Fishing Report: Week of July 29

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

Delta bass sitting under cover, Alan Fong said. Eastman the best bass bet, and Aqueduct kicking out stripers, Merritt Gilbert reported. Wishon and Courtright trout limits possible, Chuck Crane said.

Key

1-Try dynamite

2-Have to work hard

3-Limits possible

4-Fish jumpin’ in boat

Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported good action in the California Aqueduct near Manning Avenue with Lucky Craft 128’s in ghost minnow, Duo Realis 120’s, or 4-inch Storm swimbaits in bluegill. They will have a supply of Duos in the shop this week as the lures have been selling out on a regular basis as well as the Storm swimbaits. Limits of striped bass to 24 inches are the rule for anglers willing to work through smaller fish. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, catfish remained the top draw during the final week of Bob’s Bait Bucket’s July Catfish Derby. There are more than 200 participants. Many whiskefish larger than the current leader (15 pounds, by David Kiel of Bakersfield) have been caught, but those fishermen had not entered the derby. Sonny’s Dip Bait, Kat Nip Beef Bait, super meal worms and frozen shad are all working. Striped bass are biting blood worms, small sardines, lipless crankbaits and deep-diving crankbaits. Largemouth bass are still in the aqueduct, but few are targeting them while focusing on the catfish derby.

Bass fishing at Eastman has been the best in the Fresno area with crankbaits, small swimbaits or jigs near the deep water by the dam. The night bite is best for bass to 1.5 pounds. Launching a boat is becoming difficult with the ramp in increasingly shallow water. Catfish are providing the most action with sardines or anchovies at night from shore. Bluegill are actively biting wax worms or jumbo red worms along the southern dam abutment where vegetation is high. The “no-wake zone” is in the northeast section of the lake, and the Raymond Recreation Area Bridge allows fishing from there to the buoy 1,000 feet to the south. The river arm above the buoy line will open Aug. 1, but there is only about 100 yards of water there. Low water levels continue to make unmarked rockpiles a hazard for boaters; most are running their trolling motors or idling slowly when in transit. The area 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 468.31 feet in elevation.

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

Low water levels have limited the lake to kayaks, canoes and hand-launched vessels. A few of the kayakers are finding bass with Senkos or plastics in green pumpkin on the drop-shot. Catfishing continued to be the top draw with sardines or anchovies at night. Launch conditions are available through the Ranger Station at the Corps of Engineers office. The lake dropped slightly to 448.63 feet 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

Few reports from Don Pedro with launch conditions at Fleming Meadows appearing to discourage fishermen. There are king salmon and rainbow trout holding at depths from 30-60 feet near Jenkins Hill and Fleming Bay. The kokanee are deep and have been reluctant to bite. Bass fishing remained best with live minnows from the bank, and large minnows have re-emerged in area bait shops. The lake dropped over 2 feet to 683.85 in elevation and 35% 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

Few fishermen have been heading up the hill to Lake Isabella because of low water conditions and extremely hot weather. There is an August bass tournament, but of late there are few bass reports. The catfish action remains solid in the South Fork with 3-inch super meal worms, frozen clams, Katnip Beef Bait or frozen shad. A few crappie can be taken in the submerged trees with minijigs or small minnows. A few trout can be found near the deepest water in the lake near the dam with lures on the downrigger or jigged spoons. With the low lake levels, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed to launch from the dirt ramp near Red’s Marina. There are no marinas or courtesy docks. The lake dropped slightly to 2,524.03 feet in elevation and 6% capacity. In the upper Kern River, there has been more interest in rainbows in the deep holes with salmon eggs, Power Bait, Mice Tails or inflated nightcrawlers. A few catfish are found in the river immediately above the dam. In the lower river, largemouth and smallmouth bass are taken on Deadly Duo plastics in Green Weenie. Buena Vista is best for catfish and bluegill. There have been no crappie reports. Lake Truxton is producing bass on Senkos or crankbaits.

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

The lake dropped just 2 feet to 614.17 in elevation and 16% capacity, but most fish remain suspended. There is a topwater bite early in the morning or near dusk; the most consistent action has been working the bottom with plastics. Catfish are biting chicken livers, nightcrawlers or sardines with the best action in the evenings.

