The weird thing is, and what's different from before -- when nothing went right it seemed -- is that somehow things changed and what was an intangible feeling became real. That's when you know you're "hot!" Now, it's Andy's turn.

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 * *

Action is heating up in the California Aqueduct access areas in Fresno and Merced counties and Patrick Movey of the Fisherman's Warehouse in Fresno reported, "White flukes tossed near the headgates are producing schoolie striper." Action is consistent in the south aqueduct with Pete Cormier of Bob's Bait in Bakersfield stating," Undersized striper remain the rule and fishermen will have to stick with it to locate a limit of keeper fish." Jumbo minnows have been very effective and blood worms, sand worms, sardines and anchovies are the top alternate choices. No catfish reports.

Eastman Lake

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

Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun said, "The bass action is decent, but not great with anglers averaging eight to nine fish in the 1.75-pound range dropping jigs at 30 to 45 feet." A slow presentation is necessary with the jigs or drop-shot plastics. A few male bass are cruising the banks as it gets warm in the afternoon. Trout fishing from the banks is improving with Power Bait or night crawlers, trollers are working the dam area with blade/crawler combos or Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler behind a dodger. The lake is on the middle ramp on the Codorniz side and the top ramp on the Chowchilla Day Use side. Be cautious of unmarked hazards. The Lakeview Trail is closed to hunting but open to other use between the Codorniz Rec Area and Raymond Bridge. The lake rose slightly to 514 feet in elevation and 32% capacity.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

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

Bass fishing remains slow, but trout action is showing signs of life with bank anglers scoring a few planted rainbows with Power Bait or inflated crawlers. Few trollers are working the lake, but a blade/crawler combination just below the surface is the best presentation. The lake rose a half foot to 488 feet in elevation and 29% capacity.
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 *

Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service reported a decent rainbow bite up the river arm above Moccasin Point with small spoons, spinners or blade/crawler combinations trolled near the surface. Layne said, "The rainbows have been 2 pounds and rolling shad at 30 to 40 feet is producing a few king salmon in the same size range." Live minnows have been the top bait for bass and Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said, "We must have sold 60 dozen large or medium minnows over the weekend." Fishermen are finding both rainbow trout and bass on the minnows. The top artificials have been swimbaits in the 3- to 4-inch range, in particular the Berserk Bait's Mad Shad Holographic Light Trout or the K-Tech Rainbow Shad. Basi said, "The best method is to slow-roll the swimbaits on the bottom at depths from 30 to 40 feet." The Pro Worms Purple Shad is good for drop-shotting.
Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011