WON reader Bernie Abarca of Fremont and Ken Haskell of San Jose fished Lake Del Valle Jan. 13 and got into a good bass bite. They landed a 6 pounder and a 4.5 pounder, along with six bass in the 3-pound range. They were fishing homemade jigs with a 1/2-ounce jighead in 35 feet of water.

The lake was planted last week with 1,000 pounds of rainbows from the DFW, and the week before, it received 750 pounds from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms.

Stormy weather has made fishing tough at times, but trout are still biting. “Fishing has been tough this week with the low pressure systems rolling through,” said Cody McGarry of Lake Del Valle Marina. “For trout, most anglers are using either Power Bait, Power Eggs or nightcrawlers. I also recommend using either Kastmasters, small spinners or small jerk baits. Fish shallow sand flats and coves.”

 Joe Mello of Fremont caught a 7-pound rainbow last week and Daryl Hill of San Jose caught a 6-pounder.

 Fishing for catfish has been surprisingly good. “Catfish are doing good this week,” McGarry said. “Most anglers are using either chicken liver, nightcrawlers or mackerel. Fish deeper water around rock walls and points.”

 Striper fishing has been fair. “Stripers are starting to show up a little with a few anglers having luck,” McGarry said. “Most anglers that fish for stripers right now are using either anchovies or nightcrawlers. I would also recommend using some kind of jigs, either a Hair Raiser, chatter bait or spoon.”