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Sturgeon fishing is fabulous

Fishing and hunting

 

Keith Fraser, of Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael, said Wednesday that sturgeon fishing in San Pablo Bay is fabulous, and it is going to get better with excellent tides starting Sunday. When the wind doesn't keep boats at the dock, anglers are going out and hooking five-to-10 sturgeon a trip, plus a sprinkling of striped bass and some halibut.

Keith reported that one of his six-pack party boats took out three anglers Tuesday, and each had one keeper, plus caught and released others. Keith books party boats. Call him at 415-456-0321.

Dianna Mowery, of Leonard's Bait Shop at Port Sonoma, gave a similar report for sturgeon action near the Pump House and China Camp, and even upstream from Port Sonoma on the Petaluma River.

I've also heard mixed reports about some very large striped bass being caught around the region.

Weather is also playing a role in the quality of salmon fishing off the Sonoma Coast. Capt. Rick Powers said this week that salmon action has been fair to good, depending on the weather. Some days the anglers are averaging close to limits, while others it is a fish per rod. Either way, there are salmon out there. Rick handles party boat bookings for six-packs out of Bodega, while his larger party boat is still being serviced dockside. Call him at 875-3344.

Local lake fishing has been hampered by high winds, but there, too, calmer weather brings opportunities for anglers to work the shallows of Clear Lake, Lake Sonoma and Lake Berryessa, where reports run hot and cold. The bass are definitely in the shallows and weeds and anglers who find them are getting some good action.

The Department of Fish and Game planted rainbow trout in Santa Rosa's Lake Ralphine and Marin's Bon Tempe and Lagunitas Lakes this week.

I talked to Bob Grace, at the Ted Fay Fly Shop, Wednesday, who reports the upper Sacramento River is fishable, barely. The flows are high with runoff, but the water is clear. You need to be careful wading and you have to find just the right spots to get fish. If you want to fly-fish for trout, the best rivers right now are the Fall River and Hat Creek, where the flows are controlled enough to make wading safe. Expect lots of competition for good spots on weekends.