Ventura County Fishing Reports

The spawn is over at Casitas and bass have fully transitioned into hunting shad. Water temps are now in the low 70s, and shad are schooling up all over the lake. Some anglers are reporting 20+ fish days running underspins, jerkbaits, Keitech swimbaits, and A-rigs. Bass seem to be all over the water column... some in open water, others holding off points and transition zones, and even some pushing into the backs of coves. No matter where you decide to fish, shad is the color and lure pattern. Most fish are 1–2 pounds, but reports also mention some bigger ones, up to 7 pounds. It may seem obvious, but if you can get live shad, it's the ultimate bait for both numbers and size right now.

Piru has been turning out good bass numbers lately. Water temps are sitting in the mid-to-high 60s, and fish have moved shallow, getting very active all around the lake. The best action isn't coming on spawning fish though, it's been mostly schooling bass chasing bait in open water and off points. Baitfish-colored jerkbaits and walking baits are getting crushed once you find the schools. Covering water quickly has been the smart play until you find them. Then it's about working that school hard until the bite quiets. Some finesse guys are finding fish on drop shots and t-rigged worms, but that action has been less consistent.

Anglers have been waiting all March on the bass bite at Casitas to full take off, and with water temps now sitting in the mid-60s, that wait is over. Bass are pushing hard into the shallows and feeding aggressively, primarily in prespawn mode, but some fish are getting onto beds.

The bulk of fish are coming in the 1-2 pound range off shallow cover on T-rigged Senkos and dropshots, with the occasional 4-5 pound fish mixed in. Early morning topwater has been productive too, with prop baits (Chappo) drawing strikes in the backs of coves before the sun gets up (3-4 pound fish). The real giant females are still in 20-30 feet of water but should be making their move shallow soon. Front-facing sonar guys are chasing these fish deep in the meantime.

A giant 3 pound, 17 inch black crappie was caught off one of the docks last week. And carp guys are hooking some big ones late in the day.