Blue sky fishing report from Oregon to Sonoma coast

As I write this column for the Index-Tribune’s Friday edition, the air is clear, the sky is blue and the temperature is in the low 70s.

However, by the time you received the paper, the temperature is supposed to be over 100 and there may be red flag warnings. As an optimist, I will focus on a better future.

Jim and Rachel Andras and family returned Monday to Talent, just north of Ashland, Oregon. Their home is intact, but many of their friends were not so lucky. Here’s a short summary from Jim:

“Returned home last night and just took a walk downtown. It’s difficult to see the destruction and imagine what all of the displaced are now up against. Housing has been an ongoing challenge and with 2,600 homes lost in the valley, it’s going to be a long road to recovery.”

The good news is that Jim will resume guiding steelhead fly-fishers on the Rogue now that the smoke has cleared. Contact Jim and Rachel at andrasoutfitters@me.com

Closer to home, Hogan Brown, a fly-fishing guide based in Chico, is seeing clearer skies after being so close to the still-burning Bear Fire. He is looking ahead to better times and sent the following summary of what to expect:

“Lower Yuba River: Flows are as low as they get at 750 cfs. Now these are great wade fishing flows but not my preferred flows to float as there is just not enough room for guys wade fishing and guides in boats. That said the fish get pretty kegged up in these flows and can make for some easy picking if they haven't been fished over too hard.

“Lower Sacramento River striper: Fishing has been entering into its fall pattern — not huge numbers but good quality. The river is also as clear as I have ever seen it and stripers don't make as many mistakes in clear water as they do with a bit of color.

“Feather River steelhead: I have heard some early reports of steelhead up in the feather and anglers getting a few on the swing and nymphs.

“Lower Sacramento River trout: This place is a trout factory and is as consistent a fishery as it goes but it also gets as crowded as it can during the months of October to mid-November. The fishing usually is worthy of the crowds and there are always floats down low to get away from people.

“Lake Oroville bass fishing: Should get going about mid-November and last through the spring. The big issue I see this year with the lake is the fire that burned much of the area we fish. This could cause some issues…”

Even closer to Sonoma, Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop says the striped bass and halibut fishing in San Francisco Bay is outstanding now. Anglers are catching lots of stripers and halibut from shore at China Camp, Paradise Pier and even his dock at the marina. Anglers in boats are doing even better. Salmon are also being caught off Cal City.

Rock and ling cod action off the Sonoma Coast has also been excellent this week according to Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sports Fishing.