Fishing report for week of Jan. 8-14: Pine Flat trout come out of hiding; big catch at San Luis

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.

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Best bets

Pine Flat trout come out of hiding, Merritt Gilbert reported. Southern aqueduct stripers hitting, Pete Cormier said. McClure bass and trout biting, Ryan Cook reported. Shaver Lake trout active, Dick Nichols said. Delta sturgeon, bass and stripers available, Alan Fong reported.

Roger’s remarks

Roger George’s column will return.

Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

In the northern section of the aqueduct, most fishermen are either soaking anchovies or similar baits or working the head gates with Storm swimbaits in bluegill patterns along with lipless crankbaits.

In the southern section of the aqueduct in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield said, “The aqueduct remains very good for striped bass with jumbo or large minnows along with blood worms. Everything is working including flukes, tubes, and jerkbaits, but the minnows are working best. Fishermen are moving from location to location along the aqueduct. Catfish are found on anchovies, sardines, mackerel or Sonny’s Dip Baits.”

Call: Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis 292-3474; Bob’s Bait Bucket 661-833-8657

Merritt Gilbert at Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “The largemouth bite has been tough as the New Year’s Day tournament by the River Rats with generally smaller limits weighed in. The reaction bite has been slow, but the winning team of Wade Veneman and Damian Thao landed a big fish at 5.74 pounds. There was one 4.5-pound largemouth bass on a swimbait reported this past week.” Numbers of small bass in the one-pound range are taken on plastics on the drop-shot or jigs on a finesse presentation at depths from 30 to 40 feet. Crappie are starting to get active around submerged structure. A trout plant is scheduled at both launch ramps this week. The lake held at 47%.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Gilbert said, “The lake was basically ignored over the past week due to New Year’s Day tournaments at Eastman and Millerton, but there are bass in the 3- to 4-pound range taken on jigs, Senkos or deep-diving crankbaits at 15 to 20 feet. A trout plant is scheduled for this week, and the swimbait bite should finally show some signs of life.” The lake held at 28%.

Call: Valley Rod Gun, Clovis 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151

Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “The bass bite continues to improve as the numbers are picking up, but the fish remain scattered from 5 to 80 feet with the best concentration between 20 and 50 feet. A few swimbait bass are showing up, but the best action is coming on soft plastics or jigs along with umbrella rigs.” Trout fishing should improve as guides are starting to return to the lake to target rainbows and king salmon. A heavy plant of fingerling king salmon this spring should pay dividends in the future. The lake held at 80%.

Call: Monte Smith 209-581-4734; Kyle Wise – Head Hunter Guide Service 209-531-3966; Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Fishing 691-7008

At Lake Isabella, Cormier reported trout in the 13/14-inch range have been taken off of the shoreline with Power Bait, and another trout plant is expected this week. He said, “They are still catching crappie up there around submerged structure at depths to 50 feet. With the colder water, the shad are holding in the submerged trees, and both the crappie and largemouth bass are targeting the shad schools.” Isabella held at 30%. Cormier added, “The upper Kern River above the lake or the lower Kern River below the dam continue to kick out some quality rainbows on salmon eggs, Power Bait, or nightcrawlers along with lures such as Kastmasters or Roostertails. Regular plants have been bringing on the action and we have been seeing a number of photographs.” The trout bite at the local lakes has slowed with the lack of plants, but there are catfish or bluegill providing some action. Buena Vista is planting around 500 pounds of Mt. Lassen Hatcher rainbows every other week or so.

Call: Bob’s Bait Bucket 661-833-8657; North Fork Marina 760-376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station 542-2816

The lake has risen slightly to 17%, and local bass expert Gary Wasson said, “Smaller bass are found at depths from 35 to 50 feet with either plastics on the drop-shot or jigs on a slow presentation.” The Central Valley Kayak Fishing club is holding its first tournament of the coming year on March 1, a team event. A trout plant occurred two weeks ago, and the swimbait bite for the larger grade of bass may start to take off. The launch ramp is a good area to try for planted rainbows with Power Bait, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Chuck Stokke of the Sequoia Fishing Company in Springville said, “Bass fishing has been fair as fishermen are targeting rocky points with Alabama rigs, large swimbaits, Senkos or jigs on slow presentation. A trout plant is scheduled for next week, and this will probably bring out the larger bass. Shore fishermen are also pulling out some big catfish on stinkbaits while fly fishermen are targeting carp with small carp flies on the surface.” Gary Wasson reported landing three huge largemouth bass on three trips in a row, but the bite is tough. He has been scoring with jigs or Kei Tech 4.8-inch swimbaits on a slow presentation. Wasson and his son Kodi took the Porterville Bass Tournament on Sunday with 17.85 pounds, but they were the single boat out of the five participating that weighed in any fish. The lake rose to 11%. In the Tule River, Stokke said, “The river is fishing well for rainbows using nightcrawlers or spinners in the middle fork while fly fishermen are nymphing with a slow presentation by putting weight on the leader.”

