The Fish Sniffer

Lafayette 

(Lafayette) Fishing is still pretty slow at Lafayette Reservoir. There’s no hot spot known right now; fishing is tough even on the traditionally productive south end of the lake.

“The fishermen are getting a bite here and there,” revealed Lauren Sanders at Lafayette Reservoir. “The water is still muddy from all the rain. The only fish that are being caught are trout and catfish every now and then.” 

“Your best bet for trout would be still sticking with night crawlers and PowerBait,” she added.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife planted 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout on December 28 and another 1,000 pounds on January 6. 

Los Vaqueros

(Byron) While most stripers caught at Los Vaqueros lately have been schoolie-size fish in the 18 to 24 inch range, Erik Patzer managed to catch and release a 36 lb. striper. He was working a Huddleston Deluxe swimbait, according to Chris Senti of Los Vaqueros Reservoir.

“Trolling for stripers from rental boats has slowed some but some anglers continue to catch fish,” said Senti. “Purple and silver or black and silver Rat-L-Traps are your best bets.”

Fishing for stripers from the shore continues to be slow, but there is always a chance at some keeper size fish. Anchovies, sardines or shad should do the trick.  

“There are many fish in the 16 to 17 inch range so measure very carefully. Stripers need to be 18 inches or more. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible,” Senti tipped.  

The CDFW planted 8000 half pound trout the week of December 17, while the lake management planted 1000 lbs of Lassen trout on December 20.

“Fishing for trout has been very good,” said Senti. “The trout being caught average from a half pound to 2 lbs with fish up to 6 lbs. When fishing from shore the South Cove continues to be a good choice for trout but anglers are catching trout all along the open shoreline. We have seen limits caught on both sides of the rock wall.”

The best way to catch trout this time of year is with nightcrawlers, Power Worms, orange Mice Tails or garlic PowerBait. Anglers also do well throwing Kastmasters, Blue Fox spinners and spoonsand a variety of other trout lures. Trollers are also hooking rainbows while using Rapalas and Kastmasters in Peninsula Cove or along the East shoreline.     

Fishing for catfish is rated slow. “Anchovies, liver and nightcrawlers all will catch catfish,” Senti tipped. “The water is cold, so the catfish are pretty lazy. Fish with as little weight as possible and watch for very soft bites. We did see a couple fish in the 10 lb range caught in the south cove.” 

The water level is currently at the 100,000 acre feet mark and the water temperature is 55 to 56 degrees.  “The shoreline is muddy so we suggest wearing rubber boots,” urged Senti.  

Chabot

(Castro Valley) Lake Chabot is very muddy, all the way to dam, following the recent rains.  A few trout are hitting chartreuse or rainbow Power Bait.  

John Dtro of Hayward landed a 6.5 pound rainbow trout from the first dock on a Panther Martin, according to the Lake Chabot Fishing Outfitters.

Catfish action is fair for those fishing from the Island to Honker Bay. Erik Jorgensen of San Leandro landed a 14 pound 3 oz. catfish while fishing near the island.

The East Bay Regional Park District planted 1,000 pounds of rainbows the week of December 31 and 750 pounds the week of January 7. They will stock 750 pounds the week of January 14. 

Shadow Cliffs

(Pleasanton) Fishing is still doing great at Shadow Cliffs Reservoir, with anglers catching some good-size trout. “Lots of big trout have been planted recently and the plants will continue this month,” said Pete Alexander of the East Bay Regional Park District.

Steve and Ryan B. of San Jose caught their limit of trout on Power Bait off the first dock.  “Some anglers are doing well from the Stanley shoreline, as well as the shoreline just past the first dock,” said Alexander. “The weather is beautiful, and our lake is pristine.”

The park district stocked 500 pounds of rainbows the week of December 31 while the district planted 500 pounds and CDFW planted 1,000 pounds the week of January 7. The district will stock another 500 pounds the week of January 14. 

Del Valle

(Livermore) The runoff from the storm rushing through the inlets to the lake has loaded a lot of debris in the south end of the lake. The water temperature at the dock is 46 degrees.

“Fishing the East and West Beaches is almost impossible,” reported Bob Stambaugh of the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company. “The good news is the fish are still biting up above the Narrows and Hetch Hetchy is still clear at this time. So venture towards the Dam and hit the clear and shallow areas. Trout are all over, and hitting Mice Tails, Power Bait and egg/worm combos. The catfish are still biting on anchovies, by Tarantula Cove and North of the Hetch Hetchy campground.” 

“Abbey Lev and I gave it our best shot trolling all of the lake today and only came up with a few fish (one rainbow trout and two smallmouth bass),” advised Dr. Al Hurwitz. “The surface temperature was 55 degrees, and we thought the fish would be hitting regular and jointed Rapalas in a variety of colors in the top 5-10 feet of water, but that was not the case.”

“The hits came only after switching to Panther Martins and Rooster Tails, applying trout scent to these spinners. The fish were hitting in clearer water down about 10 feet below the surface,” he concluded. 

The park district stocked 1,000 pounds of rainbows in Del Valle the week of December 31 and 750 pounds the week of January 7. They will plant 1,000 pounds the week of January 14.

Quarry Lakes 

(Fremont) “The water in Horseshoe and Rainbow Lakes is relatively clear, and trout fishing is still pretty good on Horseshoe Lake,” reported Pete Alexander. “Limits have been caught on a regular basis, especially after we received 1,750 pounds of trout last week, including 750 pounds of the much-loved Desert Springs, Oregon trout!”

Jose Carrillo of San Jose caught two trout for a total weight of 17.15 pounds. He caught one of his whoppers on rainbow Power Bait and the other on a white egg with a white worm.  

Jack Kralj of Hayward landed a 5.1-lb. trout while using green PowerBait from the Peninsula. Junior Cosare of Newark caught yet another limit of trout, again using rainbow Power Bait from the Peninsula Point. Andrew Llanos of Fremont caught a 5-lb. trout using rainbow PowerBait in the Kiosk Cove.  

Gregg Clark of Mountain View bagged a limit of beautiful trout for a total weight of 11.10 lbs. The largest fish weighed 4.5 pounds He was fishing with nightcrawlers in the Kiosk Cove.  

Rico Gonzalez of Union City and nine-year old Marcellous Isaacs together nailed five trout. They were using garlic PowerBait and a yellow egg with an orange worm to the left of the beach.

The park district stocked Horseshoe Lake with 750 pounds of trout the week of December 31 and 500 pounds the week of January 7. They will plant 500 pounds and the CDFW will plant 1000 pounds the week of January 14.