Fishing spots in Central CA ranked. Fresno-area lakes, Monterrey, High Sierras, Millerton
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 bite going strong, Steve Mitchell said. Don Pedro bass and trout action good, Aaron Jones reported. New Melones trout bite going, Kyle Wise said. Shaver lake pumping out mixed limits, Dick Nichols 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 continued ‘hit or miss’ striped bass fishing during this period of high pressure. The flows are heavy due to extensive pumping out of the south Delta, and with the cold and swift water current, anglers must be extremely careful when walking on the slippery banks, especially when ice forms on cold mornings. There are yellow-painted escape ladders along the sides of the aqueduct, though they may be hard to see.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
At Eastman, Moua reported a tough largemouth bite with anglers averaging 1 to 2 fish per day working the bottom with worms on a shakey head. There are bass in the shallows, but with the inflow, the lake is heavily stained. At Hensley, Moau reported minimal action with catfish providing the best bet. Eastman rose 9 and Hensley rose 9 feet this week. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of January.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 3 Trout 3 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported the bass are all over the place and in the water column with crawdad-patterned jigs working best by working uphill to 20 feet starting at 40 feet in depth. The rising water has brought out the crawdads, therefore an improved jig bite. Spoons are effective when the fish are schooled up along with strolling a minnow or tossing a jerkbait in the shallows. With the number of trout holding around the shorelines, big swimbaits continue to find a few quality bass.
For trout, Bill Sterling of Striperz Gone Wild put in two limits of rainbow trout running pink hoochies or worms at depths from 10 to 20 feet at 1.8 mph. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported clear water throughout the lake, and the trout have scattered. He found his bait action at 3 to 4 colors of lead core with shad-patterned spoons. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake rose 6 feet this week. There are no remaining tournaments in December. A self-inspection is required for launching. There are three remaining bass tournaments scheduled in January including two from Best Bass Tournaments.
Isabella/Kaweah/Success/southern California Aqueduct reports available at https://www.tackleandrod.com/weekly-fishing-report.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported jigs in crawdad patterns or jerkbaits are best for quality while numbers are taken on plastics on a shakey head. The spoon bite has slowed down. There were 7 limits weighed in over 11 pounds during Saturday’s Central Valley 17/90 tournament with the winning weight at 17.97 pounds with a big fish at 8.74. Trout trolling has slowed. The lake rose 8 feet this week. The lake will be very busy with 6 club tournaments remaining in January, including 4 this coming weekend.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
There hasn’t been a trout plant since December 2, and bank action continues to be very slow with a few fish taken on scented Power Bait or inflated night crawlers from the Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile, and the peninsula near the marina. Trolling for holdovers in the river arm is most likely the best option above the Second Fence Line.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 3 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Moua reported an improved bass bite with anglers reporting up to 25 fish days using jigs at depths from 20 to 30 feet with a limit in the 12-pound range. Reaction baits such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or underspins are working in the shallows. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are steady at 379 cfs. Sycamore Island is open every day from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm, and their next trout plant is on the week of January 26. The lake rose 7 feet this week. One bass tournament on January 31 s on the slate for the month.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee
The big news of the weekend was the annual Costco Trout Derby on Friday and Saturday, attracting 70 boats which all required decontamination prior to launching. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Sport Fishing said, “We came in 4th on Saturday rolling shad at depths from 2 to 5 feet in the river arm or in the southern portion of the lake at depths from 50 to 55 feet. The top teams all rolled shad, but the two largest rainbows both days were only 3 pounds. The winning five-fish limits were small at 7 pounds on Friday and 9 pounds on Saturday. We caught over 40 trout both days, but our largest trout was only 2.5 pounds. The winning troller on Saturday fly lined a shad at 200 feet behind the boat in the river arm for his largest trout. Numbers can be taken, but finding the larger trout is a challenge. However, Doug Philpott of Philpott Trailer and Marine in Modesto landed a 10-pound brown trout on Thursday.”
For bass, Aaron Jones reported action continues to improve with big swimbaits or glidebaits, jigs, or jerkbaits. John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service said, “January is the month as the conditions line up, the fish feed, and dreams become a reality. If there is ever a time to chase a giant, this is it.” All boats must be quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated at the New Melones Marina. Downstream Lake Tulloch established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed, but bass fishing is reported to be strong. The lake rose 5 feet this week with downstream Tulloch also rising.
