looking for a lake around the bay area I can night fish for Cats. Anyone?

Never done it, but am starting to miss the huge blue cats I use to catch on the Snake River in Idaho. We also caught Channel cats to 30lbs. I have some time to explore next week. Would love some advise.....

Skyboy

I think there may only be a few lakes in the Bay area that are legally open to night fishing. I can personally recommend a few inthe south bay: Uvas, Chesbro, and Coyote Lakes. Anderson is great near the Dunne Ave bridge but I think they closed it to night fishing.

Good luck,
PK

Within a 100 miles or so is fine. Thanks for the recommendations. anymore?

Also there is the delta. It is definately open to night fishing and just about any back-end slough should be holding catfish right now.

Jeff

Might be a bit farther than you'd like, but I've had great luck bassing and catfishing at East Park Reservoir, near Stonyford, past Clearlake.  Lots of tasty cats there, use hot dogs!

In my not so humble opinion,    dont EVER pass up C-lake for another fishery for cats or bass, esp at night.  OK ill confess my opinion is totally bias and I know very little about catching cats but the experience of C-lake at night isnt one to miss. The place comes to life at night and is down right creepy.
Cats are being taken now with drop shots, crank baits, and even some soft plastics, by folks that are targeting bass. Its crazy right now with the shad explosion thats going off. Ive taken kittys around the narrows in the back waters of Braitos marina and my usual southend haunts on rip baits.
"catfish ed" is a great place to start for info.

 just checked out "catfish ed" and its definately on. I work on tuesday next week, otherwise Im free if you want company, ill be targeting the bucket mouth though. If you do decide to come up here beware the locals that creep around at night. I call them "sleestak".

Skyboy, I would have to agree Clear lake has some nice cats in it and good night fishing for bass.
I go to Discovery Bay on the Delta as well. But not the quality that Clear lake has as far as size but you can catch a lot of them. As a matter of fact I am at my shop building light holders for the kayak as I am writing this post. I just got the bow and stern LED lights by Innovative lighting from BoatersWorld. I might try them out Saturday night if I am not to burned out from tonight.

Just a word on East Park...  It's hot there.  It was 108 when I was there last month.

Joe - Oneil Forebay has catfish....but make sure you don't tell ANYONE cause it suppose to be a secret 

I'm up for an overnight trip there some time - let's plan it!

Joe (Sky Boy) & Joel (The Mooch).....wrong time of the year for the Forebay.

Ken kickfish

Give lake merced a try its got some cats in there but people rarely fish that lake anymore. fish the south lake cause they lock the main entrance but if you launch by the bridge no prob.!! good luck!!!

Never done it, but am starting to miss the huge blue cats I use to catch on the Snake River in Idaho. We also caught Channel cats to 30lbs. I have some time to explore next week. Would love some advise.....

Skyboy

I'm in the East Bay...though its not legal by the books, Lake Chabot is one lake that holds big Channel Cats and has so so enforcement of park rules...I have fished numerous summer nights in the lake from shore, Coleman lantern a blazing without issue...lots of people do it, to the point that people drag folding chase lounge chairs and sleeping bags right near the marina, north of th first dock...keep in mind that East Bay Regional Park's Police Headquarters is on top of Lake Chabot...

As a general rule as long as there isn't chaos at hand, i.e. drunk and disorderly/fighting/lighting fires, they don't seem to care...only once in 3 years has a cop asked me to leave and it was a simple formality as I did have a valid license and daily fishing permit...

As an fyi, the biggest channel cat I've seen pulled out was a 36 pounder and 20 plus pounders are caught annually...Clear Lake has some big cats but you definitely can't eat them...

Regards,

Tony

...Clear Lake has some big cats but you definitely can't eat them...

Mercury?

...Clear Lake has some big cats but you definitely can't eat them...

Mercury?

Yep, heavy metal...