04-15-2008, 12:07 AM
Delta
There is an improved sturgeon bite this week on the Sacramento River side at the Powerlines near Decker Island, Chain Island and Cache Slough.
"The sturgeon aren't heavy, but weigh 38 to 40 pounds on average," said Audie Urbano at Hap's Bait. "Grass shrimp, ghost shrimp and shad are the baits to use."
Urbano said there are just "a few striped bass" hitting this week, mostly in the 18- to 22-inch bracket. He cited the Powerlines as the best place to try. Everything is on bait. River conditions remain high and off-colored.
Sylvia Vieira at Vieira's Riverside Bait in Isleton said a 65-inch, 65-pound sturgeon topped a list of 11 sturgeon weighed on Sunday. Most of the prehistoric fish were caught from Light 42 to Liberty Island. The big sturgeon was taken at Light 46.
"We actually had a couple striped bass hooked in the same stretch of river," Vieira said. "The bass were schoolies to 10 pounds. Rebel lures with a white worm trailing did the trick. Water is kind of dirty, but we'll take anything we can get right now."
Ron Halvorson at Jolly's Bait said catfishing is really starting to perk, mainly on clams.
"The catfish are full of eggs and thinking about spawning, so they are pretty aggressive," he said. "Water on the San Joaquin River side is still pretty dirty, and it will likely get darker with the coming rain."
Largemouth bass are falling to live minnows at Brookside, Whiskey Slough and Smith Canal. Bass run 1 to 8 pounds and are turning on minnows, drifted and suspended under bobbers, with a vengeance.
Striped bass to 8 pounds, mostly in the 22- to 23-inch range, are showing in Whiskey Slough, 14 Mile Slough and on the main channel from the Port District to the country club. Rat-L Trap lures, frozen shad and pile worms are effective for striped bass.
"I wouldn't call it a good striped bass bite," Halvorson said. "The bite is soft, and it's still too early for the spring run." Information: (707) 374-2372 (Rio Vista); (916) 777-6662 (Isleton); (209) 333-1692 (Lodi); (209) 473-2239; (209) 948-6344.
Saltwater
Ocean - Monterey Bay charters get after sand dabs and mackerel, the most available species. Private boaters run 200 to 300 feet to set crab pots. Surf fishermen target perch and a variety of flatfish, which are in the shallows and spawning. Half Moon Bay and Bodega Bay partyboats run for crabs and giant squid. San Francisco Bay boats stay inside for a mix of sturgeon and shark. Information: (831) 375-5951 (Monterey); (650) 726-2629 (Half Moon Bay); (707) 875-3344 (Bodega Bay); (510) 849-3333 (Berkeley).
San Pablo Bay - Fishing is slow. A herring spawn down bay has lured sturgeon away. "Sturgeon fishing isn't very good and hasn't been the past eight days," said Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Live Bait in San Rafael. "They only option is to try for school-sized striped bass to 24 inches. There are quite a few of them." Information: (415) 456-0321 (San Rafael).
Suisun Bay - More sturgeon are being caught this week, probably because the weather improved. "There doesn't seem to be any great place except that shallow water is better than deeper environs," said Capt. Barry Canevaro aboard Fish Hookers Sportfishing. Sturgeon to 55 pounds are claimed at the Mothball Fleet, Honker Bay, Grizzly Bay and Montezuma Slough. They're not jumping in the boat, but eel, salmon roe and shad are producing some pulldowns. A few striped bass respond to cut bullheads at Garnet Point, including the rare catch that goes better than 20 pounds. Information: (916) 777-6498 (Isleton); (925) 252-0151 (Pittsburg).<br />
Rivers
American - A mix of a few adult-sized steelhead to 30 inches and many more half-pounders produce some of the best fishing of the winter. Grist Mill, Goethe Park and Rossmoor are some of the better places to try roe, nightcrawlers and small plugs. There seems to be more angling pressure on the upper end, from Sunrise to Nimbus Basin, so the prudent angler might work the downriver access points. Information: (916) 448-6338 (Sacramento).
Sacramento - Sturgeon respond to night anglers who anchor at Tisdale, Grimes and Verona and dunk roe or shad. The trick is to fish when flows are stable, a difficult proposition between storms. Information: (530) 674-1912 (Yuba City).
Trinity - There's snow on the banks and the water is cold, but steelhead in the 3- to 8-pound class are taken daily from Douglas City, Junction City and Lewiston, both by driftboaters and shoreline anglers. Sea-run brown trout are starting to show, as well. Try tuna ball, roe, nightcrawlers and wobbling lures, according to Dragon Fly Sports in Weaverville. Information: (530) 623-4999 (Weaverville).<br />
Lakes
Amador - Approximately 6,000 pounds of big trout, 2 to 8 pounds, are released each Tuesday. Strange weather patterns make for a spotty bite. Some anglers post heavy stringers and others have a tough time. Most action is in the top 10 feet, at times, just beneath the surface. Broken-backed Rebel and Rapal lures, Roostertail spinners, Power Bait and even Power Grubs will entice trout. Information: (209) 274-4739.