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The Fresno Bass Club held a tournament on Sunday, and it was tough sledding with low weights throughout. John Albidrez lapped the field with a winning limit at 13.31 pounds including a big spotted bass at 5.51, but the limits dropped to below 7.5 pounds from second place on. Tas Moua reported extremely clear water conditions, and with the lake rising so fast, the bass have stayed deep. He recommended plastic worms such as Roboworm’s Morning Dawn or shad patterns on a shakey head or drop shot. In the lower Kings, the flows have dropped from 2748 to 1473 cfs at Trimmer, creating better conditions for wading. Trout plants are scheduled the next two weeks, and Moua said, “Berkeley’s Mice Tails in chartreuse, red, or pink, Pinched crawlers in floating or garlic or garlic Power Bait are catching trout.” The lake rose another 16 feet this week, and the Deer Creek ramp is inaccessible at the current time. Avocado Lake will be planted next week.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
The water level in the main lake continues to rise to 72% with consistent pumping out of the south Delta. Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported several large striped bass have been landed at the main lake including a 42-inch/32-pound lineside caught and released on a swimbait near Portuguese Cove. He said, “A 32-inch striper was kept on bait at Dinosaur Point along with topwater Pencil Poppers working for stripers to 10 pounds in Portuguese Cove. Anchovies, jumbo minnows, Lucky Craft 128’s, Duo Realis Tide Minnows in Mazume Sardine, or Duo Realis 130’s in Chartreuse Shad or Neo Pearl are all effective.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that there is a troll bite for experienced anglers working the back of Portuguese Cove or in the main lake at depths ranging from 40-80’ with regular stick bait lures. “ I guided Guy Miller of San Jose on Monday to over 30 released stripers , averaging a solid 22-23”, topped by a nice 33”, 14 lb fatty striper trolling the main lake with Lucky Crafts. We hit a good bite window and kept working the moving schools of fish once we found them . It’s the most active fish I’ve seen in awhile- although most anglers I talked to seem to have missed the troll action. “ George said.
Mesa added, “Most anglers are targeting the main lake.” The forebay dropped to 79%. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is closed to public access through April 2026.
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 1
Captain Mike Beighey of Mike’s Bass Lake Fishing Charters reported that the ramp isn’t in the water despite the lake rising. He said, “Shore anglers are catching quality rainbows with Power Bait, but since launching a boat requires getting your feet wet, few boats have been on the water. If you are able to launch, solo nightcrawlers, Dick’s Trout Busters, Mountain Candy, or Apex lures tipped with a ‘crawler behind a Dick’s Mountain dodger or Rocky Mountain Crystal Ice dodger at 8 to 18 feet in depth on a 125-foot set back at 1.6 mph will do the trick, especially across from the Sheriff’s Tower.” Moua reported plastic worms on the bottom on a shakey head or drop-shot along with shaking a minnow using Live Scope are producing bass in the 2- to 3-pound range. A webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of January.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 3
Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle said, “Shaver Lake continues to provide good fishing for both trout and kokanee, and with this week’s Department of Fish and Wildlife plant, the bite should remain solid. Holdover trout are putting a limit or two into boats along with a limit of kokanee. Those targeting the fresh plant should find them in front of Sierra Marina, but as the week progresses the new trout will have made their way to the dam and Point. For those in search of kokanee and yearling trout, the Black Rock and Eagle Point areas are still providing the best chance for mixed limits in the top 25 feet of water with spinners tipped with corn or crawler behind Dodgers or weighted flashers do the best. Bank fishermen should stay busy around the dam to road one with crawlers, trout dough bait or salmon eggs. Both ramps are all good to launch with good weather on the near horizon. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. Both Shaver and Huntington rose slightly.
Ocean
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported perch in the 12- to 14-inch range are found from Rio Del Mar to Sunset Beach on Mekini Baits grubs in Carlos’s Perch Candy or motor oil/red flake along with Honey Badger grubs in Motor Oil Red 2 or the original motor oil/redflake on a Carolina rig.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “Though the rock fishing season is closed for now, the sanddabs and sand sole remain legal to catch, delicious to eat and readily available on the flats from 180 to 300 feet of water. A few halibut were reportedly caught from the 70- to 100-foot depths near Santa Cruz.
