Mike Vradenburg

Extremely hot afternoons had most anglers out fishing before the sun was up. Good catches were reported for Trout, Catfish, Crappie, and Bass. Anglers were fishing around the lake and along the shoreline in the coves, submerged trees, and rock outcroppings.

The south and north end of the lake is producing bites for most anglers working the newly filled areas. The hot spots are Hanning Flat, Lime Dyke, Joughlin Cove, Robinson Cove on the south end, and from Camp Nine to the Cemetery on the north end. Four-wheel drive vehicles are accessing the lake on the north shoreline from French Gulch to Tillie Creek. They are reporting the catfish and crappie are hitting real good in the coves in the morning and evening hours.

The Department of Fish and Game announced new dates for Free Fishing Days in 2009. Free Fishing Days will be the Fourth of July and Labor Day, September 7.

Trout fishermen are fishing early in the morning in the north end of the lake. Good catches were made, and a few larger trout were caught. The baits being used are floating bait, night crawlers, and salmon eggs.

Trout fishermen in boats are trolling with flashy spoons, spinners, and plastic minnows. Boat fishermen are trolling along the shoreline with their line down 6 to 12 feet. Trout feed close to shore in the early morning and evening hours, and during the day they can be found in deeper water.

Good size fish are being caught in the flume on nightcrawlers and salmon eggs. The best places to fish are where the flume begins, and where it widens out after a tunnel or chute.

Bass fishermen report the best time to fish is before the sun hits the water. In the early morning hours the water is calm, and strikes are strong. Bass fishermen report the bass are hitting good on rubber worms, grubs, and plastic minnows in six to ten feet of water. The south end of the lake is producing the best action. Some nice size bass are also being taken in the weeds and brush in the north end of the lake. Bass anglers are working the weeds/brush, rocky shorelines, points, drop-offs, and islands.

The next American Bass Association fishing tournament will be held Saturday, July 25 at Lake Isabella. The tournament is made up of two person teams, and the fishing team with the heaviest weigh-in will be the winner. It is open to the public, for more information contact Ed at Big Ed's 379-4170.

Locals report crappie fishing is still real good. The best baits to use are jigs, grubs, worms, and minnows. Lots of good size crappie are being caught in the weeds and brush along shore. Early morning fishing is producing the best bites.

Catfish fishing is real good in the early morning hours and late into the night. The baits being used are night crawlers, mackerel, and hotdogs. Crappie are hitting hard in the morning hours on plastic minnows. Boat fishermen are trolling 20 to 30 off shore, and down 6 to 10 feet with plastic minnows. Bait fish plastics are silver/gold, game fish minnows are shades of green and blue. Both types of plastic minnows work good.

Fishermen report some bluegill are being caught in the rocks along the main dam on the French Gulch side, and near Camp Nine on the north end of the lake. Nightcrawlers and redworms are working the best.