Tackle Express Castaic Fishing Reports

Daytime temps in the 80’s have the male Bass heading for shallower water for the pre-spawn. It shouldn’t be long before we see some bigger females doing the same. Right now most of them are on the first dropoff in the fifteen foot zone. Ned Rigs and Finesse Carolina rigs are leading the way as far as techniques go and it’s been hard to beat the Neptune Shad C3 Shimmy as the water is extremely clear in most areas. 

Longer days and warming water has a few Bass moving up towards the shoreline. Finesse plastics in the ten to twenty foot range are getting some bites, mainly on a light-line Carolina rig with a 6″ straight tail worm. Cinnamon, Oxblood and pumpkin have been the better colors as the water can be extremely clear in some areas. The bulk of the fish remain deeper and should be moving up to pre-spawn areas in the coming weeks.

Look for the bite to improve in the next month or so when the water warms up a bit with the longer days. The lake level continues to rise and the debris has not been a big issue as long as the North wind doesn’t blow into the marina. The crews have been removing a lot of it with a bulldozer which is helping a lot. Better days ahead for sure.

The lake is unindated with mud and floating debris. The good news is the lake level has risen close to forty feet in recent weeks, far exceeding expectations and prospects for having a full lake this year. Better days ahead!

A tough week weather-wise for anglers. Heavy rain and winds on most days limited opportunities. The lake was closed over the weekend due to heavy surface debris. They did allow launching on Sunday but it was electric motors only which made most boats turn around and head home.

Bass fishing slowed this week for both numbers and size. A National Bass West tournament with 33 teams was won with a meager 12 pounds last Saturday. Fish will bite a slow presentation like the C3 Baits Shimmy on the finesse Carolina rig in the twenty to thirty foot zone.