Black Bass tops in the Delta

While the most consistant bite is for the sturgeon with the weeks big tides. We have enjoyed some great days and terrible days as the early spring frustration gets started.

New sturgeon fishing regulations take effect Thursday. The slot limit has been reduced to 46 to 66 inches, down from 72 inches. Now, a Sturgeon Report Card - available free from license agents - must be possession before anglers go sturgeon fishing. Anglers arfenow limited to three fish, as well.

There were a couple of sturgeon taken in the Rio Vista area this past weekend below the Rio Vista Bridge. The diamondbacks grabbed eel and ghost shrimp. There are a few more schoolie-sized stripers also starting to show in the area 6-8 pounds with shad being the top choice.

Just a week ago we were talking huge bags of Black bass for this time of the year, are pouncing on swimbaits around the Big Break and Frank's Tract in the Western Delta. Reaction lures - crankbaits, rip baits - are doing the best for 4- to 8-pound largemouth. Then came the latest series of wind rain staining the river and slowing the bite.

The blackie bite is improving with the warming effects of the rain as anglers ready for upcoming tournaments most are flippin' and pitchin' small plastics for a fish or two. It looks like the early tournament winners will be those lucky anglers that happen to get bit while working swim baits and Rip baits in shad patterns.

Crankbait anglers are finding some action in areas around the main channel and Discovery bay. I like Fat Free Shad and Bomber Model A's to get the crankbait fish to go, yet the stormy weather needs to settle a bit before any bite really gets going. For now the bite is staying tough no matter what you throw.

Jolly Joes Reports, On the old San Joaquin catfish are King, Big cats are schooling and getting ready to spawn.

 

Sacramento Area Report - by Jack Chapman

Fishing Report for February 26, 2007

By Captain “Jack” Chapman and Lovely Linda Sportfishing

The weather kept most of the anglers off the water the last few days so there were not a lot of reports. Those that did venture out experienced varying degrees of success.

The Sacramento Chapter of the CSBA has moved its meeting location. The old location closed its doors. They now meet at El Torito’s Restaurant at 5637 Sunrise Blvd., Citrus Heights CA, 95610 (916) 965-4411. The no host bar starts at 6:00 PM and the dinner starts at 7:00 PM. As always they meet on the first Tuesday of the month.

 

Striped Bass

Striper fishing is on the upswing with both trollers and bait fisherman reporting decent success. Those anglers fishing the sloughs and lakes where the current is not as strong are staying out the debris and catching fish. The Lovely Linda set up in Montezuma between the storms for nine legal stripers. They were all caught on frozen butterflied shad using 7/0 circle hooks in 15 feet of water. We keep 3 fish for the table.

The ex-president of the CSBA had the following report, “Scott, (son) and Rattletrap Curt, (grandson) and I went out looking for stripers in what was suppose to be a day of rain and wind. We were motoring to our pre chosen location I noticed bait fish jumping out of the water. We stopped and thru fish traps, rattletraps and stripers jigs for a few hook ups all small fish with some shaking the hooks. also other fishermen speeded by us scaring the fish it became some hard to successfully keep a small school biting. Other fishermen were in this small area, so we moved on. We then trolled and threw lures in several areas for only 3 hooks ups, all were small. So total keepers were 4, all 4lb. to 5lb. several shakers. Nice day out fishing even though score not impressive.”

Alan Fong CSBA member and star of the Fun Fishin TV show reported, “Fished the last two days up north in the cross channel. On Monday I took Bob and Bill out and the wind must have been blowing over thirty miles and hour. We went out fishing the 8 & 10" triple trout, huddys and spros swimbaits in rainbow trout color. Even in the wind the big stripers were hitting our baits just under the surface. Ended up with a 28#, 16#, 12#, and four other 8#'s. On Tuesday went to shoot a Fun Fishing Show on big baits. The biggest we caught was a 12# and seven others to five pounds. Boy it is a lot of fun when you can get a big striper to hit these swimbaits. Most of them jumped after hitting the lure!”

Sturgeon

The most consistent bites are still in the south bay. A number fish have been caught near the Dumbarton Bridge and Oakland Airport using eel, JSP and pile worms for bait. It seems that the farther north you go and more upstream you go the slower the bite.

Steelhead

The anglers are still in the basin but I haven’t had a chance to talk to any of them. So I don’t know if they are just hoping or are catching.

Where I’d Fish

Montezuma Slough for striped bass

South Bay, San Pablo Bay and lastly the Moth Ball Fleet for sturgeon

Little Potato Slough for catfish

Proud Supporter of the California Striped Bass Association and the Coastside Fishing Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delta Bank Fishing
by Roland “Innovate” Aspiras

No Report this week

 

 

Flash Fishing Report www.flashfishing.net

A bit about Captain Steve, Captain Steve fished the San Francisco Bay since 1970, when his grandfather would take him out to the old Berkeley pier. He bought his first boat in 1980 and got his Captain's license in 1997. He enjoys small groups (no more than 6) and gives personal attention to all. Having 2 young daughters himself, he is especially patient with children on the boat. Bring your own equipment or use Steve's top of the line equipment. Steve has impressive state of the art commercial electronics on the boat to optimize your fishing experience! And yes, we went to the same High School, Welcome Capt. Steve!

