Los Vaqueros Reservoir Fishing Report

Los Vaqueros action is running on trout plants right now. Another 2,000 pounds went in in early Feb, and since then, the trout bite has been very good. Spoons and jigs are both producing, with pink, orange, yellow, and brown all getting bit. There isn’t a single must-have color… if you’re around fish and fishing clean, they’ll eat. PowerBait on a short leader off the bottom has also been pulling limits for shore anglers.

The plants are also firing up stripers shallow. The first week after a plant, stripers are sliding up looking for an easy meal. For lure guys willing to chuck and wind, bigger trout-profile swimbaits are connecting on a few quality fish. If you’re staying put, the marina dock is open, and cut anchovies continue to get the occasional cruising fish.

Trout fishing has been excellent at Los Vaqueros, especially for anglers slow-trolling Rapalas and spoons just a few feet under the surface. Consistent Lassen rainbow stockings continue to boost numbers, with another plant last week (second in January, fifth since December). A lot of quality trout are showing in the 3–4 pound range, especially in 15–20 foot zones across coves on both sides of the reservoir. Light tackle has been most effective in the clear water. Surface temps are holding around 55 degrees, and mild winter weather is keeping conditions prime heading into February.

The stockings have been coming fast and furious at Vaqueros since late October, with 4,000 pounds dropped in November and another 3,000 so far in December… including a fresh plant this week. November was oddly quiet given the volume of trout, but over the last couple weeks the bite has finally blown wide open.

Shore anglers have been throwing everything from spinners and spoons to tube jigs and PowerBait, nailing fish in the 1–5 pound range. A 9-pounder was reported last week as well! Smaller limits are mostly coming on PowerBait, while the bigger fish are showing up on spoons and jigs. The south cove has been a hot zone, but reports have fish getting caught all over the lake.

Water temps are sitting in the mid-50s, and the catfish bite has stayed productive as well. If you’ve got a two-rod stamp, it’s not a bad play to soak one for trout and one for cats right now. Bass reports are quiet, although a few smaller ones are being caught accidentally by trout anglers throwing spoons near structure.