California Fishing Reports

Water levels continue to drop at El Capitan, with water temps hovering in the low 80s. The boat ramp is now closed, so access is limited to shore or kayak/float-tube anglers. But the bass bite has been really fun for those getting on the water, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. Bone-colored Spook or Chappo style topwater baits are crushing fish in the backs of coves and off points as they chase bait during these low-light periods. Fish are still being caught midday around deeper rock structure on drop-shots and T-rigged worms.

The low water levels have been a concern for quite some time... and initiatives are in place to build a new 200 ft launch ramp for better year-round access. A new paved road into the lake has also been approved.

Fishing is really starting to pick up at Bass Lake as the vacation season comes to a close. Boat traffic has dropped substantially, having a positive effect on both trout and bass anglers.

The last trout stock was in April, and the bite had been quiet for the last couple of months. But with a now quieter lake, trollers are starting to find limits on the daily... pulling tubes and spinners behind dodgers in 30-ish feet of water.

The bass action is picking up too, primarily around grass in transition zones or off secondary points. Senkos, drop-shots, Ned rigs, and small jigs are all working well throughout the day... better in the early mornings.

CDFW has been stocking tens of thousands of kokanee fry yearly for the past few years, with the hope of sparking an excellent salmon fishery at Bass Lake. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have taken hold... as kokanee anglers continue to turn up empty-handed.

Water levels continue to drop at Melones, with temps now sitting in the high 70s. The Kokanee bite is quieting way down as fish begin their transition into spawn. Trollers are still finding fish, but only on very slow trolls (.5 - .8 mph), running spoons or hoochies behind a dodger as close to the bottom as possible.

Bass action has been very good in the early mornings and late evenings in deeper water (20-30 feet) on smaller jigs, shaky heads, dropshots, or other finesse soft plastics. 30-50-fish days have been common... not a ton of size. There are often blowups from fish chasing shad in the mornings as well... jerkbaits, prop-baits and small poppers are awesome during this time. Midday action is much tougher.

A few nice catfish are being pulled out from shore guys on livers and prawns.

Vaqueros continues to receive catfish stockings monthly, with another going in last week. The dam area has been best. Obviously, late evening is always ideal for catfish, but guys are finding plenty of action midday. Anchovies, garlic shrimp, and mackerel are working well.

Folks are still pulling trout out of the lake too, even though the last stock was in May (albeit a big 3,000 lb stock). Still fairly surprising for late August. Powerbait is the go-to for shore guys, launched as far out as possible from the docks near the marina (also good reports coming from Cowboy Cove). Trollers are finding big holdovers working the 100 ft range.

Stripers have been pushing into the backs of coves (Peninsula Cove is reportedly fishing well), with trollers nailing them... but most fish are undersized schoolies with the occasional keeper. Shore anglers are finding a quality bite soaking sardines or working glide baits in the mornings.

Shad are quite thick at Lopez right now, and bass (and anglers) are loving it. Water temps are hovering in the upper 70s, and fish are keying in on bait off points and the backs of coves... especially in brushy areas. Everything from underspins to jerkbaits to swimbaits... any shad imitation lure... is working extremely well for 1–2 pound fish, with the occasional bigger one mixed in.

Big schools of redear are lining up in transition zones near flats, hitting jigs, redworms and mealworms. The bigger ones have been deeper, in 10+ feet of water. A few quality crappie are being caught as well off the docks near the marina.

Gregory has been closed to fishing for the past few weeks (since August 5th). Different reports suggest different reasons. Some say it's due to algae and water quality. But our best source says it's due to a malfunction with the lake's aerator system. So the shutdown is primarily to limit pressure on the fish and protect their health until it can be resolved.