03-05-2008, 06:10 PM
Delta
Largemouth bass fishing has shaken the winter doldrums. Saturday's 100% BASS tournament found 4 of 39 teams weighing in a five-fish limit that exceeded 30 pounds - better than a 6-pound average. Event organizers said the bass bite confirmed two beliefs: Anglers must fish in the tules and must have flippin' sticks in their hands. The best lure was a black-blue jig.
The winning team was Discovery Bay's Jeremy Zipton and Firuz Gizatullin, who posted a five-fish limit totaling 37.35 pounds, including an 8-pound kicker bass. Their top-producing lure was a 1/2-ounce Revenge Jig with a Yamamoto trailer flipped very quietly and then let to sit on the bottom before moving it very slowly. The big bass of the tourney was a 12.51-pound largemouth.
The second-place team of Mike Andrews and Bobby Delamater of Oakley posted a five-fish limit weighing 34.93 pounds. Their limit was anchored by a 12.05-pound largemouth.
"What does it take to win around here?" Andrew asked. "This is an incredible fishery."
The runners-up used black-blue Bobby D jigs. Information: 100percentbass.com.
Also showing a marked improvement is the long-awaited striped bass run. Perhaps the spring migration is about to start. Audie Urbano at Hap's Bait in Rio Vista said stripers, 20 to 22 inches, with a scattering of big fish in the 18- to 25-pound bracket, suddenly appeared on the Sacramento River below Rio Vista between Decker Island and the Powerlines.
"Most stripers are coming on bait - primarily sardines - because fresh shad minnows are tough to come by these days," Urbano said. "The only shad available seems to be frozen, if you can get it."
Urbano also logged three sturgeon to 55 pounds on Saturday, claimed at Sherman Lake, Powerlines and Cache Sough. A combination of ghost shrimp and grass shrimp did the number.
Rick Fried at Fisherman's Friend in Lodi also touted bait fishing on the Sacramento River for striped bass to 9 pounds. He also said sturgeon fishing was "good" between Light 8 and Light 14.
Jayson Young at Larry's Bait finally is getting some fresh shad, but the minnows aren't too big.
"We're selling more anchovies and sardines right now," Young said. "The wind seems to keep a lot of anglers at home."
Ron Halvorson at Jolly's Bait confirmed the good largemouth bass fishing, not only on artificial lures, but on live minnows, too.
"Striped bass fishing is starting to pick up on the San Joaquin River side for guys putting in the time. They are finding a few fish in the 20- to 29-inch class in a variety of places like Mossdale and Whiskey Slough," Halvorson said. "They're hooking stripers on frozen shad and pile worms. I hope we'll have fresh shad in a couple weeks."
Independent reports reveal two large schools of stripers in the 5- to 8-pound class off Venice Island near Light 51 and on the main San Joaquin River near Lost Isle. Jigs and crankbaits are tagging them. Information: (707) 374-2372 (Rio Vista); (209) 369-0204 (Lodi); (209) 473-2239; (209) 948-6344.
Saltwater
Ocean - Light angler interest and turbulent seas keep most partyboats in port. Surf perch are running in Monterey Bay and sand dabs have moved close to the shoreline. Both species are spawning. If partyboats choose to run, it will likely be on weekends. Information: (707) 875-3344 (Bodega Bay); (650) 726-2629 (Half Moon Bay); (510) 654-6040 (Emeryville).
San Pablo Bay - Sturgeon fishing is decent, but not great. A number of sturgeon are being caught daily on mud shrimp and herring below the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and at the pumphouse. Few keeper-sized stripers to 8 pounds also appear at the pumphouse. Overall, the scene is improving and tides are good on the weekend. Another week of good weather and live shiner minnows should produce at Marina Islands, the brickyards and the Whaling Station. Information: (415) 456-0321 (San Rafael).
