November 13th, 2026

We have the best charter giveaways for our anglers! We give away a raffle rod and Cope's Tackle gift card to every fisherman and bring sponsor prizes/giveaways on all our charters! PLUS!! All anglers on Cope's Tackle sponsored trips are automatically entered into our BIG LING OF THE YEAR CONTEST!

November 14th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

December 12th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

The fall bite was in full effect for striped bass last week, with numerous anglers reporting limits on lures and bait rigs. Cut sardines, nightcrawlers, and lug worms all produced fish, with some anglers finding success flylining their baits. Lure anglers walked the banks in search of schools of actively feeding fish, using jerkbaits, topwater walking baits, and tube baits. Catfish responded to chicken liver, which also produced the occasional striped bass. Largemouth bass were caught on drop-shot rigs with 4-inch plastic worms in brown and dark green, while soft jerkbaits also proved effective.

The lake level fell to 81% of its storage capacity, and the lake was in a definite transition period. Large and smallmouth were best targeted near 20 feet deep with a slow drop shot presentation using stickbaits in cinnamon, green pumpkin, and brown colors. Stripped bass appeared to be holding in 35 to 50 feet of water on the bottom in the middle of coves. Getting them to bite has been tough with some anglers reporting success while using vertical spoons and others finding a few willing biters closer to shore on soft jerkbaits. Catfishing was good for anglers using dip baits and nightcrawlers on the Carolina rig.

The lake’s storage capacity dropped to 88%, with water temperatures near 68 degrees. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were caught on deep-diving crankbaits until sunlight reached the water, after which most anglers switched to brown jigs and drop-shot rigs. Steep banks and points produced most of the action. Striped bass were best targeted with cut sardines in 30 to 90 feet of water, although trolling umbrella rigs also produced fish. The striped bass bite was decent, but anglers who spent a full day on the water often caught limits of two- to five-pound fish. Catfishing improved as dying weed beds opened up more shoreline access, with chicken liver, dip bait, and cut sardines all proving effective.

Lake Isabella held steady this week at 24 percent of capacity, with the fall bass bite slowing slightly but still producing quality fish. Anglers are finding success working crankbaits, jigs, and 9½-inch Rusty’s Big Worms in oxblood around Rocky Point, Piney Point, and Engineers Point in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie fishing remains fair but has slowed, requiring anglers to put in more effort to get bites. Fish are still being caught around Red’s Marina and French Gulch Marina using mini jigs and small live shiners. Catfish action has tapered off with the cooler temperatures, although anglers are still picking up fish on SSS Dip Bait, shad, and cut mackerel. Trout fishing continues to improve throughout the lake, with nightcrawlers and trout jigs producing good results. The CDFW have a scheduled trout stocking here this week.

The CDFW stocked trout along a 20-mile stretch of the Upper Kern River this week, providing anglers with solid fishing action. This week’s plants included Section 4 (Riverside Park in Kernville to Powerhouse #3), Section 5 (Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge), and Section 6 (Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge). Trout fishing has been productive, with salmon eggs, trout jigs, and nightcrawlers producing consistent bites. Fly anglers are also finding success using nymphs and dry-dropper rigs. On the Lower Kern, trout fishing remains good around Keysville, with jigs and spinners producing fish. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also active, hitting small crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. Catfish continue to bite on dip baits, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. As of this report, flows were 174 CFS on the Upper Kern and 261 CFS on the Lower Kern.

With Lake Kaweah sitting at a very low water level of 10% storage capacity, fishing remained surprisingly good as fish concentrated in the main basin. The spotted bass bite was good around main-lake points, steep drop-offs, and submerged rock piles in 15 to 25 feet of water, with drop-shots, Ned rigs, and shaky heads in natural colors producing the best results. Early morning and late evening also provided reaction bites on squarebill crankbaits, jerkbaits, and small swimbaits. Crappie fishing was fair to good on small minnows and jigs around remaining brush in 15 to 20 feet of water. Catfish were active after sunset, with cut bait, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers producing steady action along deeper channels.

Success Lake remained at a very low water level of roughly 10% to 11% storage capacity, but fishing action held up well as fish concentrated around deeper structure. Anglers caught quality largemouth bass near submerged trees, main-lake points, and the dam. Finesse presentations, including drop-shots, Ned rigs, and jigs, produced the best results, while early morning and late evening provided reaction bites on crankbaits and swimbaits. Crappie fishing was fair to good on small minnows and minijigs around submerged brush. Catfish bit steadily on cut bait and chicken liver along the deeper river channel, while trout fishing improved following the November 9 CDFW rainbow trout plant.

