Meandering Angler: Fall is for fishing

Thanks to lots of rain and snow last spring, followed by the relatively mild summer, Sierra streams are in perfect form for fall fishing. If you like the Tahoe area, I suggest you consider the Truckee River. By most reports, the fishing is excellent on the river now.

You can also pitch in with the Truckee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited and lend a hand next Saturday, Sept. 21, as a group of volunteers pick up trash from a section of the river near the Glenshire Dr. Bridge. It is a good chance to meet people who know a lot about the river, including the best places to fish.

If you don’t want to drive to Truckee, the Russian River Watershed cleanup is also on Sept. 21. In 2018, the Russian River Watershed Cleanup had 242 volunteers who collectively removed 15,500 pounds of garbage from the Russian River watershed. For more information go to russianrivercleanup.org.

Another pretty little Sierra stream that is looking good this fall is the North Fork of the Yuba River as it runs through Sierra County, northeast of Marysville. The river is small and the trout are not huge, but you can still have a lot fun fishing for feisty smaller rainbows in the pools and riffles of that river as it tumbles down the mountains alongside picturesque Highway 49.

Jack Trout (no kidding, that’s his name) is a fly-fishing guide for that stretch of river. Call him at (530) 926-4540, or email him at info@jacktrout.com.

There are some interesting little places to visit in that area, and I like the looks of The Lure Resort as a place to stay. It was recently renovated and modernized by descendants of the original owners. The cabins are next to the river, so you can literally walk down to the water and start fishing. I’ve not stayed there yet, but intend to. Check out their website: luresort.com.

In the north part of the state, there are a number of small fly-fishing resorts within a half-day’s drive of Sonoma that will host excellent fishing through November. Several are operated and managed by The Fly Shop in Redding (theflyshop.com). These are “private water lodges,” which means that access to the streams and ponds are exclusive to the guests.

I’ve fished at several, including Clear Creek, Hat Creek Ranch, Oasis Springs Lodge, Antelope Creek Lodge, Rock Creek, Sugar Creek and enjoyed every one. Most have full-service lodges and can add guide services if you want them. If you are just starting in fly-fishing and appreciate nice places, check out The Fly Shop’s website and open their private waters section, I think you’ll like what you see.

If temperatures stay mild, Lake Berryessa and Clear Lake should be good places for bass fishing this month and next. They’re already producing action for anglers who know the waters and have boats to access them. I don’t have recommendations for guides, but the website fishclearlake.com has good information.

For Lake Berryessa recommendations, I’d check at Sweeney’s Sports in Napa, sweeneyssports.com; or Off The Hook Fly fishing, also headquartered in Napa, offthehookflyfishing.com.

Saltwater anglers are seeing one of the best salmon season off our coast in years.

Call Capt. Rick Powers at Bodega Bay Sportsfishing to book at trip, 875-3344.

Fishing is also fabulous right now inside San Francisco Bay. The expert for fishing here is Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael. Call Keith at (415) 456-0321.