Fishing European-Style At Shadow Cliffs Lake   By: Dan Bacher November 17, 2007 More Articles by Dan

Most anglers who fish at Shadow Cliffs Reservoir in Pleasanton concentrate on the rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass and sunfish that dwell in this quarry pit transformed into a recreation area. In contrast, Mick Clarke of Martinez, who immigrated six years ago from Hastings, England, avidly focuses on the lake’s carp.

“My object is to catch the biggest carp in the lake,” he said. “I’ve only been fishing here for several weeks, but I hope to break the 30 pound mark.”

Clarke was sitting in his chair on the shore of the lake’s shady Panhandle, intently watching his two specialized 12 foot Century graphite fast taper carp rods built for long casts. The rods were outfitted with Shimano Bait Runner reels filled with 15 lb. test Berkley Big Game line to hand the big carp.

He contrasted carp fishing to more “active” types of fishing such as black bass fishing. “Carp fishing is like a game of chess,” he stated. “Carp fishing is the thinking man’s type of angling.”

The rods were perched in what the Europeans, call a “rod pod,” a full adjustable rod brace on a tripod that you can to set two to four rods in any position your desire without having to dig rod holder stakes into the bank. Also attached to the rods was an electronic bite indicator that started beeping any time a fish grabbed one of his dough baits.

The angler has fished for carp almost exclusively since he was 14 years old. His biggest carp was a 29 pounder that he caught at a lake in England, while he caught his largest fish to date in Shadow Cliffs, a 22-1/2 pounder, the day before our trip.

He catches and releases all of his carp. “I’d never dream of killing one of these great fish. A fish over 10 pounds has lived too long to be killed.”

While targeting the often-wary carp, this savvy angler experiences plenty of action on the lake’s abundant catfish. “I try to avoid the catfish – I consider them a nuisance – but I landed five in the 4 to 5 pound range today and released them,” said Clarke.

He makes his own dough bait to entice his quarry. He wouldn’t disclose the content other than it was a "high protein, high quality food” - Carp anglers are very secretive about their concoctions. What surprised me was how hard the bait was. The bait is hardened to make it difficult for the fish take it off.

“When the fish take off with the line on a run, it is quite spectacular," said Clarke. "You really know when you get a big carp on."

Clarke brought a custom-fitted wheelbarrow down to the lake to stuff in his fishing rods, rod pod, tackle boxes, chair and other gear, setting up a virtual “carp camp.” "I got tired of carrying my stuff everywhere, so I outfitted this wheelbarrow to carry all my equipment,” he stated.

"The thing that excites me about carp fishing is the challenge," he said. "You plan your trip for days on end. A lot of work to goes into picking where you'll fish on the lake and setting up your equipment. However, once you have your rods in the water, it becomes a waiting game.”

Throughout the day, he caught one 12-3/4 pound carp, the smallest one he has caught to date at Shadow Cliffs, and a surprise 9 lb. 5 oz. goldfish, in addition to the five hefty channel cats he caught. I was very intrigued with the finesse methods he used and his angling philosophy.

"In California, with lakes such Shadow Cliffs, you don't realize the great resource you got,” he reflected. “You have the perfect climate. You can fish year round. Given sensible water management and a change in rules to allow chumming in fresh water and two rods in the Delta, California could become a destination fishery for European carp anglers."

As Clarke pursued his quest for a carp over 30 pounds, other anglers fishing in the Panhandle area caught a mixture of catfish and rainbow trout.

The trout fishing was slow, since it was the day after a weather front had passed through, always a tough time to catch trout and salmon. Andrew Malaca of Livermore bagged a 2-1/2 pound rainbow on Power Bait, while Frank Rosario also nailed a 5 pound trout while using worms.

Although Mick Clarke caught the most catfish, Wally Aguilar was not far behind. The Santa Clara angler landed three hefty catfish to 6-1/2 pounds while soaking worms on sliding sinker rigs.