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

Numbers of spotted bass remain the rule at Lake McClure, and the bass bite continues to improve on a weekly basis. The spots remain scattered at various depths with the most consistent action from 20 to 40 feet.

Cook participated in Sunday’s Merced Bass Club tournament with his youth partner, Michael Mulgado, and they came in fourth with a 10.78-pound limit. He said, “Veteran bass fishermen Larry Kerns of Exeter and Jerry Williams of Porterville took first at 11.18 so we were right there. The bite was tougher for us on Sunday, but we ended up with 30 bass with most taken from 20 to 40 feet with Dead Stick soft plastics on a shakey head or jigs such as the Dead Stick Hula Daddy on a G-Money half-ounce football head. Green pumpkin/purple flake was the top color pattern for us, but the reaction bite is virtually non-existent. The bass are scattered from 5 to 85 feet.”

Steve Marquette of Lake McClure/McSwain Recreation Company was casting from the banks with silver/blue Kastmasters for a few rainbows who are moving in closer to the shallows. He said, “There have been a lot of boats trolling around the dam or around the South Ramp with Speedy Shiners or Tasmanian Devil spoons.”

There will be a population of kokanee and king salmon growing to catchable size within the next two years due to plants from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

McClure held at 62%

Call: Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Fishing 691-7008

Marquette said, “The lake is still waiting for another trout plant, and shore fishermen have to work hard for a few holdover rainbows with trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers near the Cabins or the Brush Pile. A plant was dumped into the Merced River near the Hornitos Bridge, and nightcrawlers or trout dough bait were the ticket for limits of planters.” Lake levels remain high.

Call: McSwain Marina 209-378-2534

There was optimism for some decent weights during Bass 101’s traditional New Year’s tournament at Millerton, but the big largemouth and spotted bass were absent, at least on this date. The reaction bite remains slow with most everything taken on the bottom. The 12- to 13-pound limits did not materialize, but the team of Tim Rowan and Travis Brown took first with 11.50 pounds out of the 28 boats. During Sunday’s New Jen Bass Tournaments event, the team of Dean Miller/Darrel Masterson found over a 3-pound average at 15.29 pounds with a big fish of 5.52, but the second- and third-place weights were less than 10 pounds.

Gilbert said, “I have been fishing the New Year’s Day tournament with one of my sons over the past few years, but this year, my partner was Ocsanna Seropyan. I was on a good bite the weeks before the tournament, but the bass that I was on moved and shut down. I had been picking up limits in the 10-pound range with Zoom Trick Worms or plastics on the drop-shot at depths from 5 to 20 feet for the past month. We were fishing as deep as 40 feet for the tournament, and the bass seem to have moved around with all of the pumping into the lake. The water is very clear, and most everything came on the bottom with few reaction fish. The water temperature in the river arm has been holding around 53/54 degrees for the past three to four weeks. The New Jen Bass Tournaments was on the lake on Sunday, and they were expecting around 30 boats. Plastics on the Texas-rig, drop shot, or dart head along with jigs remain the best techniques.”

The lake rose from 51 to 53%.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

The turnover at New Melones has yet to occur, and this has been similar to the other low-elevation Mother Lode lakes. The best bass action remains in deep water as the reaction bite continues to be few and far between. January through March are the top months for big bass at New Melones, and once the lake finally turns over, the swimbait and glidebait bite should improve.

Gene Hildebrand of Glory Hole Sports in Angels Camp said, “Typically this time of year Melones water temperatures are low enough to have the lake turn over, inducing a flurry of action on the bass and trout bite; however possibly due to the historic water level for this time of year, we believe its slowing down with how quickly the water temperature is dropping, delaying the lake from turning over. The bass bite on Melones has improved from the last couple months with the water temps creeping slowly down. Anglers using jigs, and worms on a number of different setups are landing bass, along with spoons. Bryson Hooper was fishing up river, and he landed five spotted bass in the 2- to 3.5-pound range using a Roboworm in “Morning Dawn” near the log jam, fishing at a depth of 35 feet. The trout are moving up in the river column, and they are being seen on the surface, but the bite is sluggish. Ted Overton of Vallecito brought in a 4.5-pound rainbow trolling the spillway with a Cop Car Speedy Shiner at 45 feet.”

