Trout Stockings For Christmas 2014

Castaic Lake and pyramid lakes got trout!  It's Christmas week and the DFW gave us locals one of the best presents possible.  Pyramid Lake got 2 trucks of trout which is nearly unheard of. I don't quite understand why they usually give us these very small stockings but all of a sudden give us two trucks, but I'm not complaining.  There has to be a reason for it and I plan to visit the hatchery sometime to ask lots of questions.

Castaic Lake got a stocking too and it sounded a little bigger than usual.  Since the West Ramp is 130 feet out of water, it's obvious that the main ramp got the stocking.  Still waiting to hear about the lagoon getting trout, I have a feeling it will be soon.  

So tie on your swimbait and get your heavy gear out, it's time to start chucking big baits.  January can be one of the best months to hook into a double digit!!

Gifts for Fishermen for the Holidays, What to Buy and Not Buy for that Matter.

Buying gifts for people who fish can be difficult and cause panic attacks on an epic scale.  There are a million things to buy considering all the rods, reels, line, lures, clips, swivels, waders, boots, and the list goes on and on.  You could end up in the funny farm if you think about it too much or spend countless hours on the internet trying to come up with a handful of things they might want, need, or don't know they need yet.  Here are some tips on what to buy that most fishermen need, but equally important here are the things you shouldn't buy.

1.  Essentials:  There are some basic items that no matter what, everyone who fishes will need.  It doesn't matter if they are fly fishermen in Montana or going on a trip to Nicaragua for Tarpon, he or she will need these few simple items.  You can't go wrong if you gift these little gadgets.

Do Buy Pliers:  There are many types of pliers and some are better for freshwater and others better for saltwater.  In general, anyone would love to get a pair of Calcutta lightweight aluminum pliers regardless of where they fish.  Some have replaceable cutting blades while others are fixed and would need to be sharpened.  We prefer ones with soft rubber handles for freshwater but they are fine in saltwater applications as well.

Shimano Brutas steel pliers are good for freshwater lakes or streams.  They are durable and have a corrosion resistant finish.  However these steel pliers are not good for saltwater because they rust easily and will be trash in just a few weeks.  As with any plier, oiling is key to keep them working good.  Some pliers say they will cut braided line, but we have found that most do not work well.  We recommend special braid cutters for that.

Don't Buy Gimmicks:  We've all seen those infomercials with a new lure that catches everything no matter what body of water is being fished.  They are so convincing with all the pro staff guys and they show them hooking into fish left and right.  Don't fall into their trap, they might catch fish, but it's meant to catch the fishermen.  I don't care how many states it's illegal in, don't buy it.

Do Buy Braid Cutters: Braid is difficult to cut with normal pliers or scissors.  Actually, scissors can work well but they usually don't work well for too long.  Daiwa makes special scissors that are made for braid that work very well because of fine tolerances and teeth on the blade.  They are stainless steel and made of Japanese high quality steel.

Boomerang Co. makes a great braid cutter and will slice through it with ease every time.  They come with stainless steel teeth and screws so the won't rust out easily.  The cutting blades have been extended so the recipient can reach down inside spools, cut really close to the knot and just make it easier for low light conditions.  They also come with a split ring and retractable tether so they can be clipped on vests, shirts, pants, bags, or any other convenient spot.

Don't Buy Lures:  Unless you have a list from the giftee, don't buy lures.  There are so many different kinds of fish and ways to fish that you will never get it right.  What we use in Southern California may not work in Texas and vice versa.  Chances are if you buy lures as a gift, they will end up as a wind chime at best or thrown in the garbage at worst.

Everyone Needs Split Ring Pliers:  These are a must have for anyone who fishes.  The little rings that hold on hooks are a pain in the neck to open and close.  Often times fish will bend out your hook or the split ring and they need to be changed.  Here at the shop, we like to change hooks and split rings out to stronger ones and the Texas Tackle Split Ring Pliers are the best we've seen.  This patented design opens split rings with ease and won't bend them too much to where they have lost their shape.

2.  Clothing:  Winter or summer, we are out in the elements and the right clothes can make the difference between a comfortable trip and a miserable trip.  Have clothes that breathe in the summer and wick away moisture is key to staying cool even when it's HOT!  Winter brings on frigid temperatures but there is no way we're staying home.  Gloves, hats, and hoodies are a must but they need to allow us to fish at the same time.

