Madera County Fishing Reports

The warming weather and CDFW trout stock at the end of last month have lit up the big bass bite at Hensley. A 17+ pounder was reportedly nailed last week on a big trout-colored swimbait, and 4–6 pound fish have been common since. These prespawn bass are in full-on feeding mode, gorging on trout... every one of them has a full belly. Swimbaits are pulling the biggest fish, but jigs and large Texas-rigged worms are getting bit too. Water temp is perfect... in the low 60s throughout much of the lake.

Eastman has quietly been serving up a very good winter bass bite over the last few weeks. The lake was stocked with trout once in November and again in mid-December, and these stocks have really fired up the bigger bass.

Now bass are still in winter mode, so infrequent bites are to be expected. But anglers are reporting 2-4 quality fish a day with 5-7 pounders not uncommon.

For those targeting giants only, slow-rolling a trout imitation swimbait or glide bait will get bigger bites. But most of the action is coming on natural-colored Roboworms fished in 15-20 feet of water, either drop-shot or T-rigged. Slow, subtle presentations are working best.