Suisun Bay - Anglers rejoice when the wind stays down. Unfortunately, that condition doesn't exist too often, especially on the weekend. Boaters run for cover behind berms on the main river, Chain Island and the Mothball Fleet to hook some sturgeon on lamprey eel, salmon roe and shrimpbaits. The bite isn't very good. There is a fair shot at 5-pound striper on eel and shad. "We're trying different baits and locations just to get something going," said Barry Canevaro of Fish Hookers Sport Fishing in Isleton. Information: (925) 252-0151 (Pittsburg); (916) 777-6498 (Isleton).<br />
Rivers
Rain, runoff and fluctuating flows combine for a slow steelhead fishing week. Call ahead for conditions. Information: American River, (916) 448-6338; Feather River, (530) 674-1912; Sacramento River, (800) 355-3113; Trinity River, (530) 623-4999; Klamath River, (530) 842-2229.<br />
Lakes
Amador - Beat goes on with another 6,000 pounds of trout released Tuesday. Fish range from 2 to 4 pounds. Weekend was busy with anglers using Kastmaster lures, white crappie jigs, Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers. More action is from the shoreline. Largemouth to 15 inches break loose from the winter doldrums, responding to live crawdads. Water level is rising, about 13 feet from the top. Information: (209) 274-4739.
Camanche - Limits of trout are scarce, but there are some real whoppers to be caught, if you're lucky. A 12- and 15-pound rainbow were caught on Power Bait from the North Shore launch ramp by bank anglers. A 15 3/4-pound trout was fooled by a two-inch fire-tiger Power Grub off Hat Island, reported Rick Fried at Fisherman's Friend in Lodi. "Grubs are doing very well," he said. "But you've got to run them 150 to 200 feet behind the boat with no weight." Average-sized trout measure 12 to 16 inches. Some 1,200 pounds of trout will be released this week at North Shore ramp. On Sunday, an Angler's Choice semi-pro event found 11 of 30 teams posting a five-fish limit. The winning team of Don Buie of Escalon and Chris Bakewell of Farmington posted 16.85 pounds for five fish, including the event's big fish, a 4.47-pounder. Swim baits and deep-diving crankbaits produced best. On Saturday, a Stockton Bass club event found 10 of 19 boats posting five-fish limits. The top weight was 13.7 pounds for five fish. Jigs seemed to hook the most bass in the morning hours, and swim baits were the ticket in the afternoon. Information: (209) 763-5166; (209) 369-0204 (Lodi).
Don Pedro - Black bass fishing is pretty tough here, too. Large fish seem to go for crankbaits in crawdad colors. Trout trollers struggle for a fish or two. King salmon to 2 pounds found in Carson Creek arm. Water level is rising and the clarity is moderate. Information: (209) 852-2369.
Los Vaqueros - Inflated nightcrawlers or a combination of a nightcrawler/Power Bait entice trout for bank anglers at the rock wall and boaters in Howden Cove. Fishing is spotty and for good reason. Trout plants have been suspended since Feb. 5. A 5,000-pound plant is scheduled March 15. Information: (925) 371-2628.
New Melones - Trolling for a mix of trout and kokanee is hit and miss. There are a few limits, and some skunks, too. Melanie Lewis at Glory Hole Sports in Angels Camp said rising water levels are carrying lots of floating debris. Bank anglers use Power Bait and a long leader at Glory Hole and Angels coves to hook recently planted and holdover rainbows. Wes Harper of Angels Camp tried a nightcrawler/marshmallow combination near Glory Hole Point and caught a 5-pound, 6-ounce brown trout. Spotted bass are biting softly and many don't measure 12 inches. Real big largemouth bass, greater than 7 pounds, fall occasionally to swim baits. The 10th annual, day-long Fishing Seminar at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds is April 5. Information: (209) 736-4333 (Angels Camp).
Pardee - Shoreline angling seems best, especially on Saturdays following a trout plant. Baits that float take the majority of rainbows, though a Kastmaster lure also is effective. Trolling is fair through the Narrows, Mel's Cove and the mouth of the river. Few reports on black bass, although a 7-pound smallmouth was logged a while back. Information: (209) 772-1472.
Shasta - If spotted bass are your quarry, there's no better impoundment right now than mighty Shasta, with its 365 miles of shoreline. Sunday's 100% BASS tournament yielded five-fish limits for nearly all of the 32 teams. Hot baits are brown jigs and swim baits. The winning team of Jim Riley and Bob Benson of the City of Lake Shasta posted five fish that weighed 17.92 pounds and included a 5.97-pound spotted bass. Less than a pound of total weight separated the top three teams. The Sacramento River arm was the top producer. Trout trollers work the McCloud River arm and Hirtz Bay, running minnow imitations 150 feet behind the boat. Information: 100percentbass.com; (530) 275-2278 (Redding).
