California Fishing Reports

The topwater bite in the Delta is the main game right now. Bass are crushing poppers and smaller topwater baits early, especially in slack water near fast-moving current. Protected coves, behind islands, and along weed edges with current breaks are the key zones. The topwater bite usually fades after 9-10 a.m., where chatterbaits, crankbaits, and worms start picking up fish. Senkos are working too, but smaller fish are the norm. Big females are guarding thick groups of fry, often swiping at baits, but hooking them has been tough with a lot of short strikes.

Striper fishing is very slow in the central Delta… mostly small schoolies. Bigger stripers are holding from Liberty Island to Pittsburgh in the Sacramento side.

Water temps range from 68 to 75 degrees depending on location.

At McClure, folks are finding quality bass action deep. Fish are keyed in on rock structure from 20 to 50 feet, but the best quality is coming from deeper ledges in the 40 to 50-foot range. Jigs and Neko rigs are doing most of the damage, with fish tight to slate rock and hitting on slow presentations. Sonar and LiveScope have been extremely helpful. Shallower areas in 20 to 25 feet, especially saddles and narrow coves, are holding numbers... but they are typically smaller than the deeper fish. Shaky heads and drop-shots are working well in these mid-depth areas. The topwater bite was very good a couple of weeks ago, although it’s cooled off some. Still, overcast mornings are seeing a window of very good surface action.

There’s still some trout in 45 to 60 feet of water, although it’s inconsistent. Blade crawler combos, spoons, and spinners are getting a few here and there. The crappie bite has been very good lately on small cranks and jigs.

Trout are eating well at Green Valley, with Gulp garlic PowerBait and small trout-pattern crankbaits getting bit. Fly anglers are staying busy too, picking up both crappie and rainbows on both drys and nymphs. Bass anglers are working jigs and soft plastics, mostly finding fish around a pound, though a few pushing three have been reported. Overall good fishing at Green Valley right now.

Casitas continues to turn out excellent bass action on two main patterns. Some fish are pinned tight to heavy brush and submerged cover. Slow-falling soft plastics pitched deep into snaggy spots are getting bites from high-quality fish (up to 7 lbs). The tighter and deeper into cover, the better. Alternatively, bass are chasing shad schools out in open water. Live shad, A rigs, and swimbaits are doing most of the work. Topwater baits are also getting crushed early when bass push bait to the surface.

Reports are that catfish are starting to really chew for bank anglers on mackerel, chicken liver, and live nightcrawlers.

Guide Jim Taibi reports that bass are now schooling and actively chasing shad in packs. Largemouth and smallmouth in the 1–2 lb range are still the average, but fish up to 5 lbs haven't been uncommon. Live shad and surface/reaction baits are key right now... poppers, Flukes, and Lucky Craft Pointers. Soft plastic finesse baits are also working, but the surface reaction action is really where it's at.

Stripers are starting to show up on top, although the surface activity is not in full swing yet. If you find a boil, Taibi reports topwater baits like Gunfish, Espetit’s, and 007 Risers will get you fish. Large schools of 6 lb stripers are around, pointing to a potentially excellent upcoming topwater bite shortly.