Fishing report for week of Sept. 16-22: Record striper at San Luis; Millerton bass

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 a full caption and email to sports@fresnobee.com

Best bets

Rockfishing remains solid along the California coast, Captain Steve Mitchell reports. River salmon picking up slightly in the Sacramento-Delta, Tony Lopez says. San Luis Reservoir the place for trophy striped bass, Roger George says. Ocean salmon up and down off of the Marin coastline, Captain Trent Slate reports.

Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

Valley

West-side waterways

Stripers 2 Catfish 2

Jake Figgs of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “We have had quite a few anglers heading to the California Aqueduct, and jerkbaits have been popular such as Duo Realis 110s or 5-inch River2Sea Rig Walkers in Silver sides. Water releases out of San Luis Reservoir have ramped up the flows.”

In the southern portion in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported good action for both striped bass and catfish, and “a government agency has been cleaning the moss and debris out of the aqueduct, and it is being piled up on the sides of the levee. Blood worms, live minnows, and cut baits are working for striped bass along with jerkbaits while anchovies, sardines, chicken livers, or Triple S dip bait is best for catfish.”

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

Eastman Lake

Bass 2 Trout 0 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Figgs said, “The bass bite remains tough here, and catfishing is best near the dam at night with chicken livers or cut baits for whiskerfish to 3 pounds.” The final River Rats Shootout was Saturday night but the results were not posted as of press time. Several boaters were concerned about the low lake level and possible damage to their lower units. Gary Wasson and Joe Baeza, regulars on the South Valley bass scene, found slow action on Saturday before heading over to nearby Hensley for a few quality largemouths. The lake dropped from 8% to 7%.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

Bass 2 Trout 0 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2

With the low water levels, most bass fishermen are reluctant to launch their expensive vessels into the lake, but after finding slow action at Eastman on Saturday, Wasson and Baeza found quality largemouth bass to 6.9 pounds in the shallow lake. Wasson said, “The bite is slow, but there are good quality bass when you do get bit with crankbaits and jigs working best.” Despite these quality largemouths, catfishing at night remains the top draw with chicken liver, anchovies, nightcrawlers or King Cat Dip Bait. The lake held for the fourth straight week at 15%.

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

Lake Don Pedro

Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 1

The results from Saturday’s American Bass Association were unavailable at press time, but the winning weight featured a few quality largemouth bass taken on swimbaits worked slowly on the bottom. Overall, the bite was a grind, but a few quality largemouths made all of the difference. There hasn’t been much information on trout action, but when there are few reports from a lake, it is a good time to fish it since no one is talking. The lake held at 72%.

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

Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area

Bass 2 Trout 1 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 1

Lake Isabella is in the Sequoia National Forest, which is closed for all activity until further notice. Previously, largemouth bass to 11 pounds had been landed within the past few weeks. The lake dropped to 18%.

Sections of both the upper and lower Kern River were planted during the week, but as the upper river above the dam is in the national forest, it is also temporarily closed. Cormier reported the lower river below the day is accessible, and smallmouth bass and catfish are possibilities.

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

Lake Kaweah

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 0 Catfish 2

Wasson said, “The bass bite has been good with topwater action in the early mornings before working deeper with jigs or deep-diving crankbaits.” The lake held at 7%.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Lake Success/Tule River

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 0 Catfish 2

Wasson said, “There is a good bass bite, but the fish are getting smaller and there are a lot of boats on the water despite the lowered pool.” The Tule River continues to be closed due to the SQR Complex Fire.

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

McClure Reservoir

Bass 3 Trout 1 King salmon 1 Kokanee 1 Crappie 2 Catfish 3

Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook Fishing foundgood action for numbers along with largemouth bass to 5 pounds with a topwater bite throughout the day with Whopper Plopper 110s, River2Sea Rovers or Rico Poppers, but you can catch all you want with plastics in the 4- to 6-inch range on the drop-shot on a light weight of 1/8-ounce at depths from 10 to 60 feet. The bass are scattered, but when they are found, they are schooled up. The water temperature dropped 5 degrees this week, and the shad are moving into deep water. The lake dropped slightly to 46%. The Bagby Launch Ramp is out of the water and inaccessible.

Call: Ryan Cook – Ryan Cook’s Guide Service – 691-7008

McSwain Reservoir

Trout 1

The lake received a trout plant from the Department of Fish and Wildlife this past week, and this was the first plant in months. Catchable rainbow trout can be taken from the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks or the peninsula near the marina with trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River

Bass 3 Striped bass 0 Shad 0 Bluegill 2 Crappie 1

Figgs said, “The lake remains the top bass fishery in the area with numerous spotted bass in the 12-inch range possible as 40-fish days are possible. Larger fish are hard to locate, but there have been some spotted bass in the 2.5 to 4-pound range taken on occasion. The best action is in the river arm as far as possible in the receding lake, and plastics on the drop-shot, Ned Rig or wacky-rig. The 6-inch Hologram Shad on a light Neko Rig along with spy baits in natural shad patterns have also been effective. The bass are suspending around 15 to 20 feet in 40 feet of water.” Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and boats can remain on the water after dark but navigation lights and a 5 mph speed limit are required.

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 Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 2

The first tournament at New Melones since the coronavirus pandemic hit is Saturday out of the Glory Hole Launch Ramp. This tournament is a fundraiser for Mason Ferrulli, and it is organized by regular tournament angler Matt Frazier of Denair.

Mason has been battling brain cancer since he was 10 years old beginning in 2017, and after numerous operations and hospital stays over the past three years, the cancer has returned, and it has spread into his spine. When he was able, Mason demonstrated his love for the outdoors, fishing on numerous occasions with Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing and Frazier for bass in the Mother Lode and with Captain Zach Medinas of Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures for white sturgeon in the Delta. He also participated as a regular on the Gold Country Junior Bass Club circuit.

After his second major brain surgery, Mason was cancer-free for the first couple of scans, but his most recent scans have made the family’s worst fears come true as he has a large tumor on his spine along with a couple of smaller masses. The fundraising tournament and raffle at New Melones is designed to assist with the quick action needed for an upcoming necessary surgery and ongoing medical care.

All of the proceeds from the tournament will go to the Ferrulli family, and the tournament fee is $200 for up to three team members with signups starting at 4 a.m. on the Glory Hole launch ramp. In addition to the tournament, there will be a huge raffle beginning at 2 p.m., and the bass fishing community as well as the local community has responded with thousands of dollars of prizes.

Frazier said, “My phone has not stopped and I love it! If you’re not a fisherman and want to be there for the raffle and to support Mason, we invite you out at noon to be a part of the weigh ins, raffle, and the barbecue put on by Buffalo BBQ. Some of the prizes are a signed jersey and signature Diawa Tatula Elite Frog Rod by professional angler, Ish Monroe, an entry fee from Wild West Bass Trails, a Glock pistol by Stage Shop Guns in Atwater, sports memorabilia from Sam Matthews, gear from the Fishermen’s Warehouse, Phenix Rods by Vince Borges, 2 seats on the California Dawn, Vexus Boat’s apparel, and Central Valley Gun Dogs along with too many others to name. You can donate via Facebook Fundraiser titled “Mason Ferrulli’s Medical Fundraiser #TEAM MASON” or through Go Fund Me at gofundme.com/f/mason-ferrull. Mason has changed my life and many others, let’s help change his.” Frazier can be reached at 209-535-7564.

As the recreational boating season has been winding down progressively along with the lack of bass tournaments on the lake since March, there should be some solid action for tournament participants. John Liechty of Xperience Bass Fishing Guide Service plans on participating in the tournament, and he reported a window for topwater, but the majority of bass are suspended around 20 feet in 60 to 100 feet of water. Plastics on the drop-shot along with Keitechs on a countdown are working for numbers.

Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service found rainbow trout to 17 inches working Speedy Shiners at 20 to 45 feet throughout the southern portion of the lake. He said, “There are shad balls all over the lake, and when you find the shad, the trout are there.”

The lake dropped to 65%.

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

Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River

Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 1 Catfish 3 Crappie 2

Figgs said, “The lowered pool of water has limited interest in bass and trout fishing. The best fishing remains for catfish with chicken livers or cut baits at night along with a night bite for spotted bass on black swimbaits or deep-diving crankbaits.” After weeks of water releases, the lake finally held at 21% this week.

In the lower Kings River, the flows have slowed considerably, and trout plants have been released the past few weeks.

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

San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay

Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 1

San Luis Reservoir reopened prior to Labor Day after being shut down for vehicle traffic for a week due to the SCU Lightning Complex Fire. Since the reopening, anglers have been flocking to the bank access points at Dinosaur Point and the Romero Visitor Center to toss topwater lures and jerkbaits into the emerging boils in the mornings. The majority of these linesides are school-sized, but to find the trophies, you have to go deep on the troll at this time of year.