Dungeness crab numbers are going up with the resumption of long-soak crab pots. Recreational Dungeness crab anglers spread out their pots on the flat edges of our deep submarine canyons. Crab are numerous from 140 to 220 feet of water with most Dungeness reportedly caught near the Soquel and Pajaro Holes. A few scattered striped bass reports were submitted for the last two weeks of 2025. We should see those counts come up as local rivers and streams are all breaching, allowing spawners to hit the salt. January and February are famous for multiple catches of school-sized stripers along the coast from Monterey to Half Moon Bay.”
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 3 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
Commercial crab season has begun, and there are crab sales off Pier 45 and 47 in San Francisco with the going price of $8/pound. Half Moon Bay generally has individual sales from the docks as well. With rockfish season closed until April, fishing is limited to crab-only trips outside the Golden Gate and striped bass/sturgeon trips in San Pablo Bay. Striped bass fishing has been slow with the muddy water arriving from the California Delta. A few recreational charter boats are trying to make it a go, but it’s been a grind at best. Herring spawns have been popping up in the North Bay around Belvedere and Sausalito, and shore anglers are tossing cast nets from the rocks while boaters and kayakers are also getting in on the intermittent action. The spawns are unpredictable, so you must wait until the birds and sea lions show up.
A few recreational charter boats will continue to offer crab-only trips, although most boats will be pulled out for maintenance to prepare for halibut trolling trips starting in March.
There are still striped bass in San Francisco Bay, but the interest has been light. With rockfish season closed, most recreational charter boats are opting for maintenance in preparation for halibut trolling starting in March. Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sport Fishing has purchased the Legacy from Stagnaro’s Sport Fishing in Santa Cruz, and the boat is on its way to San Pedro for a makeover of the cabin including adding a full galley. Smith will be conducting seminars on “Fishing Out and Inside the Gate’ during this weekend’s International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo on Thursday, 1/15, at 3:00 pm and Saturday, 1/17, at 1:00 pm.
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.
Crabbing continues from the shorelines, particularly the popular Pacifica Pier. The status of the pier is available here - https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/public-works/field-services/pacifica-pier.
San Luis Obispo
Surf perch 3
Rockfish season ended on Wednesday, December 31, and it will not reopen until April 2026. Surf perch fishing will dominate along with rockfishing from the shorelines for the next few months. Allen Bushnell reported Vince Chiofalo of Battlestar Baits says the perch bite is hot in South County San Luis Obispo, Oceano, Guadalupe, and Vandenberg Base on the new Battlestar 155 Jerkbait.
Delta/Stockton
Bass 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
With the amount of water released from the upper Sacramento River watershed, both sides of the California Delta have been plagued with grass and debris. Sturgeon fishing remains strong despite the challenges of avoiding grass as Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing in Pittsburg ventured into the sloughs north of Suisun Bay to put his two clients onto 5 sturgeon landed out of 6 hook ups. He said, “In the main river channel, every location holding sturgeon was loaded with grass, and you couldn’t stay on the bottom without having to clean your lines. We had two anglers that came back the following day, and we found them in the sloughs where the grass is not as much of a challenge. The action has been very good, but interest in catch-and-release remains limited despite the opportunity to experiences multiple fights with the largest freshwater species in California.” Mitchell is conducting seminars on sturgeon fishing this coming Friday at 4:00 pm and on Sunday at 12:00 pm at the International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo.
In the San Joaquin side, largemouth and striped bass action remains slow due to the muddy water, and few anglers are even trying currently. Once the water clears, the bite should improve considerably with the flush of grass and debris out of the south Delta. The clearest water remains in the dead end sloughs, the Port of Stockton, or inside Discovery Bay.
Events:
Sacramento/Cal Expo – January 15/18th - International Sportsmen’s Exposition – information - https://www.sportsexpos.com/.
Tournament Results: Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club – January 11th: 1st – John Albidrez – 13.31 pounds (Big Fish – 5.51); 2nd – Kyle Reynolds – 7.51; 3rd – Walt Austin – 6.81.
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.