Tips for a good start to 2015

It is time to plan your fishing and hunting trips for 2015 and there are three things I recommend you do right away:

1. Buy your 2015 Fishing License. Brocco’s Old Barn on Arnold Drive sells them. You can also purchase them online from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

2. Weather permitting, go fishing in San Pablo Bay in the next two weeks for sturgeon and striped bass. The fishing along the Marin shoreline, particularly near McNear Beach Fishing Pier and China Camp, is better than sensational, said Keith Fraser, of Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael. The freshwater runoff stimulates the bite, particularly for sturgeon.

Keith said that Mike Elliot, a 12-year-old from Sacramento on a birthday fishing trip with his dad, landed four striped bass 23-to-27-inches, plus a 54-inch sturgeon this week fishing off McNear Pier. 

Keith also books Bay party boats. Call him at 415-456-0321.

3. Plan to attend the 2015 International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo in Sacramento from Jan. 8 to 11. ISE is California’s biggest presentation of travel destinations, plus fishing, hunting, offloading and outdoor products, and is Northern California’s largest boat show.

This is especially good timing because January is not the best month for fishing and it beats just sitting at home oiling my reels.

I love talking to all of the outfitters and representatives of fishing resorts from Alaska, Montana, South America and other exotic places. There are manufacturers’ representatives showing off their hunting, fishing and outdoor products, and lots of seminars, videos and demonstrations of new products.

Trout unlimited offers free fly-casting lessons on a casting pond; there is a Western Bass Aquarian demonstration tank hosted by Kent Brown, of Ultimate Bass Radio; and there is a fly-casting contest and lots of youth activities. 

New things this year include an outdoor product showcase; affording adventures test track; kayak theater; best-of-the-west elk-calling contest; and Eastman’s trophy deer display.

There are all kinds of fishing, hunting and outdoor products for sale, including boats, motors and marine accessories. There are UTVS, ATVs, SUVs, trucks RVs and campers for sale.

It would take two full days just to see half of it. Tickets are $15 for adults. Kids under-16-years-old are free. For more information go to sportsexpos.com.

For the fly-fishing purists among us, there is the annual Fly Fishing Show set for Feb. 20 to 22, at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. This show is great fun for fly fishers and those folks who are thinking about becoming fly fishers. There are plenty of chances to talk to fly-fishing resort operations, guides and fly-casting teachers. There are also lots of fly-tying exhibits and experts to talk to.

For more information go to flyfishingshow.com.

In spite of huge swells and sometimes wet weather this last week, Capt. Rick Powers, of Bodega Bay Sportfishing, is managing to get some of his party boats out for good rockfishing and dungeness crab action. The rockfish season ends on Dec. 31, so there are only a few days left to do one of the combo trips. Call Rick at 875-3344.

Hunting

and

Fishing

Bill

Lynch