Roger George of Roger’s Guide Service in Fresno, the only licensed guide on the reservoir, caught and released his personal-best out of San Luis on Saturday at 45 inches and 40.88 pounds. George is a proponent of catch-and-release of large striped bass, and he has tremendous concern over the viability of the fishery due to overfishing.

George said, “This was the largest striper I have landed since the former Millerton Lake record weighing 50.3 pounds, and the fight was epic. I was guiding two guests on an early trip and decided to go out solo after dropping them off. I was looking for the one big bite, and I got it as the striper would stop running and stayed down at 60 to 70 feet for quite a while. The most difficult part was netting the huge striper and getting it inside of the boat. I used my mounted cellphone on delayed setting to get a quick picture. I believe it is the largest striped bass out of San Luis this year by around 5 pounds as in addition to the 45-inch length, it had a girth of 30 inches. We had landed a number of stripers to 7 pounds earlier in the day with Lucky Craft Pointer 128s in American Shad at depths from 40 to 70 feet along the points, edges, and flats all over the lake from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The key has been to find actively feeding schools.”

The O’Neill Forebay has also been a productive location, and Figgs said, “For a change, many of the stripers have been over the 18-inch minimum, and anglers are tossing jerkbaits such as Duo Realis 110s or the River2Sea 5-inch Rage Walker in the Silverside pattern. One angler reported nothing under 19 inches on a recent trip.”

The main lake is releasing water, and it has receded slightly to 47%.

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

High Sierra

The Creek Fire has cut off access to the eastern Fresno County lakes.

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Salmon 2 Rockfish 4 Striper 2 White sea bass 0 Crab 0 Sand Dabs 2 Surf Perch 3

Rockfishing remains the best show in town out of Half Moon Bay as local fishermen are waiting for the arrival of the Coastside Fishing Club’s net pen salmon returning to the harbor. The salmon, released by the efforts of the club, are from the Mokelumne River Hatchery, and they typically return late in the season. Party boats are taking reservations for the upcoming crab combination trips beginning the first Saturday in November.

Captain Tom Mattusch of the Huli Cat just returned from a week of research fishing along the Sonoma coastline, and he is focusing upon rockfish on the local reefs once again. Second Captain Michael Cabanas went south to San Gregorio in 140 feet of water for nine limits of rockfish along with a 12-pound ling cod.

Local rockfishing has been excellent as the Ankeny Street worked the coastal reefs for 14 limits of rockfish including 5 cabezon along with 5 ling cod to 10 pounds while the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing put in 5 limits of rockfish on recent trips.

Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete has been focusing upon coastal rockfishing, and he said, “Limits of rockfish have been steady, and we found a good pod of vermilion on a recent trip. The ling cod bite has been up-and-down, but the action has not been spectacular along the coast. The locals are waiting for the arrival of the net pen salmon, but we know that the run has yet to arrive as around only five salmon have been landed inside the harbor near the restrooms. When the bite is on, there are anglers out there throwing pink worms or beads while perched on top of a ladder. There have been no ladder fishermen for the past few days. When the salmon return, it is a great time for the local private boaters trolling outside the harbor between the two entrance buoys. The great halibut bite that was taking place down by the Ritz-Carleton has also dried up, leaving rockfishing as our best option right now.

The New Captain Pete, Huli Cat, and Queen of Hearts will all be running the crab combination trips, and the New Captain Pete will also run a crab-only the day prior to Thanksgiving as well as Thanksgiving morning. Crab-only charters are available as well.

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

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Salmon 1 Rockfish 4 Striper 2 White sea bass 1 Crab 0 Sand Dabs 3 Surf Perch 3

Keith Semler of Chris’s Fishing said, “We went south to Point Sur with three boats on Sunday for limits of quality rockfish along with a total of 13 ling cod. The lings are moving into the coast now as they are getting ready to spawn. We are having more availability during the week, and there is room this coming Sunday for the first time in several months.”

