Castaic Lake Fishing Report

Jim Taibi reports a productive post-spawn bass bite at Castaic Lake, with both largemouth and smallmouth hitting well, although most are only in the 1–2 lb range. Right now, they are holding tight to steep rock banks, walls, and secondary points in 10–20 feet of water. Dropshots, small paddletail swimbaits, and wacky Senkos are all working well. A light topwater window is opening up at dawn and dusk, drawing out some higher-quality female bass that are starting to shake off their post-spawn sluggishness.

Stripers are wrapping up their spawn and moving into more predictable feeding patterns. Some are tracking bait into the coves around 20–30 feet deep, where 3” swimbaits, spoons, and Alabama rigs are getting fish. There are signs of the trolling bite starting to take off as schools tighten up.

The lake’s full, water clarity is improving at 5–15 feet, and surface temps are hovering between 71–76°F. Launching is at West Ramp only.

Bass action is wide open. Jim Taibi reports consistent action for both Largemouth and Smallmouth, with catch counts hitting 15–20 a day. Dropshot rigs are doing the most damage, but any finesse plastics or small 3″ swimbaits are working well. Bigger bites are coming on wacky-rigged Senkos fished along rocky slopes and secondary points. The bite’s active but scattered… folks are doing best moving spots frequently.

Stripers are in transition. Bait is moving into coves like Elizabeth Canyon, and while a few fish are feeding, most surface activity is tied to spawning. They’re not chasing—just going through the motions. Unlike bass that guard nests, Stripers release everything into open water and let the wind do the mixing. During this phase, they’re tough to fool. A couple might swipe, but the real action should return post-spawn.

Jim Taibi from 611 Fishing reports that bass fishing at Castaic slowed a bit this week after cold weather and rain temporarily stalled the spawn. Smallmouth are post-spawn and aggressive, willing to hit a variety of presentations. Largemouth actions is mostly one to two pound males guarding beds, but some three to five pound fish are showing up. Carolina rigs and dropshots are producing well, while wacky-rigged 5” Senkos in Green Pumpkin or Natural Shad have been getting the bigger bites. Jim notes using darker colors on cloudy days and natural shad tones when it’s sunny.

For striped bass, bait schools are moving into the backs of coves, which is a good thing, but the Stripers are still in pre-spawn mode, so the bite will have to wait a bit.

Water clarity remains excellent, with visibility up to 20 feet in some areas. Surface temps are running 62 to 66 degrees.