Steelhead are in nearby rivers

It has been a long time coming, but I was happy to learn this week that there are actually steelhead to be caught in the Russian River and it’s open to fishing. These determined sea-going rainbows have made it past the bar and through the gauntlet of sea lions at the river’s mouth.

Admittedly the Russian is a mere shadow of the great steelhead stream it was during my youth, but at least there is enough water in the river now, and the fish are coming back. Conditions change, so the best place to check before you go is King’s Sport and Tackle in Guerneville, 869-2156.

There were also reports this week that some anglers were seeing steelhead in the Gualala River. Further north, there are steelhead running in the Klamath and Trinity Rivers, the Smith River and in the Chetco River in Oregon.

I ran into Bill Fernandez last week, who just returned from a steelhead trip in southern Oregon, where he caught a bunch of really big fish.

This is also a good time to call guide Jim Andras and hit the Rogue River in Oregon, near Ashland. Call him at 530-722-7992.

Trout fishing is also good right now on the Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson.

Closer to home, sturgeon and striped bass fishing in San Pablo Bay has been fair to good this week, and still worth a shot. Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael is your best contact for the latest conditions and where to fish. He says that the action off McNear’s Pier on the Marin Shoreline has been especially good this month. Call Keith at 415-456-0321.

Keith is also your closest connection to get bait (Keith has mud shrimp) and information on the annual Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby set for this weekend, Feb. 3 and 4. For more information go to originalsturgeonderby.com. Keith has the derby forms, but you must get them to the Foundation Sportsmen’s Club at McAvoy Harbor in Martinez, which is also where all of the fish will be weighed in.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife planted rainbow trout this week in Santa Rosa’s Lake Ralphine and in Marin’s Bon Tempe Lake. Last week Marin’s Lagunitas Lake was planted.

The Fly Fishing Show returns to Pleasanton Feb. 23 to 25. This three-day event held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, is one of my favorite winter excursions. If you are a fly-fisher or want to become a fly-fisher, this is the show for you. There are more than 90 exhibitors, plus seminars, video presentation, classes and demonstrations all three days.

Pleasanton is about an hour-and-15-minute drive from Sonoma and well worth it. For more information, go to flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca. Admission is $15, children under 5 free.