• • • Limits possible

• • • • Fish jumpin' in boat

VALLEY

Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs

Striper * * * Catfish * *

Few reports, but action steady in the south aqueduct in Kern County. Fish continue to be undersized and fishermen have to cull through linesides to score a legal fish. Jumbo minnows, blood worms, sand worms or anchovies are top baits. White flukes are top artificials. Catfishing is slow.

Eastman Lake

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

Ranger Andrew Steele of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said, "The bass bite is slowly improving with the increase in water temperatures into the 50s. The best action is around rocky structure at 25 feet with green Brush Hogs or Senkos." Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis touted jigs on a slow presentation to 30 feet. The bass are coming into the shallows in the afternoons on sunny days and spinnerbaits in the 10- to 12-foot range are effective. Male bass are cruising the shorelines in the afternoon. The last trout plant was Feb. 3, no future plants have been announced. Despite the lack of plants, trout fishing is fair with Power Bait or night crawlers from the banks or trolling Wedding Rings or blade/crawler combinations near the dam. The lake is on the middle boat ramp on the Codorniz Campground side and on the top ramp on the Chowchilla Day Use side. The Lakeview Trail is temporarily closed to hunting but open to all other use between the Codorniz Recreation Area and Raymond Bridge. The lake rose slightly to 515 feet in elevation and 32% capacity.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

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

Fishing for planted trout is the best thing, but action is fair at best with Power Bait or night crawlers from the banks. Bass action remains poor. The crappie fishermen who were scoring up the river arm a month ago have abandoned the lake to head to Kaweah for the slabsides. The lake rose nearly a foot to 488 feet and 30% 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 * *

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing fished Woods Creek Arm, finding water temperatures 2.5 degrees higher than in the river arm. Rainbows were easy targets with spoons on lead core at 5 to 7 colors on the downrigger at 25 to 35 feet. Trollers in the Fleming Meadows section reported slower action. One boat up the river arm was able to score a quality brown trout and a pair of king salmon. Smith said, "The king salmon action is ready to start, particularly if the weather pattern stays consistent." Manny Basi at the Bait Barn in Waterford said, "Plastics have been the top offerings for bass with drop-shotting Pro Gold Purple Shad, Reaction Innovation's Bad Shad Green or Robo Worms Hologram Shad at 30 to 40 feet with twin-tailed Hula Grubs on a half-ounce jig head in colors 297, 301 and 330." The reaction bite has been slow. Basi reported continued high sales of live minnows for bass and trout from the banks. The lake is at 774 feet in elevation and 69% capacity.
Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fishn' Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011

Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area

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