Lake Sonoma's Unique Landlocked Steelhead Trout Fishery   By: Dan Bacher November 20, 2005 More Articles by Dan

Lake Sonoma, situated at the junction of Warm Springs Creek and Dry Creek in the gorgeous wine country of Sonoma County near Healdsburg, is one of the only lakes in California where anglers still have the chance to catch wild landlocked steelhead.

During the summer and early fall, Sonoma looks like anything but a place where anglers would think or pursuing a steelhead, landlocked or otherwise. The lake is a frothy maelstrom of water skiers, personal watercraft users and other boaters. Fishing for the lake's steelhead, black bass and other species is an early and late proposition, since the lake is taken over by the hordes of noise and spray enthusiasts.

In contrast, the lake is a much quieter, more tranquil place during the fall and winter. A few water skiers and recreational boaters still hit the lake on weekends, but the lake is largely the domain of anglers.

When I visited the lake on October 23, Bruce Dyche of Santa Rosa and I saw only a half-dozen other boats plying the lake's waters in search of trout and bass. Fishing was tough, with Dyce and his two fishing partners ending up with 2 trout for the day while trolling Apex lures behind Sling Blades at 20 to 25 feet deep.

However, his previous trip yielded 12 landlocked steelhead, the majority of them released. Dyche and his brother, Charlie, caught and released the fish while trolling blue-silver Cripplures and Vance's clown Hoochies, tipped with crawlers, behind Sling Blade Dodgers. "The fish ranged from 12 to 18 inches and we lost one fish at the boat that we estimated to be around 20 inches long," said Dyche.

Lake Sonoma is unique among major California reservoirs in that it is not stocked with rainbow trout, kokanee salmon or king salmon by the Department of Fish and Game, but has a self-sustaining population of wild trout.

When the lake was filled in 1984, the steelhead in Dry Creek, a major tributary of the Russian River, became landlocked. Plants of steelhead from the Warm Springs Hatchery from 1981 to 1985 bolstered the wild trout population, but the lake hasn't been stocked with any salmonids since. The DFG fish pathologists stopped plants so that potentially diseased fish released into the lake wouldn't spread infection in the hatchery, since the lake is the hatchery's water source.

The decision to not stock Lake Sonoma has resulted in a quality, stable trout fishery. "We get comments from anglers that the fish are being over harvested and the fishing isn't as good as it used to be," said Dave Cox, associate DFG fishery biologist. "However, electro shocking surveys of the creeks and the lake indicate that the trout population is stable."

"The trout rear for one to two years in the streams before moving down to the lake," he explained. "They use the lake like a freshwater ocean and put on good growth."

Why does Sonoma have self-sustaining steelhead populations while they have apparently disappeared in other foothill lakes?

First, the lake's unique strain of trout hasn't been diluted with other strains like similar lakes have. When catchable rainbows are stocked in big numbers, the strain of fish endemic to the watershed is mixed with other strains and eventually the wild fish are overwhelmed by the introduced fish.

Second, the reservoir watershed has great habitat where the trout can continue spawning year after year successfully. "There is lots of spawning and rearing habitat in the lake's tributaries, particularly in Warm Springs Creek," said Cox.

The spring-fed streams entering the lake come out of a predominately coniferous watershed of Douglas fir and an occasional redwood, interspersed with bay trees, maples and oaks. The abundant vegetation along the steep creek walls shades the creeks, keeping the water cool.

The same steep fjord-like canyon walls that make the creeks such a good habitat for trout also make the lake a good trout habitat, creating deep, shaded channels where the water keeps cool during the summer.

Third, Lake Sonoma has a top-notch wild steelhead fishery because of the introduction of threadfin shad, which the hungry trout stuff themselves with. The fish have a growth rate similar to that of ocean steelhead, according to Cox.

Fourth, because the lake isn't stocked with the easier-to-catch hatchery trout, Sonoma doesn't draw the huge numbers of trout anglers like foothill reservoirs like Berryessa, New Melones and Don Pedro do.

Dyche has been fishing the lake since it filled in 1984 - he used to hunt for pigs at Sonoma before it filled. He decided to pursue the trout after he hooked up an 18-inch rainbow while drifting a live jumbo minnow. Dyche's biggest ever fish went 6 pounds, but fish to 13 pounds have been reported.

