Fishing report, Dec. 16-22: Shaver Lake, Pine Flat, Kings River among best bets

Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, a former Olympic-class decathlete at Fresno State (he still holds the school record). George guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake. Telephone numbers are in 559 calling area unless noted.

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Best bets

Delta sturgeon on a tear, Steve Mitchell reported. New Melones planters providing action, John Liechty said. Shaver kicking out mixed limits, Dick Nichols reported. California Aqueduct stripers, Pine Flat bass and Kings River trout hitting, Jake Figgs said. Don Pedro trout and bass chomping, Ryan Cook reported. Isabella catfish top bite, Pete Cormier said.

Valley

West-side waterways

Striper 3 Catfish 2

Jake Figgs of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “The northern section of the aqueduct continues to produce striped bass for Central Valley anglers, and umbrella rigs such as Yum’s Flash Mobs loaded with either Optimum’s AA swimbaits or Keitechs in shad patterns are effective. Duo Realis jerkbaits in Prism Shad or Prism Smelt are additional option as the popular colors of Neo Pearl and Ivory Halo remain scarce.”

In the southern section of the aqueduct in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield said, “The aqueduct continues to be very good, and striper limits have been possible for those tossing flukes or jerkbaits along with soaking anchovies or sardines on a fly-line.”

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

Eastman Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Minimal change here with few bass fishermen willing to launch into the lake at 7%. The algae bloom might start to dissipate with the cold water and recent precipitation.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2

Similar to Eastman, only a few bass fishermen are heading to this lake, and the water visibility is limited at around ½-foot. The lake is 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 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 1 King salmon 2 Crappie 2

The bass bite continues to improve with Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing reporting scores from 12 to 55 fish on trips during the week with the best action in deep water from 50 to 75 feet with plastics on the drop-shot or Ned rigs in shad patterns. Green pumpkin jigs on a finesse pattern are also effective, but the larger bass remain in the deep water. A smaller cut of bass is in the shallows, and they are also biting jigs. Trout trolling continues to be solid for planters within the top 30 feet of the surface as the rainbows have moved into the coves. The lake dropped slightly to 67%.

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 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 2

Cormier said, “The trout plants continue to bring out anglers to the local lakes, and Buena Vista is expected to be planted by the concessionaires this week. The local lakes of Ming and the River Walk were planted, but the majority of the planted rainbows have been fished out due to heavy pressure within a few days of the plant. Isabella continues to be solid for catfish with Triple S Dip Baits along with mackerel or nightcrawlers soaked in garlic. There are crappie, but you have to find them as they are scattered.” Bass fishing is best with deep-diving crankbaits in either shad or crawdad patterns at depths to 20 feet. The main lake points around Engineer’s Point, Piney Point and Rocky Point are holding bass at this depth. Plastics on the Texas-rig along with jigs are also productive. The lake is at 17%.

The upper sections of the Kern River were planted at the start of the month, and additional plants are scheduled for the weeks of Dec. 20 and 27.

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 2 Catfish 2

Gary Wasson, local bass fishing expert, reported bass fishing remains slow with the best action in deep water over 35 feet by using a dead stick presentation with ice jigs, jigs or plastics on the drop-shot. The lake held at 6%.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Lake Success/Tule River

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2

Chuck Stokke of the Sequoia Fishing Company said, “The bass bite has been slow as with the cooler temperatures, the fish are deep and are finicky. A slow presentation with plastics on the drop-shot or jigs has been working best.” Wasson said, “The bass bite has slowed to a crawl, but there are fish to be taken in the deep water with jigs, plastics on the drop-shot, or spoons on a slow presentation.” The lake held 8%.

In the Tule River, Stokke added, “The river has come up with the recent rains, and nymphs are best for fly fishermen while spincasters are picking up the occasional trout with nightcrawlers.”

The Sequoia National Forest has partially reopened, and information on the current closure and open areas is available at fs.usda.gov/sequoia.

