Let’s go fishing while we can

We’re in the spring of what is going to be a dry year. Fishing later in the summer may be a challenge with many of our favorite waters overheating to the point that the fish either move out or die off.

The Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA) is urging salmon anglers to encourage the state water board to leave more cold water in the Sacramento River rather than divert it south for agriculture due to the coming drought and hot weather. CSSA says that without a special effort this summer to add more cold water to the river, warm water will kill 89 percent of the salmon run.

But the waters are in perfect shape right now, and the regular California trout season opens Saturday, April 24. Many streams, like the Sacramento River, and the lower Yuba River are already open, so if you have the time go fishing now.

Close to home, Capt. Patrick MacKenzie, our own resident fly-fishing guide, is taking anglers to Lake Sonoma and Lake Berryessa for some excellent fly-fishing for bass. His lake trips are geared so that beginning and intermediate fly-fishers can actually have fun and catch fish. If you’ve been thinking about learning to fly-fish, this is about as close to Sonoma as you can get with a good instructor.

Patrick provides the rods and tackle, flies, lunch, drinks and instruction. His technique features fake leech patterns under a strike indicator. He charges $550 per day for one or two anglers. Email him at mackenzieonthefly@gmail.com or call 721-6700. He’s on the web at mackenzieonthefly.com.

Further north in Talent, Oregon, Jim and Rachel Andras spent most of last fall and winter recuperating from the terrible fire that swept through their community last September. Jim, who guides fly-fishers for steelhead primarily on the Rogue River was nonetheless busy, but said the fishing was challenging and is now winding down.

Trout season in his area opens in late May and he already has a lot of clients lined up to fish with him. In mid-June through mid-August he will offer guided floats for smallmouth bass on the Umpqua River system, then transition back to the Rogue for the fall, winter and spring.

He and Rachel have decided to hold off on their summer fly-fishing camp for kids this year. But Rachel is still available for fly-casting lessons.

Because Jim is such a great guide, his schedule fills up months in advance. If you’re thinking you’d like to fish with him, call him to discuss it at (800) 488-5794 or (530) 722-7992.

Fishing in San Francisco Bay off the Marin Shoreline has been fair to good, according to Keith Fraser at the Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael. Keith says there are tons of small halibut keeping anglers busy near the Marin Islands, the Brickyard and other points just off China Camp and Paradise Park. You’ll see lots of action but most of the halibut you reel in will be under the 22-inch minimum size limit and have to be thrown back.

Keith says that the striped bass fishing is also pretty good, but sturgeon action has fallen way off due to lack of rain. Live smelt, of which he has plenty, are the best bait.

Keith is the guru of fish in San Francisco Bay and can give you the best tips for where to catch fish on any given day. Call him at (415) 456-0321.