As we come closer to fall and the anticipation of the coming salmon season, many of you have e-mailed me asking about the season dates and bag limit details. So, I went out and searched the Department of Fish and Game’s labyrinth of a website and found details in this document.
According to the document, the Feather River from 1,000 feet below the Thermalito Afterbay to the mouth opens to fishing on July 31st. So, those of you that have been itching to get into some salmon have the chance to do so in just a few days. The daily bag limit is 2 salmon.
I’m eagerly waiting for the area between the Highway 113 Bridge and Carquinez Bridge to open. Between September 4th and October 3rd there is a daily limit of 2 salmon. We’ll get into gear and tackle as we get closer to the opener.
As far as other species around Sacramento…
Striped bass are currently a good bet in the American River. I can’t suggest any good spots to try, only because the fish are on the move daily. Topwater plugs in the early morning and late evening, and subsurface lures like swimbaits and jointed jerkbaits are good when the sun is up. Bait fisherman usually toss crawfish, live jumbo minnows, and cut frozen baits.
Shad are still available in the upper-most reaches of the river and are readily taking grubs and darts. Most of the fish have spawned and skinny, and some are possibly already making their way back to the ocean, dependent on what the water temps are holding at.
Catfish are readily available in the Old Sacramento River just about anywhere you can wet a line. Cut frozen baits, chicken liver, night crawlers and clams are all good for the catfish. This time of year you can literally catch cats by dropping your line straight down off the bank, depending on how deep the water is at your feet. Try a float too, you won’t be disappointed with the action if they’re around.
Bass fishing is a summertime favorite among anglers. I fished a couple of tributaries in the East Delta a few times last week from the bank, landing a couple of nice largemouth to 3 pounds. Punching mats with plastics was the ticket. Smallmouth fishing should be good on the Old Sacramento River – look for rocks and good current flow, along with some shade nearby and you’re golden. Try small 3 inch grubs on a darter head, spinnerbaits, and crawdad imitation crankbaits. Just keep in mind that smallmouth have a very slow growth rate. A 1-2 pound fish could be well over 3 years old. Practice catch and release so everyone can continue to enjoy this special fishery in the years to come.
To all, have a fun time on the banks and as always – make sure you pick up after yourself so the next person can enjoy the spot you just fished.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Hey! Its an update!
Hey all, I haven't been around much to post new entries due to a new job in fishing.
That's right! I actually have a job in fishing! I was contacted over the spring by Cal Kellog, editor of the Fishsniffer Magazine asking if I would like to write reports. I gladly accepted! So, on top of writing for the California Delta Chambers, I am now also a staff writer for the Fishsniffer! Currently my task is to write reports for Rio Vista, Folsom Lake, the Penninsula Shoreline, and the Silicon Valley Lakes. Its been very fun so far, and I've been able to talk to anglers just like you and myself that love the sport of fishing. Folks like Rich Crispi of TW Guide Service, Don Paganelli of Paganelli's Bass Fishing Experience, and John Akina of Oyster Point Bait and Tackle - these guys are dedicated to the fishing community! I'm really looking forward to working with these folks in the months to come.
So, this is a fishing blog, right? It looks like I stopped blogging around February, so that's where I'll start (of course with the best recollection of my memory).
In the beginning of the year, trout fishing was common for me. I frequented Lake Amador and Lake Pardee. Lake Amador wasn't as hot as last year's season, but it was still fair with some days (or nights) yielding limits.
As the weather got warmer, I switched over to Crappie at Lake Amador for a couple of nice slabs. The fishing was slower this year than last.
Shad season started in late May. The fish were big this year.
Mark (pictured above) landed a 29 inch striped bass earlier this month. The fish took a shad he was fighting and hooked himself in the process. I've seen this happen with Lingcod eating blue and black rockfish, but never with stripers eating a shad. Mark was using an ultra light rig (smaller than the outfit above) and 2lb test to land that fish. Absolutely impressive!