Keep Cool for Summer:  For the past few years I've been wearing Buff's when I go outside.  I actually wear it year round when I'm fishing but it's great in the summer.  A Buff is a thin, breathable, sun protectant scarf type thing that blocks up to 95% of the suns UV rays.  It protects my face, neck, and ears from looking like a Canadian stranded in the Sahara Desert.  It's not only great for blocking the suns rays, but it keeps my hat on when we are moving at high speeds.  It's also great for keeping bugs out of my nose, ears, and mouth.

Stay Warm for Winter:  When it's cold and we know the fish are biting, we have to have gloves on.  If we can't feel our hands we can't fish right.  Buff also makes gloves and they are designed for fishing.  The tip of two fingers are removed so that a knot can still be tied or a lure can be changed without having to take your gloves off.  We know, not revolutionary, but it helps.  They have leather on the palm and the fingers but have a thinner material on the back of the hand so that they are not cumbersome.  After we have them on for a while, we forget we're even wearing them.

We don't always wear a hoodie, but when we do it's a G. Loomis hoodie.  Yeah I know, overused line but I still like it.  These are quality just like all G. Loomis products.  They have a very soft feel to them with high quality zippers on the pockets.  The cord that runs through the hood is strong so it won't break off inside.  We hate it when that happens. I'm not sure how to get the old cord out and put the new cord in.  Usually it sits in my closet for the next 4 years until my wife throws it out.

3.  Tackle Storage:  Everyone who fishes has way too much stuff and we all need somewhere to put it all.  We often tell ourselves that we don't need any more stuff, but somehow we can't help ourselves from buying that new lure or trying out a new technique that yes, requires more stuff.  It's an addiction and yes we need help from a professional, but in the mean time we need somewhere to put all our new goodies.

Shimano Baraja Tackle Binders are great for storing hooks, plastic worms, weights, swimbaits, you name it.  They make 3 sizes depending on what needs to be stored.  We like the smaller one for hooks and weights, the medium size for worms, small swimbaits, and other plastics, and the larger one for bulky items like large swimbaits, pliers, trolling rigs, or anything that takes up a lot of space.

These quality binders come with very thick zip-lock bags.  These bags aren't thin like sandwich bags, they are meant to store tackle, hooks, etc, so they will stand the abuse of fishermen.  The zipper that closes the bag is also high quality and won't give out in one season.  We like using binders instead of boxes because it keeps everything organized.  Often times we have one binder that has weights, hooks, and worms for a certain technique like drop shot.  That way I'm not having to go to one box for hooks and another box for worms.  Plano boxes still have their place and we have more boxes than binders in our boat, but binders still have an important role in keeping all my crap(it's a love hate relationship) where I can find it.

For shore fishermen, the Shimano Blackmoon Backpack is the best we've ever seen.  This backpack is made for fishing and has some serious thought into it.  I've seen lots of packs that claim they are for fishing but it seems like the people who designed them haven't fished a day in their life.  This pack is streamlined without a bunch of unnecessary stuff hanging off of it.

This simple lightweight design has an internal frame so it won't collapse when a box is taken out.  It has storage for fishing line, pliers, binders, and even has a built in rain fly to keep everything from getting wet and rusting.  The ergonomic straps keep you comfortable if it's worm for long periods. Also, keep the Shimano Borona Tackle Bag in mind. Shimano always makes high quality items at a fair price that we use ourselves.

Stay away from buying very specific bags and boxes.  There are some very specific boxes and bags that are made for a very narrow type of fishing.  For instance, Shimano makes a bag called they Bluewave Surf Fishing Bag.  As you can tell, this bag is made for surf fishing only.  Although nice, 99% of people who fish will find little or no use for this bag.  If you know the person your buying the gift for is a surf fisher, than this may be the ticket.

Hopefully this helps you buy smarter for your loved one who fishes.  We know it can be daunting to buy that avid fisherman a cool gift and we don't think you can go wrong with any one of these suggestions.  If you are still too chicken to buy a tangible gift, there is always a gift card.

