night crawlers. A trout plant is scheduled for this week and the week of Jan. 22. The Lakeview Trail is open between the Codorniz Recreation Area and Raymond Bridge, but the area of the lake extending upstream along the Chowchilla River is closed beyond the buoy line. The lake held at 555.94 feet in elevation and 67% capacity.
Call: 689-3255
Hensley Lake
Bass ** Trout ** Catfish ** Crappie **
There have been few reports from Hensley with most bass anglers targeting Millerton or Pine Flat with the number of tournaments in the past few weeks. Bass fishing remains relatively slow with the few fish taken on either jigs or drop-shotting by using a very slow presentation around structure at depths to 30 feet. Trout fishing is fair for planters at the Swim Beach with various colors of Power Bait. Trollers are using Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler behind a dodge, blade/crawler combinations or spinners. A trout plant is scheduled for this week and the week of Jan. 22. The lake rose slightly to 491.23 vertical feet and 33%.
Call: 225-1838; 292-3474; 673-5151
McSwain Reservoir
Trout **
Trout plants have stopped until mid-January, and the overall action has slowed with a few limits taken up the river arm with Power Bait in rainbow or rainbow/garlic. The best trolling action is found from the Floating Restrooms to Gilligan's Island with Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of crawler behind a dodger, blade/crawler combinations or small spoons. The river near the Hornitos Bridge has been producing limits on salmon eggs or chartreuse Power Bait, and rainbows to 2 pounds have been taken at Merced Falls with orange Power Bait.
Call: (209) 378-2534
Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs
Striper *** Catfish **
The south aqueduct continues to be the best location for striper from the water conveyance systems with Pete Cormier of Bob's Bait in Bakersfield touting jumbo minnows up to 22 inches and 4 pounds for the linesides. "The bite has been consistent, and there has been a big increase in the demand for jumbo minnows for the Aqueduct," said Cormier. A few catfish are being taken on cutbaits. The best fishing has been taking place along the access areas at Temblor's Siphon, Tupman and the Buena Vista Golf Course. Fresno area striper fishermen are bypassing the canals and aqueducts to fish the San Luis Reservoir, O'Neill Forebay or Millerton Lake for more consistent striper action.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass ** Striper ** Shad * Trout **
Numbers of bass can be taken at Millerton but locating large fish continues to be a challenge. Merritt Gilbert reported a 9-pound limit took first place at Saturday's California Bass Federation tournament. The fish have been following a similar pattern as at Pine Flat with the fish in the shallows in the early mornings before dropping between 20 and 50 feet by mid-morning. Texas-rigged or drop-shotting plastics are working best with a few fish taken on the new Alabama rigs. Patrick Movey reported drop-shotting with Pro Worms Pro Gold red or jigs as deep as 50 feet are working for the small fish. A few stripers have been taken on jumbo minnows in deep water in the river arm. The lake dropped a foot to 533.36 feet in elevation and 63% capacity with the launch ramp on the Second Ramp. Woodward Park is scheduled for trout plants the next two weeks, and local fishermen are scoring with Power Bait. Access to the San Joaquin River continues to be limited to the Broken Bridge with the continued closure of the Lost Lake areas, but anglers are scoring with yellow or chartreuse Power Bait, Kastmasters and Gulp! Worms.
Call: 225-1838; 292-3474
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass ** Trout *** King salmon * Catfish **
The Kerman Bass Club was able to weigh in 10 limits and a total of 85 fish out of 25 fishermen during Saturday's club tournament. Bass fishing is limited to small limits in the 8- to 8.5-pound range with the fish shallow in the early mornings before moving out to deep water between 20 and 50 feet in depth. Patrick Movey of the Fisherman's Warehouse touted the Pro Worms Pro Gold Willow Leaf plastic at depths from 30 to 50 feet. Trout fishing has been good for planters with Dick's Trout Busters, Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler behind a dodger, or Rainbow Runners from the surface to 15 feet in depth, but Merritt Gilbert reported larger rainbows in the 16- to 17-inch range have been taken at 6 to 7 colors of lead core around the Power Lines and the dam.. Movey reported good trout action from Sycamore to Big Creek along the steep walls opposite the coves with a variety of spoons, blade/crawler combinations or Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler. The lake rose a half foot to 864.92 feet in elevation and 56% capacity. Trout plants continue on the lower Kings for at least the next three weeks, and Kastmasters, Roostertails, Joe's Flies and Power Bait in yellow, chartreuse and garlic are working. Avocado Lake has been producing consistent limits of planted trout with the best action in the morning with rainbow or orange Power Bait. This lake is scheduled to be planted for the next three weeks.