Cook was on the lake twice this past week, and he said, “It is getting better, and we found decent action for spotted and largemouth bass at 40 to 70 feet with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot as the fish are still deep. You really have to fish this lake a few days in order to learn the current patterns.”

The New Jen Bass Tournaments held an event on New Melones on Saturday, and the team of Bryan Coy and Bub Tosh took first with a limit at 16.46 pounds. The big fish was 5.31 pounds taken by the team of Vince and James Vella.

Hildebrand added, “A word of caution when traveling from the Rangers Station towards Glory Hole Point as if you are hauling any trailer over 10 feet in height, be aware the Bureau of Reclamation has many oak trees that need to be trimmed to meet Federal Highway Administrations minimum vertical clearance on local roadways which is 14 feet. The trees overhang the road are creating hazardous driving conditions for you and your trailer/boat/RV having to often drive in the opposite lane of traffic to avoid these trees and prevent damage to your property.”

New Melones rose slightly to 83%.

Call: Glory Hole Sports 209-736-4333; Monte Smith 209-581-4734; John Liechty Xperience Fishing Guide Service 209-743-9932

Recent trout plants at Pine Flat Reservoir have contributed to vastly improved conditions for trollers while the lower Kings River below the dam is a viable option for planted rainbows.

Gilbert reported solid action for trollers working around Windy Gap from the surface to 3 colors of leadcore with spoons such as Needlefish in Cop Car or Bikini, Apex lures in similar patterns, or blade/’crawler combinations. He said, “Fishermen are reporting from 15 to 20 rainbows in the 11-inch range with the occasional holdover, and trollers are reporting difficulty in getting down to three colors as they are getting hit right below the surface.”

Jeff Harris of Tollhouse was on the lake twice this week, and he said, “The river channel has a really good cut of trout right now, and we are picking up the rainbows at various depths from 6 to 8 feet or as deep as 45 to 50 feet, and I’m using shad-patterned Rapalas exclusively. The topwater trout seem to be where there is light debris floating on the surface as the lake continues to rise. The bite seems better in the early morning when there is a little chop on the water, and I have also been trolling a little faster than normal. There are huge bait balls in all water columns, and the trout are loaded with tiny shad. Big groups of small birds are feeding on the shad, and I have been trolling through the birds and finding huge bait balls on the screen. The water temperature is still warm at 57 degrees.”

Parking at Trimmer is limited, and in order to make room for as many boat trailers as possible, staying in the designated parking areas is important.

In the lower Kings River below the dam, trout plants continue on a weekly basis, and trout dough bait, nightcrawler/marshmallow combinations or Kastmasters are all working for the planters. The water levels are steady with some very nice ripples.

Pine Flat rose from 46% to 48%.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626

The best overall action at San Luis Reservoir has been with jumbo minnows or bait, however the big news at the lake was the 45 1/4-inch, 35-pound striper caught and released by lake guide Roger George on Monday.

Gilbert said, “Bait fishing seems to be the best best as customers are reporting four to five stripers to 23 inches in a half-day of fish from the shoreline. Sales of reaction baits have slowed down, but we are still selling a number of 4- to 5-inch Storm swimbaits in bluegill pattern.”

Anthony Flores of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill said, “The big lake is fishing better than the Forebay, and those drifting jumbo minnows seem to be finding decent action, especially along the rockwall on the Highway 152 side. The lake is up so the Trash Racks and Portuguese Cove are good options. Trollers are working Lucky Craft Pointers in the same areas.”

