FishCaddy

Barrett is still wide open for quality bass, but it’s all about getting out early. Bass are hammering topwater baits at first light, with frogs, poppers, and walking baits all in play before the heat moves the bite deeper. Jigs and dropshots are pulling plenty of fish throughout the day, and anglers are also finding a lot of crappie mixed in across the lake. For those chasing bigger bites, slow-rolling swimbaits tight to the bottom is the move, with a solid chance at fish over six pounds. Water temps are pushing in the upper 70s.

Virginia Lakes are producing steady action across the board. Fly anglers in float tubes are connecting well by working small leeches and soft hackles, especially with a slow, consistent retrieve. Mini jigs are also drawing fish, with Sierra Slammers getting a lot of attention. Bait fishing from shore is picking up fish... and small lures are worth throwing at first and last light when fish are more willing to chase. Heavy stockings this spring and summer have mixed in some larger rainbows with plenty of 1- to 2-pound fish in the system.

Ken's Sporting Goods mentions The East Walker is sitting at 132 cfs and still fishing well, but rising daytime temps mean anglers should keep an eye on water temps and start planning around cooler windows. Best bet right now is to focus on the early morning before the sun bakes the water and come back for the evening session when things settle down. Streamers like sculpzillas, double bunnies, and dead-drifted crayfish are doing work early, but as the light comes up, it’s time to switch over to nymphs. Midges, pheasant tails, hare’s ears, flashback emergers, and copper Johns are all solid choices through the midday stretch. The Miracle Mile section is starting to wake up again with more fish sliding back in, offering some fresh opportunities there. Evenings are lighting up with caddis hatches and dry fly takes, with elk hair caddis, E/C caddis, chubby Chernobyls, and parachute Adams all in the mix.

Diamond Valley’s fishing has been good for anglers willing to navigate the algae patches. Bigger largemouth have been showing along the east dam, where soft plastics are getting bit, including a couple of fish pushing past six pounds last week. But with algae starting to build, some anglers are pivoting to faster baits... spinnerbaits and deep-diving cranks, to push through the murk and get deeper reaction strikes. Some of the windier areas have been best for these fast-moving baits.

Stripers are heavy along the east dam as well. A lot of smaller fish, but plenty of action soaking anchovies, or throwing small swimbaits & jerkbaits. Bass anglers are picking up these schoolie stripers as well. Bigger stripers are being caught (10-pounder landed last week), although you'll have to catch a lot dinks before hooking a notable one.

Camanche is wide open for shore anglers who know how to reach deep water. The holdover rainbows have pushed out with the warming surface temps and are holding in cooler pockets near the main channel and the dam. Long rods paired with long leaders... stretching 6 to 10 feet... are key to getting baits into those deeper zones. Rainbow and glitter PowerBait are still the top producers. The North Shore remains a productive stretch for this setup.

On the bass side, largemouth and spots are working the shallows early but shift off the banks by mid-morning. Topwater lures can pull fish in the first and last light windows, but after that, they’re sliding deeper and getting tougher to reach from shore.

Bridgeport Reservoir is producing solid trout numbers for boat anglers working bait rigs. The best fish are coming out of the deeper cuts and channels, including Robinson, Buckeye, and East Walker. Shore access is mostly a bust right now. Most of the trout are running 3 to 5 pounds, with some bigger fish mixed in, pushing up to 8. PowerBait, mice tails, and inflated crawlers are all getting bit. Trolling has dropped off.