Largemouth bass fishing has shaken the winter doldrums. Saturday's 100% BASS tournament found 4 of 39 teams weighing in a five-fish limit that exceeded 30 pounds - better than a 6-pound average. Event organizers said the bass bite confirmed two beliefs: Anglers must fish in the tules and must have flippin' sticks in their hands. The best lure was a black-blue jig.
The winning team was Discovery Bay's Jeremy Zipton and Firuz Gizatullin, who posted a five-fish limit totaling 37.35 pounds, including an 8-pound kicker bass. Their top-producing lure was a 1/2-ounce Revenge Jig with a Yamamoto trailer flipped very quietly and then let to sit on the bottom before moving it very slowly. The big bass of the tourney was a 12.51-pound largemouth.
The second-place team of Mike Andrews and Bobby Delamater of Oakley posted a five-fish limit weighing 34.93 pounds. Their limit was anchored by a 12.05-pound largemouth.
"What does it take to win around here?" Andrew asked. "This is an incredible fishery."
The runners-up used black-blue Bobby D jigs. Information: 100percentbass.com.
Also showing a marked improvement is the long-awaited striped bass run. Perhaps the spring migration is about to start. Audie Urbano at Hap's Bait in Rio Vista said stripers, 20 to 22 inches, with a scattering of big fish in the 18- to 25-pound bracket, suddenly appeared on the Sacramento River below Rio Vista between Decker Island and the Powerlines.
"Most stripers are coming on bait - primarily sardines - because fresh shad minnows are tough to come by these days," Urbano said. "The only shad available seems to be frozen, if you can get it."
Urbano also logged three sturgeon to 55 pounds on Saturday, claimed at Sherman Lake, Powerlines and Cache Sough. A combination of ghost shrimp and grass shrimp did the number.
Rick Fried at Fisherman's Friend in Lodi also touted bait fishing on the Sacramento River for striped bass to 9 pounds. He also said sturgeon fishing was "good" between Light 8 and Light 14.
Jayson Young at Larry's Bait finally is getting some fresh shad, but the minnows aren't too big.
"We're selling more anchovies and sardines right now," Young said. "The wind seems to keep a lot of anglers at home."
Ron Halvorson at Jolly's Bait confirmed the good largemouth bass fishing, not only on artificial lures, but on live minnows, too.
"Striped bass fishing is starting to pick up on the San Joaquin River side for guys putting in the time. They are finding a few fish in the 20- to 29-inch class in a variety of places like Mossdale and Whiskey Slough," Halvorson said. "They're hooking stripers on frozen shad and pile worms. I hope we'll have fresh shad in a couple weeks."
Independent reports reveal two large schools of stripers in the 5- to 8-pound class off Venice Island near Light 51 and on the main San Joaquin River near Lost Isle. Jigs and crankbaits are tagging them. Information: (707) 374-2372 (Rio Vista); (209) 369-0204 (Lodi); (209) 473-2239; (209) 948-6344.
Saltwater
Ocean - Light angler interest and turbulent seas keep most partyboats in port. Surf perch are running in Monterey Bay and sand dabs have moved close to the shoreline. Both species are spawning. If partyboats choose to run, it will likely be on weekends. Information: (707) 875-3344 (Bodega Bay); (650) 726-2629 (Half Moon Bay); (510) 654-6040 (Emeryville).
San Pablo Bay - Sturgeon fishing is decent, but not great. A number of sturgeon are being caught daily on mud shrimp and herring below the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and at the pumphouse. Few keeper-sized stripers to 8 pounds also appear at the pumphouse. Overall, the scene is improving and tides are good on the weekend. Another week of good weather and live shiner minnows should produce at Marina Islands, the brickyards and the Whaling Station. Information: (415) 456-0321 (San Rafael).
