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TOP PICKS
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Sturgeon fishing was excellent last week with catches of fish from too small (less than 46 inches) to too big (over 66 inches--some have been 7 feet long and longer), plus many in-between. They are being caught all the way to above Colusa with the hot spots still Knight's Landing, Grimes, and Tisdale. Pileworms/ghost shrimp cocktails seem to be the bait du jour. The first consistent reports of striped bass were also stirring excitement that the spring run has arrived. Some of the better reports were coming from Miller Park, Bryte Beach, Sand Cove and Verona. Don't' get too excited just yet, because water conditions will still control fishing and fishability for the near term.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Excellent river conditions as of press time on Monday morning, and fish were being caught throughout the system. Flows were 650 at Healdsberg and 1350 at Garberville, running a beautiful green color. All fishing methods were working, and one fly angler hooked 5 at Johnsons on a big orange fly. Fresh bluebacks of 4 to 7 pounds are being caught along with a mix of donwrunners from 7 to 12 pounds.
CROCKETT--Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star had good days on sturgeon and striped bass, with the stripers dominating on the weekend when wind and weather interfered. "Good thing we had some suicide fish," said Hough, that including 19 stripers to 17.5 pounds, not bad for a poor weather day. One angler also caught a keeper sturgeon on Friday's trip.
DELTA: SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Try in and around the flooded islands for bass now as spring and warming waters on the way and this is the time when anglers can try to catch a fish of a lifetime, as these fish come in to spawn. The islands like Mandeville, Franks Tract, and Mildred (to name a few) will be good areas to try. Senko's are hard to beat in the spring, but cranks, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and jigs will draw some bites too. In the coming weeks you will see the topwater bite produce some giant fish, but these are spawning females so please put them back.
COLLINS LAKE--Fabulous action on bass for anglers throwing trout pattern swimbaits. 29- and 36-pound limits were weighed in last week with an 11 pounder taking big fish honors. Trout are hitting for trollers and shore anglers from the swim area to the dam. Trollers are using Rapalas and Kastmasters for rainbows running up to 5 1/2 pounds. Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers are catching fish to 4 1/2 pounds at the swim beach.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures, and you should always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed by low flows. The DFG's Low Flow Closure Hotline for north coast rivers is 707) 822-3164. For the Russian River and counties of Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886. For the Eel and other North Coast rivers, call (707) 822-3164.
CHETCO RIVER--Another storm hit the river and blew it out. On it's last legs, according to WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts, who said that it was in near-perfect shape in flow and color last week during the Chopper Derby, when 19 teams caught 36 steelhead out of it.
For the next week expect cooler temps and occasional rain, and possibly one more good shot at the steelies before the season ends.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Sercie said the main stem river was green well below the forks but was still running high, and he had no reports of anyone who fished it below the confluence.
EEL RIVER, South Fork--Great fishing in excellent conditions from the top to the forks, with anglers finding action on bluebacks to 5 pounds and adults, fresh and downers, to 15 pounds using roe and plugs. The river was pretty crowded, especially on Wednesday and Thursday. River was still looking good on Monday, but rain was falling, so call ahead.
MAD RIVER--Hit or miss. The Smith got dumped on was way blown out, but rains were widespread and may have missed here. Definitely call ahead. It's been pretty dismal so far this year, and it's about over anyway.
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SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento--Sturgeon fishing was excellent last week with catches of fish from too small (less than 46 inches) to too big (over 66 inches--some have been 7 feet long and longer), plus many in-between. They are being caught all the way to above Colusa with the hot spots still Knight's Landing, Grimes, and Tisdale. Pileworms/ghost shrimp cocktails seem to be the bait du jour. The first consistent reports of striped bass were also stirring excitement that the spring run has arrived. Some of the better reports were coming from Miller Park, Bryte Beach, Sand Cove and Verona. Don't' get too excited just yet, because water conditions will still control fishing and fishability for the near term.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Excellent river conditions as of press time on Monday morning, and fish were being caught throughout the system. Flows were 650 at Healdsberg and 1350 at Garberville, running a beautiful green color. All fishing methods were working, and one fly angler hooked 5 at Johnsons on a big orange fly. Fresh bluebacks of 4 to 7 pounds are being caught along with a mix of donwrunners from 7 to 12 pounds.
CROCKETT--Captain Gordon Hough on the Morning Star had good days on sturgeon and striped bass, with the stripers dominating on the weekend when wind and weather interfered. "Good thing we had some suicide fish," said Hough, that including 19 stripers to 17.5 pounds, not bad for a poor weather day. One angler also caught a keeper sturgeon on Friday's trip.
DELTA: SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Try in and around the flooded islands for bass now as spring and warming waters on the way and this is the time when anglers can try to catch a fish of a lifetime, as these fish come in to spawn. The islands like Mandeville, Franks Tract, and Mildred (to name a few) will be good areas to try. Senko's are hard to beat in the spring, but cranks, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and jigs will draw some bites too. In the coming weeks you will see the topwater bite produce some giant fish, but these are spawning females so please put them back.
COLLINS LAKE--Fabulous action on bass for anglers throwing trout pattern swimbaits. 29- and 36-pound limits were weighed in last week with an 11 pounder taking big fish honors. Trout are hitting for trollers and shore anglers from the swim area to the dam. Trollers are using Rapalas and Kastmasters for rainbows running up to 5 1/2 pounds. Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers are catching fish to 4 1/2 pounds at the swim beach.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures, and you should always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed by low flows. The DFG's Low Flow Closure Hotline for north coast rivers is 707) 822-3164. For the Russian River and counties of Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886. For the Eel and other North Coast rivers, call (707) 822-3164.
CHETCO RIVER--Another storm hit the river and blew it out. On it's last legs, according to WON Field Reporter Dave Pitts, who said that it was in near-perfect shape in flow and color last week during the Chopper Derby, when 19 teams caught 36 steelhead out of it.
For the next week expect cooler temps and occasional rain, and possibly one more good shot at the steelies before the season ends.
EEL RIVER, Main Stem--Guide Marc Nimitz of Pipe Creek Guide Sercie said the main stem river was green well below the forks but was still running high, and he had no reports of anyone who fished it below the confluence.
EEL RIVER, South Fork--Great fishing in excellent conditions from the top to the forks, with anglers finding action on bluebacks to 5 pounds and adults, fresh and downers, to 15 pounds using roe and plugs. The river was pretty crowded, especially on Wednesday and Thursday. River was still looking good on Monday, but rain was falling, so call ahead.
MAD RIVER--Hit or miss. The Smith got dumped on was way blown out, but rains were widespread and may have missed here. Definitely call ahead. It's been pretty dismal so far this year, and it's about over anyway.
More...