I'll Never Take a Trout Plant for Granted

A recent article from Jim Matthews from Outdoor News Service renewed my hope that someday we might hear the stocking truck backing down the ramp once again.  The two most important waters to us here at the shop are the Castaic Lake Lagoon and Piru Lake.  The lack of trout stockings has fundamentally changed how we fish, were we fish, and who fishes in our local waters.  I know lots of guys that loved to troll for trout at Piru but have since sold their boats and moved onto other things.

I took for granted that we got the trout and I never thought it could be stopped.  It is such an important part of fishing in Southern California and brings so much joy to so many. Why would anyone want to take that away?  When the environmentalists wacko's started their attack on trout stockings, there was little we could do to fight it.  I was amazed that their nonsense actually worked and they stopped planting trout at Castaic Lagoon, Casitas, Piru, Cachuma, and several more.  It's amazing how the few can affect the many with a good lawyer, lots of money, and bogus study.

Last year with the help of Brad Cox at Cornerstone Office Furniture, we started a petition at Castaic Lake Lagoon Trout Plants Petition to see if we could get some action from the state.  I'm not sure if our petition did any good, but I couldn't be happier that their is light at the end of the tunnel.  It also tells me that the chance of them stopping trout plants at our other lakes is unlikely.  I worry every year that the DFW is ending all trout stockings for one reason or another.  I imagined that they would come up with some excuse like we can't afford it, not enough people are catching trout, the water level is too low, or some other made up reason why they don't want the citizens of California to enjoy fishing.

If Casitas and Castaic Lagoon get stocked again, the impact may be greater than we imagined.  Think about it, we have the possibility of catching a world record in the Lagoon.  The strain of fish in that little lake is proven to get big, very big.  It may take a year or two but I'm confident they will return.  The trout just don't make the bass bigger, it helps the entire ecosystem.  Since the trout plants have stopped, the numbers of fish are down, the quality is down, and very few people even fish it anymore.  It opens all us locals to trophy sized bass if we put our time in.

When I was a 20 something year old insomniac, I would fish the Lagoon 3 times per week at night with 10" black Powerworms and it wasn't uncommon to catch 6-8 pounders with an occasional 10 mixed in.  My best lagoon bass is 15lbs that I caught on a hula grub.  A fiberglass replica still hangs in the shop as a reminder to me of the trout plant times.  With hope, the young sticks of today will have their opportunity to stick a double digit.

So many of our rights as fishermen/women get taken away in the state of California.  It's nice to know that the DFW still cares about our sport and they are working at getting the trout plants back.  I hope the article is right, I pray that I'm not jumping the gun, and I can't wait to hear the stocking truck back down that ramp again.  I'll make sure I'm there to take the picture when it does and I'll never take another trout stock for granted.

By JIM MATTHEWS
www.OutdoorNewsService.com

     Trout plants from the Department of Fish and Wildlife will resume soon on at least three major waters in Southern California -- Lake Skinner, Lake Casitas, and the Castaic Lagoon (afterbay) -- and the agency is working on environmental documentation that will also allow the state to again plant Cachuma Lake and Lake Piru at some time in the future.

     But “soon” is a relative term, and those plants could resume as “soon” as the end of the year or as “soon” as late next year for Skinner, Casitas, and the Castaic Lagoon. For Cachuma and Piru, the resumption of stocking may still be a year or more away.

     None of these waters had been planted with trout by the DFW since at least Jan., 2010, when the state finished its environmental impact report for the statewide hatchery program. This EIR was mandated by a lawsuit that shut down trout stocking in areas throughout the state because the state agency had never evaluated the possible threat of planted fish on native species. Without evaluation, the DFW stopped stocking at these five waters until it could be shown the plants were not creating a threat to native steelhead that exist or potentially exist in remnant numbers in drainages where these reservoirs are located.

     While the DFW staff was able to quickly produce biological evaluations on most Southern California waters that allowed for plants to continue, native steelhead became a bone of contention between state and scientists with the federal government for these five major fishing waters.

     The biggest concern for the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) scientists was the possibility that hatchery rainbow trout would wash downstream and hybridize with native steelhead, negatively impacting their genetic purity.

     By late 2012, the DFW had switched its entire rainbow trout stocking program over from planting fertile hatchery trout to planting triploid -- or sterile -- trout, making it impossible for the fish to interbreed with the native steelhead. Yet, the state was unable to get the federal agencies to back off on their objections to planting catchable trout in these major fishing waters.