George said, “The overall bite has been tough in the rising water of the big lake as I fished three times this week. On each trip, the conditions looked good, but most anglers have been struggling to find active biting fish. I guided John and Jay Pimentel from the Gustine/Newman area last Wednesday for a total of 11 released fish to 24 inches trolling Lucky Crafts at around 60 to 75 feet in Portuguese Cove. The fish seem to be suspended more than usual. We’re seeing lots of stripers on the meter, but they aren’t too active in the 56-degree water. I fished on Friday with Andy Bedell of Watsonville, and it was the same situation – releasing 13 nice-sized fish in the 21- to 25-inch range as well as a bigger 29-inch, 9-pound lineside. I went back on Monday and fished for almost two hours before I got my first bite. I thought it was just a nice school fish until it suddenly took off, screaming my drag. I knew it was huge when I could hardly lift it into the boat The fish taped out at 45 1/4 inches and weighed right at 35 pounds on my Boga. I used the Seaqualizer release tool to put her down quickly. I’ve found that adjusting the tool to release the fish at the deeper 70-foot setting usually helps repressurize the fish better than shallower settings. Many anglers are telling me they’re using the tool now! I got the fish at 65 feet on a silver minnow pattern lure, working it through a group of feeding fish on a small mid-lake hump. I fished from 7:30 to closing at 4:30 for just a few fish – tough bite overall. After we caught David Drinnon’s personal-best, 40 1/2-inch, 24.88-pound fish two weeks ago on my last trip of the year, I was hoping for a big bite to kick off the new year in a big way. Somehow, it happened!”

In the O’Neill Forebay, Flores said, “Undersized striped bass remain the story with a few legal linesides to 22 inches possible with pile worms or blood worms from the banks adjacent to moving water near Check 12 or Check 13. Ripbaits and topwater lures continue for those working the reaction bite.” Culling a number of shakers can result in a legal limit over 18 inches.

The reservoir rose from 56% to 61%.

Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle 408-463-0711, Roger George, 905-2954, rogergeorgeguideservice.com

Few reports from this body of water as most local bass fishermen have been concentrating on either Millerton or Eastman for local tournaments. The swimbait bite has yet to emerge, and trout plants are not scheduled for the next two weeks. The launch ramp is problematic with no courtesy dock, and the adjacent shoreline is rocky. The conditions are keeping larger boats from splashing. The Sheriff’s Motor Fee is enforced on a year-round basis now. A webcam of the lake is available at basslakeca.com/index.php. The lake rose slightly to 56%.

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

Kaiser Pass is blanketed with snow, limiting access to the region. The Kaiser Pass lakes are now dropping with Edison at 39% and Florence at 9% with Mammoth Pool rising to 71%.

For the latest Sierra National Forest road conditions: bit.ly/2rfH8BB

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

The lack of regular snow storms have created conditions amenable for trolling Shaver Lake, and more boats were out on the lake after the New Year. Limits of rainbow trout are possible with the best action remaining in the Stevenson Cove area.

Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters is not guiding at this time of year, but he takes the time to obtain regular reports. He said, “Let’s hope this new year is as good a season as 2019 was at the lake. There were a few more boats on the lake over the weekend in the beautiful 50-degree weather under blue skies, and one to two limits of rainbows were taken by trollers working the top 15 feet in Stevenson Bay. Rapalas, Apex lures, and blade/’crawler combinations are working best for trollers, but perhaps the best news came from the shoreline at the mouth of Dorabella Cove. Retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief Rick Giubbini of Paso Robles brought a crew of five to the lake, and they caught 17 rainbows using orange or yellow trout dough bait on a 3- to 4-foot leader. They didn’t start fishing until noon, but the bite was fast and furious before dropping off around 2 p.m. Also for trolling, I talked to a couple anglers this week who reported a take of 22 rainbows over the two days of fishing focusing on the Stevenson Creek area and using a long-line Apex with a crawler at 8 to 10 feet. Year after year, you will find the holdovers in the Stevenson Bay and Tunnel Creek areas.”

Nichols continued, “I thought the 2019 kokanee season was one of the best in years, but this coming season will be tough due to the lack of kokanee fingerlings planted two years back by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fortunately, we did have a decent natural spawn of kokanee two years ago, and we should have a few third-year kokanee mixed with the second-year fish. Remember those second-year kokanee are your catch for 2021, so please release them carefully. I will be presenting my 12th annual Shaver Lake fishing seminar at a Fresno sporting goods store in late March. It will focus on how to fish Shaver in 2020 without the help of third-year kokanee. Representatives of Southern California Edison will provide the water levels for Shaver and Huntington in 2020, and a Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist will be on hand to discuss the 2020 DF&W plant, brown and the new residents of Shaver, golden trout, which are normally a very high-elevation species.”

Shaver is at 54%.

Sierra Marina launch ramp webcam: sierramarina.com/camera.html.

At Huntington, the winter storms have limited access to the lake, but the dock has been out of the water for several weeks. The lake dropped to 50%.