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

McClure Reservoir

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

The bass bite continues to be extremely challenging as the falling water levels over the past several months seem to have the fish off of the bite. A limit just over 11 pounds took last weekend’s Future Pro Tour event despite a large number of participants. Cook said, “The bass are scattered from the bank to 60 feet, and the fish are finicky. You have to work slow with small 4-inch Hula Grubs skirtless or 4-inch plastics along steep, rocky banks from 5 to 40 feet. The larger fish are either suspended or hugging the bottom. The lake is full of trout, and bass anglers are wading through trout on the plastics. The swimbait bite traditionally doesn’t take off until some of the rainbows have been taken out of the lake as the larger fish are feeding on the live trout.” A trout plant is scheduled for this week. Barrett’s Cove Marina is closed for the winter, and the Bagby, Horseshoe Bend and McClure Point North launch ramps are closed due to water levels. The lake dropped slightly to 37%.

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

McSwain Reservoir

Trout 2

The campgrounds at both Lake McClure and McSwain are temporarily closed. There hasn’t been much change on the trout front as the last plant took place at the end of October. Trout fishing is relatively slow from banks at the Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile and the peninsula by the Marina has with various colors of trout dough bait, inflated nightcrawlers or silver/blue Kastmasters.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River

Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2

Figgs said, “There has been some improvement in the bass action here as a largemouth at 7.5 pounds was landed in the main lake on a large swimbait along with a few spotted bass to 4 pounds. The most consistent action has been in the main lake around South Bay, East Bay and Finegold Bay with grubs or Keitech swimbaits at depths from 25 to 30 feet.” Woodward Park and Sycamore Island Park were planted with trout this week with another plant in Woodward Park next week. The lake rose slightly to 34%.

Park hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sycamore Island has closed for the 2020 season. The property will reopen on Feb. 5.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1

An additional plant of rainbows is scheduled to be released this week by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and this plant will add to the numerous planters in the main lake from Glory Hole Point south to Rose Island. The larger holdover rainbows have been scarce but catching the planters has been relatively easy for experienced trollers working Speedy Shiners or Trinidad Tackle’s Popeyes from the surface to 20 feet on a long set back of 150 feet or more. For spotted and largemouth bass, John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service said, “We have had a few trips where were threw big baits all day long, but I think the large bass have been watching this gear tossed at them over the past few weeks. We had a few followers, but the overall action on the big swimbaits and glidebaits has been slow. We have been scoring in the backs of coves where the shad are congregating with a variety of techniques including spoons, jigs or plastics on the drop-shot. The bass and trout are chasing the shad into the coves, and we have caught and released a number of rainbows, including some holdovers to 3 pounds, this week.” The Glory Hole and Tuttletown boat launches are open at the middle ramp, but the Angels Cove launch ramp is closed. The New Melones Lake Marina store is closed for the season including boat rentals. The lake rose slightly to 64%.

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

Figgs reported an improved bass bite near the rocky points around Trimmer with Hula Grubs in Greenback Gobi on a 3/8-ounce ball head or 3.5-inch tubes on Gobi color on a 1/4-ounce weight for spotted bass to 2.75 pounds. The reaction bite has been slow as Figgs threw Keitechs and Megabass in Spark Shad for no bites. He said, “Once we found the fish in the right area around isolated trees, the bite was on with the tubes and grubs.” Crappie fishermen continue to work the area around Deer Creek. The lower Kings remains solid for planted rainbows with most fishing around Winton Park with Mepp’s spinners in black/red dots with a feather treble hook. Nightcrawlers are also working, but trout dough bait has been less effective. Avocado Lake was planted last week with the Kings River planted the next two 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

Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported the troll bite continues to be slow, but there is some action for topwater anglers for schoolies in the early morning hours. Alex Tran reported umbrella rigs, Keitechs on an underspin or jerkbaits such as Lucky Craft Pointers or Duo Realis 120s are working best as the bait has pushed down further in the water column. The lake dropped slightly to 45%.