     Stafford Lehr, the chief of the DFW fisheries branch, said there was finally “light now out at the end of the tunnel” in their “kerfuffles with the feds.” Lehr said the two federal agencies had finally provided some clarity “in the last couple of months” on what the state could and couldn’t do with regard to planting in Southern California steelhead watersheds. Lehr said the state agency decided to move forward with preparing pre-stocking evaluations on Skinner, Casitas, and Castaic Lagoon. These could be done very quickly, and the state could resume planting these waters before the end of the year. Lehr was unsure when plants would actually resume because the evaluations were not complete, and there has been no consultations with the hatchery system to see if fish would even be available for this winter. But he was confident the federal agencies would not object to the resumption of trout plants on these waters.

     Lehr said there were still some issues with Piru, where there is not consensus even within the DFW staff, and other issues exist. Cachuma will also take some additional time because of similar issues. (The Santa Ynez River was tremendous steelhead fishery up into the 1940s that attracted anglers from all over the state, but the construction of Bradbury Dam [Cachuma Dam] in 1953 spelled the final death knell for this river’s native steelhead run.)

     Casitas and Cachuma did receive private trout plants after 2010, paid for by the water district managers of these reservoirs, with both waters getting fish from private hatcheries each of the past three years. But the DFW did not renew the water agency stocking permits once they expired. That means Cachuma will not be planted with any trout this fall or winter. Casitas may or may not get fish -- private and/or DFW trout -- this fall-winter trout season, but it is likely trout will be planted here in the “near” future.

     END

http://www.outdoornewsservice.com/#!DFW-trout-stocking-to-resume-soon-at-three-major-SoCal-waters/c18sh/D8737306-7375-425E-ADFC-2D27C22B3F2A

Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lake Fishing Report 11/15/2014

Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lakes both got stocked this week on Friday!!!  We had some reports at Castaic of some stripers in the 8-20 pound range being caught on swimbaits like the Deps Slideswimmer, Lunker Punker, and Spro BBZ 8".  Most have been caught in the marina area from shore but a few good ones have been taken where C Point is/was.  

The water level is still low but we think this is going to make for great swimbait fishing for larger fish.  To the left and right of the ramp, the lake is now narrowed creating funnel points that the trout have to swim through.  This makes for a great opportunity for larger fish to ambush them in these two funnel points.  We suggest spending a lot of time in these two areas fishing swimbaits as much as possible if you're looking for bigger fish.   

Pyramid always get's bigger trout and throwing bigger bait's can be very productive.  We just got the new 12" Savage Gear 3D Line Thru Trout in stock and we know it's going to gain a lot of attention.  The shad is still up and we've seen guys out there catching bait.  If you want a crazy bite, we suggest making a bait tank and getting a shad net.  You can easily have 40-50 fish days on bait right now.  

For artificial baits, jerk baits, flukes, underspins and umbrella rigs have been working well.  This bite could last all the way into December if the bait stays up.  Dropshotting shad style worms in 15-30 feet has been working well on smallmouth bass and largemouth bass.  Lot's of smallmouth have been caught which is very common for the fall bite.  

It's a great time of year to fish so get out there as often as you can.  Hope to see you on the water.

www.TackleExpress.com

Pyramid Lake Fishing Report 10/24/14

The striper action slowed for me yesterday with not many boils compared to how it was in the previous weeks.  I saw some small boils over by the freeway rip rap near Spanish Point and Serrano but it was difficult to try to chase them with the trolling motor.  The big motor will send them down in a hurry so I try to stay off it as much as I can using only the trolling motor to get closer.

Largemouth and smallmouth was good and I had 9 fish by 10:00 and all of them came on a Lucky Craft baits.  I used the Sammy 100 in Chartreuse Shad first thing in the morning and then moved to the Sammy 100 in Ghost minnow as the sun came up.  I find the more white it is the better it works early in the day.  I then go to Ghost Minnow because it’s more natural and semi-transparent which is better for me after the sun starts to come up.

I switched between the Sammy and the Lucky Craft Pointer 97MR in Ghost minnow.  This has been the most productive jerkbait lately and remains one of my favorites.  The smallmouth and largemouth wanted it less erratic for some reason so most of them came on a steady straight wind.  Paralleling the bank was crucial in creating strikes with the Pointer and the Sammy.

