Vol. 958 | May 9, 2012

• Fishing Rules
• Fish Thrive in Christmas Tree Reefs
• General Activity
• Fish Planting Information
• Boat Rental Information
• General Information

Attention Anglers - EBRPD Fishing Rules

1. DO NOT LET YOUR DOG EAT RAW TROUT/SALMON as they may be infected with a parasitic disease which can be fatal to your pet. For more information call EBRPD at 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757) or (510) 635-0135.
2. EBRPD recommends all bass be released. Please do not remove tags from bass. Record the tag number, length, and weight of the fish to include in your catch report.
3. Please report your catches and turn in all retrieved tags from trout.
4. All park hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
5. Please remember to clean up any fouled line and bait containers. Wildlife can be injured or killed by fishing line!

Back to top

Fish Thrive in Christmas Tree Reefs

Our underwater camera caught some Gamefish Swimming around a submerged Christmas tree reef created by our fisheries management staff and volunteers.

General Activity

DEL VALLE (LIVERMORE)

The Marina hours are 6am to 7pm with the park hours 6am to 8pm. The water temperature is 67 degrees at the boat launch and the temperature in Swallow Bay and Heron Bay near 62. Anglers are pulling in their trout limits and bass fishing has been excellent, with an amazing number of 2 lb. plus crappie caught in the lower narrows and some large catfish being brought in. Power Bait colors in white, chartreuse, rainbow and spring green and fluorescent orange followed by Power Bait 3" Floating Trout Worms in white and chartreuse used with or without Power Bait Trout Attractant are all working well. Berkley Gulp 2.5" Trout Worms in white, chartreuse, bubble gum or fluorescent orange are popular too.  Kastmaster and Rapalas seem to dominate for anglers trolling lures this week for trout.   Spinner bait's, Senkos and crank baits have been pulling the bass off their beds.  Crappie jigs and crappie nibbles are working well for the crappie. 
TROUT
Cindy Papp of San Jose caught eight trout, the stringer weighed 12 lbs., with the largest weighing 6 lbs., 7 oz. using Power Bait gulp in the lower narrows on 4/28/12.
John Williams and Steve Jorge of Tracy caught three trout - the stringer weighed 12 lbs. - with the largest weighing 5 lbs. using Power Bait in Swallow Bay on 4/24/12.
Mel Lamos of Livermore caught five trout - the stringer weighed 11 lbs., 14 oz. - with the largest weighing 6 lbs., 6 oz. using a Power Bait egg and Power Bait worm combo in chartreuse in the lower narrows on 4/25/12.
Andrea & Andrew Smith, and Garrett & Preston Langelon of Livermore caught three trout - the stringer weighed 10 lbs., 10 oz. - the largest weighed 4 lbs., 8 oz. using Power Bait and nightcrawlers in the narrows on 4/15/12.
Dorian Tobias of Oakland caught a 1 lb. trout on green Power Bait off the west bank of the lower narrows on 4/15/12.
Donna Stroop of Union City caught three trout - the stringer weighed 5 lbs., 8 oz. -with the largest weighing 3 lbs. using Power Bait near the east beach on 4/16/12.
Eric Gierstad of Livermore caught a 6 lb. trout on nightcrawlers at the dam on 4/16/12.
Mike Rodriguez and John Smith of Modesto caught four trout - the stringer weighed 15 lbs., 3 oz. - with the largest weighing 4 lbs., 12 oz. using Power Bait near the East beach on 4/17/12.
Paul Rodriguez of San Leandro caught a 5 lb., 12 oz. trout using a red X-ray lake lure near Hetch Hetchy in the lower narrows on 4/18/12.
