Fishing Report: Week of April 12

Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, a former Olympic-class decathlete at Fresno State and striper record-holder at Millerton Lake and who now guides in the greater Fresno area. Telephone numbers are in 559 calling area unless noted. Have a photo of a recent catch to share? Email it to sports@fresnobee.com with “fish photo” in the subject line.

Best bets

Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon on good bites, Alan Fong said. Millerton top spotted bass location, Merritt Gilbert reported. Shaver trout hitting, Steve Santoro said. New Melones kicking out bass, trout and crappie, John Liechty reported. Success bass spawning Chuck Stokke said. Coastal rockfishing outstanding, Dave Hurley reported.

Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

In the California Aqueduct, Meng Xyong of the Fishaholics out of Fresno reported, “Anglers continue to catch stripers with SpeedLures, Duo Realis 120sp and Lucky Craft Pointers. The recent cold front has slowed down the striper bite with anglers grinding through the day for fish. The next warming trend should increase fish activity again. There are signs that the spawn may be just around the corner with reports of male striped bass full of milt. During the spawn, most stripers will attack a lure out of aggression and not hunger. Anglers using cut baits have been catching striper and catfish. The most popular areas to soak bait are around checkgates. The Delta-Mendota canal continues to produce stripers for fishermen.” Merritt Gilbert confirmed the catfish bite in the Delta-Mendota Canal and also in Mendota Slough with anchovies or sardines. Patrick Movey of the Fisherman’s Warehouse in Fresno said, “Ryan Boyd of Fresno landed a 14-pound catfish on chicken livers in the aqueduct near Firebaugh.” In the south aqueduct, Jacob Rutledge of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported the previously closed section of the aqueduct near the Buena Vista Golf Course has been reopened, and schoolie stripers are coming on blood worms, flukes, or swimbaits. Catfish have been biting Sonny’s Dip Bait. There have been incidents of poaching observed in the south aqueduct, with set lines draped across the waterway. If you witness or have information about a poaching or polluting incident or any fish and wildlife violation, call the 24-hour toll-free CalTIP number 888-334-CALTIP (334-2258). Anonymous tips may be sent to Fish and Wildlife using tip411, an internet-based tool from CitizenObserver.com that enables the public to text information to wildlife officers, who can respond as part of an anonymous two-way conversation. Anyone with a cell phone may send an anonymous tip to Fishing and Wildlife by texting “CALTIP,” followed by a space and the message to 847411 (tip411). There also is a free CALTIP smartphone app, available for free via the Google Play and iTunes stores. Be prepared to give the fullest possible account of the incident, including name, address, age and other description of the suspect and vehicle, direction of travel, license number, type of violation and when and where it occurred. Trash and debris left along the aqueduct’s levees remain a major problem, and fishermen are advised to pack out anything they bring in to maintain the ability to fish these valuable locations.

The lake has risen to 34 percent capacity and 516.85 feet in elevation, and the water level has risen over grassy areas. Patrick Movey of the Fisherman’s Warehouse said, “With the water covering new areas, working spinnerbaits above the grass or jigs in salt n’pepper or bluegill patterns are effective.” Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod in Clovis said, “Walking the banks near the dam with Senkos has produced largemouths to 6 pounds, and anglers have reported losing similarly large fish.” Topwater lures are working in overcast conditions. A few crappie are taken on minijigs, but most crappie fishermen are heading south to Kaweah or Isabella. There are reports of fishermen removing largemouth bass from the lake smaller than the 22-inch limit as Eastman is a designated trophy lake. The northeastern portion behind the buoy line remains closed to all water recreation until Aug. 1 to protect bald eagles nesting there for the winter.

Call: Six Star Tackle Box 673-5688; Eastman Lake 689-3255

Small bass are the rule; numbers of spotted bass to the occasional 2.5 pounds are possible with Brush Hogs, Senkos or plastics on the Texas-rig. A few small crappie are landed on minijigs or minnows. The lake has risen to 52 percent capacity and 508.30 feet in elevation. The water clarity is improving.

