Just a few days ago the Donovan Family of Brownsville caught this chunky 11lb catfish using raw porkchop down by the dam. While the strong summer heat has waned the water surface temperature is still fairly high at 78.5°F and the thermocline is still at about 20ft deep.

Weekdays have been very quiet since about August 12th- if you don’t like the crowds come try a weekday at the lake now that school is back in for most. Lake level is only about 20ft from full, good for this time of year. Generally highs are forecast to be in the 80’s and lows in the 60’s with low wind, basically perfect!

Folks are still picking up trout, although almost exclusively trolling pretty deep. Louis from San Jose caught his first fish ever, a trout, mid-lake with a nightcrawler. Sophia of Citrus Heights caught a 6 1/2 pound beauty by the dam using a SpeedyShiner. Great catch Sophia! Dylan from Napa caught his rainbow trout with a worm in the middle of the lake.

We were excited to see this Lightning Trout that Mason caught also with a SpeedyShiner by the dam. We’re looking forward to planting some more of these this Golden Rainbow Trout this fall but apparently there’s still some trophy lightnings waiting to be caught. Nice catch Mason!

If you know what you’re doing and get out at the right time it’s still possible to limit on trout, or even double limit like Devin Wynne & Jimmie Trejo did in early August. And to prove it’s not a fluke Jimmie returned a couple of days ago with long time Collins Lake fisherman Jimmy Wynne and the team brought in another 10 fish including a pair of bass. Devin & Jimmie were trolling 35 to 40ft using SpeedyShiners from 7am to 10am. Jimmie & Jimmy were dragging Kastmasters about 10 colors out on weighted line.

It’s starting to feel more like fall around here and there’s plenty of weekday availability currently less than 20% of the park is occupied, there are hookups and cabins- come enjoy some weekday peace and quiet in the beautiful California Foothills!