O'Neill Forebay for Stripers and Bass with Group Camping
Here are select (event) highlights from Jim Knecht who will be the Fishmeister for this event.
San Luis Reservoir/O’Neil Forebay is a GREAT place to fish that is just 1 ½ hours away from Livermore. However, the Forebay MUST be fished with respect to wind conditions that can change rapidly. On both the Forebay and main lake, there are wind warning lights that flash yellow (caution) or red (get off the water now).
- We will plan to share a group campsite at the O’Neill forebay campground for up to 30 anglers.
- Planned group dinner on Tuesday night and breakfast on Wednesday morning
- Target species: Striped Bass, Black Bass, Largemouth Bass.
- Strategy: Ability to fish from float tube, pontoon, or boat. Personal Floatation Device (PFD) required
- Casting: Moderate, Ability to double haul is encouraged.
- Gear requirements: 6wt to 9wt, typically with floating or sinking heads
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Notice
Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), an invasive, non-native freshwater bivalve have been identified at O’Neill Forebay in Merced County after undergoing genetic testing for confirmation. For more information visit Invasive Non-Native Golden Mussel Discovered in the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta. The California Natural Resources Agency and its partners call upon everyone working and recreating in waters of the state to clean, drain and dry watercraft and equipment every time it is removed from a waterbody. This simple measure has served to prevent spreading quagga and zebra mussels and is equally effective in stopping the overland spread of golden mussels. DWR is now conducting boat inspections at O’Neill Forebay in an effort to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Directions: From Livermore, I-580 east to I-5 south to CA-33 south in Santa Nella.
Take exit 407 from I-5 south towards Gilroy. Continue on CA-33 south to CA-152 west. Entrance to O’Neil Forebay will be about 3 miles on the right-hand side of CA-152.
Cost:
Cost: The cost is $51.50 by credit card and includes your share of the cost of the group campground, food (see below), non alcoholic drinks, and the TVFF event fee.. You are free to bring whatever drinks including alcohol that you prefer as well,
Family Policy: Spouses and family members under the age of 26 years old are included in each member's annual membership, and can attend events at no cost, unless TVFF has supplemental costs (such as guide or facility fees) for the event. In such cases, each attendee must pay the appropriate event cost listed above.
Guest Policy: Guest cost is $51.50 for non-family members and non-spouse family members above age 26. Guests must first register as Club members ($45 annual charge) before registering for this event, which requires signing the TVFF Waiver and the Membership application. TVFF annual dues qualify you for a full 12 month membership and access to all Club events and full participation.
Fishmeister: Jim Knecht (408)506-2350
Accommodations and Food:
TVFF has contracted for a group campsite (site B) at the San Luis Creek Campsite. that can accommodate up to 30 individuals and 10 cars (so carpooling is suggested). The site is suitable for RV's, trailers, boat trailers, and tent camping. Note that there are no RV hookup facilities. Check-in time is 2 PM on Tuesday with a noon checkout at noon on Wednesday.
Your registration includes dinner on Tuesday evening (likely chicken, potato salad, chips/salsa, and dessert, etc. A continental breakfast of pastries is also included for Wednesday morning. If you have any personal food restrictions we suggest that you consider bringing your own meals.
The campground website is available here: San Luis Creek Campsite
Gear and Tackle Recommendations:
Rod & line weights/types: 6-9 weight rods and reels with both sinking and floating lines with bass bug weight forward tapers. Shooting lines with shooting heads and fast sinking or lead core.
Leaders and tippet: Fishing style dependent, but normally 1X or 12 # section of level line, 5-7' length for subsurface. Longer leaders are normally used for top water fishing.
Other gear: Any variety of watercraft from float tubes to pontoon through full boats. Inspections of watercraft for invasive mussels may be necessary depending upon current location regulations. A PFD is required. Fishfinders to track depth and mark fish are helpful. Some people carry two rods. One rigged for top water and the second with a sinking line.
Flies: We will send out a more current list as we get closer to the dates and better understand how the weather and water are impacting the Forebay. Top water – use Gurglers in any color, Poppers, Pole Dancers typically in 1-2/0 hooks. Subsurface – Clousers in chartreuse/white, olive/white, olive/black, Smelt, Sar-Mul-Mac, Whistlers or similar patterns in 2 -2/0.
TVFF Cancellation Policy:
To sign-up for a TVFF Event that is currently open for registration and chargeable (as set by the Fishmeister), you must both register and pay online within two weeks of registering whatever fee is described for that particular Event (trip) at the time of registration. There may be multiple payments required before the trip is actually taken (usually in the case of expensive trips), but it is necessary that you do make payment in the above timely fashion for the initial amount to secure your position on the trip. However, please note that you are still responsible for the entire amount of the trip if you should need to cancel.
Once you are registered, there are no refunds for chargeable Events and trips. In the situation that a member is, for any reason unable to attend, they may resell their registration slot to another TVFF member (by first pulling from the waitlist, if one exists). New participants must come first from the waitlist in the order they signed up. The member cancelling is fully and solely responsible for contacting potential members to replace them and notifying the appropriate Fishmeister.
If an event/trip is fully registered and closed to registration, you may still sign up on the Wait List to be notified if there are any cancellations. In such a case of registering provisionally on the Wait List, you do not have to pay until such time that you clear the Wait List and are confirmed for participation.
Tri Valley Fly Fishers
TVFF Outings protocols are as follows:
- If you are sick with cold/flu symptoms then we ask you to please stay home
- We believe in social distancing and require that all members keep a full fly rod distance of at least 6’ distance between parties
- All attendees should wash and sanitize their hands frequently