Call: 787-2387; 225-1838; 292-3474
Lake Kaweah
Bass ** Crappie ** Trout ** Catfish **
Deep water is still the key to finding the bass, as they are holding tight to the bottom in search of warmer climes and bait fish. Drop-shotting shad-patterned plastics or spoons are producing a few fish. The best overall bass fishing is taking place with live minnows or crawdads. A few crappie are taken off the Houseboats with small minnows. Trout fishing has been fair at the First and Second launch ramps with Power Bait, night crawlers or Kastmasters. Trout action will improve with this week's scheduled plant. Another plant is scheduled for the week of Jan. 22. The lake rose 2 feet to 592.78 feet in elevation and 9%.
Call: 592-5922
Lake Success
Bass ** Trout ** Catfish **
The US Army Corps of Engineers Ranger Station reported slow bass action in the cold water. The bass are coming up into the shallows in the early mornings before dropping deep by mid-morning in search of warmer water and shad schools. Jigs, spoons or drop-shotting are the top techniques. There are plenty of shore anglers targeting trout along the Rocky Hill side of the lake, and a plant this week should perk things up. Another plant is scheduled for the week of Jan. 22. The Rocky Hill side of the lake has the best access with night crawlers or Power Bait working best. The Tule Point south and Rocky Hill launch ramps are still open, but the best access remains at Rocky Hill. The lake rose nearly a foot to 601.83 feet in elevation and 17%.
Call: 784-0215
McClure Reservoir
Bass ** Trout *** King salmon * Kokanee * Crappie ** Catfish **
The trout bite has been very good from bank access areas off McClure Point or Barretts Cove in response to heavy plants over the past month. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported very good action with blue/chrome or gold Kastmasters, rainbow glitter Power Bait or medium minnows. Trollers have been pulling blade/crawler combinations, Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a flasher, or small spoons up the river arm. Bass fishing has been slow with artificials, with the fish holding deep in the water column. The best action has been with 4-inch shad patterned plastics such as Pro Worms Pro Gold, Robo Worms Hologram Shad or Reaction Innovation's Bad Shad Green at depths to 40 feet. Basi also recommended using brown jigs with a green pumpkin trailer or half-inch green pumpkin tubes on a very slow presentation in the deep water. Live bait continues to be the top technique for the spotted bass with limits of keepers over 15 inches taken on live minnows in Temperance Cove at a depth of 40 feet. Diana Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling reports sales of small minnows for crappie continue to increase. The lake dropped slightly to 806.05 feet in elevation and 64%.
Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505; Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053
Lake Don Pedro
Bass ** Trout *** Kokanee * King salmon **
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, "Trout fishing remains pretty darn good with my clients catching and releasing 21 trout in addition to their two limits on a mid-week trip." Smith continues to fast troll heavy spoons on lead core line for the fish which included three holdovers to 2.25 pounds. The majority of trout are planters in the 12- to 14-inch range, but the action was fast and furious. Smith advised looking for active birds or bait schools on the meter, and the trout are in the same area. Bank trout fishing remains good for planters in both Fleming Meadows and around the Blue Oaks Launch Ramp with gold or blue/chrome Kastmasters, rainbow glitter Power Bait or inflated night crawlers. Bass fishing has been slow with the fish holding deep in the water column. The best action has been with 4-inch shad patterned plastics such as Pro Worms Pro Gold, Robo Worms Hologram Shad or Reaction Innovation's Bad Shad Green at depths to 40 feet. Basi also recommended using brown jigs with a green pumpkin trailer or half-inch green pumpkin tubes on a very slow and methodical presentation in the deep water.
Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011
HIGH SIERRA
Bass Lake
Bass ** Trout ** Kokanee *
A trout plant last week should bring about a few fish from the banks, but the lake remains low and very cold. At least one bass fishermen has been float-tubing as long as he can stand the cold water, but the action has been very slow. The lake held at 38%.
There are two scheduled blasts this week: one was 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, the second is 3:45 p.m. Thursday. A blasting schedule should be updated every Friday and is available at cranevalleydam.com/blasting-schedule.
Call: Todd Wittwer 288-8100; Mike Beighey 642-3748
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee * Trout *** Smallmouth *
Trout fishing remains very good at Huntington for shore anglers and trollers putting in small boats along the side of the launch ramp. Power Bait, Power Nuggets or night crawlers are working for shore anglers with trollers pulling Wedding Rings tipped with a night crawler behind a flasher, Dick's Trout Busters tipped with a crawler, or small Rapalas from the surface to 15 feet in depth. Boaters are advised to obtain a Sno-Park pass from the Forest Service before parking at the launch ramp lot since there have been a number of tickets issued for no Sno-Pass on the vehicle although the parking lot area is bare of snow. Shaver Lake continues to be high and dry, but visitors are rewarded with a spectacular view of a number of sights by way of binoculars. Captain Jack Yandell and Dick Nichols of Dick's Fishing Charters will be providing seminars on Shaver Lake in Fresno at Herb Bauer's on Feb. 23 and Valley Rod and Gun on March 31. Huntington dropped to 55% with Shaver Lake still at 0%.
Call: Dick's Fishing Charters 841-2740; Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435; Rancheria Marina 893-3234; Young's Sporting Goods 841-8271, 841-2522, 841-2740
Wishon/Courtright
The gates to Wishon and Courtright are closed and awaiting a spring date in which to reopen.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
The gate at Kaiser Pass is closed until spring. All lakes remain high for this time of year with Edison at 79%, Florence at 58%, Mammoth Pool at 39% and Redinger up to 90%.
Call: 259-4000
OCEAN
San Francisco Bay
Striper ** Leopard shark ** Sturgeon ***
With the closure of the rockfish season, bay area fishermen are focusing upon sturgeon in San Pablo Bay and the south bay. There was a large herring spawn off Paradise Cove near San Rafael, and the commercial herring boats have been working their nets in the area. This is within the closed zone in the bay with the DFG regulations stating: 27.95.
STURGEON CLOSURE. Green sturgeon and white sturgeon may not be taken in the following described area between Jan. 1 and March 15: That portion of San Francisco Bay included within the following boundaries: A direct line between Point Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Point Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Point Lobos and Point Bonita. In the south bay, John Akina at Oyster Point Bait, Tackle and Deli went fishing on Sunday with a couple of friends south of their harbor near Coyote Point, and they nearly landed three limits of sturgeon with keepers at 57 and 53 inches taken on ghost shrimp in 15 feet of water. Akina said, "We also lost a keeper, so we missed our chance at limits." He added that the fish were loaded with ghost shrimp in their stomachs discovered while cleaning. They didn't see any herring in the south bay, but the first two keeper sturgeon of the year off the Oyster Point Pier were landed Saturday morning on herring. These fish came in at 63 and 57 inches. In San Pablo Bay, Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael said, "Saturday's winds were miserable, but Sunday was beautiful with all of our boats still out in the late afternoon." He added that striped bass have been almost nonexistent in San Pablo Bay, and the 25-foot swells in the Pacific Northwest have kept the mud shrimpers from success."
Fraser's Gala 37th annual Angling Show is set for Feb. 4 at 7:15 p.m. at the Marin Rod and Gun Club with Fraser being the featured speaker and Mike McNair, tabbed as a culinary genius, the guest speaker. Joel Sinkay at Leonard's Bait and Tackle at Port Sonoma reported good sturgeon action in Sonoma Creek for bank fishermen with boaters anchoring in the mouth of the creek in shallow water at depths from 4 to 6 feet. The Petaluma River has been sporting some large striped bass at the Miramonte Hole and near the Horse Ranch with sturgeon action in the Napa River limited to the lower end near the Highway 37 Bridge. Grass shrimp, ghost shrimp and lamprey eel have been the top baits with the limited supplies of mud shrimp.
