Fishing report, March 3-9: Trout biting at Bass Lake; kokanee limit at Shaver

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 still on the bite, Joey Gamez reported. Aqueduct stripers hitting, Pete Cormier said. Success bass fishing good, Gary Wasson reported. New Melones bass active, Ryan Cook reported. Shaver Kokanee warming up, and Bass Lake trout on a jag, Dave Hurley said. Don Pedro trout bite solid, Kyle Wise reported. Millerton bass fishing tops in Valley, Jake Figgs said.

Valley

West-side waterways

Striper 3 Catfish 2

The northern section of the California Aqueduct has seen less activity in the past few weeks, but the water releases should start flowing due to the need for irrigation with the warm weather. Moving water will push the bait into the headgates and provide an ambush point for striped bass.

In the southern section of the aqueduct in Kern County, Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield said, “The aqueduct remains solid for striped bass where the water is moving with small shad-patterned swimbaits or flukes in white ice or pearl along with large to jumbo minnows and cut baits.” Catfishing is best with cut baits.

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

Bass fishing remains very challenging with few stories of success. Catfishing is the best option with chicken liver, anchovies or hot dogs near the dam. The lake rose to 10%.

Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255

Hensley Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2

Similar to Eastman, the largemouth bass bite at Hensley remains slow with the best action taking place for catfish with chicken livers, anchovies or cut baits near the dam. There is the possibility for a quality largemouth on a swimbait since last month’s trout bite, but the chances have been slim. The lake held at 20%.

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 3 Kokanee 1 King salmon 2 Crappie 2

Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service reported trout fishing is solid as the rainbows and king salmon are found with shad-patterned spoons at depths from 30 to 35 feet. The bait is scattered, and the best trolling occurs along the banks with lead core as the downriggers might get hung up. Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “The bass bite remains very tough overall, but there is a good early bite within the first hour of daylight before the bass move into deep water. During Sunday’s Ed Lacy Memorial Tournament which was a fundraiser for the Gold Country Junior Bass Club, the larger fish were taken on big plastics on a slow presentation or with jerkbaits or spinnerbaits in the early morning. There is a reaction bite in the shallows before they back off to the 20- to 40-foot range.” There were four limits of 13 pounds during the tournament. The lake held at 68%.

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

Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported the best action has been for catfish on frozen shad, Triple S Dip Bait, chicken livers, or nightcrawlers, but the crappie and bass bite has been slow. A few largemouth bass have been taken on jigs on a slow presentation. The annual Lake Isabella Kern Valley Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby will take a different format this year, and it will be held from April 24 through Sept. 6. A total of 500 tagged trout valued from $20 to $500, and the organizers are designed a virtual format for the event. Information is available at kernrivervalley.com/2020-isabella-lake-fishing-derby. French Gulch Marina hosts the only launch ramp with the low lake level. The lake held at 17%. With the last trout plant at Buena Vista a few weeks ago, the trout action remains slow with the occasional Lightning Trout taken on Power Bait. Crappie, bluegill, or catfish are options at Buena Vista. Lake Ming was planted with rainbows this week, and Power Bait, Mice Tails, and nightcrawlers are all working for the planters. A large crappie was also landed out of Ming. The River Walk was also stocked this past week. The upper Kern River was planted, and the best opportunities for both planters and holdovers are in the deep holes with Power Bait, Power Eggs, salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, or live crickets. Fly fishermen are scoring with small nymphs or Woolly Buggers, and there have been some larger holdovers landed recently.

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, said, “The bass are still on the deep side with finesse techniques.” The Cen Cal Elite Bass Club held a tournament for both adults and youth on Saturday, and the winning limit was just over 12 pounds with a big fish pushing 3 pounds. The lake rose to 12%.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Lake Success/Tule River

Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2

The Xtreme (formerly Porterville) Bass Club held a tournament on Saturday, and the winning limit was over 19 pounds for nearly a 4-pound average. Wasson, who is club president, said, “There is a good bite with finesse techniques at 15 feet in depth.” Chuck Stokke of the Sequoia Fishing Company said, “The bass should be moving into shallow water with the springlike conditions, and with the recent trout plants, there have been some larger fish taken on deep-running trout-patterned swimbaits along with jigs, and plastics on the drop-shot.” The lake held at 14%.

On the Tule, Stokke said, “The river has been slower as well, and most anglers are soaking nightcrawlers for a few recent planters.”