Ken Mindrup of Concord caught eight trout - the stringer weighed 10 lbs. - with the largest weighing 3 lbs., 14 oz. using Power Bait Micetails near the marina in the lower narrows on 4/19/12.
Alan Richter of San Jose caught two trout - the stringer weighed 6 lbs., 5 oz. -using a crank bait in Swallow bay on 4/19/12. Brian Medrano of San Jose caught nine trout - the stringer weighed 9 lbs., 7 oz., with the largest weighing 2 lbs. using lures trolled near the East beach in the lower narrows on 4/19/12.
George Fitzgerald  of San Jose and James Goss of Modesto caught two trout - the largest weighing 4 lbs. - using Rapalas in the lower narrows on 4/19/12.
Dan Martin of Pleasanton caught 10 trout - the stringer weighed 18 lbs. - with the largest weighing 8 lbs., 15 oz. using Power Bait near the marina in the lower narrows on 4/20/12.
Baxter Shaffer of Oakland caught four trout - the stringer weighed 7 lbs. - with the largest weighing 4 lbs. using X-rap Rapalas in the lower narrows on 4/19/12.
Baxter Shaffer of Oakland caught six trout- the stringer weighed 6 lbs. - with the largest weighing 4 lbs., 15 oz. using Cracklin Rap Rapalas and Lip Riperz in the lower narrows on 4/20/12.
Jerry Toth of Clayton caught a 2 lb., 9 oz. trout using a lure near the East beach on 4/21/12.
Levi Lendvay of Saratoga caught a  4 lbs., 10 oz. trout using nightcrawlers in Swallow Bay on 4/22/12.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Gary Howard of Livermore caught four smallmouth bass - the stringer weighed 7 lbs. - with the largest weighing 2 lbs., 4 oz. using a spinner bait in the lower narrows on 4/23/12.
Tim Hutchins of Livermore caught two smallmouth bass - the stringer weighed 3 lbs., 6 oz. - with the largest weighing 2 lbs., 2 oz. using worms in Heron bay on 4/15/12.
Kurt Street of Livermore caught three smallmouth bass, the largest weighed 2 lbs., using a mighty bug in Swallow bay on 4/15/12.
Don Govan of Oakland caught a smallmouth bass using worms on 4/16/12.
Alan Ritcher of San Jose caught two smallmouth bass - the largest weighed 2 lbs. – using a crank bait in Swallow Bay on 4/19/12.
Baxter Shaffer of Oakland caught three smallmouth bass - the stringer weighed 6 lbs., 4oz. - with the largest weighing 3 lbs., 9 oz. using Senkos and Fatty Craws in the lower narrows on 4/19/12.
Trystyn Clark of Livermore caught a 2 lb. smallmouth bass using Robo Worms in the lower narrows on 4/21/12.
LARGEMOUTH BASS
Kenny Khu of Livermore caught 10 largemouth bass using plastic worms in the narrows on 4/27/12.
Levi Lendvay of Saratoga caught a 4 lb., 10 oz. largemouth bass using a jig in Swallow bay on 4/22/12.
Trystyn Clark of Livermore caught a 2 lb., 7 oz. largemouth bass using Robo Worms on 4/21/12.
CRAPPIE / BLUEGILL
Don Govan of Oakland caught seven crappie - the stringer weighed 9 lbs., 13 oz. - with the largest weighing 3 lbs. using jigs in the narrows on 4/16/12.
Samuel Waagen and Ray Russle of Cupertino caught 10 crappie - the stringer weighed 13 lbs. - with the largest weighing 3 lbs., 4 oz. using jigs in the lower narrows on 4/18/12.
Marcus Mathis of Fremont caught seven crappie - the stringer weighed 8 lbs., 4oz. - with the largest weighing 3 lbs. using jigs in the lower narrows on 4/20/12.
Trystyn Clark of Livermore caught a 1 lb. bluegill using Robo Worms in the lower narrows on 4/21/12.
Trystyn Clark of Livermore caught a 1 lb. bluegill using Robo Worms in the lower narrows on 4/21/12.
CATFISH
Gary Eckles of Livermore caught a 17 lb., 6 oz. catfish using Power Bait near the marina in the lower narrows on 4/21/12.  Vanessa McGee of Manteca caught a 16 lb. catfish using shrimp in the lower narrows on 4/20/12.