There is bait everywhere!!!  I could have netted so much bait if I had a tank and net with me.  They were in the backs of covers, main lake areas, and the island anywhere I found grass.  They were very tight to the bank and in balls the size of a car.

The water temp was 69 degrees and still had some algae on wind blown banks but it’s definitely less than it was.  The grass too is almost dead and mostly brown in pockets around the lake.  For guys fishing the shore, the rip rap rock between the swim beach and the ramp looked to be good.  I saw small boils by the swim beach buoy line and some guys throwing on them caught a few stripers.  

Hope this helps, get out and fish every chance you get, this is a great time of year!!

www.TackleExpress.com

Castaic and Pyramid Fishing Report 10/21/2014

Castaic and Pyramid Fishing Report 10/21/2014

Castaic upper lake has been good over the past week with largemouth still up chasing

shad. Top water baits like the Lucky Craft Sammy 100 and the Lucky Craft Gunfish 95

have been working best. Largemouth have also been chewing jigs like the Dirty Jigs

3/8oz and 1/2oz with a Missile Bait Twin Turbo trailer. Drop shot a 4.5” Roboworm or

Bass Chow for larger numbers of smaller fish in areas that don’t have a lot of rock.

Shad colors and natural colors have been working best.

Pyramid lake slowed down a little but there are still stipers boiling around Spanish Point

and Serrano. The big school of fish seems to be more spread out than it has been

making it difficult to get the larger numbers we were getting. They are popping up in

smaller groups outside Brazos as well. We had better luck with Zoom Flukes with

Keitech Jig heads and Hopkins spoons. Drop the spoon on the the school when you

see them on the meter and jig it up and down raising and lowering the rod tip 3-4 feet. If

they don’t bite that, drop it down and wind it up at a medium speed. The spoon can also

be cast and retrieved but the vertical method worked best this time.

We caught largemouth on rip rap and rocky areas grinding square bill crankbaits like the

new Lucky Craft LC 1.5 Spin. Topwater was working well first thing in the morning but

then died after an hour or so. The water cooled down to 69 degrees and they should be

stocking trout soon. We will keep you updated with a report to come as soon as the

stocking truck hits the ramp.

www.TackleExpress.com

Castaic and Pyramid Lake Fishing Report 11/16/2014

Pyramid lake has been excellent on stripers. They aren't boiling in one

location but rather are in a large area and spread out. At times the area is

huge with fish breaking the surface in a 300 sq/ft radius. First thing in the

morning is usually best but they will pop up here and there throughout the

day. If you don't see them on the surface, drop an Ice Jig in Size 5 or 7

down while making sure you see them on your meter. Once you are down

to the desired depth, pop the rod tip 6-8 inches and then let it fall. When it

stops moving, repeat the process trying it at different depths.

Kastmasters in 1/2 oz to 1 oz have also been working great in the same

vertical fashion as the ice jig. The Kastmaster can also be cast out, let it

fall in free spool, then rip it back raising the lowering the rod while you

wind. Let if fall on the slack and then rip and wind repeating this process.

You can can also just wind it straight back after you sink it out on the initial

cast.

If they are on the surface, we prefer faster moving baits. Poppers tend to

be too slow so we us Zoom Flukes with a Keitech round jig head, Lucky

Craft pointer 97MR jerkbaits, and Lucky Craft Gunfish 95 or 115 or Zara

Spooks on the surface.

Serano point, around the island, and in the main channel leaving the

marina have been best. Keep an eye out for the sea gulls, they will let you

know where to fish if the fish are up close to the surface. If they are deep,

they may not help too much. When they stop boiling, we found them in

40-80 fee of water and dropped spoons and ice jigs on them and were bit

almost every cast. We ended up with 40+ fish by noon.

Castaic Lake has been a little slower on the boils, but they are there to be

had. Kastmasters and ice jigs also work using the same method, just

make sure there are fish on the meter or if from shore, you see bait or birds

working.

Largemouth bass fishing has also been good on crank baits, poppers early

morning, and jerk baits on windy banks. Jigs have been getting bigger

fish if you're patient. With no grass at Castaic, drop shot has also been

effective for larger numbers if you fish shad pattern Roboworks or

Basschow hand pours.