I had to step away from fishing as often during the first part of this month, however my buddies kept at it. Just in the last week, shad are still being caught from the Ameican River. Its been one impressive shad run!
Earlier this month, I had the chance to take out both my wife and my dad on separate trips to Lake Pardee to troll for Kokanee. The fish were schooled up big time around the south end of the lake. I've never seen them there in years past.
I like bass fishing, but I rarely ever do it. So just recently I found a nice spot in Elk Grove to fish in the evenings so I can do it more often.
Brian followed up a few days later with a nice 3 pounder of his own.
Just this past Monday, I went out to Amador for a night time trip. That was a fun one with a nice limit of fish from about 1.5 to 3.5 pounds. I need to replenish my stock of SuperHogs, Brush Hogs and worm weights!
That pretty much sums up this year's fishing so far. Bass, Kokanee, Catfish are all in line until Fall, where I'll be back at the striped bass and sturgeon in the Delta. I also have a trip planned for the saltwater, going for Rockfish and Lingcod. Oh I can't forget! There's going to be a Salmon season on the Sacramento River this year! So many fish, so little time.
Catch you guys soon!
Roland
That's right! I actually have a job in fishing! I was contacted over the spring by Cal Kellog, editor of the Fishsniffer Magazine asking if I would like to write reports. I gladly accepted! So, on top of writing for the California Delta Chambers, I am now also a staff writer for the Fishsniffer! Currently my task is to write reports for Rio Vista, Folsom Lake, the Penninsula Shoreline, and the Silicon Valley Lakes. Its been very fun so far, and I've been able to talk to anglers just like you and myself that love the sport of fishing. Folks like Rich Crispi of TW Guide Service, Don Paganelli of Paganelli's Bass Fishing Experience, and John Akina of Oyster Point Bait and Tackle - these guys are dedicated to the fishing community! I'm really looking forward to working with these folks in the months to come.
So, this is a fishing blog, right? It looks like I stopped blogging around February, so that's where I'll start (of course with the best recollection of my memory).
In the beginning of the year, trout fishing was common for me. I frequented Lake Amador and Lake Pardee. Lake Amador wasn't as hot as last year's season, but it was still fair with some days (or nights) yielding limits.
As the weather got warmer, I switched over to Crappie at Lake Amador for a couple of nice slabs. The fishing was slower this year than last. 
Shad season started in late May. The fish were big this year.
Mark (pictured above) landed a 29 inch striped bass earlier this month. The fish took a shad he was fighting and hooked himself in the process. I've seen this happen with Lingcod eating blue and black rockfish, but never with stripers eating a shad. Mark was using an ultra light rig (smaller than the outfit above) and 2lb test to land that fish. Absolutely impressive!
I had to step away from fishing as often during the first part of this month, however my buddies kept at it. Just in the last week, shad are still being caught from the Ameican River. Its been one impressive shad run!
Earlier this month, I had the chance to take out both my wife and my dad on separate trips to Lake Pardee to troll for Kokanee. The fish were schooled up big time around the south end of the lake. I've never seen them there in years past.
I like bass fishing, but I rarely ever do it. So just recently I found a nice spot in Elk Grove to fish in the evenings so I can do it more often.
Brian followed up a few days later with a nice 3 pounder of his own.
Just this past Monday, I went out to Amador for a night time trip. That was a fun one with a nice limit of fish from about 1.5 to 3.5 pounds. I need to replenish my stock of SuperHogs, Brush Hogs and worm weights!
That pretty much sums up this year's fishing so far. Bass, Kokanee, Catfish are all in line until Fall, where I'll be back at the striped bass and sturgeon in the Delta. I also have a trip planned for the saltwater, going for Rockfish and Lingcod. Oh I can't forget! There's going to be a Salmon season on the Sacramento River this year! So many fish, so little time.
Catch you guys soon!
Roland
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
California Delta Chambers Report - 2/24/10
I always find it amazing how time flies these days. I’ve come to the realization that when I tell myself that I’m going to try to do something like fish the rivers for steelhead or sturgeon, it usually ends up not happening.
