The renowned winter crappie bite at Lake Isabella is in full effect and has been for the past month. Anglers are consistently catching big crappie using sonar to target submerged structures in 20-30 feet of water. Mini jigs have been the go-to, but those with access to live shiners are crushing it as well.

Crappie aren’t the only hot bite right now. Big largemouth bass are being caught in 15-20 feet of water, primarily off rocky shorelines. Reports indicate the fish are consistently between 4-8 pounds. Crawfish and baitfish imitations are key—jigs, A-rigs, and swimbaits are all producing. Catfish are also biting well, and a few holdover trout are being picked up on the north side.