Central California fishing report, July 31-Aug. 6: Delta bass hitting, hot bites at Shaver, Wishon, Courtright

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 bass hitting, Alan Fong said. Eastman bass hitting at night, Michael Crayne reported. New Melones trout and Kokanee bite solid, Kyle Wise said. Shaver trout active, Dick Nichols reported. Wishon and Courtright rainbows on a tear, Kelly Brewer said.

Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother

Roger George’s column will return.

Roger George: rogergeorge8@protonmail.com , Rogergeorgeguideservice on Facebook and @StriperWars

Valley/Westside waterways

Striper 2 Catfish 2

Triple-digit heat most of the week limited aqueduct fishing to the early mornings or into the night, and catfish remain the top species with chicken liver or anchovies. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Cope’s Bait and Tackle in Bakersfield reported the most recent heat wave forced most aqueduct anglers to fish early or late in the day, but the results were decent. Striped bass are taken on cut baits, bloodworms, or live minnows along with flukes, swimbaits, or jerkbaits during cooler parts of the day. Bass anglers have seen decent fishing early and late in the day with topwater and soft plastics.

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 3 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported Eastman has a solid night bite for largemouth bass, but the action in the middle of the day is basically non-existent. Big plastic worms, crankbaits, or lipless crankbaits worked slowly along the bottom are best. Crankbaits have been particularly productive when bounced off the rock piles or island tops. Crappie are taken by boaters scoring with small spoons, Crappie Stingers, minijigs, or live minnows. A few largemouth bass in the 3- to 4-pound range have been landed a Hensley, but the best options remain for catfish with chicken liver, nightcrawlers, or cutbaits along with the abundant carp in the shallows with dough bait. Eastman dropped 5 feet to 544.62 feet in elevation and 56% with Hensley dropping nearly 2.5 feet to 496.45 feet in elevation and 38%.

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 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported the kokanee are on the move, and the schools are scattered. Most boats have been targeting Middle Bay at depths from 75 to 100 feet, but the fish have moved on with the heavy boat pressure. Hoochies, small spinners, T-Bone’s TailDancer, or Apex lures in green are now effective with the fish in deep water. Some of the kokanee are starting to lose their scales, and the males are beginning to form a kype and teeth. Rainbow trout to 4 pounds remain a possibility as the trout are higher in the water column with similar lures. Ryan Denner of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported bass fishing remains very slow with fewer anglers trying with the heavy recreational boat traffic and few tournaments on the scheduled. The fish have moved into deep water, and there is a topwater bite in the early mornings or evenings . Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com . The lake is releasing water, and it dropped 808.86 feet in elevation and 87%. There are only two club tournaments on the schedule through August.

Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734 ; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.

McClure Reservoir

Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2

The bass have moved into deeper water, and Ryan Denner of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported deep-diving crankbaits and Keitech swimbaits on an underspin are working while plastics on the drop-shot and jigs are coming into play at depths to 40 feet. There are no bass tournaments scheduled through the month of August. The lake dropped to 846.15 feet in elevation and 86 percent. The Merced River rose again to 2131 cfs at Merced Falls downstream of Lake McSwain.

Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.

Lake McSwain

Trout 2

1000 pounds of trout were planted three weeks ago, and most of the fish have either been landed or headed up the river arm for cooler temperatures. The lake dropped slightly to 87 percent.

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

Michael Crayne reported the middle of the summer is the ‘Dead Sea’ at Millerton as the bass bite is extremely slow. The spotted bass have moved out into deeper water, and the fish are feeding on the 1.5-inch shad. The spotted bass are either suspended or on the bottom with the dropping lake level, and the surface temperature is 87/88 degrees. The lake dropped 8.5 feet to 532.23 feet in elevation and 62 percent. Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are stable at 462 cfs. No tournaments are scheduled through August.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474 ; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 3

Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been focusing upon kokanee, rainbow trout, and catfish, and he said, “Limits of kokanee to 20 inches remain the rule early in the morning at depths from 75 to 80 feet with Apex lures behind a 5.5-inch gold hammered dodger. The kokanee are a mixed grade, but there have been several in the 18- to 20-inch range landed within the past week. Rainbow trout under lights at night are another option for trout to 5 pounds with Power Bait, minnows, or nightcrawlers once the trout find the shad accumulating under the lights. Catfish are biting chicken livers in the shallows.”

For bass, the fish remain deep, but there is a topwater bite before the sun arrives. Recreational boating pressure is heavy on the weekends. The lake is releasing water, and it dropped to 1047.26 feet in elevation and 81 percent. There are only two club tournaments, and a kayak tournament scheduled here through the end of August. Lake Tulloch continues to fish well for bass with a 22-pound limit taking the most recent Friday Night Tournament. Tulloch is at to 97%.