The Fall is a great time to fish so get out as often as you can. Tight Lines!!

Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lake Fishing Report 9/17/2014

The water continues to drop at Castaic but the bite isn't bad.  We've seen small striper boils here and they're usually in the backs of coves first thing in the morning and periodically throughout the day.  Standard issue lures like Zoom Flukes, Lucky Craft Gunfish, and Kastmasters.  The bass has been a little slower unless you can pick up some live shad with dip nets or sabiki rigs.  Pin them on with a #8 or #10 Owner Mosquito Hook through the nose with 6# line and free spool it.  Almost every bait will be a fish if you have a good bait tank.  For plastics, the Basstrix Flashtrix in 1/5" and 2" work great flylined on 4# or 6# line.  

 Pyramid has a large algae bloom but don't let the green fool you, it's good for the fish and is only on the top layer of the water.  Underneath, the water clear and fishing has been fair to good.  Stripers continue to be caught trolling umbrella rigs with Keitech Swing Impact Fat's in the marina and in the channel on the way out to the main part of the lake.  Largemouth are in the grass or on the grass edge and drop shooting on the outside with shad colored 4 1/2" Roboworms has been productive.  Smallmouth bass are on rocky points in 20-25 feet of water.  Dirty Jigs in 1/2oz and Texas rigged Zoom Brush Hogs have been working best.

Castaic and Pyramid Fishing Report 9/3/14

Castaic has remained steady on the Striper boils. We have been looking for congregations of birds, or birds already working the water. This is usually an indicator of baitfish in the area, and where there are schools of baitfish, there are schools of larger fish. Zoom Flukes in White Ice, Albino, and Smokin Shad have been producing best.  This is our go to technique this time of year. We rig them with a 1/4oz Scrounger head and fish this on a straight retrieve or a Keitech Jig Head with a pop then slack retrieve, like a jerkbait.

When the boils start going off both of those techniques work very well, along with topwater baits such as theLucky Craft Sammy and Gunfish.

The Largemouth have been hitting topwater baits very readily as of late. We have had very good luck on the River2Sea Rover. The Duo Realis Spinbait 80 has also been very effective.

Pyramid is still very similar. The boils have been off and on throughout the day. They are usually very active and boiling first thing in the morning. Once that dies out they have been coming up again all around the lake every few hours. The same techniques as above have been very effective on the Stripers. If we can find the school on our meter we can usually get them to go on walking baits.

The Largemouth and Smallmouth are being caught outside of the grasslines on spinnerbaits and other shad imitations such as the Huddleston Weedless Shad. They are also being caught on our trusty Yamamoto Fat Ika!

The fishing has been hot so be sure to get out there and get a piece of it!

Castaic and Pyramid Lakes Fishing Report 8/27/2014

Castaic has been a little slower on the striper boils over the past few days but there is still some good fishing.  Zoom Flukes in White Ice, Albino, and Smokin Shad have been producing best.  We rig them with a 1/4oz Scrounger head or a Keitech Jig Head and pop then slack them back.  This technique is great if there are boils or if there are no boils but fish are in the area.  Letting them sink out before you bring them back is key if no boils are seen. 

As usual, topwater baits like Lucky Craft Sammy and Gunfish are working well.  Rico poppers have been descent for largemouth along the shore.  Throw them right to the bank and work them parallel if you are from shore or a boat.  

The water at Castaic upper lake is expected to drop another 40 feet at about 1 foot per day.  Last time they dropped the water several years ago, the fishing was excellent.  The bait and the fish get condensed and become much easier to target.  

Pyramid had been very good on boiling stripers but it has calmed down.  We were getting 50+ fish by 10:00 AM but it’s slowed to around 20 fish in the same time period.  We are using the same techniques as mentioned above.  Largemouth and smallmouth have been a little tougher with most of the fish suspended outside the grass lines.  Dropshotting with 20” of leader to get it above the grass has been working best with a small shad style bait like a Don Iovino Little Slugger.  

Castaic Lake Fishing Report 8/11/14

Last Friday we hit the upper lake up and fished for stripers and largemouth boils and they were going full tilt!  Slalom Cove was boiling like crazy and almost every cast you were bit.  Bait was being pushed onto the bank and the birds were picking the ones off that didn't make it back in the water.  We picked up several largemouth in the boils but they seemed to stay tight to the bank.  Most fish were small, 1-3 pounds but we had 30+ fish to the boat by 9AM.  

