Fishing report for week of April 8-14: Most Central California lakes closed

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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Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

With the closure of the majority of Central California lakes, the California Aqueduct remains one of the locations where recreational fishing is still allowed. Ripbaits or topwater lures around the moving water near the headgates are working for striped bass. In the southern section of the aqueduct in Kern County, Bob’s Bait sold out of jumbo minnows and pile worms over the weekend in response to the number of anglers heading to the aqueduct.

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

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District has closed all recreation facilities, including campgrounds, visitor centers, boat launches and day-use areas, at the 10 lakes and parks it runs to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.

Individuals with paid camping reservations will be contacted by email and full refunds will automatically be processed by recreation.gov with no cancellation fees. Individuals should not contact recreation.gov to request a refund as that will lead to a cancellation fee being charged.

Any questions about the status of a USACE park can be directed to that individual park staff. Contact information can be found at the Sacramento District Parks website spk.usace.army.mil/Locations/Sacramento-District-Parks or by web searching USACE and the name of the park.

Additional information and updates on modifications, closures and other restrictions related to the USACE district’s response can be found at spk.usace.army.mil/coronavirus and on its Facebook (@SacramentoDistrict) and Twitter (@USACESacramento) pages.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Another Corps-run lake that’s closed.

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

The Don Pedro Recreation Agency reported that a full closure of the reservoir is in effect until further notice. This closure includes campgrounds and recreation on the reservoir. Houseboat owners will have access to their houseboats, and for questions regarding Houseboat Service, owners are to contact Suntex Marinas at 209-852-2369. For campsite cancellations, refunds or credits, email dprc@tid.org, but expect delays in the response as increased phone traffic and emails are being received. Minimal DPRA staff will be on-site to support essential functions of the area, but staff services will not be available during the park’s closure.

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

Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported Lake Isabella was open over the weekend, and there were fishermen coming from as far away as Long Beach to the south and Fresno to the north to fish the lake. Local residents are requesting that fishermen respect the shelter in place restrictions and not place the local community in jeopardy.

The cold temperatures pushed the crappie out into deeper water, and they were far more elusive than during the run of unseasonable weather earlier this year. The bass bite had improved prior to the cold spell, leaving catfish as the best option with Triple S Dip Bait, frozen shad, or clams. Trout fishing in the upper Kern River is decent after a recent plant, and Kernville Park remains the best location with salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, crickets or spinners. Buena Vista is open, and there is a good crappie bite at night with minnows with planted trout taken on Mice Tails, Power Bait or nightcrawlers. The local lakes are open, and fishing has been fair for bass, bluegill, and carp.

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

Another Corps-run lake that’s closed.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Another Corps-run lake that’s closed.

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

McClure and McSwain have been temporarily closed by the Merced Irrigation District, and minimal access will be provided for those needing to reach their houseboats at McClure Point or the Barrett Cove launch facilities. Those with existing camping reservations that include a motorhome or trailer with a self-contained restroom only at McClure Point, Barrett Cove or Lake McSwain. No other day-use or camping is available and no new reservations will be taken during the temporary closure. For further information or questions, 855-800-2267 or parkinfo@mercedid.org.

Call: Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Fishing 691-7008, McSwain Marina 209-378-2534

As a California State Park, Millerton State Recreational Area temporarily closed its parking lots and launch ramps on Monday. The lake is inaccessible for power boats, and all parking lots at the recreational areas are closed. Sycamore Island Park on the San Joaquin River also temporarily closed.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

The Tuttletown launch ramp at New Melones remained open until April 4 as it is located in Tuolumne County, but it was officially closed on Saturday. All campgrounds, trails, day-use and boat launching facilities are temporarily closed until further notice. Information: 209-536-9094 extension 0 or usbr.gov/ccao/newmelones.

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

Pine Flat is another Corps-run lake that’s closed. No reports from the river.

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

As a California State Park, San Luis Reservoir temporarily closed its parking lots and launch ramps on Monday. The lake is inaccessible for power boats, and all parking lots at the recreational areas are closed. Anglers can walk into the lake from access points to fish from the banks, but they’re reminded to practice social distancing.

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

The launch ramps closed over the weekend. The 2020 Bass Lake Fishing Derby scheduled for the first weekend in May has been canceled. If you have already registered for 2020, organizers are offering a refund or will carry your registration over to 2021. For more information, email chamber@basslakechamber.com.

