Lafayette Reservoir nor cal

[0351]

I wanted to start this thread on how to fish the Lafayette Reservoir in Lafayette Ca. ..... because I need the help! lol

I dont have a boat but I do have a battery and trolling motor so I love to fish Laf, but most times I just get skunked. Are any of you familiar with this lake and sort of have it figured out? If so, can you share your knowledge? 

So far I have learned you need to either throw weedless or topwater, otherwise you are going to spend a lot of time cleaning moss off your lure. I did have a great day once when I decided to try drop shot, ya, I got a tone of fish that day, all dinks. Fun, but not what we are looking for. I was enjoying a day on the water a cpl years ago and from a distance watched a guy trolling along the bank and he was tearing them up! when he got closer I commented him on his success and asked what he was throwing but he really didnt want to tell me and just said “green pumpkin” and sailed away.... ok, thats a start, green pumpkin. So what else?

 

So come on No Cal brothers and sisters, “whats up with Laf?” 

[camman]

Lafayette reservoir is a great little lake but gets a lot of pressure.  I’ve taken my kayak a number of times as well as rented a boat and brought my own trolling motor and battery.  I’ve never fished it from shore so can’t comment though notice most people hitting up the docks.  Since it gets a lot of pressure I normally use 4-6lb test on my spinning and 8lb on my casting.  The most consistent baits for me were dropshotting a 4.5” Robo in Aaron’s Magic or tossing a 5” Senko in Green Pumpkin.  As you know the reed line is the most predominant cover and that’s where I would fish.  I remember the longer casts the better and get the bait right to the reeds.  Once the summer progresses the submerged weed line becomes visible I’ve caught a few on a chatter bait on the edges and I think I’ve had 1 frog fish.  
 

My biggest fish I’ve caught there was a 10lb catfish which hit a senko.  As I think about it, I’ve actually caught a fair number of catfish out of there on plastics.  My biggest bass was a 6lber and I did see a guy pull a 11.5 lb one out of there on a swim bait so I know bigger ones exist.

[zeth]

Lafayette is great. Not as good as it used to be IMO but still ok. This time of year I usually start with a big topwater. I have caught many a 5+ on a dropshot there. Just upsize your line to 8 or 10 and use a weedless dropshot hook.  I have caught 1 single 10+ on a huddleston there many years ago. Caught an 8 punching a black dog fake fish like 6 years ago. My buddy caught an 8.5 and a 6 or so on a glide bait on the coldest nastiest day in the winter. 

The main key to Lafayette is early morning, as late in the day as possible, and the windiest days.  When Lafayette is slick calm it's tough but still possible if you figure it out. Punching the grass can be super good there when it's calm.  I have also had good luck with underspins and your swimbait of choice, texas rigged craws and once I got super desperate and found out I could get bit on a Lucky craft wander slim and wander blade very easily on that day at least. Very hard baits to find. A spybait would be similair. Just keeping them up above the weeds. A floating jerkbait would likely work as well. That lake is small enough that you can bring a variety of stuff and just keep trying until you get bit. All this being said I have been skunked there quite a few times. 

 

Now I will also say that Chabot is better and has bigger fish. Just go there. Last time there  a couple weeks ago from the bank I caught a pig on a Gan Craft 178. Probably went around 7 lbs. When I go out in the boat I usually wreck em or get skunked. Not many in between days there. A few years ago I had a crazy day and had stopped counting after catching 30. All but one were over 6! And I only fished for a couple hours. 

 

If you are super desperate there is a pond in Orinda just above the golf course. Just ignore the no fishing signs as I am sure they are not put there legally. The golf course put them up but they don't own that creek section above the course that is damed into a pond.  Last time I went there I got skunked and the time before that just 2 but they were over 4. I'm sure someone was stocking it illegally.  There were some jaints in there. I have caught many 4+ and one 8.  No real signs of life in the pond though. So bass eating bass for the most part I would assume. Although they were catching bats one night. That was crazy. They may all be gone now or the water may be gone with the drought. worth a looksie though.