Presently, there is a variety of fish to be caught in some of California’s inland waterways, lakes, bays, and outside the Gate. Locally, off the West Bank on the Sacramento River near Collinsville anglers are finding success trolling for striped bass where anglers have been catch- ing and releasing up to 20 fish or more daily. Most of the stripers are in the 5 to 7 pound bracket, up to an occasional larger fish in the mix. Most of the action is on the move trolling with deep and shallow running Yo-Zuri lure tipped with white and chartreuse plastic worms. The salmon fishing remains tough on the Old Sacramento River. The good news is that two salmon that were registered at Vieira’s Resort, the first of the season weighing 15 to 17 pounds. Also, the first salmon came off the shoreline at Benicia, but it was a “jack” weighing only 3 pounds. A few salmon are taken off the Freeport Bridge by shoreline anglers tossing Mepp’s Flying ‘C’ spinners while those on the troll are dragging Brad’s Cut Plugs. The salmon fishing should get better as we move into the chiller fall weather patterns.

 

Another good bet for some salmon action is to wait until late in the afternoons and drop shot spoons in green color pattern where reports of at least 20 boats have taken fish recently. Those into bait fishing for striped bass will find some action above Rio Vista with blood worms or sardines coated with garlic spray, especially in the shallows off liberty Island. Also, in the North Delta, smallmouth bass can be found off the rock piles with plastics on the drop shot, deep diving crankbaits, or dunking live minnows. For bass fish early and late in the day for better acton on the smallies.