Call: Sierra Sporting Goods 592-5212

Chuck Stokke of Sequoia Fishing Co. in Springville reported, “Bass fishing is slow to fair with plastics or crankbaits in the early mornings and late evenings as the hot weather has affected both the bass bite and the number of fishermen trying during the day.” Carp fishing has been outstanding with Wheaties mashed up and mixed with strawberry soda. The lake dropped a half foot to 586.82 in elevation and 8% capacity. Recreational boating has increased, so fishermen are sharing the water with jet skis and wakeboarders. In the Tule River, Stokke reported, “The river has risen due to recent thunderstorms, and the trout are very aggressive on dry flies and nymphs in caddis patterns with a non bead head with a Pheasant Tail Flashback as a dropper.”

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

The South Barrett Cove launch ramp has closed as the water level is at 623.09 feet in elevation and 11% capacity. The lake level was basically stable this week. The North Barrett Cove ramp is operational with no time restrictions but does require a long walk back to the parking lot unless you arrive early. Catfish and bass can be found near the dam in the deepest water with medium to large minnows. Launch ramp updates are available at (855) 222-5253.

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

McSwain Marina is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There will be no additional trout plants, pending a review in August based on the water temperatures. Trout fishing is slow amid the warm water temperatures, and many trollers are hooking spotted bass that have cascaded down from McClure.

Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534

Heavy recreational boat traffic and dropping water levels have contributed to few bass fishermen working the lake. Small fish in the 11- to 12-inch range are available but landing a keeper-sized bass is difficult. Drop-shot plastics, jigs or plastics on brass and glass at depths to 35 feet are the top techniques. Catfish to 3 pounds can be found at night with anchovies or sardines near the Madera Launch Ramp. There are no striper reports. All vessels must possess a low-emission motor. Millerton dropped 1 foot to 486.42 in elevation and 34% capacity because of releases from upstream reservoirs. 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 possession.

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

Launch conditions continue to encourage trout and kokanee fishermen to stay away, and most anglers on the water are not targeting trout. John Lietchy of Glory Hole Sporting Goods in Angels Camp said, “The rainbows are down in deep water and holding near the old lake and existing river channel as the shad have also headed towards the cooler and deeper water. Trollers should target depths from 50-70 feet with rattling or wobbling baits coated with scent in order to entice more strikes, and a contour or topographical map are essential in order to keep from snagging the bottom.” Night fishing under lights are producing crappie, rainbow trout, spotted bass, and catfish as all species are focusing on the lake’s shad schools. Kokanee fishing has been fair, but the landlocked salmon are thick and healthy. The action remains unpredictable with the fish easy to find one day only to be scarce the next. Bass fishing continued to be good with Lietchy stating, “We have found solid action on my last few guide trips as there are plenty of small fish willing to bite plastics dragged on a Carolina-rig or drop-shot or on jigs at depths from 25-35 feet. There are schools of spots suspended at depths of 35 feet in 200 feet of water, and trollers targeting rainbows are catching them. This happens every year.” Catfishing remains outstanding as the large whiskerfish are moving into the shallows. Night fishing with frozen shad, anchovies, sardines, mackerel or nightcrawlers on a weightless presentation along muddy, sloping banks is the best technique. Seven year-old Corey Reilly of Pioneer landed a 3-pound, 5-ounce catfish on frozen mackerel in the main lake. Crappie fishing is fair with the best action at night under submerged lights. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is essential to place a boat into the lake, and there is no courtesy dock. At Tulloch, night fishing for bass is the only game in the afterbay for New Melones with heavy recreational boating during daylight hours. The bite has been limited to a few fish on dark-colored plastics on the drop-shot. The lake has dropped to 15% capacity at 822.37 feet in elevation, receding 3.5 feet this week. Tulloch is holding at 508.61 and 97%.

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

The lake is dropping about a foot per day, and the daytime bass bite is very slow. There were two night tournaments over the weekend, and the night bite also has been slow for spotted bass. Harold Hass of the Fresno Bass Club reported recreational boaters were omnipresent on the lake, and few observed life jacket rules. He said, “Fishing was slow during the day, and it was even slow after dark; most keepers were spotted bass taken on plastics at 20-30 feet in depth.” Plastics on the drop-shot, dart head, Texas-rig, or brass and glass are the top techniques. Trout fishing is very slow with few trollers even bothering, but at least two king salmon to 4 pounds have been taken by anglers targeting catfish at night from 90-110 feet. Catfish in the 2- to 4-pound range are found from houseboats at night with anchovies near the power lines or around Zebe Creek. The lake dropped 9.5 feet in the past week to 746.08 in elevation and 17% capacity. In the lower Kings River, trout fishermen are starting to congregate along the banks below the dam for planters with Kastmasters, spinners or Power Bait. The 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 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bridge on Pine Flat Road with a five-fish limit. The bridge is the first one 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 lake, bank fishermen are targeting Dinosaur Point or Basalt Recreation Areas in order to avoid the long walk at Romero Visitor Center. Blood worms and pile worms are the top baits while a few fishermen are tossing out medium minnows. Wind conditions continue to plague the lake. Few fishermen are drifting minnows since bait shops are still waiting for shipments of extra-large and jumbo minnows. Large minnows will work, but few anglers are willing to explore with the smaller baits. Trollers are finding fair action with large plugs on the downrigger in and around the entrance of Portuguese Cove. Catfishing remains good at night with blood worms, anchovies or mackerel. In the O’Neill Forebay, catfish are the top species with chicken livers or big pieces of mackerel near Check 12 while small striped bass are abundant on shallow-diving jerkbaits such as Lucky Craft 100’s in bright colors. The best action is early in the mornings before daylight or in the evenings. The main lake continues to release water at a rapid clip for agricultural and domestic uses, and it dropped 2% this week to 27% capacity with a release of 7,151 acre-feet Monday.

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

A major fire broke out near the dam over the weekend, and helicopters were buzzing around the north end of the lake to obtain a supply of water. Few trout trollers have been on the lake, and the only location to troll is near the dam in order to avoid the heavy recreational boat traffic. Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service continues to score a few quality rainbows with Radical Glow Tubes tipped with a nightcrawler and shoepeg corn behind a Rocky Mountain Tackle Hyperplaid or Pink Ice dodger at 30-35 feet in depth. Submerged trees at 18 feet below the surface are also a limiting factor for trollers throughout the lake. The Sheriff’s Motor Fee is in effect, and few bass fishermen are launching boats. The lake held at 51% capacity, and launching a large boat requires skill and experience.

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

At Mammoth Pool, the trout bite has become extremely tough with three boats working the lake recently for only a single rainbow in 7 hours of trolling. The lake held at 77% capacity, and the launch ramp is open. Edison has risen to 18% after being below 10% for most of the year, and anglers walking the banks are picking up rainbows and browns casting lures in the deeper parts of the lake. Florence held at 33%.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

The fifth annual Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Sportsmen’s fundraising dinner is Aug. 8 at the Shaver Lake Community Center in Shaver Lake Village. In addition to a steak dinner and open bar, the group will be auctioning off gifts such as a Henry 22 rifle donated by Dr. Eric Hanson, a fishing kayak from Larry Joneson, and a helicopter ride offered by Sheriff Margaret Mims. A silent auction also will be conducted. Tickets can be purchased in Shaver Lake at the Pub N Grub, Ken’s Market, Captain Jacks Tackle Shop and Shaver Lake Sports; and in Clovis at Valley Rod and Gun. Dick Nichols, president of the trophy trout project, said, “There are still a few tickets available for this community event, which is our largest fundraiser for planting trophy trout into the lake. This past spring, we were able to purchase 1,700 rainbows ranging from 3-15 pounds from a hatchery in Nebraska, and it takes nearly $75 to purchase one of the largest rainbows with an average price of $50 per fish. The project is involved with fishing lessons for the Boy Scouts at the lake and opportunities for disabled youth to fish.” The Herb Bauer Sporting Goods/Shaver Lake Visitor Center’s 2015 season derby continues through Dec. 31, and all trophy trout caught can be weighed in at Ken’s Market or Shaver Lake Sports. The leading trout is a 10-pound, 13-ounce rainbow landed by Gerard Reinhart of Fresno and weighed at Shaver Lake Sports. The top prize is a $200 gift certificate from Herb Bauer’s. Trout action at Shaver remained slow with Nichols stating, “We are picking up some fish on every trip this week, but there are no limits per day, and I have no idea what the problem is since the action is the worst that I have experienced over my many years of guiding.” Steve Santoro of Fish Box Charters has been fishing at night under lights near the dam, and he said, “We have been getting limits of rainbows jigging various lures tipped with a meal worm.” Smallmouth bass action remains excellent with live crickets or small spinners near structure and rock formations throughout shore areas. At Huntington, the lake continued to recede, and launching a vessel is a problem with at least one 14-foot aluminum stuck on the ramp during the past week. Sand and mud on the launch ramp are the problem in addition to low water levels. Bank fishermen are scoring with trout dough bait near Dam 2 or the mouth of Rancheria Creek. Trout plants, including brooder fish, are anticipated at Shaver and Huntington soon because of rising water temperatures at the San Joaquin Hatchery. Shaver Lake held at 64%; Huntington is at 56%.

Call: Dick’s Fishing Charters 841-2740; Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435; Rancheria Marina 893-3234; Shaver Lake Sports Inc. 841-2740; Fish Box Charters 871-3937

With the slowdown continuing at Shaver Lake, Wishon and Courtright remain the top options for Fresno-area trout fishermen. Chuck Crane at Wishon Village RV Park and Store said, “Wishon has slowed somewhat, but fishermen that are willing to be patient are rewarded with limits of rainbows to 16 inches. Trout dough bait in orange or pink along both sides of the dam, around the launch ramp, or the mouth of Short Hair Creek are the top spots for bank fishermen. Trollers are scoring with blade/crawler combinations or Speedy Shiners in copper/red head at 2-4 colors of lead core.” Ellen Winslow of Kerman brought a quality limit to the Wishon Store over the weekend with two brown trout at 16 and 18 inches along with three rainbows including two tagged trout from the recent Kiwanis Trout Derby. Winslow scored with a nightcrawler behind a willow-leaf blade. Launching a boat is still available off of the dirt road, but the lake is fluctuating 2-3 feet per day because of power generation. At Courtright, action has slowed, but limits of trout, including a few browns, are possible from the shore and for trollers. The boat launch is still on the concrete ramp. Broken-backed Rebels in rainbow trout or blade/crawler combinations at 2-4 colors of lead core are working best for trollers while shore anglers are finding more consistent fishing with orange trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers for rainbows to 16 inches along the dam.

Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361

Rockfish and ling cod continue to provide action out of Pillar Point with the absence of salmon along this section of the San Mateo coast. A salmon school did come south of the Golden Gate toward the Pacifica Pier within the past two weeks, but were moving north again. Captain Tom Mattusch and Second Captain Michael Cabanas of the Huli Cat have been focusing upon coastal rockfishing, and a charter from the Full Speed Fishing Club resulted in 18 limits of ling cod along with limits of school and bottom-dwelling rockfish on a long run south between Pigeon Point and Ano Nuevo on July 24. They followed up with eight limits of rockfish and 11 lings on a private charter on the local reefs Saturday, and they started trolling for salmon on Sunday with Brian Mullany landing a small legal salmon before switching over to rockfishing in the afternoon for lings to 10 pounds and near limits of school rockfish. Cabanas said, “The school fish have been biting well even with the fast drift.” Out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, the Queen of Hearts and Riptide are working the southern reefs for limits of rockfish and healthy ling cod counts. Further north in Pacifica, Rob Chaney of the Rusty Hook confirmed the excellent striper bite with metal jigs, topwater lures and sand crabs. Chaney has been fishing late at night, and there have been only two days within the month where he hasn’t released a limit of stripers. Sand crabs are working better than lures at the present time, but they sold 220 lures between Thursday night and Friday afternoon. There is a huge school of anchovies off the coast, and Chaney went out on a paddleboard to check things out at Ocean Beach. He witnessed stripers breaking the surface chasing bait right around his paddleboard. At least two salmon have been landed from the Pacifica Pier this season, both big fish from 15-18 pounds.

