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Updated Dec. 18, 2025

IRVINE LAKE –The second trout plant of the season is slated for the week of December 8 and again January 5 and 12. That December load was 3,600 pounds prior to a derby. Check here for updates on the rest of the trout deliveries this season that will continue regularly through February. The lake is open Friday through Sunday, with no license required and a $5 parking fee. Bass fishing is catch-and-release only.

ISABELLA LAKE – The water is cold, maxing out in the mid 50s in some areas on the warmest days. Bass are still not all crazy deep though, with good numbers showing up in 15 to 30 feet of water. Texas rigs, jigs, drop-shots, underspins and crankbaits that can get to that depth window can all be put in play. Trout fishing has been good on the classic bait and lure arsenal, and some troll fish are showing up around the dam. Crappie fishing is scratchy with the most consistent action coming from French Gulch.

JENNINGS LAKE –  A double digit largemouth was taken on a swimbait by an angler fishing from shore, so it did not take long for the bass to respond to the first trout plants. 19,000 pounds of trout will be planted this season, with the next batch arriving this coming week. Jigs or Trout Worms are filling stringers, but MiceTails and PowerBait are producing in spots like Hermit and Siesta Cove. The lake is open Friday through Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, this Saturday the lake will remain open until 10 p.m., with no entrances after 8 p.m.

KAWEAH LAKE – Spotted bass are being found deep biting smaller jigs, drop-shots, Ned rigs, spoons and tailspins. Crankbaits are getting a few. Catfish and crappie action has been slow to fair.

KERN RIVER – Regular stocking is still going on in the 20 Mile Section, but the water is cold and trout are sluggish but still biting at a decent clip. Anglers should work deeper, slower sections, pocket water and pools methodically (that goes for both fly and “gear” fishermen to get bit.

LOWER OTAY RESERVOIR – The bass bite has slowed down considerably, but the panfish bite, particularly the big bluegill, are frequently showing up at the end of the lines of the bass guys. Any angler who wants some tasty panfish should toss out some nightcrawler pieces for some of these plate sized bluegill.

LOPEZ LAKE – An 11-plus pound largemouth bass was caught early in the second week of December, but details were pretty thin. Local guide Douglas Rice told WON “Lopez Lake has dropped to 79% and the water is the same at 58 to 60 degrees with slightly off-colored water making for a good crankbait bite on steep walls in the shade. There is a deep bite with larger fish going in 30 to 40 feet on jigs.”

MIRAMAR LAKE – The first of 3 trout stocks for December went in last week, and some anglers did well on jigs before the fish moved out. Some bass were seen chasing bait balls, which hasn’t been reported in several months, and could lead to some fun fishing on spoons or underspins during the colder months.

MURRAY LAKE – Now featuring sub-12-inch stocker trout, so local bassers who are very familiar with the fact that Murray is a winter overachiever are dusting off the swimbaits. The quality of the largemouth already being caught have been decent with very few under 2 pounds and plenty between 3 and 5. Jigs with a craw trailer has been a great way to get after them. Those fish aren’t crazy deep with most reports suggesting they’re biting in under 20 feet of water, but they want presentations slow. Texas-rigs, tailspins, ice jigs and spoons are also in play.

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