Del Valle Saturday 11-17

I know its not yellow fin tune but hears my report from Lake Del-Valle from Saturday; I met a couple of NCKAers at the launch ramp dilbeck and fish flogger. Dilbeck was heading over to the shallows just left of the launch ramp and fish flogger and I started to troll up the narrows not sure what ff was trolling but I was slow trolling a live minnow and a clouser on my fly rod. Well after watching ff almost boat three trout I decided to head back to the launch area to slow drifted some minnows saw two other NCKAers sorry forgot your names and the other Ken in a aluminum boat fishing with a friend. Dilbeck was trying to reach me on the radio to tell me the stripers where there but I had forgot my radio in the truck so I was late again , but I finally got that striper on a minnow monkey off my back and it was fun , I had several other take down but could not stick them I ended the day with 1 large mouth and a 20” striper. Not sure how the others did but hears some pic.

Pic 1
Fish floggers first trout (sorry it did not turnout to good)
 Pic 2
Fish flogger fussing with a very big trout witch jump over board befor I could get a photo.
Pic 3
My take home dinner
Pic 4
Another NCKAer with a fish on

All in all had a great day good weather and good people you can't ask for much more then that.


Pat R   

Hey Pat,
Awesome report and pics.  Glad to see that you caught a keeper striper from Del Valle.  I want one!!  See you out there next time.

Pat R.,

Thanks for the great report and pictures, nice fish!  I was going to try to join you all Saturday but had too many  - get ready for Thanksgiving company  things to do.  Oh well, maybe Tuesday.  What was the power boat traffic like?  Where do you get those large hoop stringers?

Pat, where did you get the minnows? From a shop or net from the shore? I think Ben (152 Sumo) told me got his from a place in Antioch (?)

Grizz, I've heard that some dive shops have them but never heard of anyone actually finding one. I picked up a couple of the larger variety, one from www.kayakfishingstuff.com and one from Hook 1 (http://www.kayakfishinggear.com). The shipping and sales tax does inflate price; so I waited for "free shipping" discounts.

Howard

Hey Pat -

WTG on the striper. Nice report and pics. No trout? Must be slow for trout if you didn't bag any. Let me know if you want to hook up next weekend.

Scott

Pat,

Good job on the striper and yes, the weather has been great.  I'd appreciate intel on sourcing the minnows as well.  They seem to be the hot bait for stripers and the rest of the finned creatures.  Does anyone know the rules on netting them or catching them in minnow traps?  When I was a poor landlocked smuck I used to see them schooling around the weeds and structure in the local lakes where I couldn't reach them, now I can...LOL.

The game clips can be found at scuba shops.  I was a Sports Chalet in Pleasanton last night and they had 3 in stock in the scuba section.  I think the price was about $16 each.  They're shorter than the ones I have but easier to open and close.  The ones I currently use are from Hook1 and another from a scuba shop in LA.  If I were you I would give the local scuba shop a call before I headed over there.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with you guys since I'm long overdue for a trip to Del Valle.  I'm heading out for LA to join the family for the Thanksgiving festivities so good luck next weekend.

Gary

Grizz…. my son got me mine at Sport Chalet in Sacramento for $12.00-15.00

Howard….. I got the minnows in Castro Valley a little small bait shop. I heard they have sold the place they have a sign in the window CLERANCE not sure on the % they open at 6am he did not get there till 6:15 and not to happy , barely got 12 jumbo minnows. I will have to find another bait shop for minnows for the future.

Scott….. I had to force my self not to I wanted a striper, as for next weekend Saturday looks open right now…… place?????

Pat R           

It was a pleasure fishing with you Pat. I also got to meet VWTECH and somebody else who's ncka handle I don't remember.

The day started off well enough. Pat was nice enough to give me a couple minnows which didn't produce anything. I got a small trout on a threaded worm which I quick released. Then a nicer trout, maybe 2lbs hit a rainbow trout colored broke rapala. That is the one in the pic that you can't really see. Then I got another trout on the same lure that was probably in the 3-4lb range. All fish released to fight another day. I paddled to the dam for nada but it was a nice day and am glad I made the paddle.

I plan to hit this lake again next weekend. Thanks again for sharing the bait Pat. I hope to see you out there again soon.

FF

Arrived at 630, 30 min. late.   Finally made it to the launch ramp where I met Pat R.  On the water by 715 and headed directly across from the launch ramp because of Joel's report last week.  Didn't graph anything so I headed around the point (upstream, south) where I started graphing fish in about 10-12 ft. of water.  Starting rigging up when I look up and notice that I'm practically on top of an aluminum boat.  Nice gentleman who's on the board, "theotherken."

Started slow trolling a minnow and casting a Storm Wildeye Shad.  Within minutes I had my first striper on and to the boat.  Couldn't find the tape measure and since it seemed too close for comfort, I snapped a pic and back in the drink he went.  Saved the minnow and back down he went.  A few minutes later my pole goes bendo again.  Land him and its another close one.  Still can't find my $%#&ing tape measure so take another pic and away he goes. 

After seeing my frustration of not being able to find a tape measure, theotherken offers to cut an 18" piece of rope for me.  Thanks Ken.

By this time its 830ish and I'm feeling good so I start exploring a bit.  Headed further upstream where the only thing I caught were snags so I return to where I landed my first 2 fish.

It's approximately 915 and I try to contact Pat on the radio to no avail.  Did however get VWTech329/Ken and he joined me.  By this time the minnows are busting the surface but won't take anything we're throwing!   After another hour or so of rejection and snags, I go back to trolling.

Finally land another striper but he only goes 17" - measured on my rope!    Come to the conclusion that my first two fish probably would have been keepers based on the size of the third fish, but oh well.

Start trolling back towards where I started the day, directly across from the lanch ramp.  There's a little wind so I stop and decide to drift back in the direction I came.  Land my 4th and final striper, barely 18" and on the stringer he went - needed some table fare for friends.

Caught a dink LMB before calling it a day at 145.  On my way home to San Jose by 215 and finally arrive home by 345.     Between an accident and not being able to find gas, my adventure home was a disaster.

All in all, not a shabby day of fishing for my first time at Del Valle.  4 stripers, 1 LMB and a half dozen missed fish, all on minnows.  According to the chatter, the trout were on the bite.  Sounded like it was limits or near limits for most.  Next time I won't be so stubborn and will give the trout a try, it is my first love.

Nice meeting Pat, theotherken, and vwtech329/Ken.  Also saw another NCKAer when I got back to shore.  Think it was FishFlogger but I was in a hurry and didn't catch the his name.  Sorry for being rude.

Pics to follow.

Michael

I met VWTech at the parking lot while I was setting up my yak ~9am...on the water at 9:15.

FF, dilbeck, and all...great job! I trolled for trout using my magic rapala in the morning with no luck. I guess the spell didn't work this time.

It was really slow for me that morning. Trolled all kinds incl. minnows...nada. Decided hitting the narrows before noon...still nothing, oh! a couple of "rok-kods" (snags! ). Tons of shore anglers, bunch of motorized boats.

After lunch I drifted back to the marina. Still nothing (worried my minnows will turn into dried "dilis"). I saw you guys loading up at the ramp. Around 3pm I got my first land-lock striper ever...then the next, then the next. Landed 6, lost/missed a few, released 4, kept 2 keepers for Thanksgiving (steamed/Hot-oil striped bass, yummy!).

Frustration in the a.m. turned satisfaction in the p.m. It was a fun day. It felt good to see you guys out there.

LL

Around 3pm I got my first land-lock striper ever...then the next, then the next. Landed 6, lost/missed a few, released 4, kept 2 keepers

Way to stick it out Ciraulo.  Persistence usually pays off!!

It figures, I promised the wife I'd be home by 300 and of course the fish turn on.  Oh well, I can't complain.

I hear you on the boat traffic.  There were alot of people at Del Valle, both boaters and bank anglers.  Out of curiosity, anybody from Saturday know if that was typical?

Michael

Michael, I had no plans of going home with 10 minnows in my bucket. I was the only NCKA'er left on the water when I was nailing 'em. Man, minnows rule. I only hooked 1 shaker on my hand-tied fly. Nada on my rapala.

I've have fished from the shore in the past and that was pretty normal for a Sat.

WTG & thanks for the report!
always nice to see bendo pics!

dilbeck,

I hear it is pretty busy on the weekends.  I fish weekdays.  Last Tuesday, I saw only 5 powerboats, one other kayak (just paddling, not fishing) and about a half dozen on the bank.  Both going and coming through the narrows, no PB’s at all so didn’t have to change course once to quarter the wakes.

a BONIFIED NCKA hook-up post turned into a FishReport post...that's how it's supposed to be!
Way to get em' fellas and thanks for the pics! 

I'd appreciate intel on sourcing the minnows as well.  They seem to be the hot bait for stripers and the rest of the finned creatures.  Does anyone know the rules on netting them or catching them in minnow traps?  When I was a poor landlocked smuck I used to see them schooling around the weeds and structure in the local lakes where I couldn't reach them, now I can...LOL.



Gary

I believe you can only Dip-Net for them in lakes.(see regs. for handle length/net width)  NO THROW NETTING allowed in any lake or res.   (previous NCKA discusions/debates)