Castaic is full, clean, and fishing very well. Guide Jim Taibi of 661 Fishing reports surface temps at 78 in the morning climbing to 81 by afternoon, with 5 to 15 feet of visibility and no algae.

The story right now is baitfish. Shad in the 2 to 4 inch class have flooded the shallows... some even in three feet of water... and the bass and stripers have followed them into the backs of the bigger coves. That's pushed the bite almost entirely to the surface. Dropshots and other bottom-contact stuff are getting ignored. Taibi reports Lucky Craft Gunfish 115s and Espetit 70s/95s are the ticket.

Stripers are boiling from Center Point down toward Elizabeth Canyon, averaging around five pounds. Taibi notes the boils are smaller and more scattered than earlier in August, with bass and stripers both working the same bait and spreading it out.

Isabella water levels continue to drop, with the lake sitting around 31%. Releases are running near 880 cfs against almost nothing coming in, so the water is falling about a foot a week. Bass are still in that late-summer pattern, hanging 15 to 20 feet off points and around the submerged trees, with the better fish sitting deeper. Most of the action is on shad and bluegill patterns right now, so lipless crankbaits, swimbaits, and topwater (Spooks, Chappos) have been best. The reaction bite is good early morning and late afternoon. When the sun is up, your best bet is still a drop shot for numbers. Some folks are throwing out big 10 inch worms in green pumpkin style colors in 25-30 feet, landing quality fish.

Crappie anglers are finding fish near the Marina in 10 to 20 feet on small shiners and jigs. Catfish have been hitting nightcrawlers, shrimp, and chicken livers... late evening into the night is always best.