Fishing report for week of Aug. 26-Sept. 1: Shaver kokanee, Pine Flat catfish in best bets

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.

Photo gallery

Show off your success! Share your fish photos and videos with Bee readers. Please share only jpeg images and Mp4 video files. Include “Fishing Report” in the subject line and email to sports@fresnobee.com

Best bets

Shaver pumping out big kokanee, Dick Nichols said. Delta stripers and bass bites in headlines, Alan Fong reported. Half Moon Bay pumping out halibut and rockfish, Dennis Baxter said. New Melones kicking out big kokanee and bass, Kyle Wise reported. Pine Flat catfish active, Merritt Gilbert said.

Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

The excessive heat this past week limited fishing to the early mornings or late evenings, but a few fishermen are heading out to the northern section for numbers of small striped bass with buzzbaits and ripbaits. Largemouth bass are taken on Senkos or Rat-L-Traps.

In the southern portion in Kern County, striped bass are found on cut baits, blood worms or live minnows while catfish are hitting Triple S Dip Bait, chicken livers, mackerel or nightcrawlers.

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

Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun said, “Bass fishing remains a challenge as boaters have to beware of unmarked hazards in the low water conditions. A few smaller largemouth bass are found on the bottom Senkos, jigs or plastics on the drop-shop. Catfish to 6 pounds have been taken at night with cutbaits from the banks.” The lake is rapidly releasing water, and it dropped from 16% to 13% this week.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

The lake held at the low level at 15%, but similar to Eastman, few bass fishermen are targeting the lake due to the unmarked hazards. More than one boat has suffered damage to props or lower units after hitting a hazard. Catfishing is the best thing going with cut baits soaked in garlic, dip baits, chicken livers or nightcrawlers with the best action at night.

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

The huge Moc Fire broke out over the weekend along the eastern side of the lake near Moccasin Point, and evacuations have occurred as of press time in various small communities adjacent to the lake. Due to the fire, fishing slowed down over the weekend with road closures. The Moccasin Hatchery has also been threatened, just years after being rebuilt from flood damage. The lake dropped from 74% to 73%.

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, crappie action remains slow, but there are still slabs taken out of deep structure with minijigs or live minnows. Bass fishing is picking up with a reaction bite early in the mornings or evenings in shallower water while during the day, plastics on a Texas-rig are working best. Catfishing is best with shrimp, nightcrawlers, clams, Triple S dip bait, mackerel. There is an algae bloom on the lake, and the water is green in many locations. Algae blooms are toxic to animals, and caution should be taken in areas of the lake with excessive bloom. The lake dropped from 21% to 20%. There is a fire in the highest section of the upper Kern, and the water temperatures are high in the 70-degree range. The best planted trout action has been around the Johnsondale Bridge in the deep pools with live crickets, salmon eggs, or nightcrawlers.

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

The lake continues to drop, down to 8%. Gary Wasson of Visalia, local bass expert, reported a good morning bite with crankbaits first thing in the morning before dropping to the bottom at depths to 20 feet with jigs.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Chuck Stokke of the Sequoia Fishing Company said, “Bass fishing remains very slow, but there are plenty of fishermen out here trying everything in the tackle box with little success. The lake is low and the water temperature is warm. The bite has shut off, but there are some small bass landed on occasion.” The lake dropped from 14% to 11%.

In the Tule River, Stokke said, “The river has gotten lower this week, and the bite has slowed down as well, most likely due to the warmer water temperatures. Dry flies and Woolly Buggers are still working, but the bite is slow during the mid-day. Mornings and evenings are much better. The Castle Fire has shut down access to the upper Kern and the Little Kern River until further notice.”

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

Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook Fishing said, “Not much has changed, but there is a topwater bite in the morning before the sun rises in low light conditions and along the mud lines, but the best bite has been with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot on the bottom. I have been throwing a 2.8 or 3.3-inch swimbait on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce ball head in 40 feet of water. The majority of bass are suspended over main lake points at depths from 10 to 50 feet, but there are some largemouth setting up on deep points.” Catfishing continues to improve, particularly at night, with chicken livers or nightcrawlers along muddy, sloping banks. The lake dropped from 52% to 50%.

