Los Vaqueros
(Byron) Fall is ending with solid trout, catfish and striped bass fishing at Los Vaqueros Reservoir.
“With recent plants, trout fishing has improved with more limits being caught from all around the reservoir.” reported Brian Demmunik of the Los Vaqueros Marina. “They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as all around the lake. Mt. Lassen stocked 2000 pounds of trout on December 7,.“We will be planting again the week of December 14.
Shore anglers are doing best with garlic scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters. Out of South Cove and from around Oak Point. Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs Trolling are employing Rapalas and other lures in the coves.
“Shakers are still the main action with striped bass,” said Demmunik. “We are still seeing many undersized fish being caught for every keeper. From shore, cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice.”
Stripers need to be 18 inches or more to be legal. Please continue releasing the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible,” he tippe.d
Catfish continue to be caught here and there but with the cooler water they are becoming more difficult to catch. For those wishing to target catfish, anchovy and chicken liver are the best choices of bait.
“Most anglers are focused on stripers or trout, although there have been many sightings near the boat dock and adjacent fishing pier. Senkos have been seen catching some nice fish in that area,” he stated.
The water level is currently at 86,600 acre feet. The water temperature has dropped to 59-60 degrees.
Shadow Cliffs
(Pleasanton) Anglers fishing bait on Shadow Cliffs are nailing both rainbow trout and channel catfish, in spite of the recent cold snap.
The park district stocked 1000 pounds of rainbows the week of December 7. The district stocked 500 pounds and the CDFW planted 500 pounds the week of December 14.
Nico Teklieis, age 9, and Joe Hannon, age 10, of Concord and Antioch caught two trout fishing on the Stanley dock while using green Power Bait. Jack and son caught limits early in the morning fishing off the Stanley shoreline with PowerBait, reported Joe Sullivan of the East Bay Regional Park District. Frank Yargihara reeled in his limit of trout while on his kayak in the middle of the lake.
Moses of Fremont was fishing early in the morning when he caught a 25 inch catfish on chicken livers off the Stanley shoreline. George of Livermore landed three catfish totaling 20 lbs. while fishing to the right of the marina.
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) “I am sad to announce that this will be one of my last reports for this beautiful lake,” reported Captain Danny Hollis of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company. “My time here is coming to an end at Del Valle as I am preparing to start a new chapter in my life.”
“Thank you to everyone that has supported me through out the years, all the tips and fishing’ trips from our locals and regular customers. It has been an honor to share information and knowledge with this wonderful outdoors community,” he noted.
Water temperatures are at 53 degrees this week. Trout are being caught from the south end to the Dam on PowerBait, crawlers, Rapalas, and Kastmasters. Striped bass are also hitting Rat-L-Traps, jerkbaits, jigs, and bait.
“Catfish are being caught, including some big ones in the 20 pound class. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are being elusive, but can still be caught drop shotting or working a crawdaddy jig,” he tipped.
Al Hurwitz of Saratoga and Abbey Lev of Sunnyvale trolled the lake until severe wind and rain shut them down.
“We caught and released two smallmouth bass up to 2 pounds while trolling along the western shore opposite Swallow Bay. The biggest fish struck very hard on a small Rapala about 7-10 feet below the surface,” said Hurwitz.
Big fish honors go to Ella of San Jose, who caught a 4.5 lb rainbow across from the marina, and Nate Doss of Tracy, who caught a 5 lb trout on a silver Kastmaster in the Narrows
Tim Wood of Livermore fooled 2 stripers in the Narrows. Rick Rubio of Fremont fooled 2 trout with PowerBait from East Beach.
Quarry Lakes
(Fremont Trout fishing has held steady with people catching limits each day and the water has maintained a good level, reported Joe Sullivan of the East Bay Regional Park District.
Horseshoe Lake received 800 pounds of rainbows from the park and 700 pounds from the CDFW the week of December 7. The park district stocked another 800 pounds the week of December 14.
Tom Sanford of Redwood City landed a limit of rainbows to 3 lbs. on the right side of the beach while using flies and Power Bait.
Mike Biernacki of Hayward caught a 7 lb. 11 oz. trout in Kiosk Cove on Power Bait. Lauryn, Kalyn and Matt Agleham of Milpitas pulled in a good-looking stringer of trout on the Peninsula. On his next trip, Matt caught a limit with the largest at 9 lbs.
Currently the boat ramp and fishing pier are both open and the water is on the rise.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST BE 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE FISH TUBE, THE BOAT DOCK AND THE BEACH AREA while fishing from the shore and from a boat. Also, note that the use of lead fishing tackle is prohibited at Quarry Lakes.