So going out on a whim is usually the best case scenario. That’s what I did yesterday with my good friend Rich and his son Mark. The plan was to fish for sturgeon, however we made a quick change of plans to go for steelhead instead due to the rainy weather. The reports on steelhead on the American were also very promising. Plus, I hadn’t fished for them in close to 4 years, so a change of pace was definitely welcoming.
After picking up a steelhead card, we arrived at Rich’s honey hole on the American River. Another friend, Dave and his son Damien we were waiting in the parking lot when we arrived with fly rods and gear ready to go.
The fishing was slower than what Dave and Rich had experienced just a week before with half a dozen hook-ups and two landed fish. I managed one quick hookup which shook off after the hookset, and Dave had a very nice fish on which shook lose 10 feet from the bank. No action after that. We threw an assortment of lures including flies, jigs, spoons and spinners.
We took off shortly before 4:30 since Mark had school later in the evening.
After settling in at home and making dinner, I decided to go out again, this time in search of sturgeon. When I opened the garage, not only did I notice the rain, but also the gusty wind. Do I go, or do I stay home? Being the crazy fisherman that I am, I loaded up the gear and headed for my favorite sturgeon hole on the Sacramento River.
Getting out of my truck was already a task – I had to fight the wind from slamming the door shut on me. I rigged up, clipped on a 10 ounce weight and walked down the slippery levee. Wind usually causes problems for conventional gear, but I ended up not getting a backlash – wow! Proping my rod down on a rod holder was out of the question with the wind being so gusty, so I ended up having to hold it the entire time.
I snagged up once, which I ended up breaking off. Back up the hill again to retie, fight the wind, then walk back down the slippery levee. Another successful cast into the wind without a backlash. 20 minutes went by, standing there holding my rod against the wind and current. Finally, I felt a good tap and set the hook. There was weight on the end of the rod, but immediately I knew it was something small. And there it was. A 3 pound delta catfish dangling at the end of my 60lb test leader with my eel-filled hook stuck in its mouth. We went back into the drink.
I decided to cast out one more time, another successful cast. The wind got gustier, and the rain fell harder. My fingers were starting to freeze, and to top it off, the water repellent spray on my bibs was starting to fail. I was getting soaked! I waited it out 45 minutes before finally throwing in the towel and giving up. I drove home wet and felt somewhat satisfied with fact that I at least caught something in those horrible conditions.
The weather this coming week and into the weekend is still supposed to be rainy, with at least 30% chance of precipitation each day. Definitely good for the sturgeon as they make their way to their spawning grounds, and definitely bad for anglers as high water means lots of snags and the requirement of heavy weights in order to hold bottom.
While my report left more to be desired, other anglers working the nearby waters in the metro sac area have faired well on sturgeon. Courtland, Clarksburg, Hood, Garcia Bend, Verona and Knights Landing have all see their fair share of sturgeon catches in the last 2 weeks. The toe drain in West Sacramento has also seen some good action.
Ghost shrimp, pile worms and eel have been the best baits.
After this slew of storms, it’ll definitely be game time for sturgeon anglers. I’ll make a commitment to go whenever I get the free time. Like I said earlier, its useless trying to pre-plan a trip.
To all, have a fun time on the banks, and as always – make sure you pick up after yourself so the next person can enjoy the spot you just fished.
So going out on a whim is usually the best case scenario. That’s what I did yesterday with my good friend Rich and his son Mark. The plan was to fish for sturgeon, however we made a quick change of plans to go for steelhead instead due to the rainy weather. The reports on steelhead on the American were also very promising. Plus, I hadn’t fished for them in close to 4 years, so a change of pace was definitely welcoming.
After picking up a steelhead card, we arrived at Rich’s honey hole on the American River. Another friend, Dave and his son Damien we were waiting in the parking lot when we arrived with fly rods and gear ready to go.
