976-FRESH Freshwater Fish Report

BARRETT: The bass action has been exceptional. There were 228 anglers and they reported catching 4,625 bass, 184 bluegill, and 140 crappie. Reservations are sold out for May. Reservations are sold through Ticketmaster starting 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month (for the following month) by calling 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.

EL CAPITAN: There were 43 anglers checked who landed 69 bass, including a 4.7-pound fish landed by Sonny Hale, El Cajon, on a Senko, 33 bluegill, and 26 channel catfish. Bowfishing for carp is now allowed here. The lake is open Thursday through Monday with boat rentals available all five days (closed to fishing on Sundays). General lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concession information: 619-443-4110.

UPPER OTAY: There were 28 anglers checked this past week who caught 29 bass to 3.78 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for catch-and-release fishing (only artificial lures with single, barbless hooks), sunrise to sunset. The road to Upper Otay is closed, but anglers can still walk in. Lake information: 619-465-3474 (recording) or 619-397-5212 (concession) or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/.

LOWER OTAY: There were 132 anglers checked who landed 63 bass to 7.8 pounds, 180 bluegill to a pound, and two crappie to 1-4. Both the bluegill and crappie action is better than the limited numbers checked show. In a weekend bass event, it took 19-plus pounds to win. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule and boat rentals are available all three days. General lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concession information: 619-397-5212.

MIRAMAR: There were 37 anglers checked who had 70 bass, five bluegill, and one flathead catfish. The lake is open for fishing seven days a week. Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. New boat rental and concession information: 858-527-1722.

SUTHERLAND: There were a total of 116 anglers checked this past week who caught 271 bass to 4.4 pounds, 41 bluegill, 30 crappie to 2.3 pounds, 12 channel cats, and two blue cats. Lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat reservations: 619-668-2050 or ssmith@sandiego.gov.

WOHLFORD: Trout fish was slow until the plant last week. Chilo Naranjo, Escondido, had a 5.85-pounder on a nightcrawler in Oakvale Cove. Stephan Casteel, Carlsbad, limited out in Oakvale Cove and his limit weighed 15-8. The best bite has been toward the dam in deeper water, with Oakvale Cove a good bet. PowerBait (often times dipped in garlic sauce), salmon eggs, and inflated nightcrawlers have been the preferred baits.     Quite a few bass being reported. Richard Fridell, Escondido, caught and released a 7.9-pounder on a swimbait near Crappie Rock. Rod Blunt, Escondido, caught and released a 6.3-pounder on plastic worm off the Senior Shoreline, while Sean Byron, San Marcos, landed a 5.7-pounder. A few cats showing on cut baits, and the crappie bite has been really going from great to spotty. Dave Lopze, Escondido, had 20 crappie to 2.25-pounds on shiners. Fishing is allowed seven days a week. Private boat launching is not allowed because of Quagga mussel fears. Information: 760-839-4346 or www.wohlfordlake.com.

DIXON LAKE: The final trout plant of the season has been moved from May 2 to May 16. Best spots have been Trout Cove, Whisker Bay, and the Boat Dock cove areas. With a touch of warmer waters, trout may be holding in the deeper water, so the Buoy Line may be a prime spot. No State fishing license required here. Lake information: 760-839-4680 or www.dixonlake.com.

POWAY: The last trout plant of the season went in May 3, and the bite has been fair with a few limits last week. Action slowing. Phil Cansicio, Chula Vista, landed a seven-pound rainbow at the fishing float on a nightcrawler-PowerBait combo. The bluegill are moving in and are showing in five to 20 feet of water on nightcrawlers fished simply on the bottom. Best action has been on nightcrawlers or small jigs tipped with meal worms or wax worms. The lake is normally open Wednesday through Sunday. A state fishing license no longer required here. Lake information: 858-668-4772, tackle shop recording 858-486-1234, or www.poway.org.

