East Bay Lakes Roundup
Target Bass, Catfish and Panfish With Summer Conditions
ALAMEDA COUNTY – Alameda County – It’s that time of year when summer activities tend to take over our daily lives, sometimes keeping us off the water. It’s no surprise that reports get light, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some great action to be had. You just have to fit it in. As with the last several reports, summer conditions have set in, and you need to focus on the fish that are most active at this time of year.
The East Bay Regional Parks District has planted catfish on all their five fishing lakes and plants will continue every other week until at least the end of August. There were no catfish plants this week, but these fish do not get fished out as quickly as the trout and action should be good.
Cats can be taken most times of the day. Mornings and evenings can be more productive than midday, especially if it gets hot, but even if you get on the water a little late, you can still expect some decent action.
Bluegill, and crappie can be taken even in the middle of the day, though am-pm is generally best for crappie.
Largemouth can be taken most times of the day, but by midday, they are generally hunkered down in the shade, or tight against the weeds or will move into slightly deeper water if it gets especially warm. Smallmouth do tend to follow the same pattern, but because they hold a bit deeper, the bite window can be good during more of the morning and evening.
Stripers are hit and miss but tend to feed early or late in the day. Carp can be taken most of the day.
If you’re looking for some great activities, outside of fishing, please check out the EBRPD Home Page at: https://www.ebparks.org/. If you’re looking for contributing some of your time to the park community, consider a volunteer position with many of the park’s programs.
In addition to the variety of activities offered, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife offers free fishing days, days when no licenses are required on Saturday August 30.
Contra Loma continues to produce some nice bass. The fish are spread throughout the lake, but some decent start points include the rocks, the docks and Quail Cove. The shallow water tends to heat up fast, and after about 10 AM. you will need to fish tight against the weeds or out a bit deeper, near the submerged structure.
Look for downed trees, or shrubs that are just sticking out above the surface and cast tight up against those. Plastics, fished with a weedless rig and bottom bounced with a slow retrieve should work. Try natural colors, black or dark green. Surface baits are generally the most productive early or late in the day.
This lake can be very good for blue gill and crappie, and they can be targeted with jigs, small Mepps spinners and worms under a bobber. Catfish action should be good. There is a caution advisory posted for algae.
Construction Notice - Intermittent Closures. Construction is starting for the Uplands Facilities Improvements Project and North Dock Repair. Impacted areas include: West Shore Picnic Areas, East Shore Parking Area, and intermittent trail closures on the West Shore Trail near Channel Point and the north fishing dock. The swim lagoon remains closed. Some algae reported. There is a caution advisory for algae.
Lake del Valle largemouth bass action remains good for anglers walking the shoreline and boat anglers fishing the tulles and other structure. Big surface baits, shallow diving crank baits, will generally produce early or late in the day. After that, shift to weedless plastics, bounced slowly along the weed edges, or in the slightly deeper water off the points. If you can find the drop offs, try using a slightly larger jig head to get you down on the bottom.
Hot spots include the downed trees and weeds on each side of the West Swim Beach, The East Shore Trail accessed from the Eagles View camp area and the shoreline from the marina to the north side of Swallow Bay, you’re going to put in some miles, but this shoreline can be very productive. Access to Heron Bay and points north is best from the parking area near the dam and anglers trolling along the southern shore of Swallow Cove (the shoreline on the opposite side of the Cove from Swallow Rock) have had some success.
The wall across from the narrows is another good smallmouth spot. If you fish from a boat, try casting shallow diver crank baits against the shoreline and bring them slowly all the way to the boat. Switch to a deeper diving bait if you’re targeting the steep walls or drop offs. Waacky rigged plastics, fished from the shallows out can also produce. Catfish action should be good. The lake level is full, with excellent water clarity. No algae cautions posted.
Lake Temescal bass action is slow. There have been some decent bluegill taken and catfish action should be good. The Park District is installing an Oxygen Saturation Technology (OST) system into the lake. There may be some limited park disruptions, but the addition of the system should be great for the water quality. The swim beach is open, with a caution advisory.
Lake Chabot bass action remains decent with fish to 3.5 pounds. Plastics and jigs were most productive. Catfish action should take off following the most recent plant. Sunfish action is good! If you’re searching for bass, try throwing plastics and crank baits along the West Shore Trail, or along the East Shore Trail out to Racoon Point, Possum Cove or by boat fishing the shallows near the Warm Water Landing. Catfish action should be good for anglers fishing the shoreline across from the marina. There is a danger advisory posted for algae and algae may be present on much of the shoreline.
Shadow Cliffs catfish action should be good. Try fishing sardine wraps, anchovies and chicken livers with scent applied from the point closest to the boat launch, or the dock on the far side of the tube. The early morning and late evening are generally most productive. Blue gill action has been good, and they are starting to reach some decent size. Try a mix of lures including small spinners, jigs and worms under a bobber. Fishing from the docks is generally most productive. There is a caution advisory posted for algae.
Quarry Lakes Park including Horseshoe Lake, Grau and Shinn Ponds – Horseshoe bass action remains fair on shad imitations and plastics. Most fish reported have been dinks, but there have been several taken in the 2- 3.5-pound range. Catfish action should get good following the most recent plant.
There is a danger advisory due to algae at Niles Swim Beach. Bass action at Rainbow, Shinn and Grau has been fair for fish in the 1-1.5-pound range. The swim beach is closed due to algae. Lago Los Osos bass action has been good for fish between 1-2.5 pounds. There is a danger advisory for algae posted at Los Osos.
If you’re interested in helping guide the future of the East Bay Regional Parks, consider submitting your comments on their web page at: DistrictPlan@EBParks.org. The site will be open through 31 July, and your comments are a great way to help guide the future of the parks.
Please Note: There have been some changes to the personal watercraft inspection process so please call ahead to if you are planning to launch on any of the EBRPD lakes. It’s better to be prepared than get turned away.
Please send me your pics! Or reach out to me for additional information at email: ctw1930@gmail.com, or by text at 571-481-8040.
- Chuck Wolf, EBRPD Angler’s Edge