In the O’Neill Forebay, Alex Tran of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported jerkbaits, flukes on a scrounger head, or single swimbaits are working for primarily undersized striped bass. When the stripers are schooled up, vertically jigging spoons has also been effective.

At San Luis, there are three wind warning and lake closure lights near the Basalt Entrance Station, Quien Sabe Point and the Romero Visitor Center. At the O’Neill Forebay, the lights are located near the old Medeiros boat ramp and above the South Beach Area. Amber lights signify caution conditions for winds or other concerns while red lights indicate the lake is closed to boating and all vessels must immediately vacate the lake.

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

High Sierra

Access to the region is limited by order of the U.S. Forest Service which has limited vehicle traffic on all roads within the Sierra National Forest. The closure has been extended for certain areas until Jan. 6. Updated information is available at fs.usda.gov/sierra.

Bass Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 1

A trout plant occurred last week with another plant next week. With the reopened areas of the lake, bank fishing should improve with trout dough bait or nightcrawlers. Figgs reported bass fishermen are finding tough sledding with small fish to 1.5 pounds taken on plastics on a Ned-rig or drop-shot at depths to 25 feet. The Sheriff’s boat is still operational, and boaters must possess the Motor Permit. The lake dropped from 57 to 54%. A list of open Bass Lake trails is available at fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd856559.pdf.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool

Edison is at 23%, Florence at 8% and Mammoth Pool at 28%.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake

Kokanee 3 Trout 3

Rain fell in the central Sierras over the weekend with the precipitation turning into snow in the evening hours, and the first small storm of the year will contribute to the trout moving closer to the surface. Shaver Lake reopened to the public two weeks ago, but upstream Huntington Reservoir remains off limits by order of the Sierra National Forest.

Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “I wish my boat was still in the water, but I interviewed a few of the regulars this week. The bite continues to be good at Shaver with most trollers coming in with multiple limits of mixed fish. The kokanee have been schooling at about 30 feet deep and trout from 10 to 20 feet. Jay Irvine of Visalia was out again with coach Jody Allen of the College of the Sequoias, and they found a bit slower action later in the week, landing a total of 16 fish, keeping three rainbows and seven kokanee. They were fishing near the island, Dora Bella Cove, between the Shaver Lake Marina and the island toward the dam with Dick’s pink/chartreuse with silver Trout Busters behind either a green, purple, blue or silver Dick’s Mountain Dodger. They also paired a Paulina Peak Top Gun Sunrise spinner behind the same flashers for their best action. The Paulina Peak green and orange spinner on lead core was also productive, but the blue spinner was less effective.”

Nichols added, “Rain hit the lake on Friday night throughout most of the weekend, keeping most boats off the lake. Stevenson Bay remains a very good area for yearling 14-inch trout and 13-inch goldens. Several 12- to 14-inch browns are found from multiple Department of Fish and Wildlife plants within the past few years amounting to over 50,000 fish released into the lake.” A trout plant is scheduled for this week

The launch ramps at the Sierra Marina and Shaver Lake Marina are open, but the marinas are closed until spring.

Call: Dick Nichols – Dick’s Fishing Charters at Shaver Lake Sports 841-2740; Todd Wittwer – Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435

Wishon/Courtright

Trout 2

Road access on the McKinley Grove Road to Wishon and Courtright is available for residents only during specific times with a permit.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Crab 3 Sand dabs 2 Surf perch 2

Dungeness crab limits remain the rule, and Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete will be running morning and afternoon crab-only trips this coming weekend for $125/angler. He took out 57 anglers on three different trips on Saturday for 10-crab limits for a total of 570 crab. Captain Tom Mattusch of the Huli Cat is running crab combination trips along with crab-only trips until the rockfish season closes on Dec. 31. Mattusch traditionally runs crab/sand dab/petrale sole trips after Jan. 1. The commercial Dungeness crab season from Point Arena south to the Mexican border will start on Dec. 23 with a pre-soak period starting Dec. 22. Rockfish season ends on Dec. 31.

