The Meandering Angler: Catching almost guaranteed

There are lots of places close to Sonoma to go fishing this month. The spot where you’re virtually guaranteed to catch something is off the Sonoma Coast.

Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportsfishing is taking his party boat, “The New Sea Angler,” out virtually every day after king salmon and rock and ling cod. Some days the salmon fishing is red hot, some days only lukewarm, but the rock fishing has remained constantly good, meaning Rick’s clients always come home with some delicious fish.

Most recently, the salmon fishing has been fair, and it also resulted in the biggest salmon of the year, a 31-1/2 pound monster. There has been a little wind, but that is supposed to die down, and that will improve the salmon action. In any case Rick has been taking out light loads of anglers so that everyone can maintain social distancing, and everyone on board is having a good time. Call Rick at 875-3344 to book a trip.

Just inside the bay, halibut and striped bass fishing has also been excellent, especially on the days when the wind doesn’t blow too hard. Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael is the best source for current fishing information in the bay. Right now he says those that don’t have a boat can find some good action off Paradise Pier, China Camp and the levy around the marina. Call Keith at (415) 456-0321 for the latest.

Guide Hogan Brown reports that striped bass fishing on the lower Sacramento River has been very good and he is seeing lots of fish for his clients in the 5 to 10 pound range. He is also guiding on the Yuba River where the trout action has been just fair. To book a trip with Hogan, call him at (530) 514-2453.

Bob Grace at the Ted Fay Fly Shop in Dunsmuir says the trout fishing on the upper Sacramento River has been fair to good, with typical August flows. Most of the action has been on nymphs, but he says there has been some dry fly fishing as well. The McCloud River is also fishing fair and there are a lot more anglers out than usual.

Guide Kirk Portocarrero has been jumping back and forth between king salmon and rainbow trout in his usual spots on the Sacramento River near Redding. Right now salmon action is just fair, while rainbow trout is red hot.

“In all of my 32 years of guiding on the river these are the biggest trout I’ve seen,” Kirk said. He said the average size is between 18 and 20 inches. To reserve a day’s fishing with Kirk, call 800-670-4448.