Central Valley fishing report: Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon bites good
Fishing report compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
Best bets
Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon bites good, Alan Fong said. Don Pedro trout biting, Aaron Jones reported. Isabella bass and trout are best bets , Copes Tackle said. McSwain trout plants produce quick limits,and Kings River plants excite anglers, Dave Hurley reported. Westside stripers and catfish active, Tas Moua reported.
Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother
Unless noted, area code is 559
Valley/Westside waterways
Striper 3 Catfish 3
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported continued good action from around the Dos Amigo Power Station near Pole Line south to Manning Ave and Highway 198 with jerkbaits or topwater lures when they are boiling on the surface. Anglers are moving up and down the water conveyance system in search of boiling fish. In the southern section of the aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported steady action with several standout striped bass and catfish catches.
Striped bass from 5 to 10 pounds hit cut sardines worked with the ‘walk-the-dog’ technique along with white jerkbaits or Rat-L-Traps. Catfish to 15 pounds have been landed on dip bait, chicken liver, or fresh shrimp on a Carolina-rig with flat sinkers proving effective in the heavier current. Largemouth bass reports were fewer, but they featured quality fish in the 3–to 5-pound range on topwater Poppers, Senkos, swimbaits, or 6-inch worms on a Texas-rig.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DsWR-Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines-Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield – (661) 679-6351
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
At Eastman, Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported Max Lee landed another double-digit largemouth at 11 pounds and 27 inches shaking a minnow in shallow water. Most bass are holding deep around the saddles between the island tops and rock piles. Crappie are starting to show up in small groupings with 4-inch swimbaits. At Hensley, Moau reported bass are taken on offshore rockpiles with crankbaits, but the best action is for catfish or carp.
Eastman rose slightly to 474.70 feet in elevation and 10 percent with Hensley rising to 456.96 feet in elevation and 9%. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of December. The first trout plants of the year are scheduled for both Eastman and Hensley took place last week, and shore anglers are soaking Power Bait or nightcrawlers from the banks. The swimbait bite should be taking off with the plants.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 3 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported a decent bass bite with the best action at depths to 40 feet with spoons, flukes, jigs, plastics on a drop-shot, or shaking a minnow with Forward Facing Sonar. Heavy trout plants at Fleming Meadows over the past few weeks has brought out the swimbait bite for larger bass to 8 pounds.
The trout plants have also attracted shore anglers, and there have been trout left floating on the surface after being released. Trout are still holding in deep water, but the lake should turn over in the next few weeks, bringing the rainbows toward the surface and in the coves. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake rose to 787.63 feet in elevation. There are seven bass tournaments scheduled through the end of December. A self-inspection is required for launching.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 3 Trout 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake dropped slightly to 2561.81 feet in elevation and 31% of capacity. Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported the bass bite stayed strong as several fish over 5 pounds were reported along with a few breaking the double-digit mark. Texas-rigged worms, crankbaits, jigs, or swimbaits continue to produce quality bass around Rocky Point, Piney Point, and the flume in 15 to 25 feet of water. The crappie bite remains fair, but it has slowed overall, and anglers are having to put in more effort to get bit.
Crappie are still being caught around Red’s and French Gulch marinas on mini jigs or small shiners. Catfish action has tapered with the cooler temperatures, though some are still being caught on SSS dip bait, shad, and cut mackerel. Trout fishing has really started to pick up across the lake with anglers finding success using nightcrawlers and trout jigs. A trout plant took place last week.
In the upper Kern River, Cope’s reported anglers are reporting solid action with salmon eggs, jigs, or nightcrawlers while fly anglers are finding success with nymphs and dry-dropper rigs. Heavy plants over the past few weeks including 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) are contributing the good fishing. A trout plant is scheduled in Section 4 this week.