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

Kaiser Pass is blanketed with snow, limiting access to the region.

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

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

Shaver Lake is closed to boat traffic, but anglers can walk in to fish along the banks. Snow fell in the area over the weekend, but prior to the closure on Friday evening, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “Before the lake’s launch ramps were closed, anglers were finding good action for both trout and kokanee as there were eight boats on the lake during the final day on Friday with Corky Burdoll of Visalia scoring a limit of rainbows to 16 inches using a frog Needlefish near the dam. One boat landed two limits of quality kokanee from 14.5 to 16 inches trolling from Black Rock to the mouth of Boy Scout Cove with pink hoochies tipped with Berkley Maggots behind a dodger. The number of kokanee will be limited once the lake reopens, but the surviving kokanee could be large, up to 19 inches by summer. The trout plants will carry the action for most anglers once the lake reopens after the temporary closure.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Shaver Lake seminar by Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters and Ken Thompson, senior biologist from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, has been rescheduled for May 21 at Turner’s Outdoorsman in Fresno.

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 may keep these lakes inaccessible until late April.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Go to fresnobee.com/fishing for Ocean, Delta and Central Coast lakes and trout plants.

Ocean

The ocean salmon season will be closed during the month of April despite earlier notices of an April 4 or 11 opener.

Half Moon Bay

The San Mateo County Harbormaster’s District has closed the public launch ramps and parking lots at Pillar Point and also at Oyster Point on San Francisco Bay.

If you have a boat in the water at one of the marinas inside of Half Moon Bay, you can head out for rockfish, but you are limited to taking people who live directly within your household. Party boats will not be operating until the shelter in place order is lifted.

The bait shop at Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing is closed temporarily, but they do have a frozen bait vending machine available outside of the shop that is stocked with squid, anchovies, prawns, herring and octopus depending upon supply. The machine takes major credit cards and bills up to $10, but exact change is recommended.

For kayaks, with the closure of many of the parking lots along the San Mateo coastal beaches, anglers will have to search for a location to put in their boats.

The Pacifica Pier (click here for a webcam) remains open, but anglers are expected to follow Centers For Disease Control guidelines of social distancing.

Call: Captain Dennis Baxter – New Captain Pete (650) 576-3844; Captain Tom Mattusch – Huli Cat (650) 619-0459.

Monterey/Santa Cruz

The city of Monterey’s boat launch ramps will be closed to recreational boat traffic until the county and state shelter in place orders are lifted. This closure will not apply to commercial fishing vessels with valid FG numbers.

Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “In the last week, we saw each of the Monterey Bay harbors close their public boat launch ramps due to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place guidelines. The prescribed social distancing space of 6 feet between all persons also forced charter operations to postpone any fishing trips until SIP orders are lifted or amended. The rockfish, cabezon and greenling (RCG) season opened April 1 as scheduled.

“As it stands at the time of this writing, recreational anglers whose vessel has a slip in one of our harbors may continue to go out sport fishing for rockfish and halibut while adhering to the social distancing guidelines. Surfcasting is also a valid option, as is kayak fishing. Hand launch areas remain accessible at the harbors and of course, from open beaches. But, do not be surprised if the CDFW decides to make an in-season closure for the RCG complex.”

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

San Francisco Bay

Loch Lomond Marina boat launch is closed, but Keith Fraser continues to keep the bait shop open. He said, “Halibut fishing has been decent, and we have a good supply of ghost shrimp and grass shrimp in the shop. Pile worms will be in shorter supply. With the launch ramp closed, most of our fishermen are along the shorelines.”

Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters was out with family this morning, and he said, “Halibut fishing is pretty good as our two rods ended up with three legal halibut in the 22.5-inch range along with a pair of striped bass. We also lost a few large halibut. We are trolling anchovies in San Pablo Bay. Tommy Glasser was also out on Friday morning, and he posted a limit of halibut. Mike Andronico was out with Glasser earlier this week, and he landed a quality halibut.”

The Berkeley Marina launch ramp is currently open, and even the restrooms are open right now. The remainder of the launch ramps are on a day-to-day basis, including Berkeley so it is a matter of checking before hooking up your vessel.

