Following a busy holiday weekend the canyon emptied out just in time for the weather to turn to summer conditions and the bite was very akin to what we'd see much later in the month. Sheer numbers dropped a bit early in the week however a 1900lb stocking by the DFG picked that up in short order. The big fish continued to chew including another monster weighing in at 9lbs 6oz caught shortly after last week's report by local Matt Ruppell, pictured above from Bishop, CA on a mini-jig.

Father and son team Keith Marshall, Photo # 3 and Keith Marshall Jr. Photo # 2 of San Bernadino paired up for 4.14lb and 5.2lb 'bows using Chartruese PB.

For those that aren't getting the picture over the past several weeks, mini-jigs are accounting for the vast majority of the fish in the 4+ lb range. Make sure to fish 4lb test line max, fish a loose drag, and use a slow retrieve for best results. Pink, grasshopper, and fluorescent orange have been the hot colors. When the fish are short-biting, try a fluorescent orange or pink trout worm trailer or a piece of a nightcrawler to sweeten the deal. Pink or Orange trout worms fished on a size 8 owner mosquito hook with a size 7 split shot 18" above the hook.

Two first-time female anglers Ashleigh & Abbie caught and released fish in the 4+lb range on Monday fishing with some of the resort crew using the pink powerworm method.

Lures tossers are having mixed luck using Thomas Bouyants, Roostertails, Kastmasters and Panther Martins both from shore or from boats. Reports I'm getting is that the fishing is either great on lures or slow on lures - probably due to the fish being schooled up pretty tight.

Bait anglers are doing very well on Rainbow Garlic Powerbait as well as Chartruese Powebait both from shore and on the lake. Nightcrawlers under a bobber are also producing around the Rock Slide and over by the dam.

Not a lot of folks trolling out there just yet but the bite certainly did pick up for the few that were out there. Various colors of Tazmanian Devils and Thomas Bouyants trolled in the top 10ft of the water column produced a lot of fish for a few lucky anglers on the troll.

The water level at South Lake has dropped a bit following last week's freeze and whether or not its going to get much higher is still something we're waiting to see - however, most small boats in the 12 - 14ft range can use the launch ramp if they are VERY careful. There are concrete blocks at the end of the ramp and we've seen more than one private boater damage their axle launching in these conditions. Boaters are reminded that parking at the lake is at a premium and trailers must be disconnected and put in the trailer parking or they can be cited.