Call: Fresno Fisherman’s Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Six Star Tackle Box 673-5688; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151

Trout action remains solid at depths from 15-30 feet with spinner hootches behind a dodger. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing was on the lake Friday and said he “put on a couple of shad for salmon and also rods out for kokanee, and we had a hit on the shad, but the bite was slow for the first couple of hours. I switched over to heavy spoons and started trolling at 2.5 mph, and the bite was on for both kokanee and rainbow trout. The water temperature has come up to 67 degrees, and the clarity is from 8-9 feet, so the fish are biting.” Mike Gomez of the Bait Barn in Waterford said, “Bass action is tough overall, but there have been some large fish taken on Huddleston swimbaits in rainbow trout. Plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head are producing numbers.” The lake came up 4.5 feet this week to 760.72 in elevation and 63 percent capacity. All three launch ramps are open. Those who use Blue Oaks are advised that the entire area from that ramp out to the 5-mph n-wake buoys between Schoolhouse and Fleming Point will remain a slow 5-mph no-wake zone until such time that lake level conditions allow for the removal of houseboat mooring from this area. Vessel access in the Tuolumne River Arm is now navigable 4 miles upstream from the Moccasin Point Recreation Area. A barrier boom is in place below floating debris to prevent it from moving downstream. A second boom farther downstream is open, but is subject to closure during rainy weather.

Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fish’n Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011

There are still large trout in the lake from plants prior to the Lake Isabella Trout Derby. An 8-pound rainbow was landed within the past week. Jacob Rutledge of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported there is a decent crappie bite in the South Fork and Kissack Cove at depths of 10-15 feet with minijigs or small minnows, but the action is not yet red hot. Catfish are still available with a variety of baits, but there have been few reports. Bass fishing is best with jigs as the fish are still holding off shore. The lake has risen 2 feet to 2,537.88 in elevation and 12 percent capacity. The upper and lower Kern River have been receiving trout plants, but with few reports. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers or Power Bait are picking up a few of the planters. Buena Vista is kicking out a few catfish and crappie. The local lakes of Ming and Hart Park are the top impoundments for largemouth bass with plastics, Brush Hogs or Senkos.

Call: Bob’s Bait (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

The bass are locked on their beds, and Brush Hogs, lizards or plastics on the drop-shot are pulling the fish out of the shallows. Trout fishing is fair after last week’s plant at the second launch ramp with Power Bait, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters. Crappie fishing is best at night with minijigs or small minnows. The lake level has started to drop again, receding a foot to 654.86 in elevation and 42 percent capacity.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Chuck Stokke of Sequoia Fishing Co. in Springville said, “The bass are in post-spawn mode with lots of small males being landed in the shallows as the larger females have transitioned into deeper water. Some of the larger fish are taken on crankbaits or jigs. The crappie bite has slowed down, but a few are taken on crappie jigs or live minnows. I would try for bass in the shallows with a Brush Hogs or lizard on a Carolina rig.” The lake rose to 2 feet to 629.65 in elevation and 49 percent capacity. In the Tule River, Stokke said, “The river is fair for native trout with bait fishermen using nightcrawlers or Panther Martins and fly fishermen using Woolley Buggers or nymphing with bead head nymphs.”

Call: Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com

The lake is rising quickly, and the spotted bass have been holding off shore in the 20- to 25-foot range. Mike Gomez of the Bait Barn in Waterford said, “The cooler temperatures and rising water have kept the fish from spawning consistently. The topwater bite has died off. Spotted bass to 6 pounds have been landed on a jig in the past week, and the action will go ballistic once the weather stabilizes.” The lake has risen 14 feet in the last week to 742.45 in elevation and 38 percent capacity, but the lake is still below the 50 percent average for this time of year. The Barrett Cove South and McClure Point launch ramps are open, but the Barrett Cove North ramp is closed because of construction.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505; Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053

The Merced Irrigation District’s annual trout derby occurred over the past week, and the lake is loaded with planted trout. The lake is full, and bank fishing has been best at the Marina, brush pile and handicapped docks with Kastmasters, trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