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

San Luis Obispo

Similar to all ports, party boat operations are on hold until further notice due to the shelter in place order. Private boats are able to launch.

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

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2 Salmon 0

The Delta has a number of launch ramps open as of press time, but this could change at any time.

B and W Resort on the Mokelumne River

Suisun City

Benicia 9th Street

Big Break

Arrowhead

Hogback on Steamboat Slough

Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island

Sugar Barge on Bethel Island

McAvoy’s at Bay Point

Closed launch ramps –

Sherman Island

Rio Vista City

Belding’s Landing on Montezuma Slough

Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley

Brannan Island

It is ironic that fishing in the Delta is great right now during the time when all of the public launch ramps are closed. Striped bass action has been solid in both the Sacramento and San Joaquin-Delta with the majority of interest on the Sacramento side.

Dave Houston of Livermore was out several times this week, and he said, “The bite really opened up on the Sacramento side on Sunday before tapering off a little on Monday. On Tuesday, the incoming tide was in the morning, and the bite was incredible for around 1.5 hours, but after the current started going out, the bite pretty much shut off. We struggled for a few more fish and left the water around 1:00 p.m. Some friends called me a few hours later to tell me what I had missed by leaving early, and its really good right now for trollers. Most of the action is on the Sacramento River, but the San Joaquin is also producing. Out of the 20-plus stripers we landed on Wednesday, we only kept two because they were bleeding.”

Alan Fong, manager of the Sacramento Fishermen’s Warehouse, launched out of Arrowhead Marina this week, and he found excellent bass fishing in the north Delta around Liberty Island with chatterbaits and Senkos. We were fishing for largemouth bass in the Toe Drain, and the water was so clear that we were watching striped bass swim right by the boat all day long. One was over thirty pounds, and there were several in the teens. I have never seen it so clear, and I think we couldn’t get the stripers to bite because they could see us with the 3-foot clarity in the shallows. The recent rain may murky the water a bit. There are a lot of stripers on the Sacramento River from Elk Grove to downtown Sacramento and as far north as Knight’s Landing.”

James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service has ceased his guide operation, but he has gone fishing with his father this week, finding great striped bass action on the West Bank of the Sacramento River. He said, “We have been trying the San Joaquin without much to show for it so I made the 1/2-hour run from Korth’s Pirates Lair on the San Joaquin River to the West Bank in the dark, and we had two fish in the boat before it was light. My dad and I had 8 to 10 keepers from 5 to 8 pounds, and we got out of the area before the big north wind hit on Thursday morning. It slowed down a bit on Friday, but we still ended up with limits despite marking fewer stripers on the West Bank. Shallow-diving lures have been working best, but it is good to switch things up and run the deep-divers when everyone is running shallow. I have been scoring with the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow in double chartreuse/black dots, silver/black with a black worm trailer, or sardine.”

Steve Wirfs of Ripon was out with Jeff Boyle of Bass Pro Shops in Manteca on April Fool’s Day, and they fooled the striped bass, catching 9 legal stripers out of 14 hooked with limited out by 9:30 a.m. before playing catch-and-release until around 1:00 p.m. He said, “The West Bank had the best fishing although we worked numerous area without the day with Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows.”

Nelson Vineyard of Top Line Sport Fishing was out with his son Joey this week on the Sacramento side of the Delta, and he said, “We were throwing back keepers by 9:00 a.m. We had four double hook ups and a triple, and stopped counting after 15 fish. It was efinitely one of our best days with Joey landing a 12 and 13 pounder. Good times on the Delta.”

Jim Horton of Reel Custom Boat Works in Stockton reported, “Striper trolling on the Sacramento and San Joaquin has been productive when the wind and water cooperate. Limits of stripers are the norm although the size of these fish range from 18 inches to 20 pounds. Jamie Lewis of Sacramento spent March 31 and April 01 trolling the Sacramento (Rio Vista Bridge to Light 11) along the West Bank for a total of 20 stripers. Most were school- sized but provided fast and plentiful action. Jamie’s top fodder was a Trout Pattern deep-divign Yo-Zuri in 13 to 18 feet of water. Vernon Bava of Stockton enticed the striped bass on the San Joaquin fishing near Venice Island. Vernon landed a couple limits of school- sized stripers fishing a Blue over Silver deep-diving Broken Back Rapala without a trailer. Both fishermen launched at B&W Resort, one of the few launch ramps still open. The fish are in the system and ready to catch. Be mindful of the current social distancing rules and as always be safe on the water.”