Call: Dick Nichols, Dick’s Fishing Charters 281-6948; Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435; Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072

Snow has made these high-elevation lakes inaccessible.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Limits of Dungeness crab remain a solid possibility for the recreational anglers despite heavy commercial pressure on the fishery. Starting with the first day of the commercial season on December 15th, a steady stream of refrigerated semi-trucks have been parading out of the harbor loaded down with tasty crustaceans. Rockfish season ended on December 31st until April 2020, but it was an incredible season with limits taken on every trip since the November 2nd opener.

Captain Tom Mattusch of the Huli Cat took their last combination trips of the season down the coast, and they loaded up with 27 limits of both rockfish and crab along with a few ling cod to 10 pounds. The Huli Cat has found a bit of a sweet spot for lings within the past few weeks with the big bottom dwellers to 20 pounds landed. Mattusch said, “There are still Dungeness crabs in Pillar Point Harbor, and you can jump on Huli Cat or one of the other charter boats. If weather has the charter fleet tied up, come down to the docks as lots of commercial fishing boats are selling off their boats. If you don’t want to cook them, Princeton Seafood Company Market and Restaurant will cook them for you!” Sand dab/crab or crab only trips will fill the bill on the Huli Cat during the winter months.

Out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete stacked his crab gear for the season, and the Queen of Hearts made their inaugural year in targeting both rockfish and crab a huge success. Whale watching and nature trips will be available during the winter months.

Call: Captain Dennis Baxter, New Captain Pete 650-576-3844; Captain Tom Mattusch, Huli Cat 650-619-0459

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’s Fishing Trips said, “We have had great action for both sand dabs and mackerel on their combination trips with scores from 5 to 7 crab per angler as the crab counts continue to grow. They will be running the combination trips depending upon weather conditions and interest.

Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak and Surfcasting Guide Service said, “The web credit transaction company is holding up the entry process for the Sand Crab Classic which will be held on March 14th. No one can register until the site is open, but keep your eyes open on the website and also on our Facebook page as the event generally sells out within a day of opening, and it is limited to 300 participants.” Information: https://www.sandcrabclassic.com/

The Sand Crab Classic has become one of the premiere events on the calendar, and the best part is that is a fundraiser for the Monterey Bay Salmon and Steelhead Project.

There is another surf perch tournament on the horizon with the Hollister Bait and Tackle event this coming Saturday. Information – (831) 638-9383.

Call: Chris’ Landing 831-375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting 831-251-9732

The boats are tied up for the winter months with the exception of running sturgeon trips into San Pablo Bay or the south bay. There are still a few striped bass to be had in the central bay for those willing to work for them.

The sturgeon bite in San Pablo Bay has slowed to a crawl as it appears that the diamondbacks have headed into the closed zone to dine on herring. One of the great accomplishments of the past generation to protect sturgeon populations was the creation of the closed zone in the central bay between January 1 – March 15th to protect the species during the herring spawn. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle was instrumental in the formation of this zone, and the results of the incredible sturgeon fishing over the past several years are a reflection of the closed zone in the bay, the closed zone in the upper Sacramento River, the slot-limit change from 40 to 60 inches at the fork, and the three sturgeon limit per angler per year.

Sturgeon may not be taken in the following described area between January 1 and March 15: That portion of San Francisco Bay included within the following boundaries: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Pt. Lobos and Pt. Bonita.

Fraser said, “It appears that we have a migration of our sturgeon from San Pablo Bay, but they will be back in a week or so after dining on herring roe. Even the striped bass have gone, and the little bait-stealing bass have vacated our ballpark. There are very few trash fish of shark, bat rays, and king fish, and there haven’t been many crab leading to an increased bait bill. The sturgeon bite was great a week ago, but between the herring spawns and the anemic tides, the bite has become putrid. We do have live grass shrimp, live ghost shrimp, and live smelt in the shop, and the smelt clearly outperform the bullheads and mudsuckers. They can’t hold a candle to the smelt. We are also loaded with live crab for sale, and the Best Crab in the World will be available at our shop until at least April.”

Ed Liu of Bay Tackle said, “There was a herring spawn over the weekend for a few hours at ATT Park in San Francisco, and the birds are out in open water in the middle of the bay. I am expecting a spawn this weekend with the larger tides and the moon phase, and I have my cast nets ready to go. The striped bass and halibut bite from the shoreline has slowed down, and we have never had this type of problem with only 3 fish landed out of our last 6 trips. We are hearing a lot of big stripers coming up in the river from Rio Vista and above, and we expect them to be back in the bay by the first or second week of February. We have been hearing good reports for sturgeon in San Pablo Bay from China Camp, Black Point, Sonoma Creek, and at the Submarine Pen in the Napa River. Perch fishing has been hit or miss, but there has been some good action at the Richmond Marina and in Berkeley from the Pier to the rockwall by the restaurant. The ocean is also kicking out some nice barred perch with a few red tails in the mix.”