The Central California bass bite continues to improve during the spring months featuring the spawn, but Millerton stands out as the best location for putting together numbers of spotted bass. Few tournaments are scheduled at the lake, primarily because of high launch fees and a requirement for low-emission motors, but those working the lake are finding great action for spotted bass up to 4 pounds. Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “I don’t know what this recent rain will do to the bite, but before this weekend’s storm, the bite has been wide open with experienced fishermen catching and releasing up to 30 bass and even novice fishermen landing 15 fish. There is a great bite with Senko or plastics on the drop-shot or Texas-rig, and the area a half mile above Finegold around big boulders has been excellent. There are buck bass cruising the shorelines from the banks to 15 feet in depth, and Millerton is definitely our No. 1 lake. The better cut of fish are coming from Finegold upriver, but there are not as many large bass in the main lake. A few crappie have also been caught incidentally by bass fishermen in the Finegold area.” Patrick Movey of the Fisherman’s Warehouse in Fresno confirmed the solid bass bite with plastics in shad patterns on the drop-shot or dart head along with Senkos in watermelon red. The lake has dropped to 59 percent capacity and 528.37 feet in elevation, and water releases have begun in earnest with heavy flows in the Friant/Kern Canal and the San Joaquin River. In the San Joaquin River, Sycamore Island Pond is holding a few trout from the recent plants for the derby at the start of the month. There are no trout plants into the river. Regulations on the lower San Joaquin, and from Friant Dam downstream to the Highway 140 Bridge, allow only two hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead with a total of four in possession. The hatchery fish have a healed adipose fin clip.

Call: Fresno Fisherman’s Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

The trout bite is starting to show signs of life after a Rip Van Winkle-like hibernation period during the winter. Bass fishing remains outstanding for numbers along with a few truly large fish, and the crappie bite has been the best in recent memory. Gary Burns of Take it to the Limit Guide Service said, “We have been on the water a few times this past week, and the trout are biting from the surface to 20 feet in depth with Uncle Larry’s spinners in copper/orange behind a pink Shasta Tackle’s Sling Blade tipped with garlic corn. We have been trying for both rainbows and kokanee, but only the trout have been cooperative. Our best production has taken place in the main lake towards the day.” Bob James of Murphys landed a limit of quality rainbows running a Rapala in bright colors near the Highway 49 Bridge, while Kevin Wright of Manteca put together a limit within two hours during the middle of the day with ExCel spoons in the main lake. Bank fishing remains very slow. The kokanee bite is just around the corner, and traditionally the second week of April has marked the start of the kokanee season. There have been a few kokanee landed by trollers targeting rainbows. John Liechty of Glory Hole Sporting Goods reported an excellent bass bite with reaction baits such as spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and small swimbaits as well as plastics on the drop-shot or Senkos. He said, “The fish are spawning in waves, and some fish are already in post-spawn mode, but another wave will be coming in again.” Mike Gomez of the Bait Barn in Waterford confirmed the great bass action, stating, “There are tons of 1 and 2-pound bass, and we have been scoring with the Berserk Purple Hornet jig, the River2Sea SWaver in yellow trout, as well as plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head.” Crappie fishing has been excellent, and Liechty reported one group came in with 35 slabs within 4 hours with minijigs near structure. Catfishing is also improving as the whiskerfish are holding near large rocks along the south-facing banks. The lake rose a foot in the past week to 882.81 in elevation and 26 percent capacity despite starting to release water down the Stanislaus River. With the launch ramp back on the concrete, the lake will be able to host upcoming bass tournaments. Glory Hole remains the only launch available on the lake with another 25 feet of vertical rise necessary to open up the Tuttletown ramp. Glory Hole Sports is under new ownership after Dan and Melanie Lewis finished their 20-year run, and the new owners will host a grand opening April 23 with a large sale, raffle prizes and a barbecue. Fishing experts Joe Bruce, Vance Staplin, Gary Coe, Gary Burns, John Liechty and Joe Askamit will be on hand to answer questions along with tackle representatives John Darroch of Glitterbugs, John Yurkovich of Uncle Larry’s Lures and Cory Keller of Rocky Mountain Tackle.

Call: Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fish’n Dan (209) 586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023

The bass bite remains fair at best with Kevin Cheek, tournament director of Saturday’s Best Bass Tournament stating, “Senkos, Brush Hogs, lizards, or jigs on a weightless presentation worked near sloped boulder points brought in the most fish during the tournament with a winning limit over 12 pounds including a 6-plus-pound kicker. The water temperature has risen to the 68- to 69-degree range.” A few planted trout are taken on spinners, but the overall trout bite remains slow. Crappie are found above the trash barrier near Trimmer and Sycamore Creeks. The lake rose 10 feet within the past week to 832.01 in elevation and 42 percent capacity. In the lower Kings River, trout anglers continue to find tough fishing despite the solid flows. Regulations in the Kings River above and below Pine Flat Dam set the season as running from the last Saturday in April to Nov. 15 from Pine Flat Dam downstream to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bridge on Pine Flat Road with a five-fish limit. The bridge is the first one to the west of the dam.

