FISHING

Current Fishing Conditions:

TROUT PLANT DATES:

—> April 16, 2024 <—

4/16 975 Lbs. CDFW

4/11 800 Lbs. CDFW

4/10 2K Mt. Lassen

3/26 2K Mt. Lassen

3/22 1500 lbs. CDFW

3/12 2K Mt. Lassen

2/27 2K Mt. Lassen

2/12 2K Mt. Lassen

2/7 1500 lbs. CDFW

1/30 2K Mt. Lassen

1/18 2K Mt. Lassen

1/4 1K CDFW

1/2 2K from Mt. Lassen

————————————

12/20 1K from Mt. Lassen

12/6 2.5K CDFW

12/5 1K lbs. from Mt. Lassen

12/5 2.5K lbs from California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)

12/1 3K from Mt. Lassen

10/26 2K Lbs. from Mt. Lassen

2023 CATFISH PLANTS

9/7 1K Lbs. of Catfish

8/21 1K Lbs. of Catfish

8/10 1K Lbs. of Catfish

7/26 1K Lbs. of Catfish

2023 TROUT PLANT DATES:

06/23 2K Mt. Lassen

05/24 2K Mt. Lassen

05/17 2K Mt. Lassen

05/03 2K Mt. Lassen

04/18 2K Mt. Lassen

04/04 - 2K Mt. Lassen

03/21 - 1K Mt. Lassen

03/08 - 2K Mt. Lassen

03/02 - 1K Mt. Lassen

01/27 - 1K Mt. Lassen

The water temperature is currently in the low 50’s.

CATCHES: Good-sized stripers and trout are still being caught.

LOCATION: In a boat; Peninsula, Cowboy Cove, and Howden Cove have produced limits.

The water level is currently at 100K acre-feet. Our water clarity has been good except for windy days.

BOAT RENTALS: To RENT A BOAT, you must be at least 21 years old and can leave a deposit that will be refunded when the boat is returned. If you are looking to rent a boat, it is always a good idea to call ahead to check current wind conditions. We do our best to advise but are limited to the NWS forecast. Remember, rental boats are first come, first serve. Weekends and some weekdays sell out quickly.

The Marina Store is open, hours: 6AM to 8:00PM daily! You can come inside for your bait and tackle needs. All the usual refreshments and Los Vaqueros gear are available.

PLEASE OBSERVE THE SPEED LIMIT COMING INTO THE MARINA! Our wildlife (Deer) is routinely looking for water and crossing our roads. Please help us protect them. They can cause significant damage to your vehicle if hit as well.

PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT PLEASE! With higher attendance, we are noticing more trash on the shoreline. THIS INCLUDES FISHING LINE! We appreciate everyone’s effort to keep our watershed clean!

2024 Annual Passes are now available at Marina and North Gate.

2024 CDFW Fishing Licenses are available for purchase at the Marina. (Pro-rated 7/1).

The Interpretive Center is OPEN 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

*Reminder; Out of park by 8:00PM

November – February: 7am — 5pm
March: 7am — 6pm
April – August: 6am — 8pm
September: 7am — 7pm
October: 7am — 6pm

Fishing details:

TROUT

Shore anglers have the most success using garlic-scented Powerbait followed by night crawlers.  Trolling is doing fairly well, especially in the backs of coves.  Light tackle is essential for catching trout.  4-6-pound test is plenty. Fishing has been good. On days the winds allow boats, we have seen several limits and anglers with just a couple. Remember: The limit is 5 per angler for the day.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout.  Keep in mind that largemouth need to be 12 inches to be kept.  Please release any big largemouth bass you might catch; they are the future of largemouth bass fishing in the reservoir.  If you catch any undersized fish, please release them gently and allow them to mature.  There have been reports that jigging near rocky shores has been successful. 

STRIPERS

Striper fishing is mixed with both shakers and legal sized fish being caught from around the reservoir.  Cut anchovies or shad is the bait of choice, either from shore or a boat.  Cowboy Cove and Howden Cove seem to be the hot spot for stripers. Just a reminder, stripers need to be 18 inches or more to be legal.  Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible.  They are the future of our striped bass fishery.

CATFISH

Last plant was August 21st. For those wishing to target catfish, chicken liver and anchovies are the best choices of bait. There has been a steady number of catfish being caught around the reservoir.  South Cove, Cowboy Cove and Oak Point have been mentioned by our anglers. 

GENERAL

2023 Annual Parking Passes are available for a pro-rated price at the Marina, and the North Gate.

2023 CDFW Fishing Licenses are available for purchase at the Marina.

PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT PLEASE! With higher attendance, we are noticing more trash on the shoreline. We appreciate everyone’s effort to keep our watershed clean!

*Reminder; Out of park by 5:00PM

November – February: 7am — 5pm
March: 7am — 6pm
April – August: 6am — 8pm
September: 7am — 7pm
October: 7am — 6pm

Fishing Records:

• King Salmon Record - 6.2 lbs
  Harry Stoner of Stockton broke the nearly-three year-old salmon record by .2 pounds with this 6.2 pound catch on February 28 of 2010.

• Largemouth Bass Record - 12 lbs.
  The second Los Vaqueros fishing record of 2008 was broken on Thursday, May 29 when Todd Brusco of Danville smashed the old mark by more than two pounds. Todd Brusco’s 12 pound catch was 2.21 pounds heavier than the old record set last year by Eric Sabye.

• Striped Bass Record - 25.2 lbs.
  Todd Brusco of Danville became the first person ever to hold two simultaneous fishing records at Los Vaqueros when he caught a 45.2 pound striper.

• Trout Record- 16.42 lbs.
  For the second time in about a month, the trout fishing record was smashed at Los Vaqueros, this time by 2.7 pounds. Fernando Gonzalez of San Lorenzo caught his 16.42 pound trout with a gold Kastmaster, in South Cove.

• Catfish Record - 30.31 lbs.
  The catfish record is held by the youngest record-holder at Los Vaqueros

Whopper Mugs

Win a prize for your fishing skills!

Whopper Mug rules are:

Trout must be 8 pounds to receive a mug, Striped Bass need to be at least 10 pounds and Catfish is at 12 pounds or more.  Largemouth Bass remains at 5 pounds and must be released.  ONLY a photo with a scale or a measuring tape showing the fish being at least 18” will count.