Allan Bushnell of the Santa Cruz Kayak and Surfcasting Guide Service said, “In general, fishing has been very productive across the Monterey Bay. A few white sea bass were caught near Pajaro and the Sand City area. Halibut are still widespread with Capitola to the Cement ship remaining as the epicenter for this year’s epic bite. We have received only an occasional striped bass report, mostly from angler’s night fishing on the Monterey side of the bay. The barred surf perch bite is heating up with bigger fish being caught and more of them. Using sand crabs as bait might be the key, according to famed surfcaster Craig Pappas. “I’ve been using sand crabs the past two days. I stopped after catching (and releasing) 26 fish today. The biggest weighed in at one pound, eight ounces. Party boats continue to enjoy limit-style fishing from all ports around the bay. Carol Jones from Kahuna Sportfishing out of Moss Landing hosted another “Shallow Water Special” trip last Sunday. She reported, “Fun fishing with ultra-light gear in 60 feet of water. Some nice shallow water vermilion and coppers along with some schoolies including nice olives and a couple of lingcod. Artificials only....no bait. Limits for 16. In Santa Cruz, Stagnaro’s Sportfishing continues to report limits for nearly all their trips. Ken Stagnaro reported, “This was a great weekend to get out on the water and beat the heat! Legacy went out for seven-hour deep sea trips Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and came home with early limits of rock fish for 19 people each day. The afternoon trips caught about ¾ limits of rock fish Saturday, Sunday and Monday.” Joey Stagnaro aboard the Velocity reported Friday’s trip started slow until they moved to deeper water. “Then we lit ‘em up! We put 200 fish on the boat in about 20 minutes!” Go Fish Santa Cruz’ skipper John Thomas has been taking his clients up the coast towards Davenport and hitting the deeper reefs up there. He reports quick limits of big canary and vermilion rockfish on every trip, along with an increasing number of lingcod as the season advances.”

The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project suffered major damage to their hatchery near Davenport due to the CZU Lightning Fire Complex, and they will need assistance to rebuild this essential program for Coho salmon and steelhead in the watersheds of the Central Coast. Donations are accepted at the website - https://mbstp.org/ or through https://www.gofundme.com/f/coho-salmon-in-crisis-after-santa-cruz-fire.

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

San Francisco Bay

Salmon 2 Albacore 0 Halibut 3 Striper 2 Rockfish 4 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 1 Crab 0

Rockfishing has taken center stage as the best ling cod counts in the state are found from the Marin coast and the Farallon Islands and up the north coast towards Bodega Bay and beyond. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Berkeley went out on his last Golden Gate trip of the season, and he said, “We stopped on the way out to the Farallons on Sunday to load up on sand dabs, and we used the live bait to load up on limits of ling cod to 15 pounds along with limits of quality rockfish.”

The Sea Wolf out of Emeryville also went to the Farallons on Monday for 21 limits of rockfish and 21 limits of ling cod to 21 pounds. The Happy Hooker out of Berkeley was along the coast on Sunday for 11 limits of rockfish and 10 lings to 15 pounds before making some drifts inside the bay for 13 halibut to 25 pounds. The halibut bite continues with the best action inside the bay right now. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service was at the North Bar outside the Golden Gate on Saturday for a single 16-pound halibut before coming back into the bay to drift live bait near Treasure Island for another 4 flatfish.

Salmon fishing remains up and down, but the bonus is that the salmon landed are huge as fish to 38 pounds were reported this week. The best action has been along the Marin coastline from Rocky Point to Double Point, and the Salty Lady out of Sausalito came in with nearly a fish per rod with 7 salmon to 26 pounds for 8 anglers on Monday. Just under a fish per rod was the average for Monday.

Inside the bay, the California Dawn out of Berkeley was out on Sunday with 17 anglers for over two fish per rod with 36 halibut to 26 pounds. The Dawn was in the bay again on Monday with a special big shark trip sponsored by Phenix Rods, and the 15 anglers landed 14 seven gill shark to 325 pounds before making some drifts for 9 halibut. The big shark was released off of the side of the boat after a 2-hour, 10-minute fight.

Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing found great halibut action near the barges off of Treasure Island during the week for limits of quality halibut to 15 pounds.

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 0 Surf Perch 3

Rockfishing is solid of the San Luis Obispo County ports, but ling cod counts remain down. The ling cod should be moving into the coastal waters in their annual rite of spawning in the fall months. The Avenger and Endeavor out of Morro Bay Landing were out on Monday with 39 anglers for 40 vermilion, 90 copper, 5 Boccaccio, 25 Bolina, 130 assorted, 12 ocean white. Lynn Fullen of Tulare took one jackpot with a 6-pound vermilion. Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay had Fiesta and Black Pearl out on Monday with 44 anglers for 85 vermilion, 353 assorted rockfish, 2 ling cod, and 2 petrale sole. Out of Port San Luis and Patriot Sport Fishing, the Patriot and Flying Fish were out on Monday with 32 passengers for rockfish limits consisting of 28 vermilion, 2 copper, 1 Boccaccio, 65 Bolina, 224 assorted rockfish, and 5 ocean whitefish. 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