Call: Fresno Fisherman’s Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626; The I Forgot Store 787-3689

The lake is starting to release water after reaching the high water mark of 51 percent capacity. Paul Jolley of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, “Drifting jumbo minnows is producing the best opportunity for success with striped bass. The bass are schooling up on the rockpiles, and Alabama rigs have also been effective.” The striped bass are getting prepared for spawning during the first full moon in May. Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said “I made a mistake and tried fishing the forecasted calmer window the day before the storm hit, but the huge low pressure front turned the fish off totally and I had to go to guns to get a single 22-incher in the windy cold and rainy conditions before they closed the lake. The fish are about ready to spawn and I expect the bite to rebound this week.” In the O’Neill Forebay, Jolley said, “Check 12 has been crowded shoulder-to-shoulder during the weekends for fishermen seeking striped bass in the 18- to 24-inch range. Small swimbaits and anchovies are also working. Largemouth bass are found on jigs as they are stacking up along the shorelines” Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis added, “Speed Lures in purple urkle have been a top lure for the schoolie stripers.”

Call: Coyote Bait andTackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George of rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954

Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service said, “The trout bite slowed over the past weekend as the lake area experienced 3.5 inches of rainfall. Trolling at depths from 3 colors of lead core to 25 feet are producing quality rainbows to 18 inches with Gulp! Minnows, Tasmanian Devils, or blade/crawler combinations from the Forks to the dam.” The annual Bass Lake Trout Derby will be April 30-May 1. Bass fisherman are finding their best cut of fish in the 2-pound range with limits over 13 pounds during Saturday’s Bass 101 tournament. The lake level is 75 percent, and the boards were installed April 1, allowing the lake to rise once again. The bark beetle invasion during the drought has been particularly destructive to the forest at the 3,000- to 5,000-foot level, and several campgrounds will remain closed until July 4 because of the removal of more than 5,000 hazard trees. Campground updates are available at 642-3212.

Call: Todd Wittwer 288-8100; Mike Beighey 642-3748

Access to the Kaiser Pass lakes is limited to those on snowmobiles. The lakes are starting to rise, but they remain very low with Edison at 12 percent and Florence at 36 percent. The lower elevation Mammoth Pool rose again to 48 percent. A few experienced trout trollers went searching for brown trout at Mammoth Pool, but they found very slow action.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

Shaver Lake continues to kick out limits of rainbow trout along with a few kokanee. Steve Santoro of Fish Box Charters out of Madera said, “We are off and running, and my first group of clients experienced a good day of fishing with nine rainbows to 2 pounds along with a 13-inch kokanee. We found our best action trolling in the center of the lake from the Point to the Boy Scout Cove with orange Apex lures or Captain Jack’s Super Hootchies at depths from 20-25 feet on the downrigger as well as blade/crawler combinations. The lake looks to be in great shape, and the fish were healthy and feisty. It’s looking good for another great year of fishing at Shaver Lake.” Mike and Nathan Allen of Lemoore fished with Santoro on Friday, and they were treated to eight rainbows in the 13- to 15-inch range along with kokanee at 12 and 17 inches. Santoro added, “The 17-incher was nearly 2 pounds in weight.” Bank fishing remains slow, but the action will heat up once the first plant from the Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project is released into the lake. Dick Nichol’s of Dick’s Fishing Charters will be starting his season Friday after a quick recreational trip to Pyramid Lake. Both marinas will be open by mid-April. Tickets for the Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project’s sixth anual Fishermen’s Dinner will go on sale beginning May 1 at shaverlaketrophytrout.com or through Bob Bernier at 360-7185. The dinner is Aug. 13, with proceeds serving as the major source of funding for the trophy trout plants. A webcam of the launch ramp at Sierra Marina is available at sierramarina.com. The lake is at 57 percent capacity. At Huntington, a few areas of open water at Rancheria Creek and in the main lake have appeared, but vehicles are restricted from driving over the snowmobile trail to the edge of the lake to launch a small boat. Tickets for driving over the trail have been issued.