Steve reports Just finished up 4 days of fishing.
The conditions are greatly improving but the sturgeon bite is returning slowly . I saw water temp as high as 55.2 degrees and plenty of fish. We lost a big fish on Saturday did well yesterday. I saw some classic sturgeon bites missed on Jeremy’s “Fishinsturgeon” Kangas birthday trip ( a few Coastsiders aboard) but that is a whole nother story. All I can say is it was a lot of fun. Only small bass no big ones. Overall I know of a few sturgeon landed but you had to put in your time and be in the right place at the right time. Yesterday half of my crew decided to pass due to the weather. I tried to talk the last gentleman and his 10 year old son to pass on the trip because of the 10 to 20 winds and the slow bite. Sean could not talk his son into going one another day. Normally I need 4 to go but I didn’t want to break the 10 year old boys heart so off the three of us went. I went over to port Chicago found some fish and put my bow into the wind. After about a dozen bass 10 year old Arine khomejany from Tiburon had a limit of bass. 26” 7 lb and a 25” 6 lb.
Dad Sean Khomejany landed a 65” 68 lb sturgeon. All the fish were fooled with JPS! The sturgeon bite was very very light! This was Sean’s first sturgeon and Ariane’s first bass.
Sean and I both thanked the boy for talking us into going. I will be back on the water when the weather gets better.

Capt. Steve Talmadge
Flash Sport Fishing

 

Capt. Steve
Flash
Sport Fishing

 

 

 

 

Mark your calendar- Glory Hole Sports 9^th Annual 2-day fishing Seminar-March 17^th and 18^thSign-ups for the on-the-water lessons begin on February 16^th.

 

Water Conditions:  New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,983,570 acre-feet of water.  The lake level has held steady for 13 weeks now, and is currently 1050 ft. above sea level and 38 ft. from full capacity.  Surface water temperature is around 50-52 degrees.  Water is clear with around 20 ft. visibility with little or no mudline.  We are still at the high-water ramps.    Trout:  good for both trollers and bank anglers, with bank anglers catching the most fish.   Anglers fishing from shore should target main points such as Glory Hole Point, Osprey Point, under the Hwy. 49 Stevenot Bridge, and Tuttletown.   Nightcrawlers floated with marshmallows or inflated with a worm inflator have produced the most rainbows from shore.   Berkley Select (glitter) Power Bait or Power Eggs have caught plenty of fish, and throwing a silver/blue Kastmaster or spinner such as a Rooster Tail is also effective from shore.  Some lucky bank anglers and the weight of their biggest trout (in ounces and pounds) include Lucky Slayton (5.6), Dave Fong (4.7), Steve Sobleraj (4.7), Dennis Merrill (3.14), Ray Allopenna (3.13), Al Arieta (3.4), 3-year-old Taylor Wilson (3.0), and  5-year-old Evan Sergis (1.5). Trollers should head to the main lake between the spillway and dam, or near Rose Island, at depths of 30 feet to the surface.  Upriver has also been good.  Try trolling a crawler/Wedding Ring combo behind flashers, a U.V. Apex or a Cop Car Needlefish or other shad-patterned lure.  Rolling shad will get you a rainbow or a big, beautiful brown trout.  Be sure to leave out lots of line (100 ft.), or use a side planer to pull your lure out of your boat’s wake, so the shallow fish aren’t scared away.  The Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (salmonids) and a free deli lunch was won this week by Leonard Brown of Clements, who also caught the biggest fish in the Costco Trout Bout Derby this weekend.  He caught a big 6-pound, 9-ounce Brown trout on a broken-back Rapala.  Andrew Nore and James Richardson won the derby, with a 2-fish limit weighing 7.28-pounds. 2^nd place went to Marty Morffey and Arlie Ahl, and Darren Schultz and Bruce Yates took 3^rd place.  Anglers competing in the derby braved the weather on Saturday, and reported fairly tough fishing.  Anglers used crawlers/flashers, various lures, and rolling shad to bring in their limits.  John, Mike and Clint of Redwood City caught a limit of planter trout in Angels Creek on flashers and crawlers.  Doug Koinzan used an Apex to land a 4.3-pound rainbow.   

Kokanee: done for the season.

