Woodward Trout Fishery Comes Back After Conversion Of Lake To Drinking Water Supply   By: Dan Bacher December 28, 2006 More Articles by Dan

Woodward Reservoir north of Oakdale, known for years as a sleeper Mother Lode bass and trout fishery, has undergone dramatic changes in the past several years. Formerly an irrigation water lake, the reservoir beginning in 2004 was converted to a joint drinking water/irrigation supply under the jurisdiction of a new entity South County Surface Water Supply Project.

The $136.6 million project, jointly operated by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, City of Manteca, City of Lathrop, City of Tracy and City of Escalon project, included the construction of a state-of-the-art water treatment plant at Woodward Reservoir and 40 miles of pipeline to deliver treated water to each of the participating cities. The program also encompasses watershed protection, raw-water facilities and pump stations designed to convey water from the treatment plant to the cities.

Before and during the construction of the treatment plant and the pipeline, the water district drained the reservoir and removed largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and other species and transferred to them to nearby Turlock Reservoir. The DFG conducted a fish rescue when the lake was drained in 1997, while a private contractor coordinated the rescue in 2003.

“There were an astounding number of quality catfish in the lake when the lake was drained in 1997,” commented Brian Quelvog, DFG biologist. “We rescued lots of yellow bullheads, along with channel and white catfish.” The DFG also removed thousands of pounds of carp and goldfish from the reservoir.

However, the species composition had changed dramatically during the rescue of 2003. Brown bullheads were by far the most numerous species, with 789 fish transferred to Turlock. The contractor also transferred 262 largemouth bass, 32 smallmouth bass, 46 black crappie, 73 bluegill, 5 rainbow trout, 18 white catfish, 2 black bullhead and 2 Sacramento blackfish to Turlock that fall.

On January 15, 2005, Stanislaus County replanted the lake with 600 largemouths going 6 inches each, 500 bluegill, 500 redear sunfish measuring 3 inches each, and 475 channel catfish, according to Kathy Gomez, staff services coordinator for Stanislaus County Parks. The County went to the County Fish and Wildlife Committee, who determined the species, number and size of fish to be restocked in the lake.

Surprisingly, the County did not restock the lake with smallmouth bass or black crappie, even though the lake was noted for being a trophy smallmouth fishery for years.

The California Department of Fish and Game has replanted the lake with trout for the past two years, creating a great holdover rainbow fishery. The DFG now plants a total of 5,000 pounds of rainbow trout each year, an increase from previous years when only 2,000 to 3,000 pounds were being planted annually.

The DFG makes its plants approximately once a month from November through the end of May or whenever the water temperature rises above 70 degrees. The fish range from ½ to ¾ pounds during the late fall and winter. After the opening day of stream trout season in April, the Department stocks a percentage of 2 to 4 pound fish, along with an occasional bigger one, when it plants the catchables.

A local angler, Richard, set the lake rainbow trout record on September 5, 1999, when he nailed an 8.6 pound beauty on a Power Bait and a nightcrawler combination. However, the lake record could very well be broken soon with the recent showing of large rainbows at Woodward.

“Since we refilled the lake, some huge trout to 7 pounds have been caught by shore anglers and boaters,” stated Amanda Fife, the Stanislaus County Parks Supervisor at Woodward. “We speculate that the trout and other fish grew because of the crayfish and other forage the proliferated in the lake after it refilled.”

Woodward is supplied with cold, clear Stanislaus River water from Goodwin Dam via Little Johns Creek. Some of the large trout that anglers are now catching may be fish that come down from the river and Tulloch Reservoir.

Quelvog believes that it is doubtful that trout spawn in Woodward or its tributary creeks, since most of the bottom is sand and mud, with little or no spawning gravel necessary for providing good rainbow spawning habitat.

The lake during the summer is a mecca for recreational boaters, jet skiers and water skiers and fishing takes a backseat, although anglers can catch fish in the early morning and evening hours on the weekend.