Camanche - Trolling for trout is perplexing. Some boats manage five to eight rainbows - mostly measuring 13 to 16 inches - by toplining broken-backed Rapalas on monofilament line and no weight. Others pull wobblers such as Ex-Cel, Needlefish and R Lure, while others long-line 2-inch Power Grubs in orange or green. Still others try flashers and nightcrawlers, but fish are difficult to come by. Two 12-pounders were claimed last week. John Trede of Stockton brought home a 7-pounder. Some of the largest rainbows are coming from the South Shore Pond, especially to fly fishers and shoreline anglers. The water level is coming up this week, too. Concessionaires have discounted entry and boat launching fees and reduced boat rentals by 40 percent. Information: (209) 763-5166.
Don Pedro - Trollers work the top 10 feet in Middle Bay and between Blue Oaks and the marina for trout, 12 to 14 inches, that are being planted in heavy numbers by the Department of Fish and Game. Holdover rainbows in the 2-pound class are found off Jenkins Hill, but the bite is spotty. Information: (209) 852-2369.
McSwain Lake - This regulatory impoundment set east of Merced is a wonderful place for bank angling with Power Bait or tossing Kastmasters. The cold water and regular plants make this a destination. Of course, trolling is good, too, but having a boat is necessary. Information: (209) 378-2534 (Snelling).
New Melones - Kokanee have grown to 14 inches are more, so trollers are targeting the land-locked sockeye salmon. There are stocked trout available for topline trollers and bank anglers near Tuttletown and Glory Hole launch ramps. Largemouth bass, including some whoppers in the 7- to 12-pound bracket, are falling to tournament anglers. Wild brown trout are showing with little consistency upriver near the Highway 49 bridge. Information: (209) 736-4333 (Angels Camp).
Pardee - Approximately 13,000 pounds of trout have been stocked since the impoundment reopened for the season on Feb. 2. Trolling for catchable-sized rainbows is decent through the narrows and in front of the river mouth. Bank anglers use Power Bait to hook fish near the boat launch, Rainbow Point and the Mud Hole. Ten-year-old Anna Marie Selga of Stockton hooked the week's largest fish, a 10.67-pounder. Information: (209) 772-1472.
Salt Springs Valley - This reservoir located 45 minutes east of Stockton near Copperopolis, recently opened for the season. Water levels are 4 feet from the top and largemouth bass, both Texas and Florida strains, are in a biting mood. Entry fees: $15 per car, $5 per boat. Information: (209) 785-7787.
There is an improved sturgeon bite this week on the Sacramento River side at the Powerlines near Decker Island, Chain Island and Cache Slough.
"The sturgeon aren't heavy, but weigh 38 to 40 pounds on average," said Audie Urbano at Hap's Bait. "Grass shrimp, ghost shrimp and shad are the baits to use."
Urbano said there are just "a few striped bass" hitting this week, mostly in the 18- to 22-inch bracket. He cited the Powerlines as the best place to try. Everything is on bait. River conditions remain high and off-colored.
Sylvia Vieira at Vieira's Riverside Bait in Isleton said a 65-inch, 65-pound sturgeon topped a list of 11 sturgeon weighed on Sunday. Most of the prehistoric fish were caught from Light 42 to Liberty Island. The big sturgeon was taken at Light 46.
"We actually had a couple striped bass hooked in the same stretch of river," Vieira said. "The bass were schoolies to 10 pounds. Rebel lures with a white worm trailing did the trick. Water is kind of dirty, but we'll take anything we can get right now."
Ron Halvorson at Jolly's Bait said catfishing is really starting to perk, mainly on clams.
"The catfish are full of eggs and thinking about spawning, so they are pretty aggressive," he said. "Water on the San Joaquin River side is still pretty dirty, and it will likely get darker with the coming rain."
Largemouth bass are falling to live minnows at Brookside, Whiskey Slough and Smith Canal. Bass run 1 to 8 pounds and are turning on minnows, drifted and suspended under bobbers, with a vengeance.
Striped bass to 8 pounds, mostly in the 22- to 23-inch range, are showing in Whiskey Slough, 14 Mile Slough and on the main channel from the Port District to the country club. Rat-L Trap lures, frozen shad and pile worms are effective for striped bass.
"I wouldn't call it a good striped bass bite," Halvorson said. "The bite is soft, and it's still too early for the spring run." Information: (707) 374-2372 (Rio Vista); (916) 777-6662 (Isleton); (209) 333-1692 (Lodi); (209) 473-2239; (209) 948-6344.
Saltwater
Ocean - Monterey Bay charters get after sand dabs and mackerel, the most available species. Private boaters run 200 to 300 feet to set crab pots. Surf fishermen target perch and a variety of flatfish, which are in the shallows and spawning. Half Moon Bay and Bodega Bay partyboats run for crabs and giant squid. San Francisco Bay boats stay inside for a mix of sturgeon and shark. Information: (831) 375-5951 (Monterey); (650) 726-2629 (Half Moon Bay); (707) 875-3344 (Bodega Bay); (510) 849-3333 (Berkeley).