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

The lack of trout plants has affected fishing action. Minimal change here as the focus has transitioned at this lake to primarily a recreational water park as trout plants have been limited. Intermittent holdover rainbow trout are possible in the early mornings or late evenings off of the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks or the peninsula near the marina with trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers.

Call: McSwain Marina 209-378-2534

Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun said, “The numbers of spotted bass are not great, but the action is better than at nearby Pine Flat with a 7.5-pound limit possible. Working the river arm near the current is producing 12 to 15 spotted bass with finesse techniques, but the main lake is also a good option with everything on the bottom with plastics on the drop-shot, Ned-rig, or Neko-rig.” Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and boats can remain on the water after dark but navigation lights and the 5 mph speed limit are required. The lake dropped to 44%.

Sycamore Island is open Friday through Sunday and state holidays from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

New Melones continues to produce huge kokanee in excess of 19 inches, and it is one of three reservoirs in the state producing these massive fish created by a natural spawn in 2018. In addition, the largemouth bass remains solid in a typical summertime pattern. With heavy smoke plaguing the foothills of the Sierras, anglers will have to deal with the smoke and overcast conditions throughout the day.

Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service is focusing upon the big kokanee, and he has consistently taken limits of 3rd-year fish to over 19 inches. He said, “The kokanee fishing is excellent at Melones, and I haven’t changed gear or techniques as the same old tackle of 1.5-inch Apex lures in dark colors behind a large gold dodger. I have been using the Doom Apex in front of either a Mag Tackle 24-Karat Gold Dodger or the Paulina Peak hammered gold dodger, and the 85 to 90-foot range was the ticket this week. The females are in excellent shape at 17/18-inches, and they are dime-bright with all of their scales. The males are the ones over 19 inches, and they are starting to turn with their jaws hooking. I took out Brian Thomas from Three Sons Tackle along with Dr. Bruce Potter of Tulare, and we scored limits of big kokanee, but in the same school along the bottom, there are also 12- to 14-inch fish. I am hugging the bottom with the stick downrigger weights along with running the Shark weights close to the bottom.”

John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service was out with a father and his 10-year old son on Sunday morning, and he said, “It was a typical summertime bite, but we had 13 to 14 bass within about 4 hours with the bass ranging from 1.5 to 3 pounds. The boy had a larger fish on during his second cast with a topwater lure in the morning, but after coming out of the water four times, the bass came off. Every other fish came on plastics on the drop-shot, Kei-Tech swimbaits, or spy baits. The bass are mostly suspended along main lake points or in creek channels over balls of shad or fry in 80 feet of water. We were either fan casting to certain areas to count down to the fish on the meter or looking at the knot on the line at 15 feet to find the proper depth. It’s not lights out, but it was good fishing with plenty of action.”

Glory Hole Point Middle launch ramp and Tuttletown Launch ramps are open as well as Angels Cove ramp. Tuttletown is now open for camping and day-use. All campgrounds on the Glory Hole side of the lake will remain closed due to ongoing water issues. The Bureau of Reclamation has opened their New Melones office on Studhorse Flat Road Saturday and Sunday only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Melones dropped slightly to 66%.

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

Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun said, “The lake continues to recede, and it dropped from 26% to 24% this week, necessitating the closure of the Trimmer Launch Ramp. Catfish to 3 pounds are taken near Billy Creek on chicken livers or cut baits. The king salmon bite up the river has slowed down with the low water. Bass fishing has been slow with everything on the bottom for spotted bass to 2 pounds.” Bass 101 will be holding an open team tournament this weekend at Pine Flat. The event was originally scheduled for Millerton. Information: Mark Corrente, 284-2768.

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

Access to the lake was closed over the weekend due to the massive SCU Lightning Complex Fire, but before the closure, Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported an improved trolling bite in deep water, but the topwater bite has slowed.

Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the trolling bite had picked up somewhat for anglers working the 40- to 60-foot range with Lucky Crafts, Predators and Duo Realis lures in shad colors. “I went earlier last week in very hot conditions and the fish were completely inactive and suspended over deeper water, but reports from several other regulars a couple days later said the fish had begun biting more normally again. The shore angler numbers have also dwindled as the fish moved away from the shallows last week. I was getting ready Friday for a trip Saturday and Sunday when they closed the lake due to the thick smoke and danger from the huge fire to the north of 152. The lake staff told me they are going on a day-to-day basis right now due to the fire. The hot weather, water temps near 80, slightly falling lake levels, deeper fish and algae in the water are discouraging many anglers right now.”

The lake held at 45%. Boating is available from 6 a.m. until sunset, and the park closes at 10 p.m.

Access to the O’Neill Forebay was closed over the weekend, too, but before the closure, Clements reported a good topwater bite with a larger grade of lineside from the big schools working the surface. The Sixth Sense Mad Dog 150 in bone along with Evergreen’s Shower Blows, big Duo Realis topwater lures and large Zara Spooks are all working.

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

The weekends remain very crowded with recreational boats, but during the week, a few small bass to 2 pounds are taken on chatterbaits off of the rocks or Senkos near the docks at night from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing continues to find the occasional large kokanee in the 18-inch range along with a few of the 2nd-year fish around 14 inches on his four-hour trips during the week from 6 to 10 a.m. Pink or blue Radical Glow Tubes or Mag Tackle hoochie spinners behind a Rocky Mountain purple Moonshine dodger at depths to 40 feet continues to be the ticket. The lake dropped slightly to 93%. Lake webcams and conditions: basslakeca.com/index.php.

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

Jay and Delinda Irvine of Visalia have been heading to these lakes, and they reported Florence has been solid for brown trout, outproducing the other high county lakes over the past few weeks with browns to 15 inches for trollers pulling Dick’s Trout Busters. Portal Forebay continues to be planted on a weekly basis, and the shore fishing is solid on the weekend with Power Bait or salmon eggs. Irvine said, “It is a great place to start kids fishing and much cooler than the lower lakes.” Ward Lake is also receiving another plant of catchable rainbows from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and trollers are scoring with Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler, blade/’crawler combinations, or Dick’s Trout Busters at depths to 20 feet.

Edison dropped to 37%, Florence dropped to 43% and Mammoth Pool dropped to 51%.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

The late summer surprise at Shaver Lake continues with huge kokanee in excess of 19 inches continuing to be landed as the big fish from the natural spawn occurring in 2018 have become more vulnerable as they are hugging the bottom in the deep portions of the lake.

Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “It was another roller-coaster week with up-and-down results, but we did produce an average of two limits of quality kokanee on each trip this week. On one day, it is so easy to find the big 3-year old kokanee, but on the next day, it is difficult to put 10 kokanee of any size in the boat. Last week we picked up 15 kokanee with six of the 3rd-year fish to 18.5 inches for one group of four while on the following day, we worked hard for two mixed limits. Then on the next day, we put in 11 of the big fish by 10 a.m. Both Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service and I are unable to explain the difference, but we are grateful that some of the mature kokanee from the 2018 natural spawn in Stevenson Creek are providing some of the largest fish we have seen in several years. The kokanee are in pre-spawn with the female eggs already out of their skeins and ready to plant. The big ones are holding deep while the 2nd-year kokanee are found at mid-depths. We have been scoring with my fluorescent pink Mountain Spinner Hoochie tipped with garlic-soaked corn behind a purple/silver or gold Mountain Dodger. However, Friday brought about a change, and the orange Mountain Hoochie was the ticket. The trout bite has been slow, but were fortunate to close out limits on my last trip with four rainbows out of Dorabella Cove. We haven’t been able to find any brown or golden trout recently, but we have been focusing upon the big kokanee while they are still there. The trout plants from the Department of Fish and Wildlife may be completed at Shaver for the year, but upstream Huntington will receive another plant of catchables this week.”

Wittwer has been targeting the big kokanee, and he put father Matt Steiner and his son Eli of Encino onto limits of kokanee to 19.1 inches using either the pink or orange Radical Glow Tubes behind an orange Rocky Mountain Tackle Sunburst Moonshine dodger. Wittwer said, “The numbers of the big fish are diminishing since the pressure has been very high over the past week.”

