Almaden Lake Park in San Jose, CA

[bulldog78]

Hello All,

 

I recently picked up a new rod and tackle from Bass Pro in San Jose, I fished in the UK when I was a teenager most days during the summer holiday at the local pond with my buddy but that was 30 plus years ago and mostly float fishing on freshwater (what I knew as course fishing). As my little one is starting to get old enough (he is 5 now) I wanted to start to fish with him a little as he grows up.  I don't intend this to be a main hobby I have so many others that I would not be able to spend hours everyday between work and family and those hobbies.  So I went out and got the stuff, I headed out to Uvas this past weekend and only managed to lose some tackle but learnt a few things that I was doing wrong, including cutting my tags to close

 

I would like to fish a little closer to my house, Coyote Creek is off until the end of April and I need to make sure I have barbless hooks as well.  I am familiar with the area as I fly RC planes on the pathway near there.  I have been looking at Almaden park which is not that far in the other direction and the website says you must display you license while fishing.  So here is the question, how exactly do you go about displaying the license, right now my license is in my tackle box so I have it on me.  Does anyone here also fish at that lake and if so what do you do?

 

Thanks

[schplurg]

I don't display mine I keep it in my wallet. I fish all of these places and I've never even heard of having to display it. I wouldn't worry about it (find out if it's an actual law but as far as I can find it is not) but you can get a lanyard and hang it around your neck if you want. 

 

I keep it in my wallet so I will never forget it. I'm happy being asked to show it, I paid good money for it. If I learn I need to display it I will.

 

Almaden Lake is the worst place as far as I'm concerned. Coyote Creek and the ponds are good for numbers, and you can get bluegill there if you don't find bass. Uvas is good except the water is very low.

 

For the barbless places I have a separate set of baits and tackle just for those places. They will check your hooks! Just pinch the barb down with pliers.

 

By the way, Coyote Creek is long. There are so many places to fish along it, I'm going to explore it more intensively this year, especially more towards the bay.

[J._Bricker]

Hello @bulldog78, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums. If you’re willing to making a little trip of if,  maybe check out Del Valle Reservior out of Livermore. Shore fishing, picnic, overnight camping rental boats and alot of families from the South Bay/ San Jose area enjoy this park. And at the intersection of Mines and Mendenhall Rd you’d usually (pre-pandemic) find 5-10 guys flying RC gliders there because of the perfect conditions.
 

As for the fishing license question, you no longer have to display it visually upon your person. However, it is a good idea to keep it in your wallet so it isn’t forgotten or lost...

[zeth]

you do not have to display your license. 

[bulldog78]

Thanks for all the feedback, I have been to Uvas twice with no luck.  I am planing on going to Almaden Lake Park on Thursday, hoping to get a few bites

[blckshirt98]

I live only a couple of miles from Almaden Lake Park and that place is the black hole for me, I've never had much luck there.  Chesbro is the other black hole of fishing in the area.  Uvas can be solid but it's been a bit too cold for Uvas, give it another couple of weeks.  It sucks that Anderson is drained and won't have water for years, and it'll take years for it to recover after that.

[schplurg]

17 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

I live only a couple of miles from Almaden Lake Park and that place is the black hole for me, I've never had much luck there.  Chesbro is the other black hole of fishing in the area.  Uvas can be solid but it's been a bit too cold for Uvas, give it another couple of weeks.  It sucks that Anderson is drained and won't have water for years, and it'll take years for it to recover after that.

 

I agree with all of it. Almaden is so pressured it's insane. Chesbro is my nemesis. Uvas has nice fish but it's tough as well. And water is very low everywhere. Calero - at least you can launch a boat or yak on it.

 

So sad that we can't use our waters like we used to. Fishing a yak on Uvas would be awesome. Nope, can't do it! Used to swim in Chesbro as a kid. Take out little boats. For free. Not anymore. Oh no someone might get hurt! Lame.

 

California: looks great on postcards! Okay rant over.

 

I took a drive to the Delta last Monday evening. Spent the night then fished in the morning. Got some bites going for stripers with frozen anchovies. Wind was bad where I was...Empire Cut.

 

By the way - I needed anchovies and found a new tackle shop in Manteca that opens at 6 am, 5 on Sundays. The local Bass Pro opens at 9:00 so screw them. Place is called "Mega Bait & Tackle". Guy seems cool, and he had my anchovies at 7:00 am so he gets my business.

 

Anyone asking about Bay Area fishing, the Delta is going to be my only answer from now on. At least it's always full of water!

[Rileydawg]

I used to fish Almaden a long time ago. It must have been 10 years ago, that I went to practice on my fly rod and I saw a man pull a HUGE largemouth out of the water. I remember it was pushing 3/4 of this man’s body. It. was. huge.
And I remember because I’m the guy he asked to take a picture of him holding it. We were close to being underneath the bridge and I remember when he hooked it, he was convinced that he had snagged and was bringing in a log. 
This thing was a MONSTER and I think it would have qualified for state record or even world to be honest… if someone had said, hey that was actually a sturgeon then okay, that’s more believable… but I know for sure there’s no sturgeon in that lake. I Remember he said he was jigging the bottom with a brush hog. Was an older middle aged Asian man. Was around 2013 maybe? If you know him, tell him to post his picture I took of him!! 
 

[schplurg]

There are some huge carp in Almaden, saw one a few weeks ago from the bridge.

 

I go there sometimes and I've never had a bite. Had a follower on a chatterbait once. Friend catches a small bass sometimes.

 

The lakes are pretty full though at least. Uvas and some others. Fishing in the south bay is difficult, and some of the best lakes take a little effort to get to. Anyone wants to know a good one private message me. Tired of garbage all over shore so I'm not advertising publicly.

[Basshole33]

Been fishing Almaden lake for a few years since it’s so close to home. I can stop after work for a few hours. It’s my go to even though as mentioned it’s tough and overfished. I do manage to catch a bass there I’d say every 3rd trip. Great for carp though.

[schplurg]

Lot of people fishing there yesterday. I saw a guy said he caught a 28 pound carp recently. Catches bass sometimes. 

 

I know people catch there but I have never seen anyone with a fish on their line, ever, and I walk around the lake pretty often just to get outside.

 

Funny almost everyone was throwing chatterbaits last few times I went which is the only bait I got a blowup on - not even a bite. One time two years ago.