Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass:
Not much change this week as water levels continue to fall. The quality Bass are holding a little deeper now, mostly on rocky main-lake points and bluffs in the fifteen to twenty foot depth zone. Dropshot rigs, Ned rigs and finesse Carolina rigs are all working with the C-rig appealing to the bigger fish. We are focused on areas that have a little wind blowing into them. Stay away from areas that have wake boat waves crashing into them. The Bass have a hard time adjusting their swim bladders to the rebounding waves and will suspend or leave the area completely. Netting Shad for bait remains difficult as the falling water is keeping them off the bank for now.
Striped Bass:
Stripers of all sizes are biting for anglers trolling Yak flies on fly-coring rigs in the twenty to thirty foot depth zone. Main lake points and bays in the Fish Arm and around the island in the Ski Arm are holding good schools of Stripers, with the mornings providing the best action as of late. Increased wake boat traffic is making it difficult to troll properly in the main lake basin, but this is where most of the schools can be found. No surface action as of yet, but this week’s heat wave might produce the algae bloom that will finally bring the Shad towards the surface.
Castaic Afterbay:
Steady fishing here as stable conditions and growing weed beds are keeping the Bass in range. The better fish are a little deeper, in the fifteen to twenty foot zone. C3 Baits Shimmys in Neptune Shad continue to get bit on the outside weed edges by quality Largemouth, with the average fish being around two pounds. Bigger fish approaching double-digit weight are starting to become more frequent. An emerging topwater bite is developing for anglers getting out before the sun gets on the water. White buzzbaits fished on the weed edges are the way to go for now.
Castaic Lake Conditions:
Water Temp Surface:
72°
Water Clarity:
15′ to 20′ visibility. Mostly clear.
Water Level:
Down 65′ and falling steadily
Jim – www.661Fishing.com
