Largemouth bass have moved up into the shallows early, with blades shallow cranks and creature baits all working well. Afternoons have both smallies and largies deeper off main lake points and the edge of the river channel. Spoons, Texas-rigged plastics and dropo-shot plastics have all been taking fish. The catfish bite still going strong in shallow coves and fly-lined mackerel, packaged dough baits and nightcrawlers getting the job done on the whiskerfish. Crappie showed some improvement with the slightly cooler water and those fishing with mini-jigs in the narrows, and the back of Cachuma Bay have been rewarded with quality slabs. Trouting still slow, and only a handful of rainbows were caught. Down-rigged needle fish and crawlers were the top offerings. Look for plants to begin in October. Bowfishing reports have been scarce due to general lack of archers once again.
– Ken Hemer