Just like summer it took longer to get here, but the annual migration of our trout to the west has begun. While smaller recently stocked fish can still be found mid lake in the "triangle" most of the acclimated trout have headed further west.

Seeking the cooler waters west, which is two degrees lower than middle and eastern thirds of the lake, the trout have taken up new residence along "Trout Alley" (Metcalf Bay to Boulder Bay South Shore) and all the way to the dam.

Trollers working those areas with leadcore down from 3 to 4 colors, and Neddlefish in copper and nickel finishes have been finding nice holdover trout to 3 pounds with smaller fish in the mix and an occasional big boy to boot.

For bait anglers soaking PowerBait, the only way to go, is to suspend you bait from a slip bobber. Oxygen levels at the dam have diminished below 20 ft., while Papoose Bay is at 29 feet. Adjust your slip bobber at 15 to 20 feet to find the fish.

Not much surface action, except for very early of very late in the day. If you are working the surface, try to find an area where the wind has blown the dead weeds away, if not, your lure will constantly be fouled.

Ed Sullivan, Chino Hills was working a fly/bubble rig near the dam on 6/28 when he got into a nice trout, the 7.37 trout hit a wooley bugger on the surface. Ed was in for a "Really Big Shoo", as the bow put on a 10 minute fight, testing the strength of his 4 pound test line, before coming to the net.

It is time to head west young man and grow old with the fish.