Trout fishing is good at Los Vaqueros. Catfish were productive last week while stripers remain slow. Our water clarity has improved to good. Water temperature remains at 64 degrees.

We’re open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with boats due back at 6 p.m.

If you are looking to rent a boat, it is a good idea to call ahead to check current wind conditions at (925) 371-2628 or check online here for weather conditions updated hourly. We still do not have any pontoon boats available.

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 PowerBait, nightcrawlers or Kastmaster lures. Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs. There was a 2000 pound Lassen plant on April 20th. We will be planting again next week. Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty.

With boats, we are getting reports of fish being caught in Cox and Peninsula coves. Trolling for trout has picked up. Rapalas in Fire Tiger, trout and silver patterns. There is no need for line heavier than 6 lb test. Kastmasters from shore are doing well.

This week saw our current derby leader caught, a 7.59 pound trout in South Cove on a lure. South Cove also gave us a 6.52 pounder on a Kastmaster as well as 5.78 and 5.58 pound trout using a PowerBait/nightcrawler combo. A 6.95 pound fish was caught on PowerBait.

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

Striper fishing remains slow. 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 were still productive last week with fish still being reported out of Cowboy and South Coves. As the water warms we look to see more fish being caught. For those wishing to target catfish, chicken liver and anchovies are the best choices of bait.

GENERAL

Whopper Mug rules are: Trout now must be 8 pounds to receive a mug, Striped Bass need to be at least 10 pounds and Catfish is at 12 pounds or more. Largemouth Bass remains at 5 pound and must be released. ONLY a photo with a scale or a measuring tape showing the fish being at least 18” will count.