Fishing report for week of April 29-May 5: A few spots still open, plus 2 local lakes relax restrictions

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

The California Aqueduct remains one of the only locations with access for striped bass with the closure of San Luis Reservoir and the O’Neill Forebay parking lots and launch facilities. And with the warmer temperatures, the linesides are boiling more frequently.

In the northern section of the aqueduct, ripbaits or topwater lures around moving water near the head gates are working for striped bass.

In the southern section of the aqueduct in Kern County, Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported intense interest in striper fishing with extra-large and jumbo minnows along with blood worms. Anchovies and sardines are also working along with jerkbaits, tubes, flukes and Rat-L-Traps. With the temperatures into the 90s this week, the topwater bite is also taking off.

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.

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

Hundreds of out-of-area visitors continue to visit Lake Isabella, particularly over the weekends, and local residents are expressing frustration over the ignoring of social distancing guidelines as a number of residents in the area are elderly and vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. There were more people at the lake over the past weekend with the 90-degree temperatures than are seen during the annual trout derby (which was canceled this year). Fishermen are coming from as far away as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Fresno and Visalia. Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported solid action for crappie, selling over 6,000 small minnows in five days. The rainbow trout for the canceled derby were released from the net pens, and trout action has been solid with Power Bait, nightcrawlers or spoons. The majority of crappie are found in the South Fork, but the slabs are scattered throughout the lake. Catfish are also taken on Triple S Dip Bait, frozen shad, jumbo or extra-large minnows or clams. Trout plants have occurred in the upper river near Kernville Park and also above the park, and planted rainbows can be taken out of the deeper holes with salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, crickets or spinners.

The local lakes are open, and fishing has been fair for bass, bluegill, and carp. Bass are taken on plastics or nightcrawlers while bluegill are biting waxworms.

Bob’s Bait and Tackle remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

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

The lake is now open for limited shore fishing for residents of Mariposa County along with the eastern Merced County communities of Merced, Atwater, Winton, Cressey, Le Grand, Planada, Livingston and Snelling plus Tuolumne County residents residing within 10 miles of the lake. A state-issued identification is necessary to verify residence. Open recreation areas include McClure Point and Barrett Cove.

A trout plant was released into the lake prior to Monday’s shoreline reopener. For complete information about access, go to lakemcclure.com.

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

The lake is now open for limited shore fishing with the same restrictions as McClure. For complete information about access, go to lakemcclure.com.

A trout plant of 500 pounds spurred on action from the shorelines during Monday’s re-opener for those soaking Power Eggs, Power Bait or nightcrawlers along with tossing Kastmasters from the shorelines at the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks or the peninsula near the marina.

Call: McSwain Marina 209-378-2534

As a California State Park, Millerton State Recreational Area temporarily closed its parking lots and launch ramps. 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

All campgrounds, trails, day-use and boat launching facilities at New Melones are temporarily closed until further notice. Information: 209-536-9094 extension 0 or usbr.gov/ccao/newmelones.

Lake Tulloch remains open for those with gate access.

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. 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. There are fishermen walking into the shoreline, and Teddy Taoz of Las Vegas caught and kept a 29-pound striped bass on a glide bait from the shoreline.

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

The launch ramps at Bass Lake are closed, but trout plants have been released, giving shore fishermen something extra to cast at. Jared and Manny Romero scored limits of planted rainbows to 1.5 pounds on both Saturday and Sunday off of the shoreline near the Sheriff’s Tower.

Due to the pandemic, the opening of the resorts has been pushed back. 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.

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

Dick Nichols of Dick's Fishing Charters said, "Shaver is closed to boats, but shore anglers are scoring limits due to last week's plant of rainbow trout to 1.5 pounds from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Jeff Harris of Tollhouse woke up very early on Sunday, made the drive to Shaver, and after parking along Highway 168 and walking down to the lake, he posted limits to 18 inches by 7:15 a.m. Harris uses a custom trout dough bait, but he is reluctant to give up his secret formula.

“Similar to Shaver, upstream Huntington shorelines are accessible with the lack of snow, and Jack Benigno and Amy Maciel of Visalia scored limits off of the banks with trout dough bait.”

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

Snow is keeping these lakes inaccessible for now.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Ocean

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the recreational ocean salmon season scheduled to open May 1 will proceed as planned. Anglers are reminded to abide by all state and local health guidelines regarding non-essential travel and physical distancing. Anglers are also advised to check with local authorities on the status of harbor services and access points as many site closures and access restrictions exist and may change daily.