Call: Dick’s Fishing Charters 841-2740; Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435; Rancheria Marina 893-3234; Shaver Lake Sports Inc. 841-2740; Fish Box Charters 871-3937

The road to both lakes has closed for the season at Dinkey Creek. If the good weather continues, Wishon will be accessible sooner rather than later. The heavy plants of rainbows in 2015 are holding over for the start of the 2016 spring season.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Rockfish season opens in local waters Friday, and this will allow the Huli Cat to offer rockfish/crab combination trips. Captain Roger Thomas reported that Smitty on the Riptide out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing went for salmon Sunday; out of their eight hookups, they landed three salmon, all loaded with krill. Second captain Jerad Davis took the boat out on a whale watching trip Sunday, and he reported humpback whales and hard bait seven miles west of the Ritz Carleton. California Kayak and Canoe Co. will be offering their kayak fishing safety and rescue class on April 23 at Pillar Point Harbor; these are essential skills for anyone fishing in the ocean. Registration is available at fareharbor.com/calkayak/items/14239/.

Call: Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388; Roger Thomas, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Bait and Switch Sport Fishing Center (650) 726-7133726-7133; Emeryville Sport Fishing (510) 654-6040; Don Franklin, Soleman (510) 703-4148

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey reported the skiffs are picking up a few salmon with one boat scoring five salmon trolling deep with big lead. He said, “There is krill everywhere south of the bay outside of Big Sur, Little Sur, and Twin Rocks, but one of Randy’s boats went down there on Sunday, and they didn’t receive a bite.” Rockfishing remains great, and the CheckMate went to Twin Rocks on Sunday for 22 limits of quality rockfish including a number of big yellows along with 18 lings while the Caroline posted 15 limits and six lings on Carmel Bay. The Star of Monterey posted 25 limits and 15 lings. They have plenty of room throughout the week for rockfish trips. Salmon trips are on hold until the fish find the masses of krill.

Call: Chris’ Landing(831) 375-5951; Bayside Marine (831) 475-2173; usafishing.com

Just when you think the salmon bite is over before it gets started, someone goes out and finds limits. Roger Thomas of the Salty Lady out of Sausalito/Half Moon Bay said, “One of our deck partners, Captain Jimmy Robertson on the Outer Limits, found seven limits of salmon to 19 pounds on Sunday at W Buoy after scoring 13 salmon to 15 pounds on Saturday for 10 anglers. The fish are here.” The Salty Lady is available for salmon trips during the week. Robertson was out again Monday, and he put his 10 clients onto a fish per rod, losing as many as they caught as the fish are hot due to feeding on pink shrimp. The California Dawn out of Berkeley continues to provide quality trips on their halibut/crab combination trips with a total of 48 limits of crab and seven halibut to 17 pounds during Saturday’s and Sunday’s trips after the high of 14 halibut last Thursday. Rockfish season above Pigeon Point opens Friday, and Captain Jim Smith of the Happy Hooker has kept his pots in the water to run rockfish/crab combinations on the opening weekend.

Rockfishing remains outstanding out of Port San Luis and Morro Bay with the Princess out of Virg’s Landing scoring 36 limits of ling cod to 23.4 pounds along with 180 vermilion, 179 assorted rockfish, and a cabezon for limits of rockfish on a 12-hour trip to Cape San Martin. Two lings over 20 pounds were taken on this trip. The Fiesta went out on a three-quarter-day trip with 35 anglers for 14 lings to 19.8 pounds, 29 coppers, 79 vermilion, and 242 assorted rockfish. The best action has been in the shallows as the deep water has not been producing. Virg’s is taking reservations for this year’s two-day trips aboard the Princess along the Big Sur coast. The trips leave Friday night and return Sunday evening at a cost of $295 per angler for the boat, bait and bunk on limited loads of 24 fishermen. Two limits are possible and generally the rule on these trips. The trip dates are available at virgslanding.com. Also out of Morro Bay, the San Pedro Special is offering two-for-one rockfish trips every Tuesday in April. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Avenger put in 22 vermilion, 132 bolina, 52 assorted rockfish, four cabezon and 29 ling cod on a three-quarter-day trip. Rosa Montes of Santa Maria had the jackpot ling at 16 pounds. Bob’s Bait Bucket in Bakersfield had a successful trip on the Endeavor out of Morro Bay over the weekend with rockfish limits for all. Their next chartered trip on the Endeavor is June 10.