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 3 Striper 2 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3 Salmon 1

The triple-digit temperatures of the Labor Day Weekend have passed, and combined with the thick smoke layer from the numerous huge fires throughout northern California, both the air and water temperature on the Sacramento-Delta has dropped. River salmon action is starting to perk up, particularly along the Suisun Bay shorelines. The salmon continue to make a quick run through the warm water in the Delta, but they are holding a bit longer in certain locations. Combined with the increased number of salmon entering the river from the ocean on their way to spawn, the action has improved to some degree, but the best is yet to come. Striped bass fishing has been up and down for trollers, but there have been some quality linesides caught and release. Six-pack boats are starting to make their way back into the Delta cities of Pittsburg and Martinez as their captains are wrapping up their summer season in San Francisco Bay. Sturgeon and striped bass will be their target throughout the fall and winter months.

In Suisun Bay, Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait and Tackle said, “They are starting to catch salmon along 1st Street, and there were some quality chrome fish taken on Friday and Saturday. Dillon Point has also been producing a few salmon, and bank anglers are tossing Vee-Zee or Flying C spinners. The run is starting to take shape. For sturgeon, Ron Reisinger of Chico was out in deep water near the Mothball Fleet on Saturday, and he caught and released a 50-inch sturgeon on lamprey eel. Grass shrimp is in good supply, and it is getting larger.”

In the Old Sacramento River near Isleton, Dave Sharp of Marina Bait and Tackle in Suisun City said, “There have been a lot more boats trolling north of the Rio Vista Bridge towards the mouth of the Old Sacramento River. In Suisun Bay, there has been a big demand for grass shrimp for sturgeon and striped bass, and we are selling all 60 pounds of grass shrimp within a day after it comes into the shop. The best action for sturgeon and striped bass has been at night with grass shrimp. Ghost shrimp has not been available as it is very soft-shelled at this time of year.”

Alan Fong, manager of the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Sacramento, was back out again in the north Delta in Liberty Island along with his regular partner, Warren Trumbly of Elk Grove, and he said, “Largemouth bass fishing was very good as we landed over 30 bass with Strike King’s Rage Craws, and we also found crappie at 20 feet, but they were biting very light. The slabs were larger than your hand, and they will be larger as we move into the fall. Striped bass to 8 pounds were also found in Liberty, and we landed quite a few linesides in the morning, but most of the stripers were on the other side of the exposed levee in the incoming tide. We could see them boiling over the levee wall, and Warrne hooked a big one on a Whopper Plopper, but it was impossible to get it over the rocks. Salmon fishing has been slow in the Freeport area, but it has picked up at the mouth of the American River. The issue with Freeport is there are few locations to launch a boat with Garcia Bend closed due to levee work, and it won’t be open until next year. Boaters aren’t willing to run down to Freeport from either Miller or Discovery Park.”

Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors has begun heading north to Liberty Island for striped bass. He said, “At this time of year, I will run combination trips for striped bass and largemouth bass, and I understand that the stripers bit pretty well up north this week.”

George Wight, charter member of the California Striped Bass Association beginning in 1974, was out on Thursday, and he said, “The stripers have slowed down on both the San Joaquin and the Sacramento River this past week as we trolled a lot of water for only three fish, but one of these was a 25-pound lineside on the Sacramento. We released her in fine shape after a quick picture.”

Dave Houston was out with Clyde Wands and Tony Lopes on Thursday, and he said, “It was a very tough bite as the water temperature was 71.5 degrees without wind, and we travelled out in the dark for the beginning of the incoming tide on the Sacramento River. We only landed stripers at either the beginning or end of the tide as there was way too much grass when the current was moving. We ended up with six keepers in the 20- to 23-inch range with red head/white working best today.”

Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing has wrapped up his San Francisco Bay season, and he will start his sturgeon season in October out of Pittsburg Marina, and the other six-pack captains will be migrating back to the Delta within the next four weeks.

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.

The triple-digit heat of last weekend’s record high temperatures has dissipated, but the largemouth bass bite remains up and down with the changing weather conditions. Numbers of bass are the rule, but the larger members of the species have been elusive.

Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, had two tournaments for Best Bass Tournaments this weekend out of Russo’s Marina, and Saturday’s tournament featured 92 participants with the team of Will and Ott Kharnthong taking first place with a winning limit of 22.01 pounds. On Sunday, Pringle said, “The winning weight for today’s tournament was over 25 pounds, and there were four bass over 7 pounds weighed in along with the big fish of the tournament at 9.96 pounds so the larger fish are starting to get active. He was on the Delta this week, and he said, “The overcast conditions with the smoke allow you to throw a buzzbait all day long, but I have been scoring best with either the ima Squarebill or Pinjack in Hot Craw. I use the Squarebill on the high tide as it is a shallow diver before switching to work the Pinjack on the outside weed line on the low tide. The bass are holding in the weeds, and you use the crankbait to tick the top of the weeds, knocking off some sediment and stirring up the bass. The Strike King bladed jigs in white/chartreuse for shad patterns or crawdad color patterns with a Chigger Craw trailer is also working. There haven’t been many giants out there, but you will get the larger fish when the wind comes up and limits the fish’s visibility. The water in the Delta is very clear right now, and the temperature has been in the mid-70’s as the past few days have been much cooler. There are stripers in the San Joaquin, but most of the linesides are undersized. However, there are some keepers in the 22- to 24-inch range.”

In the south Delta, H and R Bait in Stockton has been receiving a steady supply of fresh shad, and the popular bait has been selling out quickly for fishermen targeting striped bass. The fall run is starting in the San Joaquin, and bait fishermen in the area prefer shad to other baits. Bluegill and redear perch remain thick along the south Delta sloughs with solid action off of Eight Mile Road, Bacon Island Road, or Whiskey Slough Road with meal worms, red worms, jumbo red worms, or mini-crawlers on a drop-shot rig.

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 3

At Lake Nacimiento, the white bass continue to boil on occasion, but the best technique for the whites has been to spoon at depths from 20 to 25 feet when they are found on the meter. When the boils are found, they are hitting small topwater spoons or spinners in shad patterns. There is also a topwater bite for spotted bass in the early mornings, but the most productive method has been to work the bottom to 35 feet with plastics on a shaky head or Ned rigs along with spider jigs. Catfishing is best with mackerel coated with garlic scent while panfish are taken on red worms or mini-crawlers at depths to 25 feet. The lake has dropped from 28 to 27 percent. A webcam of the lake is available at lakenacimientolive.com.

At Lopez, the bass bite continues to improve with anglers reporting over 20 fish per outing with a good topwater bite in the early mornings before dropping to mid-range with underspins, deep-diving crankbaits, or spinnerbaits in shad patterns. During the middle of the day, working the bottom at depths to 25 feet with natural color patterns of plastics on the drop-shot along with jigs is effective. Bluegill or crappie are taken on minijigs, red worms, or meal worms. A webcam of the lake is available at 805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam.

The bass bite at Santa Margarita is slow as the lake is experiencing a heavy algae bloom. The best action has been on the bottom with plastics on a drop-shot or Ned rig along with jigs. Catfishing is best at night with cut baits scented with garlic while bluegill and red ear perch are found on mealworms on a drop-shot rig at depths to 15 feet.

At San Antonio, the bass bite remains very slow with a few largemouth or smallmouth taken on finesse techniques on the bottom. Bluegill and catfish provide the most action with the panfish taken on meal worms, red worms, or minicrawlers while the whiskerfish are biting cut baits scented with garlic. Bass fishing remains slow with a few small members of the species taken on finesse techniques. The operating hours at San Antonio are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends only. The lake dropped to 17%.

Events

Tournament results

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments Delta/Wine Division - September 12th: 1st – Will and Ott Karnthong – 22.01; 2nd: Austin Phillips/Kyle Santos – 18.26 (Big Fish – 5.95); 3rd – Steve Hanak/Greg Bunting – 18.26.

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments Northern Division - September 13th: 1st – Dustin Tacker/Mark McCord – 25.47; 2nd: Peter and Hunter Jacobsen – 19.55 (Big Fish – 9.96); 3rd – Nathan Ghilotti/Bobby Herrin – 18.05

Upcoming tournaments (subject to change)

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

Trout plants

By California Department of Fish and Wildlife as conditions allow.

Fresno County: Kings River below Pine Flat Dam weeks of Sept. 13, 20 and 27.

Tuolumne County: Lyons Canal and Powerhouse Stream week of Sept. 13.

This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 8:06 AM.