Sweeney’s Sports in Napa reported the best sturgeon fishing in the river occurring near the mouth near the Highway 37 Bridge towards Vallejo or in the sloughs close to the bridge. There is a lot of dead water for striped bass in the river as the water has turned cold, but there have been some decent stripers to 15 pounds landed on cut bait or live bait.

In the south bay, Laine’s Bait in Alviso reported the sturgeon bite is starting to pick up once again in the area from the Dunbarton Bridge to the railroad bridge with grass shrimp, ghost shrimp, herring, or eel. There was a herring spawn off of Alameda earlier in the past week, and the sturgeon are migrating into the south bay in search of herring. The bite was really good from the end of November through December before starting to pick up once again.

Call: Captain Trent Slate, Bite Me Charters 415-307-8582; Happy Hooker 510-223-5388; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady 415-760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing 707-655-6736

The rockfish season ended on Tuesday, December 31st, and after this date, boats out of Morro Bay and Port San Luis will be running nature or whale watching trips.

Call: Virg’s Landing 800-762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing 805-595-4100

The lack of any perceptible winter storms has created outstanding conditions for striped bass in the north Delta, but the linesides have been absent. Sturgeon fishing suffered for many during the week of anemic tides, but experienced sturgeon fishermen are finding success, primarily in Suisun Bay.

Alan Fong, manager of the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Sacramento, was in the north Delta at Liberty Island this week, and he said, “The water is very clear with no grass, and the key was to ‘dead-stick’ a River2Sea Swaver on the bottom. I caught and released 10 stripers while my partner, Warren Trombley of San Jose, struggled. You had to leave the lure on the bottom and just move it slowly. The conditions are perfect, and you can see two feet inside of the island, but the stripers seem to have moved on.” Fong will be on the Western Bass Aquarium Demo Tank at the International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo in Sacramento on Friday, January 17th at 12:30 p.m. for ‘Delta Striped Bass Techniques.” at Cal Expo in Sacramento, CA.

For sturgeon, Captain Joey Gamez of Golden State Sport Fishing has been out most every day, and he said, “The tides have been less than ideal, but we managed one slot-fish at 45 inches on Thursday along with a few undersized sturgeon on salmon roe. There are a number of sturgeon in the Big Cut, but the grass has been horrible. I don’t know where all of this grass came from. We were fishing deep water to 80 feet with the smaller water movement.”

Captain Zach Medinas of Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures continues to find sturgeon success, and he doesn’t sweat the tides or the conditions on the river. He will search around for feeding fish before setting up his spread, and he will use the conditions, plus his superior bait, to optimize the numbers of sturgeon caught and released. He took out Dave Whaley of San Anselmo along with his son Mason and daughter Delaney this week, and they released a 57-inch sturgeon. It was Kid’s Week on the Gatecrasher, and a number of families came on board to experience sturgeon fishing. He was out on Friday in the Suisun Bay area, and they caught and released 5 slot-limit sturgeon along with one oversized. Medinas has seminars at the ISE on Friday, January 17th at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 19th at 12:00 noon at the California Sportsman’s Theater at Cal Expo in Sacramento, CA.

Medinas said, “We will have show specials on fishing trips and our apparel. This year our brands came through to show their support of our Northern California fishery. Please come to our seminars and enter into a chance to win prizes from Traeger grills, Accurate reels, Seeker rods, Buff, Costa sunglasses, BD outdoors, Grundens, Yeti, Gerber Gear, Yakima Fishing Products, Mustang Survival, and more.”

Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing is putting the finishing touches on his vessel, ‘The Top Gun,’ and it will be out on the river out of Pittsburg Marina within the next few weeks with new twin outboards on an offshore bracket. Mitchell will also be on the California Sportsmen’s Theater stage at the ISE on Saturday, January 18th at 3:00 with his seminar on ‘Techniques to Corral and Catch the Elusive White Sturgeon.” Mitchell is also raffling off a Phenix rod/Penn reel combination for those attending his seminar.

The week after the ISE, Martinez Marina and Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Fishing is hosting the 14th Annual Diamond Classic ‘Catch and Release’ Sturgeon Derby on January 25th. Youth 15 and under participate for free, and Talmadge is seeking sponsors for the growing youth participation in the event. Information – Martinez Bait and Tackle (925) 229-9420.

