Fishing at Lake Del Valle has been pretty good for Stripers and Trout The hot spots to catch any fish this week has been the Lower Narrows and at the Dam.

 

Weather: The weather this past week has been raining and cold.

 

Clarity of water: There is a 3-foot water visibility due to the muddy and cloudy conditions because of the rain.

 

Temperature of lake: 55 Degrees F.

Hot spots: Lower Narrows and Dam

Striped Bass, Catfish- Anchovies

Trout- Power Bait and Lures

 

Fish Plants:

2-12-21 750 Lbs. Mt. Lassen Rainbow tTrout was planted.

2-3-21 1000 lbs. Mt. Lassen Trout

 

Don’t 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 Dr. Al

 

Al Hurwitz of Saratoga and Abbey Lev of Sunnyvale trolled the lake on Feb. 11, 2021 for about 4.5 hours. We had only one bite, a nice Smallmouth Bass caught and released at the end of our outing. We trolled with Jointed Rapala Shad Raps and Panther Martin Spinners, applying scent to the lures. The Bass was caught on the western shore of the lake south of Heron Bay using a 1/4 oz Panther Martin lure trolled about 15 feet below the surface in a 30-foot water column. Most of the fish on our sonar unit were located in the southern part of the lake (where fish stocking takes place). Unfortunately for trollers, the water in the southern part of the lake is now stained with dirt runoff and algae making lure visibility poor. There are better trolling conditions in the northern part of the lake where the water is crystal clear, but where the fish are more scattered and fewer in number. Furthermore, with the lake down 12 feet from its peak and a low-pressure cold weather front approaching today, I think the use of live and imitation baits would be much more successful than trolling artificial lures (particularly for Rainbow Trout). As the water rises with the ongoing rains and as the overall lake water clarity improves, trolling will become more efficient and successful.

Thanks as always to the staff who are always very helpful.

 

All the best, Dr. Al Hurwitz