On Thursday, the striped bass bite appeared to slow down as Keith Gouveia from Dublin sent in this report, “I put in this morning around 7 a.m. at the Pittsburg public boat launch and only two other truck/trailers in the lot at the time. When I returned around 11:30 a.m., and it looked like 4th of July with all the trailers, and the lot was almost full. The bait shop was also open. We trolled for about 3.5 hours up Montezuma Slough a bit and then the West Bank. We saw lots of fish on the screen along the Bank but didn’t get a hit until about 1/2 way up. Shaker. Paced 3 other boats in front of me and did not look like they got any strikes either. We ran deep-diving P-Line Predator Minnows in chartreuse of white/red head with a worm trailer. There were lot of boat out.”

Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait said, “The shop remains open, and Pam is running the shop by herself with only one customer allowed in the shop at a time. The demand has been high, and we have heard of excellent sturgeon fishing in Montezuma Slough.”

For largemouth bass, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “Last week it was cold and overcast with drizzle, but this week, it has been windy and cold, stirring the water up. The water in the sloughs with bends and curves is less affected by the wind, and it will remain clearer. In the clear waters of the sloughs, a finesse presentation is best with long casts of something like the Berkeley General. The key is to let the lure sit. There are bass on beds right now, some very large ones. You can also flip something like a Pit Boss or a Chigger Craw in either orange or chartreuse to mimic the orange throat or green tail of a bluegill. In the main rivers affected by the wind and the high tide, the water will be dinghy. A reaction bait in the shallows is most effective, and I would be throwing something with a large wobble like an ima Rock N’Vibe Suspend or a spinnerbait with a Colorado blade in gold or chartreuse. The sunlight can’t penetrate the water when it is dinghy, and colored or gold blades are far more effective than silver. It is time to adjust, adjust, and adjust with the changing weather conditions.”

Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen Outdoors said, “It seems that all of the launch ramps on Bethel Island are open, and Russo’s has been extremely busy as the bass bite is very good. I was out with white on white spinnerbaits for a solid bite for a smaller grade of bass as I wasn’t targeting the larger fish on the beds. Most novice fishermen are scoring with Senkos while those targeting a larger grade are punching the weeds. There have been striped bass in the 20- to 24-inch range found inside of Frank’s Tract.”

Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors finally went out after three weeks of shelter-in-place, and he found great action out of Ladd’s Marina on the San Joaquin River with Reaction Innovation’s Skinny Dippers or swim jigs. He said, “I was out there by myself, and the best five went 26 pounds with a big fish at over 8 pounds. There are bass on beds, but these are mostly bucks to 4 pounds with the larger females cruising. I put my Power Pole down, and there were largemouth bass in the 5- to 10-pound range cruising right by the boat so I started making long casts parallel to the banks. The water temperature is 60 degrees, and I don’t think this latest storm is cold enough to change the water temperatures. Once this rain passes, the bass will be back on the beds quickly.”

Ladd’s Marina at Buckley Cove in Stockton remains open as of press time, and it is a free launch currently with no personnel at the guard station.

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

Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez

Bass 2 White bass 1 Striper 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

San Luis Obispo County has closed all campgrounds. At Lake Nacimiento, the launch ramps and day use remain open, subject to closure. Interested fishermen are advised to regularly check back on the Lake Nacimiento Resort Facebook page, website, or call the reservations office at 805-237-4924 Option 1 before driving to the lake. A webcam of the lake is available at lakenacimientolive.com.

Lopez Lake Marina store has changed hours to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the docks are open but the bar, dining room and game room are closed until the shelter in place order is lifted. A webcam of the lake is available at 805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam.

Santa Margarita is open for boating, but this may change at any time at all San Luis Obispo County lakes. The Santa Margarita marina is closed.

All tournaments scheduled in April are postponed.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that it has removed the fish plant schedule from its website in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 by preventing public crowding at water bodies. CDFW said it will continue stocking trout at locations where social distancing by anglers and physical distancing of hatchery staff can be maintained.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Fishing report for week of April 8-14: Most Central California lakes closed."