Where’s the best fishing in Central Valley; Fresno, Shaver, Pismo? Our experts know
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
Delta sturgeon biting, Steve Mitchell said, shaver trout plants improving action, Dick Nichols reported. Lower Kings river trout hitting, Tas Moua said. Bass lake trout bite on fire, Mike Beighey 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, Striperz Gone Wild is hosting their annual Toy Drive this coming Saturday, Dec. 13 starting at 7:30 am at the aqueduct access at Volta Road. Los Banos. Unwrapped toys will be collected for Central Valley youth in need, and the organization will be providing a free breakfast and giveaways.
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported overall slow striped bass action, but castable umbrella rigs are starting to be effective. Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported an improved striper bite with 5-inch flukes in pearl or white ice. 3/4th- to 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps in Bleeding Shad or Diamond Dust are also effective.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
At Eastman, Tas Moua reported a few quality bass to 4 pounds have been landed dragging large plastics near the corner of the dam. Kayakers have been concentrating around submerged trees and the Buoy Line. The recent trout plant should spur on the swimbait and glide bait bite for trophy largemouth bass. Not much change at Hensley with catfish or crappie providing the best action. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of December.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto said, “Overall, the bass action has slowed down as the bait is starting to get deeper, although fish can still be caught shallow, especially if it is sunny. Bottom contact baits at depths from 40 to 60 feet are working best while jigging spoons for deep suspended fish is also effective. With the recent trout plants, big swimbaits have produced a few trophies.”
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported king salmon are found on the bottom where the bait is holding from 80 to 90 feet. The lake has yet to turn over, and the fish are found in the coves instead of the open water. He added, “Recently planted rainbows to 13 inches are found on shad-patterned spoons once you locate the schools.” Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake will be busy in December with four bass tournaments on the schedule including this weekend’s Best Bass Tournament. A self-inspection is required for launching.
Isabella/Kaweah/Success reports available at https://www.tackleandrod.com/weekly-fishing-report.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Kokanee 0 Crappie 3 Catfish 2
Aaron Jones reported a similar pattern to Don Pedro although the action has been slow overall. The occasional trophy largemouth bass is taken on trout-patterned swimbaits due to the heavy trout plants within the past month. Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported local anglers have been heading north to McClure for crappie close to submerged structure. The lake is hosting 3 club tournaments through the remainder of the month.
Lake McSwain
Trout 3
The lake is back up to 91%, and the launch ramp is once again accessible. Bank anglers have been scoring up to limits with Berkley Mice Tails, trout jigs, Power Bait, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Tas Moua reported improved bass fishing upriver as the spotted bass are chasing baitfish in the shallows. Spots in the 1.5-pound range are taken on plastics on a Neko-rig or shakey head along with Senkos or Hula Grubs. Deep bass are found on flutter spons, jigging spoons, or shaking a minnow. A few crappie are found near submerged structure. The Fresno Bass Club is hosting a tournament this coming Sunday, Dec. 14.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Sport Fishing reported an improved trout bite in open water from the surface to 20 feet with Speedy Shiners or any silver spoons. Planted rainbows are taken along the shoreline near Black Bart. Bass fishing is picking up, and with the heavy trout plants within the past month, trophy bass hunters are out there with big swimbaits or glide baits. Due to limited staffing, decontamination washdowns for the public will be by appointment only through the New Melones Marina. Even with the restrictions for launching, the lines at the launch ramp are long on the weekends with 95% of the boats being bass boats,
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua said, “Nothing has changed within the past week as there are spotted bass from the banks to 25 feet and others from 50 to 60 feet chasing bait. Spots to 2 pounds are taken on jigs or Senkos. In the lower Kings River, another trout plant is scheduled this week, and Moua reported the recent trout plant has brought out trout to 5 pounds with Berkley’s Mice Tails, floating Pinched Crawlers in garlic, Little Cleo’s, Panther Martin’s, or Thomas Buoyant spoons in red/gold. The flows have dropped to 465 cfs at Trimmer with most trout holding in the pools. No bass tournaments are scheduled on the schedule for December. Another trout plant is scheduled at Avocado Lake this week.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
The water level in the main lake has risen to 63% with increased pumping out of the south Delta. In the main lake, Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported consistent action around the mouth of Portuguese Cove with jumbo minnows or 3/4th or 1.75-ounce Duh! Spoons in UV Shad or white.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said anglers have been struggling in the colder 63 degree water for small school fish. “I guided two anglers for 7 nice stripers in the 21-24” range trolling Lucky Crafts at 70’ in the main lake. Foggy cold conditions have been the norm – and finding active fish has been the trick.
Bank anglers are scoring with pile worms or anchovies, but blood worms have become prohibitively expensive. In the forebay, Tas Moua reported Duo Realis jerkbaits in size 45 or 50mm are popular and Check 12 has been crowded.
