ALAMEDA COUNTY – The season is here, and it's time to celebrate, the lightning trout arrived this week, and just in time for the upcoming holiday. Mt. Lassen Farms and the East Bay Regional Parks District have a relationship that spans the years. Over those years East Bay anglers have come to appreciate the consistency and the quality of their trout and while these fish are superb, the lightning trout are truly special.

This week lakes Chabot, Temescal, Contra Loma, and Quarry received 1,000 pounds with 250 pounds of trophy lightning trout. Trout over 5-pounds are considered of trophy size, but when these fish show up, they are often larger.

First developed in West Virginia and introduced to anglers in 1954. This strain was the result of crossbreeding Rainbow Trout with West Virginia Golden Trout. Due to their popularity, they eventually made their way West and eventually became popular as a sport fish in the mid 1960’s.

A variant of these fish were planted in Bay Area lakes until the late-90’s but the program dropped off until 2019 when the fish were once again added to the EBRPD fish plant schedule.

Lightning Trout can be easily identified by their deep golden yellow bodies, pink or reddish highlights on the lower fin tips and gill plates and a bold bright red lateral line. Aside from their unique coloration, these fish are identical to other Mt. Lassen Farm raised rainbows and possess the same beautiful red-pink meat that we have all come to appreciate.

Lightning Trout can be caught using the same methods that work for other trout. Light line with a slide sinker rig with power bait, or tube jigs, spinners, or micro spoons all work. These fish are easy to spot by both anglers and predators, so they quickly learn what to avoid and how to stay unhooked. It is not uncommon to see a half dozen bank anglers all casting for the same solitary trout cruising back and forth along the shoreline just out of reach or even worse, oblivious to anything and everything thrown at it.

Lake Temescal – Received 1,000 pounds including 250 pounds of lightning trout. The water is dirty following the rain and action was mixed. There were plenty of bows taken but the lightning were a bit tight lipped and only a few hit the beach. Lures in orange, red or black got the most action and should produce until the water clears. The next several days and the weekend should be very good. The fish are spread throughout the lake and most spots along the shoreline should be productive. There is construction ongoing on the Broadway side of the lake and parking may get tight.

Lake Chabot – Received another 1,000 pounds including 250 pounds of lightning but action was mixed. It was tough fishing and will probably take a couple of days for the fish to settle. The lake is in good condition with some stain. With the light stain, try lighter or natural-colored lures.

Over the next several days, conditions should improve and brighter colors may become more productive.

PowerBait is always a good go-to but keep your gear light. The next several days and through the weekend should be very good.

Contra Loma – Received the first 1,000-pound trout plant of the season last week and received another 1,000 pounds including 250 pounds of lightning this week. Several anglers have commented that the lake is actually fishing better than I had previously reported and the combination of recent plants should kick lake action into high gear. The shoreline weeds are still thick, but if you can get out beyond them you should be able to get into the fish. The rock area near the dam, the points at Quail Cove, and the docks should all be good and the lake should fish well over the next several days and through the weekend. The water is only slightly stained. Bright, white- and natural- colored baits should work. If you find stained water switch to chartreuse, red, orange and black. PowerBait is always a good go-to!

Quarry Lakes – Bass, cats, bows and gold! Quarry has been fishing very well all season, and this week has been even better. The lake has received several plants including another 1,000 pounds of bows and a load of trophy lightning. There was a scheduled DFG plant on the books, but I haven't been able to confirm that they were delivered.

Lake conditions remain only slightly challenging with some weeds along the shoreline and in particular, heavy weeds in the cove. The peninsula, the outside of the weed bed in the cove and the row are all fishing well. Anglers fishing on the outside edge of the weeds in the cove are targeting fish holding under the weeds and schooling along the dock. The water is slightly stained along the shoreline, and most colors should work. There have been several bass taken, plenty of bows and even some cats. The lake should fish well for the next several days and through the weekend.

Lake del Valle – Lake del Valle received a double plant last week but no plants this week. Despite the break, action remains very good. The entire shoreline from the downed tree at the narrows, along the East Swim beach and beyond is holding fish. There are pockets of weeds throughout and if the fish aren't cruising the open water, they are holding under the weeds. The DFG's are super aggressive, and most spoons or jigs are taking fish.

The Lassens have been equally aggressive, but jigs have been their preferred bait. The water is stained after the rain but bright colors are working when the sun is out, and darker patterns once the clouds move in. For spoons, red, black and red, yellow and chartreuse, blue, blue-green, and white have all been very good. Try jigs patterns in grasshopper, watermelon, pumpkin, pink and pink-white.

Powerbait in chartreuse, pink or rainbow can also be a good selection. The fish are cruising close to the shoreline and short casts will generally keep you in the zone. Smallmouth action remains fair. There have been a few bass reported but these have been smaller fish. There have been striper boils following the plants, but the bite has been poor.

Shadow Cliffs – Received a double plant last week but no plants this week. Despite the break, trout action remains very good. There has been little change in lake conditions. Some of the shoreline weeds are dying off, but it’s still best to fish from the docks or the point adjacent to the ramp to get out beyond them. The lake is just slightly stained. Black is a good starting color for jigs, but yellow, or yellow-white are generally productive.

If you’re new to fishing or just want to buff up on some of your skills, check out the East Bay Regional Parks schedule of basic and intermediate hands-on fishing seminars including:

-Trout basics, Friday December 5 at Chabot.

-Trout intermediate, Saturday December 6 at Contra Loma, and Friday December 12 at Chabot.

Registration is required and classes do have a small charge, but all gear is provided. Check out their web site at: https://www.ebparks.org/calendar. Key word “fishing.”

There are also plenty of Volunteer Opportunities, that are a good way to get deeper into park operations, clean up your local park, lake or shoreline. For teens looking for community service opportunities, or if you want to provide your own service proposal for consideration, check out the EBRPD Volunteer web site at: https://apply.ebparks.org/custom/501/opp_search.

NOTICE: Golden Mussels have been detected in Contra Loma Reservoir! Due to the detection of Golden Mussels in Contra Loma, know that if you launch your boat in Contra Loma, your boat will be quarantined for 30 days from other lakes. There are additional boat inspections at Del Valle, Shadow Cliffs, Lake Chabot and Quarry Lakes.

Prior to launching on any water body: clean, drain, and dry your vessel. Boat bands will only be honored from the Lake they were issued. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO, visit the Invasive Mussels Page for more information on current inspection procedures.