In the lower Kern, trout activity has been good around Keysville on jigs or spinners. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also active on small crankbaits, jigs, or spinners. Catfish are being caught on dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut bait. nightcrawlers, or cut bait. The flows in the upper Kern River rose from 250 to 812 cfs at Kernville while water releases out of the lake dropped from 551 to 326 cfs at First Point.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351;
Lake Kaweah
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose nearly 2 feet to 603.74 feet in elevation and 12%. Cope’s reported fishing was fair overall as anglers worked small baits low and slow for fair numbers of bass in the 1- to 3-pound range. Plastics on the drop-shot or Ned-rig are the top producers with a few bass also caught on crankbaits and spoons. Crappie favored small live minnows or 4-inch BBGT Trident on a 1/8th-ounce ball head around submerged structure near Horse Creek or in the Marina. Catfish are inhaling cut bait or chicken liver. The Kaweah River rose from 83 to 506 cfs at Three Rivers. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of the year. A trout plant is scheduled for this week.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351;
Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose over a foot to 600.37 feet in elevation and 15%. Cope’s reported fishing shifted toward a winter pattern as bass anglers are finding best action on finesse offerings and smaller presentations for steady bites from smaller largemouth. Three- to four-inch plastics in dark colors worked well while a few local anglers throwing larger swimbaits reported quality fish in the 5-pound. range. All other species were slow.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351;
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 2 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Two bass tournaments were held over the rainy weekend, and the bite was extremely tough with 13 pounds winning on Saturday and less than 10 pounds on Sunday. Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto confirmed the challenging bite as the 13-pound limit had a kicker of 9 pounds. Trout plants took place at McClure Point, and the swimbait bite is starting to go. The lake is at 796.56 feet in elevation and 60%. The lake is hosting 5 club tournaments in December.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 3
After the huge load of Calaveras Trout Farm trout were released last week, the banks are busy with anglers scoring up to easy limits on Power Bait, inflated nightcrawlers, or Kastmasters from the normal locations of Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile, or the peninsula between the Marina are the best options. Holdover rainbows have moved into the river arm, and trolling is the best option for these larger fish. The lake dropped to 78%.
Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua reported the best bass action is deep with plastics on a drop-shot or shakey head as the fish are suspending. 55 boats participated in the California High School Tournament Trail on the November 9, and most boats struggled with only 18 boats weighing in a limit. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant have dropped slightly to 410 cfs. Sycamore Island is open every day from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. A trout plant took place at Sycamore a few weeks back. The lake rose to 514.00 feet in elevation and 50%. There is one bass tournament scheduled in December. A trout plant is scheduled at Woodward the week of November 24.
Call: Fresno 559 Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Sport Fishing reported trout fishing is just now starting to pick up with Wee Tad’s as deep as 140 feet. He said, “The rainbows should be moving into the major creek inlets such as Mormon, Coyote, and Angels with the recent storms. Stick baits have been working better than spoons right now. The bass are also focused on the shad schools in deep water and around bluff walls. Jigs, spoons, plastics on the drop-shot, or fluke are all working for spotted bass. All boats must be quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated at the New Melones Marina.
Downstream Lake Tulloch established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed, but bass fishing is reported to be strong. The lake rose slightly to 1015.91 feet in elevation and 68% with downstream Tulloch rising to 85%. November and December are peak times for trout trollers at Tulloch. A trout plant is scheduled at New Melones this week.
Call: Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734; John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 3 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The Motor City Throwdown Bass Tournament attracted 31 boats in rainy conditions on Saturday, raising $3500 for the Hero’s on the Water Program. Tas Moua reported an overall tough bass bite with most action on dragging a worm, jigs, or 4-inch curly tail plastics in Morning Dawn on the drop-shot as deep as 80 feet. Working jigs along bluff walls at 20 to 35 feet or the drop-shot at 20 to 60 feet are the best options. With the recent trout plant, larger bass are following big trout-patterned swimbaits, but they have yet to commit.
In the lower Kings River, heavy trout plants have contributed to excellent fishing near Winton Park below the dam with Roostertails, Panther Martin’s, Joe’s Flies, salmon eggs, live crickets, or Power Bait. The flows have risen to 1402 cfs at Trimmer necessitating finding slower water where the trout are holding. The catch-and-release section is located below the Alta Weir (also known as Cobbles Weir) extending downstream to the Highway 180 bridge. This area is considered a zero limit, catch-and-release zone where only artificial lures with barbless hooks are allowed. The lake rose 5 feet in the past two week to 783.04 feet in elevation and 26%.
The first trout plant of the year is scheduled at Avocado Lake this week with another the week of December 1. Two bass tournaments are scheduled this coming weekend with four more on the books in December.
Call: 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273; ‘Fishing with Jimmy T’ on YouTube.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
The water level in the main lake rose slightly to 53%. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported the cooler temperatures are contributing to a good striped bass bite with jumbo minnows near Dinosaur Point as the linesides are chasing bait. Jerkbaits, umbrella rigs, or topwater lures are working . Bank anglers are scoring with anchovies or pile worms.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported a tough bite for trollers and reaction anglers right before the current storm hit.“ I took out a dad and his two sons 7, and 9 the day before the storm broke and the fishing was hard overall. The prefrontal low that was ahead of the storm slowed the bite to a crawl for just about everyone. I hope this storm brings the water temps down and raises the lake- that will help.” George said .