The fishing was slower than what Dave and Rich had experienced just a week before with half a dozen hook-ups and two landed fish. I managed one quick hookup which shook off after the hookset, and Dave had a very nice fish on which shook lose 10 feet from the bank. No action after that. We threw an assortment of lures including flies, jigs, spoons and spinners.
We took off shortly before 4:30 since Mark had school later in the evening.
After settling in at home and making dinner, I decided to go out again, this time in search of sturgeon. When I opened the garage, not only did I notice the rain, but also the gusty wind. Do I go, or do I stay home? Being the crazy fisherman that I am, I loaded up the gear and headed for my favorite sturgeon hole on the Sacramento River.
Getting out of my truck was already a task – I had to fight the wind from slamming the door shut on me. I rigged up, clipped on a 10 ounce weight and walked down the slippery levee. Wind usually causes problems for conventional gear, but I ended up not getting a backlash – wow! Proping my rod down on a rod holder was out of the question with the wind being so gusty, so I ended up having to hold it the entire time.
I snagged up once, which I ended up breaking off. Back up the hill again to retie, fight the wind, then walk back down the slippery levee. Another successful cast into the wind without a backlash. 20 minutes went by, standing there holding my rod against the wind and current. Finally, I felt a good tap and set the hook. There was weight on the end of the rod, but immediately I knew it was something small. And there it was. A 3 pound delta catfish dangling at the end of my 60lb test leader with my eel-filled hook stuck in its mouth. We went back into the drink.
I decided to cast out one more time, another successful cast. The wind got gustier, and the rain fell harder. My fingers were starting to freeze, and to top it off, the water repellent spray on my bibs was starting to fail. I was getting soaked! I waited it out 45 minutes before finally throwing in the towel and giving up. I drove home wet and felt somewhat satisfied with fact that I at least caught something in those horrible conditions.
The weather this coming week and into the weekend is still supposed to be rainy, with at least 30% chance of precipitation each day. Definitely good for the sturgeon as they make their way to their spawning grounds, and definitely bad for anglers as high water means lots of snags and the requirement of heavy weights in order to hold bottom.
While my report left more to be desired, other anglers working the nearby waters in the metro sac area have faired well on sturgeon. Courtland, Clarksburg, Hood, Garcia Bend, Verona and Knights Landing have all see their fair share of sturgeon catches in the last 2 weeks. The toe drain in West Sacramento has also seen some good action.
Ghost shrimp, pile worms and eel have been the best baits.
After this slew of storms, it’ll definitely be game time for sturgeon anglers. I’ll make a commitment to go whenever I get the free time. Like I said earlier, its useless trying to pre-plan a trip.
To all, have a fun time on the banks, and as always – make sure you pick up after yourself so the next person can enjoy the spot you just fished.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
California Delta Chambers Report - 1/7/09
Happy New Year! This year I’d like to start with some tips that I’ve gathered for winter fishing, based on various questions that anglers have asked in the recent weeks. Winter fishing can very productive chasing stripers and sturgeon, however there are a few factors that you need to keep in mind before and during your trip.
Winter Runoff
Large amounts of winter runoff usually mean high water, lots of debris in the form of sticks, leaves, branches and in some cases entire trees can be seen floating downriver. Fishing effectively can be a challenge, requiring you to constantly check and clean off your tackle of debris. Fast current requires large sinkers up to a pound in weight to hold bottom, and sometimes it isn’t enough. And of course, underwater trees and snags are very common. A rig that isn’t properly holding, and bouncing along the bottom will eventually come into a contact with a snag. Most anglers fish medium heavy tackle on the bank, and I can tell you that it aint easy trying to break off a snag with line 20lb test or more! There are a couple things you can do to avoid these problems.
1. Cast close to shore. In many cases the current next to shore will be slower compared to the middle of the slough or river. Having less line out means less surface area for the current to grab hold of and sweep down river.
2. Move. If you find yourself getting snagged often in a particular spot, move. You can either try a few yards up or down from your current location or move to an entirely different spot.