The ocean salmon fishery will open May 1 in the Fort Bragg, San Francisco and Monterey areas – Horse Mountain (40°05’00” N. latitude) to the U.S./Mexico border – while the boat-based groundfish fishery in the Northern and Mendocino management areas – Oregon/California state line to Point Arena (38 °57.5” N. latitude) – will open as well. The groundfish fishery in other California management areas remains open. The Pacific halibut fishery also will open statewide on May 1. Federal regulations establish recreational fishing seasons for California’s ocean salmon, groundfish and Pacific halibut fisheries, following recommendations made by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The California Fish and Game Commission adopts regulations for state waters to match the federal season dates.

Half Moon Bay

Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete is planning on taking his adult children, Braden and Jenna, out for salmon on Friday’s opener if the weather is cooperative. Since his vessel is docked in the harbor, he as others with berths, will be able to get out to the salmon grounds, but the launch ramps remain closed.

The squid schools that were present last week have thinned out, and the commercial squid boats have headed back down towards Monterey Bay.

Normally at the start of the salmon season, the best concentration of salmon is located south of Pillar Point Harbor towards the Deep Reef.

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

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey said, “We are in a holding pattern until the Shelter In Place regulations are lifted. There is only one business operating on the wharf, and they actually bring the food that is ordered to the entrance of the wharf.”

The beaches reopened in Santa Cruz, but proof of residence in Santa Cruz County via a driver’s license is necessary to access the beaches.

Allen Bushnell of the Santa Cruz Kayak and Surfcasting Guide Service said, “The salmon season opener remains scheduled for May 1, 2020. The California Fish and Game Commission met on last Wednesday night and salmon season regulations were in the discussion. If the season does open, we are still faced with closed launch ramp situations at all harbors on Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz Harbor is considering a “limited access” launch ramp opening, likely for Santa Cruz County residents only. Port Commissioner Dennis Smith said, “Harbor officials are working diligently to determine the feasibility of a limited launch ramp opening in time for salmon season. A good number of local fishermen from the Monterey Bay Anglers group are cashing in on the sudden increase of stripers in the bay. Kanoa Sharp from Monterey posted catches of multiple stripers caught on different days this week. He was using stickbaits or swimbaits. Robert Calica reported in with limits of stripers measuring up to 30 inches. Eric Lopez from Monterey has been racking up great scores on stripers in Marina, including at least one day of limits as well as some chunky barred surf perch. Lopez utilizes the bait and wait technique, using live sandcrabs caught from the shorebreak. The foraging bass are slowly filtering into the beaches north of Moss landing as well. This week, we saw an increasing number of reports of successful striper fishing from the beaches in Santa Cruz County. Forrest Murray reported schoolie stripers caught from the surf in the Seascape area, though we are much more likely to pick up perch from the Aptos beaches at this time.”

Additional information on this study and downloads of the phone app are available here: bit.ly/36ehHCk, via TU website tu.org or contact Tim Frahm directly at tfrahm@tu.org.

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

San Francisco Bay

Private boats heading outside of the Golden Gate will be launching from the few launch ramps open in the bay as all of the launch ramps on the coast remain closed. The Berkeley and Richmond Marina remain open, but Encinal in Alameda is now closed.

The live bait receiver at J and P Bait in San Francisco opened last Friday, but live bait is also available at Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael as they have live shiners or smelt of which are in healthy supply in their bait tanks. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait said, “Halibut fishing has been very good in our area, and there are stripers all over the place, even inside of our harbor. The linesides in our harbor are in the 16- to 22-inch range. The launch ramp at Loch Lomond may open in a week or so, and if I was fishing this weekend, I would be sitting on the anchor near the Pumphouse in the morning for sturgeon or striped bass before drifting in the afternoon on the slower tides as we have a small minus this weekend. Many boats have been heading over to the shop from the Berkeley or Richmond launch ramps, and in addition to the live smelt and shiners, we also have grass shrimp, ghost shrimp, and pile worms in the shop.”

The live bait will allow boaters to work deeper water than while trolling, and so far, the halibut counts have been pretty impressive. Look for this to improve considerably with the availability of live bait.

Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Loch Lomond went out on a family trip, and he reported incredible striped bass and halibut action in the North Bay with live bait, landing halibut to 17 pounds and striped bass to 12 pounds. He said, “I think that fishing for all species this summer is going to be spectacular as there are predictions of over 100,000 more salmon on the ocean this year, and halibut fishing has been unbelievable so far this early year.”