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

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Rockfish 2 Striper 2 Crab 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’s Fishing in Monterey said, “The Dungeness crab counts have been low overall as the biomass of crab is lacking in our area. There is plenty of room on the combination trips during the week and also on the weekends.

Allen Bushnell of the Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surfcasting Guide Service said, “This week the California coast including Monterey Bay area experienced an extremely muscular swell from the west/northwest. The immense power of these waves was evidenced by the high number of surf rescues performed by the Monterey Bay area first responders. It may be a really good time for Dungeness hunters to get out and locate their crab pots, which have a tendency to travel during high wave events with heavy currents.

Commercial Dungeness season is approved to open Dec. 16 in our Monterey Bay Zone. Delayed due to concerns over whale entanglements, the season opener has been in limbo since mid-November. Though the most recent aerial “whale-count” in northern California nearshore waters showed a slightly higher number than scheduled to allow commercial season to begin, the alphabet agencies on Wednesday approved opening the season under an “advisory” status. Surprisingly, most commercial Dungeness crabbers along the coast are choosing not to begin operations until a clear open season is announced. Part of that decision is the crabber’s sincere concern for the migrating whales, and part is frustration with the multi-leveled ambiguity coming from governing organizations. Setting out for a season of crabbing takes a gigantic investment, which crabbers are not willing to lose should these agencies exercise discretion under an “advisory” opener and shut the season down again before expenses can be recouped.

The big swell and heavy currents have moved tons of sand this week, and we can expect to see outstanding structure on the beaches of Monterey Bay. That is just what’s needed for good perch and striped bass fishing. While it’s still a bit early in the year for stripers, perch fishing from the beach has been getting better and better for the past few weeks. With the sand building up in some spots and being dredged from others, the rip current channels, horizontal troughs and surf zone “holes” all have the potential for holding big schools of active feeding fish.”

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

San Francisco Bay

Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 2 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted revised recreational crab regulations for the 2021 crab season during the Dec. 9 meeting via Zoom despite the objections of party boats operators. The regulation changes are in response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity regarding the entanglement of endangered humpback whales by crab gear. This suit has resulted in the delay of the commercial crab season during the past two years, and it is intended to delay the start of the recreational season in 2021 if whales are present in areas where crab pots are set.

There has been an increase in entanglements of whales off of the West Coast within the past several years. According to the Fish and Wildlife staff report, ‘Between 2014 and 2019, three humpback whale entanglements were attributed to the recreational crab fishery in California.’ According to a 2019 news release from the Center of Biological Diversity, at least 54 humpback whales were found tangled in fishing gear along the West Coast in 2016.

The adopted regulations include five elements: enhanced gear marking, trap servicing interval, traps limits, delegated management authority, and a validation program.

Enhanced gear marking – a specific red marker buoy must be attached to the main buoy to identify gear

Service Interval – the maximum time would be 9 days without checking a pot

Trap limit – each individual would be allowed 10 crab traps

Director Authority – the Fish and Wildlife Director in consultation with the President of the Fish and Game Commission can delay the recreational season.

As the regulations have now ceded the authority to the director of the department to delay or close the recreational season, there is the possibility the recreational season will be delayed despite overwhelming evidence that entanglements from their traps are possible, but highly unlikely. As of Monday, there have been no entanglements from the existing recreational gear in 2020. Traditionally, the recreational season starts from six to 13 days prior to the commercial season, and ‘head start’ has always contributed to an increased ability to come through with 10-crab limits for recreational anglers before the start of the commercial season.

Despite the Shelter In Place remaining in the Bay Area counties, the party boats in Berkeley, Emeryville, Richmond and Loch Lomond remain in operation.

