No photos this week! Pom Avecilla, and Al Hurwitz trolled every section and shoreline of Lake Del Valle (LDV) on September 10, 2026, looking mainly for Bass. No fish and no bites. There was intense heat, clear sunny skies, and a high pressure system, all combining for a major fish lockdown. To quote artificial intelligence: “the extreme heat wave and intense high-pressure system on September 10 heavily impacted the fishing at Lake Del Valle, making for incredibly tough and sluggish conditions”. I fully agree with that assessment. The elements of extreme heat and a high pressure system make fishing conditions very tough. 

 

We trolled lead core line at depths of 15-20 feet below the surface, in 30-50 foot water columns. We used streamer flies, feathered in-line spinners, and jointed Rapala plugs, all to no avail. The surface water temperature was in the mid-70's, with very good clarity, and with the lake level down about 10 feet from maximum.

 

We spoke with Kenny Khuu, the dock manager and an expert fisherman, who said that there had been essentially no fish caught over the two-day heat wave. He thought we might need to wait as long as November for lake stabilization and for the pre-winter"feed" to kick in. 

 

We will keep assessing the fishing status at Del Valle and return as soon as the fall bite improves.  Pom Avecilla, San Mateo

Dr. Al Hurwitz, Saratoga