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CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 3/21/2006
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The Weather Slow things down a bit!

Dan Mathisen Outdoors Spring Break has many families out ready to take advantage of the time-off, yet the rain has continued to fall dampening spirits of many who have looked forward to the brief spring break. If you don’t mind getting a bit wet there are some decent bites for anglers.

One of the most popular options in the Delta now is the in many of the delta backwaters. Jolly's Bait and Tackle in Stockton reports a flurry of activity for the crappie as anglers' load up on mini-jigs and medium minnows. There are many anglers regularly heading to the Whiskey Slough area in the Central Delta area. The crappie are on the small side by foothill standards yet there is plenty of interest in the slabsides by area bank anglers.

Boaters can be found searching for the crappie in many areas of Disappointment and Little Potato Slough, again anglers are concentrating on protected pockets with brush. Bluegill are starting to show on the warmers days for those tossing mealworms or red worms under bobbers too.

In the Rio Vista area the sturgeon are the best bet grabbing shrimp baits. Sturgeon are best in the Cache Slough Area and Collinsville Areas to add to the already decent fishing in the area. The results are better anglers start to see some results while bait fishing. Still many of the best results continue for those fishing the light 7 and the Decker Island area of the Sacramento River.

The West Delta bite has really been solid compared to just a couple of month's ago as there have been some qaulity fish taken on the flats. Shrimp baits are best bets in the area. The area's with top mention coming to those off the Light 33 and the Montezuma Slough Area. It looks like the consistency here will be improving as the Weather becomes more willing.
Rio Vista - Isleton

Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com


The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Sunday, March 19, 2005, Jack Thomason and his grandson-in-law, Justin, went striper trolling with me today. We started out on West Bank on the Sacramento River right at high tide. The water was not too bad, but there was no bite at all for about 1 mile of trolling. So, we headed over to the San Joaquin River side, particularly up in Fishermen's Cut, Old River and Middle Rivers. A hunt and peck situation, except for one small school of stripers which produced two small keepers and two shakers on 6 hits. Two passes and those fish disappeared. I said hunt and peck and that was it for the rest of the day. Final tally: 6 shaker stripers and 3 keeper stripers to 4 pounds, which were all released. The water was pretty clear away from Franks Tract and the San Joaquin River, and at 51 to 54 degrees. Headed for the ramp early and home before dark. Again, all trolling done in sight of Mt. Diablo. The 25 mph northerly winds were horrible. They fried my Cell Phone and it cost me $250 for a new one. Oh well, another lesson learned. That's it. Good luck. Catch you later - Mark.

Sacramento Area Report - by Jack Chapman

Sacramento CSBA Report (3/09/2005)

No Report!

 

 

 


 

Hook Line And Sinker Report
Robert from the Hook in Oakley reports.
Black Bass:
The bass seem to be starting to wake up from their winter slump with some BIG fish being brought in this past weekend. There was tournament out of Russo's in Bethel Island this past sunday that took 33LBS. FOR 5 TO WIN! Also, there was a 15LB BASS weighed in at the marina on Sat. Jigs have been the top producer of both numbers and the bigger fish right now with Black/Blue being the above and all choice of most anglers. There also been an increasing crankbait/rattletrap bite starting to pick up with any red or craw pattern being top choice.

Sturgeon:
The delta diamondbacks have been making a showing the past few weeks although the recent McAvoy's Super Bowl Derby did not show with only about 25 fish being weighed in. Most of the fish have been reported from San Pablo and South SF bays with the Honker/Grizzly Bay area producing the best action for our portion of the river. With grass shrimp being next to impossible to get right now, anglers are turning to alternatives in bait right now with roe, pile worms and eel being top choices. With the slower tides anglers fishing deeper water have been experiencing better action.

 

Fish Hookers Report

The sturgeon fishing in the Pittsburg area and Montezuma Slough has been very good this last week. Most of the days that we had groups out we caught at least one keeper size sturgeon each day and a couple of the days we had multiple keeper sturgeon in the box for our clients. This year there are quite a few shaker sturgeon that we are catching and releasing. It was only on the weekend with all the boat traffic that the catch got a little more difficult. The weather has been marvelous and the water is beginning to warm with the good sunny conditions. We should start seeing more stripers in the area with the warming of the water.

