Tackle Express Castaic Fishing Reports

Bass fishing remains steady on one to four pound fish. The water has come down five feet in the past week resulting in the Shad pulling out of the backs of the coves as the rocks that were covered in their food source, algae and moss, were left high and dry with the receeding water.

The Striped Bass were hard to locate again this week as the huge schools of baitfish were found anywhere from twenty to eighty feet deep. We did have some quality bites trolling Producer Flies and 661 KastMasters about thirty feet deep on leadcore line for linesides to seven pounds, but the activity window was short, only lasting for about a half hour when the lake first opened. No surface boils to report but hopefully that will change when they realize the coves are full of Shad.

Stripers were hit and miss this week, with some days better than others. Glassy conditions mid-week saw the bite slow significantly. Windy days are better as the fish feed actively in these conditions, sometimes throughout the day. Producer flies, KastMasters and the Fluke/Scrounger head combo are getting grabs trolling at 15′ to 25′ when the fish aren’t busting the surface. The best  area continues to be the deeper water from Kong Island to Necktie Canyon, with the fish pretty much spread out all over the middle of the Ski Arm and up to the forebay buoy line on certain days. There has also been some surface action in the West end of the Fish Arm during the first hour or so of the morning.

Bass fishing was strong again this week despite smoky skies making it hard to stay on the water for very long. Bass continue to chase Shad early and late in the day in deeper water near the main lake. Topwaters, Flukes and small swimbaits are good choices around the shade lines. The middle Ski Arm and Elizabeth Canyon are good areas to try. Once the sun gets on the water the Bass go deeper and finesse plastics are pretty much the only option. We are one of the only boats still fishing live Shad every day and the bite is fast and furious.

The bite was decent this week as calm and hot conditions along with a full moon saw the fish boiling right up until the time everyone got launched and out on the water. Good areas are Center Point up to Kong Island with the fish spread out all over the middle Ski Arm. There are schools of Stripers boiling in the jet ski zone further adding to the frustrating bite. Fly-core trolling with olive over white Producer flies and white KastMasters put quality Stripers from five to seven pounds in the net. Most of the trolling action remains in 15 – 30 feet of water.

Both the upper and lower lakes remains closed as the numerous fire crews are using the swim beaches and parking lots as a base camp.