Fishing in Santa Clara, California, United States

emintz

Lake del valle stands out among the Bay Area freshwater fisheries as one of the most diverse and well maintained bodies of water within a reasonable distance from the central and South Bay. Right off the bat, the sheer number of species available to catch is unique for any body of water. Anglers can catch sturgeon, channel catfish, DFG and Mount Lassen trout, big striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, 2 types of crappie, bluegill, and even the occasional salmon. Lake facilities are plentiful and well maintained and include a bait shop and boat rentals, boat launch ramp, camp grounds, picnic areas, and lots of trails with good shoreline access. The lake stays well stocked throughout the cooler months with large cold-water Mount lassen trout and channel catfish in the warmer months. Fishing strategies vary by time of year, but in general the shallow end of the lake where the stream enters is good for freshly stocked trout and catfish, and the deeper “narrows” are good for holdover fish and trout as they migrate to cooler waters. The staff at the bait shop are knowledgeable and will inform you of the productive locations, baits, and strategies. All in all, this lake is a gem in the Bay Area and do your part to upkeep this lake for years to come: clean up after yourself and others and respect the wildlife!

garyzilla_outdoors

SCR has become my home water over the past year. Initially I was extremely frustrated because the bass seem to be pickier than other waters, but a year of fishing here and I can say lots of amazing things happen here. It may not regularly produce numbers like other places, but it certainly has quality! There's a good number of certified fatties, and some monsters lurk here. Stick around and get a feel for it, if you have patience you will keep coming back.