Salmon fishing best in a decade

If you’ve ever wanted to catch your own California king salmon, now is the time to head to the Sonoma Coast and go fishing.

Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportfishing says the salmon are big, close in and feeding like crazy. “The fishing is red hot, wide open, and the size average is the biggest I’ve seen in more than 10 years,” Rick said this week.

His best trip of the week was last Sunday, with 19 anglers on board, bringing home full limits of salmon averaging 15 to 17 pounds, with the biggest over 27 pounds.

“We hooked more than 70 fish and they were so big and strong, we had a hard time bringing them in. It was a phenomenal day.”

Rick is limiting the number of anglers on his large boat, The New Sea Angler, so there is plenty of space between each person. But that means that reservations fill up quickly. So if you want to go, call soon for reservations, 875-3344.

Salmon action out of the Golden Gate has been equally good, and there are plenty of party boats taking reservations also. Note also that river salmon season opens on July 16. Until then, head for open water.

Meanwhile, fishing on San Francisco Bay this week was slow due to strong minus tides. Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael says the last of the bad tides are now gone and this weekend offers perfect conditions for halibut and striped bass.

Halibut action, in particular, has been good when the tides are right. Call Keith at (415) 456-0321, for more information and suggestions for places to fish.

Fly-fishing guide Hogan Brown, out of Chico, is finding some trophy-sized striped bass for his clients drifting along the Sacramento River. These monsters hide in the weed beds on the edge of the main channel and Hogan has you cast a fly so that it lands in front of them.

They rush out, slam it, and the fight is on. A big striper on a light fly rod is a wild experience.

Hogan is also guiding trout fishers on the lower Yuba east of Marysville, where the action has been decent. He’s a nice guy and a great guide. Check out his website at hgbflyfishing.com. He also does a podcast under the Barbless.co, NorCal label.

Big rainbow trout are making fly-fishers on the Sacramento near Redding smile this week. The action has been very good. Several guides work that part of the river, including those who work out of the Fly Shop in Redding. Call (800) 669-3474.