3. Use lighter line. Some anglers may dispute this concept, however I find it to be very effective. Lighter line has a smaller diameter which means less surface area and drag. For example, my choice for fishing normal conditions is 25 or 30 pound test monofilament. When the current is up, I may switch to 20lb test. Superlines are another choice. 30lb test braided line has diameter equivalent to 10lb test mono.
4. Wait out the water. Some anglers prefer not to fish the river when the water is up, and for good reason. Tackle is expensive. Hooks, sinkers, leaders, and line all add up. Trying to yank snags can damage your rod or reel as well. The whiplash from my line (25lb test) snapping broke 2 guides on my surf rod once trying to pull a snag free on the Old Sac. After winter run off, I usually like to wait a week to a week and a half before trying my luck.
Water Temperature and Climate
Both stripers and sturgeon fall prey to cold water temperatures and drops in barometric pressure. There are a couple of ways for you to increase your success when fishing these conditions.
1. Fish shallow. This concept is very important during bluebird skies in the winter. Shallow water warms quickly during the day, drawing baitfish and gamefish. Metabolism increases as temperature rises, and so does activity. Stripers can sometimes be seen chasing threadfin shad in as little as 5 feet of water during the winter.
2. Down-size. Both stripers and sturgeon tend to bite very light in cold water temps due to their decreased metabolism. Use lighter line, smaller portions of bait, and smaller plugs for trolling if water clarity allows it.
3. It’s too darn cold. Temps in the valley can dip to the mid to upper thirties during certain parts of the winter. Mix that in with a great north wind and you’ll be in for a frosty heck of a time. The answer – invest in good cold weather gear. Hunting outerwear is my choice as it has good insulation. A good pair of insulated boots and some headwear is also required. Don’t forget insulated thermals, too. Of course, you can always stay home and wait until the weather warms up a couple degrees. A difference between 40 and 50 degrees is substantial and highly noticeable.
While winter fishing may pose more problems than success, it certainly goes overlooked by many anglers. Hopefully, these tips help in planning your trip and increasing your success.
To all, have a fun time on the water, and always make sure to remember to pick up after yourself so the next person can enjoy the spot you just fished.
Winter Runoff
Large amounts of winter runoff usually mean high water, lots of debris in the form of sticks, leaves, branches and in some cases entire trees can be seen floating downriver. Fishing effectively can be a challenge, requiring you to constantly check and clean off your tackle of debris. Fast current requires large sinkers up to a pound in weight to hold bottom, and sometimes it isn’t enough. And of course, underwater trees and snags are very common. A rig that isn’t properly holding, and bouncing along the bottom will eventually come into a contact with a snag. Most anglers fish medium heavy tackle on the bank, and I can tell you that it aint easy trying to break off a snag with line 20lb test or more! There are a couple things you can do to avoid these problems.
1. Cast close to shore. In many cases the current next to shore will be slower compared to the middle of the slough or river. Having less line out means less surface area for the current to grab hold of and sweep down river.
2. Move. If you find yourself getting snagged often in a particular spot, move. You can either try a few yards up or down from your current location or move to an entirely different spot.
3. Use lighter line. Some anglers may dispute this concept, however I find it to be very effective. Lighter line has a smaller diameter which means less surface area and drag. For example, my choice for fishing normal conditions is 25 or 30 pound test monofilament. When the current is up, I may switch to 20lb test. Superlines are another choice. 30lb test braided line has diameter equivalent to 10lb test mono.
4. Wait out the water. Some anglers prefer not to fish the river when the water is up, and for good reason. Tackle is expensive. Hooks, sinkers, leaders, and line all add up. Trying to yank snags can damage your rod or reel as well. The whiplash from my line (25lb test) snapping broke 2 guides on my surf rod once trying to pull a snag free on the Old Sac. After winter run off, I usually like to wait a week to a week and a half before trying my luck.
Water Temperature and Climate
Both stripers and sturgeon fall prey to cold water temperatures and drops in barometric pressure. There are a couple of ways for you to increase your success when fishing these conditions.