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 River Rat tournament on Saturday produced a winning weight in excess of 11 pounds with another big fish at 6.95 pounds, but the remainder of limits were less than 9 pounds. John Liechty of Xperience Bass Fishing Guide Service took second place, and he said, “It was really a tough bite as everything was on the bottom with almost all of our bass in the 1-pound or slightly larger range. We did get our big fish over 3 pounds on a reaction bait, but the majority of bass were very thin. The winds blew so hard on Saturday that it was hard to feel a finesse bite in the afternoons.” 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 held at 38%.

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

McSwain Reservoir

Trout 2

Minimal change at McSwain as a trout plant has yet to occur or be reported. As a result, trout fishing remains very slow from banks at the Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile, and the peninsula by the Marina has with various colors of trout dough bait, or inflated nightcrawlers.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River

Bass 3 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2

Jake Figgs of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “This has been the top bass lake in the region, and the best fishing has been taking place in the main lake around Winchell’s Cove, Duma Cove, or the cuts into Finegold Cove for limits in the 7- to 8-pound range with soft plastics in natural colors such as green pumpkin or Hologram Shad at depths from 10 to 20 feet. In the river arm, the bass are holding slightly deeper at 25 to 30 feet, and larger plastic worms are advised. The lake held at 32% with work taking place at K2 Power House for the next three months.

State park hours at Millerton beginning March 1 are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A trout plant is scheduled for Sycamore Park Pond this week. Sycamore Island is open Fridays through Sundays and state holidays through Nov. 11. Seasonal hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in March.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 1

Liechty said, “The swimbait action has been basically non-existent although we have been trying on occasion without much success. Plastics on a dart-head will produce unlimited numbers of solid fish, but the swimbaits aren’t doing anything right now.” Cook said, “I have been focusing in the creek channels, secondary points, and humps from the bank to 20 feet with glide baits, ripbaits or spinnerbaits, and you can also find them with plastics on the drop-shot. It is video game fishing, you find them on the meter, and drop down on them.” Trout trolling has been fair with the planted rainbows spreading throughout the lake, and the crappie are scarce. It takes a lot of effort to locate the crappie schools. 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. Bass tournaments have been placed on hold for the next few months. The lake held at 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 2 Crappie 2

The bass bite remains brutal for most with nearly all of Saturday’s 76-boat tournament struggling for 7 pounds or less, but the winning limit was massive at 24.59 pounds by Colin and Jace Degough with a big fish at 7.09 pounds, but that wasn’t the big fish of the tournament as the team of Jason Horn/Rusty Mart landed one at 7.87 as part of a 12.18-pound limit. There must be a few large fish willing to strike a swimbait or other large-profile bait. Finesse techniques remain the most consistent with plastics in green pumpkin or watermelon seed on the shaky head, drop-shot or tubes on light line working best on the bottom. Crappie are found around the Deer Creek Marina with minijigs or minnows while planted rainbows are showing up for trollers working Needlefish or Apex lures in Cop Car along with Wedding Rings in red or green tipped with a nightcrawler at depths to 40 feet. The lake rose slightly to 24%.

The last plant on the lower Kings River took place a week ago, and the action slowed down from the banks. A few planters are taken on nightcrawlers, trout dough bait or Panther Martins where the fast water transitions into slower current. The harvest zone is between the dam and Alta (Cobbles) Weir, and between Alta Weir and Highway 180 is a catch-and-release zone with a zero limit.

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 2

Roger George of Roger’s Guide Service said, “Fishing in the main lake has been slow due to heavy wind storms and the full moon on Saturday; in between windows of fishable conditions. I fished the big lake three days this week, and each day was from a tough to a barely decent bite. While scouting on Monday, I picked up about 13 fish to 24 inches in much nicer weather at 50 to 70 feet in the main lake on Lucky Crafts and Rapalas. I fished Thursday with Howard and Scott Eastom of Fresno along with Scott’s 10-year-old son, Brody, and we were able to release 12 nice school fish trolling around 70 to 80 feet with several regular types of minnow-colored lures. Brody got his personal-best 23-inch striper on the trip. The bite shut off right after noon with the moon coming up. The overall bite was down all week for minnow soakers as well as ripbaits, topwaters and trolling anglers with the fish suspending over deeper water. They are now releasing a little bit of water each day with water temperatures hanging around 55.5 degrees, rising to nearly 60 degrees during the day. The windstorms and now the full moon will probably slow things down till later this week.” The lake rose to 58%. Mickey Clements at Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, “The forebay remains consistent for numbers of striped bass from 16 to 18 inches near the Highway 33 side with pile worms, blood worms, or cut anchovies. Anglers are culling through several linesides in order to put together a legal limit. There is a reaction bite with large flukes on an underspin or lipless crankbaits in the early mornings, but parking is limited as the lot fills up and vehicles have to park alongside the highway far from 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 the 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 March 19. Updated information is available at fs.usda.gov/sierra.

