Alameda County Fishing Reports

Water temps have jumped into the 70s at Del Valle, and after an excellent spring, the bite is starting to cool off a bit. Trout plants are over, the latest coming the last week in April. There are still fish to be caught, though they've moved into much deeper water chasing cooler temps. Powerbait and floated nightcrawlers are your best bet during the day. Early mornings are kicking out some shallower fish on spinners and spoons.

Sticking with bait is your best bet for stripers and catfish (obviously) as well. Stripers have also moved deep, but a few keepers are being caught on soaked anchovies. Catfish are hitting chicken liver and garlic-dipped baits, with the best action coming in the evenings.

The bass bite remains good, with both smallmouth and largemouth hitting swimbaits and drop-shotted 4½-inch plastic worms near rocky structure and secondary points. A few fish are still shallow... with the occasional one still bedding or protecting their fry. Weightless Senkos can be deadly for these fish.

The trout bite has really turned on at Horseshoe over the last couple of weeks, and for quality fish too. Horseshoe received another Lassen drop last week, and fish are being caught all over the water column. Many have found success soaking Powerbait or micetails off the main peninsula in the deepest/coolest water they can find. But other anglers are catching fish shallow on mini jigs, Rapalas, and spoons... especially early and late in the day. However you decide to approach it, make sure to switch spots if the bite is slow for long, as they seem to be grouped up and on the move throughout the day.

The bass bite has taken a backseat to trout, but there's still some decent action on soft plastics and small crankbaits at Horseshoe and Rainbow. Most fish are running around a pound, with the occasional 2-3 pounder.

The recent cold spell has cooled Del Valle down a bit, but water temps are still hovering right around 63 degrees. Before the storm, fishing had been lights-out across the board, with big fish being caught from multiple species.

On the bass front, water levels are high, and fish have been pushing into fresh cover to spawn. Plenty of smaller males are being caught on soft plastics, but the real action has been with glide baits and big poppers for those giant females. Multiple fish over 7 pounds were caught this week alone. Folks are also reporting an excellent bite on swimbaits and A-rigs in open water near points... pulling both bass and smaller stripers. Speaking of stripers, an 11-pounder was also caught this week on soaked anchovies.

Trout are producing as well, with another Lassen stocking dropped last wek. Boaters are hooking 2-3 pound fish on Rooster Tails and Mepps spinners. Shore casters are also finding sucess on the West Shore dock and East Swim Beach using PowerBait and floated nightcrawlers.

Look for the awesome bite at Del Valle to continue into May.