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

Michael Crayne reported king salmon to 21 inches have been showing up in encouraging numbers for trollers rolling shad coated with Pro-Cure Shad Gel behind a dodger at 70 to 105 feet from the dam to ZeBee Creek. Rainbow trout are also getting in on the action at similar depths as they are all feeding on the shad schools. Finding the bait is the key. With the huge balls of shad in the lake, bass fishing has been slow with the fish chasing bait throughout the water column. In the lower Kings, most anglers are targeting planted rainbows near the bridge or by Avocado Lake, but with the heat, the action has been slow. The flows at Trimmer are at 908 cfs. The lake is releasing water, and it receded 17 feet to 882.60 feet in elevation and 64 percent. The next scheduled tournament is a Fresno Bass Club event on August 18.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474 ; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.

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 stripers are starting to chase shad on the surface in the main lake, and topwater lures are working. Bait anglers are soaking anchovies as pile worms and blood worms are selling out fast . In the O’Neill Forebay, the grass is thick along the shorelines

Roger George of Roger a George Guide Service said that the wind has been the main issue the last week- and that the overall troll bite has been slow to fair . He reported that he took out 3 guests on Sunday in 15 mph winds and they managed to release 20 fish to 24” using regular Shad colored Lucky Crafts and Rapalas working in the main lake.

The main lake and forebay both dropped to 43 and 80%. To check the real time 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

Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Guide Service said, “Fishing has slowed down to a crawl with the full moon as the rainbow trout have been feeding at night. The lake has dropped a foot since the 4th of July, but after the full moon period, the rainbows should start to bite again. Orange or pink Apex lures tipped with a pinched crawler, Dick’s Trout Busters or Mountain Tubes in orange behind a Dick’s large Bluefin or gold dodger are the best setups at depths to 20 feet. The rainbows should start moving towards Miller’s Landing, but they have been holding out in front of the Forks Resort.”

Bass fishermen are working early from first light to 9:00 am . 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

Trout 3

Michael Crayne reported good action for both bank anglers and trollers at Edison, and planted trout are taken at Portal Forebay and Ward Lake after recent planting. Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra . Fire danger is extreme in the high country. Edison dropped slightly to 75, Florence rose slightly to 89 while Mammoth Pool dropped from 81 to 75%.

Road conditions 297-0706 .

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake

Trout 3 Kokanee 2

Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters and Mountain Tackle said, “The kokanee bite at Shaver has been slow, but it might be making a turn to the good now. Three limits of kokanee were landed recently, and it appears that the bite is improving. It’s all about location, depth, and color. I fished with an old friend and his sons on a two-hour trip, and we targeted rainbows for 15 fish caught and released at depths from 18 to 20 feet with pink or orange Mountain Tubes behind Mountain Dodgers on the downriggers and Texas Tea Trout Busters behind weighted Mountain Flashers at a setback of 120 feet on the side poles. For those without downriggers, trout are a great option as the kokanee are holding between 38 and 41 feet. The lake is dropping, and it will continue to recede slowly over the next two months.”

At Huntington, small kokanee are abundant with small spinners or spoons at depths to 20 feet. A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http://www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html . Shaver is at 92 and Huntington dropped to 95%.

Call:– Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100 ; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072 ;

Wishon/Courtright

Trout 3

Kelly Brewer of the Wishon RV Park and Store reported both lakes were planted on Thursday, and bank fishing is very good with Power Bait near the dams or in the upper end of both lakes. Trollers are scoring larger holdover browns and rainbows at 35 feet with Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a flasher, small spoons, or Rapalas.

Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706 .

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

Although albacore were taken 80 miles off shore, few boats are willing to make the long run for a few longfins. Limits of rockfish along with a decent lingcod count and the possibility for a California halibut south of the harbor remain the story. The Queen of Hearts posted 13 limits of rockfish including 3 cabezon and 15 lings to 13 pounds on Sunday while Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete has been posting similar scores including a number of California halibut.There is a petition to be discussed at the Aug. 14 Fish and Game Commission Meeting to allow authorize recreational take of groundfish inside 50 fathoms using non-motorized vessels or watercraft (less than or equal to 19 feet) with mandatory descending devices. This would allow kayak fishing in shallow water throughout the season.

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 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch

Rockfishing remains tremendous out of Monterey with boats from Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching scoring a combined 52 limits working the reefs south of the harbor. Monterey Bay is uniquely positioned for both the shallow water rockfishing under 20 fathoms and deep water rockfishing over 50 fathoms with plenty of easily accessible deep or shallow structure. Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill said, “The striped bass bite from Marina to Monterey has slowed down a bit, but there are still some quality linesides. Surf perch around Santa Cruz remains excellent with several big perch in the 14//15-inch range. Mekini Baits, Honey Badgers, Crappie Sliders, and Lucky 13’s in a pattern of motor oil red remain effective.”

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

Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay

Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2

The past week brought a series of minus tides, and the scores dipped to around a fish per rod inside the bay. The good news is the tides have backed off, and this week looks like a return to the incredible action experienced over the past few months with limits of halibut and striped bass strong possibilities. The ocean has been a bit unkind, but on days when the boats are able to work the North or South Bar, halibut fishing remains ‘lights out.’ Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley went outside for 16 limits of quality halibut on Sunday while his brother’s boats, the California Dawn 1 and 2 returned with a combined 41 limits of halibut to 27 pounds and 5 striped bass. Rockfishing is consistent in the nearshore waters north of the Golden Gate. Rockfishing is limited to 20 fathoms until September 30.

