Sacramento River Fishing Report
January 19th, 2006 by Fishing admin
Sacramento River Fishing Report - Delta
The Sacramento River is muddy, filled with some debris but very fishable - much better than the San Joaquin River side - which is laiden with hyacinth and floating vegetation. The outgoing tide is particularly strong, which helps the sturgeon fishing. The incoming tide is almost slack because of the volume of water moving downriver. Sturgeon weighing 52 to 68 pounds are showing at the Powerlines, below Decker Island. The bite is pretty slow, but patient anglers who anchor and toss out ghost shrimp or pile worms hook an occasional sturgeon. Grass shrimp is unavailable because of water conditions. Striped bass are scarce on the Sacramento River main stem. Striped bass ranging from 6 to 13 pounds, however, are being claimed on Santa Clara Shoals on shad minnows. Information: (707) 374-2372 (Rio Vista); 333-1692 (Lodi); 473-2239; 948-6344
Saltwater
Ocean - Sand dab-crab combinations dominate an otherwise nonexistent ocean fishing scene. Salmon and rockcod fishing seasons are closed. If seas flatten, some might make the long run for giant squid. Information: (510) 654-6040 (Emeryville); (831) 375-5951 (Monterey)
San Pablo Bay - There is good sturgeon fishing at Buoy 5 in 20 to 25 feet of water. On Monday, the charterboat Predator limited on diamondbacks to 50 pounds. A 90-year-old passenger sacked the jackpot fish. The best baits are ghost shrimp and lamprey eel. Few striped bass to 6 pounds are in the mix, but nothing to brag about. Information: (415) 456-0321 (San Rafael)
Suisun Bay - Sturgeon, sub-legal to 70 inches, are found in Montezuma. Lamprey eel is the top fodder, though some prefer salmon roe. There are occasional striped bass to 12 pounds, but not many. The water still is muddy, but conditions are starting to green up at Pittsburg, so fishing conditions are getting close to perfect. Some reports have bass to 20 pounds at the Mothball Fleet. Information: (916) 870-4225 (Isleton); 333-1692 (Lodi)
Rivers
Sacramento - Flows on the upper end of the river are at 22,000 cfs, which puts trout fishing on hold from Redding to Anderson. Call ahead. Salmon fishing season ended Jan. 15. Information: (530) 365-8140 (Anderson)
Smith - Quality steelhead, 9 to 18 pounds, provide plenty of action for driftboates and shoreline anglers that use a piece of roe and a Quickie Puffball. The South Fork is much dirtier than the Middle and North Forks. Information: (530) 221-6151 (Smith River)
Lakes
Amador - The water is spilling and fairly clear with three-foot visibility on the surface. Trout fishing is decent in the top 18 inches, with green Powerbait, threaded nightcrawler or olive-colored wooly bugger. Trout in the 3-pound class are tight to the bank. Another 5,000 pounds of trout were released Tuesday. Information: 274-4739
Camanche - Trout fishing is real good, early and late in the day. Approximately 1,200 pounds of trout was released this week, split between the South Shore boat launch and the pond. Anglers do well fishing near the surface and close to the edges of the lake in five to eight feet of water. Rapals and spoons do the number. Trollers also work the deep water and work R Lure and Needlefish down to 15 feet with good results. Five-fish limits are common. The big fish of the week was a 10-pound rainbow claimed by Ray Miles of Woodbridge, who used a blue/silver Magic Bullet. The North Shore day-use area is good for bank anglers with Power Bait. On Saturday, the Folsom Bass Club tournament winner posted a five-fish limit totalling 16.19 pounds and a big fish of 6.63 pounds. Brown and purple jigs or green or purple plastic worms did the number, mostly for bass that held in 15 to 25 feet of water in China Gulch, Lancha Plana and the tops of submerged islands. Information: 369-0204 (Lodi); 763-5166
Don Pedro - The action from the bank at Blue Oaks and the marina docks is good for planted rainbows to 13 inches. Live minnows, jigs and threaded nightcrawlers do the number. Trolling in the main lake is decent, with numbers of trout to 3 pounds willing to strike lures just under the surface. Small bass are everywhere. Larger bass are tough to find. Information: 852-2369
McClure - On Saturday, Angler’s Choice found consistent limits of black bass, measuring 13 inches and greater. The top five-fish limit went a modest 11.78 pounds. The event’s big fish was a 3-pounder. Tossing out floating baits near the houseboat mooring is good for trout. Trollers also are scoring by hauling flashers and nightcrawlers in 10 to 20 feet of water. Information: 378-2441
New Melones - Very good trout fishing continues with numerous fish in the 3- to 5-pound class showing on stringers. Trout are chasing shad minnows and swirling on the surface, especially in the major coves. Trollers hook limits by hauling Rapalas, Needlefish or Ex-Cel lures in 15 to 20 feet of water. Bank anglers score limits, too, in Glory Hole and Angels coves. Inflated nightcrawlers, chartreuse Power Bait and silver/blue Kastmaster lures do the number. The big trout of the week was a 6-pounder taken by Joe Hallett of Murphys. Now is the time to go. Smallish black bass are down 30 to 40 feet and respond to shad- or green-colored plastic worms. It’s tough to catch a big bass. Information: 736-4333 (Angels Camp)
Peter Ottesen’s