Lets Go Fishing! with Jay Sorensen courtesy of the River News Herals and Cecile Giacoma.
DELTA
Due to the recent storm fronts to hit California and the heavy water releases from Orville and Nimbus Dams the waters in the Delta region remain high and muddy along with heavy debris and flotsam has caused the fishing to come to a grinding halt throughout most of the system. The recent big tides this past week have caused the sturgeon to move from the deeper sections into shallower sections of the river system, but even with the excellent tides, the sturgeon fishing remains slow. There were reports of several sturgeon being caught off Freeman Island to 53 inches in length. Due to high water condition boaters are
advised to check launching conditions before hitching up, and if you play the Delta by boat beware of the logs and other heavy debris to avoid damage to your vessel. If sturgeon fishing anchor your boat off the shoreline in shallower water where the water is moving slower with the tides. The best bait continues to be salmon roe. As soon as the water clarity improves so will the striped bass fishing.
Anglers tossing swimbaits, chatter baits and spinnerbaits in close to the tules and seedbeds are catching a few largemouth bass, but finding clearer waters
remains a challenge in the San Joaquin Delta, and with the large number of bass tournaments scheduled in the coming weeks, locating clear water will become more of a focal point.
LAKE PARDEE/
AMADOR LAKE
Heavy trout plants have contributed to a solid trout action off the shoreline from the “Mud Hole” to Rainbow Point, but you have to be willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with a fellow fishermen,
especially on the weekends. At Pardee Lake the Rocky River Recreation Company placed a total of 13,000 pounds of rainbow
trout since the opener on
February 15th. Shoreline anglers are tossing white crappie jigs or trout dough baits in green with garlic flavor working best along the Rockwell near the marina and also at Rainbow Point.
Nearby Lake Amador is full to capacity, and is
expected to spill over again this week with the
incoming storm fronts. Trollers are finding success in the rear of the lake with bright lures such as Kastmasters behind a flasher. The concessionaires
released 1000 pounds of cut bows from their hatchery this past week, split evenly between the debris pocket in the northwest corner of the dam and the other near the cove by Campsite 89. The lakes annual trout derby concluded on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Concessionaires still have a few Lightning trout remaining in the their hatchery.
SAN PABLO BAY
Anglers continue to target sturgeon in the “Sturgeon Triangle” off the Pumphouse in about 12 feet of water on the out going tides. Mud shrimp is the preferred bait of choice. In the mix are a few legal striped bass are then using the same method for sturgeon. Having patience is the secret when fishing under these conditions where the water remains very stained and muddy.
SAN LUIS RESERVOIR
The striped bass fishing at San Luis Reservoir continues to be very good for anglers utilizing a variety of techniques, especially reaction lures. The rising waters are really pushing the shad into the shallows in covers, creek channels and humps, and the anglers fishing from boats are targeting the line sides with Zara Spooks or similar top water lures while shoreline anglers are tossing rip baits or jerk-baits. Some of the recent fish caught are over 20 pounds in weight. Roger George of Roger George Guide Service trolled with Lucky Crafts in the minnow colors and he released 42 stripers ranging in size from 19 to 26 inches in length. The lake is now holding at 92 to 95 percent of capacity due to increased pumping from the Delta.
NEW MELONES AND DON PEDRO
RESERVOIRS
New Melones and Don Pedro Reservoirs hosted large bass tournaments last week, and the results were spectacular for big fish with both tournaments featuring at least one double digit largemouth bass. At Melones the team of Romero and Daniels took first place with a five fish limit of 32.94 pounds along with a Big fish weighing 12.56 pounds. It took a 16 pound five fish limit to place in the top fifteen finishers.
LAKE CAMANCHE
Trout plants continue to the tune of 3600 pounds of Mt. Lassen Hatchery rainbows this past week with the plant split evenly between the North Shore Marina, the South Shore Marina and the pond. Trollers working the Narrows continue to score on some trophy rainbows weighing in excess of six pounds. Most are being caught on the troll using white grubs with a chartreuse Power Egg or an oranger grub with a white Power Egg on a set back of 120 feet for an estimated depth of 8 feet at the deepest.
OCEAN
Party boats putting their clients onto large numbers of sand dabs, surf perch and limits of Dungeness crab. Most of the charter boats will continue taking trips for sand dabs or crab pot pulling until the opening of the rock fishing scheduled for Monday, April 1, 2019. Before booking a trip be sure to check the current weather conditions before venturing out into the big waters.
Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. In the interim, stay safe to fish another day, and at the same time play it safe when plying the Delta in your boat due to logs and other heavy debris floating on the surface and just under the surface. Until next tide stay safe.
JAY’S BEST BETS
Delta – (sturgeon);
Amador Lake – (trout, catfish);
Don Pedro Lake – (trout, landlocked salmon);
Camanche Lake – (trout)
Folsom Lake – (trout, landlocked salmon)
San Pablo Bay – (sturgeon);
Ocean – (sand dabs, surf perch, Dungeness crab).
San Luis Réservoir (striped bass)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Eat, sleep and go fishing.
…. Unknown
UPCOMING EVENTS
SANTA ROSA FISHING TACKLE & DUCK DECOY SHOW
March 8 – 9, 2019. At this annual event there will be an array of antiques, collectibles, new and used fishing tackle and much more. This event will take place at 1351 Maple Ave. in Santa Rosa. For more
information call (707) 888-
7935.
