Fishing report, May 15-21: Bites are good with Delta stripers and New Melones kokanee and bass. Isabella crappie and Don Pedro are hitting.
Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
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Best bets
Delta stripers and sturgeon bites good, Jeff Soo Hoo said. Wishon trout keeping anglers busy, Dave Hurley reported. New Melones Kokanee and bass bites going, Kyle Wise said. Isabella crappie action drawing crowds, Copes Tackle said . Don Pedro bass hitting, Dylan Vos Kinser reported. alley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
In the northern section of the California Aqueduct, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported continued slow action in both the California Aqueduct and the Delta Mendota Canal.
“The Clifton Court Forebay has also been ‘hit or miss’ for striped bass,” he said.
Striperz Gone Wild is holding a Clean Up Day on the aqueduct at 8 am Saturday, May 18 starting at Volta Road. Planned is cleaning the sections of the aqueduct along the bridges from Highway 33 and 152 to South Creek Road.
“We are trying to avoid having additional areas of the aqueduct closed to fishing since there was an easily accessed area at Sullivan Road that was trashed, and access is now closed. Volunteers are encouraged, and we will have a free barbecue afterward,” Bill Sterling said.
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Cope’s Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported good fishing overall with an improved bite for striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish. Cut sardines, anchovies, or jumbo minnows are working for stripers around the headgates where the water slows down.
White Ice or Pearl Flukes on a jig head or white jerkbaits remain the top lures. 4-inch curly tailed Roboworms in Aaron’s Magic or Smokin’ Shad on the drop-shot have been best for bass although there has been some action for topwater lures around the headgates when the water slows down. Catfish anglers reported decent fishing while soaking chicken liver, dip baits, and cut baits. Limits of quality crappie have been taken out of the dirt canals near Corcoran.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines-Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield – (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
“The spawn is all but done, and the larger female bass have moved out into deep water and suspending at depths from 20 to 25 feet,” Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle said. “Weightless Senkos are working in the shallows with Brush Hogs in the deep water with a Hover Stalling technique.”
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis added, “You have to weed through a number of smaller bass in the 1- to 1.5-pound range, and the big ones have moved off the flats into deeper water. Numbers of bass can be found in the shallows.” Trout fishing at both lakes remains limited despite a heavy plant over a month ago. Hensley remains very quiet for bass, but catfish, green sunfish, bluegill, and carp are there for the taking. Eastman rose slightly to 577.12 feet in elevation and 89% of capacity with Hensley rising to 515.63 feet in elevation and 62% of capacity. There are two bass tournaments on Eastman and one on Hensley scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Dylan Vos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported quality largemouth and spotted bass are available as the bass are in all stages of spawning. The quality is much better than at nearby McClure, and there are at least six tournaments scheduled at the lake through the end of May.
Plastics on a Neko-rig or shakey head along with Senkos on a wacky-rig or 2.8 Keitech swimbaits on an underspin at depths from 5 to 15 feet, but there are larger fish moving out into deeper water. .For trout, kokanee, and king salmon, Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing put in 4 kings to 17 inches, 4 kokanee to 13 inches, and 7 rainbows to 3 pounds on a recent trip.
“We ran kokanee gear at 35 to 55 feet for all three species, and I am hoping there are some larger kokanee around. There should be, but it is a matter of finding them,” he said. “The lake is still rising, and the water temperature ranges from 62 to 65 degree.”
There is a $20 daily vehicle fee with an additional $15 for boat launching for those who do not have an annual pass. There is The lake rose 3.5 feet to 812.29 feet in elevation and 89% of capacity. Updates on the launch ramp are available at https://www.donpedrolake.com/.
Updates on the launch ramp are available at https://www.donpedrolake.com/. 6 bass tournaments are scheduled at the lake through the end of May.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The lake rose two feet to 2,584.20 feet in elevation and 62% of capacity as water releases dropped from 1,109 to 882 cfs at First Point.
Cope’s Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported a continued outstanding crappie bite with anglers coming to the lake from north and south to get in on the action. The slabs are found from shore and also out in deeper water near structure, anywhere from 5 to 25 feet with 2-inch Keitech swimbaits in chartreuse, white, Electric Shad, or purple on a 1/16th-ounce head. In deeper water, crappie are holding over submerged brush piles, and white minijigs or small to medium minnows are working best.
