Lake Isabella Fishing Report
View the latest Lake Isabella fishing report updates for current conditions, tips, and updates.
The water level is dropping and temps are increasing, but there's still an excellent multi-species bite happening at Isabella right now. Bass guys are crushing 1-2 pound fish off points, rocks, and hard structure on soft plastics... Senkos, dropshots, and Flukes in shad colors. Some fish are keying in on crawdads too, so red jigs and crawfish-style...
The water level is dropping and temps are increasing, but there's still an excellent multi-species bite happening at Isabella right now. Bass guys are crushing 1-2 pound fish off points, rocks, and hard structure on soft plastics... Senkos, dropshots, and Flukes in shad colors. Some fish are keying in on crawdads too, so red jigs and crawfish-style baits are working as well. A 12-pounder was landed last week on a shad-colored crankbait, so the reaction bite is there, but it's best early and late in the day.
Crappie have been somewhat scattered... small schools are still around in the 20-foot range near submerged brush and wood. Live shiners are always the go-to, but minijigs are working also.
Catfish are hitting extremely well late in the evening on chicken livers and nightcrawlers.
A few trout are still being picked up as well near the North Fork in the early mornings. Soaking Powerbait or floated nightcrawlers is the best bet.
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...
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...
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.
