6 March 28, 2025 VOL. 44 • ISS. 3

Los Vaqueros Reservoir first opened to fishing in 2001 and now is one of the Bay Area’ s premier lakes for fantastic striper fishing as well as being a great spot to catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and other sunfish. Located in the beautiful hills between Brentwood and Livermore, the water storage reservoir is a great place to take your family or friends, not just for the fishing but also other types of outside recreation including hiking. You will see lots of wildlife around the lake, including deer, coyotes, foxes and wild pigs. The Los Vaqueros area also is home to golden eagles, bald eagles, and many different varieties, of hawks, osprey and other raptors. The scenery is beautiful, with bright green hills that surround the reservoir in winter and spring. Then the hills transform into warm yellow and brown grasses as the hot, summer weather dries everything out. Los Vaqueros is regulated to keep its water supply pure, including a prohibition on boats other than those based at the lake’ s marina. The marina rents boats to use on a first come – first served basis. There’ s also no swimming or any types of water sports, other than fishing and boating, that lead to human contact with the drinking water. Each year there are thousands of pounds of fish planted in the reservoir. Trout are the main stocked fish, though, in the past, there have been Chinook and kokanee salmon added to the lake as well. Los Vaqueros Reservoir has some of the best trout action in the entire Bay Area. Whether trolling or fishing from shore, you’ re bound to catch a few. Bank anglers often will still-fish with bait or perhaps cast and retrieve lures or flies. Boaters can use those tactics as well but also often turn to trolling lures or bait to catch the trout. Stripers in the 6- to 10-pound range are plentiful, with bigger lunkers out there but caught far less often. But keep up the faith, and you’ ll be sure to eventually find the trophies. Who knows, you might break the lake record of 45 pounds! These same coves have largemouth bass lurking around as well. One cast might bring in a striper, and the next could be a bucketmouth. Crankbaits, swimbaits and Kastmaster lures that

4304 resemble small fleeing fish such as shad or even trout also are effective for striper fishing, as well as catching largemouths. Bucktails and other types of jigs are popular.

Want a shot at a giant Catfish? The channel catfish record at Los

Vaqueros is a 30.31 pounder caught by a seven-year-old boy. Big cats are all around the lake, with frequent catches of 5- to 10-pounders. As a bonus, the clear and clean water in this reservoir makes these cats excellent table fare. The lake is located a short drive north of Livermore and only roughly an hour to the east from Bay

Area communities including Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco, so it’ s an easy distance for a day trip. For more information, call the marina at( 925) 371-2628, or go to www. fishlv. com

TROUT

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$ 25 boat rentals every

Los Vaqueros Recreation Co. Monday

9990 Los Vaqueros Rd. thru Friday

Byron, CA, 94514

( non holidays)

www. WWW NORCALFISHING. FISHLV. COM. COm A Contra Costa Water District Facility

4204 2907

All other boat rental terms and conditions still apply. Offer subject to boat rental availability. Offer expires on 12 / 31 / 24 and is not valid with any other coupon / discount.