Bass fishing remains slow to fair with the best fishing with mid-diving crankbaits or jerkbaits along with Zoom’s Trick Worms on a shakey head or Senkos in Natural Shad. Trout fishing remains steady with banks anglers scoring with minijigs, garlic Power Bait, or spinners while trollers are pulling Berkley’s Flicker Shad, Tasmanian Devils, or Needlefish in shad patterns on leadcore. Catfishing remains best with Triple S Dip Bait, cut mackerel, or frozen shad. In the upper Kern River, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife last planted the week of May 5 in Section 4, Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville; Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge, and Section 6, Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge. Anglers have been scoring trout with split-shotted salmon eggs, minijigs, or spinners while nymphs, stripping streamers, or dry flies in the afternoons are working for fly fishermen.
In the Lower Kern, salmon eggs, spinners, minijigs are working for holdover rainbows. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action has been very good in the canyon and along the stretch leading into Bakersfield with jigs, worms, or small crankbaits. Catfish can be found with cut sardines, or Triple S Dip Bait. The flows on upper Kern at Kernville held steady at 2206 cfs.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816
Lake Kaweah
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose 6.5 feet to 702.11 feet in elevation and 86% of capacity with snowmelt from the Kaweah River watershed. Cope’s reported steady bass action at depths from 5 to 25 feet with finesse baits, Senkos, or umbrella rigs. The rapidly rising water has kept the bite from going wide open, but as the lake stabilizes, this could change. Crappie are taken on small swimbaits or minijigs as the schools can be located over submerged brush. Catfishing continues to be best with Triple S Dip Bait, cut anchovies, or chicken liver. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers dropped from 2195 to 1,403 cfs. There are no bass tournaments scheduled on the lake through May 31.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose just over a foot to 643.73 feet in elevation and 78% of capacity Cope’s reported fishing has been good with numbers of a smaller grade of bass taken on plastics on a split-shot or drop-shot along with creature baits. Most bass are holding in the shallows, but larger females have been taken in deeper water with umbrella rigs. The marina has been the top location for crappie with live minnows while catfishing remains best with Triple S Dip Bait or cut bait. There is one bass tournament scheduled on the lake through May.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
The Best Bass Tournaments hosted 52 boats on Saturday May 11 for their Mother Lode Division and another 15 boats on Sunday May 12 for their Central Division, but the weights were far from impressive as big fish were few and far between.
“The bass bite was much better during the week, but the water level keeps rising, and there is debris everywhere,” Randy Pringle, fishing instructor and tournament director, said. “Also complicating things was a massive carp die off throughout the lake from carp herpes virus. The die off didn’t affect the baby bass and the shad. There were a few fish taken on topwater, but the most consistent action came on plastics on a drop-shot or Ned-rig along with jigs on light line.”
Dylan Bos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto confirmed the challenging bite with non-tournament anglers heading to either Don Pedro or New Melones. Carp herpes virus spreads quickly amongst carp, resulting in death within two days, but it does not affect other species. The virus has been used in Australia to attempt to control populations of invasive European carp. The lake rose 3 feet to 851.62 feet in elevation and 89% of capacity. Several bass tournaments are scheduled in May.
Downstream Yosemite Lake is closed until further notice. The Merced River is expected to rise and remain high and dangerous throughout the month of May, and it is currently at 4090 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
Without a recent trout plant, the action is limited to the possibility of a few holdover rainbows per rod for those working the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, and the peninsula in front of the marina with nightcrawlers, Power Bait, spinners, or Kastmasters. The McSwain Marina is now open weekends through May 31. The lake is at 89% of capacity. The opening day for the lake’s Splash and Dash is Saturday, June 1. Information - https://mysplashndash.com/see-whats-new-in-2024/.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
“Brandon Grimsley found a good bite in the upper river with Senkos on a wacky-rig, plastics on a shakey head, or Keitech’s on a bass head,” said Mike Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis. “The lake is completely full, and the bass are holding in shallows less than 20 feet in all stages of the spawn. Finesse techniques with plastics on a Neko-rig, drop-shot, or shakey head, Senkos on a wacky-rig, or small jerkbaits are working. If you get on the water early, the main lake will have less wind.”
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle added, “We are getting a number of mixed reviews here with smaller fish in the 12- to 15-inch range. The shad are spawning, and there are short windows when the spotted bass will push the shad to the surface.” There are no tournaments on the lake through the end of May, and most bass anglers continue to head to Eastman or Pine Flat. The lake is releasing water, and dropped 51/2 feet to 574.52 feet in elevation and 97% of capacity.
Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant have risen from 875 to 1,386 cfs. Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sycamore Island received a trout plant two weeks ago.Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 3
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service let the cat out of the bag two weeks prior to the June 8 Kokanee Power Team Tournament when he released a video showing where the big kokanee to 20 inches can be found. “Kokanee action has been very good for those who know where to look, but too many trollers are staying higher in the water column at depths from 50 to 70 feet where there are unlimited numbers of sardines, he said.
“The big kokanee moved to the bottom within the past week and a half, and they are holding in the big saddles at depths from 100 to 140 feet around the submerged islands throughout the lake. It boils down to if you are willing to run your weights on the bottom. The entire lake is full of kokanee,” he said. “We put in six big ones and four sardines on our recent trip running either the blue/pink Skinny Platinum Flutter Bug or a Kevorkian Apex near the bottom.”
For bass, Dylan Vos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle said, they have been landing up to 50 bass per day on his guide trips as the bite is very strong.
“You can target larger ones with reaction or creature baits as the fish are loading up on crawdads, but numbers of smaller fish are taken by dragging worms on the bottom. The reaction bite is much better when there is wind or cloudy conditions. The bait is starting to school up,” he said.
There is a daily use fee of $8 with a boat launch of $10 (day use included). The lake dropped slightly to 1057.52 feet in elevation and 86 percent. There are six bass tournaments scheduled at Melones and 9 at Lake Tulloch through the end of May. Omega Nguyen reported a solid trout bite for trollers at Tulloch.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Alex Niapas, Catching California Guide Service (209) 728-4225; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734.
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported a tough bite for crappie with most slab hunters heading south to Kaweah or Success along with the canals coming out of the Tule River near Corcoran.
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported that bass are cruising the shorelines, and there have been some big spotted bass at 81/2 and 9.19 pounds taken within the past few weeks.
“The bass are on the beds, and the males are cruising,” Crayne said. “Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and topwater lures are working depending upon the weather, but the most consistent bite has been with jigs or Keitech swimbaits on an underspin,” he said. “ Most trout trollers are heading up the river arm above Windy Gap while the larger king salmon are deep with the smaller grade of kings holding higher in the water column near the trout.”
Brad’s Cut Plugs, rolled anchovies, or large shad-patterned spoons are working for the kings. The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer have risen to the dangerous level of 4905 cfs, and the lack of trout plants over the past several weeks has slowed trout action. Few anglers are heading to the river with the best option for trout or bass being Avocado Lake. The lake is at 938.41 feet in elevation and 92% of capacity.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported a solid bite from the banks near Portuguese Cove with pile worms or frozen threadfin shad as bag anchovies have been hard to find. Trollers are scoring with P-Lines broken backed Predator Minnows.
In the O’Neill Forebay, jerkbaits are working for striped bass when the water is being pumped while bass anglers are tossing jerkbaits or flipping around the tules as the largemouth are spawning.”
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that the troll bite slowed this past week with the falling water in the big lake.
“The fish are suspending and remaining inactive most of the time- which is common when they start releasing water. I guided three anglers on Thursday in a very tough bite and we released 15 to 24-inches. I had one guest on Friday and once again- we had to grind out fish all day- ending with 13 to 24 inches . We need some stability for the bite to rebound.” George said
High winds continue to plague access for boaters on occasion.
To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
There are still plenty of trout holding over from last week’s annual Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby.
“With the heavy boating action, the fish needed a few days to acclimate back to calmness. This past week has been a slow bite, but it should improve quickly,” Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing said.
Another annual plant of 50,000 kokanee fingerling occurred last week, making for a total of 189,121 kokanee fingerling planted since 2021. Despite the heavy annual planting, kokanee have been few and far between for the past few years. There is hope for this to be the year the kokanee making a more significant showing.
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “All of the bass are spawning and on beds, and there have some big fish at 10, 11, 13, and over 15 pounds caught and released this spring.” The lake is rising. There are three more bass tournaments scheduled on the lake through the end of May. Bass 101 held an event on Saturday with Bill Kunz of St. Croix Rods and his partner taking first with a five-fish limit over 22 pounds.
A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
The gate to Kaiser Pass Road remains closed, and is not expected to reopen until after Memorial Day weekend.
