Tackle Express Castaic Fishing Reports

Surface “boils” were all over the main lake with most of the schools still spread out in the Fish Arm and by the buoy line at the end of the Ski Arm. The boils aren’t lasting very long, twenty to thirty seconds at most and some boats are charging the schools making it difficult. 

North winds kept the lake on a “call before you go” basis all week. We’re still waiting on the second trout stocking of the year. The bite has slowed significantly as the numbers dwindle, but there are still a few out there to be caught. The Striped Bass fishing is better on the warmer days as they continue to school up on main-lake points.

Looking forward, the state should be stocking Trout as the water temp is now within their preferred range. Fortunately we have clear water this year compared to last year and the swimbait season for big Stripers is looking very promising. As soon as the water level stabilizes there should be an excellent cut bait bite for school-sized Striped Bass around the buoy line at the end of the Ski Arm.

Anglers casting Alabama rigs with pearl white shad imitations and surface lures near these fish connected with Stripers averaging three pounds. Keep an eye out for Seagulls as they are on the boils right away and can be spotted from a distance. Some bigger fish are starting to show and Trout plants should be in the forecast as water temps are now in the suitable range.

There is an emerging Striped Bass bite on cut sardines up by the forebay buoy line that will improve as the water continues to clear up. I anticipate trolling for Stripers to be excellent once the debris is gone in the coming weeks.

The lake level has come up over twenty feet this year and continues to rise. The county has a crew that is using a net rig to circle the marina debris where it can be scraped up with bulldozers and hauled away in dump trucks. This is a slow process as debris is still floating around in the main lake. Everytime the wind blows from the North there will be more debris and muck blown into the launch area. Most anglers are heading up the road to Pyramid lake for now, until conditions improve in the coming weeks.