We are looking forward to the striper fishing to pick up in the area. All conditions are pointing to a good spring run of stripers. This will take place as the water clears and begins to warm. This should start to begin around the beginning of March depending on what weather occurs in between now and then.

In the mean time the sturgeon fishing looks like it will continue to produce some good catches in our area. We are marking some nice sturgeon in a few different areas. Salmon roe and the lamprey eel continue to be the good sturgeon baits.

If you want to catch some of these fish give us a call. The boats leave each day when booked from the City of Pittsburg Marina

Information: (916) 777-6498 (Isleton)

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, "It looks like the spring run of bass has started. We have been targeting sturgeon and fishing just 1 to 2 rods for bass and doing well on the bass.The sturgeon fishing has still been scratchey. Last night we had on shaker and one oversized.But 3 bass at 8,16 and 27 lbs.


Same details as above.

Capt. Steve
Flash
Sport Fishing

 

 

FishDelta.com now brings you out of area reports as well!!!!!!!

 

Trout Anglers Score if they Brave the Weather

Angels Camp- Boy this past weeks trip to the Foothills was certainly interesting as the rain poured every little crevice seemed to have running water and New Melones rose two feet again this past week. If you have never experienced the Lake at this level I have to sayit will be a superb year for fishing and House boating. New Melones Lake is currently holding 2,030,600 acre-feet of water, and is at 84% capacity. The lake level is at 1,055 ft. above sea level and only 33 ft. from full capacity. Surface water temperatures are approximately 50-52 degrees. Water is fairly clear to slightly muddy in the creek arms.

Melanie told me upon arrival, “We had very few anglers report to us this week- between the rain and the snow, most anglers stayed home. Remember that during or after a storm is generally a great time to go fishing for trout, as fish are active and heavily feeding on insects that are washed into the lake. Brave trollers caught fish in the top 20 feet of water- shallower in overcast or rainy conditions”. Shad-patterned or firetiger Apex or Needlefish are working well, or tie on a crawler/spinner combo during or after a storm. Use a shad scent on your lure, or try the new Pautski’s Krill scent. Bank anglers should go to Angels Cove- that has definitely been the hot spot for shore fishing. Florescent orange, chartreuse, or rainbow glitter Power Bait, crawler/marshmallow combos, and throwing spoons such as a shad-patterned Kastmaster are all good choices for bank anglers right now.

Anglers’ Choice held a semi-pro tournament on Melones last weekend. Brave anglers fished in the snow. Spotted bass were active, despite the frigid weather, but bigger black bass were harder to find. Leonard Kuhnlien and Mark Kinder took 1st place with 5 fish weighing 12.42 pounds. Eric Souza and Ryan Cook caught the biggest fish of the tournament- a 3.48-pounder. Anglers reported the most action on Keeper 411 and Roboworm Baby Bluegill worms, and brown and purple jigs

 


Lake Pardee

Water conditions: Water level rose considerably since last report and is presently 3 to 4 feet below spill. Continued rains have caused additional runoff resulting in Secchi readings at the 5 foot mark again this week. The temperature measured exactly the same for the second week, 48 degrees at the 20 foot mark and 52 degrees at surface. Needle buoys, islands and rocky outcroppings pose less of a threat to navigation since the water level has risen but still keep a watchful eye out for hazards.

Weather: Great for ducks, more rain this week with the possibility of some blue stuff this weekend. Still very cool here in the mornings, dress in layers.

Trolling- Very quiet this week, the rain has kept everyone away and the guys at the Marina are very lonely. The coves on the east side of the Lake from Mel’s to the River Mouth should still be the best bet, nothing has changed to move that concentration of fish out of that area. Trout should still be in the first 10 feet of water since water temps are constant. Flashers with night crawlers, lures tipped with a partial scented grub or night crawler behind dodgers or sidekicks. Others prefer flat lining behind a very slow troll out 75 to 100 feet behind the boat. Stick with red, pink, cop car and green for lures, dodgers and sidekicks.