Edison is at 34% of capacity, Florence at 28% of capacity, and Mammoth Pool at 100% of capacity.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Trout 2 Kokanee 2
“The rising water column at Shaver is playing havoc for kokanee trollers. Fact is, most are finding one or two kokanee in the box each trip this week, Shaver Lake Guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters and Mountain Tackle said. “Two Shaver regulars fished this past week in separate boats and reported one fish each on their trips. A limit is possible but more likely coupled with trout at depths from 30 to 40 feet. On the other hand, the brown trout bite has been good in the Stevenson Bay area as the Department of Fish and Wildlife has made several plants of browns over the past few years with many in the 16-inch range now. Planter sized rainbows are a good fill-in for a limit of trout. The yearling rainbow bite has shown consistency with rainbows to 14 inches. 50,000 kokanee fingerlings were released into the lake this past week, and they will take three years to grow to full maturity.”
Shaver was not planted last year as the Department decided Shaver and Union Valley were to be left off the annual plant list due to a decreased number of kokanee in the hatchery. The 2025 and 2026 kokanee season will determine the viability of natural spawn in the lake since the surviving second year fish should be showing up in 2025. The marinas are in place.
The Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project will be planting its 2024 allotment of 7,000 pounds of trophy-sized rainbows within the next few months. Shaver rose to 56% of capacity with Huntington rising to 81% of capacity with snowmelt.
Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Wishon remains busy with anglers, particularly on the weekends, and a the recent plant of catchables is providing solid action for both bank and boat anglers.
David Geil of Sanger and his dad, David Sr, of Clovis, went back to Wishon after their recent successful trip, and they reported catching and releasing multiple limits trolling Dick’s Trout Busters in Texas Tea or Mountain Hoochies in orange behind Mountain Dodgers in orange scale and watermelon. The ramp is accessible, and the water level is over 70% of capacity. Launching is doable toward the bottom of the ramp.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Coastal rockfishing is in full swing as Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete took her two teenage sons, Saginaw and Sterling, out for a special trip on Mother’s Day, and they returned with full limits of quality rockfish including vermilions and Bolinas cod along with lingcod to 16 pounds. Bluefin tuna remain on hold, but the conditions are looking better and better as the warmer water is starting to move in. Only hoops or snares are allowed until the Dungeness season ends on June 30. The City of Pacifica Pier is open, and snares are the best option for crab.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628.
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 3 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
“Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported an excellent striper bite along the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay beaches with Duo Realis Slim Tide Minnows in Hunter Candy or Sardine. The mouth of the Salinas or Pajaro Rivers along with Marina and Manresa Beaches have been good options for linesides in the 18- to 24-inch range.
Perch fishing remains excellent with Charlie Brewer’s Crappie Sliders or 2-inch Honey Badger Baits Super Slayer or Synthetic Motor Oil, with the best action at high tide. Motor oil/red flake remains a popular color. A few keeper halibut are starting to show up off New Brighton Beach with swimbaits.”
Rockfishing remains outstanding with the Check Mate out of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey loading up with 19 limits of rockfish and nine lingcod on a recent trip. Rockfishing is limited to 20 fathoms or less through Sept.30.
Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 3 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2
Halibut action rebounded on Sunday and Monday after rough weather on Saturday where scores averaged a fish per rod, reflecting the brutal conditions due to high winds. Monday’s haul is indicative of what can be expected this week as the California Dawn 2 out of Berkeley Marina returned with 16 limits of halibut to 20 pounds and 4 striped bass trolling in the south bay. Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley put 6 limits of halibut on Sunday.
“We had to work for them on both sides of the Berkeley Pier at depths from 10 to 11 feet.,” he said. “There are halibut even shallow, and when we move into very shallow water, we must let our lines out much further behind the boat.”
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco’s Pier 45 also put in 6 limits to 21 pounds on Friday, and he said, “There have been some larger fish mixed in as a 33-pound halibut came out of the south bay this week.” Despite the excellent action, few charter boats are working as there were only three boats out of Berkeley on Sunday. Captains are heading out with lighter loads and running special deals such as $160/angler on the Happy Hooker out of Berkeley on Memorial Day. There is a possibility that live bait may be available within the week in the San Francisco receiver, but there are still a few kinks to work out before the operation gets going.
Once live bait is available, boats will be able to fish more and deeper areas inside of the bay. Outside the Golden Gate, coastal rockfishing remains solid, and out of Bodega Bay, Captain Rick Powers of the New Sea Angler has been loading up to 22 limits of rockfish consisting of vermilions, browns, chinas, and canaries with only a handful of school fish in the mix along with a lingcod per rod to 22 pounds.
“The weather has been flat calm, and this is the week to go,” he said.
Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388.
