July 31st, 2026

August 1st, 2026 - ¾ Day Charter w/Gentleman Sportfishing

August 15th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

September 12th (Departs Friday 9/11), 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

October 10th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

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

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

Most anglers targeted the early morning bite to avoid the high midday temperatures. Striped bass were caught consistently on cut sardines, while small white swimbaits and tube baits fished near the bottom also produced fish. Jerkbaits were effective during the low-light periods at sunrise and sunset. The largemouth bass bite was good around the outtake grates, where anglers had success with weightless green pumpkin Senkos. Topwater lures also produced bass during the morning along weed-free stretches of the aqueduct. Catfish anglers enjoyed excellent success after dark using cut anchovies, chicken liver, and dip baits.

The lake remained at approximately 94% of its storage capacity, with water temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to low 80s. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were caught consistently in 5 to 30 feet of water, with the bigger fish holding on the deeper end of that range. Drop-shot and Carolina-rigged finesse baits in salt and pepper, purple, and Aaron's Magic colors produced the best results, while jerkbaits were effective on windy days, although that bite was inconsistent. Some anglers also found a productive topwater bite during the morning on poppers and small walking baits until about 9 a.m. Striped bass were caught on cut sardines fished in 50 feet of water on main lake points, with a few additional fish taken on Espetit lures and Lucky Craft Gunfish. Catfish anglers reported good success using dip bait and chicken liver.

The lake remained at 91% of its storage capacity, with water temperatures in the upper 70s. Bass fishing was very good, as anglers found success targeting holes and pockets in the weed beds with Texas-rigged 6-inch worms, weedless creature baits, and crankbaits. Bass also held along bluff walls and points in water up to 20 feet deep, with shad patterns, brown, and Aaron's Magic producing the best results. Spinnerbaits and jerkbaits were also effective when retrieved parallel to the weed lines. The excellent cut sardine bite for striped bass continued, with some local guides helping anglers catch limits of 5- to 10-pound fish. The topwater bite also remained productive, although it was inconsistent, with striped bass aggressively striking lures one day and ignoring them the next. Catfish fishing remained difficult for shore anglers until the fall weed bed die-off, but boat anglers found success in Yellowbar using cut baits and chicken liver.

Lake Isabella has dropped to 40% of capacity as steady water releases continue, but the lower water levels have not slowed the bass bite. Anglers are finding success with Flukes, spinnerbaits, and Senkos in watermelon red and shad patterns. The North Fork remains the most productive area, especially around rocky banks and submerged trees. A few bass are still being caught on topwater baits early in the morning, while purple and oxblood worms worked along main-lake points down to 20 feet have been effective later in the day. Water temperatures are holding near 80 degrees. Crappie fishing has improved near Red’s Marina and the main dam, with fish holding in 10 to 15 feet of water. Get Bent Baits and live minnows suspended about 4 feet below a bobber with a slow retrieve have been producing good numbers. Trout fishing remains productive for boaters trolling deeper water with Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, and Flicker Shad, while shore anglers are catching fish near the dam on floating garlic-scented baits. Catfishing has also been solid this week, with frozen shad, SSS Dip Bait, live minnows, and nightcrawlers all producing good catches.

With flows running low on the Upper Kern River, the best trout fishing has been found in deeper pools and slower-moving eddies. Salmon eggs, trout worms, and Panther Martins are all producing fish, while fly anglers are finding success throughout the popular 20-mile stretch with nymphs and streamers. On the Lower Kern, trout fishing remains steady from Democrat up to Isabella Dam, with nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and small spinners continuing to work well. The smallmouth bass bite has also been very good, particularly through the canyon stretches. Local anglers have reported catching solid numbers of fish, with most running on the smaller side but biting consistently. Get Bent Baits, small crankbaits, and spinners have all been effective for smallmouth throughout the Lower Kern. As of this report, the Upper Kern is flowing at 255 CFS, while the Lower Kern is running at 1,699 CFS.

Lake Kaweah dropped to 20% of its storage capacity, and anglers reported improved fishing as the water drawdown slowed. Although reports remained limited, those who fished the lake found a better bass bite than in previous weeks. Spotted bass and largemouth bass were caught on green Senkos and Texas-rigged soft plastics, while shad patterns and brown-colored lures also produced fish. The most exciting action came during the morning and evening topwater bite, when poppers and walking baits drew aggressive strikes. Catfish anglers also reported improved success as the shorelines became less muddy, catching whiskerfish on Carolina-rigged chicken liver and dip bait. Crappie fishing remained slow overall, although a few anglers caught fish on small live minnows.

