Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3721 Sept 28- Oct 12 | Page 19

Hidden Canyon Trl

Del Valle Lake Facts

Water level and size : The water level at Del Valle Lake fluctuates seasonally from a high of 703 feet in the summer to a low of 678 feet in the winter . The lake stretches for 5 miles and has 16 miles of shoreline . Swimming is allowed , but keep dogs away from the water . Entry fees : $ 6 per vehicle . $ 4 per trailered vehicle ., $ 25 per bus Camping ; The Del Valle Family Campground has 150 sites , 21 have water , sewage and electrical hookups . The sites are served by centrally located toilet and shower facilities . There are also 7 group campgrounds . For family or group reservations please call ( 888 ) 327-2757 , or visit http :// www . ebparks . org for more information . Reservations can be made at least 12 weeks in advance . Fishing Season : Fishing is open year around at Del Valle . Anglers 16 year of age or older must purchase a CDFW license and an East Bay Regional fishing permit . The cost of the daily fishing permit is $ 5.00 . The revenue generated from the sales of the fishing permits allows the District to stock rainbow trout and channel catfish ( each fish between 2-10 lbs .) on a weekly basis .

Regulations : The lake speed limit is 10 mph and fishing is permitted only during the posted park operating hours . NO FISHING is permitted in the stream entering the lake except during the regular State trout season . The limit for all species is five fish per person per day . For fishing regulations , visit the California Department of Fish and Game . Marina Services : For your convenience there are two stores which provide grocery items , ice , hot and cold drinks and snacks , toys , swimming apparel , camping goods , and firewood . The marina provides the California state fishing license and the East Bay Regional fishing permit , bait and tackle , and a boat rental fleet of motorboats , patio boats , pedal boats , canoes , and row boats . Any size boat may be launched at the paved boat ramp , offering 6 lanes for your use . Swimming : is permitted south of the boat ramp in the designated areas only as shown on map . Lifeguards are on duty as posted . Swimming is permitted north of the of the boat ramp , although no lifeguards are on duty ; Swim at your own risk . NO FLOAT TOYS are allowed at the Beaches . Other activities include 67 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails , a nature study area , and much more which will keep you and your family and friends entertained . Contact Information : Rocky Mountain Recreation Company , 7000 Del Valle Road , Livermore , CA 94550 Marina Store : ( 925 ) 449-5201 , http :// rockymountainrec . com / lake-facilities / listing / del-valle-lake

Arroyo Del Valle

Restricted Area

Dam Cove

Legend

Rest rooms

Parking

Launch Ramp

Boat Rental

Disabled Access

Camping

Food Concession

Picnic Area

Heron Bay

Ranch Arroyo

Swallow Rock Cove

Alameda County

Swallow Bay

The Narrows

Badger Cove

Venados Camp

Hetch Hechy Camp

Tarantula Cove

Hetch Hetchy Trail

Fishing Notes

• Striped Bass – This is a robust fishery , due to natural spawning and water pumped in from the Delta . Fish cut anchovies and sardines from shore and boat . When you see stripers boiling on forage fish , toss out swimbaits and top water lures .

• Rainbow Trout – Fishing is generally good for bank anglers from October , when plants begin , until May . The Narrows and Marina area are popular with shore fishermen . Trollers using Needlefish , Cripplures , Rapalas and nightcrawlers can find solid trout action throughout the year , with the deep water of the main body yielding the top action during the summer .

• King Salmon – These popular fish are usually caught by anglers trolling for trout , as well as boaters fishing for bass with rip baits . To target the chinooks , troll with minnow imitation lures in the main body .

• Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass – The lake is a quality year round fishery , due to habitat improvement and Florida-strain largemouth stocks in recent years . Drop shotting with plastics is best during the winter months . Quality smallmouth bass are also taken on worms , jigs , crankbaits and soft jerk baits throughout the year .

• Channel Catfish – Fishing is best during the summer and early fall , when the park district plants the lake with channel catfish weighing 1 to 7 pounds . Chicken livers , sardines , mackerel and nightcrawlers are the top baits to use in the coves .

