Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

First and foremost, be sure you bookmark the East Bay Fishing reports and planting calendar. Note that the "week of", means just that--they never plant on the day listed.
https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/fishing/anglers-edge-online

The EBRPD plants are My Lassen rainbows. They get so large because the fishery soaks the eggs in warm water to sterilize them. The meat is salmon pink from the brine shrimp in the feed (not a salmon/ rainbow hybrid). The DFG plants are a mix of rainbows and lightenings (see second pic).

There is a $5 fee for daily pass.

Lead weights are prohibited at some lakes (eg Quarry ponds in Fremont). They used to trade out lead for steel at the kiosk but I don't know if they still do.

My personal favorite is Don Castro... lots of My Lassen plants (up to 15+ lbs) in a small pond and it's only 7 minutes from I-580. I would much rather be sitting on the dam/dock than sitting behind the wheel waiting for the car in front of me to move 5 ft!

My buddy's favorite is Temescal for the same reasons. I've never fished it because the dock that he fishes from doesn't have a rail.

Lake Chabot is also quite productive. It's relatively deep, with a lot of shore access. They also rent boats and allow kayaking. Raccoon Point is good during nautical twilight (it's a long hike so I recommend a bike). For trolling, I fish the bank across from Raccoon Point down to just past half way to the dam.

If you're targeting cats try the South Bank near to the dam. Nightcrawlers and anchovy seem to be a good choice of bait.

For Del Valle the East shore is good--hike towards the dam as far as you care. Boat fishing is better... Trolling by the dam and in the narrows.


Since all of the EBRPD lakes are planted from one hatchery, the same bait/lures work for all of them.

For bank fishing:

Power Bait on a #10 treble, 10-14 (depending on water clarity), 5/8 ounce slider. I carry three flavors of Power Bait... two poles get Garlic Chartreuse, third pole gets Green Pumpkin, and the forth gets Bubblegum or Rainbow (I fish with my son--both of us have 2-pole licenses) Most of the regulars dip their bait in cods liver oil with garlic powder. Spit works great too.

I also carry a color assortment of Mouse Tails. Nightcrawlers work too but I usually don't use them except early in the planting season or afterwards (for a mix of trout and cats).

The wire loop that's attached to the 12 guage shell is what I made to hang on the slack between the bottom two guides. They go on and off a lot easier and don't twist up in the wind like a bobber does. I use a 12G shell because I've given away so many that I had to hang something unique in order to tell which poles were mine.

For casting from shore: See attached... I've caught fish on all of the ones shown. In there are:
Rooster Tails
Kastmasters
Crocodiles
Blue Foxes
Panther Martins
Mepps Anglia
Rapalas -- In order to get any distance on my cast, I snap on a hookless Kastmaster to my main line then attach 24-30" of leader ahead of the Rapala
Homemade -- flasher from a trashed rooster tail followed by two small kastmasters.
For some reason I missed putting my Krocodiles in for the picture. 5/8 oz in silver, blue, gold and flat black.
I throw flat black during nautical twilight hours or when the water is dirty. I've spray painted quite a few lures.

For trolling: Most use a Cast master out behind between 75-100 ft with no flasher/dodger. I've caught far (10X) more and much bigger fish using a jointed Rapala (see left side of pic) 30" behind a 5" dodger. My best performers have been the Rainbow and Brown Trout patterns.

Hope this helps. Hit me (PM) up if you want more info.

If you make it to the dock at Don Castro, tell the dock rats "Doug and Matt miss 'em".

Go out and get some!!!
PapaD

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

I forgot to mention that (as of a few years ago):
Lake Chabot had half off boat rentals during the week days and half off every day for seniors and disabled.

Also at Lake Chabot, either request an extra battery or be sure to get the dock phone number.

Also at Lake Chabot, you can take your own battery and electric motor and save a few bucks.

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

From today's newsletter...
Season is here, and the BITE IS ON! The east bay Regional Parks District
has started to plant their lakes and fishing has gotten off to a great start! It will only
get better as more and more of the 40,000-pounds of available Mt. Lassen Farms
rainbows fill our waters!
Lakes Del Valle, Chabot, Quarry, and Don Castro have all received fish and Lakes
Temescal and Contra Loma should receive fish this week.

Jeffchow88 Loc: San Francisco

Thanks for the report and tips. Glad the fish are on the bite. I’m assuming the water quality has improved greatly.
My only notation is that you fish a lot heavier gear than I do, by more than half. I fishing ultralight gear, rods lighter than most fly rods, around 6’. The lightest, smallest reels I can find, 2 to 4lb test, usually 2lb.
Lures, less than 1/8oz. Lighter tackle makes the fish seem bigger and the fight better.
My PB went 12lb, on 2lb test at Del Valle.
I’m not saying you’re better than me, we just catch fish differently.
Tight Lines to you, always, PapaD!

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

I have nothing against light tackle I just throw 5/8 cuz I can get it all the way across Don Castro (and parts of Chabot). I've also found that my fish-on rig works better with the 5/8 slider--line slides through the weight instead of dragging it around. It also allows me to hang a little weight to it when it's windy.

One of the 15-pounders that I saw pulled out was caught on a 3-ft portable pole and 4 lb line. It was interesting to watch.

I also use relatively light tackle for throwing my Striper lures.

I don't think there's any wrong way of catching fish just different ways!

Bcc1000 Loc: Cary, N.C.

Nice catch and great pic of you and your girl. Thanks for sharing the info.