Bass fishing at River Walk continues to improve, with anglers reporting the best action during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Small flukes, Ned rigs, shad-patterned plastics on drop-shot rigs, and green pumpkin Senkos have been producing consistent bites. Working these baits slowly along the shoreline, around structure, and near deeper water has been effective as temperatures continue to cool. Bluegill fishing remains steady in both lakes, with wax worms, mealworms, and red worms producing good results. Looking ahead, the Bakersfield Firefighters 14th Annual Trout Derby and Pancake Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026, at River Walk Park.

Bass fishing at Ming Lake remains fair to good, with several quality fish reported this week. Larger bass are being caught on 5- to 7-inch soft plastic swimbaits, while the reaction bite has been producing fish on chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and lipless crankbaits worked along the grass lines and deeper edges. Early mornings and late afternoons have been the most productive, with shad-patterned baits getting the most attention. Anglers are also finding success slowing down with Texas-rigged plastics and finesse jigs when the reaction bite slows. Crappie fishing remains fair, with small live shiners and mini jigs producing occasional fish around deeper structure. Bluegill continue to bite steadily on wax worms, mealworms, and red worms. Carp are taking dough baits, while smaller catfish are being caught on SSS Dip Bait, cut mackerel, and nightcrawlers.

The annual Buena Vista Lakes Trout Fishing Derby was scheduled for next week at Lake Evans, bringing plenty of excitement for local anglers. Fishing was good overall, with bass, crappie, and catfish providing steady action. Largemouth bass were caught around submerged structure and weed beds using Senkos, soft plastics, and jigs. Crappie fishing was productive near the boat launch on small minnows and mini jigs, while catfish continued biting on dip bait, sardines, anchovies, and nightcrawlers.

Fishing remained fair at Hart Park, with largemouth bass taking Texas rigs, creature baits, and Senkos in darker colors. A few quality fish were reported on large swimbaits, including Keitech FAT Swing Impacts in the 6.8-inch size rigged on 8/0 Beast hooks. Crankbaits also produced a few bass. Catfish responded to SSS dip bait, anchovies, and chicken liver, while bluegill readily took live worms fished under a bobber.

Lake Nacimiento dropped to 32% of its storage capacity, with water temperatures continuing to decline. Fishing held up for another week, with spotted bass still rising to topwater baits, although the better action came below the surface with drop-shot rigs and reaction baits. Kastmasters, Hopkins spoons, and tail spinners worked well for white bass and also produced spotted bass. Crappie responded to mini jigs, swimbaits, and live minnows, while catfish were caught on cut mackerel, sardines, and chicken liver.

Fishing remains productive around the islands and along the coastal structure, with yellowtail, bonito, calico bass, and rockfish providing steady action. The Freedom out of San Pedro returned from an overnight trip with 288 rockfish, 72 red snapper, 255 whitefish, 43 sheephead, 24 lingcod, and 6 yellowtail for 35 anglers. The Pursuit reported 69 calico bass, 41 bonito, and 6 yellowtail for 38 anglers. Farther south, the Sum Fun out of Dana Point reported 90 sculpin, 85 whitefish, 28 rockfish, and 24 vermilion rockfish for 43 anglers.

Rockfish and whitefish continue to dominate the counts, with scattered yellowtail and white seabass adding variety. The Aloha Spirit returned Wednesday with 262 whitefish, 148 rockfish, 58 skipjack, 4 sheephead, and 1 lingcod for 30 anglers. The Island Fox reported 190 whitefish, 29 rockfish, 7 sculpin, 1 yellowtail, and 1 white seabass for 19 anglers. Out of Santa Barbara, the Coral Sea reported 250 whitefish, 53 rockfish, and 17 lingcod for 25 anglers.

Bottom fishing remains excellent along the Central Coast, with rockfish limits and good lingcod action reported. The Patriot out of Avila Beach returned Wednesday with 235 rockcod, 15 copper rockfish, and 3 lingcod for 25 anglers. The Flying Fish reported 141 rockcod, 10 copper rockfish, 3 bocaccio, and 3 lingcod for 16 anglers. Out of Morro Bay, the Endeavor reported 220 rockfish, 5 copper rockfish, and 3 bluefin tuna for 24 anglers, showing that tuna are still being caught along the Central Coast in November.