10/11/2024
***FISH REPORT FRIDAY, October 11, 2024***
Thank you to all the great anglers out there who help contribute to Bakersfield’s only local fishing report. Please send us your best catches of the week to be featured in next week’s report.
*October 12th* Fishapalooza at Cope's Tackle and Rod Shop
Come on out to the shop October 12th for our annual Fishapalooza from 10am-4pm! Meet factory representatives from all your favorite brands and save on tackle during our biggest sale of the year!
**California Aqueduct**
Fishing was decent in the southern aqueduct with bait anglers reporting plenty of smaller grade striped bass. The little guys have been on the chew lately and cut sardines or anchovies have been their baits of choice. Some boils were reported along the most southern section of the aqueduct with big poppers and Spooks getting it done. Catfish anglers used fresh shrimp, cut baits, and dip bait for good results. Largemouth bass anglers got up early to take advantage to the topwater bite before and after check gates. Larger baits that can be cast to the opposite side of the aqueduct were the key to hooking up. Bass also went after drop shot curly tailed grubs and weightless Senkos in Ox Blood and Aaron’s Magic.
**Castaic Lake**
The lake level continued to fall last week. At the time of reporting, it was at holding 82 percent. Surface temperatures remained in the low to mid-seventies. Bass anglers had a field day last week with large and smallmouth boiling in coves throughout the lake. Topwater baits like Riser baits, Espetit 95, and Rapala Skitter Walks in bone or shad colors fooled plenty of bass. Spoons and Flukes worked for bites as well. Anglers did well while focusing their efforts on large and smallmouth and casting to the boils when they popped up nearby. For bottom focused anglers drop shot and wacky rigged Senkos took bass in 10 to 20 feet of water with Natural Shad and Aaron’s Magic leading the way. Striped bass anglers used live shad and topwater baits to boat fish. At times anglers reported catching all three bass species in the same boil. Catfish were reported by anglers soaking sardines for striped bass along the dam.
**Pyramid Lake**
Pyramid remained at full pool, and water temps held in the low to mid- seventies. Anglers reported an improved bite at Pyramid Lake with small and largemouth on the chew. Successful anglers focused on the outside w**d lines with white weightless Flukes, Senkos, and the bubble rig. Texas rigs took fish in the w**d bed holes and pockets. A lake regular reported catching several bass using w**dless frogs. White buzzbaits took bass as well. Striped bass anglers reported an emerging spoon bite after locating striped bass schools holding on main lake points and in the deep water just outside the marina. Trolled umbrella rigs and flies have also been effective for the zebras. Catfishing was good at the inlet with anglers reporting cut baits and chicken liver as the best baits.
***Isabella Lake***
Isabella dropped slightly to 27 percent of capacity. Bass fishing is solid here with reports of 5 to 6-pounders coming from the area near the cemetery. In the early hours, topwater bite is good on whopper ploppers and spooks in Bone colors. The North fork seems to be best with jigs, creature baits, and deep cranks like the Rapala DT 10 & 14 in both Demon, silver, and Perl grey shiner. The crappie bite improved this week with reports of nice stringers of fish coming out. Fish can be taken on live minnows or minijigs from structure in 18 to 25-feet of water. Whiskerfish have been showing around the lake with Triple S Dip Bait, shad and mackerel. Trout are fair to good for trollers by the Dam dragging needlefish or flicker shad.
**Kern River**
The Upper Kern was stocked this week throughout the 20 mile stretch. Small grubs, trout worms and salmon eggs have scored fish in the upper stretch. Fly anglers have fared a little better with dry-dropper rigs with a Yellow Sallie nymph on the bottom. The Upper Kern was stocked this week in Section 4; Riverside Park in Kernville to Powerhouse #3; Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge; and Section 6, Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge. In the Lower Kern, Bass have been coming on a variety of offerings. Anglers are still catching both largemouth and smallmouth bass. They are finding them in slower pockets with soft plastics and spinners. The bass and catfish are being caught along access points as the river makes its way into Bakersfield. Catfish can be caught with Get Bent Baits, clams, and worms. Bluegill have been coming on live worms. At the time of reporting, the Upper Kern River at Kernville was flowing at 196 CFS and the Lower Kern River was flowing at 665 CFS.
**Lake Kaweah**
The lake remained at 9 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing has been fair to good. Bass anglers found biting fish in the 5-to-20-foot zone with deep diving crankbaits getting some grabs. Topwater baits worked for bites as well. Finesse baits took spotted bass on main and secondary points with Aaron’s Magic working well. Crappie anglers used small live minnows to fool fish, and catfish anglers used dip bait and cut baits to land some whisker fish.
**Lake Success**
The lake level fell to 24 percent of its storage capacity, and fishing was good last week. Largemouth went for brown, purple, and dark green creature baits, spider jigs, and drop shots in 5 to 25 feet of water. The topwater bite took bass early or late in the day with walking baits and Whopper Ploppers scoring strikes. The submerged trees kicked out quality bass to anglers throwing crankbaits. Crappie reports were few and far between, but catfish ate cut mackerel and chicken liver in deeper coves.
