Everything you need to know about catching ‘reel’ big fish in
the South Valley
One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish– they’re all in the South Valley’s lakes, reservoirs and creeks.
Well, maybe you won’t find blue fish, but you can certainly find bluegill fish. Certainly, you’ll find smatterings of red on some species of trout.
No matter what color or how many fish you catch, fishing in the South Valley is a great way to relax, spend time with your family and meet new people. Take it from people who know: locals who fish.
Geared Up for a Good Time
“If you’re a novice, I’ll take you by the hand if I have to, and show you what you need for the kind of fishing you want to do. We’ll talk to you about what you need. I’ve been fishing for the past 44 years, and it’s not just a sport to me, it’s a passion.”
Tackle
“Get lighter tackle, but make sure it’s going to last you a while. You don’t want something that is just going to last you a month and then fall apart. If you want something that will let you get into the sport to the point where you’ve learned it and enjoy it, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. You can get a couple of lures for $1.99 each and a rod and reel for about $20, and here you get the line for free. You have to buy a permit, but it’s really not that much money for all the enjoyment you’ll get out of it.”
Lures
“You know, a lot of the lures are these bright colors and very flashy, but the colors attract the consumers more than they attract the fish. You can go with basic gold and silver lures– they’ve been working for a long time, way before all the bright colors came out. Sometimes, though, bright colors on bright days and dark colors on dark days work, too. It depends on the fish. The other important thing about the lures are the silhouette.”
Technique
“Keep your line in the water and the bait in front of the fish. Those are the two important things to remember when you’re fishing. If you’re not sure where to go fishing, do what a lot of people do: Come into the shop. A lot of fishermen will sit around in the shop and listen to the scuttlebutt about where the fish have been biting lately. ”
Quality Time
“Most people don’t need to fish to feed their families, so a lot of people go fishing just to catch a fish and then let it go so you can enjoy it in the future. That’s a good thing because people are outnumbering the fish, but it’s also really fun to just get out there with your friends and your family and just have a good time fishing. Whether you catch a fish or not is really secondary to just being able to have a good time together.
–Roger Diaz, owner of Hollister Bait & Tackle
What You’ll Catch In the South Valley
Catfish: Catfish are scaleless, with a tough, smooth skin. All species have eight appendages on the head called “barbels,” four on the upper jaw and four on the chin. The barbels are sometimes called “whiskers.” They are fleshy, supple projections that narrow to a tip.
Largemouth bass: Largemouth bass are generally green in color with diamond-shaped markings on the sides. The scales above the anal fin have spots which blur together to form stripes.
Bluegill: Bluegill are “pan” shaped, narrow when viewed head on and wide when viewed from the side. The eyes of the fish are large. The fish have no sharp spine near the back of the gill covers. The dorsal fin has two sections, the front section with five to 14 sharp, spiny rays, and a back section, which is soft-rayed. The pectoral fins are relatively high on the side of the body.
Trout: Rainbow trout get their name from the reddish stripe along their sides. The rest of the fish body is usually silvery, darker on top and lighter on bottom for camouflage.
“We normally catch and release when we go fishing. I love fly fishing, and I’ll do that sometimes at Uvas or Coyote. I grew up with fishing, and I really love it. You’re out there on the water, tossing the lure out– it’s so relaxing. Whether you’re by yourself or with your family or other people, it’s just great. If you’ve never been fishing before, I think people at bait and tackle shops are really helpful. I also think most people who fish are really friendly and when they’re coming off the lake, they’ll tell you ‘I caught this and this off that point, so you should definitely try over there.'”
Cindy Marinovich, Morgan Hill resident and avid fisherwoman
Local Catch Fish Recipes
Catfish With Cornmeal Chile Coating
1 to 1 1/4 pounds catfish fillets
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper
2 small cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 tsp. salt
vegetable oil for frying
fresh salsa, optional
Step 1: Rinse and pat the fillets lightly, leaving a little moisture on the fish fillets so coating will adhere. Combine cornmeal, chile, garlic and salt in a pie plate or shallow bowl. Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 2: Dip each fillet into the cornmeal mixture, then place in hot oil, turning carefully with spatula when fish is browned. Fry until other side is browned and fish just begins to flake when pierced with a fork. Serve with fresh salsa, if desired.