The forebay has been windy throughout the week, and few boats have been on the water. Shore anglers continue to score stripers around Check 12 when the pumps are on nightcrawlers. In the California Aqueduct, there are signs of life for striped bass with umbrella rigs or jerkbaits near the Dos Amigos Power Station near Pole Line Road or from Manning Avenue to Highway 198. The key is to keep moving to find the fish. The forebay rose to 91%. New measures to stop the spread of golden mussels have been adopted by the Department of Water Resources, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California State Parks. These include mandatory watercraft inspections of all vessels leaving San Luis Reservoir are now in place and will help prevent the spread of mussel to other lakes and reservoirs.
To help reduce the risk of mussel colonization, DWR has implemented routine inspections of SWP facilities and expanded its efforts by applying new strategies to protect pumping plants, hydroelectric plants, and water supply deliveries. To check the real time wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir. Los Banos Creek Reservoir is closed to public access through April 2026.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing reported the boat dock at the dam launch has been pulled up so be careful of the rocks. Rain and snow have slowed down interest, but there are plenty of trout in the lake including a recent plant. Trolling has been slow overall, but orange Trout Busters behind a Dick’s Mountain dodger, or orange Apex lures tipped with a piece of nightcrawler at 5 to 10 feet are your best bets. The trout schools are on the move. Shore fishing has been good with rainbow Power Bait near the Sheriff’s Tower on a Carolina rig. The shallow trout bite will take off soon as the water continues to cool. A webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. No bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of December. Trout plants are scheduled for the next two weeks. The boat dock at the dam launch has been pulled up so be careful of the rocks.
Call: Tas Moua, Fresno 559 Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
With the recent snowfall, access to the high-country lakes may be limited as Kaiser Pass is either closed or will be closed soon. Water releases during at the High Sierra lakes have slowed down as Edison held at 32, Florence dropped to 21%, and Mammoth Pool rose slightly to 37%. Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle, reported, “Snow fell over the weekend into Monday, and fishing interest was minimal over the weekend as the ramp is currently snowed in.” Prior to the snowfall, Shaver continued to kick out limits of trout and spawning 2nd-year kokanee.
I fished with Dave McGlothin of Clovis earlier in the week, and we targeted the area from the Sierra Marina to the dam to the houses at the Point at depths from 10 to 25 feet for rainbow trout and up to 35 feet for the spawning kokanee, Circling from the Point to Road 2 to the Point, we caught and released over 2 limits of trout and picked up two limits of kokanee using pink Dick’s Mountain Hoochies behind a Doom dodger or a pink Koke Buster tipped with scented corn behind either a Doc Barb and Lady Jane Mountain Dodgers.
Dave Loftin and his son Troy from Visalia were also out the same day, and they landed 13 rainbows including a 4-pound trophy trout using Dick’s Shaver Trout Buster tipped with a white Berkley Honey Worm behind a large Dick’s silver dodger at a setback of 120 feet for depths in the 6- to 10-foot range along with a rod on the downrigger with a Dick’s Stevenson Trout Buster tipped with corn behind a Dick’s large Sun Tea Dodger with a setback of 70 feet at depths from 25 to 30 feet for 7 2nd-year kokanee. Trolling has also been effective for catchable trout in Stevenson Bay. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. Shaver dropped slightly to 66 with upstream Huntington rising to 73%.
Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Paul Brown 300-4001.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
Access to Wishon and Courtright is open, but it is anticipated to close by Dec. 1 with the gate at McKinley Grove Road shut for the season. With the recent snow, the road may be closed prior to this date. The docks are out at both lakes. The Wishon RV Park and Store has closed for the season. Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 2 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crabs 3
Crabbing has been a bit slower here, but limits are the rule for boats willing to stay at it. A big swell along the coast limited rockfishing to around a ½ limit over the weekend. Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete took a light load of 5 anglers for limits of crab on Sunday while the Queen of Hearts returned with 14 limits of rockfish and crab along with two lingcod.
With no depth restrictions, when the weather cooperates, rockfishing should be excellent. The Pacifica Pier reopened on Friday after a few day closure for the swell, and anglers tossing snares are finding up to 10-crab limits if they stick it out all day. Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819;
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch3
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill reported a big swell along the beach limited surf perch action this week, but overall the action has been solid from Sunset Beach south to Pajaro Dunes with Mekini Baitz, Honey Badger, or Lucky 13 motor oil/red grubs on a Carolina-rig. Striped bass action has been slow, but there are still linesides out there to be taken.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “Welcome to wintertime. Seems like the season came a bit early this year. We had a significant storm in October, a few wet days last week, and this weekend we get to enjoy up to three inches of rain along with gale-force winds in the forecast. Oh yeah, let’s add some giant waves to the mix. The NOAA forecast on Thursday called for a dominate swell from the south, with seas from nine to 12 feet. Meteorologists have confirmed we are in a La Nina condition, which can mean a wet or dry winter. We’re betting on wet. That is great for our water table and parched river systems in the long run but not so great for getting out to fish in the short.
