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San Justo Reservoir is not a big lake by California reservoir stands, but the nutrient-rich waters of this 200 acre Central Valley Project impoundment yield an amazing number of monster largemouth bass and hefty holdover rainbows every year.
The lake, located in Hollister in the rolling hills of the Central Coast region, has a perimeter of 4.6 miles and is 125 feet in depth. The reservoir, with a capacity of 10,000 acre-feet of water, is situated in a well-managed 587 acre park in San Benito County on Union Road, just off Highway 156.
The reservoir is best known for its monster Florida-strain largemouths. Doug Clarke set the lake record on March 15, 2003 when he bagged an 18.2 lb. largemouth. He caught and released the fish while fishing a morning dawn Yodo worm on a Loomis spinning rod with 15 lb. test Berkley Trilene monofilament. This fish toppled his previous lake record of 14.4 lbs.
Then this spring Clarke bagged another monster bass, a 14.5 lb. beauty, and the largest bass reported so far this year. Clarke hasn’t been the only one to nail a big largemouth in 2006; another experienced angler, Ryan, caught and released an 11.9 lb. bass on April 6.
Virtually all of the big fish caught on this lake are released, helping to ensure the health of the fishery. “Ninety-five percent of the anglers catch and release their bass on San Justo,” stated Sharon Walter of Big Red Concessions. “If a fisherman looks like he isn’t going to release a bass, the other anglers will urge him to release it.”
“Catch and release is a mandatory rule when you’re fishing in my boat,” confirms Clarke. “These giant fish need to be released. With the fiberglass reproductions they can do these days, there’s really no reason to kill a trophy fish. All you need is a few good photos, a length measurement and a girth measurement.”
Although bass fishing is good at San Justo year round, most of the trophy fish over 10 pounds are taken in the spring by anglers sight fishing for them in the shallows with plastic lizards and worms. Good lure colors include brown/chartreuse tail and purple/chartreuse tail.
What’s the trick to nailing the “big boys?” “Slow down and take a stealth approach,” Clarke advises. “Some of my biggest fish were taken from a small aluminum boat or from the bank. A great big bass boat throws off a tremendous shadow that will often spook trophy-sized fish. I fish a 17-1/2 foot Nitro at San Justo because boats are limited to 18 feet long and you can only run your electric motor.”
The practice of catch and release has greatly helped maintain the lake’s bass population. Other factors responsible for the large size of the lake’s fish include (1) the presence of Florida-strain bass, a much larger fish than their northern cousins; (2) the rich food chain, a result of the nutrient rich water pumped into the lake from San Felipe Project; and (3) regular plants of rainbow trout that provide bonus forage for the largemouths.
The Department of Fish and Game stocks the reservoir from October through May or whenever the surface water temperature becomes too warm to plant the rainbows. The DFG stocked 10,000 pounds of catchable rainbows in the lake in 2005 and expects to have planted a similar amount by this year’s end, according to Bob Howard at the DFG’s Silverado Fisheries Base.
The best fishing is from the first plant in October through June, but trollers willing to go deeper with lead core line or downriggers nail trout also nail trout during the heat of the summer.
San Justo has a solid population of holdover rainbows, since a thermocline develops in the lake during the late spring that allows the trout to thrive throughout the summer. These trout are sleek and silver bodied like steelhead, with dorsal fins and tails completely straight, unlike the “round-tailed” recent planters.
The lake record rainbow, set by Johnny Williams in 2005, weighed 6 pounds. He enticed the fish with a Kastmaster. The largest trout brought into the lake store this year weighed over 4 pounds, but trollers and bank anglers have taken a number of fish in the 3 to 4 pound class. For example, Gerardo Lopez bagged a 3.5 lb. rainbow on June 17.
More recently, seven-year-old Caleia Yee, Lily Yee and Bill Scruggs of Salinas landed three trout to 3-3/4 pounds while trolling with Kastmasters throughout the lake on November 5. Their biggest trout, a gorgeous holdover, measured 20 inches long.
Shore fishing can be very good at San Justo and the reservoir has plenty of public fishing access, including a barrier-free fishing pier. Berkley Power Bait, Power Eggs, Crave Nitro Bait, salmon eggs, nightcrawlers and mini-crawlers will all work.
Other species found at the lake include bluegill, crappie, channel catfish and carp. Anglers fishing redworms, mealworms and small lures around the dock and in the coves take the bluegill. The crappie are fooled with small jigs and redworms.
Catfish are not caught in large numbers at San Justo, but the ones taken are often big ones. Doug Clarke once took a 23 lb. channel cat while fishing a plastic worm at the lake for bass.
Huge carp have surprised many bait fishermen trying for other species this year. The largest fish taken to date on the lake this year was a 30 pounder measuring 39-1/2 inches long, according to Walter. Another lucky angler, Clayton, bagged a 13 lb. carp on October 28.
San Benito County, by agreement with the Bureau, is responsible for visitor use activities, recreation, planning facility construction, and overall management of the many aspects of recreation. The concessionaire collects fees, provide information and assistance to see that park rules are observed, and provide litter control and day-to-day maintenance of the area.
For more information on San Justo Reservoir, call Big Red Concessions, 831-638-3300.
San Justo Reservoir Facts
Hours of operation: The lake is open year round. The “summer” hours (February through August), are Wednesday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset. During the “winter” (September through February), the lake is open on weekends only. When the closing horn sounds, please prepare to leave. Park closes at sunset.
Boating regulations: Boaters must follow all California boating regulations and use of gas engines is prohibited; only electric motors are allowed. All children MUST wear personal flotation devices and all visitors should follow California boating regulations in respect to type of and proper use of personal flotation devices. Boat size limit: 18 feet.
Launch facilities: The boat ramp and boat dock are for boaters' use while entering and leaving the water. Please, no parking, fishing, sunbathing or relaxing from the ramp or dock. Children should be kept out of this area.
Picnic facilities: There are several picnic shelters with barbecues available on a first come, first served basis. Each is easily accessible from the parking area. All shelters are within easy reach of the concession and restroom facilities.
Fees: The entrance fee is $5.00 per car, while bikes, walk-ins, and drop-offs are $2.00. The watercraft or other floating device fee depends on the size of the craft: under 13 feet is $2.00; 13 to 18 feet is $3.00. Seniors (62 and up) and disabled do not pay boat fee.
Passes: An annual pass for the calendar year may be purchased at the San Benito County Public Works Department, 3220 Southside Road, Hollister CA 95023, 831-636-4170. The cost is $80.00; $65 for seniors and disabled. Annual pass does not cover the boat fee.
Concession Store: Fishing licenses, bait, tackle, snacks, beverages and groceries are available at the concession stand. Boat rentals are also available.
Other regulations: No swimming or wading are allowed. There is no camping, though RV's are welcome during the day. Pets are welcome on leash but are not allowed in the water. Please clean up after your pet!
Information: Call Big Red Concessions, 831-638-3300.
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The big bass have continued to come out of the lake since Clarke set the lake record. A client of Clarke’s, Mike Martin of Hollister, nailed a 16 lb. 8 oz. bass while casting a weightless Yamamoto lizard in March 2004.
Besides producing lunker bass every year, San Justo produces fish of a good average size. For example, Adrian Pagan of Gilroy reported catching five bass ranging from 2 to 4 pounds while throwing a spinnerbait and drop shotting with plastic worms at 30 feet deep on November 5.
San Justo Reservoir was constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Central Valley Project, San Felipe Division. Water in San Justo is from San Luis Reservoir, a joint facility of the state and federal water projects. Management of water distribution, water systems, and lake levels are under the San Benito County Water District by contract with the Bureau.