Source: southernfood.about.com/od/catfishrecipes
Pumpkin Seed-Crusted Trout
1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro sprigs
3/4 cup hulled green pumpkin seeds (about 1/4 pound)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
four 3- to 4-ounce trout fillets with skin
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup dry white wine
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter
Step 1: Finely chop cilantro. In a sealable plastic bag, lightly crush pumpkin seeds with a rolling pin. In a shallow dish, lightly beat eggs. Have flour and pumpkin seeds ready in two other separate shallow dishes.
Step 2: With tweezers, remove fine bones from fillets and season trout with salt and pepper. Dredge flesh side of one fillet in flour, shaking off excess, and dip flesh side in eggs, letting excess drip off. Coat fillet with pumpkin seeds and transfer, seed side up, to a plate. Coat remaining fillets in same manner.
Step 3: In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Cook fillets, seed sides down, until golden, about 3 minutes. Turn fillets carefully with a spatula, and cook over low heat until just cooked through, about 3 minutes more. Transfer fillets with a spatula to a heated platter and keep warm while making sauce.
Step 4: In a small heavy saucepan, boil lime juice and wine until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Cut butter into pieces and add, one piece at a time, whisking until incorporated and sauce is smooth. It should not get hot enough to separate. Remove pan from heat. Add cilantro and season with salt. Spoon sauce over trout fillets.
Source: www.epicurious.com
Where To Fish
“There is a local fishing spot that my son, Brady, and I go to quite often: McAlpine Lake & Park, located in San Juan Bautista. The lake is nestled in the foothills off Highway 101. The landscaping is great with older fishing boats brought in, benches, redwood trees – just a great ‘feel’ to the lake. Fishing is awesome there. My son catches rainbow trout, which run anywhere from 1 1/2 to four pounds. The bite is always good. Other fish caught are bass, bluegill and catfish. My son caught a 10-pound catfish! (It’s a) great place to spend a half or full day at the lake with your kids. I would highly recommend to check it out.”
– Mike Schmidt, South Valley resident
Where to fish
The Anderson Lake County Park is located at:
19245 Malaguerra Ave., Morgan Hill
Reach the park office at (408) 779-3634
The Chesbro Reservoir County Park is located at:
17655 Oak Glen Road, Morgan Hill
Reach the park office at (408) 779-9232
Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
10840 Coyote Lake Road, Gilroy
Reach the park office at (408) 842-7800
Uvas Reservoir
14200 Uvas Road, Morgan Hill
Reach the park office at (408) 779-9232
San Justo Reservoir
2265 Union Road, Hollister
Reach the park office at (831) 638-3300
Visit www.parkhere.org or www.san-benito.ca.us for more information.
Fish For Free
Every year, the U.S. Department of Fish and Game schedules a couple of days when fishing permits are not required. This way, people can try fishing to see if they like it at no cost. This year’s free fishing days are June 10 and Sept. 23.
Fishing permits normally cost anywhere from about $11 for one day of fishing to more than $600 for a lifetime fishing permit. Ask the permit retailer about the different options.
Source: www.dfg.ca.gov
Buy a Fishing Permit
Before you fish, you must buy a permit. Annual permits cost about $34. Costs differ for private and commercial fishermen. Permits provide a source of revenue for the U.S. Department of Fish and Game. If someone is caught fishing in public waters without a permit, they may be subject to a fine.
Gilroy
Longs Drug Store, 825 First St.
Nob Hill Foods, 777 First St.
Sportmart, 6735 Camino Arroyo
Wal-Mart, 7900 Arroyo Circle
Morgan Hill
Big 5 Sporting Goods, 150 Cochrane Rd.
Hollister
Hollister Bait & Tackle, 139-A Fourth St.
Big Red Concessions, 1291 Loma Vista Rd.
Casa De Fruta, 6680 Pacheco Pass Hwy.
K-Mart, 491 Tres Pinos Rd.
Muenzer’s Cyclery & Sports Cnt., 221 Fifth St.
Nob Hill Foods, 1700 Airline Hwy.
Source: www.dfg.ca.gov