Half Moon Bay
Crab ****
With rockfish season closed, sand dab/crab combinations have been on the books, and Captain Tom Mattusch on the Huli Cat took such a combination trip Sunday. They returned with early limits of crab and plenty of sand dabs. Mattusch said, "We averaged five crab in our sport pots and anywhere from six to eight crab in the commercial pots," adding, "With less pots in the water, the crab are locating the scent trail toward our pots, particularly during an extended soak." He touted crab action as "simply marvelous with jumbo, jumbo crab." Sand dab action is good with Sabiki rigs tipped with a tiny piece of squid at depths to 240 feet. "Some fishermen are picking up a dab on every hook, reflecting their ability to feel the bottom," Mattusch said. Mattusch had the media boat out during the week for filming surfers working the 60-foot waves at Mavericks, and he said, "There was a number of the crew that were contributing to the ocean's biomass over the rails in response to the huge swell."
The Mavericks competition will take place between now and the end of March, and there are some proposed changes for the upcoming Mavericks with access to the beach limited due to the high surf . The options for viewing the contest are as follows: Stay at home and watch the live webcast on www.surfline.com, or park at the airport and partake in the outdoor festival, which begin at 8 a.m. Tickets are being sold online at www.mavericksinvitational.com, with a maximum capacity of 12,000, and the $25 price also good for parking. If the online tickets are not sold out, the price will be $40 at the gate.
Up the coast, Sheryl Jimno of the Rusty Hook in Pacifica reported crabbing is still good with snares being the best choice in the rough surf. Surf perch action has picked up, and the big swell should make for better perch conditions with the upwelling of food source along the coast.
Call: Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388; Huck Finn Sport Fishing Center (650) 726-7133, Emeryville Sport Fishing (510) 654-6040; Don Franklin, Soleman (510) 703-4148
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Chris Arcoleo of Chris' Landing in Monterey said, "We went out on a sand dab/crab combination trip Saturday for 11 limits of Dungeness crab out of 10 pots, but the fishing left a bit to be desired in the aftermath of last week's big swell." Anglers still were able to manage from 25 to 30 sand dab apiece in addition to some nice big mackerel. They are going on combination trips on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the upcoming week. A commercial sardine boat, the Stikine out of Moss Landing, sank 2 miles off Soquel Point just after midnight Thursday; but fortunately, the four-man crew was saved by an emergency boat on board. Another fishing boat, the El Dorado, rescued crew members just after midnight, as the ship's captain heard the distress call. The surf was very rough; and the vessel was heavily laden with sardines and mackerel in the nets, allowing water to enter above the decks. Chris' will offer the popular sanddab and crab combination trips until the salmon opener.
Call: Chris' Landing (831) 375-5951; Bayside Marine (831) 475-2173; usafishing.com
San Luis Obispo
With the rockfish season ending at the close of 2011, whale watching and nature excursions are taking center stage at both ports. Virg's Landing in Morro Bay is offering whale watching with two trips daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for $39.00 for adults and $20.00 for children 15 and under. A photographer will be available on most trips. A 10% discount is being offered for early booking of all 2012 rockfish trips. Out of Port San Luis, Patriot Sport Fishing will be taking crab/ocean excursion combination trips this Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon with ocean excursions only on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. These trips are $45 for adults and $20 for children ages 5 to 12. They also are scheduling 2-hour Ocean Excursions from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for $35 and $15 (5-12), and they advise bringing your cameras and binoculars to locate the gray whale pods, seals and seabird life. Patriot's seventh annual Ling Cod contest ended with the following winners: 1, Guy Leo (26 pounds, 4 ounces) for $3,000; 2, Kevin Rhea (20-8) for $2,000; and 3, William Chong (19-0) for $1,000. The rockfish season begins May 1.