This is the first of two consecutive weekends of sturgeon tournaments in the area with the Foundation Sportsmen’s Club Original Sturgeon aka ‘Super Bowl’ Derby the following weekend on February 1st and 2nd out of McAvoy’s Boat Harbor at Bay Point. Information: http://www.originalsturgeonderby.com/

Tony Lopez at Benicia Bait and Tackle reported striped bass have been coming from the shoreline with blood worms, pile worms, or grass shrimp. He added, “There is a new road extended out to the point at McAvoy’s, and I think this will become an excellent place to fish from the shoreline if the road is accessible.”

In the San Joaquin-Delta, Clyde Wands, shallow trolling expert, said, “It is bait time, and there are still fish around near the Antioch Bridge and the San Joaquin River. We ended up with six keepers to 4 pounds along with six shakers. The water temperature ranges from 49 to 50.5. It is bait time, and I was hoping we could find some bigger fish.”

Steve Santucci of Steve Santucci’s Fly Fishing Guide Service said on Lost Coast Fishing, “Delta striper fishing has been good as we are catching good number with some quality linesides in the mix.”

For largemouth and striped bass, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “I was planning on going out to scout on Thursday, but it didn’t work out, but this is the time of year where you have to keep your bait in the strike zone as long as possible with a ‘dead-stick’ presentation. I use thinner worms right now that range from 4- to 6-inches as the thinner profile will move more when the bait is still. Earth tones such as greens are also important since the bait fish will darken up in the cold, murky water. Everything turns darker when the water is cold, and it is very important to use plastics with Max Scent whether you are using a drop-shot or Zappu head. Right now, I shorter up the distance between the drop-shot weight and the plastics to between 6 to 8 inches as it is important to stay close to the bottom. When you are casting out a long distance from the boat, a longer length between the weight and lure is necessary as the angle is more severe, but in the Delta, a long cast is not as essential. The bass are holding on the bottom since the most consistent water temperature is on the bottom right now. The water temperature has been ranging from 49 to 52 degrees. When the bass are more active, you might go to a 2-foot leader, but for now, the shorter the cast, the shorter the leader. The ima Flit ripbait is another good option, and I use it on fluorocarbon leader along the edges of the weeds. The key again is a slow retrieve with small twitches. For striped bass, there are three go-to baits right now. The ima Glide Fluke on a slow, methodical retrieve is a good option along with the ima Big Stick on overcast days or in low light conditions, or the Optimum’s AA Bad Bubba Shad swimbait.”

Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen Outdoors held his first tournament of the year on Saturday out of Russo’s Marina, and the Pro Team Legend Series attracted some heavy hitters including California Outdoor Hall of Fame member, Dee Thomas. Mathisen said, “We only drew 12 boats, but some of the best anglers in the Delta were entered, and if you want to learn how to complete with the best, these tournaments are a great opportunity. The team of Lorenzo and John Rossetti took first-place with a 20.64-pound limit with a big fish of 6.74 pounds. Plastics on the drop-shot or jigs were the best techniques in the colder water.”

H and R Bait in Stockton has a supply of frozen shad as fresh shad is no longer available until late spring, and most fishermen are heading west towards Antioch and Pittsburg for sturgeon and striped bass.

Call: Randy Pringle 209-543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell 707-655-6736; Vince Borges Outdoors 209-918-0828; J.D. Richey, Richey’s Sport Fishing 916-952-1554

At Nacimiento, small plastics on the drop-shot in the 3- to 4-inch range are working at depths to 20 feet while spoons are also effective for spotted bass in deeper water. The cold mornings have been slower than in the afternoons when the water warms up a few degrees, and both the spotted and white bass are oriented to the balls of shad. The water temperatures remain relatively warm at between 54/55 degrees. Catfish can be taken on cut baits coated with scent, but the action is fair at best. The lake rose to 52% this week. A webcam of the lake is available at lakenacimientolive.com.

At Lopez, the largemouth bass have been reluctant to bite, but there are still quality bass to 6 pounds taken in deep water with creature baits, large profile plastics, or big jigs on a slow presentation. The bass are feeding on crawdads, and a deep-diving crank in crawdad patterns is a good option bounced off of the rocks. Spoons are picking up a few bass in deep water. The crappie bite has slowed with the cold water. A webcam of the lake is available at 805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam.

