Fishing Report: Week of July 8

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. Have a photo of a recent catch to share? Email it to sports@fresnobee.com with “fish photo” in the subject line.

Best bets

Courtright is top trout location, Chuck Crane said. Mendota bass bite good, Merritt Gilbert reported. McClure bass hitting, and Mammoth Pool trout action continues, Dave Hurley said. San Francisco Bay striper, halibut and salmon action good, Jim Smith reported.

Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

The Firebaugh section of the California Aqueduct remained the top location for ’duct fishermen in the Fresno area, but Steve Newman of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis touted Mendota Slough for largemouth bass for anglers flipping Brush Hogs or Senkos. The fishermen started off targeting striped bass, but they switched to largemouth bass once the stripers weren’t present. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, the annual Catfish Derby at Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield began July 1 with a $1 entry. The leading whiskerfish weighed in at 12 pounds, 10 ounces by Paul Perkins of Fresno in the Aqueduct past Pyramid Lake in the Grapevine. Katnip Beef Bait, garlic shrimp or super meal are top options. Jeff Prickett of Bakersfield took Bob’s June Striper Derby with a 10-pound lineside.

It’s quality, not quantity at Eastman with the night bite bringing out some of the larger bass with buzzbaits or chatterbaits. A moving bait that displaces water is the best option for quality fish. Catfish are loading up on chicken livers or nightcrawlers, particularly at night. Low water levels continue to turn unmarked rockpiles into boating hazards. Bluegill are found along the southern dam abutment where vegetation is high. There is “no-wake zone” in the northeast section of the lake, and at the Raymond Recreation Area Bridge fishing is permitted from there to the buoy 1,000 feet to the south. This area is not accessible by vehicle from the rest of the park, but can be reached by following Road 600 north of Raymond to Road 613. Turn left, and follow Road 603 to the bridge parking lot. The area of the lake extending upstream from the buoy line near the Cordoniz Launch Ramp remains closed to accommodate nesting bald eagles. The lake held at 8% capacity, dropping slightly to 468.89 feet in elevation.

Call: Six Star Tackle Box 673-5688; Eastman Lake 689-3255

Larger bass to 6 pounds have been taken on chatterbaits or Senkos in green pumpkin on top of rockpiles. Low water conditions are keeping most boaters off the lake, but a few are willing to launch in the shallow lake. Catfish to 12 pounds are biting chicken livers throughout the night, with the best action near rocky structure. Updated launch conditions are available through the Ranger Station at the Corps of Engineers office. The lake dropped three-quarters of a foot to 449.12 in elevation and 6% capacity.

Call: Fresno Fisherman’s Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Six Star Tackle Box 673-5688; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151

The lake continues to steadily release water, and patience is required to launch from the one-lane ramp at Fleming Meadows. Bass fishing remained best with live minnows from the bank, and large minnows have re-emerged in area bait shops. Recreational boaters dominated the lake during the holiday weekend, but kokanee are still available at depths to 80 feet with micro-hoochies in pink, orange, blue or green behind a small dodger. King salmon are holding along with the kokanee schools. The lake dropped 3 feet to 690.80 in elevation and 37% capacity.

Call: Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fish’n Dan (209) 586-2383; Gary Vella (209) 652-7550; Bait Barn (209) 874-3011

Catfish are the best thing happening at Lake Isabella, and Jacob Rutledge of Bob’s Bait in Bakersfield reported super meal worms, Katnip Beef Bait, garlic shrimp, anchovies or mackerel are all working for the whiskerfish in the south end of the lake. Crappie, bass and trout action remained slow. With the low lake levels, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed to launch a vessel from the dirt ramp near Red’s Marina. There are no marinas or courtesy docks in the lake. The lake dropped a half-foot to 2,525.47 in elevation and 6% capacity. The lower river has been kicking out largemouth and smallmouth bass on plastic worms near Democrat or Sandy Flat. Trout fishing on the upper Kern remained fair in the low water. The holdovers are in the deeper pools with salmon eggs, crickets or nightcrawlers. Buena Vista is best for catfish, with no reports of crappie. Rutledge has been finding good action at Truxton for bass to 3 pounds on Senkos or various plastics.