HORSESHOE LAKE, QUARRY LAKES (UNION CITY/FREMONT)

Fishing has slowed down a bit at Quarry Lakes with the hot weather, but several limits and some nice-sized trout are still being caught, mostly from the Peninsula. On 4/26, Matt Agleham of Milpitas caught a 5.8-lb. trout from the Peninsula Point!  Matt was using a green worm with white eggs. Also on 4/26, Anthony Vu of Hayward caught his limit of trout!! Anthony was also fishing from the Peninsula, but he was using nightcrawlers. Junior Cosare of Newark caught his limit of trout three times in the last two weeks from the Peninsula, twice from the Peninsula Point! On 4/28 and 5/5, he was using rainbow Power Bait with garlic; and on 5/6, he was using green pumpkin Power Bait.  On 5/1, Sam Woon of Oakland caught a 4.8-lb. trout! Mr. Woon was fishing from the left of the beach and was using white Power Eggs.  On 5/2, Jesse “60’s Man” Talamantes of Fremont caught a 5-lb. and a 2-lb. trout from Fishermen’s Row!  He was using yellow Power Bait.

TEMESCAL (OAKLAND)

Fishing at Temescal has been great!   Anglers have been pulling out two or more trout each from the docks, or on the west bank.

CONTRA LOMA (Antioch)

Park Hours:  May is 6 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.  All boats must be off the lake by 6:30 p.m.

Contra Costa Water District has started filling the reservoir. It is still down about 4-5 feet below normal however.

Reminder to boaters: All watercraft (including float tubes) need to have a wearable Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (PFD) per person. Children age 12 and under must wear a personal floatation device (PFD) while the vessel is underway.

Fishing has been fair. Trout fishing has been slow; try using nightcrawlers or a variety of Power Baits/eggs/worms at the East Side or Channel Point dock. Black Bass fishing has been good anywhere around the lake using artificial baits/lures or nightcrawlers.Try fishing for catfish with nightcrawlers, shrimp or chicken liver at the west end of the lake or north-west fishing dock.Try fishing for crappie or bluegill with jigs or worms along the shore at the Boat Ramp area or Loma Island, also from a boat. 

Whoppers:
•    Dave O’Neal caught a 6.8 lb. trout trolling a spoon lure.
•    Zack Cutshaw caught an 11.12 lb. largemouth bass using a Brush Hog near the swim area.
•    Tony DeLao caught a 4.5 & 6.6 lb. largemouth bass using a jig near the bridge to Loma Island.

LAKE CHABOT (CASTRO VALLEY)

Trout fishing remains steady with a lot of fish getting caught on the shoreline, and trollers doing consistently well. Power Bait has been the bait of choice, attracting quite a lot of trout!   The rain has stopped and the weather has been spectacular, with the water continuing to clear up. Wind may be a problem in the late afternoon. Overall, it should be a decent week for fishing. Water level is about 2 feet from spillway and remains steady. When you bring in your big fish we will take your picture and give you a “Lake Chabot Whopper Club” button. If you catch a whopper over eight pounds,  you will receive one of our new Lake Chabot Whopper Mugs as well. If you have any questions please call or visit the marina.      
Our annual fishing derby is on !  This year all proceeds will go to Castro Valley Relay for Life. The Derby will go until May 15th.  Many big trout have been planted for the derby, so come on out and try your luck!   You can sign up at any time at the Marina for a one-time fee of $5. Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 biggest fish. For every pound of fish you catch, you will receive a raffle ticket. Raffle winners will be picked at the end of the derby. So far, first place is at 9.08 lbs, so hurry up and get on out, as there are plenty more fish waiting to be caught!

1st place – Shawn Lival 9.08 lbs
2nd place – Louis Vasquez 8.77 lbs
3rd place – Curtis Hoang 8.54 lbs