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3
Rockfish trips are scheduled out of both Port San Luis and Morro Bay, and the boats are returning with close to 3/4 limits of rockfish along with a handful of lingcod. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, one boat was out on Monday with 15 anglers for 30 vermilion to 7 pounds, 30 assorted rockfish, 28 Bolina, and a single Boccaccio. They have trips scheduled throughout the week into the weekend. Out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, the Fiesta and Rita G were out on Sunday with trips ranging from 3/4 day to 12 hour, and 44 anglers came back to the harbor with 11 lingcod, 57 vermilion, 26 assorted rockfish, six rock sole, a Petrale sole, and an ocean whitefish. Out of Morro Bay Landing, several trips ranging in length are scheduled this week including Thursday’s half-day rockfish trip on the Avenger where children 12 and under are free with a full price adult fare. Reservations are required.
Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing.
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 2 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Striped bass fishing remains tremendous when the wind cooperates, and Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley continues to load up with limits of striped bass.
“We continue to drift live bait or spoon on the San Joaquin River, and we have been finding a solid grade of lineside with fast action once we locate the schools,” he said.” We went west on Sunday, but the combination of the outgoing tide and the northwest wind made for a bumpy ride. The fish are there though. I expect the bite to last for several more weeks.”
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, reported an improved largemouth bite in the central Delta with bladed jigs, crankbaits, or the Berkley Slobberknocker along with flipping Senkos. If you find the right cove, topwater frogs should work.
Dave King of Nor Cal Bass added, “we had 42 boats out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton on Saturday with three limits over 20 pounds. Bill Vernon landed the big fish of the tournament at 8.02 pounds on a swimbait a half hour before weigh in. Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits are very effective right now.“
In the south Delta, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported excellent striped bass fishing from the banks of the San Joaquin from Paradise Cut into the Tracy area along with behind Weston Ranch toward downtown Stockton. He said, “I was out for a few hours in this area for five keeper stripers released and an 8-pound catfish. Pile worms, chicken liver, or anchovies are working, and we have two cases of the hard-to-find bag anchovies. “
Captain Zack Medinas of Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures is one of the few sturgeon captains still operating out of Pittsburg.
“We had a group of striped bass anglers from the East Coast on the boat on Sunday, and we found great sturgeon action. The wind has been the only limiting factor,” he said.
Medinas is working on a research project to set line for white sturgeon where the fish are weighed, measured, and tagged.
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045.
Events
May 18
Striperz Gone Wild California Aqueduct Clean Up Day- Volta Road – Free BBQ afterwards.
Tournament results
May 11
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
1st – Tyler Bussart/Aaron Sapp– 22.54 pounds; 2nd –– Britton Wiggin/Nick Peterson – 21.38; 3rd –Mike Romaur/Gil Moody – 20.08. Big Fish – Bill Vernon – 7.52 pounds.
Lake McClure – Best Bass Tournaments/Mother Lode Division
1st– Brian and Jeremiah Payne – 11.44 pounds; 2nd –– Mike Impeartrice/Bobby Darnall – 10.88; 3rd – Russ Pierson/Michael Beevers – 9.94.
Bass Lake – Best Bass 101
1st– Bill Kunz/Jimmy – 22.40 pounds; 2nd –– Trevin/Braiden – 16.05; 3rd – Dominic/Josh – 13.49.
May 12
Lake McClure – Best Bass Tournaments/Central Division
1st– Boris Bogacheck/Youri Kaganovitch – 9.59 pounds; 2nd –– Tony Lopez/John Albidrez – 9.22; 3rd – Ron and Jeremy Pitts – 9.05.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
May 15, 22, 29
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Wednesday Night Shootout
May 17, 24, 31
Tulloch – Friday Night Shootout
May 18
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Bass Anglers of Northern California
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Sierra Bass Club/Santa Clara BassBusters
New Melones – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments/Gilroy Bassmasters/Contra Costa Bass Club
Don Pedro – TriValley Bassmasters/Folsom Bass Team
McClure – Yak ‘A Bass
Success – Golden Empire Bass Club
San Antonio – Best Bass Tournaments
Nacimiento – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
Lopez – Kern County Bassmasters
May 19
Don Pedro – Stanislaus County Employees
Tulloch – Modesto Ambassadors
Bass Lake – Fresno Bass Club
Eastman – Kings River Bass Club
Pine Flat – Bass 559
May 25
McClure – Kerman Bass Club
Lopez – Bakersfield Bass Club
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
