Attention WON Fishing Reports Online readers:
You are only seeing a portion of our reports. Subscribers to our digital and print newspaper enjoy the full spectrum of fishing reports. Print and online subscribers receive the new issue via email on the Tuesday morning of issue weeks, before we post these reports online.

Subscribe to the online edition today using code “5OFFWON” to save $5 on the annual digital subscription, only $19.99 for the year!

Click here to see all the reports in the online edition of WON

Updated Dec. 18, 2024

AQUEDUCT (NEAR BAKERSFIELD) – Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop in Bakersfield is reporting that catfish remain the best bite at the ‘duct, and that’s been the case for nearly a month now. Dip baits, cut baits and chicken livers are what’s working in the slow sections. Striped bass fishing has been a challenge, and most biters are coming in on sardines or anchovies.

BARRETT LAKE—  This lake is currently closed until May 2025. Fishing access is by reservation only, and patrons are limited to two vehicles per reservation. To make a reservation to and for more info, visit sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes/barrett-reservoir. The lake closes for the season at the end of September.

BIG BEAR LAKE – It’s getting cold up here, and the bite seems to have fallen off, but there are also a lot fewer anglers getting after it and that would definitely have something to do with it. Wind is also a factor on some days. The East End, Juniper and Red House zones have been productive for bait dunkers on the nicer days. Some limits are showing up in those areas for anglers finding themselves in the right place at the right time. Mice Tails and PowerBait have been best for shorepounders.

BUENA VISTA LAKES – Huge bounceback on the trout side of things with limit-style fishing available for anglers using PowerBait, Mice Tails, Rooster Tails and minijigs. Lake Evans was stocked on Dec. 10 with rainbow and lightning trout, and that’s what put a charge in the bite. Not a lot to report as far as other species because most local anglers are targeting trout.

CACHUMA LAKE – The trout should be biting this time of year, reports Rich Tauber of richtauberfishing.com. However, anglers have been struggling to put a pattern together. There’s lots of fish in the lake, but they’re hard to find and pin down. When they are found, PowerBait or minijigs are the best options, but a few are always taken on Trout Worms as well. Hopefully, a trout plant in the next week or so will perk up this bite. The bass however, are still going strong, Tauber reports. Good numbers of 1-3 pound bass are readily hitting Roboworms in a colors like Margarita Mutilator, Aaron’s Magic, and Oxblood. 20’ to 40’ is the best zone at the moment, but the fish may head to deeper waters as the cold nights drop the water temps. Crappie and bluegill have gone quiet.

LAKE CAHUILLA— Trout season got started with a 700-pound stocking on Dec. 11. The next load is slated for Jan. 2 followed by Jan. 15. The bite seems hit and miss as far as the early reports picked up by the WON radar. Some guys got limits or close to it, while anglers fishing nearby got skunked. Things should level out as more stocking goes down and holdover trout become part of the equation. Scented, floating baits are almost always the best way to go here.

CASITAS LAKE – Fred Klinshaw of fredklinshawfishing.com is reporting that the bass bite is still excellent right now, but the key is that anglers need to know where to look. Klinshaw is locating his fish near the deeper channels as they follow the shad into their winter haunts. Spoons, dropshots, and jigs are working in depths ranging from 30 to 50 feet deep. Surprisingly, the crappie and bluegill are hitting too, with the crappie coming on small minijigs over deep water brush and the bluegill will hit small chunks of nightcrawlers out in the middle of coves. The lake has finally received its first trout plant, reports Rich Tauber of richtauberfishing.com. This was just a small, 500-pound sample, but the bigger stocks should be arriving any day now, as the water temps are just getting into the prime trout range. Tauber is also recommending bass anglers use Texas-rigged Roboworms on main lake points for some nice winter largemouth. Bass boat guys can also use their electronics and drop a spoon down to schools of fish that are roaming in depths from 30 feet to 50 feet.

Click here to see all the reports in the online edition of WON