Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3705 Feb 16- Mar 2, 2018 | Page 19

ablo C
Rock
Wall
rk
Dam
Sandy Point
Pink Lady Cove
The Pines
V's Landing
Pinto
Point
Elevation
315
Big
Iaggi Landing
Slide
Big Point
Buoy Lines
Round Top
Briones
Reservoir
Elevation
576
Wild Boar Cove
Fantasy
Island
5 MPH
Sather Canyon
Power Bait in Scow Canyon.
Crappie, redear sunfish, and blue-
gill offer good fishing in the spring and
summer for anglers using an array of
small baits and lures. The redear sunfish
record is 3 pounds, 6.4 ounces, while the
lake crappie record stands at 3 pounds, 3.2
ounces
The lake also hosts a sleeper popula-
tion of white sturgeon that are occasional-
ly caught by anglers bait fishing for trout
and catfish.
For example, Greg Peterson caught
and released a 62-inch sturgeon on Power
Bait and 4 lb. test line at the Pines on July
11, 2013. Carl Moyer and Dick Thomson
also caught and released a 5-foot sturgeon
while fishing by the boat ramp on Septem-
ber 2, 2016.
Nai Saephan of San Pablo landed the
lake record diamondback of 105 pounds
while soaking frozen shrimp on June
13, 2003.
Fishing Notes
• Rainbow Trout are the most popular species pursued
at San Pablo Reservoir, since the lake is the most heavily
stocked in the Bay Area. A combination of CDFW and
concessionaire plants contribute to a high fish per rod average.
Bank anglers find the top action using PowerBait and Pautzke
Fire Bait in the main recreation area in the spring and early
summer. As the summer proceeds, anglers need to fish in deeper
No access
water for the rainbows. Trollers experience the most success when the
Beyond Buoy Line
water is relatively clear in the spring, summer and fall. A variety of minnow
imitation lures, including Needlefish, Rapalas, Cripplures, Goldeneyes and
Speedy Shiners, and nightcrawlers behind dodgers will work.
• Largemouth and Spotted Bass can be also caught year round, with the fastest
action taking place in the spring. Fish with plastic worms, Senkos, Brush Hogs, jigs,
crankbaits and spinnerbaits in the lake's coves and off the points.
• Channel Catfish hit best on the reservoir in the summer and early fall, when plants by
the concessionaire supplement the lake's naturally spawning population. Fish during the early
morning and late afternoon hours with mackerel, chicken liver, anchovies, nightcrawlers and
"stink" baits. Fishing the inlets after spring storms can also be productive.
To Highway 24
• Bluegill, Crappie and Redear Sunfish offer the top action during the summer  and  fall. Use
and Orinda,
redworms, millirems and small jigs around brush and structure.
Oakland and
• Sturgeon offer a sleeper fishery. They are rarely caught and are usually hooked by anglers trying for other species.
Walnut Creek
The top 10 winners in the youth division of the NTAC event at San Pablo pose with Sheldon
Bright of the Fish Sniffer.
Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff.
That fish eclipsed the previous lake
record set by Dave Edwards of Vallejo
on March 23, 1995 when he nailed a 31
lb. 4.8 oz. channel catfish while using an
anchovy off Oak Point
In recent years, the hard