Crab limits have been the rule, but rockfishing has been a challenge. Limits have been the rule, but it has been a grind with the big swell and cold water temperatures. Over the weekend, Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady out of Emeryville Sport Fishing ran a crab-only trip on Sunday due to the weather as the combination of the swell and the south wind made for rough ocean conditions. He continues to score easy limits of crab pulling the deeper strings. His trip on Saturday produced limits of both rockfish and crab as the entire Emeryville fleet returned with 82 limits of crab and rockfish.

The commercial crab season will start in this zone beginning Dec. 23, and the majority of party boats will be stacking out gear once the commercial season begins as there is only another week prior to the rockfish season closure on Dec. 31.

Inside the bay, Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael said, “Striped bass fishing remains very good, but we aren’t seeing many halibut right now. A few fishermen are still drifting live smelt or shiners for the opportunity for a flatfish. The rain over the weekend might get some of the sturgeon to move out of their holding pattern in Suisun Bay downstream into our ballpark in San Pablo Bay. A few sturgeon have been caught recently, but the normal numbers of diamondbacks have been absent due to the lack of weather.”

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 Surf perch 2

Rockfish season ends Dec. 31, but the San Luis Obispo ports continue to run trips on a regular basis. Near-limits of rockfish remain available, but the ling cod remain scarce. The Endeavor, Avenger, and Starfire out of Morro Bay Landing were out on Saturday with 55 anglers for 41 vermilion, 23 copper, 11 Bolina, 363 assorted rockfish, 174 ocean whitefish, and 3 ling cod to 8 pounds. Out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, the Fiesta and Rita G were out on Saturday with 24 anglers for 32 vermilion, 175 assorted rockfish, 6 rock sole, and 2 ling with A.J. Triguiero of Lemoore winning one jackpot with a 5-pound ling and Dustin Gibbs of Bakersfield with the other jackpot with a 7-pound. Out of Port San Luis and Patriot Sport Fishing, the Phenix, Flying Fish, and Patriot were out on Saturday with 47 passengers for 12 vermilion, 5 copper rockfish, 370 assorted rockfish, 7 Bolina, 1 cabezon, 3 treefish, one 11-pound halibut, and 7 ling cod. Both 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 805-771-5500

Others

Delta/Stockton

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

The first real rain of the season fell this past weekend, and the fresh water might just convince the sturgeon to move out of their fortress in Suisun Bay downstream into San Pablo Bay or up into the river systems of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin.

With all of the sturgeon kegged up in various locations within Suisun Bay, six-pack operators and private boaters are having a field day with trips bringing home as many as six limits.

Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg took a group of anglers out in search of their ‘bucket list’ fish, and they weren’t disappointed as they put in three legal sturgeon along with releasing two oversized to 65 inches along with two undersized sturgeon. Mitchell has been scoring with cured salmon roe in the deeper water when the tide has been slower. He said, “Salmon roe continues to work since the water is not too cold yet to keep the roe from milking. After the water becomes too cold, lamprey eel will be the bait of choice.” Mitchell has room during the weekday’s for the next few weeks.

Captain Joey Gamez of Golden State Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg has been putting on a clinic in the Little Cut, Honker Bay, and between Roe/Ryer Islands with his cured salmon roe. Gamez has been running during the daytime with night trips on certain occasions, and they have returned to the harbor with as many as five limits of sturgeon within the slot. Gamez recently purchased a 30-foot Design Concepts, and he has equipped it with a warm heater in the cabin along with bright LED lights making for great visibility at night. Gamez put his crew onto two legal sturgeon at 48 and 58 inches on a recent night trip along with two oversized to 63 inches and a shaker. All but the larger slot-limit sturgeon was released. He followed this up with five slot-limit sturgeon with four in the box before 9 a.m. on the next morning along with three more legal sturgeon the following day.

Captain Zach Medinas of Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures has been averaging 3 to 4 slot-limit fish on his catch-and-release trips out of Pittsburg Marina at depths from 18 to 30 feet with the larger tides this week. He said, “We have been releasing a few oversized as well. Young David Shigematsu released a slot-limit sturgeon with us on Saturday, and we stayed away from the flotilla that was camped out in the mouth of the Little Cut near Honker Bay.”

