Trout are biting all over the lake.

Weather: weather at the lake has been cooling down- ranging from the mid 40’s to about 62 degrees. The water surface temperature in the marina is 57 degrees.

Clarity of Water: The water is somewhat murky with green algae around the marina and clarity will increase as you get closer to the dam.

Hot spots: The hot spot has been by the lower narrows, swallow bay and by the dam.

What Bait to Use:

Stripers- Anchovies

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. Trout Are still relatively slow due to the warm water.

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

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

Fish plant on 11/12 from CDFW of 2500 lbs. Trout

Fish plant on 11/18 from Mt Lassen of 1200 lbs. Trout

Fish plant on 11/23 from Mt Lassen of 700 lbs. of trout and 300 lbs. Lightening Trout

Fish plant on 12/2 from CDFW of 2500lbs. Trout

Fish plant on 12/7 from Mt Lassen of 1200 lbs. Trout

Paul Clouse of Lafayette, Al Hurwitz of Saratoga and Abbey Lev of Sunnyvale trolled Lake Del Valle on December 9th. We were targeting Rainbow Trout and cold water bass. Regrettably despite our trolling Panther Martin Spinner, rooster tails, various rap alas, speedy shiners, apex trolling lures, and kastmasters, we could not get a single bite. We trolled the entire lake at depths of 5-15 feet in 15-40 foot water columns and applied sent to all the lures. The water was clear with a surface temperature of 57-58 degrees. The poor bite was the same story for other trollers who were not able to get hits today. The reason for this lack of trolling success was like an approaching cold low pressure weather front that turned off the bite. I did not check the shoreline bait fishermen who were near the marina. They have have had more success. For the present, I suggest that using live bait, frozen bait or Powerbait may be much more successful than trolling lures. However, once the weather system stabilizes trollers should do well with the above presentations, particularly as the winter month arrive. Al the best, Dr. Al Hurwitz