"I do best on steelhead during January and February, although I fish for trout all year," said Dyche, who also likes to fish Berryessa. "I like catching these fish because they fight much better than the hatchery strain fish. They are acrobatic, often leaping out of the water, and even the smaller ones put up a good battle."

Dyche catches at a variety of depths, depending upon the time of year, throughout the main body near the bridge and up the creek arms. However, trolling the creeks can be tricky, since you have to keep a constant eye on our downriggers to make sure that your lure hasn't hung up in the trees.

Unlike most other lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers left the trees in Sonoma when they built the dam. This provides good habitat for largemouth bass and other species, but it can make trolling very tough if you're not paying attention.

Scott Green of Outdoor Pro Shop in Rohnert Park would like to see a two fish limit for trout at the reservoir. "Sonoma is a quality trout fishery, not a lake where you can expect to go out and catch a bunch of fish every trip," he said. "To preserve the lake's unique wild rainbow fishery, we recommend that anglers catch and release their fish."

Although steelhead offer the lake's most unique fishery, largemouth bass, a mixture of northern and Florida-strain, undoubtedly draw the most anglers. The lake record of 15.37 pounds, taken on March 22, 1990, still stands, according to Cox. A variety of methods work here, including tossing spinnerbaits, throwing top water lures, drop shotting and split shotting with plastics.

The lake also has a sleeper population of smallmouth bass that can be found off rocky points and drop-offs near the dam. Redear sunfish are the dominant sunfish in the lake, but bluegill, green sunfish and black crappie also hold around the lake's abundant cover and structure.

Channel catfish action can also be very good, particularly after a series of fall or winter rains. The cats aren't numerous, but the ones taken at this time average 10 to 15 pounds, according to Dyche, who caught a 25 pounder several years ago. "We tie up to the trees back in the creek channels and toss out mackerel for the big catfish," he tipped.

Regardless of which fish you target, Lake Sonoma is a wonderful place for anglers to go. "It is esthetically one of the most interesting lakes I've been to," said Cox. "You can go up into the canyon beyond the other boats and it's almost like a wilderness, giving you a much different feeling than other lakes."

Lake Sonoma: Facts

Location and size: Lake Sonoma is located in the beautiful wine country of Sonoma County west of Cloverdale and Geyserville on Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River. Created by the construction of Warm Springs Dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1983, the lake provides for flood control, irrigation and recreation. When full, the lake has a surface area of more than 2,700 acres and 50 miles of shoreline.

Boat Launching: Public launching areas are located near the dam at the Public Boat Ramp and at the Yorty Creek Recreation Area near Cloverdale (car-top launch only). Launching fees apply. Yorty Creek is managed as a day use area. Boat-in campers wishing to launch and park overnight at Yorty Creek must check in with the visitor center and obtain a parking permit to avoid receiving a citation

Marina Facilities: The Lake Sonoma Marina, (707) 433-2200, offers a boat ramp, full service marina, boat slips, rentals and a store.

Camping: Liberty Glen Campground has 97 campsites for RV's and tent campers, but no electrical or water hook-ups are available. Campsite amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern holders and firewood is available for sale during summer months. Trail users have easy access to the Lake's trail system. Universally accessible campsites are available for the disabled. No water is available at Liberty Glen. Chemical vault toilets are available for your convenience.

Primitive Boat-In or Hike-In Camping: Lake Sonoma has 109 primitive campsites and two group-use campsites that are accessible by boat and/or trail only (no car access). These sites have a fire ring, picnic table and lantern holder. Restroom facilities are chemical vaults. Potable water is not available. All campers, with or without reservations, must check in at the visitor center.

Fishing Season: Lake Sonoma is open near round for fishing. Submerged trees left after the filling of Lake Sonoma provide excellent underwater habitat for a wide variety of game fish.

Boating Rules: All Coast Guard and California navigation and boat operation rules apply. Several areas on the lake are designated for water-skiing and some areas are no wake. There is a 50 mph maximum speed limit on this lake and children under 12 are required to wear a "life jacket" while underway.

For general information, contact Lake Sonoma, 3333 Skaggs Springs Rd, Geyserville, CA 95441, (707) 433-9483, Fax: (707) 431-0313, www.spn.usace.army.mil/lakesonoma. For fishing information, call Outdoor Pro Shop, Rohnert Park, (707) 588-8033.

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