Call: Bob’s Bait (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812

Larry Kerns of the Visalia Bass Club reported a tough bass bite, with the water dropping every day. He said, “It is tougher than nails right now, as fishermen have not been able to establish any pattern.” Topwater lures in the mornings and evenings as well as dragging Brush Hogs or lizards are picking up a few fish. The Visalia Bass Club has a night tournament this Friday. The lake dropped another 5 feet to 629.33 in elevation and 24% capacity. Chicken liver, night crawlers or sardines are working from the banks, with the best catfish action at night.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

The lake is low at 9% capacity and 588.80 feet in elevation after dropping another foot this week. The bass bite remains slow during the day because of the extremely hot temperatures. Dragging the bottom with lizards, Brush Hogs, jigs or plastic worms on a very slow presentation is the top technique. There is a reaction bite in the early mornings or evenings with topwater lures. Chicken livers sardines, or mackerel are working for catfish with the best action at night.

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

The South Barrett Cove launch ramp has closed as the water level has dropped to 12% capacity and 360.85 feet in elevation, receding 6 feet within the past week. The North Barrett Cove ramp is still operational with no time restrictions. The ramp requires a long walk back to the parking lot unless you arrive early. Bass fishing remained excellent with live minnows from the banks. Information on the ramp is available at (855) 222-5253.

Call: A-1 Bait (209) 563-6505; Bub Tosh (209) 404-0053

The McSwain Marina is now closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. The water temperature remained at 72 degrees, and a number of spotted bass have entered from upstream McClure. There are as many bass as trout landed as trollers are working as deep as 35 feet. There will be no new plants for the summer, and a possible resumption beyond that will be reviewed in August based upon water temperatures.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Steve Newman of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported a consistent bass bite for numbers, but size is limited. The best action has been on the bottom with green patterns of plastics worms such as green Christmas, Zoom’s Watermelon Magic or greenpumpkin. The fish are holding from 20-40 feet, and the action is clearly a summertime Millerton finesse bite. The reaction bite is slow. All vessels must possess a low-emission motor. Once the lake starts to recede, the low, low water ramp that hasn’t been in operation since the ’70s may be the only option for launching a vessel. Millerton rose 2.5 feet to 487.71 in elevation and 35% capacity. In the lower San Joaquin at Sycamore Island, Tom Stern, Park Operations Manager of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust said, “Gerald Turner of Fresno caught and released a 7-pound, 13-ounce largemouth on a chartreuse/white chatterbait, and Bill Tuell, who has been fishing almost every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday since the Feb. 1 opener, caught and released his 442nd bass on a yellow/green Rattler. Most of his fish have been taken either on purple Senkos or rattling baits.” Regulations on the lower San Joaquin, and from Friant Dam downstream to the Highway 140 Bridge, allow only two hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead with a total of four in possession.

Call: Fresno Fisherman’s Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474

Catfish are providing the most consistent action at the lake, with John Lietchy of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp reporting, “The catfish are in the shallows and feeding heavily, and this has been one of the best years for catfish with anglers reporting as many as a dozen cats on each trip. The action is best at night with frozen shad, anchovies, or mackerel fished weightless on a sliding sinker rig.” The kokanee bite picked up again during the past week, but it is not red hot by any means as both the trout and kokanee have dropped into the deepest water in the main lake from the dam to the spillway. Gary Burns of Take It To The Limit Guide Service said, “The fish have been hitting Apex lures better than most lures, and a small Glitterbug teardrop dodger works well in front of the Apex. Tipping the lures with garlic scent will help boat a few more fish.” Trout fishing is best at depths to 70 feet with larger baits in black, purple or blue displacing more water in the depths. Bass action remained solid, with fish moving deeper to 35-45 feet. Lietchy added, “The lake is full of spotted bass, and we are working half-ounce jigs on the bottom during the day. The fish are up in the shallows in the early mornings and also on overcast days.” Crappie fishing is best at night under lights with small minnows or minijigs. The launch ramp is the best shape it has been in months as the gravel is now placed on top of a layer of hard pan. A four-wheel drive is recommended to place a boat into the lake; there is no courtesy dock. New Melones dropped 3.5 feet to 832.87 in elevation and 16% capacity. Tulloch rose slightly to 509.43 and 99%. Recreational boating remains the top summer feature of Tulloch.