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

At Huntington, a trout plant from the Department of Fsih and Wildlife is anticipated this week, and this should provide good action going into the Labor Day Weekend. Small kokanee are found using pink or purple Mountain Hoochies behind a Mountain Dodger or flasher, and the boat traffic should be less than at nearby Shaver. The lake dropped slightly to 96%.

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

At Wishon, Kelly Brewer of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store reported a plant from the Department of Fish and Wildlife occurred on Friday, but the trout action has been fair at best for both bank and boaters. Trollers are picking up a few planters in the 12- to 14-inch range with Wedding Rings tipped by a nightcrawler behind a dodger or with blade/’crawler combinations from the surface to 30 feet. Bank anglers are congregating along both sides of the dam, the mouth of Short Hair Creek, or on the inlet on the far side of the lake with trout dough bait in green or rainbow. Boats are able to be launched from the concrete ramp, but the dock is out of the water

At Courtright, Brewer said, “The lake was planted (Aug. 19), and bank fishing is fair while trolling has been slow for a few of the 12- to 14-inch planters. Bank fishermen are scoring with green or rainbow trout dough bait while trollers are working Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a dodger or blade/’crawler combinations at depths to 30 feet. Launching a boat is not an issue.”

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Go to fresnobee.com/fishing for Ocean, Delta, Kern County and Central Coast lakes, event results and tournament schedules and trout plants.

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Salmon 2 Rockfish 3 Halibut 3 Striper 2 Surf Perch 2

The local salmon bite has slowed down even though the conditions are excellent north of the harbor at Pedro Point in the Pacifica area. Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete had to venture far north to the Marin coastline off of Duxbury Buoy for 5 salmon for 5 passengers on Sunday, and he said, “It has been very dry for salmon around Pedro Point, but there are whales, birds, and brown water, but the guests of honor have been absent. A good option is to bring some whole squid to put together a trap rig to drift for halibut from the Half Moon Bay Buoy south to Martin’s Beach as the beaches are loaded with halibut. Private boats should put in some drifts after scoring rockfish limits on the local reefs.” Squid boats have been unloading massive cargo into the freezer semi-trucks in the harbor as there are squid both north off of Montera and also south at Martin’s Beach.

Captain Michael Cabanas of the Huli Cat has been working the reefs south of the harbor in 110 feet off of San Gregorio, and they have scored limits of rockfish on each trip including a handful of ling cod to 20 pounds. First-time angler, Ashley Hoare of San Bruno, showed how easy this all is with a 20-pound ling cod taken on a hitchhiker.

The Pacifica Municipal Pier is open from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

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

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Salmon 2 Rockfish 3 Halibut 3 Striper 2 Surf Perch 3

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’s Fishing said, “We were able to make it down to Point Sur on Monday as the weather finally cooperated, and the rockfishing remains excellent for quality bottom-dwelling hard head rockfish along with some ling cod. Rockfishing has been good, and the weather is good. Commercial halibut fishermen are picking up a 5 or 6 halibut per day working the beaches around the Monterey Beach Hotel. We have room during the week for rockfish trips as the local fires in the Santa Cruz and Carmel Valley regions have led to diminished interest.”

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

San Francisco Bay

Salmon 2 Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon2

The party boats are quickly transitioning to rockfishing, either at the Farallon Islands or along the coast, and the ling counts for the boats willing to travel north to Point Reyes have been outstanding. Salmon fishing has either been lights out with early limits or a scratch, and during the middle of the week, it was lights out with limits of salmon by 8:30 on the six packs. However, the bite slowed down to the neighborhood of a fish to a fish and a half per rod over the weekend as the school passed through quickly on their way to the Golden Gate and into the Sacramento River system.

After scoring limits of big fish by 8:30 a.m. the previous day, Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters picked up a charter on Thursday at the last minute, and they took all of 12:00 p.m. to put 6 limits of big fish in the boat. He said, “The fish from Bodega are here now, and they are already showing signs of spawning with red bellies and full eggs. It took a bit longer, but the results were the same.”