• Black Crappie , Bluegill & Redear Sunfish – Fishing is best in the Spring and Summer . Fish redworms , mealworms and small jigs around structure in the warm coves .

Ridgeline Trail

East Shore Trail

Swim at own Risk Bobcat Cove

Deer Jaw Trail

Ardilla Group Camp

Eagle Crest Trail

To Livermore & I-580

Squirrel Gulch Trl

East Beach Area

Sailor Camp Trail

Mines Road

Del Valle Road

East Ridge Trail

Ridgeline Trail

Vallecito Trail

Lakeview Trl

Seasonally Dry

West Beach Area

Del Valle Road

Punta Vaca Group C . G .

Camp Trail

Cedar Camp

Service Yard

Wild Turkey Group C . G .

Family C . G .

Arroyo

Del Valle

Dr . Al Hurwitz of Saratoga shows off a chunky smallmouth bass that he landed during a trolling adventure at Del Valle on August 22 .

Photo courtesy of ROCKY MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPANY .

northwest force warm surface water to the south end where shallow , weedy conditions make ideal rearing habitat for warm water species ,” according to Culver . “ For this report we estimated bass populations in Del Valle from 2013 to 2017 , with the exception of 2016 .” “ Largemouth bass comprised the most numerous fish species captured most years , except in 2013 when large numbers of smallmouth bass were observed ,” he stated . “ The size class distributions of largemouth bass show large numbers of juvenile bass for all years , suggesting that bass have had several successful spawning years in Del Valle “

Culver said the smallmouth bass had a very good reproductive year in 2013 and that cohort appears to have survived in subsequent samples . “ Based on these observations we expect the smallmouth bass fishery and the largemouth bass fisheries to continue to be very good at Del Valle ,” he stated . “ Although we observed the fewest number of bluegill in 2013 compared to subsequent sample years , their size-class distribution suggests the population is remaining very stable with good numbers of juveniles and adults present ,” he noted . “ It looks as though the bluegill are recruiting well , and we see a large number of bluegill in the juvenile and young-adult age ranges , suggesting that recruitment into the population is very strong . Bluegill , and inland silversides are very important forage fish for the larger predators in Del Valle . Although they are not included in this report , we continue to see very large numbers of inland silversides on an annual basis ,” he noted . He said the adult largemouth bass population appears to be steady at around 400-700 . Culver noted that only individuals greater than 11 inches are included in the estimate , and surveys are conducted only in the south end of the lake . “ Although the largemouth bass population survey was not conducted in 2016 , our results indicate that the largemouth bass population in Del Valle is remaining fairly stable and this trend is likely to continue due to the successful spawning and good recruitment of juvenile largemouth bass growing to the adult stage ,” he observed . Some of the largest fish caught and reported by anglers in the recent years include : a 9 lb . 4 oz . largemouth bass , a 9 lb . 4 oz . rainbow trout , several striped bass ranging from 14 lbs . up to 19 lbs ., two smallmouth bass over 2 lbs ., a 3 lb . black crappie , and multiple catfish over 12 lbs ., including one that weighed a whopping 34 pounds , five ounces . Del Valle also received plants of inland chinook salmon and kokanee fingerlings from the CDFW from 2006 through 2014 . Del Valle received 20,000 chinook fingerlings and 20,000 kokanee fingerlings in 2013 and 10,000 chinook and 20,000 kokanee fingerlings in 2014 . However , the Department hasn ’ t planted kokanee or chinook fingerlings in the reservoir since 2014 . “ We have seen striped bass populations at Del Valle continue to grow , and we expect that fishing for striped bass will continue to improve ,” he stated . Culver said the fish communities in Del Valle , especially largemouth bass , appear to be “ fairly robust .” “ All indicators point toward the smallmouth bass fishery improving over the next couple years , further improving the high diversity angling that Del Valle is noted for . Thus , it is important we continue to monitor these fish communities because the more we can learn about them , the better we can make decisions to manage this important fisheries resource ,” he concluded .

Kenny Khu proudly displays a beautiful 10 lb . striped bass that he pulled out of the fertile waters of Lake Del Valle .

Photo courtesy of ROCKY MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPANY .