The Fish Sniffer

San Pablo

(San Pablo) The water temperature at San Pablo Reservoir has cooled down to around 68 degrees and trout are being planted weekly. “Our last plant of 1,000 lbs. of rainbow trout was on Monday September 24,” disclosed Audie Banagan at San Pablo Reservoir.

“Trout are biting again and are being caught from the shoreline near the Main Recreation Area and trolling near the Dam,” she stated. “Bait anglers should use PowerBait in chartreuse and spring green and trollers should employ broken-back Fire-Tiger Rapalas at 20 to 25 feet deep."

Jose Collazos of Walnut Creek landed 3 rainbows weighing a total of 6 lbs. while using lures in the Pines Area. Dave Hanis of San Pablo caught 4 trout while fishing with Spring Green PowerBait along the shoreline near the Main Recreation Area.

Anglers brought in some huge channel catfish while using squid and shrimp lately. Tommy Saechao of Oakland caught a monster 22 lb. catfish while soaking shrimp at the Boat Launch Area. Daniel Lopez of Richmond fooled a huge 19.5 lb. catfish while using squid out in the Pines Area.

Bass are hitting spinners and swim baits, while crappie and bluegill are showing near the Boat Launch Area for anglers using Jigs and redworms. 

Brian S. of Oakland caught a catfish and 9 bluegill on nightcrawlers and redworms. John Chamberlin of San Francisco bagged a 2 lb. crappie while using a crawdad lure in Scow Canyon.

Los Vaqueros  

(Byron) The big news is the reopening of Los Vaqueros Marina and the boat rentals on Monday, October 15.  

Chris Senti of Los Vaqueros Reservoir said additional shoreline will also  be opened to fish starting that day. He recommends calling (925) 371-2628 for exact up to date information.

The water level is currently at the 100,000-acre feet level. The water temperature is 67 to 68 degrees on the surface and 66 degrees at 30 feet.

“Our water is in great shape, but can still be impacted short term by water temperatures, wind and air temperatures,” noted Senti. “Anglers are catching trout, a few striped bass and some catfish every day. As anglers spread into newly opened areas we anticipate some exciting catches.”

Expect improving trout action with cooler weather and big trout plants. “With cooling water temperatures we were able to plant 1000 lbs of trout on Tuesday September 18 and again on September 25,” said Senti. 

“A load of 2400 lbs. will go in around the October 15. The recently planted fish averaged around 2 lbs. with fish up to 6 lbs.,” he stated.

Senti rated overall trout fishing as “fair to good.” The South Cove continues to be your best bet for trout, but anglers are catching trout all along the open shoreline. 

“The best way to catch trout this time of year is with nightcrawlers or PowerBait,” he tipped. “Conditions require you to make pretty long casts.”  

Anglers also do well throwing Kastmasters, Blue Fox lures and a variety of other trout lures. “We see lots of big fish caught by anglers working lures,” he disclosed. 

Fishing for catfish has improved and is rated “fair to good” for anglers putting in the time, according to Senti.  

“We planted 1000 lbs. of catfish on September 12. These fish averaged around 2 lbs. Anglers are catching them on mackerel, anchovies, nightcrawlers and liver,” he said. 

Fishing for stripers continues to be fair. Stripers from 18 inches to 24 inches are caught by anglers putting in the time. Anchovies, sardines or shad are the top baits.    

Black bass and king salmon reports have been scarce, but action for them should improve when the concessionaire starts renting boats.    

Shadow Cliffs

(Pleasanton) Fall trout plants are in full swing at Shadow Cliffs Reservoir, but channel catfish and largemouth bass continue to dominate the catches because of the continuing warm weather. 

Don Mucklon of Livermore was at the third dock when he caught three catfish on nightcrawlers. Two weighed in at 6lbs., while the biggest weighed in at 12 lbs., according to Pete Alexander of the East Bay Regional Park District. Dan of Livermore was happy to relay that he caught two 5 lb. catfish just past the swim lanes.

While bass fishing has been best for float tubers in the Arroyo in recent months, fishing in Shadow Cliffs Reservoir itself is picking up. For example, Todd Jerman of San Ramon caught his limit of bass on the Stanley dock while tossing out in-line spinners for bait. 

The park district planted 750 pounds of rainbows the week of September 24 and 500 pounds the week of October 1. The district will plant 500 pounds of trout the week of October 8.   

Del Valle

(Livermore) Smallmouth bass and striped bass are offering the best fishing at Lake Del Valle, although trout fishing is expected to pick up soon as the water temperature cools. The surface temperature was a toasty 78 degrees at press time.

Al Hurwitz and Abbey Lev reported catching and releasing 10 smallmouth bass up to 2 pounds, 12 ounces and one small striper while using Panther Martins out by Heron Bay,  according to Bob Stambaugh at the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.

On September 27, Hurwitz went back to the lake on a solo venture and landed several bass totaling 5-1/4 pounds, with the top fish going 1-3/4 pounds.

“The stripers have been on the bite, although the fishing slowed down over the past two days,” said Stambaugh. “They are hitting anchovies, and picking up Hair Razor jigs.”

Big fish honors go to Tom Krey of Brentwood, who caught a 10 lb. striper up by the Dam while using chicken liver.

Catfish are still biting hard on mackerel, anchovies, chicken livers and worms. The catfish are mostly found under cover of trees and docks, 

Kenny Khuu brought in a 24 lb. stringer of catfish taken at the Dam. Billy and Alexis Rickman of Oakland caught a 10 lb. catfish on anchovies; Baxter Shaffer of Oakland caught a 7 lb. catfish on sardines at Heron Bay; Danny Hollis of Livermore caught a 5 lb. catfish at Swallow Bay using mackerel.

A few trout have been caught, mostly by anglers jigging with nightcrawlers.  The park district stocked 750 pounds of rainbows the week of September 24 and 1000 pounds the week of October 1. They plan to plant 500 pounds øf rainbows the week of October 8.   

Quarry Lakes 

 (Fremont) Trout fishing is slow now at Horseshoe Lake, but expect trout action to pick up as the weather and water temperature cools, reported Pete Alexander.

There are plenty of rainbows swimming around in the lake. The park district stocked 750 pounds of rainbows the week of September 24 and 1250 pounds the week of October 1. The district will plant 500 pounds the week of October 8.

Anthony Vu of Hayward fooled a 5 lb. catfish with shrimp at the peninsula and 7 yr. old Prachi Kharadkar of Fremont caught a 6 lb. catfish on shrimp at fisherman’s row. Chris Sinsay bagged four trout while trolling the backside of Horseshoe.