Funny thing was, the lure wouldn't work anymore as it got tweaked, probably from the hard fight. It was my only one. How could you script it? That after fishing for bass all these years I would catch my biggest one from shore on an infomercial lure I had never used, on my first and only cast with it? It remains in my tackle box as a reminder that sometimes it's better to be lucky than skillful!

Roger George is The Bee's fishing expert. He can be reached at rogergeorge8000@sbcglobal.net

Key:

• Try dynamite

• • Have to work hard

• • • Limits possible

• • • • Fish jumpin' in boat

VALLEY

Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs

Striper * * * Catfish * *

The California Aqueduct near Firebaugh has been producing striped bass from 16- to 23-inches on white or pearl ice flukes or Lucky Craft 110s or 128s in American shad or ghost minnow. Striper anglers are stopping at the canals instead of driving north to San Luis Reservoir. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob's Bait in Bakersfield said, "Things have been pretty much the same around here with good action with jumbo minnows, anchovies, blood worms or sardines." The moss has dissipated with the cooler water.

Eastman Lake

Bass * * * Trout * * Bluegill * * Catfish * * Crappie * *

Bass fishing is improving and Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun said, "There have been a good number of 3-pound bass for experienced anglers working the depths from 30 to 50 feet with finesse techniques with jigs or drop-shotting over humps. The average guy can pick up six to seven bass per day to 2.5 pounds using jigs with all of the fish being deep and nothing in the shallows." Trout fishing is fair with occasional fish landed from the banks with Power Bait or by trollers pulling blade/crawler combinations or Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger. Trout anglers are targeting Pine Flat or Shaver Lake. A trout plant is this week. The lake is on the middle ramp on the Codorniz Campground side and the top ramp on the Chowchilla Day Use side. The Lakeview Trail is closed to hunting but open to other use between the Codorniz Recreation Area and Raymond Bridge. The lake rose a half foot to 514 feet in elevation and 31% capacity.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

Bass * * Trout * * Crappie * * Catfish * * Bluegill * *

Hensley continues to be extremely slow for all species with Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reporting, "A pair of very bass good anglers worked the lake for only a few bites on a recent trip." Trout fishermen have headed to Shaver or Pine Flat for more consistent action. Bank trout action continues to be fair at best with night crawlers or various colors of Power Bait. A plant is this week. The lake rose 1 foot to 486 feet and 28%.
Call: Fresno Fisherman's Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod Gun, Clovis 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151

Lake Don Pedro

Bass * * Trout * * * Crappie * * Kokanee * King salmon *

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, "The bite has gotten tougher as fish have scattered. It is not a slam dunk for limits anymore." They were able to release limits of planter trout found at 27 to 30 feet on the downrigger and from 4 to 6 colors of lead core. Smith said, "The bait schools are non-existent and the fish are at a variety of depths as we even found trout in the shallows near the banks in 12 feet of water." With water temps remaining in the 51-degree range, trout are moving into warmer water in the shallows to search for food. For largemouth bass, Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said, "Smaller shad-patterned swimbaits in the 3.5- to 4-inch range are working on a slow rolled presentation." Jigs such as the Berserk Purple Hornet or TNT Baits Special Ops are working at 40 to 50 feet with the occasional large fish taken on an 8-inch rainbow trout Huddleston swimbaits with a rate of fall at 12 feet. A 13-pound largemouth was landed on a Huddleston swimbait during Saturday's American Bass Association tournament and this angler didn't even weigh in the largest limit which was in excess of 26 pounds. Trout plants are scheduled at Don Pedro and downstream Turlock Lake next week. Trout action from the banks with live minnows or crawlers continues to be strong. The lake rose 2 feet to 772 feet and 68% capacity.
Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011