By the weekend, the action had slowed down, but the quality remains the same. Captain Jerad Davis on the Salty Lady out of Sausalito posted a typical score on Monday with 11 salmon to 28 pounds for 11 anglers.

Although there are still halibut to be had on the North and South Bars outside of the Golden Gate, the California Dawn was rockfishing on Monday, and they found spectacular action with 18 limits of rockfish and 18 limits of ling cod to 22 pounds.

Inside San Francisco Bay, Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael said, “The halibut bite has been pretty consistent as there are still a lot of halibut inside of the bay. I haven’t seen a halibut over 20 pounds in the past few weeks, but there are plenty in the 17/18-pound class. There are also some striped bass around, particularly in our harbor in the warm water temperatures.”

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

Rockfish -3 Salmon -1 Surf Perch – 2

Rockfishing was solid over the weekend with limits of rockfish on the majority of San Luis Obispo County party boats, but ling cod remain scarce. Out of Morro Bay Landing, the Endeavor, Starfire, and Avenger on two ½ day trips were out on Sunday with a combined 90 anglers for 332 vermilion, 101 copper, 1 Boccaccio, 465 assorted rockfish, 1 cabezon, 1 ocean whitefish, and 13 ling cod to 11 pounds. Also out of Morro Bay at Virg’s Landing, the Fiesta and Black Pearl were out on Monday with 57 anglers for 185 vermilion, 168 assorted rockfish, 19 copper, 38 canary, and 1 ling cod. Sonny Kennedy of Lemoore took the jackpot with a 7-pound vermilion on the Fiesta. Out of Port San Luis, the Patriot took two ½-day trips on Sunday while the Phenix and Flying Fish were also out with a total of 72 passengers for 91 vermilion, 33 copper, 1 Boccaccio, 76 Bolina, 488 assorted rockfish, 30 treefish, 1 canary, 3 ocean whitefish, and 3 ling cod to 9 pounds. All ports are running a variety of trips from ½- day to long range ventures far from the harbor.

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

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2 Salmon 2

This was a challenging week on the Sacramento-Delta with heavy smoke from the various fires impacting breathability and visibility. Salmon continue to trickle through on a fast run through the bay and Delta on their way to the cooler waters of the upper Sacramento and Feather Rivers. The best areas for salmon fishing remain off of the Benicia shorelines and up north below the Freeport Bridge. Striped bass trolling has improved considerably along the West Bank, but the action only occurs during a small window at the change of the tides. The City launch ramp at Rio Vista is closed until at least January 2021 due to reconstruction, and this has led boaters to surrounding launch ramps.

Johnny Tran of New Romeo’s Bait and Tackle in Freeport said, “Salmon is picking up with those jigging Slammer Minnows or P-Line’s Laser Minnows below the bridge while trollers are finding the occasional salmon on Brad’s Cut Plugs behind a big 11-inch dodger. Shore fishing has been limited, but Slammer Spinners or Flying C’s are the most effective. The temperatures have been a bit cooler in the mornings, and the best is yet to come. Striped bass are found on pile worms, sardines, or anchovies, but there are a number of undersized linesides so you have to bring lots of bait. The smallmouth bass have dropped in the water column, but they can be taken along the banks in Steamboat and Miner Sloughs with plastics on the drop-shot or large minnows. Catfishing is best in the Sacramento Deep Water Channel with chicken livers or nightcrawlers while bluegill are also deeper in the water column along the Delta Loop with plastics on the drop-shot.”

Out of Riverside Bait at Vieira’s Resort near Isleton on the Old Sacramento River, Sylvia Viera said, “The smoke was thick on Sunday morning, but there are still plenty of fishermen out there trying for the first salmon of the year from our area in the Old Sacramento River. We are still waiting for our first salmon of the season as the water is still very warm out here.”

Alan Fong, manager of the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Sacramento, said, “The striped bass bite has taken off, but there is only a 2-hour window during the change of the tides when the fish are biting. The West Bank has been the top area for trollers while there are a number of stripers in Liberty Island, you will have to go through 50 fish to find two keepers.”

Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley has returned to the Delta to drift live bait, spoon, and troll for striped bass, and he said, “The stripers are biting, and we have been trolling along the West Bank for early limits of linesides to 8 pounds. Drifting live minnows has also been productive, and we put in limits on Sunday morning before switching over to trolling. There has been quite a bit of grass in the water, and the best action has been coming when the tides slow down during the change. The smoke came in pretty thick on Sunday morning.”

Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait said, “The big tides muddied up the shoreline, and there hasn’t been a salmon landed from either 1st Street of the Dillon Point State Park for several days. I do expect the water to clear up this week, and we should see some salmon coming in. Shore fishermen are picking up small striped bass on the lures intended for salmon. We had a number of anglers cancelling their bait reservations on Sunday due to the smoky skies, and as a result, we have plenty of grass shrimp and pile worms at the end of the weekend.”

The San Joaquin-Delta has been a busy place on the weekends with heavy recreational boating along with the numbers of bass fishermen participating in tournaments. The largemouth bass are taken on a variety of techniques including: big worms, crankbaits, chatterbaits, topwater lures, frogs, and by flipping Senkos. There were three large tournaments on the Delta during the past week, and the average winning limits ranged from 19 to 29 pounds.

The Delta was busy with only 65 boats in the FLW Toyota Delta Series from Wednesday through Friday, and Ish Monroe of Oakdale ended up on top of the three-day event, lapping the field by nearly 16.5 pounds with a total of 65 pounds, 13 ounces. His largest fish came in at over 7 pounds with his River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy Frog, but he also found good action by punching the weeds with Missle’s D-Bombs in peanut butter and jelly on a 1.25 to 1.75 River2Sea Trash Bomb using 70-pound braid to work through the thick matts of milfoil combined with water hyacinth.

Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors was out in the smoke during the Wednesday Night Shootout out of Ladd’s Marina, and he said, “I was out solo and didn’t bring a net so I ended up dumping one at 6 pounds on a double-buzz bait that I think I could have landed. I saw a swirl on the outside edge so I tossed out a plastic on light line on a wacky-rig, and I hooked up with an estimated 8-pound largemouth. I was able to get this fish out of the grass and I thought I had it made, but it took off again, and I think the line ticked the prop, ending that opportunity. I finished with 13 pounds, and the frog bite just wasn’t happening for me as kept missing them. The water temperature was in the 80-degree range in most of the areas that I fished, and I have heard of water as high as 84 degrees, but the cooler morning temperatures have dropped the water temperatures.”

Kris Huff of Stockton has been scoring consistently with the Scum Frog, and he followed up his second-place finish in the Ultimate Frog Challenge with a fourth-place finish in the Wednesday Night Shootout at 18.17 pounds.

Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor and director of Best Bass Tournaments, hosted 95 boats on Saturday out of Russo’s Marina, and he said, “The Delta was excellent with only a handful of boats not weighing in, and one of these was stuck on a sandbar out of Eddo’s Marina. There is an excellent bite with crankbaits or chatterbaits in crawdad patterns as the bass are loading up on the crayfish. We put in 18.25 pounds on a guide trip this week working the ima Rock N’Vibe Suspend, the Pinjack, or the Squarebill crankbaits in Hot Craw. We also picked up bass on weightless worms or on the drop-shot, and downsizing seemed to make the difference. There has been tremendous boat traffic in the south and central Delta, and it is important to get out there early. There is a small window for topwater with the El Choppo on the high tide until the switch over the weed beds along with the ima Finesse Popper in the pockets between weeds or tules.”

Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen Outdoors was out tossing the ima Glide Bait off of Brown’s Island for striped bass to 20 inches, but he said, “There have been linesides in the 15- to 17-pound range reported off of the West Bank and as far north as Liberty Island. Our tournament at New Holland Riverside Marina was a big success as the venue is outstanding.”

In the south Delta, Johnny Tran of New Romeo’s Bait and Tackle in Freeport reported a solid bluegill bite west of Stockton from the shorelines off of Eight Mile Road, but a drop-shot rig is necessary as the panfish have dropped in the water column. Red worms, minicrawlers, or jumbo red worms are all working.

