Los Vaqueros
(Byron) Rainbow trout and striped bass offer the most consistent fishing at Los Vaqueros Reservoir, but it was a big catfish that took big fish honors over the past couple of weeks.
Sok Chea from San Ramon landed a trophy 15.45 lb. channel cat while soaking an anchovy in Cowboy Cove. “For those wishing to target catfish, an anchovy is usually the best choice of bait with chicken liver being your second best bet,” said Brian Demmunik of the Los Vaqueros Marina.
Big rainbow honors go to David Maruyama from Los Altos, who landed a 7 lb. beauty. Kris Newell topped the bass catches by catching and releasing a 4.70 lb. largemouth on a semi rainy day, November 24.
“Fishing for trout continues to be good with all the trout plants and cooler water temperatures,” said Demunnik. “They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as all around the lake. The baits of choice are garlic scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters.”
“Mt. Lassen planted 2000 pounds on Thursday, November 19 and another 1000s pound on Monday, November 23,” he noted. “We will be planting again next week. With the plants, trout fishing has gotten better with more limits being caught from all around the reservoir.”
Trollers are doing best using Rapalas in firetirger and rainbow trout patterns in teh coves.
Shakers – undersized fish – continue to dominate the striped bass scene with anglers having to work for every keeper over 18 inches that they land. Shore and pier fishing is best with cut anchovies or shad.
The water level is currently at 88,100 acre feet and the water temperature has dropped to 63 degrees. The water clarity remains good.
“With the recent rains, the shoreline is slippery – please be careful and watch your footing,” he advised.
Chabot
(Castro Valley) Trout action is starting to pick up at Lake Chabot with the arrival of cold weather and regular rainbow plants
So far this fall, the East Bay Regional Parks District has planted 5200 pounds. of trout into Lake Chabot. They planted 1200 pounds the week of November 23 and another 1000 pounds the week of November 30.
Andrew Falk of Hayward caught his limit while fishing with nightcrawlers near Indian Cove, reported Stan Fong of Lake Chabot Outfitters. Anglers trolling deeper are having higher success coming back from Bass Cove going towards the Dam.
“Bass fishing has been steady for the last several weeks with some bass anglers catching and releasing good numbers,” Fong said. “Reports of bass from 1 lb. to 4 lb. are coming in daily. For the top action, fish in the early mornings and evenings with plastics, jigs, hula grubs and top water lures. A couple of good spots to fish for bass are near the island or in Bass Cove.”
Catfishing has picked up a little bit, with Sean O’ Malley of San Leandro hooking a 10 lb. channel cat while using hotdogs near the Marina.
Shadow Cliffs
(Pleasanton) It’s a two-for-one special of rainbow trout and channel catfish for anglers venturing out on Shadow Cliffs Lake.
Just ask Wayne Campiotti of Livermore, who landed a total of 13 lbs of catfish and a 4 lb. trout on blue Power Bait while fishing off the Stanley Shoreline.
Big trout honors go to Jonny Ferreira of Livermore, who landed a 9.2 lb. rainbow while tossing out a rainbow colored Kasmaster, according to Joe Sullivan of the East Bay Regional Parks District. Larry Yee of San Jose also caught a 5 lb. trout trolling from his boat.
Big catfish honors go to Greg of Byron, who caught a 12 lb. catfish while soaking chicken livers by the marina.
The district stocked 100 pounds of rainbows the week of November 23.
Remember that the regulations for the Arroyo Ponds are different than for the main lake, including catch and release and barbless hooks and artificial lures only (no live bait). Float Tubes are the ONLY vessel permitted (No paddles are allowed.)
Del Valle
(Livermore) Want to catch big stripers? Then soak anchovies or sardines off drop offs and sandy beaches at Lake Del Valle, advised Danny Hollis of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.
“Two monster stripers were caught on anchovies last week and I’m expecting to see more in the coming days,” said Hollis. “Gary Howard of Livermore caught two striped bass weighing 12 and 19 pounds while fishing anchovies in a cove.”
Catfish can still be caught on bait in the same areas where the stripers are holding. Witness the case of Nate Rubin of San Ramon, who fooled an 8 lb catfish with liver in the Narrows. Ricky Garcia and family caught a mixed bag of cats and stripers on chicken livers.
“The water temperature has dropped to 54 degrees on the surface around the marina area,’ said Hollis. “Nightcrawlers, and lures are working but the bite still hasn’t blasted off yet.”
Callum Ross of Pleasanton topped the trout catches with 6.8 lb trout fooled with orange PowerBait from the west bank. James Goss of Modesto also landed a 6 lb. rainbow while using a J-5 Rapala in the Narrows.
“Large and smallmouth bass are becoming harder to catch as the temperature drops, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch them. Try drop shotting a Robo Worm or a rubber crawdad,” Hollis tipped.
The park district stocked 1200 pounds in Del Valle on November 23 and another 1000 pounds the week of November 30.
Quarry Lakes
(Fremont) Trout fishing should be picking up in Horseshoe Lake, due to the fresh water coming in, the arrival of colder weather and frequent trout plants. The last trout plant of 1000 pounds went in the week of November 30.
On one lucky day, Bill Sawasaki of Hayward caught a trout limit in 30 minutes. “He was using green/ chartreuse power worms and eggs on the Peninsula,” said Joe Sullivan of the East Bay Regional Park District.
Peter Simpson of Fremont caught a five pound rainbow on Mice Tails near the deer fence. Jack Antrim of Hayward has landed his limit at least twice in the last two weeks while trolling from his boat with Rainbow Runners. Frank Yanagihara of Union City caught a limit of quality trout from his kayak on Power Bait.
And in spite of the colder weather, anglers are still catching hard-fighting channel catfish. Sam Spinks of San Lorenzo bagged a 5.11 lb. and 8.7 lb. catfish while fishing mackerel from Fishermen’s Row.
Please remember that you must be 100 feet away from the fish tube, the boat dock and beach area while fishing from both shore and boat. Also, note that the use of lead fishing tackle is prohibited at Quarry Lakes.
Currently the boat ramp and fishing pier are both open and the water is on the rise.