East Bay Lakes Fishing Report 08.07.2024 WON Staff Writer

East Bay Lakes Fishing Report 08.29.2024

BY CHUCK WOLF

WON Staff Writer

SCHOOL IS IN AND PRESSURE IS DOWN!

School is back in session and pressure has dropped significantly on most of the East Bay Lakes.

Conditions are still very good and should remain so well into trout season. Lake Del Valle

smallies continue to take center stage with some very good numbers of quality fish. Lake Chabot

continues to produce some nice largemouth, and Temescal continues to produce bass as well.

Be sure to take advantage of the Free Fishing Day on Saturday August 31

. It’s a great way to

get out on the water. No license is required but you’ll still have to pay for parking.

Check out the East Bay Regional Parks “Intro to Panfishing” seminars at Big Break Regional

Park. There are two sessions offered on September 13

and again on October 12

. There is a

$25 dollar fee, but the step-by-step tutorial and hands on fishing experience is more than worth

it! Register at

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_

param=2&activity_keyword=fishing&viewMode=list.

Lake Del Valle - action remains very good for small mouth with plenty of action to be had!

Every once in a while, a rare A+ fishing experience occurs! Paul Clouse and Al Hurwitz had

such a day fishing Lake Del Valle on 8/22/24. They were trolling for their usual summer “go-to”

species, Smallmouth Bass. They were trolling with feathered 1/4 oz spinners (most prominently

RoxStar Spinners), trolled 21-23 feet below the surface in 30–40-foot water columns. Scent is

always applied to the lures. They hooked up with 20 Smallmouths and 1 Largemouth Bass, and

successfully released all the fish! A moderate additional number of strikes did not stay pinned.

Most of the Smallies were in the 1/4-1/2-pound range, but there were several larger ones caught

(1.5, 1.76, 1.8, and 2.33 pounds). The one Largemouth weighed 1.8 pounds, with the largest fish

of the day, a beautiful 2.33-pound Smallie. Largemouth action remains fair and there are plenty

of slab panfish hitting worms under a bobber.

Contra Loma – reports this week have been light, but based upon current conditions, there

should still be plenty of action. Ben took a nice 3.5 pounder and there were still some decent

panfish reported.

Temescal - continues to produce a good number of dink largemouth and some smaller sunfish.

Kevin broke the end of summer “dink parade” with a 6-pound largemouth he took on a chatter

bait while fishing near the main dock. Tobias took another at 2-pounds. Jack took a 5.7-pound

carp bottom fishing from the far side dock.

Lake Chabot - bass action remains decent. Fish have been showing in the 2-3.5-pound range,

but the numbers have been good. Drop shot rigged plastics, crank baits and spinners have all

been working for fish holding tight to cover. Surface action with chatter baits has been fair.

Shadow Cliffs - action remains mostly small fry, but there is the occasional keeper bass in the

mix. Panfish action remains fair for mostly smaller fish.

Quarry Lakes - There have been only a few dinks bass reported. Rainbow Lake has been slow

for bass, but Wilson reported a 26-inch cat and lost another. Reports from Shinn have dropped

off but there is no reason to believe that there aren’t fish to be had. Grau continues to produce a

fair number of dinks. Drop shots, wacky rigged plastics, Ned Rigged plastics, spinners and some

topwater’s should work.

Please, if you have a good day on the water, send me your pics and a short write up and I’ll make

sure that I use your report! [email protected], or by text at 571-481-8040.