Trout are doing very well at Los Vaqueros. We stocked 1,000 pounds from Lassen on Jan. 12, the first plant of the New Year. In addition to trout, we are still seeing striper and catfish being caught.

Los Vaqueros Road, which runs from the South Entrance gate near Livermore to the Marina, was closed for three days last week due to a mud slide. It is now open.

You can purchase your 2017 California State Fishing License at the Marina. Bring your I.D. or an old fishing license. There are no increases in prices this year.

Through Feb. 28, we are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boats are due in at 3 p.m.

The reservoir is currently storing 128,500 acre-feet of water, 80 percent of capacity. Pumping resumed on Friday and will continue through the month.

The water temperature remains 58 to 59 degrees. Water clarity is now fair.

TROUT

Fishing for trout continues to be good. They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as Peninsula Cove. The baits of choice for shore anglers are garlic-scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers and Kastmaster lures. Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs. There was a 1000 pound Lassen plant on January 12th. There will be a plant next week. Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty. Trout fishing is good, especially in the morning, with limits being caught from around the reservoir and more fish being caught overall.

With boats we are getting reports of fish being caught in Cowboy and Peninsula Coves. A 5.52 pound trout was caught in Howden Cove on a Rapala. Fish are still coming out of South Cove and from past the Rock Wall.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout. Keep in mind that largemouth need to be 12 inches to be kept. Please release any big largemouth bass you might catch. They are the future of largemouth bass fishing in the reservoir. If you catch any of undersized fish please release them gently and allow them to grow up.

STRIPERS

We are starting to see striper boils around the lake, mostly early in the morning and towards closing. Shakers are the main action with striped bass. We are still seeing many undersized fish being caught for every keeper. From shore, cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice. Just a reminder, stripers need to be 18 inches or more to be legal. Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible. They are the future of our striped bass fishery.

CATFISH

Catfish are hit or miss with fish being reported out of Cowboy and South Coves. For those wishing to target catfish, nightcrawlers and chicken liver are the best choices of bait. We encourage and appreciate the release of any monster catfish (15 lbs plus).