Water levels continued to fall at Lake Success, dropping to 28% of the lake's storage capacity at the time of reporting. Largemouth bass anglers enjoyed another productive week by targeting rocky points and submerged trees with drop-shot rigs, Texas rigs, and tube baits. The topwater bite also improved, with poppers producing excellent action around sunset. Crankbaits were another effective option for anglers willing to deflect them off branches near submerged trees. Catfish anglers found the best success after dark, catching fish on chicken liver, dip bait, and cut mackerel. Crappie remained available around submerged brush, with live minnows and mini jigs producing the best results.

The extreme summer heat has made fishing difficult during the middle of the day, but anglers are still finding good action during the cooler morning and evening hours. Bass are responding well to frogs and other topwater baits in the evening, while crankbaits and jigs worked around structure and weed lines are also producing fish. Bluegill fishing remains strong and consistent, especially near the shoreline with live worms fished under a bobber or on a light split-shot rig.

Fishing at Ming Lake remains steady, with the best action coming during the cooler early morning and late afternoon hours. The bass bite has been fair to good, highlighted by a productive topwater frog bite around first light near vegetation and shallow cover. As the sun gets higher, bass are moving tighter to reeds and other structure, where creature baits, Senkos, and other soft plastics have been effective. Later in the day, crankbaits, Chatterbaits, and swimbaits worked in deeper water are helping trigger reaction bites. Bluegill fishing continues to be excellent around shallow areas, with red worms, mealworms, and wax worms fished under a bobber or on a light split-shot rig producing consistent action. Crappie fishing is not wide open, but a few fish are being caught along the backside of the lake on mini jigs, small crankbaits, and tiny shad-colored swimbaits.

Anglers reported fair fishing at Buena Vista as hot summer temperatures kept many people off the water. Largemouth bass provided the best action early in the day, with fish striking topwater frogs worked around the tules. Bass also bit weightless Senkos and the occasional spinnerbait. Crappie anglers found fish holding in deeper water, where live minnows and small swimbaits produced the best results. Catfish anglers caught fish on SSS dip bait, nightcrawlers, and cut sardines.

Fishing at Hart Park was fair, but anglers fishing after dark found the best action for both bass and catfish. Bigger bass aggressively struck topwater frogs during the night, while dark-colored 6-inch Texas-rigged worms also produced fish in low-light conditions. Bluegill cooperated with anglers using live worms beneath a bobber, and a few catfish weighing close to 5 pounds were caught on hot dog chunks.

Lake Nacimiento dropped to 49% of its storage capacity, and heavy boat traffic made the morning bite the most productive time for anglers. Bass fishing was excellent on topwater lures, with poppers, walking baits, and Whopper Plopper-style baits producing aggressive strikes. Anglers targeting deeper water caught bass in 5 to 30 feet using drop-shot rigs, hula grubs, and Neko rigs in salt and pepper, watermelon, and oxblood colors. Small swimbaits and jerkbaits also produced bass. The crappie bite remained strong, with anglers catching fish under docks on mini jigs in about 15 feet of water, and catfish were caught on cut mackerel, sardines, and chicken liver.

On Thursday, the Amigo returned from a 1.5-day trip with 1 bluefin tuna, 6 sheephead, 5 yellowtail, and 31 calico bass for 11 anglers. On Wednesday, the Thunderbird returned from an overnight trip with 44 yellowtail, 1 white seabass, 11 barracuda, 47 calico bass, 7 sheephead, and 55 whitefish for 29 anglers.

On Wednesday, the Aloha Spirit returned from a full-day trip with 6 barracuda, 106 calico bass, 7 blue perch, 179 rockfish, 4 sculpin, 3 sheephead, 34 ocean whitefish, 3 white seabass, 4 yellowtail, and 22 bonito for 30 anglers. The Gentleman returned from a three-quarter-day trip with 7 calico bass, 1 sheephead, and 30 ocean whitefish for 3 anglers. The Indicator returned from an overnight trip with 8 barracuda, 5 halibut, 14 lingcod, 85 rockfish, 1 rock sole, 39 white seabass, and 51 ocean whitefish for 13 anglers. The Island Fox returned from a three-quarter-day trip with 1 barracuda, 38 calico bass, 1 sheephead, 9 yellowtail, and 11 bonito for 10 anglers. The Mirage returned from an overnight trip with 36 calico bass, 9 rockfish, 25 sheephead, 48 white seabass, and 14 bonito for 16 anglers.

On Wednesday, the Flying Fish returned from a half-day morning trip with 143 rockcod, 5 bocaccio, 1 copper rockfish, 1 lingcod, and 1 red rockcod for 15 anglers. The Patriot returned from a half-day morning trip with 94 rockcod, 42 blue rockfish, 15 gopher rockfish, 4 copper rockfish, and 3 bocaccio for 32 anglers. The Sunny Day returned from a three-quarter-day trip with 4 striped bass and 1 king salmon for 1 angler.