“Catfish Mike” Kirvan also caught a 4 lb. catfish on a nightcrawler. Three years ago, Kirvan bagged one of the largest fish ever taken on the lake, a 32-1/2 lb. catfish measuring 37-1/2 inches long, although it didn’t match the lake catfish record of 39 pounds set in 1986.

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and DFG team up to plant the lake with rainbow trout during the fall, winter and spring until water temperatures become too warm for trout planting. The district planted a total of 21,500 pounds of rainbows from Mt. Lassen Fish Farm, while the DFG stocked 11,000 pounds last year. They expect to plant a similar number this season, according to Pete Alexander, EBRPD fisheries program director.

The Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area features great fishing access, with four piers surrounding the reservoir. The wooden piers are being replaced with more modern metal piers. Two of the refurbished piers just opened to fishing on October 26.

Shore fishermen nail the trout while using a variety of Power Bait, Berkley Gulp, Crave Bait, salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, Kastmasters and flies. Trollers do well using nightcrawlers behind dodgers or an array of minnow imitation lures.

During the summer, the park district plants channel catfish. The district stocked a total of 4,750 pounds of channel catfish last year. Catfish enthusiasts toss out chicken liver, mackerel, nightcrawlers and an array of dough and stink baits to entice the hefty channels.

Bass fishing can be good in the main lake at times, but most largemouth enthusiasts prefer to fish in the ponds in the back of the lake in Arroyo Del Valle, a tributary of Alameda Creek. A variety of spinnerbaits, plastic worms, Senkos and crankbaits will work for the largemouths.

When other lakes in northern California muddy up and become unfishable, Shadow Cliffs is one of the few reservoirs that remains clear, since there is no inlet. The lake level also remains relatively level and is not subject to the big draw downs that plague many northern California lakes, since the lake receives its water from a local quarry and a siphon on Arroyo Del Valle.

The 80-acre lake is located in a 249 acre park with ample parking and lots of picnic tables. Anglers can launch boats up to 20 feet long, but only electric motors are allowed.

Whether you fish for carp like Mick Clarke does or you pursue rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass and sunfish like most anglers do, Shadow Cliffs is a superb place to fish. It’s clear, quiet waters and the shade of the surrounding cliffs make it a unique northern California destination, located within a short distance of millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area.          

Shadow Cliffs Lake Facts

History and location: Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation is located only a mile from downtown Pleasanton on Stanley Boulevard. Formerly a gravel quarry, Shadow Cliffs was donated to the park district by Kaiser Industries, and its assessed value of $250,000 was used to obtain a matching grant for development of the park from the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. With this start, the Park District has developed a 266-acre park including an 80-acre lake and a four-flume waterslide, with ample parking and picnic grounds. Besides the main lake, Shadow Cliffs has an arroyo with a chain of smaller lakes and ponds. No swimming or boating is allowed here; the shady areas and quiet waters make for a peaceful retreat on hot summer days.

Swimming: The swimming beach has a bathhouse and refreshment stand, open on weekends in spring and fall, and daily during summer months. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, but swimming is allowed throughout the year in the designated area, at the swimmer's own risk.

Fishing: A Park District Daily Fishing Access Permit of $4.00 is required to fish in the lake.

Boating: Visitors may launch their own boats; size limit is 17 feet and only electric motors are allowed. No jet skis or gas engines are permitted. Boat rentals are also available.

Picnicking: Reservable picnic areas are available. For reservations or information, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at Shadow Cliffs except at reservable group picnic areas by advance permit. For information call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1.

Park Accessibility: There are wheelchair accessible parking, trails, picnic tables and restrooms in the park. Beach wheelchairs, intended to provide a means for wheelchair-bound individuals to travel across the beach, are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fishing information: Shadow Cliffs main desk kiosk, (925) 846-3000, Walton’s Pond, San Leandro, (510) 352-3932

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