This morning, Monday 8/11/14, was a little slower and the boils were more difficult to find.  Our first stop Slalom Cove didn't produce anything so we moved to the back damn and picked a few.  Then we headed out to C Point to find the fleet parked there and little boils here and there.  We found out later that it was going off first thing in the morning and it looks like we overshot them.  We had around 12 stripers 1-3 pounds and a few largemouth on Lobina Rico Poppers.

90% of our fish came on Lucky Craft Pointer 97MR and Zoom Flukes on a 1/8oz 2/0 Keitech Round Ball Jig Head.  Come in the shop and we can show you little tricks on how to rig them and work the bait.  

Usually this time of year, the boils will stay strong now till October and sometimes they will still be going into December.  Topwater, Flukes, Jerk Baits, Waxwings, spoons, and Scrounger Heads are favorites for the boils.  Some days will be crazy good and others will be a little slower.  Just get out there as often as you can and you are sure to hit some incredible days of fishing.

Castaic Fishing Report Fri 7/18/14

Posted July 18 2014

Castaic Is Heating Up!

 The water is heating up and is around 78 degrees with stained green water.

Yes the water level is dropping, but the fish don't seem to mind! The Largemouth bite has remained very consistent. In the morning the Largemouth seem to be very tight to shore. A squarebill crankbait, a wacky Senko or a jerkbait are getting them. We prefer the Thin Senko in a Green Pumpkin Red Flake or Smoke Black Flake color for wacky rigging. As for the reaction baits, we prefer natural colors such as Ghost Minnow or shad colors. Later in the day when the lake gets kicked up from boaters and the wind a mudline shows up. At that point a Texas-rigged or shakeyhead Roboworm or Pro Senko do the job when presented parallel to the mudline. We prefer the 6" or larger Roboworm in natural colors such as Oxblood or any other color with that darker red/brown hue. The same colors apply for the Pro Senkos. The boils seem to be starting to show up in smaller numbers. With our upcoming weather system we should see the water temp rise and the boils should become more steady and abundant. Bluegill are being reported in the shallows in the backs of coves around stickups.

Southern California Offshore Report 7/29/14

Posted July 29 2014

The offshore bite is going full swing and it is looking like the fishing is only going to get better! Tuna, Yellowtail and Dorado are being caught from San Diego all the way up to Catalina, and the fish will just keep moving north as the water warms.

Out of San Diego Tuna and Yellowtail are consistently being caught in numbers on 3/4 day boats! Out of 22nd St. they have been getting on good numbers of Yellowtail and Tuna with the odd Dorado thrown in.

We are also hearing reports of Tuna being less than 10 miles out of Newport Harbor.

Multi-day trips have been getting into Bluefin ranging all the way up to 100lbs, and this is all in US waters!

At the moment bait is ranging from small Anchovies to decent size Macks. An assortment of hooks from size 4 to 2/0 are recommended. The fish are also readily hitting the iron. White and Blue, Chrome and Blue, Scrambled Egg and Bird Shit have been the most productive, with the Chrome Blue really producing for most everyone.

You should be spooled up with 30lb to 50lb line and maybe even 60lb line. The heavier line is being used when the larger model Bluefin show up, which is fairly regular at the moment. The smaller fish have also not been line shy but anglers are still opting for Fluorocarbon leaders as it offers numerous advantages over mono.

Next month will only get better so make sure to get in on this epic bite!

Castaic Fishing Report 7/30/2014

Posted July 30 2014

The water level has been erratic. It drops some then they pump some in, then repeat the process. The fishing remains fair. The Largemouth seem to be holding on rock and the shakey head is still getting em. We found that our most productive colors/baits were Roboworms in Morning Dawn and Oxblood Light Red Flake. The Texas Rig is also very productive.

In the early morning the fish seem to be busting on shad. We had a little action on the popper and the jerkbait. We metered some very big balls of bait/fry so the topwater bite is about ready to go off!

There were a few boils to be had but nothing of size is showing up yet. Most Stripers are in the pound to 2 pound range. Anchovies and Lug Worms are still working best off the dam.

The water level is down but the fish don't seem to mind at all so don' let that deter you! Get out there and catch some fish!