Pre- Spawn Bass In California

[FishOnLMB]

Hey everyone, on Saturday I will be going out onto Lake Del Valle and fishing fro some prespawn fish. The lake has been closed for a while due to flooding, and is finally opening the 15th of April. Does anybody have any tips in where they think the fish will be and any baits I could use. This lake s very deep with points, transition banks, and the lakes water depth is anywhere from 1-100+ feet. There are also rocks and weeds.

[WRB]

Jigs and swimbaits around the points anywhere from 5' to 35' is the location pre spawners will be located.

Tom

[J._Bricker]

FishOnLMB, the south end of the lake is shallow with some flats, and is probably your best area to fish. Heron Bay also has some flats as well. You probably need a boat to get to Heron Bay, and the dam can be good this time of year with cranks and rip baits. If you feel like hiking up from the end of Arroyo Rd., you can get to Heron Bay. I haven't been up that way in some time, so I'm not sure what is accessible. Good luck, JB 

[camman]

You fishing from a boat or from shore?  Big difference at Del Valle

[FishOnLMB]

On 4/14/2017 at 9:57 AM, camman said:

You fishing from a boat or from shore?  Big difference at Del Valle

Boat

[camman]

I've done well in the past focusing on the points of both Heron and Swallow bay during the pre-spawn...Also once the spawn starts the southeast part of the lake where the water flows in (assuming the lake is full, haven't been there this year).  Its shallow and I've got a couple pigs out of there.

[FishOnLMB]

3 hours ago, camman said:

I've done well in the past focusing on the points of both Heron and Swallow bay during the pre-spawn...Also once the spawn starts the southeast part of the lake where the water flows in (assuming the lake is full, haven't been there this year).  Its shallow and I've got a couple pigs out of there.

What lures have you used for pre spawn and post spawn bass at del valle? Also what colors?

[sage]

My brother and I caught 20 bass today at Del valle. Most were about 3#. Bass were in tight to cover. Caught 15 of them flipping pumpkin baby brush hogs with ends dipped in chartreuse. Used 3/16 oz tungsten weights. Going again tomorrow. Hopefully find a few bigger girls. 

[camman]

I'm big on swim jigs during the prespawn, in green pumpkin, bluegill, or black/blue.  You can't go wrong with senkos as well

[blckshirt98]

is Del Valle still closed from the high water or did they release and is it open as usual?

[sage]

It's open. Fished again today. 22 bass. Same pattern. Biggest just short of 7 lbs. 3 over 4lbs. A lot of 2.5 to 3.5lbers. 

[FishOnLMB]

1 hour ago, sage said:

It's open. Fished again today. 22 bass. Same pattern. Biggest just short of 7 lbs. 3 over 4lbs. A lot of 2.5 to 3.5lbers. 

Where were the bass around that you caught them?

[sage]

They were in tight to shore. Either in fallen trees or weeds. Only thing we noticed if there was a ton of blue colored algae on surface. We didn't get a bite. Once out of it. Bite picked up again.