New fishing column from Bill Lynch, Dec. 8

We need more rain for optimal fishing conditions.|

There’s bad news and good news this week because of the lack of rain.

We need more rain. The lack of it could put the spawning runs of salmon and steelhead in jeopardy.

The good news is that unlike most Decembers, conditions for fly-fishing for trout are excellent right now on the Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson.

Or you can drive above the Shasta Dam and fish all the way up through Dunsmuir and beyond. The stream is wadable and the fish are there, although most of the action will be on nymphs.

Further north, steelhead are already in the Rogue River near Ashland. Jim Andras is the guide that will find them for you. Call 800-488-5794.

Closer to home, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will plant rainbow trout next week in Marin’s Bon Tempe Lake and Lagunitas Lake, and in Lake Ralphine near Spring Lake Park in Santa Rosa.

San Francisco Bay is also providing great fishing right now. Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle in San Rafael reports solid striped bass action on the anchor with various baits, drifting live mudsuckers, trolling at the top of the tide, or casting hair-raisers.

There are lots of schoolie-sized stripers being caught in the Napa River and near the mouth of Sonoma Creek, China Camp and McNears Park Pier.

High winds sort of killed fishing in the Bay and off the coast for a few days this week, but when weather permits anglers on Capt. Rick Power’s party boat, “New Sea Angler,” are catching lots of rock and lingcod as well as full limits of fat Dungeness crab. Call Rick at Bodega Bay Sportsfishing at 875-3344.

The Golden Gate Salmon Association honored Sonoma Valley’s Mulas family at its fourth annual Sonoma dinner last month at the Cornerstone Event Center. The family was recognized for its sustainable farming operations, including using recycled water for decades on their dairy farm and fields and for its decades of community leadership in the Schell-Vista Fire Department, especially this year during the devastating October fires.

The evening brought in over $60,000 in proceeds generated from ticket sales and a lively auction and will be split evenly between GGSA’s salmon restoration efforts and fire relief. The fire funds will be split with the Schell-Vista Fire Dept. and the rest to help locals with immediate fire related needs through the Native Sons Parlor 111.

Local celebrity chefs Carlo Cavallo of B & V Whiskey Bar and Grille, Adolfo Veronese of Aventine, Kyle Kuklewski of Ramekins, and Ed Metcalf of Sisho, all prepared fresh caught wild salmon in four different unique and special ways for the assembled.

John McManus, executive director of GGSA, said, “As we continue to work to restore California’s salmon runs, GGSA greatly appreciates those taking the lead in using recycled water. When dairy farmers and grape growers demonstrate the great results they get with this water, it gives us hope for the future. It enables restoration of salmon habitat. It was a great pleasure to honor the Mulas family and get to know them a little better. Sonoma is lucky to have them.”

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