California Fishing Reports

I wish I could say the bite is totally on fire, but that just isn’t accurate. Since mid-July, the bite has slowed to a crawl—and it’s not just me. I have a friend who fishes four days a week, and he’s only putting a handful of fish in the boat. Every once in a while, he’ll catch one weighing between 3½ and 5½ pounds.

From the beginning of June through mid-July, we were catching more than 20 fish a day, including plenty of big ones in the 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-pound range. My biggest was 5 pounds, 11 ounces. What are reports that I cut over a hundred fish that's over the period of a month./

The bite seemed to really turn off near the end of July. I went out night fishing with one of my good buddies, and I couldn’t believe it. He never got a bite the whole night. I put six in the boat, lost two at the boat, and had two short strikes that I should have hooked—for a total of ten bites, six in the boat.

I’m not going to fish “Lake Slownoma” three or four days a week again until later in the year. For now, I’m heading up to Clear Lake, where the bite is rumored to be on fire!

Good luck and tight lines!

—Nitrosmike

Water temps are warm at Hodges, with midday numbers up to 85 degrees. That narrows the best windows to mornings and evenings, though reports mention midday anglers are still getting fish.

The morning reaction bite has been excellent on crankbaits and jerkbaits. Bass and crappie are keying on shad, but they're also pushing up shallow on silversides. Some really good reports are coming from the dam area, with slab crappie and 3+ pound bass caught early on jerkbaits.

Otherwise, midday anglers are leaning on finesse stuff... drop-shots, Senkos and Texas-rigged worms... worked on points and deeper structure.

Boat anglers are finally getting on the water at Camanche, provided they complete the mandatory 30-day quarantine. That has opened up some very good fishing in spots that couldn't be reached from shore during the closure.

The last trout plant was over four months ago, so no fresh stockers. Trollers, though, are finding some nice holdovers along the main channel pulling spoons.

The bass bite has been good on finesse stuff. Senkos, dropshots and Ned rigs are all working well in the 20 to 30 foot range. Mornings are producing a decent reaction bite too, with crankbaits and poppers pulling a few fish.

The catfish bite is good as well, with most reports coming from anglers soaking nightcrawlers or chicken livers. Evening is always best.

Water temps are up in the 80s at Jennings, and catfish stockings continue. The last load went in July 30, following two earlier July stocks... and the next one is planned for August 17. Night fishing has been best for these cats... mackerel, shrimp and chicken livers soaked late on Friday or Saturday night, when the lake stays open until midnight.

Bass action has been very good in the mornings off weed lines, rocky points and transition zones on drop-shots, swimbaits and smaller jigs (worked around rock). Reports mention a 10+ pound largemouth caught recently on a live shiner.

Plenty of bluegill action around weeds in the shallows on redworms.

Water temps are pushing into the upper 70s and low 80s at Piru, and the bass bite has been great. Numbers have been excellent, though not many fish are going over 2 pounds... which is typical for Piru anyway. Twenty to thirty fish days haven't been uncommon. Baitfish imitating jerkbaits and cranks... Lucky Craft Pointers and Rapala Shad Raps are producing extremely well thrown toward the bank near transition zones and rock structure. Drop-shot anglers are also catching fish a bit deeper. The wind has been picking up in the afternoons, so either go early or target protected areas.

With water temps in the mid-70s, and the last trout stock in April, the trout bite should be just about over... although it's absolutely not. Over the last couple days, reports came in of anglers landing a 6 and a 9 pounder just out from the Marina. No specifics on bait, but garlic-scented Powerbait is often produces well here, cast out as deep as possible.

The catfish and bass bite has been fair to good, with catfish being better. No recent stockings, but cats are still biting chicken liver and garlic prawns late in the evening. Bass guys are finding smaller fish on soft plastics, but quality fish have been tough to come by.

Surprisingly, trout are still your best bet, even in August.