Call: Glory Hole Sports (209) 736-4333; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; Danny Layne-Fish’n Dan (209) 586-2383; Sierra Sport Fishing (209) 599-2023

At Pine Flat, Steve Newman of Valley Rod in Clovis said, “The best bass action has been at night with buzzbaits or topwater Poppers. The larger half- to 1-ounce ledge buster style of buzzbait is effective at night due to the heavy vibration. During the day, working the bottom with drop-shot plastics as deep as 35 feet is productive.” Trout trolling remained slow as the fish have dropped deep in the water column. Catfish from 1.5-3 pounds are found on anchovies near Deer Creek or the Cove Island Marina. The lake dropped 6 feet in the past week to 778.83 in elevation and 25% capacity. In the lower Kings River, higher flows due to heavy water releases are bringing out a few more bank fishermen, and spinners are working best in the fast water as bait has a tendency to get hung on the bottom. Regulations in the Kings River above and below Pine Flat Dam set the season as running from the last Saturday in April to Nov. 15 from Pine Flat Dam downstream to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bridge on Pine Flat Road with a five-fish limit. The bridge is the first one to the west of the dam.

Call: Fresno Fisherman’s Warehouse 225-1838; Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626; The I Forgot Store 787-3689

In the main San Luis Reservoir, striped bass in the 24- to 26-inch range are possible with mooched anchovies or large minnows. Bait shops are starting to get in a trickle of large minnows, but extra-large and jumbo minnows are still unavailable. Trollers are finding limited success with Yozuri Crystal Minnows or similar lures at depths to 75 feet above structure. Roger George of Roger George’s Guide Service said he didn’t guide during the holiday week but said that Los Banos Dentist Jordan Combs told him he landed and released a striper in the high teens on a trolled lure in the big lake. Catfish action from the banks has been very good with whiskerfish in the 15- to 25-pound range reported with blood worms, anchovies or mackerel. In the Forebay, small stripers are the rule, and undersized linesides dominate action near Check 12 or under the Highway 152 Bridge. Blood worms, pile worms or anchovies are working, but because of weather conditions on the East Coast, blood and pile worms have been scarce. The weed growth is starting to take over the lake, but jerkbaits, hair raisers or single-tailed swimbaits are working in the open holes in the weeds. The lake continues to release water at a rapid clip for agricultural and domestic uses, and it dropped 4% to 37% capacity with the outflow of 11,567 acre-feet Monday.

Call: Coyote Bait andTackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George of rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954

At Bass Lake, heavy boat traffic over the Independence Day weekend slowed trout and bass action as recreational boaters invaded in force. During the week, boat traffic starts midmorning, and the dam is the only location in which to troll in order to stay safe. Kokanee are still a mystery, but Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service said, “A few chunky rainbows can be taken on Radical Glow Tubes behind a RMT dodger at depths to 30 feet.” A few bass fishermen are walking the banks in the evenings with drop-shot plastics or Senkos. The lake dropped to 51% capacity, and launching a large boat requires skill and experience.

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

At Mammoth Pool, trout fishing remains very good with Mepp’s spinners, Kastmasters or Roostertails in gold patterns from the banks. The lake is starting to release water, dropping to 79% capacity. Over Kaiser Pass, Lake Edison has risen to 18% after being below 10% for most of the year. Florence held at 34%.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

The kokanee remain scarce at Shaver Lake, and Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “The kokanee bite is nowhere to be found, and the trout bite is also slow, but a limit per boat of rainbows is possible if you stick with it throughout the day.” He has been conversing with several experienced trollers, and they are all frustrated with the lake’s action. He added, “Carl House and Earl Taniguchi of Fresno are some of the best kokanee fishermen that I know, and they only picked up one rainbow and no kokanee for a day’s fishing. Both Earl and I can only believe that the kokanee are holding tight to the bottom, but they are marking few fish.” Nichols plans to work just above the bottom structure in an attempt to roust up the kokanee. Rainbow action is limited, and a trout plant is needed to spur on the bite. The good news at the lake is the smallmouth bite is red hot with bass in the 1- to 1.5-pound range taken on live crickets or plastics around rocky structure. Bob Bernier of Fresno landed a smallmouth nearly 2 pounds in weight, unusual as Shaver Lake smallmouth have traditionally been on the small side. Bank fishing has generally been slow, but the best action has been around Roads 1 or 2 and near Shaver Marina with trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers. Steve Santoro of Fish Box Charters confirmed the slow bite, stating, “The fish are scattered due to heavy boat traffic over the holiday weekend. My clients landed some quality rainbows at the start of the week on Apex lures, but the bite got tough closer to the holiday.” Huntington is a solid option for kayakers and small aluminum boaters with 5-inch rainbow trout or brown trout pattern lures as the trout are feeding on small trout. Steve Newman of Valley Rod and Gun found good action with a silver Thomas Buoyant near the dam. The Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project’s fifth annual Sportsmen’s fundraising dinner is Aug. 8 at Shaver Community Center. Tickets are available at Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis and Ken’s Market, Pub and Grub, Captain Jack’s Tackle and Shaver Lake Sports, all in Shaver Lake. Huntington has dropped to 57%; Shaver has risen to 64%.

