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.