Monterey Bay anglers that fished over the weekend and up to Wednesday this week did very well. the charter boats in Monterey and Santa Cruz all reported limits of rockfish, mostly from the deep reefs. So, they saw a great mix of yellows, chilipeppers, vermilion and greenspotted rockfish. Ling cod are decisively on the bite, with Chris’ Fishing Trips reporting 45 lings caught on Monday’s trip aboard the Checkmate.
A few lucky (or perhaps more talented) anglers from Monterey Bay harbors are finding their limits of hoop-net Dungeness crab. A greater number of boats are pulling up 1/2 limits, some even heading in sporting a white stripe and a distinctive odor. The sand flats adjacent to our giant submarine canyons still seem to be the best bet for crab, though there are some rumblings around the dock that crabbers plan to expand the hunt to our wild north coast. The crab definitely moved deeper in the bay last week, more towards the 220 or even 240 foot-depths. Savvy anglers who have the ability to trailer their boats are heading up to Half Moon Bay for crab limits. Those crab are big and full, with shorter soaks in much shallower water.
Rain is in the forecast for the next ten days, off and on. We want to gently remind our readers to be very careful on or near the ocean under these conditions. In other words, DON’T BE AN IDIOT! Significant rainfall supercharges our stream and river flows. Water can get junky with down trees, branches and logs. Boat navigators need to be super observant. Beachgoers have to stay well clear of waves flowing up the beach. Remember that up-flow can occur on either side and the back flow can take you unawares. You can be standing on dry sand one moment and waist deep or knocked down in an instant. Nearshore currents can be deadly. Stay safe and live to fish another day.”
Rockfishing remains outstanding with all depth restrictions lifted, and Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching out of Monterey posted a very healthy lingcod count with 25 lings along with 27 limits of rockfish on Sunday. Crabbing in this area requires working deep water to 300 feet, and Chris’s boats are focusing upon rockfish only.
Call: Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
Rockfish/crab combination trips are some of the best value in the world of northern California fishing, and although party boats are charging anywhere from $250 to $300 per angler, a 10-crab limit alone pencils out the cost of a trip. Currently fresh cooks crab runs $22.73 for 1.75 pounds and $33.73 for 2.25 pounds of cooked, clean Dungeness in major supermarkets.
Limits of crab remain the rule, even when the weather is less than cooperative. The recreational season is open south of the Mendocino/Sonoma County Line, and Bodega Bay is the first available port south of this line. Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing put together a spectacular weekend with a combined 56 limits of Dungeness to 3 pounds, 56 limits of rockfish, and 4 lingcod to 12 pounds. Powers said, “The crab were really large on Sunday, our largest of the season. The weather looks good starting Tuesday, and we will be back out there.”
The California Dawn 1 and 2 out of Berkeley had a similarly spectacular weekend on the crab grounds with a combined 97 limits of rockfish and crab along with eight lingcod, fishing at the Farallons. Scores throughout the party boat fleet are similar with the Salty Lady out of Sausalito putting the crew from Mid Valley Agriculture onto limits of rockfish and crab despite a big swell along the coast. Captain Jerad Davis said, “The swell was pretty impressive along the shoreline and on the shallow sand bars, but out in the deeper water it was hardly noticeable.” The Happy Hooker out of Berkeley posted limits of crab on Sunday, but rockfishing was a challenge with half-limits.
The weather has been the only limiting factor on heading offshore for the best rockfishing at the Farallons, but with no depth restriction through December 31, the boats have plenty of options for rockfish while the lack of commercial pressure is contributing to full sacks of crab.
Inside San Francisco Bay, the lack of live bait has limited interest, but there are still striped bass to be had as Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco stayed in San Pablo Bay for quick limits of striped bass in the 25- to 28-inch range on a recent trip.
Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3
Rockfishing remains the story of Morro Bay and Port San Luis, and limits are possible on longer trips. Two boats left Morro Bay Landing with 55 anglers on Saturday for 55 limits of rockfish consisting of 506 assorted, 26 vermilion, 5 Boccaccio, 2 cabezon, and ocean whitefish and 17 lingcod to 14 pounds. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, one boat was out on Sunday with 27 passengers for half limits composed of 54 vermilion, 47 assorted, 14 Boccaccio, and 4 lingcod. The Black Pearl out of Morro Bay is running a Lingcod Lotto every Monday and Friday on their 6- to 8- hour trips with every legal ling cod entered into the weekly drawing for a free trip.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 2 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
At last, there are signs that striped bass are moving into both sides of the California Delta in force as the water is cooling along with freshwater inflow from the recent storms. More freshwater is anticipated this week, and this should bring more stripers into the Delta from San Francisco Bay.
Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Oakley reported great action over the weekend drifting mudsuckers on the San Joaquin River near the Antioch Bridge. He said, “There are some large schools in most everyplace we looked, and there are even stripers as far into the south Delta as Discovery Bay. Don’t expect all these fish to come in one day, but they are coming. They are stacked up, but the fog has been very thick in the morning, requiring boaters to be very cautious. Both sides of the Delta still have a lot of floating hyacinth along with floating wood, but it is still fishable with caution. There were fish on the West Bank for trollers early in the week, and it is a matter of time before they reform from Rio Vista to Collinsville.”
Stripers are starting to bust on the surface in Discovery Bay, and crankbaits, jerkbaits, and umbrella rigs in shad patterns are all working for linesides to 28 inches. Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors found stripers to 12 pounds in the north Delta casting 4-inch Fish Traps in the shallows, but they originally wanted to spoon, but the linesides weren’t schooled up in the Liberty Island area. With the amount of floating debris, trolling has been a challenge.
Sturgeon fishing remains strong outside of Pittsburg, and Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing put his three clients onto a banner day on Sunday with 12 fish to the boat out of 16 hookups. He said, “It started out slow, but we kept looking at different spots when I finally found a group of fish that I thought were going to go. I told my clients, ‘Thes guys are going to jump on the lines,’ and we had every possible age group of sturgeon from 12 inches to oversized with a few slot-limit fish mixed in. We had a few doubles, and we ended up leaving them biting.”
Largemouth bass fishing is also on the upswing with 20-pound plus sacks necessary to cash a check during the weekends Nor Cal Bass Tournament of Champions out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton. The key to success is finding moving water and working baits that you have confidence in as jerkbaits, umbrella rigs, plastics on the drop-shot, jigs, crankbaits, or paddletailed swimbaits are all working.
The inflow will bring in more floating debris in the main river channel along with big logs, but late November is prime time for Delta striped bass before the water temperatures turn too cold.
Call: Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, (209) 543-6260; Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899- 4045.
Events:
Cal Expo Sacramento – International Sportsmen’s Exposition – January 15-18. Information: https://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento/.
Tournament Results:
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass Tournament of Champions - - November 15/16th: 1st – Jamond Andrews/Harvey Pulliam –- 46.99 pounds; 2nd – Lorenzo and Lucca Rossetti – 38.05 (Big Fish – 7.21); 3rd – Chad Frie/Vince Borges – 36.59.
McClure – Christian Bass League – November 15th: 1st – Jeff Eddings/Eladio Garcia – 13.10 pounds (Big Fish – 9.20); 2nd –Pao Saetern/Derek Guzman – 12.12; 3rd – Tony Horner/Jorge Alvarez – 11.22.
Lake Evans/Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation – Taft Chamber of Commerce 2025 Trout Derby- November 15th – 1st: Jeffrey Monroe – 5.37 pound rainbow trout.
McClure –Fresno Bass Club – November 16th: 1st – Kyle Reynolds – 9.05 pounds (Big Fish – 2.65); 2nd – Jose Guzman – 8.45; 3rd – Chet Broberg– 7.77.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Note – tournaments scheduled for New Melones, Camanche, Tulloch, or Pardee are subject to change and will not be listed
November 22nd –
The Park at River Walk/Bakersfield – 13th Annual Bakersfield Fire Fighters Derby
November 23rd –
Don Pedro – Stanislaus County Sheriff’s
November 28th –
Pine Flat – CA B.A.S.S. Nation
December 6th-
Don Pedro – Sonora Bass Anglers/Onemorebass Fishing
McClure – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies
Pine Flat – Kerman Bass Club
December 7th –
McClure – Hughson High School
December 13/14th-
Pine Flat – Sierra Bass Club
December 13th –
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments/Contra Costa Bass Club
McClure – Gilroy Bass Masters
December 14th –
McClure – Modesto Ambassadors/Riverbank Bass Club/Kings VIII Bass Club
Millerton – Fresno Bass Club
December 27th –
Pine Flat – C.A. B.A.S.S. Nation
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Central Valley fishing report: Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon bites good."
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