Sonoma anglers have successful Sacramento River trek

Fishing action is very good right now in the Sacramento River according to my number one fishing correspondent Steve Kyle.|

Fishing action is very good right now in the Sacramento River according to my number one fishing correspondent Steve Kyle, who clearly established last week that his skull is thicker than most fish hooks.

Apparently fully recovered after burying a barbed hook in his head that had to be removed (the hook, not his head) by the ER docs at Sonoma Valley Hospital, Steve was part of what he described as a “Sonoma Armada” on the lower Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson last week.

He reported that he and John Murphy, plus Sonoma City Attorney Jeff Walter, his two sons Colin and Nathan, and Kevin Jaggie and his son Nolan and Nolan’s good pal, Kahlil Villias had a blast catching numerous rainbow trout.

“This was a first time fishing experience for Kahlil and he had the hot hand in my boat, out-fishing me at every turn,” Steve added.

Former Sonoman Tyler Lee, now a fishing guide, was also part of the Sonoma armada.

Salmon are coming up the Sacramento to spawn right now, which also drives the resident rainbow trout into a feeding frenzy, as they go after the many salmon eggs that float down with the current.

This would be a good time to fish the Sacramento River. Call Tyler at 530-515-3787 to book a trip.

Further downstream, guide Kirk Portocarrero is finding lots of large king salmon for his clients on the Sac. Kirk also guides for trout and steelhead. Call Kirk at 800-670-4448 or check out his website at sacriverguide.com.

I also got an email from guide Hogan Brown, who also guides on the Sac, and is currently finding some really big striped bass for clients. Catching one of these big bruisers on a fly rod is a real thrill. He also guides for trout and steelhead. Hogan is a popular guide whose dates fill up rapidly. Call him at 530-514-2453, or go to his website, hgbflyfishing.com.

Closer to Sonoma, local anglers can head over to our own Sonoma County coast and take Capt. Rick Power’s “New Sea Angler” out of Bodega Bay.

The action is hot and heavy and Rick continues to find limits and near limits of king salmon along with limits of rock and lingcod for his clients on most trips.

It has been a surprisingly good salmon season off our coast and the most recent catches average in the 12-pound range with some going to 16 pounds. Call Rick at 875-3344 to book a trip.

Fall is also a good time to find striped bass in the Bay, and in the Napa River and at the mouth of Sonoma Creek. You can fish from the bank, or book a party boat for a day’s fishing on the bay.

Halibut fishing has been unusually good for this time of year. Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop says that when the wind doesn’t blow and boats get out, they’re hooking lots of fish, with three in 10 being keeper-sized and some running to more than 20 pounds. There are also lots of stripers being caught. The best action is off Paradise and Red Rock, Keith says.

I recommend Trent Slate, who runs “Bite Me” charters out Loch Lomond Marina. Trent parks his party boat just a few docks down from Keith’s shop. To book his boat, call him at 415-307-8582.

For the latest reports on where to fish around the Bay, call Keith at 415-456-0321.

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