JENNINGS: Night fishing kicks off this Friday from 5 p.m. through midnight. Lanterns required. The lake was stocked with 2,000 pounds of cats this week, and the holdover fish are showing in Cloister Cove and under the ìBird Treesî. Some trout are still being caught, but no limits. Bass are still in 15 to 20 feet of water but are moving back to the points. Redears have begun to spawn in a lot of the same locations the bass were occupying and a lot of nice fish are showing on nightcrawler pieces and meal worms. Brad Ranstead, Lemon Grove, had a 1-12 redear from Hermit Cove. Open Friday through Sunday. Shore fishing below the campground is available Monday through Thursday with permits available at the campground. Information: 619-390-1300 or www.lakejennings.org.

MORENA: The bass action has been pretty good with anglers fishing cranks, plastics, and nightcrawlers getting fish to four pounds. Many anglers have five to 10-fish catch-and-release days. Top fish was a 10-pounder caught by Jack Reyes, Pine Valley, fishing from a float tube. The crappie and bluegill have been pretty good on small jigs in Horseshoe and Boat Dock coves. The trout bite has been pretty good for trollers working Rapalas with some fish to five pounds. The catfish have really started to bite in Cabin and Horseshoe coves thanks to the warming water conditions. The carp have also moved shallow and are providing some action. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or lakemorena.com.

CUYAMACA: The crappie bite broke wide open this past week and 25-fish stringers have been common. Most of the fish are under a half-pound but they are providing lots of action on small jigs or meal worms. The trout action remains very good with a lot of limits coming out and many stringers have fish topping three pounds. The best action has been on a wide variety of floating baits and small trout plastics and jig. Melvin Langhorn, San Diego, landed a 12-pound trout at the Lone Pine Tree. The catfish are also starting to show, and a few bass are being caught. Private boats are allowed on the lake, including canoes and kayaks, but the boats must be sprayed for quagga mussels by a high-pressure heated wash prior to entering the lake. The cost is $10 for the spraying and it lasts for multiple trips to Cuyamaca as long as the boat is not used in another reservoir. The decontamination wash down station is for all craft and items used in the water, including boats, motors, kayak, canoes, float tubes and waders. Information: 760-765-0515 or www.lakecuyamaca.org.

HENSHAW: The crappie action has remained very good this past week, perhaps with fewer limits, but still good fishing. Most anglers were still reporting from five to 10 fish. John Leechy and Mike Lenz, Oceanside, had 25 crappie from shore on jigs and the fish averaged about 1-8 each. Francisco Lopez, San Jacinto, had eight crappie to 1-8, while Dena and Gary Batterman, Ramona, landed seven crappie to 1-8 and one two-pound catfish on red worms. Roman Entico, Huntington Beach, had five crappie, but his best was a 3 1/2-pounder. There have also been a decent number of catfish in this bite. All private boats must be checked and washed down for zebra and quagga mussels. Information: 760-782-3501.

LOWER OTAY: There were 113 anglers checked who landed 203 bluegill to 1.72 pounds and 103 bass to 4.8 pounds. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule and boat rentals are available all three days. General lake information: 619-465-3474 or www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/. Rental boat and concession information: 619-397-5212.

MORENA: The bass action has been pretty good with anglers fishing cranks, plastics, and nightcrawlers getting fish to 4-12. Many anglers have five to 10-fish catch-and-release days. The crappie and bluegill have been pretty good on small jigs in Horseshow and Boat Dock coves. John Beverlin, Campo, had a mixed limit of 25. The trout bite has slowed way down, but the odd fish is still showing up. Jonathon Bartmas, La Mesa, landed a trout at four pounds fishing mackerel for catfish. He also had four cats. The catfish have really started to bite in Cabin and Horseshow coves thanks to the warming water conditions. The carp have also moved shallow and are providing some action. Information: 24-hour fishing update line 619-478-5473, ranger station 619-579-4101, or lakemorena.com.