Call: Virg's Landing, (805) 772-1222, (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sports Fishing (805) 595-4100; Port Side Marine Sports Launch (805) 595-7214
OTHERS
Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez
Bass ** White Bass ** Striper ** Catfish ** Crappie **
Nacimiento was very busy over the weekend with several tournaments taking place Saturday and Sunday. With generally slow winter bass action at Success and Isabella, South Valley anglers are traveling 2 hours to work the coastal lakes. The quality of limits remains high at Nacimiento, but the bite has slowed from the high of a few weeks past. Nacimiento will be hosting several tournaments, including the inaugural Best Bass tournament, in January. Pete Cormier of Bob's Bait in Bakersfield confirmed the slower action with anglers landing 20 spotted bass instead of the 50 to 100 of recent times. Lopez has been producing a few quality largemouths in the cold 51.5-degree water at depths from 20 to 50 feet with plastics on the drop-shot or jigs. San Antonio is giving up minimal information with the best action for bass on either a drop-shot or jig at depths from 20 to 45 feet. Striper fishing has been slow. See a calendar of coastal lake tournaments
Quagga mussel inspections are now required before boat launching is allowed.
Nacimiento and San Antonio are holding at 66% and 72%.
Call: (805) 238-1056 ext. 3, (805) 472-2818; Central Coast Bass Fishing.com (805) 466-6557
Delta/Stockton
Bass ** Striper ** Sturgeon *** Catfish **
The sturgeon bite continues in the shallows, and Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait said the best bite has been at night in Grizzly Bay on the outgoing tide with a combination of eel and pile worms. Anglers only using eel weren't getting bit, but when the pile worms were added to make a combination, the diamondbacks started to bite. He added that there also is a number of sturgeon stacked in the Big Cut in 40 feet of water. Striper fishing has slowed to a crawl with almost everyone targeting sturgeon, but the few striper that are being caught are large. Lopez thought the sturgeon were holding in the shallows or the extreme deep water as the temperature is warmer in either location. Dockside Bait in Pittsburg said there were plenty of boats out Sunday after Saturday's blowout, and a 55-inch sturgeon was weighed in Sunday afternoon from the Chain Island area. A few striper to 12 pounds have been taken with the best action on cut bullheads or live mudsuckers. Captain Mark Delnero of Fin Addict Sport Fishing said, "Friday was a bad day to be an 18.5-inch striper," as they put in a limit of bass to 4 pounds to go with three shaker sturgeon and a keeper sturgeon at 49 inches on a grass/ghost shrimp combination. Sunday's action was a bit more problematic, with just a 4-pound bass and a couple of shakers. He fished 10 hours on both trips. He has been throwing the kitchen sink at the fish while covering a number of locations out of the Pittsburg Marina. Captain Koenigsberger said the water is clearing up with the vegetation dying and water temperature at 48.4 degrees. J.D. Richey of Richey's Guide Service was spooning in the Rio Vista area on Sunday afternoon, and he reported consistent action in the northwest Delta over the past several days. The waters off Liberty Island were muddy from Saturday's big winds, so Richey moved south to below the Rio Vista Bridge. The best action has been in moving water with 1-ounce spoons in the 49.5-degree water temperature. They have landed striper to 10 pounds with a couple of large fish estimated in the 20-pound class lost in the past week. Richey said, "You have to search around for them, and things would really take off if the water temperature reaches 52 degrees." For largemouth bass, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said the rapidly warming water temperature is slowly but surely making conditions better and better with the fish moving into the shallows. He predicts an early spawn with the spring-like temperatures in the 65- to 69-degree range over the past week. He has been flipping, pitching, tossing the Berkley Chigger Craw, and five-eighths Persuader E-Chip jigs in black/blue on 17- to 20-pound fluorocarbon line. Pringle also predicts a big fish year with the weeds dying from the previously cold temperatures making for exposed areas along the shorelines. He has been using larger baits and bouncing along the weeds or rocks using a faster presentation.
