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Fishing Report January 20

Ride out the storms

Except for the hardcore crazy anglers, the next few days are going to be good for sitting at home oiling your reels, sorting out your tackle or watching fishing shows on TV.
We need the rain, so we have to accept this as the price.
The one thing you can do, if you don't mind driving to Sacramento in the rain is go to the big International Sportsmen's Expo began yesterday at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds in Sacramento and runs through Sunday.
This is a fabulous way to spend a stormy winter's day. Tickets are $15,  and free for youths and children 15 and under.  There are hundreds of exhibitors for fishing and hunting, travel and vacations, RVs and campers, all kinds of fishing tackle, hunting gear, outfitters offering trips, people representing fishing and hunting lodges, and lots of seminars.  There is a National Dock Dogs Contest, raffles, a sporting dog arena, California Sportsmen Theater, fly-fishing theater, trophy deer displays, predator hunting seminars, and much more. To get more info go to www.sportsexpos.com and then click on Sacramento.
Capt. Rick Powers had a productive combo Dungeness crab and sand dab trip out of Bodega Bay this week. Sand dabs are a relative of halibut and sole and they are delicious.  Rick says that there are no limits on them.  Crab catches are still high.  Rick's "Crab and Dab" combo trip is $100 for the day.  He is also planning some giant Humboldt squid and crab combo trips this month for the same price. Call him at 875-3344.
Department of Fish and Game planted rainbow trout in Santa Rosa's Lake Ralphine and Marin's Bon Tempe Lake and Napa's Lake Berryessa this week.
The rain will also improve the sturgeon fishing in the bay and local rivers, including the Napa River and Petaluma River, and at the mouth of Sonoma Creek.  Valerie at at Leonard's Bait Shop at Port Sonoma said sturgeon fishing in the north bay east of the Pump House has been good this week for anglers using his live shrimp for bait.
Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael says sturgeon action was fair to good this week, and should only improve with the rain.
If you've always wondered about fishing for these prehistoric monster fish, Keith is holding his annual seminar "Sturgeon Fishing in Bay Area Waters," on Saturday, February 4 at the Marin Rod and Gun Club.  Tickets are only $5 and the speakers include Keith and culinary expert Mike McNair.  The event starts at 7:15 p.m.  Call Keith at (415)456-0321.