SACRAMENTO BOAT SHOW
March 7 – 10, 2019 at Cal Expo. Opens on Thursday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, contact sacramentoboatshow.com or call (916) 372-4239.
RENO RV, BOAT &
RECREATION SHOW
March 14 – 17, 2019.
If you enjoy outdoor sports
and recreation you will want to attend the Reno Boat & Recreation Show. This event boasts the latest outdoor gear and accessories, adventure and travel, boats, RV’s, camp trailers and much more. The event will be held at the Reno Convention Center. For more information call (775) 882-2222.
NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE AT COLLINS LAKE
Saturday, April 13, 2019 – The Norcal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament Tour will visit Collins Lake and if you love to fish for trout you’ll want to participate in this low cost event. Boaters and bank anglers are welcome. The event will feature cash prizes, gear raffles and a lot of family fun. For more information or to sign up call (916) 768-0938.
FUTURE PRO CLEAR LAKE BASS
TOURNAMENT
April 20, 2019 – Be part of this west coast bass tournament by signing up for this Future Pro event. For more information, call Vince harris at (916) 768-0938.
KOKANEE POWER LAKE SHASTA TEAM CLASSIC
May 4-5, 2019 – You are invited to fish the Kokanee Power Lake Shasta Team Classic where you have the chance of hooking up with big trout and landlocked salmon. Participants can win some awesome prizes along with a free dinner. For more information, call Gary Coe at (916) 985-4943.
DELTA HERBICIDE TREATMENT PLAN
FOR 2019
The California Department of Boating and Waterways has released their herbicide treatment plan for 2019, and spraying will occur from March through November with the chemicals consisting of Fluridone or Diquat for control of Brazilian waterweed (Egeria Gensa curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, fanwort, and coontail – all non-native week species.
Anchorages, boat ramps, and marinas will be the focus. Spraying will take place at the following locations, B&W Resort, Das Cliff House, Delta Marina, Rio Vista, Driftwood Marina, Golden Anchor, Hidden harbor Resort, Hogback Boat Launch, Korth’s Pirates Lair, Lloyd’s Holiday Harbor, New Bridge Marina, Owl Harbor, Oxbow Harbor, Perry’s Boat Harbor, Rivers End, Spindrift Marina, St. Francis Yacht Club, Tiki Lagun, Tracy Oasis Marina, Turner Cut Resort, and Willow Berm Marina are all areas of the herbicide spraying including the Old River near Cruiser Haven Marina, Diablo Ski Club, Taylor Slough, Discovery Bay, Piper Slough, San Mound Slough, Italian Slough, King Island in Disappointment Slough. In the Stockton area, Atherton Cove, Buckley Cove, Burns Cutoff, Calaveras River, Fourteen Mile Slough, Mosher Slough, Smith Canal, White’s Slough and Windmill Cover are all scheduled for spraying.
SEMINARS:
SACRAMENTO BOAT
AND RV SHOW
Next weekend is the Sacramento Boat and Spring RV Show at California Expo, and there will be fishing seminars are Saturday and Sunday.The seminar schedule is as follows:
Saturday, March 9th –
11:00 a.m. – Captain J.D. Richey- Light Tackle Delta Stripers
12:00 noon – Kent Brown – Bass Techniques and Locations
1:00 p.m. – Captain James Netzel – Trout and Kokanee Trolling
2:00 p.m. – Captain Steve Mitchell – Delta Sturgeon Fishing
Sunday, March 10th –
11:00 a.m. – Captain Steve Mitchell – Delta Sturgeon Fishing
12:00 noon – Captain J.D. Richey- Light Tackle Delta Stripers
1:00 p.m. – Captain James Netzel – Trout and Kokanee Trolling
2:00 p.m. – Kent Brown – Bass Techniques and Locations0 Bass Techniques and Locations
Dan Mathisen of Dan Mathisen Outdoors will start guiding on the Delta once again starting at the end of the current week, and he said, “The anglers with success at the New Jen event were either punching or throwing spinnerbaits or chatterbaits. The key is to get out of the current, and the best fishing took place at the switch of the tide when the current slowed down. White on white spinnerbaits with a double willow leaf blade along with the Optimum’s Bubba Shad swimbait are working for the largemouth bass, and a 10-pound striped bass was landed inside of Frank’s Tract on a spinnerbait by a bass fisherman. Our next circuit tournament will be on March 16th out of Russo’s Marina. One major concern has been the sea lions, and they are going through the tules eating largemouth bass like a bear marauding through an orchard.”
Mike Pipkins of Gotcha Bait in Antioch confirmed the excessive number of sea lions in the San Joaquin and Sacramento systems. He said, “Really, the water on the San Joaquin isn’t too bad, and I am ready to start plugging for stripers soon.”
Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sport Fishing will begin his striped bass trips out of Laurizen’s Yacht Harbor in Antioch as soon as the water clears, and he will focus on teaching anglers the techniques of live bait drifting and spoons with the additional opportunity for fly fishing.
The Discovery Bay Community Foundation is holding a Big Bass Family Fishing Tournament on Saturday, March 10 at the Discovery Bay Marina from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. with a 50% payback with 50% of the proceeds going to the Discovery Bay Community Foundation. The entry fee is $100/boat with up to six anglers allowed per vessel. There is a youth division as well for participants under 16. The heaviest bass will be awarded the top three places.