Private boats are loading up with even novice anglers scoring limits of halibut and striped bass either trolling or drifting live bait.

James Smith of the California Dawn was commercial halibut fishing with professional bass angler, Ish Monroe of Hughson, on Saturday, and they loaded up with halibut to over 30 pounds drifting live bait.

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

The public launch ramp at Morro Bay is open on a trial basis to San Luis Obispo County residents only in order to provide recreational fishing opportunities. In order for the launch ramp to remain open, the State and County Shelter at Home Orders which specifiyCounty residents only. The ramp will be open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The fish cleaning and rinse down station are closed. Social distancing is required and enforced, and face masks must be worn at all times when outside of your vehicle. Parking fees will be collected for the yellow stalls at $6/day or annual pass at the harbor office.

The commercial fleet will start selling fish off of their boats starting May 1 in the event the restaurants and the state doesn’t reopen. The City of Morro Bay has already approved the direct sale of fish from commercial boats to consumers starting May 1 as long as the social distancing standards are maintained. As of May 1, anyone will be able to buy whole salmon, rock fish and crab from the commercial fishing boats docked in Morro Bay Harbor. The fish will be sold whole, not filleted. Signs will be present in the harbor and along the Embarcadero directing consumers to the boats selling fish, but those intending to purchase are to being an ice chest and a supply of ice.

Similar to all ports, party boat operations are on hold until further notice due to the shelter in place order is lifted. All of the party boat landings are currently taking reservations for the summer months in the event the Shelter In Place is lifted.

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

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2

Striped bass have been on the move with the temperatures in the Sacramento-Delta rising, bringing on the spawn both upriver and in the Delta. There are already striped bass moving back down through the Delta from the upper Sacramento and Feather Rivers as the flows have dropped and the water temperatures have warmed, allowing the striped bass to spawn and then migrate back to the cooler waters of San Francisco Bay. Sturgeon fishing has been up and down as the majority of sturgeon six-packs have either being fishing intermittently with family in anticipation of also migrating to the bay since live bait is now available.

Alan Fong, manager of the Sacramento Fishermen's Warehouse, was up in the Liberty Island area again, but he said, “I only had three blow ups, and the water is getting pretty warm at 68 degrees. I will give it one more try. I had a friend on other side of the island, and he had a 15 and two 5’s, but the high tide dropped rapidly, leaving one boat stranded for three hours before enough water came back to get in out. I have never seen the water drop so fast. The majority of striper fishermen have been heading to the San Joaquin near Eddo’s, and there aren’t many big fish there, but there are a lot of schoolies.”

Legendary striped bass shallow-troller, 87-year old Clyde Wands of Sacramento, has been trolling solo since the arrival of the pandemic, and he said, “Striped bass fishing has been doing very well as I landed 10 keepers to 12 pounds this week. I had to keep the big fish as it took the lure deep and was bleeding through the gills. I haven’t kept a striped bass of this size for some time, but it was either keep the striper for the table or release it to be consumed by a sea lion. I have been starting out at the West Bank, but once the boat traffic comes in, I leave to find my own water as I don’t like working around a crowd. I did find some good action two miles above the Isleton Bridge in a area known as ‘The Turns,’ and I released two 11 pounders along with a few others in this stretch of the Old Sacramento. “

Dave Houston of Livermore took out Ron Retzlaff and Neal Koepke, and they spent the entire day on the Sacramento fishing shallow for 15 keepers and three shakers with the majority of stripers between 7 and 10 pounds. He said, “We couldn't find any groups of fish, and there was no super-hot bite anywhere. We just picked up a fish here and there, and despite rotating lures, it really didn’t seem to matter as they were hitting all of them. There is quite a bit of boat traffic on the West Bank so we just moved on until we found a clear area.”

Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing took out legendary striped bass troller Mark Wilson this week for a spooning session on the Sacramento River, and he said, “The striped bass bite has been incredible for the past two weeks, but we haven’t been seeing a number of smolts in the stripers, perhaps one of two. They have been loading up on crawdads. Once you find the schools, and you will have to run around to find them, the bite is unbelievable as we are catching and releasing between 100 and 200 striped bass with only two rods on the boat. We have been working both the San Joaquin and Sacramento River depending on where we find the fish with spoon sizes up to 2 ounces depending upon the current. I have been out every day since my boat is berthed at Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley, and I am anticipating being able to take out clients soon.”

