Largemouth Bass:
A National Bass West tournament was fished here on Saturday that saw a big field of anglers catch very few fish. The tournament was won throwing Alabama rigs with really small baits. The fish are anywhere from the shoreline out to the middle of the lake where they are suspended over bait schools in as much as 100′ of water. As the water continues to cool the fish are spread out and hard to find. Look for them to bunch up on their Winter structure spots as soon as the water temperature bottoms out and gets consistent.
Striped Bass:
Another big stocking of hatchery trout, this one at 2000 lbs. has yet to trigger the bigger Striped Bass in any numbers. There have been a few swimbait fish caught off the dam by the first anglers to make a cast each day but the bite dies quickly as the hard-hat style swimbait chuckers arrive in droves. Most of the anglers have been relegated to the dam as the shoreline to the right of the marina has lots of bushes in the water making casting next to impossible. Our proven technique of trolling big Trout-imitating swimbaits is our mainstay attack as we head into the winter months. This is true trophy fishing, rough weather and big fish.
The bulk of the schooling Stripers are still in deep water around 80′. Vertical jigging with 1 oz. to 1-1/2 oz. Krocodiles, Kastmasters and Rapala ice jigs, along with deep-water trolling with umbrella rigs or Kastmasters are getting a few bites but this pattern is far from full strength as of yet.
Castaic Afterbay:
No report.
Castaic Lake Conditions:
Water Temp Surface:
58°
Water Temp at 25′:
52°
Water Clarity:
20′ visibility. Clear
Water Level:
25′ down
Jim – 661 Fishing