Bass Lake

Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1

Trout fishing has been outstanding for experienced trollers as Manny Romero and his son, Jared, of Clovis scored two limits on both Saturday and Sunday along with a 15-inch kokanee using Rocky Mountain Tackle spinner hoochies or watermelon spinners behind a Mag Tackle dodger at depths from 9 to 32 feet near the dam, The reaction bite for bass has improved with LV 500s or jerkbaits in natural shad patterns. The Sheriff’s Motor Fee remains in effect. The lake held at 53%, but launching a large boat at the public dock is a challenge.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool

Edison held at 21% and Florence at 10% with Mammoth Pool rising slightly to 39%.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake

Kokanee 3 Trout 2

Great weather allowed 10 boats to launch on Sunday, and although the bite has been tough for trollers over the past week, John Parker of Visalia took advantage of the break in the weather and landed a limit of four kokanee and a trout from 13 to 16 inches trolling from the point to the island with micro-hoochies in orange or pink behind a Moon Jelly Teardrop dodger with orange or Pink UV. The lake held at 74%. Launch conditions can be seen via webcam at sierramarina.com/camera.html.

Sections of Huntington Lake near the dam have a coating of ice, but the thickness of the ice has not been verified. The lake dropped to 41%.

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

The McKinley Grove Road is closed at Dinkey Creek, ending access to the two lakes on the upper Kings River watershed.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Striper 2 White sea bass 1 Crab 3 Sand dabs 2 Surf perch 2

Captain Tom Mattusch of the Huli Cat is the only party boat running, and the found great action on Sunday for 6 limits of Dungeness crab with as many as 22 in a single pot, 68 sand dabs, and 2 petrale sole to 2 pounds. The crab counts were a boost from recent scores. Dungeness crab season lasts until June 30.

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

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Striper 2 White sea bass 1 Crab 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching said, “We ran trips both days over the weekend, and we came back with a load of sand dab along with a few crab per person. There is quite a big of market-grade squid out there, and the anglers were hooking the squid on the Sabiki rigs while targeting sand dabs. We are running a special sand dab/petrale sole trip on Tuesday since we have the weather, and I plan on running some of these petrale trips into June when the schools of sole are the thickest. There was a salmon caught and released in one of the squid boats nets, and the water is getting good with krill starting to form in anticipation of salmon season opening in April.”

Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak and Surfcasting Guide Service said, “Chris Arcoleo has been capitalizing on the petrale sole this year, and his technique includes fishing deeper waters, “You have to get out to 50 or 55 fathoms,” Said Arcoleo. “There’s no limit on the number of fish you can keep and we can use modified sand dab rigs. Usually we go with six-hook rigs, using 4/0 or 5/0 hooks. A little piece of squid on each hook. We’ve had three or four really good days this year, and we’re not fishing for them every day. You gotta be able to fish them with not much wind or swell. If it’s too bumpy they just don’t bite. We find them in the flat sandy areas deeper than 300 feet.” Jeremy Streig, a wholesale buyer and owner of Harbor Pride Seafood, who sells to fine local restaurants and markets, loves the petrale sole saying,” not a lot a guys target the petrale, but it’s one of the best fish in our local waters. It has light, mild and flaky meat. With some rice flour, salt and pepper it’s one of the best out there for table fare.” Many sport anglers will go out to the 200-foot area for sand dabs. It might be time to go just a little bit deeper for the bigger and more valued petrale as we wait for halibut to come in, and for rockfish and salmon seasons to start. Good news from the Santa Cruz Harbormaster’s office indicates progress on clearing the severely shoaled entrance channel at the harbor. Last week, the office issued an update that included this information: “The dredge crew has been working an extended schedule over the last several weeks to restore depths in the Santa Cruz Harbor federal entrance channel. Over the weekend, the crew was able to significantly deepen the outer sandbar between the jetties. The federal entrance channel is now passable for most small craft.”

