A few more local fishermen are heading to the canals and Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, "A largemouth bass over 17 pounds was caught and released in Lemoore Slough. This fish had the largest belly I have ever seen on a bass." In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob's Bait in Bakersfield said, "RatLTraps and flukes are the best artificial lures and large minnows, sardines, anchovies or blood worms are working for the schoolie fish to 24 inches. A 20- to 24-inch striper is a large fish since the majority are below the 18-inch minimum."

Eastman Lake

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

Bass fishing continues to be hot or cold with Merritt Gilbert reporting, "It is mostly cold." The best action is with Senkos in greens, purples or browns or drop-shot plastics to 20 feet. Mark Inman of the new Six Star Tackle Too bait shop reported Dennis Hamman got a 73/4-pound bass on a brushhog and lost about a 10-pounder at the boat. Few reports of trout action despite a plant, another is the week of March 24. The Lakeview Trail is open at its northern and southern ends to hiking, biking and equestrian use. The middle section is closed to provide a buffer around an active bald eagle nest. The area of the lake upstream from the Keep Out buoy line is closed to fishing and boating. New regulations specify the area 1,000 feet south of Raymond Bridge to the Corps Buoy Line will be open to recreational fishing annually from Aug. 1 through Nov. 30. Questions can be made at park headquarters -- open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday -- at (559) 689-3255. A few catfish taken from banks with cut baits. There's little success searching for crappie. The lake is on the middle ramp on the Codorniz side and top ramp on the Chowchilla Day Use side. The lake rose slightly to 515 feet in elevation and 33% capacity.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

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

The New J Bass Club tournament on Saturday provided a better view of the bass action, and Larry Kerns of Visalia said, "I was able to land tons of fish, but they were all small." Dragging lizards through submerged cockleburs was his top technique and the largest fish came on Brush Hogs or crankbaits. Merritt Gilbert said, "The action was better than anticipated and it took at least 8 pounds to receive a check during the tournament." Few trout reports despite last week's plant with another coming March 24. The lake rose nearly a foot to 490 feet and 32%.
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 * *

Big limits of bass were the rule during Saturday's Best Bass Tournament, and tournament director Randy Pringle reported the largest fish came on jigs on the bottom or on spinnerbaits when the wind came up. There are some fish on the beds, but the larger bass remain cruising shorelines. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported large and medium minnows continue to fly out of the shop. The top artificials are the Berserk Purple Hornet jigs at 20 to 30 feet, the 8-inch Huddleston swimbaits in rainbow trout with a ROF of 12 or 16, or the Berserk Mad Shad swimbait in light holographic shad on Spinntrix swimbait head on the bottom with a slow roll. The key is to drag the baits on the bottom, releasing plenty of line and bouncing back slowly toward the boat like a jig. For trout, kokanee and king salmon, Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing has been finding kokanee to 13 inches at 40 to 60 feet with Excel spoons tipped with corn behind a Rocky Mountain Tackle dodger around Big Oak Island, Raymus Creek, Jenkins Hill and Copper Mountain. He said, "The kokanee are fat and healthy and I am surprised to find this good of action in March since the bite doesn't normally start until mid-April." Threaded night crawlers behind a dodger or heavy spoons are working for rainbows from the surface to 40 feet. Danny Layne of Fishn' Dan's Guide Service confirmed good rainbow action and produced limits from 14 to 16 inches trolling ExCel's Kokanee Killers or Uncle Larry's spinners at 15 to 45 feet in open water near Fleming Bay. The prime time for king salmon fishing is April through early June. A trout plant is this week. The lake is 772 feet in elevation 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