Fishing Report for Lake Del Valle

(Week of: 6/26/2021 – 7/02/2021)

Staff: Shirley Stambaugh

Fishing at Lake Del Valle has been rather good this week for Catfish and Striper.

Weather: weather at the lake has been warm ranging in the 80’s. The water temperature is at 80 degrees.

Clarity of water: The water is clear around the Marina and the farther you go to the Dam the better the water clarity will get.

Hot spots: The hot spot has been at Shallow Bay, the Dam, and at the West Side Dock.

WHAT BAIT TO USE!!

Stripers- Anchovies and Sardines.

Catfish- Chicken Liver, Anchovies, Sardines and Night Crawlers. Catfish tend to not be interested in any lures.

Trout- Power bait, Worms, have been working well. Trout also love lures such as Panther Martins, Kastmaster, Roster Tails, and all types of small Spinners. But as of right now trout are slowing down a lot due to the warm water.

Largemouth/ Smallmouth- Plastic Worms have been a good choice, another good choice is Jigs or Drop Shots.

Crappie/Panfish- Night Crawlers, Redworms, and little Micro Jigs have been working good as well.

FISH PLANTS!!!!!!!

No Fish plants to report this week.

Do not forget to fish Lake Del Valle anyone 16 or older must have a Del Valle Fishing Permit, and a California Fishing License. The Fishing Permit is $5.00 per person 16 or older. You can purchase them at the Main Kiosk or at the Bait Store located at the Marina. For the Fishing License you can purchase them at the Bait Store. It is $17.02 for the day. And if you are a California residence for the year it would be $52.66. Here is a report from our own dear fisherman Dr. Al:

Paul Clouse of Lafayette and Al Hurwitz of Saratoga trolled Lake Del Valle long and hard on July 1, 2021, looking for Smallmouth Bass. We always try to catch fish with artificial lures and were trolling Jointed Rapalas and Panther Martin Spinners 15-20 feet below the surface (where the fish were located). We liberally applied scent to the lures. The fish were in 20–40-foot water columns. We caught two small Smallmouths and lost a large fish following a very big strike (in Swallow Bay). The fish are definitely seen on the sonar, particularly along the western shore of the lake opposite Heron and Swallow Bays. However, they have been reluctant to strike our presentations. Smallies are particularly fond of feathered lures and are usually easily attracted to Panther Martin Feathered Spinners. Nonetheless, it has been a slow start for us this season catching them on the troll. The lake is now at maximum height, is clear throughout, and has an evenly distributed surface temperature of 74 degrees (all conditions ideal for trolling). Eventually, the Smallies will start to turn on. For now, keep trying to catch them on artificial (by trolling and casting lures, drop shotting, split shotting, and fly fishing with large flies). With the present lake conditions, I am quite sure that the Smallmouth Bass fishing will become highly successful.

All the best, Dr. Al Hurwitz