The Office also cautions, “While depths in the entrance have vastly improved, hazards still exist. Mariners are advised to plan ahead and use caution when attempting to transit the entrance. Shallow areas with breaking surf remain and depth conditions are subject to rapid change. All mariners wishing to transit the entrance should know their vessel’s draft and are strongly encouraged to check conditions in advance of their voyage, including the current sounding, as well as tide, surf height, weather, and wind forecasts.”

Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported continued good surf perch fishing, and anglers are starting to dig up sand crabs for bait as they are showing up near the surface. The Lucky 13 Fishing motor oil grubs or the Honey Badger Motoroil 2 grubs are also effective.

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

San Francisco Bay

Halibut 2 Striper 2 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2

The annual Salmon Information meeting on Feb. 25 did not bring good news for commercial and recreational salmon fishermen as state and federal fishery scientists outlined estimates of catch in 2020 fisheries and spawner returns to rivers and hatcheries along with the expected salmon abundance for the upcoming fishing season.

The news isn’t good as the 2021 projection for ocean abundance for Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon is about 200,000 lower than last year’s forecast at 271,000 adult salmon while the Klamath River fall Chinook abundance remains significantly below the long-term average although at 181,500 adult salmon, it is slightly higher than last year’s forecast.

The low estimates will definitely impact the upcoming seasons, and three alternatives will be developed for the virtual Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting held on March 2-5 and 8-11 before final regulations are adopted at the subsequent meeting on April 6-9 and 12-15.

The continued downward trend of salmon estimates has raised serious concerns by representatives of fishery groups who are desperately attempting to improve conditions. Party boats out of San Francisco, Berkeley, and Emeryville are already booking halibut trolling trips in early March, and although it is very early, there are halibut showing up in the bay. The lack of fresh water inflow from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta has led to very salty conditions in the bay, and anchovies have pushed in. With the anchovies, the halibut and striped bass are holding in the bay. Live anchovies are not available, and the party boats will be trolling hoochies or drifting frozen anchovies or herring known as ‘Popsicles.” Sturgeon fishing in San Pablo Bay remains very slow although there have been more sturgeon observed jumping between the Pumphouse and the wreck of the Corregidor. A smaller herring spawn took place off of Sausalito this week.

Reminder: White sturgeon may not be taken in the following described area between Jan. 1 and March 15: That portion of San Francisco Bay included within the following boundaries: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Pt. Lobos and Pt. Bonita.

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

Surf perch 2

The ports of Port San Luis and Morro Bay will be running nature trips and whale watching until the April 1 rockfish opener. The other action is surf perch from the piers and the beaches.

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

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2

High winds arrived over the weekend on the Sacramento-Delta, and between the huge minus tides early in the week along with gusty winds to 40 mph on Saturday, the main river has turned muddy, creating tougher conditions for striped bass anglers. The muddy water hasn’t bothered the sturgeon; however, and the only limiting factor to success was the high winds making anchoring impossible on Saturday.

Sturgeon fishing remains tremendous with Captain Joey Gamez of Golden State Sport Fishing returning with six slot-limit sturgeon by 11:20 a.m. on Thursday morning along with 3 short and a big oversized working both tides with salmon roe at the Middle Grounds. He was back out for more action on an evening trip on Thursday for another four limits. Friday’s trip brought more of the same with three limits before canceling on Saturday due to the winds.

Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing was back out with legendary Captain Jim Smith on his private boat at the end of the week, and they were also anchored at the Middle Grounds. Smith’s friend, Dave Rasmussen kept a 44-inch slot limit sturgeon along with releasing a huge 77-inch oversized using Mitchell’s salmon roe. Mitchell is back in business after his custom wrap on the ‘Top Gun’ took quite a bit longer than anticipated.

Mitchell advised, “The saltwater has intruded as far as the Mothball Fleet, and there are a number of small bait-stealing Dungeness crab that far into the river system. Most of our success has been with cured salmon roe as the uncured salmon roe has not been working. The key right now is to cut the salt out of your cure since we are finding that the sturgeon are biting on cured roe without salt added since there is so much saltwater already in the river.”

Mike Funtanilla of BendUrRod Guide Service found good action on Sunday working out of Pittsburg Marina with quality slot limit fish along with another big slot fish lost at the boat.

Captain Steve Talmadge of Flash Sport Fishing reported his second Captain Charles Kimberly also found great action on Sunday with three slot-limit sturgeon right out in front of the Pittsburg Harbor.

Scott Marran of Yuba City took out his friend, Jerry Kendricks, and he said, “We went to the spot where everyone had killed them yesterday, but the sturgeon left so we ran back to the Big Cut and fell on them with Kendricks landing a 50-incher before we lost one to a broken hook. We ended with a double hookup with a 46-inch slot fish and a 68-inch oversized.”

For striped bass, Chris Ditter of HeadRush Guide Service was out with Captain James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service early in the week along the West Bank, and after finding tough action for the majority of the day, they located a pod of stripers and put in 5 keepers to 8 pounds within 15 minutes. Ditter said, “The weeds were down, but the water became murky on the outgoing tide.” Ditter was back out on Friday, and he said, “The tides and the wind left us with 6 inches of visibility on the West Bank, and we had to cover a lot of water to find two keeper stripers on the troll. We left the West Bank and headed up river to Miner Slough in search of clear water, and we found clear water, but no stripers. The next stop was in the Old Sacramento near Vieira’s Resort, and once again, we found clear water with no fish. Our last stop was in the San Joaquin, and we were able to find a single striper there, and once again, the water was clearer as expected. The big school of stripers that were here last week seems to have pushed through, and we are looking for the next school.” Ditter is conducting a seminar on striped bass trolling, drifting, spooning, and plugging techniques, Thursday, March 4th at Freeport Market starting at 7:00 p.m.

Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, was on the West Bank on Thursday, and he said, “It is very windy and the water is dirty with around 8 inches of visibility. I was drifting minnows, but with the conditions, we found no biting striped bass.” Wang plans on being back on the Sacramento on Monday hoping for clearer water with the smaller tides and lack of wind for two days, and he will start off near Collinsville by drifting jumbo minnows or mudsuckers.

Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley will be starting his Delta striped bass trips this week.

Captain James Netzel of Tight Lines Guide Service will be operating out of Lighthouse Marina for the spring striped bass season, and he will be keeping his boat on his trailer in order to launch out of Brannan Island if the bite is better on the Sacramento River. He was out with Ditter on Monday, and he plants on being back on the water this week, but overall, he said, “It’s been pretty slow right now.”

Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait reported school stripers have been the story along the shoreline in town.

The San Joaquin-Delta continues to clear up, and the largemouth bass are starting to move into the shallows. The spring time bite continues to improve as the larger females are moving in closer while the males are cruising the banks.

Kris Huff of Stockton and Phenix Rods said, “The bass are starting their springtime transition, and although they aren’t on the flats yet, they aren’t far off. I’ve been finding solid limits of largemouths at depths from 4 to 8 feet with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot with the occasional reaction fish in between.”

Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen Outdoors said, “Flipping big Senkos in Italian Slough has been producing quality largemouth bass, and there is an afternoon frog bite when the wind is down. Unfortunately, it has been windy for the past few days.”

Johnny Tran, manager of Turner’s Outdoors in Stockton, reported anglers have been picking up the big brooder minnows along the sloughs off of Eight Mile Road and drifting either the shiners or mudsuckers for striped bass in the Old River Flats and along the Santa Clara or San Andreas Shoals. He said, “The brooder minnows will disappear now as this only lasts for a few months in the sloughs before they are gone.”

Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait in Tackle said, “It has been slow on the San Joaquin side of the Delta with the heavy winds over the weekends, but there are stripers moving into the San Joaquin near Lathrop. Most of these linesides are undersized, but they are boiling on the surface in the mornings and evenings. I think the main run will arrive in the next three weeks as there have been stripers in the 5- to 7-pound range taken on the San Joaquin past Mossdale near Sturgeon Bend and Two River by drifting jumbo minnows. We haven’t been able to get fresh shad yet of any quantity, but we have plenty of frozen shad in the shop.”

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 3 Crappie 2 Bluegill 2

At Nacimiento, a few white bass are starting to show up with the warmer weather conditions, and the warm weather also brought the spotted bass and crappie closer to the banks. Plastics on the drop-shot, split-shot, or dart head along with small profile jigs or tubes are working for the spots with minijigs best for crappie. The lake held at 41%. A webcam of the lake is available at lakenacimientolive.com.