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Stan Koenigsberger/Quetzal Adventures (925) 570-5303, Mark Wilson Sport Fishing (916) 682-1630; Intimidator Sport Fishing (916) 806-3030; Jolly Jay's Guide Service (209) 478-6645
EVENTS
Results
Kerman Bass Club at Pine FLat on Jan. 7: 1, Ryan Vorhees, 8.50 pounds (big fish, 2.39); 2, John Horton, 7.51; 3, Justin Horton, 6.99
New J Bass Club at Millerton on Jan. 7: 1, Jeff Dallesado/Tim Wells, 8.96 pounds; 2, Gary Johnson/Ron Moreno, 8.56; 3, Jose Galvan/Joe Solano, 8.44 (big fish, 3.00)
Western Outdoor News at Delta/Russo's Marina on Jan. 7: 1, Jim Larosa/Brent Zieska, 18.33 pounds; 2, Josh Kaneko/Obedie Williams, 16.59; 3, Bill Spence Jr./Craig Carabello, 10.85
Golden Empire Bass Club at Nacimiento on Jan. 7: 1, Dennis and Denny Plom, 9.28 pounds (big fish, 2.55); 2, Roy and Justin Neal, 9.13; 3, Noah Chess/Eddie Rosson, 8.36
Western Outdoor News at Nacimiento on Jan. 8: 1, Bryan Greer/Scott Mullins, 13.19 pounds (big fish, 3.86); 2, Tom Guidry/Dustin Isbell, 12.11; 3, Del and Darrin Bishop, 11.76
California Bass Federation at Millerton on Jan. 8: 1, Jeff Farmer, 8.60 pounds; 2, Bill Kunz, 6.99; 3, Mick Karshner, 6.86; Richard Hernandez, big fish, 2.74
Upcoming
Saturday: Best Bass tournament at Millerton/Fresno Ramp; 101 Bass/Taft Bass Club at Nacimiento; Angler's Choice at McClure; American Bass Association at Delta/Russo's
Sunday: Success Bass Club at Kaweah
Jan. 19: Larry Hodge on Bass Fishing, 6:15 p.m. at Fresno Fisherman's Warehouse
Jan. 21: SLO Bass Ambushers at Nacimiento; Tri Valley Bass Club at Lopez; Angler's Choice at San Antonio; Kern County Bassmasters at Pine Flat; Sierra Bass Club at McClure; American Bass Association at Kaweah; Angler's Choice at Millerton
Jan. 19-22: International Sportsmen's Exposition at Cal Expo in Sacramento, information: sportsexpos.com
Jan. 22: Kings River Bass Club at Pine Flat
Jan. 28: Sixth annual Diamond Classic Catch and Release Sturgeon Derby at Martinez Marina; Best Bass Tournament at Nacimiento; American Bass Association at McClure; Angler's Choice at Pine Flat
Jan. 29: Angler's Choice at McClure
TROUT PLANTS
Fresno County: Avocado Lake; Kings River below the Pine Flat Reservoir; Pine Flat Lake; San Joaquin River below the Friant Dam; Woodward Park Lake
Kern County: Lake Woollomes
Madera County: H. V. Eastman Lake; Hensley Lake
Monterey County: El Estero Park lake
Tulare County: Del Lago Park lake; Lake Kaweah; Lake Success; Murry Park pond
| Solunar Table | ||||
| AM | PM | |||
| Minor | Major | Minor | Major | |
| Wednesday | 8:22 | 1:42 | 7:57 | 2:07 |
| Thursday | 8:57 | 2:32 | 9:01 | 2:56 |
| >Friday | 9:31 | 3:21 | 10:05 | 3:45 |
| >Saturday | 10:05 | 4:10 | 11:11 | 4:35 |
| Sunday | 10:41 | 5:00 | -- | 5:26 |
| >q Monday | 12:17 | 5:52 | 11:20 | 6:20 |
| >Tuesday | 1:25 | 6:47 | 12:04 | 7:16 |
FISHING PODCASTS & VIDEOS
Tips and techniques: Podcast and Video Archive