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 in Monterey reported continued excellent rockfishing, but they were limited to the local reefs over the weekend because of the weather along the coast. The Check Mate put in 30 ling cod and 27 limits of rockfish while the Caroline scored 24 limits of rockfish and 15 lings. Saturday was more of the same with a combined 61 limits of lings and 71 lings on their three boats. Arcoleo said, “The anchovies have shown up ‘en masse’ with tons of the bait fish in the bay, and the whales have come in to feed on the anchovies.” A few salmon continue to be taken on the Santa Cruz side of the bay by commercial anglers. They have room on rockfish trips throughout the week with the exception of next Friday and Saturday.

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

The salmon counts are in the neighborhood of a fish per rod, but the six-pack Sundance out of Emeryville has scored limits six days in a row, leading Captain R.J. Waldron to say, “The water temperature dropped between 56 and 58 degrees the past few days, and birds and whales are plentiful from Pedro Point north to Arch Rock. We are finally starting to see some bigger fish to 26 pounds, and over the weekend, salmon were caught over the entire San Mateo and Marin coastlines.” Waldron put in eight limits to 31 pounds Monday. The three Sausalito boats put in 53 salmon to 30 pounds for 61 anglers trolling along the Marin coast as the fish appear to be moving back north. The weather was fine in the morning, but the winds ramped up to 15 knots of northwest in the afternoon. The coming wind resulted in the cancellation of a charter Monday on the Salty Lady, and Captain Roger Thomas said, “The wind is expected to be from 15-25 knots along the shoreline and 20-30 knots offshore, so we decided to wait for another day for our group of veteran anglers.” The Salty Lady was to run open loads through Friday for salmon trolling. The BlueRunner out of Sausalito had an excellent day with near limits of salmon at 26 fish for 16 passengers. Captain Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sport Fishing canceled Sunday after hearing the weather reports that didn’t materialize until the afternoon, but he put his four clients onto limits of salmon Saturday. The fish are getting larger off the Golden Gate. Rockfishing continues to be excellent with Captain Bob Wright of the Happy Hooker heading outside the Gate over the weekend for 38 limits of rockfish and 64 ling cod on Saturday along with 64 striped bass within an hour in the bay. He said, “If we had swimbaits, we would have had a blast since they were on the surface boiling.” Sunday’s action was quite a bit slower in the bay because of the late outgoing tide. Wright was still heading in at 5 p.m., but the optimum tide period of max flow on the outgo was later in the day, so they ended up with 13 stripers after putting in half limits of rockfish and 29 ling cod to 12 pounds outside of the Gate. Ron Zolezzi of Menlo Park was the jackpot winner with the largest ling, and Wright added, “The rockfish were all quality blacks, yellows, and browns.” The Happy Hooker has an open load this Sunday with some room on board. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael reported a much slower striper bite in the bay, stating, “This is all caused by what scribes like to refer to as ‘anemic’ tides. Look at the tide book, and the 1 foot outgo tells the story.” The tides become far more favorable starting Wednesday with small minus tides beginning. As almost always, Loch Lomond has an excellent supply of live Loch Lomond shiners. The salmon action focused south along the San Mateo coast with the party boats making a left at the Golden Gate on Sunday. The Sundance out of Emeryville Sport Fishing put in five early limits of salmon Sunday while Captain Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sport Fishing also put in four limits of salmon on Sunday morning. Two Sausalito boats went south along the San Mateo coast for 35 salmon to 26 pounds for 38 anglers.

Rockfishing remained outstanding with limits all around on Monday’s trips out of Morro Bay and also at Port San Luis. The San Pedro Special out of Morro Bay Landing scored 18 limits of rockfish and a pair of lings; the Fiesta out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay put in 27 limits of rockfish including 108 vermilions along with 10 lings to 11.2 pounds. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Patriot combined for 36 limits of rockfish and 25 ling cod to 11 pounds with the big fish taken by Johnny Rojas of Fresno on two half-day trips Monday. At Port San Luis, downtown Avila Beach Pier is closed, but the Harford Pier at Port San Luis remains open. Live bait is still available at Morro Bay Landing and in Port San Luis at Patriot Sport Fishing. Surf perch fishing remained outstanding along the beaches with blood worms. Bob’s is setting up a charter on the Island Spirit out of Ventura on Aug. 26.