Another sign of the majority of sturgeon holding around the Pittsburg area is the movement of Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Fishing from his normal winter spot in Martinez.

Scott Marran of Yuba City was in Honker Bay on Saturday, and he said, “I had been targeting stripers this past week of small tides, but when the boats had been pulling out sturgeon limits or close to limits, I thought it was time to try again. On the incoming tide, the grass was bad, and we released a shaker. By the time the water started moving, I was able to tie into a 58-inch slot fish on salmon roe.”

Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, was out in search of striped bass by drifting mudsuckers along the west end of Decker Island into the first 200 yards around the corner into Horseshoe Bend, and he said, “There were a lot of weeds on the afternoon tide so we chose to drift the live bait. We ended up with limits of stripers to 7 pounds. With this rain, I think the area north of the Rio Vista Bridge from the ferry boat north to Cache Slough will turn on for sturgeon. This bite normally starts when we get some rain, and there is already a big school of sturgeon in the back of Liberty Island feeding on the roe from the lost salmon trapped there. These fish are nearly impossible to reach in the shallow water of the island.”

Alan Fong, manager of the Fishermen’s Warehouse in Sacramento, said, “The rain will help the overall striped bass bite, but we will need at least a week after the rain to get things going. All fishing is going to get better. My assistant manager, Michael Kidwell, was out in Liberty for stripers on Saturday, and it was slow, but I expect it to improve.”.”

For striped bass, Captain Dave Sharp, formerly of Suisun Bait and Tackle, went out on Friday with frozen shad to target linesides above Chain Island. He said, “The stripers had lockjaw, and although we could find them on the meter as they were lit up like a Christmas Tree on the bottom, but they were reluctant to bite. We worked throughout the incoming tide for three legal stripers to 5 pounds, and everything came in deep water. The stripers aren’t running at all right now, and they are just picking up the bait and mouthing it in the cold water. We marked a tremendous amount of sturgeon in the flats above Chain Island.

Tony Lopez of Benicia Bay said, “There haven’t been any salmon coming off of the shoreline, and there aren’t many even trying anymore. School-sized striped bass are present from the shorelines with anchovies, sardines, blood worms, or pile worms, but we getting plenty of reports of sturgeon. Grass shrimp is getting larger, and the sea lice that was in the shrimp has been absent.”

The San Joaquin Delta remains the slower side of the system for anglers, and the striped and largemouth bass are moving towards the slightly-warmer water in the south Delta.

For largemouth bass, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, “The weather coming in this weekend might cloud up the water, but for now, the south Delta is very clear, and that means that you have to slow things down and keep it in front of their face. Scent is very important, and I am using products with Max Scent in the clear, cold water. There are two bites that I am focusing upon – the ima Flit 120 in shad patterns of white with a chartreuse line along with the Bottom Hopper or the Flat Nose Minnow in shad patterns on a Zappu head or drop-shot. When I am throwing the ripbait, I used from 10- to 12-pound Trilene fluorocarbon to keep the lure down around 7 to 8 feet on the outside of the weed line. I am also working areas with hard bottom that the tide clears out the weeds on one tide or the other – keeping weeds from forming. These areas are like a tidepool as the bass will hold on the edges before venturing in quickly through the clearing to feed. Bass are spooked by shadows as birds have always been a threat to their survival, particularly when they are small. When I am using the Zappu or drop-shot, I am using 8-pound fluorocarbon, and the Flat Nose Minnow has been one of the hottest baits around with many bass pros winning tournaments with this lure. You need the Max Scent to really expand the strike zone as the bass are lethargic. We are working depths from 4 to 10 feet in the Delta, and with the lack of sediment in the water, the temperatures have dropped drastically. There is a 30-degree swing between the evening low temperature and the daytime high, and anytime you have a 30 or more-degree swing, fishing is tough as the window for action is much smaller.”

Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, said, “The south south Delta around Tracy has been the place as there are numbers of smaller stripers there. Anglers are tossing lure for the schoolies, and I believe that Discovery Bay is ready to go off as the shad should be stacking up inside there.” Traditionally, Discovery Bay has been a hotspot during the month of December as the shad move towards the slightly warmer water. Even a temperature difference of as little as one degree will cause the bait to move.

In the south Delta, Whiskey Slough and Bacon Island remain the top spots for striped bass with anchovies or frozen shad while bluegill and red ear perch are taken on red worms or jumbo red worms. The bluegill bite has slowed with the colder water. Fresh shad has been absent in most bait shops, but there is an adequate supply of frozen shad.

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

Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez

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

The reaction bite remains essentially non-existent at the coastal lakes, and by far and away, the best bass technique has been with finesse presentation in the warmer waters of the afternoons.

At Nacimiento, the spotted bass bite is challenging with the best action in the afternoons in sunny locations with small plastics such as grubs, tubes, or plastics on the drop-shot or Neko-rig. White bass are missing in action in the colder water. The lake held at 23%. A webcam of the lake is available at lakenacimientolive.com.

At Lopez, the bass bite is also slow with the best action with jigs in deep water. Plastics on the drop-shot, Ned-rig, Neko-rig, or Texas-rig are also working, and similar to the other coastal lakes, the best action is occurring in the warmer waters of the afternoons. The larger grade of bass has been coming on jigs on a football head. Bluegill or red ear perch can be found with meal worms or minicrawlers. A webcam of the lake is available at 805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam.

At Santa Margarita, the bass bite is also slow with the best fishing is on the bottom with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot, Ned-rig, or Texas-rig. Catfish are taken on cut baits soaked in garlic while panfish are found on meal or red worms.

At San Antonio, similarly to the past several weeks, there have been few anglers targeting the lake. Catfish to 5 pounds remain the best bite with cut baits soaked in garlic in deep water. A few small bass are taken on finesse techniques of small plastics on the drop-shot or jigs. The Harris Creek ramp has new launching hours on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The lake held at 16%.

Events

The International Sportsmen’s Exposition scheduled for January 2021 at Cal Expo in Sacramento has been canceled due to the global pandemic, but it will return in 2022.

Tournament results

Pine Flat – Sierra Bass Club – Dec. 12: 1st – Chris Flammang, 8.08 pounds; 2nd – Derrel Green, 7.00; 3rd – Quincy Marrs, 6.92 (Big Fish, 2.71).

McClure – Future Pro Tour – Dec. 5: 1st – Caddick/McCord, 11.19 pounds (Big Fish, 6.18); 2nd – Brazelton/Pors, 8.14; 3rd – Pierson/Beevers, 7.15.

Upcoming tournaments (subject to change)

Dec. 19

Nacimiento – American Bass Association

Jan. 1

Pine Flat – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

Jan. 2

Don Pedro – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies

McClure – American Bass Association

Lopez – American Bass Association

Jan. 3

Don Pedro – California Bass Federation

Jan. 9

New Melones – Sonora Bass Anglers

Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments

Millerton – Kerman Bass Club

Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments

Jan. 10

Don Pedro – Nor Cal High School Bass Tournaments

Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club

Jan. 16

Delta/Russo’s Marina – American Bass Association

Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments

McClure – Sierra Bass Club/Tri Valley Bassmasters/Contra Costa Bass Club

Nacimiento – California Bass Federation/Santa Clara Bass Busters

Jan. 17

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

Millerton – Bass 101

Pine Flat – Kings River Bass Club

Jan. 23

Delta/New Holland Marina – Dan Mathisen Outdoors

Don Pedro – Christian Bass League

Pine Flat – Xtreme Bass Club

Nacimiento – Kern County Bassmasters

Jan. 24

Don Pedro – Riverbank Bass Anglers

Jan. 30

Nacimiento – Golden Empire Bass Club

Jan. 31

Tulloch – Gold Country Jr. Bass Club

McClure – California Bass Federation