Forebay or Del Valle from shore.. which is better?

I've got a famly friend that is in town from Japan who's a big bass fisherman. He's never caught a Striper and is rarin' to get one since seeing the site. I'm gonna take him fishing from shore tomorrow. Just wanted to ask everyone's opinion about which lake has better for shore fishing, Del Valle or Forebay? What do you guys think? 

Z

I should let SOmeone who has fished from Del Valle answer--dso if they do, give whatthey say more wieght than the following. From my expereince, the Forebay is better since the areas where the Stripes will come are clsoer to shore.  All the reports on Del valle emphsize the Dam for Stripers and deep there--most dams hold singificnat water above populated areas are off limits after 9/11 as I think is the case with Del Valle and Certainly is for the San Luis Reservoir. But as I said, count this as one first opinion nd let's hear from Del valle shore fishers--I have seen quote a few shore fishers at the FOrebay and one caught a 30-pounbder last week so it can be good there.

I have fished both and as far as shore I would go for SLR rather than Del Valle. Smarmot is right it is alot more accessible to the shore fisherman with alot more possiblities. Frankfishing

The guy that spoke at Fisherman's Warehouse Thursday night said the stripers are going crazy at the forebay and main lake now.  I think he fishes there a lot but from a bass boat.  He was there, I think last weekend and said they caught about 20-30 fish in a brief period (22-24 inch range).  He showed various areas on the map that he says the fish are stacked up in right now.  Sounded like he had recent intel because he seemed certain that the fish are there and hot now. He said the shad on the main lake are being driven into the shallow areas right now and the bass are following.  I said I might be going Sat., and he said he'd be there too but has a bass tournament at lake Oraville to go to.  He said you can't help but get fish now.  Morning and evening best, he didn't favor either.  Mid day have to use smaller stuff and tend to get smaller fish.  He said slasher or suspending lures are especially effective and metal spoons or Megabaits are useful if fish are stacked up under you on the FF.  He likes something with Chartreuse.

He said he knows the structure well from float tubing and wading there extensively in the past.  He seemed to know all the little cut outs that may hold fish.  He said that when the light is lower he has been successful in areas where the water is only about two feet deep.

Doug

Marmite, I was sitting in front at that lecture.  I didn't know there were any yakers there.  He said the first place he would check out is the east end of the 152 shorefront on the flats there heading away from the highway.  Another place he talked highly about is the Madeiros flats, which is where a lot of us normally fish.  He also talked about check 12.  If you're shorefishing, head over that way.

-Allen

my kids and I go fishing from shore near check 12 at the forebay a few times a year and usually catch fish, they may not always be big, but we seldom get skunked.  The canal flows fairly heavy so you definitely want enough weight to hold you down a bit.

Eugene

So to recap what I already think but heard confirmed:
1) San Luis Reservoir is huge and the fish are big, but most accessible in Spring and Fall when they congregate in the shallows (like now),
2) the Forebay has its share of big fish but fewer and though overall smaller ( relative word since many are at 10 pounds) the fish are easier to get to--especialy for shore anglers and the Forebay is much easier for kayaks--smaller and easiy launchs in reach of fish on most of its shores,
3)  Check #12, Check #13 are good for their deep water channels close by and the flats off Madeiros and off the Checks are good in low light (around dusk and dawn) when the Stripers will come in 2 feet of water an hit anything that moves on top--and I mean anything such are those wonderful but far too few evenings.
4) Del valle has some good Stripers, but they stay in deeper water because they need cold water, which, unlike the cold shallow Forebay which is not wide and has deep channels, means they are farther from shore and near the dam mostly--tough for shore fishers and even tough for kayaks.

One advantage of the Forebay over Del Valle--it is a tail-water fishery. The water that flows in it is a mix of water up from the canals and down from the bottom of the deep San Luis Reservoir--so the water temperature in the Forebay is usually pretty cold just a feet feet down--colder than most lakes at this altitude- and Stripers love cold water. So they are active more often and surface more often than in lakes at similar altitudes like Del Valle.

As a postscript: the water is 'friendlier' at the Forebay--very few people have drowned at the Forebay--many have in the Lake. That Lake can be a killer and it takes a few lives each year. Not to say don't go--we all fish the ocean and it takes more lives--just be aware it is a sleeping Tiger and when it awakens it has claws. It isn't the ocean so many let their guard down and some have paid dearly. Don't you let me see you not wearing a PFD at the Forebay or Lake--treat it like the ocean and it will never catch you off guard. I want to read your fishing reports--not read a report about you.

PolePole,

I was sitting just about in front of you to your right, 2nd row from the front.  I thought I recognized you from Mendo but didn't really know you so didn't say anything since you didn't seem to recognize me.

Doug