Call: Virg’s Landing, (805) 772-1222; (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sports Fishing (805) 595-4100; Port Side Marine Sports Launch (805) 595-7214

The sturgeon bite in lower Suisun Bay remains on fire with Captain Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sport Fishing putting his clients onto five limits of quality diamondbacks during the middle of the week by 12:30 p.m. He said, “The bite is off the hook, and we are still working deep water between Buoy 4 and the Benicia/Martinez Bridge with straight eel. Right now the bite is so good, I can pretty much guarantee that you will have a chance to set hook on a sturgeon.” Dan Mathisen of Dan’s Delta Outdoors in Oakley said, “Striper trolling and plug casting has started to recover a bit from the dirty water, and with the increased water temperatures, a few more stripers in the Cache Slough area responded. Sturgeon remains the focus here with fishermen heading to Light 41, Liberty and Cache Slough areas with roe and eel reporting success.” Andy Doudna of Oakley, sturgeon expert, was in the Big Cut this past weekend for three keeper sturgeon, a shaker, and three oversized sturgeon up to 8 feet. He said, “The bite was good on Friday on the outgo, but Saturday was another story with heavy grass showing up and shutting down the bite. Pickled eel in 30 feet of water was the key.” In the Freeport area, Johnny Tran of New Romeo’s Bait and Tackle reported a hot bite for striped bass with blood worms, pile worms, or sardines coated with garlic spray. The San Joaquin River has been the top location for striper trollers, and the action has been solid from the Antioch Bridge upriver to Prisoner’s Point. The largemouth bass are in full spawn mode, and they have moved into the shallows. Clyde Wands, shallow trolling expert, drew first blood this week as he was one of the first boats to work along the tule berm along Eddo’s Harbor with P-Line Angry Eye Predators in a red head/white, Rat-L-Traps, Savage Gear lures, and Yozuri Crystal Minnows for stripers to 11 pounds. Mark Wilson, striper trolling and casting expert, also was on the San Joaquin River on Sunday, and they caught and released 21 keepers to 17 pounds along with 35 shakers from 15-17 inches. He said, “The Sacramento River has slowed down, and it has been pretty good on the San Joaquin side, and there are lots of fish in the system. The stripers are in all phases of spawning as one friend had four spawned out fish on Saturday, but of the females kept on Sunday, they had yellowish eggs and still had a ways to go.” Captain Mike Gravert of Intimidator Sport Fishing out of Korth’s Pirates Lair added, “The fishing the past couple of weeks continued to be solid with live bait still our technique of choice. However, once we are on the fish, we bust out the 1.75-ounce Blade Runner spoons in Morning Dawn or the 2-ounce P-Line Laser Minnows in white/chrome.” Topwater lures are producing, with Kenji Nagakawa and Elvis Rocha of Lodi catching and releasing double-digit bass using Delta Wood Bombers Sinister Six plugs. For largemouth bass, Mathisen held his second tournament out of Big Break Marina on Saturday, and Scott Halleson and Robert Matsura took first place with a 31.87-pound limit including a big fish at 7.98 pounds. Mathisen said, “Flipping Senkos around the beds, reaction baits in the rain, and morning topwater lures were the best things going, and the larger fish in the tournament were taken on topwater.” Alan Fong of Fisherman’s Warehouse in Sacramento confirmed the excellent largemouth bass bite, and he has changed over to tossing Brush Hogs or Senkos in response to the fish moving up tight to the banks. He said, “My nephew, Bub Fong, and his partner, put in a 41-pound limit with Brush Hogs, Senkos, and also on glide baits on Saturday.” Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, is preparing for this weekend’s Rat-L-Trap Open out of Russo’s Marina on April 17; he has been finding solid action for numbers and size with a variety of techniques in the east and central Delta. A smolt dump was made above Wimpy’s Marina on the Mokelumne River at the end of last week, and striped bass to 14 pounds have been taken on swimbaits with the bass on the surface. Doug Chapman of Gotcha Bait in Antioch added that sturgeon have been landed in front of Antioch at the sheet rock plant with one boat releasing 6 undersized and a 7.5-foot oversized along with two keepers on eel/nightcrawler combinations. Chapman landed a 52-incher while on the anchor off of the Riverview Pier on an eel/nightcrawler combination.

Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Stan Koenigsberger – Quetzal Adventures (925) 570-5303; Intimidator Sport Fishing (916) 806-3030

The Best Bass Tournaments held an event Saturday at Nacimiento, and tournament director Chris Gilkison said, “Largemouth and smallmouth bass are being caught in the backs of coves and in shallow water, and drop-shotting worms or on a darter head and spinnerbaits were the best producers.” Umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, or chatterbaits also are effective for the larger grade of spotted bass to 3 pounds. The white bass are just starting to get active with white Kastmasters or similar small spoons. The fuel dock at the Nacimiento Marina is back in service. At Lopez, a 2,000-pound plant was released by Fish and Wildlife a week ago, and Power Bait or nightcrawlers are working for the planters. The swimbait bite for the larger bass will heat up in response to the recent trout plant. Plastics on the Texas-rig or drop-shot, crankbaits, and jigs are all producing largemouth bass at depths from the banks to 15 feet. At Santa Margarita, the lake remains low at 13 percent, and launching a boat is not an option. A record red ear perch at 2.99 pounds was landed recently on a hair raiser. The crappie bite is solid with minijigs under a bobber or small spinners from shore. Catfish are moving into the shallows in the coves, and anchovies, sardines or mackerel are best for the whiskerfish. The marina store is open for supplies and rental vessels. San Antonio remains closed indefinitely amid extremely low water conditions at 4 percent capacity and high operating expenses.

Call: Lake Nacimiento (805) 238-1056, ext. 3; Lake San Antonio Marina (805) 472-2818; CentralCoastBassFishing.com (805) 466-6557

• Dan’s Delta Outdoors on April 9 at Delta/Big Break Marina: 1, Scott Helleson/Robert Matsura 31.87 pounds (big fish 7.98); 2, Phillip Dutra/Mike Andrews 26.26; 3, Mark Mello/Todd Fedderson 25.21
• Best Bass Tournaments on April 9 at Pine Flat: 1, Shane and Michael Soriano 12.05 (big fish 6.16); 2, Jeff Hobbs/Keith McGraw 11.21; 3, Chris and Leann Lienau 10.96
• Best Bass Tournaments on April 9 at Nacimiento: 1, Scott and Tim Mullins 11.10 (big fish 3.42); 2, Dustin Selck/Fernando Salazar– 9.26; 3rd –Damon and Kenneth Meeks 9.13

• Saturday: Best Bass Tournaments at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Stanislaus County Employees at Delta/Ladd’s Marina;Manteca Bassin’ Buddies at Pardee; Stanislaus County Employees at Tulloch; Stanislaus County Employees/Tri Valley Bassmasters at Don Pedro; Visalia Bass Club at Kaweah; Success Bass Club at Success; Lake Isabella Bass Masters at Isabella; San Luis Obispo County Bass Ambushers at Santa Margarita
• Sunday: Rat-L-Trap Open at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Kings River Bass Club at Don Pedro; California Bass Federation at Bass Lake
• April 23: Best Bass Tournaments Delta/Russo’s Marina; Stanislaus County Employees at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; Manteca Bassin’ Buddies at Pardee; Stanislaus County Employees/Kerman Bass Club at Tulloch; Stanislaus County Employees at Don Pedro; American Bass Association at Pine Flat; Sierra Bass Club at Bass Lake; Success Bass Club at Success; American Bass Association at Isabella
• April 23-24: Escalon Sportsmen’s Club Striped Bass tournament at Delta/Sacramento County; Kern County Bassmasters at Santa Margarita
• April 24: Riverbank Bass Anglers at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; California Bass Federation at New Melones; Fresno Bass Club at Tulloch; Kings River Bass Club at Bass Lake
• April 30: Best Bass Tournaments at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Mid Valley Bass Club at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; Badge Packers at Don Pedro; American Bass Association at Nacimiento; Tri Valley Bass Club at Lopez
• May 1: California Delta Team Trail at Delta/Russo’s Marina

• Kern County: Kern River, sections 4-5
• Tulare County: Kern River, sections 5-6

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Fishing Report: Week of April 12."