Suisun Bay - Anglers rejoice when the wind stays down. Unfortunately, that condition doesn't exist too often, especially on the weekend. Boaters run for cover behind berms on the main river, Chain Island and the Mothball Fleet to hook some sturgeon on lamprey eel, salmon roe and shrimpbaits. The bite isn't very good. There is a fair shot at 5-pound striper on eel and shad. "We're trying different baits and locations just to get something going," said Barry Canevaro of Fish Hookers Sport Fishing in Isleton. Information: (925) 252-0151 (Pittsburg); (916) 777-6498 (Isleton).<br />
Rivers
Rain, runoff and fluctuating flows combine for a slow steelhead fishing week. Call ahead for conditions. Information: American River, (916) 448-6338; Feather River, (530) 674-1912; Sacramento River, (800) 355-3113; Trinity River, (530) 623-4999; Klamath River, (530) 842-2229.<br />
Lakes
Amador - Beat goes on with another 6,000 pounds of trout released Tuesday. Fish range from 2 to 4 pounds. Weekend was busy with anglers using Kastmaster lures, white crappie jigs, Power Bait and inflated nightcrawlers. More action is from the shoreline. Largemouth to 15 inches break loose from the winter doldrums, responding to live crawdads. Water level is rising, about 13 feet from the top. Information: (209) 274-4739.
Camanche - Limits of trout are scarce, but there are some real whoppers to be caught, if you're lucky. A 12- and 15-pound rainbow were caught on Power Bait from the North Shore launch ramp by bank anglers. A 15 3/4-pound trout was fooled by a two-inch fire-tiger Power Grub off Hat Island, reported Rick Fried at Fisherman's Friend in Lodi. "Grubs are doing very well," he said. "But you've got to run them 150 to 200 feet behind the boat with no weight." Average-sized trout measure 12 to 16 inches. Some 1,200 pounds of trout will be released this week at North Shore ramp. On Sunday, an Angler's Choice semi-pro event found 11 of 30 teams posting a five-fish limit. The winning team of Don Buie of Escalon and Chris Bakewell of Farmington posted 16.85 pounds for five fish, including the event's big fish, a 4.47-pounder. Swim baits and deep-diving crankbaits produced best. On Saturday, a Stockton Bass club event found 10 of 19 boats posting five-fish limits. The top weight was 13.7 pounds for five fish. Jigs seemed to hook the most bass in the morning hours, and swim baits were the ticket in the afternoon. Information: (209) 763-5166; (209) 369-0204 (Lodi).
Don Pedro - Black bass fishing is pretty tough here, too. Large fish seem to go for crankbaits in crawdad colors. Trout trollers struggle for a fish or two. King salmon to 2 pounds found in Carson Creek arm. Water level is rising and the clarity is moderate. Information: (209) 852-2369.
Los Vaqueros - Inflated nightcrawlers or a combination of a nightcrawler/Power Bait entice trout for bank anglers at the rock wall and boaters in Howden Cove. Fishing is spotty and for good reason. Trout plants have been suspended since Feb. 5. A 5,000-pound plant is scheduled March 15. Information: (925) 371-2628.
New Melones - Trolling for a mix of trout and kokanee is hit and miss. There are a few limits, and some skunks, too. Melanie Lewis at Glory Hole Sports in Angels Camp said rising water levels are carrying lots of floating debris. Bank anglers use Power Bait and a long leader at Glory Hole and Angels coves to hook recently planted and holdover rainbows. Wes Harper of Angels Camp tried a nightcrawler/marshmallow combination near Glory Hole Point and caught a 5-pound, 6-ounce brown trout. Spotted bass are biting softly and many don't measure 12 inches. Real big largemouth bass, greater than 7 pounds, fall occasionally to swim baits. The 10th annual, day-long Fishing Seminar at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds is April 5. Information: (209) 736-4333 (Angels Camp).
Pardee - Shoreline angling seems best, especially on Saturdays following a trout plant. Baits that float take the majority of rainbows, though a Kastmaster lure also is effective. Trolling is fair through the Narrows, Mel's Cove and the mouth of the river. Few reports on black bass, although a 7-pound smallmouth was logged a while back. Information: (209) 772-1472.
Shasta - If spotted bass are your quarry, there's no better impoundment right now than mighty Shasta, with its 365 miles of shoreline. Sunday's 100% BASS tournament yielded five-fish limits for nearly all of the 32 teams. Hot baits are brown jigs and swim baits. The winning team of Jim Riley and Bob Benson of the City of Lake Shasta posted five fish that weighed 17.92 pounds and included a 5.97-pound spotted bass. Less than a pound of total weight separated the top three teams. The Sacramento River arm was the top producer. Trout trollers work the McCloud River arm and Hirtz Bay, running minnow imitations 150 feet behind the boat. Information: 100percentbass.com; (530) 275-2278 (Redding).