It is during the late fall and winter that the lake comes into its own as a productive trout fishery. When I visited the lake on Sunday, December 3, several days after DFG plant, fishing was very slow, probably due to a full moon and freezing temperatures.

“On my last trip two weeks ago, I caught a 23 inch rainbow,” reported Steve Caldwell, who was fishing with Derek Scott. “I caught two other fish in the 3 pound class while using Power Bait off the face of the dam that day.”

However, they only hooked two fish, a planter about 12 inches long that they kept and another fish that they lost right at the net, on December 3.

Shore fishing with Power Bait, nightcrawlers and other baits is best during the fall and winter, according to Scott. However, in the spring trolling purple Apex lures with two to three colors of lead core line is your best bet.

Trolling is tough this time of year because all of the duck blinds around the lake restrict boater’s movements, due to safety reasons. Besides being a sleeper trout fishery during the fall and winter, Woodward is also a popular spot for hunters during the duck season.

Randy Reece at Escalon Bait and Tackle confirmed the large rainbows coming out of Woodward since the lake was replanted. “We weighed in a 7 pound rainbow caught from shore a few weeks,” he stated. “The trout average a healthy 2-1/2 pounds at the lake. Now through February is definitely the best time to fish for trout from the bank.”

Bass reports have been few and far between at Woodward since the lake refilled. However, local anglers in the know are already catching hefty largemouths on a variety of lures and baits. One local – who refused to give his name or allow me to take a photo of him - showed me two beautiful largemouth bass in the 4 to 5 pound class that he caught on December 3.

Now that the lake is a drinking water supply, the existing intake, previously used for irrigation withdrawal and located at the reservoir’s downstream end, will be used in the fall and winter months when all body-contact recreation is prohibited.

During the heavy summer use season when irrigation flows keep the reservoir level high, body-contact recreation will be confined to the lower impoundment, with supply water drawn from the upper impoundment of the reservoir, according to an article in Public Works Magazine, June 1, 2005.

For more information about fishing at Woodward Reservoir, call (209) 838-6722.

Woodward Reservoir Facts  

Location and size: the reservoir is located at 14528 26 Mile Road a few miles north of Oakdale off Highway 120 in the Woodward Reservoir Regional Park. This park offers 3,767 acres of land and 2,900 acres of reservoir for recreation and camping. The South San Joaquin Irrigation District, City of Manteca, City of Lathrop, City of Tracy and City of Escalon, in a joint project, operate the lake as a drinking water supply.  

Recreational Opportunities: Fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and redear sunfish is available year round. The lake also features swimming, recreational boating, water/jet skiing, waterfowl hunting (with permit) and radio control airplane flying.  

Boat ramps: The lake features three boat launching facilities - the Main, Heron and Bayview boat ramps. During the summer, the concessionaire operates a snack bar in the Main Recreation Area. The boat launching fee is $7.00 per day.  

Camping Facilities: There are 115 developed campsites and 40 full hook-up campsites. There are 32 developed sites at Fischer Point, 19 developed sites at Charlie’s Point, 40 full hook-ups at Hackberry Flat, 42 developed sites at T Island and 21 developed sites at Muir Point. Undeveloped camping is also available in designated areas. However, camping in undeveloped campsites is prohibited with 30 feet of the high water mark. Water from Woodward Reservoir is now a source of drinking water for cities in Stanislaus County and state and federal laws no longer allow camping in undeveloped campsites along the water line.  

Day Use Facilities: Restrooms, picnic tables, picnic shelters and barbecues are available year-round. The day use fee is $8.00 per vehicle per day.

Contact Information: Call Woodward Reservoir at (209) 847-3304 for the current fees for day use, camping and other uses, as well as directions. For more information, contact Stanislaus County Department of Parks and Recreation, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite C, Modesto, CA. 95358-9492, (209) 525-6750.

Fishing Information: Call Escalon Bait and Tackle, Escalon, (209) 838-6722.

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