Wildlife Photographer Takes To The Water at Los Vaqueros, And It Pays Off

After several frustrating attempts to shoot wildlife photos while hiking the trails at Los Vaqueros, Oakland-based Outdoor Photographer Steve Goodall decided to try another tactic.

"The birds were always flying out toward the water or in the trees in the water," he said.  "I wanted to see if I could get closer."

During the heat of early September, 2017, he rented 16-foot electric boats from the Marina on two trips to Los Vaqueros. 

It was a very good idea. "I was like a kid at Christmas," he said about his time at LV. "Every time I turned around there was something to shoot."

He shot memorable photos of deer, osprey, bald eagles, coyotes, golden eagles, falcons, red tail hawks, even a striped bass as it’s thrashing in the water during a “striper boil”  and even more species. 

Steve has been shooting photos -- or "frozen moments" as he calls them - for 10 years, In addition to animals, he likes to shoot sports.  "Photographing nature gives me the opportunity to let people see the beauty in animals as well as the places that protect these animals. Hopefully by seeing this beauty, they will help conserve what Mother Nature has given us."

He uses a Cannon camera and a 100-400 mm zoom lens. His favorite subject from LV is the bald eagle. "This was the bird that I was seeking the most. There are not many around this area and to have them sit and pose while I was on the boat was breathtaking to me. I still don't know why they were so patient and did not fly away immediately."

The striped bass photo came when a "boil" cropped up near his boat as the stripers were feeding on small fish. "It was thrilling to watch and very hard to focus not knowing when and where the next one would clear the water."

Please take a look at his photos

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Sept. 12, 2017
Los Vaqueros Fishing Report

Even with the very hot weather, we’re seeing improving striper and catfish fishing. Trout fishing has been consistent.

Our water clarity remains good. Water temperature hovers between 72 and 75 degrees depending on the time of day. 

A 13 pound striper was caught this week in Cowboy Cove on an anchovy.

Just as the days are getting shorter, so are our hours. During September, we’re open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Starting in October, we’ll be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you are looking to rent a boat, it is a good idea to call ahead to check current wind conditions at (925) 371-2628 or check online for weather conditions updated hourly.  We have seen very high winds lately - gusts to 35 mph on Monday morning - so please check ahead if you are planning to rent a boat.

The reservoir is storing 151,315 acre-feet of water, 95 percent of its 160,000 acre-foot capacity. Pumping has stopped and the reservoir will continue to drop through the summer.

The Contra Costa Water District applied for state funds to expand Los Vaqueros Reservoir. There is more information here:
 

TROUT

Fishing for trout continues to be good even with the warming temperatures with a lot of activity at the fish cleaning station.  They are being caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as past the Rock Wall.  The baits of choice for shore anglers are garlic-scented PowerBait, night crawlers or Kastmaster lures.  Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs.  Water temperatures are currently too high to safely plant trout.  Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty.  Trout fishing continues to be most productive in the morning or evening hours with fish being caught from around the reservoir. There are a number of fish being caught from Oak Point to past the Rock Wall.  South Cove also continues to produce a good number of fish. 

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Most anglers were focused on stripers or trout.  Keep in mind that largemouth need to be 12 inches to be kept.  Please release any big largemouth bass you might catch, they are the future of largemouth bass fishing in the reservoir.  1000 8”-10” bass were planted on July 13^th along with 2000 3”-5” fish.  If you catch any of undersized fish please release them gently and allow them to grow up.

STRIPERS

Striper fishing is mixed with fewer shakers showing up but more medium to large fish being caught.  The pier by the Marina and from Oak Point south towards South Cove are doing decently.  Boils are showing up all around the lake with the stripers chasing the bait fish.  If you happen across a boil, top water lures are doing a good job catching fish.  From shore, cut anchovies or shad are the bait of choice.  Just a reminder, stripers need to be 18 inches or more to be legal.  Please release the small fish as quickly and carefully as possible.  They are the future of our striped bass fishery.  A 13 pound striper was caught in Cowboy Cove on an anchovy.

CATFISH

Catfish are starting to show up in greater numbers. With the warmer weather and fish plants they are beginning to be caught from South Cove to Cowboy Cove.  For those wishing to target catfish, chicken liver and anchovies are the best choices of bait.  There was a 1000 pound catfish plant on August 23^rd from Lassen.  Anglers have been shy to come in and weigh their fish but we have been seeing a number of decent sized fish going by to be cleaned.