The bass continue to be willing to bite, and Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Paradise Marina in Tiburon was out on Saturday and left them biting off Angel Island.

The Coastal Conservation Association has an introductory bay potluck charter on the California Dawn I on August 24 – Information and reservations - https://ccacalifornia.org/ .

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

There isn’t much change out of the San Luis Obispo County ports with ½ -and ¾-day trips returned with up to 2/3rd limits of rockfish. The best rockfish action comes on the full-day, 12-hour, or overnight trips much further from the heavily pressured local reefs. The Starfire, Avenger, and Endeavor were out of Morro Bay Landing on Monday on ½- to 3/4th- day trips with 56 anglers for 65 vermilion, 192 assorted rockfish, 31 copper, 10 Boccaccio, 2 rock sole and one lingcod. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, two boats were out on Saturday with a combined 35 passengers for 201 assorted rockfish ,. Rockfishing below Point Lopez from July 1 through September 30 are limited to 50 fathoms inshore while from October 1 through December 31, the regulations are from 50 fathoms offshore. 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 3 Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3

Late July and early August is Frog Time on the California Delta, and the first of the two big frog tournaments, the Ultimate Frog Challenge 10, drew a combined total of 162 boats for the pro and amateur divisions. After weeks of triple-digit heat, last weekend was much cooler than anticipated, and normally cooler temperatures result in challenging frog fishing. The key was remaining consistent, and the team of Hung Ho and Mon Luong posted consecutive three-fish limits at 17.74 and 14.03 pounds for a winning total of 31.77 with a big fish at 8.91. The top four teams on the pro side all had consecutive days of more than 10 pounds. Both tournament formats are similar as the teams fish the afternoon tide on Saturday and the morning tide on Sunday. Fresno native Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors and his partner, Chad Frie, came in 9th place with a total of 19.45 pounds, dropping from 4th place after Saturday’s limit at 14.95 pounds. Borges said, “We were throwing the new GSM Boom Boom Frog, and after having a very solid day one, we struggled on day two. It was cold and even foggy on Sunday morning, and the water temperature dropped up to 6 degrees. We flipped a coin to go either north or south, and north won. We fished north both days, and the winning weights came in the south Delta on Sunday. We ended up with 5 or 6 fish on Sunday, but the size just wasn’t there. There were only a few teams that improved their placement on Sunday as the overall weights dropped.”

The original frog tournament, the Snag Proof Open, is the following weekend out of Russo’s on Aug. 3 and 4, and in addition to Snag Proof or American Bait Works topwater frogs, the new Zoo Dog, Zoo Pup, and Zoo Pop are also allowed.

Striped bass are showing up in the north Delta near Liberty Island, and large glide baits or topwater lures are picking up the linesides in the shallow water. Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors took advantage of the minus tides to head into previously inaccessible waters in the north Delta to work the shallows with chatterbaits, topwater lures, or punching the weeds for 50 to 70 bass to 7 pounds for three consecutive days. He said, “It is difficult to get out if you wait too long, and I almost didn’t make it out one day.”

Sturgeon fishing is closed, but there are several agenda items regarding white sturgeon on the August 15 agenda of the Fish and Game Commission including an item on the ability to catch and release sturgeon during the interim period of closure for research for California Environmental Protection Agency threatened status.

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

Tournament results

Lake Pardee – Nor Cal Bass - July 27th: 1st – Brandon and AJ Holt – 14.51; 2nd –Tyler and Tracy Bolin – 14.07; 3rd – Korey Hall – 13.89 (Big Fish – 6.04).

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Ultimate Frog Challenge 10 Pro Division (6 Fish Limits) – July 27/28th: 1st – Hung Ho/Mon Luong – 31.77 (Big Fish - 8.91)

2nd – Joe and Joey Skym – 28.35; 3rd – Maynard and Maynard – 26.93.

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Ultimate Frog Challenge 10 Amateur Division (6 Fish Limits) – July 27/28th: 1st –Tremont/Wayman – 19.72;

2nd –Maynard and Maynard – 17.59; 3rd –Rush/Atnip – 17.51.

Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)

July 31

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Wednesday Night Shootout

August 7/14/21/38

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Wednesday Night Shootout

August 2/9

Tulloch – Friday Night Shootout

August 3/4 th –

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Snag Proof Open – information - https://www.bestbasstournaments.com/ .

August 6 th –

Delta/Contra Costa County – LTA Fishing

August 10 th –

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments

August 11 th –

Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments

August 13 th –

Delta/Contra Costa County – LTA Fishing

August 17/18 th –

Don Pedro – Modesto Ambassadors

Pine Flat – Fresno Bass Club

August 17 th –

Isabella – America Bass Association

Santa Margarita – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers

August 18 th –

Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Angler’s Press

New Melones – Riverbank Bass Anglers

August 24/25th-

Tulloch – Valley Backlashers

August 24 th –

New Melones – Oro Madre Bass Anglers

Santa Margarita – 805 Bass Addicts

For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing .