Lafayette Resevoir 7/18/2016

It was so nice to get out on the water finally with my kayak, since it has been over a year. I loaded up, kayak was a pain to get on my Ford Escape since I'm only 5'1 lol but I got it done and was on the water by 11:00am. It was pretty breezy and there was a little chop on the water, but nothing a Hobie Revo can't get through 😃. Dropped some worms in the middle by the tower to soak, no hits. About 1pm headed to the north side and tied up to one of the white buoys, soaked some anchovies, targeting catfish. No hits. By 2pm I was getting antsy so I threw on a purple with green flake senco worm and headed towards the tules. Found an area with lots of grass and started tossing it. As soon as I hit the grass, bam! Fish on! A nice LMB or SMB? It was a green bass. Probably about 3 lbs. I never really use plastics to catch fish but now I'm hooked! So I made my way around the lake, along the tules and started tossing. Went to a little cove with a shady area and some trees with that grassy stuff, and bam! Fish on! This one was green with black markings, about 3 lbs. It sure put on a good fight!! I was using 8 lb test.

Had a great time. No catfish, but that's ok! As I left the lake, I was greeted by two beautiful black tail deer, magnificent bucks! Can't wait for my next adventure!

It looks like it was a great day to get out! Thanks for the report and pics!

My favorite lake anywhere!

Nice catches.  Thanks for the report and pictures Steph.

Nice bass!  What does it cost to kayak fish and launch there?  I've never been there..

Thx.

Mel

that's a LMB. SMB are usually a gold or brown color. Nice deer too.

That first picture lox like your standing up on the hobie pedals lol.  had this oriental all disoriented

nice bass, howd they taste?

Good job Steph. I used to fish there in my teens. It used to have some monster bass and cats in the little lake.

Nice bass!  What does it cost to kayak fish and launch there?  I've never been there..

Thx.

Mel

7 for parking, 4 to launch, 5 to fish, it cost me 19 total but I also had an inspection fee that they due monthly and a thing of worms. I didn't see much else action going on.? Beautiful lake though. 

With all the fees I don't think I'll be doin too much lake fishing constantly lol. Kinda why I like ocean fishing, or river!

The bass tasted great! Fried one up in a little oil and grilled the other!

7 for parking, 4 to launch, 5 to fish, it cost me 19 total but I also had an inspection fee that they due monthly and a thing of worms. I didn't see much else action going on.? Beautiful lake though. 

With all the fees I don't think I'll be doin too much lake fishing constantly lol. Kinda why I like ocean fishing, or river!

Yeah, those EBMUD lakes can get expensive pretty quickly.
EBRPD lakes can too, but at least there's more of them clustered closer together that'll honor the same inspection receipt for 30 days. Couple bucks less on parking too.

thanks for the report!

Was there last sunday.. 8 Bass caught, 1 3 lber, the rest were 11-13 inchers from the docks. Beautiful bass and bucks!

Re : those inspection fees....at least for San Pablo Dam, I usually have the guy initial and date each time so long as I go back within 30 days, I only have to pay that inspection fee once a season..

The whole program is so arbitrary and just a fee grab imho....


Back in May at SPD I had a pimple face kid insist that he needed to inspect in addition to the kayak, my pfd, net, paddles, mirage drive etc...
I told him that was absurd given that EBMUD continues to pump several hundred acre ft of water straight from Sac river.

Yeah...ocean fishing far less hassle.

Re : those inspection fees....at least for San Pablo Dam, I usually have the guy initial and date each time so long as I go back within 30 days, I only have to pay that inspection fee once a season..

The whole program is so arbitrary and just a fee grab imho....


Back in May at SPD I had a pimple face kid insist that he needed to inspect in addition to the kayak, my pfd, net, paddles, mirage drive etc...
I told him that was absurd given that EBMUD continues to pump several hundred acre ft of water straight from Sac river.

Agreed.

EBRPD inspections are supposed to include the ancillary stuff too. At least at Chabot (pretty lax) and Del Valle (uh, 'comprehensive') they check it. I think I've had Quarry do it too. Never been checked at Shadow Cliffs at all, not even the kayak.

Hey Steph nice to see your post.  Last time I saw you I think was in Santa Cruz.  I have the same problem with vehicles.  Car is much taller than me .  Just don't graduate to a 4x4 Van.  See ya soon.

Nice report and pictures.