At Lopez, the recent trout plants have spurred on the bite for a few planters per rod with the best action taking place on the troll with Rapalas or spoons while bank anglers are picking up a few with Power Bait or nightcrawlers adjacent to deeper water. Bass fishing remains slow, but the trout plants should bring out the swimbait bite although the most consistent action is on the bottom with plastics or jigs. A webcam of the lake is available at 805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam.

At Santa Margarita, the buck bass are starting to cruise in the shallows, and the reaction bite has improved with spinnerbaits while the most consistent action remains on medium to large plastics on the drop-shot or Texas rig along with dragging lizards, jigs, or Senkos. The larger female bass are holding off of the banks, but the occasional trophy to 9 pounds is landed while the average quality bass runs a few pounds. Crappie action is heating up, and there have been some large slabs taken on tubes, spoons, or small swimbaits. Catfishing is also improving there have been some quality whiskerfish in excess of 10 pounds on cut baits coated with garlic scent.

At San Antonio, there is minimal change with catfish remaining the top species with scented cut baits near moving water at the inlets with the occasional small bass taken on finesse plastics. The lake held at 20%.

Events

Tournament results

Pine Flat – Feb. 27: 1st – Colin and Jace Degough – 24.59 pounds (Big Fish – 7.09); 2nd – Jason Horn/Rusty Mart – 12.18 (Big Fish – 7.87); 3rd –Reece Wells – 11.07.

McClure – River Rat – Feb. 27: 1st – Jeremy Champ/David Heireinti– 11.78 pounds (Big Fish – 6.95); 2nd – John Liechty/Rob Betsch – 8.36; 3rd –Art Romero/Troy Watt – 7.86.

Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments Adult Division – Feb. 27: 1st – Tray and Jerry Williams– 12.11 pounds (Big Fish – 2.96); 2nd – David and Gage Coy – 10.87; 3rd –Troy Larsen/Daniel Moreno – 9.38. Youth Division – Feb. 27: 1st – Jaime Marquez/Teran Warden – 6.76 pounds (Big Fish – 2.69); 2nd –Josh and Trenton Housey – 6.76; 3rd – Jason and Colton Rader – 6.18.

Success– Xtreme Bass Club - Feb. 27: 1st – Joe Baeza/Rick Helgeson – 19.09 pounds; 2nd –Rodger Patterson– 17.46; 3rd – Jaime Marquez/Grant Byers– 13.46.

Don Pedro – Gold Country Junior Bass Tour/Ed Lacy Memorial - Feb. 28: 1st – Charles and Jim Welch – 16.86 pounds (Big Fish – 6.97); 2nd – Michael Bray/John Myers – 13.95; 3rd – Trevor Krug/Jeff Earney – 13.35.

Upcoming tournaments (subject to change)

March 5-7

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Angler’s Press

March 5

McClure – American Bass Association

March 6

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies

Tulloch – Sonora Bass Anglers

Eastman – Kerman Bass Club

San Antonio – Bakersfield Bass Club

March 7

Don Pedro – Rio Vista High School Bass

Pine Flat – California Bass Federation

March 12-13

Delta/Russo’s Marina – American Bass Association

March 13

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Bass Anglers of Northern California

Delta/Big Break Marina – Bass N’ Tubes

New Melones – Gilroy Bassmasters

Tulloch – Kings VIII Bass Club

Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments/17-90 Bass Club

McClure – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

Nacimiento – American Bass Association

March 20-21

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

Don Pedro – Sierra Bass Club

March 20

Don Pedro – Christian Bass League

McClure – California Bass Nation

Hensley -River Rats

Kaweah – Xtreme Bass Club

Success – Golden Empire Bass Club

Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments

San Antonio – Kern County Bassmasters

March 21

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal High School Bass/Modesto Ambassadors

Salt Springs – Gold Country Junior Bass Club

Kaweah – Kings River Bass Club

Don Pedro – Fresno Bass Club

March 26-28

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Wild West Bass Trails

March 27-28

Success – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

March 27

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Merced Bass Club

Nacimiento – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers

March 28-29

Don Pedro – Kerman Bass Club

March 28

Delta/B and W Resort – California Bass Federation

Pine Flat – Bass 101