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 river salmon season is off, but as of yet not running at even a crawl. There have been at least six salmon landed off the Benicia shore with three large fish in the 17- to 18-pound range at First Street and three in the 7- to 10-pound range at Dillon Point State Park. Vee-Zee or Flying C spinners in green/yellow are the top lures, but at least one salmon was landed on a pink Flying C. Tony Lopez of Benicia Bait said, “The water has cleared up along First Street, and the minus tides this week will be in the middle of the night. The water had been muddy with the bottom of the tide in the early morning during the first week of salmon fishing.” Small legal stripers in the 18- to 20-inch range are biting blood worms, pile worms, or anchovies from the Benicia shore. Benicia Bait is one of the only shops with a supply of live grass shrimp, and they have been able to keep up with demand over the past few weeks. Jim Pickens of the Fishermen’s Friend in Lodi said, “We have had a couple of reports of shore anglers landing salmon in the Antioch and Benicia area, and numerous reports of salmon rolling from Rio Vista up to Sacramento. From shore, throw Triple C’s or Blue Foxes for the best action and trollers are advised to pull Silvertron spinners on spreaders or back trolling with Flatfish and Kwikfish. The Delta Cross Channel Gates opened July 24, and boats launching out of New Hope or Wimpy’s on the Mokelumne will now have access to the Old Sacramento River.” Striper trollers Guy Brown and Bill Crooks of Sacramento launched out of Sandy Beach south of Rio Vista on a recent trip in search of striped bass, and Crooks said, “We traveled 45 miles in order to find clear water, but once we found it, we caught and released seven keepers to 7 pounds and a pair of shakers using Yozuri Crystal Minnows or Bombers in the shallows.” Triple-digit temperatures are on their way again to the central Valley, and the largemouth bass are already staging in the 79-degree water on the San Joaquin River. The hot weather will only keep the bass hunkered below the mats and hyacinth in the river. Alan Fong of the Fisherman’s Warehouse in Sacramento said, “The water temperature is 5 degrees cooler under the mats, and the bass are really black since they are never coming out from under the cover. The key to getting bit is finding moving water, and we have been scoring by punching Missle’s D-Bombs in green pumpkin with no skirt on a 1- to 1.5-ounce weight. The fish are under both grass mats and hyacinth as they are seeking cover in any way possible.” With the fish under the mats, the frog bite was limited during the 200 boat frog tournament at Russo’s Marina over the weekend. The Snag-Proof Frog Tournament is this weekend at Russo’s with information at snagproof.com.

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

Recreational boating is dominating Nacimiento, but there have been the occasional spotted bass to 6.5 pounds landed. One angler targeting crappie caught a large spot on a silver flake crappie jig. With the recreational boating taking over the lake, it is important to get on the lake in the early mornings or evenings. Santa Margarita is at less than 15% capacity, but 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

• Fresno Bass Club at Pine Flat on July 24: 1, Roger Lockhart 5.71 pounds; 2, Rick Uecker 5.43 (big fish 2.87); 3, Harold Hass 5.04.
• Bass 101 Open Night Team Open at Pine Flat on July 24: 1, Mark Corrente/John Albidrez 13.04 pounds; 2, Jeff and Travis Mathews 12.08; 3, Don Javaux/Duke Holman 7.54 (big fish 4.23)

• Friday: San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers/Jim’s Pro Bass Tackle Night Tournament 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
• Aug. 15: Best Bass Tournaments at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Angler’s Choice at Delta/Ladd’s Marina; American Bass Association at Isabella; Tri Valley Bass Club Inc. at Lopez
• Aug. 16: Stockton Bass Club at Delta/Ladd’s Marina
• Aug. 22-23: Best Bass Tournaments at Delta/Russo’s Marina; Manteca Bassin’ Buddies at Delta/B and W Resort; Riverbank Bass Anglers at New Melones; 101 Bass at Kaweah
• Aug. 23-24: Fresno Bass Clubat Pine Flat
• Aug. 28: Jim’s Pro Bass Tackle at Lopez
• Aug. 28-29: 101 Bass at Millerton
• Aug. 29: Angler’s Choice at Delta/B and W Resort; Glory Hole Sporting Goods at New Melones; Sierra Bass Club at Eastman

• Fresno County: Kings River, Below Pine Flat Dam
• 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 28, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Fishing Report: Week of July 29."