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1
Captain Mike Beighey of Mike’s Bass Lake Fishing Charters reported excellent shore action for the recently planted rainbows across from the Sheriff’s Tower with rainbow glitter Power Bait on a long leader. Chris Counts of Fresno scored a limit of rainbows to 17 inches trolling from Ducey’s to the front of the Fork’s Resort with Wiggle Hoochies or Trout Busters scented with Pautske’s Fire Gel behind a Mountain flasher at 1.2. to 1.6 mph with a set back from 135 to 165 feet. Moau worked the corner of the dam with big swimbaits for a 5-pound spotted bass and a 7-pound largemouth before catching four quality rainbow trout from 3.5 to 5 pounds on a 11.3-gram Little Cleo. The launch ramp is a challenge, and the right side of the ramp holds a huge pothole.
A webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool/Wishon/Courtright.
Kaiser Pass Road closed on Dec. 1 and it will not reopen until late May 2026. Access to Wishon and Courtright is also closed as of Dec. 1, and access will not reopen until early April depending upon snow levels. Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle, reported, “The recent Department of Fish and Wildlife trout plant of large brooders at the Sierra Marina ramp have led to bank anglers enjoying a ‘Hey-Day’ with orange or chartreuse spinners, Power Bait, or inflated nightcrawlers. Trollers are scoring near the Marina as well as close to the Point and Black Rock. Dave Loftin of Visalia caught and released 10 kokanee and 8 yearling trout on a recent trip using chartreuse/orange Dick’s Trout Busters behind a silver Mountain dodger on both the downrigger and side rods.. Around 60% of the 2nd-year kokanee have been removed from the lake by anglers or a premature spawn, and it’s time to release the remainder for the possibility of 18-inch kokanee in 2026.”
Check http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions.
Ocean
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Mickey Clements reported good surf perch action between periods of high surf with Honey Badger grubs in motor oil/red flake on a Carolina-rig from Rio Del Mar south to Manressa.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported limits of rockfish are the norm with plenty of chilipeppers, Bocaccio, yellowtail, vermilion, and canary rockfish south of the Monterey along the deep reefs off Carmel. Boats from Moss Landing Harbor are heading north or south to find rockfish and lings. Dungeness are on the move but spread out from 120 to nearly 300 feet of water. The sand flats near deep canyon edges are still producing best. Inshore fishing is somewhat slower, although plenty of lingcod are moving into the shallow reefs, and there are still big grumpy reds and brown rockfish getting hooked from the 30- to 60-foot reefs near town along with the very occasional halibut. Barred surf perch are filling back onto the beaches since the waves died down this week. Most fish were medium-sized with a couple reported 15-inchers.”
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay/Half Moon Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
Out of the Golden Gate, it’s more of the same with limits of both rockfish and crab along with a handful of lingcod. Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sport Fishing reported the California Dawn 1 and 2 out of Berkeley scored 45 limits of crab, 40 limits of rockfish, and 6 lings to 12 pounds on Sunday at the Farallon Islands. Capt. Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions fished the Marin coast for limits of rockfish along with a few easy pulls for limits of crab. Out of Half Moon Bay, the Queen of Hearts posed 9 limits of crab, 79 rockfish, and 9 lings on Sunday with the Riptide scoring 5 limits of rockfish and 2 lings. Inside the bay, the water temperature has dropped nearly 10 degrees, and with the high tides, the water turned muddy. There are still striped bass in the bay, but they were elusive with the dirty water.
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3
Rockfishing remains excellent with the lingcod on the chomp. On Sunday, two boats out of Morro Bay Landing returning with 330 assorted rockfish, 42 vermilion, 20 Boccaccio, 12 copper, 46 lingcod to 21 pounds and a cabezon for 42 anglers. Out of Port San Luis, Patriot Sport Fishing was out with two boats on Sunday for 180 assorted, 65 Bolina, 49 vermilion, 42 Boccaccio, 4 copper, 3 cabezon, a halibut, and 33 lingcod to 14 pounds.
Delta/Stockton
Bass 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The big schools of striped bass dissipated during the past week of huge high tides, but Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing has been putting his clients onto limits of linesides by 9:00 am before practicing catch-and-release for a few more hours drifting live mudsuckers from the Antioch Bridge east to Prisoner’s Point. Alan Fong has been soaking sardines in 20 feet of water near Collinsville for limits of stripers. The cut bait and live bait bite is best with the colder water conditions.
Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg continues to put his clients onto multiple opportunities for sturgeon of all sizes. Saturday’s trip produced three slot-limit fish along with an oversized along with multiple missed opportunities. . Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service found slower action on Sunday, but they brought 12 sturgeon on Sunday. Cured salmon roe remains best.
Largemouth bass action is good for numbers with jerkbaits on a slow retrieve along with flipping jigs in the shallows on the high tide. Bass tournament action has been tough with only 8 of 25 boats weighing in during a recent south Delta event. The Florida-strain largemouth bass need some time to adjust to the rapidly cooling water.
Tournament Results
McClure – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies – December 6th: 1st – Roberto Hernandez – 9.30; 2nd – Jason and Jake Hopper – 9.00; 3rd – Ryan Estermann/David Sanders – 8.90.
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM.