Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:

 Bass fishing has pretty much gone unchanged this past week. We are still finding success with finesse presentations on 5 & 6 pound line and spinning gear. The finesse Carolina rig with a 3-4′ leader and a C3 Baits reaper has been our main weapon fished on main lake points. A dropshot rigged with a C3 Baits Ice Pick or Zoom Tiny Fluke is also a good choice on the steeper banks and bluffs. Smaller baits in the 2-3″ sizes along with translucent color schemes are matching up better with the forage and clear water. Neptune Shad C3 baits and Hologram Shad and Purple Smoke for the Roboworms. We are finding most fish in the 10-30′ depth range in both arms of the lake. Water temps are steady in the 80 degree range and the lake remains at full pool. The mornings have been our targeted time frame so there isn’t a lot of intel on the afternoon bite, with most anglers choosing to get off the water before the thermometer reaches triple digits.There is a small window of topwater action first thing in the morning with small popping baits getting a few bites, but anglers are finding frustration while emptying their tackle boxes to get the attention of bass that are keyed in on the small glass minnows. 

Striped Bass:

Striper fishing improved this week especially on the trolling front. We have continued our strong trolling pattern with our best approach being the Producer Fly / Fly Core rigs in 10-30′ of water. We are also seeing improved action on our custom 661 KastMasters, Live Target Bait Ball lipless crankbaits and small pearl white swimbaits fished on leadcore line in the 30′ zone. Sporadic boils continue on main lake points and open water in the Fish Arm of the lake from Center Point down to the mouth of Elizabeth Canyon. Walking baits like the Zara Spook in the bone color and poppers like the Live Target Bait Ball series are the best way to match the small forage. The bulk of the stripers haven’t settled into a solid pattern yet but the bite is improving daily. Mornings have been best with the bite lasting up until noon on random days and there is a small window of surface action in the early evening for anybody left on the water.

Castaic Afterbay:

The lagoon continues to fish well and has settled into a solid summer pattern. Quality bass continue to be caught on finesse techniques and light line. C3 Baits Shimmies, small curly tail RoboWorms and small ned worms are all producing bites around the lake. Fishing the deeper dropoffs and transition areas outside of the weedbeds is paying off for anglers putting in a few morning hours.

Jim – 661 Fishing