Call: Dick’s Fishing Charters 841-2740; Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435; Rancheria Marina 893-3234; Shaver Lake Sports Inc. 841-2740

Wishon has slowed within the past week with a smaller grade of rainbows dominating action, but Courtright and Mammoth Pool are solid options for high country trout fishermen. Chuck Crane of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store said, “Trout fishing at Wishon has been slower this week with rainbows in the 10- to 12-inch range found on the far side of the lake with nightcrawlers 18-24 inches behind a dodger at depths from 3-4 colors of lead core. The best action has been between the dam and the mouth of Woodchuck Creek.” Shore fishing is fair along the dam or at the mouth of Short Hair Creek with trout dough bait in pink or orange. Courtright is the best location in the area for both rainbows and browns with trout in the 12- to 18-inch range possible on blade/crawler combinations, Thomas Buoyants, or Rapalas at 3-4 colors. Brook Pond of Lemoore landed an 18-inch rainbow pulling a pink/silver Thomas Buoyant near the far side of the lake at 3 colors of lead core. Crane added, “Brown trout to 16 inches have been landed primarily on Rapalas.” Shore fishing is best along the dam with orange trout dough bait. The Department of Fish and Wildlife made heavy plants of quarter-pound rainbows into both lakes with the intent of these fish growing at a rapid pace throughout the summer months. The rainbows are already showing signs of growth, although most of the fish remain on the small side.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Second Captain Mike Cabanas of the Huli Cat was out with a big load with Captain Tom Mattusch on Sunday for excellent ling cod action south off Pescadero. They put in 25 lings to 13 pounds along with limits of rockfish. He said, “Four anglers put in 10 of the ling cod, and the rockfish bit so well that we had to move off of the black rockfish in search of bottom dwellers such as olives, browns, and vermilions.” The five black rockfish limit has changed the way anglers keep count and the spots they are able to stay upon. Salmon fishing remains slow in the area, but there are party boats coming from the northside down to the Pacifica Pier.

Call: Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388; Roger Thomas, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Bait and Switch Sport Fishing Center (650) 726-7133726-7133; Emeryville Sport Fishing (510) 654-6040; Don Franklin, Soleman (510) 703-4148

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’ Landing reported salmon fishing remained slow for their boats, but the skiffs are picking up a few outside Moss Landing. The area is still loaded with anchovies. Rockfishing continues to be outstanding with the Check Mate checking in with 19 limits of rockfish and 19 lings for 15 anglers on Sunday after posting 22 limits of rockfish and 33 lings Saturday. He said, “Whale watching has been solid, and we are seeing whales on every trip, and the whales are thick as far south as Avila Beach. There are reports of 30 blue whales and lots of humpbacks outside of the Farallon Islands, and for that many blue whales to be out there, there must be tons of krill.” A few boats took advantage of the weather window to make a tuna run, but returned empty-handed. The water temperature is very warm at 62 degrees at Twin Rocks. Striped bass are still around on the beaches, but the big schools have vacated the area.

Call: Chris’ Landing(831) 375-5951; Bayside Marine (831) 475-2173; usafishing.com

