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TOP PICKS
DELTA--SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Some larger stripers continued to show at the Antioch Bridge and West Island and over to and throughout Franks Tract. Shad or a half of a large sardine will be good choices as they are beginning to focus on the spawned out shad and new fry. Finding current will help find bass, although the bite has not been consistent. Topwater can be good when clouds are around. Crank chartreuse colored baits outside the weed lines where there are dropoffs of 10 or 12 feet as they may be holding some bass. Bass averaged 2 1/2 pounds.
LOON LAKE--Dale' s Foothill Fishing Guide Service was here this past week and his clients caught 15 rainbows up to 14 inches. The West end of the lake was best using Sep's watermelon grubs at 12 to 15 feet set back 80 to 90 feet. Wind can be very bad in the afternoon.
CAPLES LAKE--Lots of anglers fishing off the dam, spillway, Wood's Creek, and Immigrant Cove for some big rainbows, 6 to 11 pounds. Power Bait, worms, and a gold Kastmaster are the go-to choices for success. Six fish over 8 pounds were weighed in on Sunday alone.
EMERYVILLE--A strong halibut week with some really big flatties landed. On most trips, halibut over 20 pounds took the big fish honors. Early in the week, there was a 34 pounder and a 37 pounder caught. The count was around one around on the halibut, plus most trips also produced a few stripers, rockfish and lings. Rockfish trips saw slower action, but most trips scored at least half-limits.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures. Always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed or no reports. 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. Many streams closed, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31 and others on April 25
ROGUE RIVER, Lower--The first of the fall kings began to stage in the estuary this pasts week, and trollers are slamming bright Chinooks to 40 pounds, getting 2 to 4 pulldowns a day using straight bait or trolling spinnerbaits or the Bechhold Bullet baitholder with herring. Fishing the estuary is based on tides and bait and temperature, and isn't an "all-day" thing. Best to get a guide the first time out, but it's doable in your own boat, too.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Low water conditions and it's almost entirely left to the rafters and inner-tubers with the exception of a few diehard smallmouth bass fishermen who work it early and late. With on exception this week, however: A smallmouth bass fisherman at Johnson's Beach landed an 8-pound bright steelhead, according to Kevin at the Outdoor Pro Shop in Rohnert Park. It's way the wrong time of year for steelhead!
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen--Some fresh fall run Chinook salmon and steelhead are entering the river, but heavy moss has been fouling hooks and hampering fishing for them. It should start clearing soon, but it might be best to wait a week or two before making a trip.
TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City--Fishing continued to be only fair with 1 to 3 fish per boat in a hard day's fishing the norm. Pressure is light, though. Although a few fish are taking Kwikfish in the morning, the bite has almost entirely been on roe.
TRINITY RIVER, Falls Area--It's been very hot so the best chance at catching a salmon has been to drift roe slowly through deep holes and below the mouths of tributaries. Grays and Burnt Ranch Falls were still producing a few salmon, but the hike out is especially strenuous in the heat. There are still lots of bait-stealing smolts around, so when fishing for steelhead, it's best to use lures or flies whenever possible.
North Saltwater
BERKELEY--Good action on halibut and some surprising white seabass showing for the live bait boats. Lots of effort outside the Golden Gate again, with some big halibut caught at Point Bonita and the north bar, with some lunkers caught at Alcatraz also. Before the tides dropped off, striper numbers were pretty good also.
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DELTA--SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side--Some larger stripers continued to show at the Antioch Bridge and West Island and over to and throughout Franks Tract. Shad or a half of a large sardine will be good choices as they are beginning to focus on the spawned out shad and new fry. Finding current will help find bass, although the bite has not been consistent. Topwater can be good when clouds are around. Crank chartreuse colored baits outside the weed lines where there are dropoffs of 10 or 12 feet as they may be holding some bass. Bass averaged 2 1/2 pounds.
LOON LAKE--Dale' s Foothill Fishing Guide Service was here this past week and his clients caught 15 rainbows up to 14 inches. The West end of the lake was best using Sep's watermelon grubs at 12 to 15 feet set back 80 to 90 feet. Wind can be very bad in the afternoon.
CAPLES LAKE--Lots of anglers fishing off the dam, spillway, Wood's Creek, and Immigrant Cove for some big rainbows, 6 to 11 pounds. Power Bait, worms, and a gold Kastmaster are the go-to choices for success. Six fish over 8 pounds were weighed in on Sunday alone.
EMERYVILLE--A strong halibut week with some really big flatties landed. On most trips, halibut over 20 pounds took the big fish honors. Early in the week, there was a 34 pounder and a 37 pounder caught. The count was around one around on the halibut, plus most trips also produced a few stripers, rockfish and lings. Rockfish trips saw slower action, but most trips scored at least half-limits.
GENERAL
NORTH COAST RIVERS
North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures. Always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed or no reports. 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. Many streams closed, and others change to artificial/barbless only on March 31 and others on April 25
ROGUE RIVER, Lower--The first of the fall kings began to stage in the estuary this pasts week, and trollers are slamming bright Chinooks to 40 pounds, getting 2 to 4 pulldowns a day using straight bait or trolling spinnerbaits or the Bechhold Bullet baitholder with herring. Fishing the estuary is based on tides and bait and temperature, and isn't an "all-day" thing. Best to get a guide the first time out, but it's doable in your own boat, too.
RUSSIAN RIVER--Low water conditions and it's almost entirely left to the rafters and inner-tubers with the exception of a few diehard smallmouth bass fishermen who work it early and late. With on exception this week, however: A smallmouth bass fisherman at Johnson's Beach landed an 8-pound bright steelhead, according to Kevin at the Outdoor Pro Shop in Rohnert Park. It's way the wrong time of year for steelhead!
TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen--Some fresh fall run Chinook salmon and steelhead are entering the river, but heavy moss has been fouling hooks and hampering fishing for them. It should start clearing soon, but it might be best to wait a week or two before making a trip.
TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City--Fishing continued to be only fair with 1 to 3 fish per boat in a hard day's fishing the norm. Pressure is light, though. Although a few fish are taking Kwikfish in the morning, the bite has almost entirely been on roe.
TRINITY RIVER, Falls Area--It's been very hot so the best chance at catching a salmon has been to drift roe slowly through deep holes and below the mouths of tributaries. Grays and Burnt Ranch Falls were still producing a few salmon, but the hike out is especially strenuous in the heat. There are still lots of bait-stealing smolts around, so when fishing for steelhead, it's best to use lures or flies whenever possible.
North Saltwater
BERKELEY--Good action on halibut and some surprising white seabass showing for the live bait boats. Lots of effort outside the Golden Gate again, with some big halibut caught at Point Bonita and the north bar, with some lunkers caught at Alcatraz also. Before the tides dropped off, striper numbers were pretty good also.
More...