Shore Anglers-The hike to the waters edge has greatly improved, there has been absolutely no pressure from hordes of bank anglers lined up along the shore and the last plant contained larger than usual fish. The Launch Ramp, Rainbow Point, the bridge at Sawyer Island, Stony Point Landing and behind the EBMUD boathouse are all good choices. The cold water temperatures in the Recreation area are encouraging the plants to linger longer. Favorite trout fast foods are chartreuse and rainbow processed bait and eggs on a sliding sinker set up, chrome and blue casting lures and last but not least wooly flies behind a clear plastic float.

Some recent success stories:

Another great Largemouth landed last weekend by Gabriel Cardenas, no details on the photo but he weighed in at 8.48 lbs…great fish!

As of 3/09/06 a total of 13,000 lbs of trout has been planted by Lake Pardee and the Department of fish and Game with more scheduled for the near future.

Good Luck---Tight Lines.

For information or reservations call (209) 772-1472

CLEAR LAKE LARGEMOUTH BASS...

Largemouth bass fishing is great on Clear Lake, in spite of the weather systems that have moved through the region lately.
“I caught and released 40 bass one day,” said Bob Higgins at Limit Out Bait and Tackle. “On the following trip, I only had three bites all day, but the other anglers I talked to did well.”

The south end remains the top area to fish, due to the muddy conditions on the north end of Clear Lake. “Anglers are using a variety of methods – Carolina-rigging with plastics, drop shotting with Robo Worms and flippin’ jigs. The Majority of fish are being caught in 6 to 20 feet of water,” noted Higgins.

Crappie continue to be taken “like crazy” by boaters fishing Mini Jigs, marabou jigs and minnows at Konocti Harbor, Tyee and Shag Rock, said Higgins. Expect to nail slabsides in the 1 to 2-1/2 pound range.

The catfish action remains slow and the weather needs to warm up more before the bluegill start biting in big numbers, added Higgins.

Dan Mathisen Outdoors is now booking Dates for Clear Lake Trips April 17th through 27th.

 

The Lake Camanche Fishing Report - Lake on the Rise Trout are no Surprise

Wallace- The lake should rise very slowly this week. Water is currently flowing into Camanche at 2050c.f.s. and water is flowing out of Camanche at a rate of 900 c.f.s. Surface water temperature at the dam is 54 degrees. The water is clear, with a Secchi reading of 12 feet.

This week’s continued wild winter storm action has kept fishing pressure at a minimum at Lake Camanche. When I arrived the area seem to be surrounded by serious storms and Lightening could be seen all around and a funnel cloud in the distance. The combination of wind, rain, and low snow kept a lot of anglers at home. Despite the lack of fishermen, there have still been reports of success from some of the trollers who went out during the week. One boat reported 8 nice trout caught with Uncle Larry’s spinners as well as Apex lures in FireTiger and also silver colors. They were fishing from Hat Island to the dam, and were on the surface early in the day, and dropped down about 20 feet deep later on. Another boat reported catching several fish per rod using flashers with a nightcrawler, as well as flashers with an orange grub. They were fishing near the shoreline southwest of Hat Island in 15-20 feet of water. Another boat reported 2 limits of trout trolling between Little Hat Island and the spillway, using a FireTiger Z-Ray. They were fishing from 15-25 feet. There have been a number of boaters who report good action fishing with PowerBait around Hat Island, Little Hat Island, and also Dike 3.

Due to the unsettled weather conditions, there have been very few reports from shore fishermen at North Shore, or South Shore Pond. As usual, Power Bait remains at the top of the list for bait dunkers at either shore, with nightcrawlers the second favorite option. Cripp Lures, Kastmasters, Magic Bullets, and Panther Martin spinners are all favorites for casting ability, especially in these windy conditions.

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

Well braiving the storms we had limits of bass up to 2 ½ pounds. The key, fishing in 10 feet of water with silver/shad colored crankbaits, in the rock pile area of Lancha Plana. We also caught a number of bass while fishing Brush Hogs in green pumpkin color. We Fished the rip/rap area along Dike 1 in 10-15 feet of water. Black or brown jigs were also producing bass in 10-20 feet through the Narrows.


 

 

 

Pennies on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more? You be the judge!

 


 
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