*River Walk Lakes*
The Bakersfield Firefighters 11th annual trout derby and pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday November 23, 2024. There will be over a thousand pounds stocked with Lightening and Rainbow trout to 5 pounds. The lowest number tagged trout caught during the event will receive a $1000 prize. Here at River Walk bass have been caught more frequently. Anglers have been scoring bass in the early and later hours of the day. Bass have been coming on small flukes, ned rigs, shad imitation plastics on drop shot and green pumpkin Senkos. Bluegill have been showing at both lakes with wax and red worms.
**Ming Lake**
The bass bite continues to be fair at Lake Ming. Shakey heads, microjigs and small Senkos are getting bit. Smaller baits are the ticket. Catfish continue to show on anchovies, sardines, and dip bait. Still no reports of carp. Live worms are getting the bluegill to bite.
**Buena Vista Lakes**
Bass anglers reported decent fall fishing at BV with largemouth taking crankbaits and spinnerbaits along submerged w**d lines. Largemouth also went after Texas rigged 6” straight tailed worms in ox blood and watermelon black flake. Catfishing was consistent for anglers willing to put in some time soaking anchovies, SSS dip Bait, and chicken liver on the Carolina rig. Crappie anglers found biting fish over submerged rocks and brush. The panfish fell for small swimbaits and small live minnows.
**Hart Park Lake**
Fishing was good at Hart Park with more anglers taking advantage of the cooler temperatures. Largemouth bass picked up baby bass Senkos and Texas rigged plastics in brown and purple. Topwater frogs worked for bites on the surface with reports of a good nighttime bite. Whisker fish ate SSS dip bait, and bluegill were as reliable as ever on live redworms.
**Lake Nacimiento**
Water levels fell to 56 percent of the lake’s storage capacity, and fishing was excellent last week. Several anglers reported wide open action throughout the lake. The topwater bite has been good for largemouth, spotted bass, and white bass. Poppers, Whopper Ploppers, and Lucky Craft Sammy’s in shad patterns all worked for bites. Crankbaits, football jigs, darter head grubs, and Keitechs took bass in the 10-to-25-foot zone. Shad patterns and dark green were the colors of choice. Crappie anglers did well with small live minnows in 10 to 20 feet of water, and catfish took cut baits and dip bait for shore anglers.
****Trout Plants****
Week of October 6th - Upper Kern River Section 4; Upper Kern River Section 5; Upper Kern River Section 6.
Week of October 13th - Upper Kern River Section 4
Week of October 20th - Upper Kern River Section 4
****Ocean Fishing****
*San Diego*
The San Diego ended their Coronado Islands Full Day Wednesday with 40 Yellowtail for their 33 anglers. The Pacifica returned Thursday from a 1.5-Day with limits of bluefin tuna. The Pacific Dawn returned Wednesday morning with 17 Bluefin Tuna for their 15 anglers on a 2.5 day trip. The Fortune returned Wednesday morning with 22 Bluefin Tuna for their 3 day trip with 9 anglers aboard. The Pacific Queen returned Wednesday morning with 89 Bluefin Tuna for their 3 day trip with 18 anglers aboard. The New Lo-An returned from a 3 day trip with 54 Bluefin Tuna for 18 anglers.
*Dana Point/San Pedro*
The Freedom out of 22nd Street returned Wednesday from a 1.5-day with 10 Bluefin Tuna, 60 Red Snapper and 186 Rockfish for 30 anglers. The Aggressor returned Wednesday morning from a 1/2-day with 2 Sand Bass, 18 Sculpin, 2 Sheephead, 20 Whitefish and 10 Sand Dab for 7 anglers. The Freelance out of Dave’s Locker returned Wednesday from a Full day with 37 Rockfish, 19 Bocaccio, 27 Bonito, 1 Whitefish, 1 Lingcod, 2 Barracuda, 3 Calico Bass and 37 Red Snapper for 21 anglers.
*Channel Islands/Ventura*
The Aloha Spirit out of CISCOS returned from a Full day with 15 Halibut, 5 Calico Bass and 10 Ocean Whitefish for 11 anglers. The Island Tak returned with 23 Calico Bass, 6 Sheephead, 2 Whitefish and 1 White Seabass for 10 anglers. The Endeavor out of Ventura Sportfishing returned Sunday from an overnight with 110 Rockfish, 58 Whitefish, 3 Sheephead and 4 Lingcod Tuna for 11 anglers.
*Port San Luis/Morro Bay*
The Patriot out of Patriot sportfishing returned Sunday from a ¾-day with 4 Rockcod, 8 Bocaccio and 48 Vermillion Rockfish for 24 anglers. The Fiesta out of Virg’s Landing returned from a 12-hour on Saturday with 40 Vermillion Rockfish, 9 Lingcod and 72 assorted Rockfish for 20 anglers. The Starfire out of Morro Bay Landing returned Thursday from a ½-Day with 140 Rockfish for 14 anglers.
