FishCaddy

Jim Taibi reports a productive post-spawn bass bite at Castaic Lake, with both largemouth and smallmouth hitting well, although most are only in the 1–2 lb range. Right now, they are holding tight to steep rock banks, walls, and secondary points in 10–20 feet of water. Dropshots, small paddletail swimbaits, and wacky Senkos are all working well. A light topwater window is opening up at dawn and dusk, drawing out some higher-quality female bass that are starting to shake off their post-spawn sluggishness.

Stripers are wrapping up their spawn and moving into more predictable feeding patterns. Some are tracking bait into the coves around 20–30 feet deep, where 3” swimbaits, spoons, and Alabama rigs are getting fish. There are signs of the trolling bite starting to take off as schools tighten up.

The lake’s full, water clarity is improving at 5–15 feet, and surface temps are hovering between 71–76°F. Launching is at West Ramp only.

Ross England shares is latest Clear Lake report. Generally, the lake is straddling the line between late spawn and early summer. A few beds are still showing up for sight anglers, but most bass have moved off and are holding around docks or deeper structure. Water clarity is low (about 2 feet) due to wind, and surface temps are now in the low 70s. Topwater is trying to kick in... frog blowups are happening, but the bite is inconsistent. Warmer weather and rising weeds should push it forward soon. Check out his video for the full report.

At Eastman, bass are hitting reaction lures like crankbaits and chatterbaits in the shallows during early mornings. As the day warms though, fish are pulling out to 20-40 feet and hold tight to rockpiles and other deep structure. Drop-shots are producing best for these deeper fish, although bites have been subtle. A few fish up to 5 lbs have been reported, but most are in the 2–3 lb range. A few bass are also out in open water, targeting bait schools.

Shasta’s wide open. Kings are hitting at 65–125 feet, chasing tuna-packed Skinny Minis behind dodgers near Dry Creek and Frost Gulch. A few brown trout are being picked up on salmon gear, but most are being caught shallower around structure.

Rainbows are cruising mid-depth (40ish feet), actively taking scented KCP plugs, especially around Waters Gulch. Kokanee are schooling from 10 to 40 feet, feeding near the dam and throughout the McCloud Arm toward Hirts Bay. Pink micro shrimp, corn-tipped spinners, and Paulina Peak “Arnold Palmers” are the go-tos. With surface temps around 68°F and plankton blooms underway, expect rapid kokanee growth.

Bass fishing remains hot across the main lake, particularly in the Sac Arm. Bass are bedding, tucked tightly into cover, and roaming structure, consistently hitting Powerworms, jigs, and jerkbaits.

Overall, the bite remains excellent for nearly every species available.

Collins Lake continues to produce excellent trout action, with rainbows and lightning trout spread throughout the water column and active from the surface down to 30-35 feet. While the final stocking of the season wrapped up in early May, a strong series of fall and spring plants has left the lake well-loaded. Trollers are running spoons, Rapalas, and trolling flies with success... particularly in pink or natural tones. Faster trolls are starting to pull in more fish.

Shore casters are soaking nightcrawlers and PowerBait, landing fish near the campsite. Bass are sliding into post-spawn patterns and pulling back from the banks. Finessse soft plastics are your best bet, and just like for trout, the color pink has been working well. Water clarity is good, and the fishing pressure has backed off a bit since the early spring rush.

Bass fishing is in transition as largemouth shift offshore into deeper water following the spawn. Expect most fish to be smaller (1–1.5 lbs), suspended around submerged timber or rocky structure. Your best bet is a drop-shot rig fished between 20–30 feet, especially around isolated cover and deeper brush piles near sharp depth changes. Swimbaits worked slowly along edges or points adjacent to spawning flats have occasionally triggered bigger post-spawn bass.

The striper bite remains very good but primarily deep, mostly below 40 feet. Anglers are soaking small anchovy chunks on light line directly over submerged humps and ledges. Most stripers are smaller, school-sized fish under 2 lbs, but an occasional 8–10 lb fish is being caught as well. Topwater action isn’t here yet but typically ignites as water temperatures climb further into summer. Look for those boils.