Fishing reports for Lake Del Valle

Plenty of action at Del Valle as the summer months approach. East Bay Parks have begun their catfish stockings, with the latest occurring during the week of June 16th. Shrimp and chicken livers are proving effective.

The bass bite remains strong as the fish transition into post-spawn, a common trend among many California bass lakes right now. The morning topwater bite is active and should only improve throughout July. Throughout the day, smallmouth bass are holding near rocky drop-offs and points, hitting on small jerkbaits and spinners. Largemouth bass are responding to reaction baits early, then finesse soft-plastics as the weather warms.

Even trout are still being caught, primarily on the north side near the dam. Aim deep!

Del Valle is providing excellent fishing right now for a variety of species. The last stock of the season was on May 12 with 1,000 pounds of Lassen trout, and anglers are still catching'em. Kastmasters and PowerBait have been working well for both the recent stockers and a few larger lightning trout.

Bass action is very good for both largemouth and smallmouth. Both are hitting soft plastics and reaction baits (crankbaits and Rapalas), but smallies are holding in much deeper water (15-20 feet) off steep drop offs and points. Catfish action has also been good on cut bait, and there are rumblings of a good striper bite picking up shortly.

Del Valle's water temp is warming, sending trout deeper but bass to the shallows. The last trout stock was the last week of March... both Lassens and CDFW rainbows, so no plants recently. Anglers are still catching trout, but not at the rate they were the week of the stock.

Largemouth are moving up to either stage or spawn so targeting tapered shoreline isn't a bad idea. Smallies are still holding near drop-offs, but moving shallower as the weather warms.