Lake Isabella Fishing Report

Isabella water temps are now sitting in the low 70s, and the warm water species bite has been excellent. Catfish, bass, and crappie have all been very active. Bass have been hitting reaction baits hard in the morning... crankbaits and swimbaits around rocky banks and submerged wood... then the bite shifts more finesse, with T-rigged worms and Senkos working well. Quality has been solid: 2+ pound average, up to 5 pounds.

Crappie are holding tight to submerged brush piles through the south fork and eating jigs. Some big channel cats are coming on garlic-scented night crawlers and prawns. On the trout front, the last stock was late April, but shore casters are still getting fish on Powerbait while trollers are pulling limits on small crankbaits and Rapalas.

The shallow prespawn push at Isabella has finally begun. Bass had been holding deep prior to this week, but have now transitioned all the way up shallow, with some reports putting them right against the shoreline. Water temps are still only in the mid 50s but should jump a couple of degrees with warm weather forecasted next week. T-rigged plastic worms, creature baits, and squarebills are all pulling fish in the 2-3 pound range.

The last trout stock was late February, but another CDFW drop is planned for next week. Action has been fair, with most fish coming on PowerBait and floated nightcrawlers.

Lake Isabella is settling into a colder, post-storm pattern as lake levels climb, with water temps sitting in the upper 40s to low 50s. That temperature drop has taken some edge off the bass bite, especially for bigger fish, but it hasn’t shut it down. Most bass are holding on deeper structure, with the most consistent action coming from areas like Rocky Point, Piney Point, and Engineer’s Point. Fish are sitting in 30 to 40 feet, with slower presentations producing… big worms and creature baits, jigs, and even slow-rolled deep-diving crankbaits are getting fish.

Catfish action has improved since the storm, both in numbers and size. Mackerel, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers are all producing. Trout fishing is fair on garlic PowerBait, spinners, mousetails, and floated nightcrawlers. Mini jigs and shiners are picking up a few crappie as well.