Salmon fishing has been on the upswing with Second Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady returning with 25 salmon for 15 passengers on the Fourth of July trolling near Rocky Point. Captain Jerad found the fish the previous day while the majority of boats ran south, and he put his clients onto a fish per rod on Friday with 24 salmon to 30 pounds for 24 passengers. He said, “These were new fish, and they were a larger grade of salmon.” Hunt Conrad of the Healdsburg Tribune went along the northside of the Gate on Sunday for a few scratched baits and a lost king before moving down to Pacifica along with seven party boats. They found silvers and small shaker salmon in the area before heading down to Sharp Park Point for limits of striped bass to 15 pounds. Captain Todd on the Blue Runner out of Sausalito returned with more than a fish per rod Sunday, with 15 salmon to 25 pounds for 11 anglers along the northside. Two Sausalito boats were out Saturday for 36 salmon to 25 pounds for 42 fishermen along with a 16-pound striped bass. They were working a wide area of coastline from the Pacifica Pier to the Duxbury Buoy. They got dialed in where Davis found the fish earlier in the weekend, and two Sausalito boats returned with 40 salmon to 25 pounds for 33 fishermen Sunday. Their score confirms Davis’s assertion of the larger grade of fish with the majority of salmon in the 15- to 25-pound range. Captain James Smith of the California Dawn out of Berkeley has been on an absolute tear, with Sunday’s score of 81 ling cod to 18 pounds, 54 striped bass to 21 pounds, three halibut to 36 pounds, and 134 rockfish for 27 anglers being just one of many spectacular trips during the week. He left at 5:30 a.m. to be the first boat on the bass before heading beyond the Gate. Smith is filled throughout the week, but his father on the Happy Hooker has plenty of room. Larry Nelson of Oakland is warming up for the big ling cod contest with four lings to 15 pounds and 8 bass on Sunday’s trip. Striped bass fishing continues to be ridiculous with the New Huck Finn out of Emeryville posted 23 limits of striped bass, 23 limits of ling cod, and 147 rockfish on Sunday. The boats are finding very early striper limits before heading outside of the Gate. Some boats are limiting out with stripers by 9 a.m. or ever earlier. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael said, “It is just like the Good Ole Days, and the only exception is the smaller size of the striped bass, but the numbers are there.” He added, “Halibut fishing has also improved despite minus tides, and the only limiting factor has been the wind with the flag flying straight out since 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.” The leader board for the Loch Lomond Lord of the Sea Summer Striper/Halibut Derby hasn’t changed, and it still takes at least 18 pounds to get on the board.

Live bait is still available at Morro Bay Landing and also in Port San Luis at Patriot Sport Fishing. Trips out of these two landings are also using live bait for rockfish. The Patriot out of Patriot Sport Fishing found great action Sunday with 43 fishermen finding limits of rockfish and 17 ling cod to 14 pounds on two half-day trips. The downtown Avila Beach Pier is closed, but the Harford Pier at Port San Luis remains open. Port San Luis is holding the Halibut Derby once again on July 25-26. The event hasn’t been held for the past five years. Out of Morro Bay Landing in Morro Bay, the Endeavor posted 124 assorted rockfish, 64 vermilion, two cabezon, and 34 ling cod to 17 pounds Sunday. Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay is running 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. trip Saturdays up to Cape San Martin on the Black Pearl in search of quality rockfish and ling cod. Virg’s ling cod count since the opener is 3,088. Surf perch fishing remained outstanding along the coastal beaches with blood worms. Bob’s is setting up a charter on the Island Spirit out of Ventura on Aug. 26 as the July 19 event is already sold out.

Call: Virg’s Landing (805) 772-1222; (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sports Fishing (805) 595-4100; Port Side Marine Sports Launch (805) 595-7214

