Bill Lynch: Fishing choices expand

Staff angler Bill Lynch takes a look at what opportunities the fall fishing season provides.|

As the high heat of summer slowly fades and the nights get cooler and longer, those of us wanting to head north for trout and steelhead start checking the reports.

Right now, steelhead fishing on the Rogue River in southern Oregon is good and getting better.

Dottie and I have a date to fish with guide Jim Andras on the Rogue soon. He’s a terrific guide and his season fills up quickly.

To make a reservation even for a month or more away you need to call ASAP. His number is (530) 722-7992.

We also plan to fish the upper Sacramento River near Dunsmuir for a few days. Bob Grace at the Ted Fay Fly Shop there says the fishing is starting to improve as the water and air cools.

There is a fire burning downstream from the McCloud River that has fouled the air a bit, but Bob says he’s heard reports that they’re getting it contained.

Downstream on the Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson, fishing is good and the air is finally clear. Tyler Lee, a former Sonoman, is the guide I recommend to fish this section. He’s a great guy and an excellent guide. You can contact Tyler at (530) 515-3787.

Closer to home, fishing off the Sonoma Coast continues to be outstanding, particular for anglers who like variety. Clients of Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportsfishing have been bringing home large catches of rock fish, ling cod and salmon, with some salmon days off the charts.

For example, last Friday, Rick had 17 anglers onboard and they brought home 17 limits of salmon to 26 pounds, plus limits of rock fish and near limits of lingcod.

“The fishing just doesn’t get any better than this,” Rick told me this week.

He says also that albacore tuna have been confirmed off the coast and he plans to start running albacore trips sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Call Rick at 875-3344 for more information and reservations.

Meanwhile, inside San Francisco Bay, depending entirely on the wind, halibut fishing has been pretty good. And there are some salmon being caught off Cal City along the Marin Shoreline.

To get the very latest in bay fishing reports call Keith Fraser at the Loch Lomond Bait Shop, (415) 456-0321.

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