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 3 White bass 2 Striper 0 Catfish 3 Crappie 2 Bluegill 2

The topwater bite at Lake Nacimiento continues to be excellent in the mornings and evenings for both spotted and white bass. The white bass are starting to perk up with more active boils, and the bird activity on the surface is a good indicator that the whites are working the shad to the surface. 50 fish days are possible on the surface. Once the topwater bite slows down, working the bottom with plastics on the drop-shot, jigs, or Yamamoto Hula Grubs are effective. Bluegill and red ear perch are taken on meal worms or red worms at depths to 20 feet using light line. Catfish continue to be found on cut baits coated with garlic. The lake has dropped from 33 to 31%. A webcam of the lake is available at http://www.lakenacimientolive.com/. At Lopez, the bass bite slowed down with the hot temperatures, but there is some action early in the mornings with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, or topwater lures. After the early morning bite, working the bottom with Senkos or plastics on the drop-shot or Ned-rig at depths to 30 feet over structure. Bluegill are taken on meal worms or red worms on light line. A webcam of the lake is available at http://805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam/. The bass bite at Santa Margarita has also slowed down, but there is a reaction bite at first light with topwater lures, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, or crankbaits. Plastic worms in the 6-inch range on a Ned-rig are the best option once the reaction bite slows. Catfish are found with nightcrawlers or cut baits coated with garlic scent. At San Antonio, the bass light continues to be slow, and the heat kept most fishermen off of the water during the past week. Catfish remain the best option with mackerel, cut baits, or dip baits, and coating the bait with garlic scent is important to entice bites. Bluegill and crappie can still be found at depths to 15 feet around structure. The operating hours at San Antonio are from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends only. The lake dropped from 22 to 21%.

Events:

Tournament Results:

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments– August 22th: 1st – Dale Shirley/Dave Tencati – 19.00 pounds (Big Fish – 7.72); 2nd: Jake Howard/Jack Chastain – 18.70; 3rd – Bryan/Brandon Ehresman – 18.68.

Delta/Big Break Marina – FLW Toyota Series – August 19-21st (Three Limits): 1st – Ish Monroe– 65.13 pounds; 2nd: Beau Joudrey – 49.6 pounds; 3rd – Mark Lassagne – 46.14 pounds.

Delta– Sierra Bass Club – August 22nd: 1st – Chris Jones/Dan Folia – 17.96 pounds (Big Fish – Jones – 5.46); 2nd: Jimmy Smith/Ronnie Rustigian – 14.78 pounds; 3rd – Dan and Mike Rippertella – 12.18 pounds.

Upcoming Tournaments: (Subject to Change)

August 29th:

Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournament

August 29th/30th:

Don Pedro – Modesto Ambassadors

Pine Flat – Bass 101 Team Open – Information 284-2768

September 4th:

Don Pedro – American Bass Association

September 5th:

Salt Springs – Salt Springs Valley Reservoir

Amador – Gold Country Junior Bass

September 6th:

Salt Springs – Gold Country Junior Bass Club

September 12/13th:

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournament

September 12th:

New Melones – Outlaw Bass Club

Success -Visalia Bass Club

Isabella – American Bass Association

September 13th:

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Kings River Bass Club

Nacimiento – Good Ole Boys

September 19/20th:

Nacimiento – California Bass Nation

September 19th-22nd:

Santa Margarita – San Luis Bass Ambushers

September 19th:

Delta/B and W Resort – Alameda County Deputy

New Hogan – Sonora Bass Anglers

Camanche – Delta Bass Anglers

Don Pedro – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies/Christian Bass League

McClure – Sierra Bass Club

Success – Golden Empire

Isabella – Kern County Bassmasters

September 20th:

Delta/B and W Resort – Fresno Bass Club

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

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Riverbank Bass Anglers

New Melones – Modesto Ambassadors/Nor Cal High School Bass Anglers

McClure – Slay Nation Tournaments

Success – Porterville Bass Club

September 26/27th:

Delta/New Holland Marina – Dan Mathisen Outdoors

September 26th:

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – 17-90 Bass Club

September 27th:

Pardee – Gold Country Bass Club

This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Fishing report for week of Aug. 26-Sept. 1: Shaver kokanee, Pine Flat catfish in best bets."