TROUT
The weather has been warm and sunny, which is great for all our trout derby participants! The derby is a great opportunity for you to catch a lot of fish and win some great prizes, along with the satisfaction of knowing you donated to Relay For Life. Donations are also accepted for this great cause. So far fishing has been very good. Last week we had one whopper caught and currently in second place for the derby by Louis Vasquez. The clearest part of the lake will be over by The Dam and Half Moon Bay area.  Raccoon Point has cleared up and has been producing a considerable number of trout. Trolling has picked up, especially towards Half Moon Bay and The Dam. The best bait to use is a jointed Rapala (J-7) Firetiger Rainbow Trout pattern and pink Mira Shad. Drift fishing is another good way to pull out trout, out in front of the island and Half Moon Bay using Power Bait / Power Eggs or nightcrawlers. When trolling for trout, be aware of the anglers fishing on the shoreline.  The current hot spot to fish right now is The Burner all the way to the dam, using chartreuse or white Power Bait or Power Eggs with at least an 18 inch leader line. Fishing has also picked up on the east shore trail from Indian Cove to Raccoon Point and towards Half Moon Bay and the Dam. There have been reports of fish starting to be caught in the deeper parts of the lake such as the Dam.

BASS
Bass fishing has been steadily increasing.  If you will be fishing for bass, they are hitting mostly in the early mornings and evenings mostly on plastics and swimbaits. Most of the anglers are throwing Senkos, drop shots, and Brush Hogs to get the fish to come out from their deep off shoreline structure. Livewells can be provided upon request thanks to Walton’s Pond. Please practice catch & release for bass, as they are not stocked into the lake and their population depends on you.

CATFISH
Catfishing  action is picking up as the weather warms.  Try Honker Bay with nightcrawlers or anchovies for catfish to 12 pounds!

WHOPPERS
•    Louis Vasquez of San Leandro caught a 8.77 lb. trout at an undisclosed location.

SPECIALS
HALF OFF ALL BOAT RENTALS
Including Patio Boats!   Tuesday — Thursday.

HOURS OF OPERATION 
Monday — Sunday:   Boat rentals are from 6:00am – 5:00pm. Monday – Thursday. Boats are due in by 6:00pm. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday boat rentals start at 6:00am – 6:00pm and boats are due back in 7:00pm.
 
Hours subject to change based on weather conditions and light levels.
We encourage all anglers to report their stories, comments, or concerns to the Marina. Or, email swong@calparksco.com. Thanks again for choosing Lake Chabot as your recreation destination.
On behalf of Lake Chabot Fishing Outfitters... Boat safely, and happy fishing!

SHADOW CLIFFS (PLEASANTON)

Summer Gate Hours are: 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
On 4/21, Cody of Livermore caught two 5 lb. trout on worms and marshmallows at the shoreline past the first dock. On 4/24, Joshua of Palo Alto caught and released a 5 lb. bass using a spinner. On 4/24, James and friends caught and released their limits of bass in the Arroyo ponds. On 4/29, J. Fisher of Pleasanton caught three trout each weighing 5 lbs+ using Power Eggs and Worms from the Stanley dock. On 4/29, Mike Smith of Union city caught five trout (5-8 lbs.) off the third dock using green Power Bait. On 5/6, Mathew Puls of Livermore caught his limit of trout off the Stanley dock, and Howard Frey of Tracy caught and released eight bass while tubing in Island pond.

DON CASTRO (HAYWARD)

No report received.

ECKLEY PIER

No report received.

ANTIOCH-OAKLEY PIER

The fishing is picking up. Anglers have been catching striped and largemouth bass.

PT. PINOLE PIER (RICHMOND)

The fishing has started to pick up slowly but surely. There has been a total of eight striped bass caught off the pier.

Striped bass sizes:
•    20”
•    25” x2
•    26”
•    28”
•    30”
•    33”

The weather has been mostly sunny in the mid-70s with low winds ranging from 5-10 mph. Fresh caught smelt tend to work the best for bait.

FERRY PT. (MILLER KNOX)

Anglers have been fishing for striped bass, but no reported catches.  Crabbing has been good, with red rock crabs being taken.

Back to top

Fish Planting Information

Note:

1. The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) plants rainbow trout and channel catfish that average 1 pound each.
2. The California Department of Fish & Game (DFG) plants trout averaging over ½ pound each.
3. Plants are subject to change due to weather conditions.

REMINDER: Netting and snagging fish is PROHIBITED at any East Bay Regional Park. No fishing is allowed around the area where a fish plant occurs.

General Information

Back to top