The hot trout fishing continues at McSwain for both stockers and bigger holdovers. CDFW has dropped in three plants this month, with rumors of another 2,200-pound load from Calaveras Trout Farm the second week. Everyone seems to be catching fish. Shore guys are catching smaller limits on floated nightcrawlers and chartreuse PowerBait, but some big holdovers up to five pounds are being caught by folks targeting major drop-off areas, tossing out spoons or three-inch plastics on a jig head (chartreuse or orange). With vacation season over, the bite should remain awesome throughout September.

Big Bear is kicking out some excellent fishing as vacation season comes to a close. The hot weather is still keeping water temps in the mid-70s, but the trout bite has really picked up over the last few weeks. Both shore and boat guys are pulling limits using a slip bobber around 15 feet, dropping nightcrawlers and PowerBait. Leadcore trollers pulling spoons are finding some better fish as well as numbers.

Bass action is firing well for both smallmouth and largemouth, acting aggressively as if they are loading up calories before the cold season. Rock structure and points have been best for smallmouth on dropshots and small jigs. Largemouth have been holding tight to shallow structure, and T-rigged worms are getting them.

Folks are also reporting some excellent catfish action in the evenings on nightcrawlers... an 18-pound-plus fish was pulled out this week.