Our experts spill the best fishing spots; Fresno-area lakes, San Luis, New Melones
Fishing report compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
Best bets
New Melones trout hitting, Kyle Wise said. San Luis striper bite improved, Mickey Clements reported.
Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother
Unless noted, area code is 559
Valley/Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
In the California Aqueduct, Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported flukes bounced on the bottom or LV 500 lipless crankbaits are working best for striped bass. He said, “The LV500 heads to the bottom quicker than other lipless crankbaits, and as a result, it has been more effective.” With the cold and swift water due to heavy pumping out of the south Delta, anglers have to be extremely careful when walking on the slippery banks, especially when ice forms on cold mornings.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
At Eastman, Moua said, “There has been tremendous interest from shore anglers tossing big swimbaits in search of a trophy largemouth since the news broke of the 16.01-pound bass landed a few weeks ago. The 6-inch Z-Man Swag swimbait has been very popular as it is a line-through bait where a single hook can be used on top or a treble on the bottom. Anglers are dragging the swimbait around the trees or popping it on the rocks.” At Hensley, Moau reported catfish, bluegill, and crappie provide the best action. There are still the occasional planted rainbow trout taken at either lake on Power Bait or nightcrawlers.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported a decent bass bite for a mixture of suspended, deep, or shallow fish. He said, “With the fish at different depths, multiple techniques are consistently producing. The jerkbait and jig bite remain good along with slow-rolled umbrella rigs or underspins.
Plastics on the drop-shot on a ‘dead-stick’ presentation are also effective, and there are plenty of fish to be caught shallow, especially if the sun comes out. Senko are best for targeting the shallow fish, and either jigging or flutter spoons are effective when a school is located.”
The bait balls have scattered, and the king salmon are moving closer to the surface. Rainbow trout trolling is best along the shorelines and inside the coves with shad patterned spoons, blade/crawler combinations, or Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler from the surface to 20 feet in depth. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. A self-inspection is required for launching.
Isabella/Kaweah/Success/southern California Aqueduct reports available at https://www.tackleandrod.com/weekly-fishing-report.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Jones reported a slower overall bite compared to Don Pedro, but jigs are the most consistent technique. He said, “Jerkbaits are working when you find fish as well as covering water with an umbrella rig. Like Don Pedro, plastics on a drop-shot on a ‘dead-stick’ presentation will also score bass.” Trout are found near the surface for trollers Wiggle Hoochies tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a gold dodger . Trailered boats are subject to inspection for golden mussel infestation.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
Without a recent trout plant, fishing has been slow overall with shore anglers finding their best action in the early mornings with Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers. Trolling remains best up the river arm with Ruby Red Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a dodger at depths to 15 feet. lake has risen to 81%, and launching is back in play. Downstream Yosemite Lake has been a good option for shore anglers targeting planted rainbows.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Tas Moua reported minimal interest in Millerton by bass anglers as the recent tournaments at Pine Flat are drawing the most attention. Crappie and bluegill are a good bet for shore and boat anglers. Dragging plastics on a Neko-rig or shakey head, Hula Grubs, or jigs remain the top bass offerings in the river arm. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant have dropped to 392 cfs. Woodward Reservoir in Fresno receives another trout plant this week.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Sport Fishing limited out on Monday with a crew of novice anglers for four limits of rainbows to 2 pounds. The best action remains close to the surface with a variety of shad patterned spoons Speedy Shiners, T-Spoons, or Papa G spoons. There has been the occasional quality rainbow to 5 pounds landed this week. Bass fishermen continue to throw big baits in search of trophy largemouth or spotted bass as trout plants have resulted in the big bass chasing the planters. For numbers, jigs, Senkos, or spoons at depths to 30 feet are the top techniques. The Lake Tulloch RV Park and Marina is now closed.
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The Hmong New Year Tournament drew 34 boats on December 27 with a winning limit over 10 pounds. Tas Moau and his brother, Kong, came in 2nd. Tas said, “The big bait ball are gone as they have left the deep areas, and the best action was found from 25 to 30 feet. There is definitely a good reaction bite in certain areas in the early morning, but once the sun comes out, dragging a jig or Brush Hog along with plastics on a drop-shot are best. I did get 8 to 10 bites tossing either an 8-inch Huddleston or Mag Draft on the points, but the only fish I hooked on the big baits was a 1.25-pound spotted bass on a Hud.” There is a Hangover Tournament on New Year’s Day, and many of the same boats will be participating.
Brian Klassen of Reedley was out trolling with a crew of anglers on Saturday, and despite finding marks from 55 to 75 feet , they didn’t get bit. They trolled from Deer to Zebe Creek to the point across from Lakeview Marina to the Power Lines through Windy Gap to Trimmer and over to Sycamore Cove before calling it a day with three trout and a bass . He said, “If I was to go back tomorrow, I would definitely work the Deer Creek area at 30 to 45 feet in depth.” In the lower Kings, another trout plant is scheduled this week, and there are still holdovers from the recent series of plants. The flows have risen from 460 to 920 cfs at Trimmer, and caution while wading is advised.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
The water level in the main lake continue has risen to 67% with increased pumping out of the south Delta. Tas Moua reported a good striped bass bite in the shallows near the points with lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, or swimbaits for both linesides holding on the bottom or suspended. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill added, “The boils have slowed down, and trolling has improved .”
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the troll bite has picked up a little for experienced anglers pulling Lucky craft 128’s, Smithwicks and Rapalas at 50-75’ over flats in Portuguese Cove . The fish are more active now at the 60 degree water temp, and a lower visibility after the last storm.” I guided 4 guests from Illinois here for Christmas a few days ago , and we released 14 fish from 20-24” on Lucky Crafts in Shad colors. With so many bodies in my boat, I decided to troll with just one pole and it paid off with consistent action working the 70’ zone at several spots.” In the forebay, Clements reported ¾th-ounce Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust or umbrella rigs are picking up schoolie stripers along with jumbo minnows or anchovies. Finding moving water at the pumps is a key.
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 1
Chris Counts of Fresno was out on Saturday for seven rainbows released to 20 inches, but he reported an overall tough troll bite as the lake has risen four to five feet. Counts scored with either Dick’s Trout Busters or fire tiger J7 Rapalas at depths from 8 to 15 feet on a setback of 125 to 150 feet. Counts said, “Shore anglers near the dam and Wishon launch ramp were scoring on Power Bait or inflated nightcrawlers, but the water at the far end of the lake near the Forks was dirty. The higher water level made for easier launching.” Tas Moua reported increased interest in response to the 10-pound largemouth landed last week, and kayakers are out throwing large swimbaits. A webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle, reported, “The recent storms kept most anglers off the lake, but the recent multiple trout plants have kept both the bank and boat fishermen busy. Right up to the storms, trollers were catching limits of trout on Dick’s Trout Buster’s in Jimbo or Texas Tea tipped with corn behind Mountain Flashers or Mountain Dodgers at 17 to 35 feet deep near Black Rock. Kokanee continue to hit providing mixed limits for most boats on the same tackle, and Shaver is one of the only California lakes where kokanee are possible now. With the series of storms, boaters need to check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions.
Ocean
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “The CDFW announced this week they will be opening a limited season for commercial crabbing in our area, as well as relaxing the regulations regarding long-soak crab pots for recreational anglers. On January 2, 2026, recreational crabbers can legally use crab pots again, as the CDFW is “lifting the temporary recreational crab trap restrictions” at 8:01 am on that date. Commercial crabbers are clear to start pulling pots on January 5, with pre-soak allowed starting on January 2, 2026. The RCG Complex (rockcod, cabezon and greenling) fishing season will close after December 31, 2025. Reports from all the beaches lining Monterey Bay mention the barred surf perch numbers as well as the average size increasing.”
Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey will run sand dab trips during the winter months.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay/Half Moon Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 2 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
The boat-based rockfish season closes this Wednesday, December 31, but boats from Bodega Bay to Half Moon Bay continue to find limits of Dungeness crab and rockfish within a few hours when the weather cooperates. Out of Bodega Bay, Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing posted a combined 50 limits of crab to 3 pounds, limits of rockfish, and two lingcod at 17 and 21 pounds over the weekend. Out of Berkeley, the two boats of California Dawn Sport Fishing scored limits of both crab and rockfish over the weekend, and Monday’s trip produced a solid 30 lingcod to 18 pounds as the California Dawn 1 focused on targeting lings. Both boats returned with a combined 49 limits of crab.
Out of Emeryville Sport Fishing, the Salty Lady took a private charter over the weekend for limits of rockfish including canary rockfish pushing 10 pounds, limits of lingcod to 25 pounds, and limits of jumbo crab. After January 1, crab season in this section of the coast remains open until June 30, and a few party boats will be taking crab-only or crab/sand dab trips depending upon weather and interest.
Inside the bay, sturgeon should be moving into San Pablo Bay with the heavy freshwater flow from the California Delta, and there are still striped bass to be found, but few boats are targeting the linesides. Inside the bay, white sturgeon is restricted for catch-and-release from lines connecting Point Chauncy to Point Richmond, the Bay Bridge, and Point Lobos to Point Bonita from January 1 to March 15 annually to protect sturgeon during the herring run. Herring are starting to show up in the north bay for those tossing cast nets from piers or from a boat.
San Luis Obispo
Surf perch 3
Rockfishing was spectacular out of both San Luis Obispo County ports over the weekend, but sadly, the rockfish season’s last day is this Wednesday, December 31. Out of Morro Bay Landing, three boats were out on Sunday for 68 limits of rockfish including 72 vermilion and 25 copper along with 41 lingcod to 21 pounds. Out of Port San Luis, two boats were out on Sunday for near limits for 40 anglers at 361 rockfish along with a solitary lingcod.
Delta/Stockton
Bass 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
The wall of dirty water from the tributaries of the Sacramento River has reached the California Delta, and grass, debris, floating logs, and chocolate brown water is the story for the immediate future. Boaters must caution, both on the anchor and when running, and boaters must have a float or a sharp knife readily available to cut an anchor line if a huge branch or log reaches the rope. Boats on the anchor can be pulled down in seconds in the swift current. Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors found great action for striped bass in the shallows around Collinsville before the dirty water arrived, but he advised that the linesides will be heading for the cleanest water which will be found in the ports of Sacramento or Stockton or in the south Delta around Discovery Bay. .
For sturgeon, the cold water temperatures and grass and debris have limited the number of bites, but Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing put his clients onto two quality diamondbacks on Sunday along with some missed bites. Mitchell will be heading into the sloughs off the main channel in Suisun Bay to find cleaner and warmer water in the shallows. .
Largemouth bass are on hiatus during the period of cold and dirty water, but a dead-stick presentation is necessary to get anything to bite.
Events:
Sacramento/Cal Expo – January 15/18th - International Sportsmen’s Exposition – information - https://www.sportsexpos.com/.
Tournament Results:
Pine Flat – 3rd Annual Hmong New Year Tournament – December 27th: 1st –Xong Heu/Yoham Chang – 10.68 pounds; 2nd – Tas and Kong Moua – 9.16; 3rd – Cheng and Sam Saephan – 8.81.
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 11:39 AM.
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