Bass: Bass can be found from 5 feet to as deep as 60 feet deep on points in the main lake and upriver, although creek arms are holding fish, too.  All winter long, swimbaits will catch the big fish, as well as shad imitation reaction baits such as T.D. Minnows, or crawdad imitations like Carolina-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Brush Hogs or brown jigs/trailers.   A dart-headed crawdad-colored 4” worm, swam across main lake points, is working well right now.   The old winter stand-bys: drop-shotting a shad-patterned worm or fluttering a silver/blue spoon down under a shad school are both good bets.  Remember, with bass being sluggish in the cold water, persistence is the key.  When catching bass in deep water, please take care of your fish- it may be necessary to pop their swim bladder before releasing them back into the water.  Please remember to practice catch and release. The Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain the bass fishery! Catfish:  Use anchovies, sardines, or a ball of nightcrawlers.  Leave your bail open so the cats can pick the bait up and swim with it- you will be more likely to hook them that way. Also, be sure to use a sliding sinker weight.  The bite has been very light- any tension on the line will scare those cats away.  Ron Broyels caught a 5.9-pound catfish on a red and white crappie jig while crappie fishing.   

Crappie and bluegill:  Slowing - we have had the best crappie bite Melones has seen in years. Crappie have moved deeper with the cooling water temperatures- try fishing in submerged trees, about 30-40 feet deep. For crappie, try fishing live minnows or trying to entice them with jigs in red/white or purple/white.  Ron Broyles caught nice crappie on red and white crappie jigs in Glory Ole Cove.   Bluegill and sunfish will hit a piece of a crawler or mealworm under a bobber.

 

Lake Pardee

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The Lake Camanche Fishing Report - January 24, 2006

LAKE CONDITIONS:

Lake Camanche’s current elevation is 217.56 feet above sea level, a drop of 4.4 feet since last Sunday. The surface temperature at the dam is 53.8 degrees F. and drops to 50.6 degrees at the bottom. The surface temp readings upriver are 49 degrees, a result of lots of inflow from Pardee Lake. The lake waters are slightly colored with a Secchi dish reading of 11 feet at the dam and 6 to 9 feet at the upriver sampling locations.

Gate hours for North and South shores are 5 A.M. TO 11 P.M.

TROUT: There were lots of anglers out yesterday taking lots of limits of 1 pound to 6 pound Rainbows. Most trollers did best with floating Rapalas in Fire tiger or gold/black back. Another hot ticket is to troll Sep’s Scented Pro Grubs in chartreuse; pink or orange about 4 feet behind a ¼ ounce split shot or try Needlefish in bright colors, such as the #581 pearlescent white or #054, which is chartreuse with fire dots. When the skies are cloudy or overcast, the fish are right on the surface; if the sun appears , use leadcore to get down to 15 feet deep or so. John and Shirley Bartlett, of Ripon, caught 2 limits of beautiful rainbows this week. They were trolling with Uncle Larry’s spinners, and also wedding rings, and caught most of their fish up the river. Rich and Maureen Drawbert, from Camanche, caught their limits of trout while fishing in shallow water near the islands outside of Camper’s Cove. They were using Power Bait.

Bank angling has improved lately, thanks mostly to the fog and overcast keeping the ‘bows close to shore. Use Power Bait in orange or chartreuse near the North ramp or South Chevron Point. Casting and retrieving the Magic Bullet works off the banks early and again late in the day.

South Shore pond action is very good since we planted the pond with over 600 pounds last week. All sorts of stuff work at the pond; best bet is to use Power Bait in chartreuse or white. Jim Murray, from Camanche, caught a 13.11 pound rainbow from the pond this week using a Pistol Pete lure.

This week’s trout plant of 1,200 pounds will be at North Shore.

BASS: The W.O.N. Bass tournament was held at Lake Camanche on Saturday. We congratulate Leandro Sanchez and Bill Martin for winning the meet with a big fish of 8.41 pounds, and a total weight of 16.62 pounds. Jay LeClerc and Bob Haag had a 5 fish limit weighing 14.63 pounds, and Taylor Parsons and Jeremiah Payne had a total weight of 14.5 pounds. Brown or purple jigs, and worms in brown, purple, or blue were some of the favorite baits. Most bass were in 15-30 feet of water.

BOTH NORTH SHORE AND SOUTH SHORE STORES ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED DURING THE WEEK AND OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS ONLY. BOAT RENTALS ARE AVAILABLE DURING THE WEEK BY TELEPHONE RESERVATION ONLY. PLEASE CALL NORTH SHORE (209-763-5166), OR SOUTH SHORE (209-763-5915) FOR DETAILS. BOTH SHORES ARE OPEN EVERY WEEKEND (WEATHER PERMITTING).

Northshore store:(209) 763-5166

North gate: (209) 763-5922

Boat rental reservations are recommended.
Phone North: (209) 763-5166 Phone South: (209) 763-5915.

Southshore store: (209)763-5915

South gate: (209) 763-5913

Gate hours for North and South shores are 5 A.M. TO 11 P.M.