DELTA

The good news is that salmon are beginning to make an appearance in the Sacramento River, especially around Freeport where a few fish are being caught trolling and casting spoons from the shoreline. Most of the recent catches have been in the 15 to 20 pound category using single or double bladed Silvertron spinners and casting Flying C’s from the shoreline. The action isn’t fast and furious, but if you put in the time you can be rewarded for your efforts. The best is yet to come as we move into the fall months. The waters locally are still very warm and most of the salmon are moving through the area up into as low as 53º comfort zones near Red Bluff. Presently they are releasing 10,500 cubic feet per second of water out of Shasta Dam which should help speed up the annual migration of Chinook salmon.

Presently there is very little action on striped bass. There is the chance of hooking into a legal 18-incher or better at anchor tossing your bait of choice. Anglers drifting live bluegills still hooking and landing a few stripers in the 5 pound category in Whiskey Slough. Elsewhere mostly dinks.
Sturgeon still showing in the Pittsburg and Suisun Bay area, but there seems to be very little angler interest. This is probably due to persistent winds and extremely hot days keeping most off the water.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY

Big tides last week produced limits of striped bass on most of the rock piles in San Francisco Bay. This week with slower tides anglers will have the chance to complete a grand slam that allows anglers the chance to hook striped bass, halibut and salmon on the same day. King Salmon are beginning to move inside the bay off California City where trollers work the top 3 hours of the incoming tides. In the South bay the leopard shark fishing is the best in years with many weighing 30 to 40 pounds with 3 fish limits the rule. Keith Fraser with Loch Lomond Bait reports that the bay is now thriving with huge schools of anchovies the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades. Keith now has receivers loaded with anchovies.

OCEAN

Bodega bay seems to be the hot spot for salmon fishing these days to up around Timber Cove where private and party boats are scoring on limits and near limits using doworiggers 40 to 80 feet deep, to over 200 feet of water to claim Kings in the 12 to 14 pound class. Some jackpot fish weigh as much as 25 pounds. Outside the Gate some salmon limits taken off Muir Beach, Duxbury Buoy and Stinson Beach. Rock cod fishing producing about 1/2 limits lately along with a few lingcod to 15 pounds.

KLAMATH RIVER

Good numbers of salmon are kegged up in the estuary just west of highway 101 bridge. The upper end of the lower river from Keswick to the highway 244 bridge in Redding is closed to protect spawning salmon. Water is presently at 700 cubic feet per second which will be reduced to 500 cfs later this week.

Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. Until next tide stay safe to fish another day.
Be sure to check weather conditions before venturing out into the big waters.
Quote of the week: Today is the right day to do the right thing. ~ Martin Luther King

JAY’S BEST BETS
Pardee Lake - kokanee
New Melones Lake - kokanee, trout
San Francisco Bay - halibut, striped bass, leopard shark
Ocean - salmon, rockfish, lingcod

UPCOMING EVENTS

SNAG PROOF BASS TOURNAMENT

August 6-7, 2016 - The Snag Proof Bass Tournament takes place at Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island where participants have the chance to win some quality prizes.

LAKE ALMANOR KOKANEE POWER TEAM FISHING DERBY

August 6, 2016 - The Lake Almanor team derby offers participants the chance to hook big fish and win cash and awesome prizes. for information call (916) 985-4943.

LAKE PARDEE KOKANEE POWER TEAM FISHING DERBY

August 6, 2016 - The Lake Pardee team fishing derby which offers anglers an opportunity to compete for cash and awesome prizes. for information call Gary Coe at (888) 744-8150.

HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES

The Stockton Sportsman’s Club has announced they will be conducting 4 hunter safety courses on August 13 and 20, and October 1 and 8. Instructor Paul Sarstead stated that the courses will take place at the Waterloo Gun and Bocce Club, 4343 N. Ashley Lane in Stockton. Sessions are free to boys and girls, 16 years and younger with a small fee charged for adults. Information: (209) 204-0358.

SHAVER LAKE KOKANEE POWER TEAM FISHING DERBY

September 10, 2016 - Kokanee Power presents it’s Shaver Lake team fishing derby offers anglers an opportunity to compete for cash and prizes. for information call Gary Coe at (888) 744-8150

RIO VISTA BASS DERBY

October 7 - 9, 2016 - The Rio Vista Bass Derby is one of the oldest fishing tournament in the U.S. Big prizes are up for grabs. if you love fishing the fabulous Delta waterways this is a must attend. For more information, call the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce at (707) 374-2700.

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING

August 24 - 25, 2016 - The California Fish and Wildlife Commission meets at the Lake Natoma Inn Hotel/Conference Center, 702 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom, Ca. On the agenda is the first reading on the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta’s request to exterminate so-called predator fish, such as striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and several species of catfish from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta waterways. Information: (916) 653-4899.