For sturgeon, Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg took his sons Malikyah Flemons, age 5, and Sire Mitchell, age 6, out for their first fishing trip, and he said, “I let the boys fight their own sturgeon, and Malikyah landed a 44.5-inch keeper while Sire released his first sturgeon, a jumbo shaker at 39 inches. I have to admit, it was definitely an emotional moment watching this young guys as they fought not to lose their fish with me screaming in their ear, ‘You better not let my fishing rod go.’ There really wasn’t a great concentration of sturgeon in any of the locations that we worked as we went into Montezuma Slough, the Big Cut, and the Little Cut before I found a group of 4 sturgeon that we set up on. We were able to hook three of these fish so those were pretty good odds.”

Mitchell, like most other sturgeon six-packs, will be migrating to the bay in search of halibut and striped bass in anticipation of the Shelter In Place order being lifted as the live bait season has begun.

Striped bass action in the San Joaquin has been solid as the striped bass, along with every other predator in the system, have rushed into the section of river between the Antioch Bridge and Eddo’s to dine on the salmon smolts courtesy of government agencies.

Rick Tietz of Blade Runner Spoons was out with the legendary, ‘Lunker’ Larry Hemphill on Thursday, and he said, “Fishing was pretty slow, but we ended up with 30 stripers with 8 to 10 being keepers to 5 pounds before leaving at noon.” Tietz was back out with Clara Ricabal of Western Outdoor News on Tuesday morning, and they limited out on striped bass within an hour after launching out of Eddo’s Marina on the San Joaquin.

Bob Wright of Bob Wright’s Guide Service said, “The striped bass fishing has been the best it has been in several years. There have been a few slow days when you think that you are just going to smash them, but we have been finding great action with swimbaits in the shallows. The bigger stripers are in tight and feeding heavily. I also have been working outside of the ledge along the West Bank in deeper water with spoons for success. It’s just about time for live bullgill action for stripers, and a key to release the striped bass is to set the hook right away when the striper is turning the bluegill instead of letting it run and swallow the live bait and the hook.”

James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service continues to work the San Joaquin with family members out of Korth’s Pirates Lair at the confluence of the Mokelumne and San Joaquin Rivers, and he said, “The West Bank on the Sacramento River has had heavy boat pressure so I stayed on the San Joaquin on Saturday, but we didn’t land our first fish until 10:00 a.m. I finally switched over to live minnows between the Antioch Bridge and Eddos, and there weren’t as many striped bass there as there were earlier in the week. We put in three limits on live bait and finally landed a troll fish on a deep-diver across from Sherman Lake at the end of the day. The upper San Joaquin near the San Andreas Shoals was slow.”

Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “When you can put on shorts, think topwater, and I would be tossing out the ima Little Stick in bluegill or Toucan patterns as the bass will just come up and smash the lure out of the shallows. Furbet the Frog will also work with the temperatures expected to move into the 90’s this week. I will be sticking with bluegill patterns, and the key is to keep the lure in the strike zone as long as possible, and let it sit. There are a lot of bass on best, and this has been the best striped bass spring in some time.”

Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors said, “I have been out a few times by myself recently, and there are a number of big bass out there with many fish on the beds. I have been scoring with the Reaction Innovation’s Skinny Dipper swimbait in shad patterns worked weightless over the grass or using the swimbait in bluegill patterns as a trailer on a swim jigs. The bass are loading up in the shallows, and I have been seeing big fish cruising in 2 to 3-feet of water. The water is very clear, and I am making long casts and working back towards the bass, and around every one out of six will strike the lure. There have been some 7 and 8-pound bass on the beds as it is a good time to be out there fishing.”

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 -store open 9:00 to 3:00

Hogback on Steamboat Slough

Suisun City

Benicia 9th Street

Arrowhead – envelope – exact change – below 18 feet - $10.00 – more than 18 feet - $12.00 – put in envelope

Sugar Barge on Bethel Island – two lanes – self serve - $15.00 cash

Pittsburg Marina

Holland Riverside Marina

Paradise Point – open 24 hours - $15.00 self-pay

Turner Cut - $10.00 – pay in envelope

Eddo’s Marina – if there before open, launch and pay when you return

Sherman Island -

Closed launch ramps –

Rio Vista City

Belding’s Landing on Montezuma Slough

Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley

Brannan Island

Big Break in Oakley

Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island

Vieira’s Resort on the Old Sacramento

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

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; no reports for May.

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 28, 2020 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Fishing report for week of April 29-May 5: A few spots still open, plus 2 local lakes relax restrictions."