San Pablo Bay - Fishing is slow. A herring spawn down bay has lured sturgeon away. "Sturgeon fishing isn't very good and hasn't been the past eight days," said Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Live Bait in San Rafael. "They only option is to try for school-sized striped bass to 24 inches. There are quite a few of them." Information: (415) 456-0321 (San Rafael).
Suisun Bay - More sturgeon are being caught this week, probably because the weather improved. "There doesn't seem to be any great place except that shallow water is better than deeper environs," said Capt. Barry Canevaro aboard Fish Hookers Sportfishing. Sturgeon to 55 pounds are claimed at the Mothball Fleet, Honker Bay, Grizzly Bay and Montezuma Slough. They're not jumping in the boat, but eel, salmon roe and shad are producing some pulldowns. A few striped bass respond to cut bullheads at Garnet Point, including the rare catch that goes better than 20 pounds. Information: (916) 777-6498 (Isleton); (925) 252-0151 (Pittsburg).<br />
Rivers
American - A mix of a few adult-sized steelhead to 30 inches and many more half-pounders produce some of the best fishing of the winter. Grist Mill, Goethe Park and Rossmoor are some of the better places to try roe, nightcrawlers and small plugs. There seems to be more angling pressure on the upper end, from Sunrise to Nimbus Basin, so the prudent angler might work the downriver access points. Information: (916) 448-6338 (Sacramento).
Sacramento - Sturgeon respond to night anglers who anchor at Tisdale, Grimes and Verona and dunk roe or shad. The trick is to fish when flows are stable, a difficult proposition between storms. Information: (530) 674-1912 (Yuba City).
Trinity - There's snow on the banks and the water is cold, but steelhead in the 3- to 8-pound class are taken daily from Douglas City, Junction City and Lewiston, both by driftboaters and shoreline anglers. Sea-run brown trout are starting to show, as well. Try tuna ball, roe, nightcrawlers and wobbling lures, according to Dragon Fly Sports in Weaverville. Information: (530) 623-4999 (Weaverville).<br />
Lakes
Amador - Approximately 6,000 pounds of big trout, 2 to 8 pounds, are released each Tuesday. Strange weather patterns make for a spotty bite. Some anglers post heavy stringers and others have a tough time. Most action is in the top 10 feet, at times, just beneath the surface. Broken-backed Rebel and Rapal lures, Roostertail spinners, Power Bait and even Power Grubs will entice trout. Information: (209) 274-4739.
Camanche - Trolling for trout is perplexing. Some boats manage five to eight rainbows - mostly measuring 13 to 16 inches - by toplining broken-backed Rapalas on monofilament line and no weight. Others pull wobblers such as Ex-Cel, Needlefish and R Lure, while others long-line 2-inch Power Grubs in orange or green. Still others try flashers and nightcrawlers, but fish are difficult to come by. Two 12-pounders were claimed last week. John Trede of Stockton brought home a 7-pounder. Some of the largest rainbows are coming from the South Shore Pond, especially to fly fishers and shoreline anglers. The water level is coming up this week, too. Concessionaires have discounted entry and boat launching fees and reduced boat rentals by 40 percent. Information: (209) 763-5166.
Don Pedro - Trollers work the top 10 feet in Middle Bay and between Blue Oaks and the marina for trout, 12 to 14 inches, that are being planted in heavy numbers by the Department of Fish and Game. Holdover rainbows in the 2-pound class are found off Jenkins Hill, but the bite is spotty. Information: (209) 852-2369.
McSwain Lake - This regulatory impoundment set east of Merced is a wonderful place for bank angling with Power Bait or tossing Kastmasters. The cold water and regular plants make this a destination. Of course, trolling is good, too, but having a boat is necessary. Information: (209) 378-2534 (Snelling).
New Melones - Kokanee have grown to 14 inches are more, so trollers are targeting the land-locked sockeye salmon. There are stocked trout available for topline trollers and bank anglers near Tuttletown and Glory Hole launch ramps. Largemouth bass, including some whoppers in the 7- to 12-pound bracket, are falling to tournament anglers. Wild brown trout are showing with little consistency upriver near the Highway 49 bridge. Information: (209) 736-4333 (Angels Camp).
Pardee - Approximately 13,000 pounds of trout have been stocked since the impoundment reopened for the season on Feb. 2. Trolling for catchable-sized rainbows is decent through the narrows and in front of the river mouth. Bank anglers use Power Bait to hook fish near the boat launch, Rainbow Point and the Mud Hole. Ten-year-old Anna Marie Selga of Stockton hooked the week's largest fish, a 10.67-pounder. Information: (209) 772-1472.
Salt Springs Valley - This reservoir located 45 minutes east of Stockton near Copperopolis, recently opened for the season. Water levels are 4 feet from the top and largemouth bass, both Texas and Florida strains, are in a biting mood. Entry fees: $15 per car, $5 per boat. Information: (209) 785-7787.