1. Fish shallow. This concept is very important during bluebird skies in the winter. Shallow water warms quickly during the day, drawing baitfish and gamefish. Metabolism increases as temperature rises, and so does activity. Stripers can sometimes be seen chasing threadfin shad in as little as 5 feet of water during the winter.
2. Down-size. Both stripers and sturgeon tend to bite very light in cold water temps due to their decreased metabolism. Use lighter line, smaller portions of bait, and smaller plugs for trolling if water clarity allows it.
3. It’s too darn cold. Temps in the valley can dip to the mid to upper thirties during certain parts of the winter. Mix that in with a great north wind and you’ll be in for a frosty heck of a time. The answer – invest in good cold weather gear. Hunting outerwear is my choice as it has good insulation. A good pair of insulated boots and some headwear is also required. Don’t forget insulated thermals, too. Of course, you can always stay home and wait until the weather warms up a couple degrees. A difference between 40 and 50 degrees is substantial and highly noticeable.
While winter fishing may pose more problems than success, it certainly goes overlooked by many anglers. Hopefully, these tips help in planning your trip and increasing your success.
To all, have a fun time on the water, and always make sure to remember to pick up after yourself so the next person can enjoy the spot you just fished.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Lake Amador Swing Shift - 12/29/09
Hey all!
Its been a while since I made an actual report. Business has been pretty hectic lately with the holidays. Took a trip out to the mud hole last night, despite the negative reports from the day shift. Fished from about 9:30PM to 2:30AM. Right off the bat I started getting whacked with bobbers taking dives every 5 to 10 minutes. I kept on missing hooksets and quickly realized why. The fish were hitting my chartreuse bobbers! To counter act I placed my baits up real shallow leaving only about an 18" leader. That proved to be the ticket to some degree as I rounded out the night with 5 hookups, landing 2 and releasing 1. Countless hits through out the night that never materialized.
Tried for crappie on all edges of the dock, shallow and deep for no love. It probably wont be until February until they start showing up in force.
Later dudes!
Roland
Its been a while since I made an actual report. Business has been pretty hectic lately with the holidays. Took a trip out to the mud hole last night, despite the negative reports from the day shift. Fished from about 9:30PM to 2:30AM. Right off the bat I started getting whacked with bobbers taking dives every 5 to 10 minutes. I kept on missing hooksets and quickly realized why. The fish were hitting my chartreuse bobbers! To counter act I placed my baits up real shallow leaving only about an 18" leader. That proved to be the ticket to some degree as I rounded out the night with 5 hookups, landing 2 and releasing 1. Countless hits through out the night that never materialized.
Tried for crappie on all edges of the dock, shallow and deep for no love. It probably wont be until February until they start showing up in force.
Later dudes!
Roland
Thursday, December 24, 2009
To my friends and family - a Christmas Fishing GIft!
2009 was tough in the money arena. Furloughs made things less than comfortable for us this year. Christmas shopping was a tough feat for Nikki and I. But, but we're still in the giving spirit. For 2010, I am offering to close friends and family a free fishing trip (or a free PC tune up see at bottom), all expenses paid, including:
- One day license fee (if applicable).
- Bait, and tackle usage.
- Fishing instruction, tips and tricks.
- Lake access/entrance fees.
- Fish cleaning and packaging.
What's biting?
- Winter - Trout
- Spring - Trout, Panfish, Bass
- Summer - Bass
- Fall - Trout
What should I bring?
- Appropriate clothing to protect yourself from the elements (jacket for winter fishing, hats for summer fishing).
- Any fishing gear you might have.
- Food and drink.
- Sunscreen.
Not into fishing How about a PC Tune-up instead! Enjoy a free PC maintenance package, including:
- Spy ware and virus scan.
- Hard drive clean-up.
- Speed, performance, and life expectancy assessment of your computer.
- Tips and tricks of the trade.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Amador - 12/21/09
Rich, Mark and I checked out Amador this past Monday for some trout. The action is by far slower than last year, but we still caught a few fish. 3 fish total for us, with loads of short strikers and a couple lost fish.
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