Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
Bass fishing continues to fire on all cylinders despite some cold weather in the low 50’s mid-week. The Largemouth are in different stages of the spawn depending on what area of the lake you’re in. Smallmouth are post-spawn and are starting to hit topwaters and jerkbaits along with the usual finesse plastics. Fish can be found anywhere from main lake points and rocky shorelines, to the sticks and bushes in the backs of coves. Most of the Largemouth are averaging one to two pounds with a growing number of fish from three to five pounds. It may sound like a broken record but C3 Baits Shimmy’s in the Neptune Shad pattern fished on the Carolina rig and dropshot dominate the finesse plastics bite, as a lot of anglers have learned how deadly this bait is, especially in clear water. Wacky rigged 5″ Senkos continue to produce the bigger fish in my boat, especially when cast into the back third of the coves in the fifteen to twenty foot depth range. Fish the middle of the cove, there are plenty of sunken bushes in the centers of the coves and the bigger pre-spawn fish seem to like the depth and cover. The Senko is effective in these areas as it is next to impossible to get a dropshot or C-rig thru the deep bushes without snagging constantly.
Striped Bass:
The schools of baitfish that will eventually bring these fish shallow and onto anglers sonar screens are moving shallower, getting ready to spawn, and are currently in the fifteen to twenty foot zone. An influx of cold water from the aqueduct could delay this event as much as a few weeks, depending on how fast they fill the lake and the possibility of some cooler weather in May and June.
Lake Conditions:
*Launching is at the West Ramp Only*.
Here is the address to the entry gate located on the West side of the lagoon:
32132 Castaic Lake Drive
Surface Temp 61-65
Water Clarity 10′ to 20′ +
Lake Level: Down 25′ from full pool and filling on some days
Zero to minimal debris
New Lake Hours as of Sunday 04/20:
Open @ 6:30 am
Off Water @ 7:00 pm
Park Closes @ 7:30 pm
Jim – www.661Fishing.com