The wind has been high on a consistent basis, and when it isn’t windy, the triple-digit heat and lack of live bait have been limiting factors for Sacramento River Delta anglers. The shad action near Freeport has slowed to a crawl, but there are still American shad moving through the system as a late run arrived into the American River. Salty water conditions continue to plague Suisun Bay; there is an invasion of saltwater species near Benicia and further upriver. Few sturgeon anglers are out, but a few diamondbacks have been taken near the Ozol Pier. Benicia is getting ready for the highly anticipated river salmon opener on July 16, and they are lining the shelves with their Vee-Zee spinners. Jack smelt are thick along the Benicia shore, and anglers are working grass shrimp under a bobber or similar set ups for the smelt. The occasional bat ray and various species of shark are lurking around the Dillon Point State Park. There is the anticipation of an early run of striped bass, with the huge numbers of bass along the shore and in the bay; every August, huge striped bass are caught in the Sherman and Decker Island sections of the river. Do Doung of Dockside Bait in Pittsburg reported few fishermen have been out during the hot temperatures, but live mudsuckers are working for legal striped bass in Honker Bay or in Broad Slough in the early mornings before the heat arrives with a force. Largemouth bass are the primary species, and Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, reported a phenomenal bite for fish ranging from 7 inches to 6.25 pounds with the best action on the half-ounce chartreuse/white Persuader buzzbait. He worked the lure above the weeds with a “chucka chucka” pattern on the morning high tide into the outgo. The ima Floating Flit with a chartreuse bill is also effective as the bass are feeding on bluegill. Numbers are taken on the Havoc Flat Dog on an eighth-ounce Zappu head at depths to 10 feet, and Pringle will upgrade to a three-sixteeenths ounce Zappu once the current picks up. He said, “We are focusing on moving current into the banks, and the key is finding tules that are waving. Once you find this condition, it will be lights out.” Alan Fong of the Fisherman’s Warehouse in Sacramento has been finding great action punching the grass mats with Missle’s D Bombs on three-quarter to 1-ounce weights. He said, “The bass are holding under the grass with moving current, and they are shading themselves under grass mats instead of hyacinth.” Christian Lauritzen of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley said, “A few of the black bass fishermen that have pulled out already this morning were catching black bass up to 5 pounds. I assume they were fishing mostly Sherman Lake and a few possibly going into Big Break as well. For those of you who have not been to the west delta in a while remember the removable rock barrier is in place at the west end of False River. In order to get into False River you have to enter Fisherman Cut and then into False River. It will add about fifteen minutes to your trip.” Brandon Gallegos of H and R Bait in Stockton said most stripers are shakers in the Stockton area with the majority of fish in the 16- to 17-inch range. Doug Chapman of Gotcha Bait in Antioch reported the Antioch Fishing Pier has been crowded on a daily basis, and the pier is yielding an average of 5-10 keeper stripers per day to 30 inches with live mudsuckers or frozen sardines. Catfishing is best in the slough in the south San Joaquin River with frozen clams or chicken livers. Crappie fishing has been best with small to medium minnows off of Eight Mile Road west of Stockton.

Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Stan Koenigsberger – Quetzal Adventures (925) 570-5303; Intimidator Sport Fishing (916) 806-3030

Recreational boating took over the two coastal lakes in which boats can be launched, and Nacimiento and Lopez were crowded over the holiday weekend. There are plenty of spotted and white bass in Nacimiento, but it is best to get on the lake in the early mornings or evenings when recreational boats are less prevalent. The bass are chasing bait on the surface in the early mornings. There is an early-morning topwater bite before dropping to the bottom with shad-patterned plastics. San Antonio is closed, with no access to the lake because of low water conditions. Santa Margarita remains inaccessible through the launch ramp; catfish are the top species with chicken livers or Katnip Beef Bait. The marina store is open for supplies and rental vessels. At Lopez, catfishing is solid with a variety of baits including prepared dough bait, sardines, or anchovies.

Call: Lake Nacimiento (805) 238-1056, ext. 3; Lake San Antonio Marina (805) 472-2818; Central Coast Bass Fishing.com (805) 466-6557

• Friday: Visalia Bass Club Night Tournament at Kaweah
• Saturday: Kiwanis Division 5 Trout Derby at Wishon; American Bass Association at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Manteca Bassin’ Buddies at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; Bakersfield Bass Club at Pine Flat; Taft Bass Club at NacimientoTri Valley Bass Anglers at Lopez
• Sunday: Stockton Bass Club at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; Success Bass Club at Success
• July 18: Future Pro Tour at Delta/Russo’s; Angler’s Choice at Delta/B and W Resort; Elk Grove Bass Club at New Melones; Kings River Bass Club at Eastman; Kern County Bassmasters at Lopez
• July 24-25: Bass 101 Team Open Night Tourney at Pine Flat, 284-2768 (changed from McClure because of low water)
• July 25-26: Halibut Derby at Port San Luis; Future Pro Tour at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Riverbank Bass Anglers at Don Pedro; Fresno Bass Club at Pine Flat
• July 31: San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers at Nacimiento
• Aug. 1: American Bass Association at Isabella
• Aug. 1-2: Snag Proof Frog Open at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Success Bass Club at Success
• Aug. 2: Mid Valley Bass Club at Delta/B and W Resort
• Aug. 7-8: Visalia Bass Club at Kaweah
• Aug. 8: Angler’s Choice at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; Tri Valley Bass Masters at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Modesto Ambassadors at Delta/Ladd’s Marina

• Fresno County: Dinkey Creek; Portal Forebay; Wishon Reservoir
• Tuolumne County: Lyons Canal (Columbia Ditch); Moccasin Creek; Powerhouse Stream; Stanislaus River Clarks Fork; Stanislaus River Middle Fork; Stanislaus River South Fork

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Fishing Report: Week of July 8."