BY MIKE STEVENS
LAKE ELSINORE – After the big storms in December, Hall of Fame Outdoor Writer and former Western Outdoor News staffer George Kramer told WON significant rain tends to turn on the wiper bite at Lake Elsinore. A few days later, reports of very good fishing for the white bass/striped bass hybrids were being picked up on the WON radar.
That lasted a couple weeks before tapering off (but not completely shutting down), and the recent storms that moved through got Elsinore wipers popping off again, and kayak fishing specialist Kei Vang has been taking full advantage.
“The wiper bite has been solid this past month,” said Vang. “We are landing fish in the 5 to 8-pound range trolling the Berkley Flicker Shad in sizes 5 and 7. If you’re heading out, get on the water as early as you can. Once you locate the baitfish, start trolling 1.3 to 1.6 mph with a 60 to 80 foot setback. The bite can happen anytime. I’ve hooked up as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 1 p.m. It’s only going to get better as we roll into April through July. As the water warms up, wipers will start feeding closer to shore, giving bank anglers some fantastic action. Get ready, it’s about to heat up.
There have also been reports of decent fishing for largemouth bass at Elsinore, and a lot of them are coming out of shallow water. Anglers pitching 6-inch Texas-rigged worms around flooded timber and in mini sheltered coves are running into decent numbers of 2- to 4-pound fish.
