DELTA
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta waterways entire system from Freeport to Suisun Bay is high, cold, and muddy with loads of grass and floating debris. In looking at the Delta’s condition it will take time for the system to be fishable. Your best bet presently is spend your time targeting sturgeon. For your information Montezuma Slough has been very good as of late for sturgeon. Good numbers of target length diamondbacks have been hooked and landed this past week. Mike Pipkins of Gotcha Bait in Antioch said one of his customers bought 4 dozen ghost shrimp and he headed into Montezuma Slough where they hooked and landed 11 slot limit sturgeon. The best baits continue to be salmon roe and ghost shrimp.
On the San Joaquin River there has not been much activity on striped bass fishing, but in the interim several largemouth bass tournaments were conducted out of Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island. The New Jen Tournament produced several 5 fish limits exceeding 25 pounds by the team of Thomas and Steve Kanemoto with the big fish hitting the scales at 9.91 pounds. The hot lure was spinnerbaits and chatter baits white in color with a double willow leaf blade. One striped bass was caught in Frank’s Tract on a spinnerbait and the fish weighed an even 10 pounds. Many sea lions have been observed on the San Joaquin where they have been seen barreling through the tules and eating largemouth bass. As soon as the water clarity gets better so will the fishing.
LAKE PARDEE
The shorelines are crowded with trout fishermen and they are catching rainbows weighing 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, up to an occasional fish weighing 7 pounds. The best fishing is
taking place in the main
marina cove. Trollers are finding the action slow.
AMADOR LAKE
The lake is now full to
capacity. The water is stained and shoreline anglers have had the upper hand with scented dough baits or lures with noise or vibrations.
AMERICAN RIVER
Even with high water conditions anglers are still hoping and landing some quality steelhead in the upper portion of the river off the shoreline where the current is slower with Little Cleo’s working best. Beware of the many snags in the river.
LAKE CAMANCHE
Trout trolling has been a hit or miss these days. The secret is find some clear water and this has been a challenge. This past week a plant of 1200 pounds of Mt. Lassen Hatchery rainbows were released into the main lake at the South Shore Marina. Several anglers found success in the Narrows pulling grubs at speeds from 1.4 to 1.7 mph. Camanche Lake has dropped from 77 to 74 percent of capacity.
OCEAN
On April 1 will begin the rockfish season from Point Arena to Pigeon Point. The daily limit will consist of a 10 fish limit along with one ling cod with a 22 inch minimum length. Rockfish will consist of only 3 blacks, 2 canary and 3 cabezon with a minimum length of 15 inches.
All other ports along the coast of California report that most private and party boats continue to catch huge numbers of sand dabs, surf perch and limits of quality Dungeness crab.
SAN PABLO BAY
Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Live Bait and Tackle in San Rafael reports good sturgeon fishing in San Pablo Bay and they are going to get better. The water is chocolate brown, and it will stay that way for months. The sturgeon fishing should last until June and then anglers will begin pursuing halibut. The best bait continues to be mud shrimp and ghost shrimp on outgoing tides. Keith said the bay is full of small stripers. On one trip they went through 30 pounds of grass shrimp due to the small striped bass. Best water depth is in the “sturgeon Triangle” in 12 feet of water. Good numbers of target length diamondbacks hitting the decks lately.
Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. Be careful when plying the waters by boat due to the logs and other heavy debris in the system. Be sure to check weather conditions before venturing out into the big waters. Stay safe to fish another day. Until next tide!
JAY’S BEST BETS
Sacramento – (sturgeon);
Amador Lake – (trout);
Suisun Bay – (sturgeon);
Camanche Lake – (trout)
Suisun Cut – (sturgeon)
San Pablo Bay – (sturgeon);
Ocean – (sand dabs, surf perch, Dungeness crab).
San Luis Reservoir (striped bass)
Montezuma Slough – (sturgeon)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Lead your life so you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot
to the town gossip.
…. Will Rogers
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE AT COLLINS LAKE
Saturday, April 13, 2019 – The NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament will take place at Collins Lake and if you love trout fishing, you’ll want to participate in this low cost event. Boaters and shoreline anglers are welcome. At this event there will be cash prizes, gear raffles and lots of family fun. For more information, call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938.
FUTURE PRO
CLEAR LAKE BASS TOURNAMENT
Saturday, April 20, 2019 – Plan on attending this event and be part of the west coast’s hottest bass fishing circuit by signing up for the Future Pro event. For more information, call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938.
KOKANEE POWER LAKE SHASTA TEAM CLASSIC
May 4 – 5, 2019 – Participates taking part in this event will have the opportunity to catch some big trout and landlocked salmon along with a chance to win some awesome prizes along with a free dinner. For more informtion, call Gary Coe (916) 985-4943.
2019 SALMON FISHING SEASON LOOKS REALLY GOOD
The Department of Fish and Wildlife provided the first bit of excellent news with the forecast of 379,632 adult Sacramento Valley salmon off the coast of California this year. This is an increase from only 229,400 adult salmon last year. Within the next month, The Pacific Fisheries Management Council will set the times and areas that will open for the 2019 recreational and commercial salmon fishing seasons, and this data will be a major factor in their decision. The PFMC will finalize the recommended season dates at its April 9 – 16 meeting in Rohnert Park, Ca.
The Golden Gate Salmon Association has been working diligently for the restoration of our salmon stocks for the past several years, and has been an integral part of the improvement. The group looks forward to having a very good salmon fishing season this year. In fact, they anticipate the best season since 2013, which was a really good one. This was due to really wet winters and springs in the Central Valley. If water managers would leave more water in our rivers during some of the drier years we’d always have more salmon.
C.S.B.A WEST DELTA CHAPTER MEETING
Thursday, March 14, 2019 – The West Delta Chapter of the California Striped Bass Association holds their monthly meeting at the newly revamped Bridge
Marina Yacht Club facility, 20 Fleming Lane, Antioch, Ca. Guest speaker: Phil Lago will preset top water striped bass fishing techniques. The meetings are opened to the public.
Those interested in having dinner will have to call Tom Coss for reservations @ (925) 699-1699.
St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
MENU: Corned beef and cabbage, boiled potato, veggies, salad, roll with butter and dessert.
5:30 – 6:30 pm – No host bar
6:30 – 8:30 pm – Dinner and general meeting
DELTA FISHERIES
MEETING SCHEDULED
Saturday, March 16, 2019 – The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association will be conducting a meeting at Wimpy’s Marina in Walnut Grove. You are invited to come and meet the leadership from Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association to discuss Delta topics covering largemouth bass, striped bass, sturgeon, salmon & more. Come find out why united together we can create changes in protecting our fishery resources. For more information, call Andy Dounda at (925) 728-1267. Wimpy’s Marina is located at 14001 W. Walnut Grove Road in Walnut Grove, Ca.
