Fall fishing starts now

Fishing always improves around here starting in September. It is already happening over at the Sonoma Coast where salmon continue to provide local anglers with lots of action.

Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportsfishing is having a great week of combined salmon and rock and ling cod catches for his clients. On Tuesday, Rick had eight anglers on board the New Sea Angler and they all brought home limits of salmon to 14 pounds, plus limits of rockfish and nine lingcod. Rick’s other trips this week have been productive also. Most of the action is north of Bodega Bay up near Fort Ross and the Russian River. Call Rick at 875-3344.

Inside San Francisco Bay, salmon are running through California City, a stretch of water off Tiburon. Anglers are catching them with regularity. I saw one report that someone had landed a 30-pound salmon off Cal City.

Halibut and striped bass are also biting right now off Angel Island, Red Rock and the Brothers. Check with Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael, 415-456-0321, for the latest reports and to book a Bay fishing party boat.

Local lakes will be starting their cool down, water skiers will be gone after Labor Day, and bass fishing should improve at Lake Berryessa and Clear Lake.

By far, the best trout fishing right now is in the Sacramento River between Redding and Red Bluff. There are multiple hatches and the rainbows are fat and hungry. Spawning salmon in that part of the river also stimulates the fish.

I recommend former Sonoman Tyler Lee as your guide on the Sac. You can contact him at Tyler@TylerLee1031.com, or check out his website at TylerLeeFlyGuide.weebly.com.

The upper Sacramento River through Dunsmuir down to Lake Shasta will begin its fall caddis hatch very soon, and it is a fun time to be on that river.

Check in with Bob Grace at the Ted Fay Fly Shop, 530-235-2969, to get the latest report. Bob also has a list of some great guides for that part of the river.

Moving further north, steelhead fishing will be getting much better on the Rogue River this month where Jim Andras is the best guide to put you onto some good fish. Call Jim at 530-722-7992.

If you really want to have some beautiful fall fly-fishing head to Sun Valley Idaho next week. All of the summer tourists have left and the skiers won’t arrive for another two months. The Big Wood River runs right through the valley and it is loaded with big fat trout eager to hit a dry fly. Other streams in the area, including Silver Creek and the Big Lost are also reported fishing good right now.

The Golden Gate Salmon Association Red Bluff Salmon Derby is Sept. 17. There is $1,000 prize for biggest fish.

Open to anglers of all ages, the entry fee is $59 and includes a barbecue with tri-tip, and a one-year membership in the Golden Gate Salmon Association.

Fishermen can enter at goldengatesalmonassociation.org or call 855-251-GGSA or 530-755-7196.