BY MIKE STEVENS
LAKE ISABELLA – Southern California anglers looking for excellent mixed bag fishing right now could do a lot worse than Lake Isabella which is currently providing solid action for four species. While bass, crappie, trout and catfish can all be effectively targeted, it was another trophy Isabella largemouth leading the charge here in mid-May.
The 11.5-pound monster I caught was on a Rapala Risto Rap in the South Fork of in around 12 feet of water on a windy, cold May day,” said former WON BASS U.S. Open champ and SoCal guide, Rusty Brown (RustyBassHook.com). “Water temp was in the mid 60s with 4-foot visibility. The bass bite has been solid on cranks, jerkbaits, chatterbaits and also on a variety of 6- to 10-inch plastic worms in natural colors. Fish are in all three cycles of spawn, and water is still coming up slowly. Bass are chasing shad on flats and secondary points with chunk rocks and willows.”
According to Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop in Bakersfield, there are also bass being caught on jigs, Senkos and swimbaits, and areas with trees and stickups are also producing with some of the other better largemouth coming out of the South Fork.
The CDFW has been stocking trout, and boaters are getting them via Berkley Flicker Shads and Needlefish trolled on leadcore while shorepounders are getting them on PowerBait, and at times, minijigs.
Cope’s said SSS dipbaits and cut baits are what’s working for Izzie’s catfish, and the crappie bite has also been hot in the South Fork as well as around Camp 9 and The Cages where small shiners, 2-inch swimbaits and minijigs are doing the trick.