At Santa Margarita, the colder water temperatures have slowed the metabolism of the largemouth bass to a crawl, but there are a few quality largemouths taken in deep water with high profile jigs or large plastics on a ‘dead stick’ presentation. Crappie are a possibility around structure with white crappie jigs tipped with a crappie Nibble. A webcam of the lake is available at 805webcams.com/santa-margarita-lake-webcam-california.

At San Antonio, few fishermen are targeting the lake, but catfish can be taken on scented cut bait while bass are found in deep water with a ‘dead stick’ presentation with small plastics. The lake is now on the winter schedule, and the launch ramp is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The lake rose slightly to 37%.

Call: Lake Nacimiento 805-238-1056, ext. 3; Lake San Antonio Marina 805-472-2818; Central Coast Bass Fishing.com 805-466-6557

Millerton – Bass 101 – January 1st: 1st –Tom Rowan/Travis Brown– 11.50 pounds; 2nd ––Scott and Rod Burns – 9.09; 3rd –RJ Villoria/Steve Lane – 8.99.

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Dan Mathisen Outdoors – January 4th: 1st –Lorenzo and John Rossetti – 20.64 pounds (Big Fish – 6.74); 2nd –– Jeff and Garrett Bradshaw – 14.19; 3rd –Craig Carabello – 13.94.

New Melones – New Jen Bass Tournaments – January 4th: 1st – Bryan Coy/Bub Tosh – 16.46 pounds; 2nd ––Mel Biggs/Josh Gomez – 16.13; 3rd –Vince and James Vella – 16.09 (Big Fish – 5.31).

McClure –Kerman Bass Club – January 4th: 1st – Ron Orbaker – 11.41 pounds (Big Fish – 3.15); 2nd –– Chris Griffin – 9.05; 3rd – Darren Graef– 8.82.

McClure –Merced Bass Club – January 5th: 1st –Larry Kerns/Jerry Williams– 11.18 pounds; 2nd –– Chuck Huff/Connor Oldcorn – 11.06; 3rd – Seth and John Rowe – 11.00.

Millerton – New Jen Bass Tournaments – January 5th: 1st – Dean Miller/Darrel Masterson – 15.29 pounds (Big Fish – 5.52); 2nd –– Rodney and Scott Burns – 9.77; 3rd – Tim Wells/Jeff D’Alessandro – 9.72.

Upcoming

Jan. 16-19

Cal Expo/Sacramento – International Sportsmen’s Exposition – information: sportsexpos.com

Jan. 8

Nacimiento – Bakersfield Bass Club

Jan. 11

New Melones – Sonora Bass Anglers

Don Pedro – Christian Bass League

McClure – Best Bass Tournaments/Manteca Bassin’ Buddies

Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments

Jan. 12

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Hook, Line, and Sinker

Jan. 18

Camanche – Dan Mathisen Outdoors

New Melones – American Bass Association/Tri Valley Bassmasters

McClure – Best Bass Tournaments/Sierra Bass Club

Nacimiento – Kern County Bassmasters/Bakersfield Bass Club

Jan. 19

McClure – New Jen Bass Tournaments

Millerton – Fresno Bass Club

Pine Flat – Kings River Bass Club

Jan. 25

Delta/Martinez Marina – 14th Annual Diamond Classic Catch and Release Derby

Don Pedro – Gold Country Junior Bass Club

McClure – 17-90 Bass Club

Nacimiento – Golden Empire Bass Club

Jan. 20

McClure – Nor Cal High School Bass Series

Pine Flat – Bass 101

Feb. 1-2

Delta/McAvoy’s Boat Harbor – Foundation Sportsmen’s Club Original Sturgeon aka ‘Super Bowl’ Sturgeon Derby

Delta/Russo’s Marina – American Bass Association

McClure – American Bass Association

Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

Feb. 1

Delta/Tracy Oasis – Tracy Oasis Marina

Tulloch – American Bass Association

Don Pedro – Merced Bass Club

Feb. 2

New Melones – Riverbank Bass Anglers

Millerton – California Bass Federation

Success – Porterville Bass Club

Week of Jan. 12 by California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Fresno County: Avocado Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, Woodward Park Lake

Inyo County: Diaz Lake, Owens River below Tinnemaha

Tulare County: Lake Kaweah, Lake Success

Week of Jan. 19 by California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Fresno County: Woodward Park Lake, Kings River below Pine Flat Dam

San Luis Obispo County: Barney Schwartz Park Lake

Tulare County: Del Lago Park Lake, Mooney Grove Park Pond

This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Fishing report for week of Jan. 8-14: Pine Flat trout come out of hiding; big catch at San Luis."