Tackle Express Castaic Fishing Reports

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.

Bass fishing was good during the week until the “Lake” fire closed the lake for four days and counting. Big schools of Bass continue to chase Shad early and late in the day. Zoom Flukes and walking baits like the Luckycraft Sammy or IMA Skimmer are as good as any in tempting Largemouth averaging two to five pounds. We are still fishing live Shad every day and the bite continues to be excellent as well as exciting.

Bass fishing continues it’s Summer pattern, with big wolf packs of fish chasing Shad early and late in the day. Pearl white Flukes and walking baits like the Luckycraft Sammy 100 are getting lots of love from mostly Largemouth up to five pounds. We are still able to get as many live Shad as we need every day and the bite is quick and exciting with surface blow-ups on almost every cast.