Fresno County Fishing Reports

Water temps have really jumped over the last few weeks, now hovering in the low to mid 70s. The spotted bass spawn is long done, but the bite hasn't cooled off much. Fish are still being caught running small jigs and swimbaits off points and in steep transition areas in 10–20 feet.

A few folks have reported big groupings of American shad near the mouth and further upriver... hooking into 20–30 fish on small jigs. While rare, there are some massive stripers at Millerton (22 pounder was caught in Feb), and they surely are following those shad schools. Target them with large shad style jerkbaits or swimbaits. Also some big catfish are being pulled out on night crawlers around the mouth as well.

Water temps have jumped into the mid-to-high 50s, and the spring trout action has been excellent. The CDFW has made three separate plants since the start of March, but the real headline is a plant of big rainbows by the Trophy Trout Project, a group focused on building Shaver Lake into a trophy trout fishery. Trollers are getting limits of trout (and some kokanee) on orange or pink hoochies. Casters from are connecting on trout, kokanee, and even smallmouth bass throwing rooster tails off points and transition zones. The good bite should continue throughout the warmer months.