• Napa River

Stripers from 8 to 12 pounds with an occasional 15-pounder are falling to bright lures and cut bait. Pull Rattletraps, Broken Back Rebels and swim baits in fire tiger, chrome/chartreuse. There are reports of a few salmon in the river, but no action on them.

• Lake Berryessa

Cat fishing is hot. Any shore line will do. Soak dip baits, hot dog chunks or livers for cats up to 14 pounds. Be sure the bait is on the bottom and moves freely with the water.

Trout/salmon trolling is tough right now. Better to target the 20-foot band with cranks, crawlers or plastics for bass.

Best areas are Putah Creek and the Islands.

• Clear Lake

Last week, I promised you a report on our fishing trip Wednesday. In a time of transition from the summer to fall bite, the bass fishing was very good.

My partner and I caught and released 27 bass. Our top five at 20 pounds would have scored high in a tournament. We were on a top water hot spot before sun-up and scored 10 nice bass there.

They ignored the Zara Spook but couldn’t resist the Rico popper. It was a wide, shallow flat in front of a wall. The bass corral and push the baitfish up against the wall where they can’t escape.

Tossing a shad type lure that skitters across the surface like a runaway fish does the trick.

After the sun gets on the water, it’s time to move on to deeper targets.

We went back to drop-shotting and found that the MM III Roboworm continues to produce.

Just to accent the day, I caught a 20-pound catfish on a lure they never eat — in a place they never are. Go figure.

• Bodega Bay

The weather is still a problem. Big winds and big seas are keeping the action close to shore. So, while the salmon action is slow right now, we have good reports of limits on “reds,” “coppers” and rock cod.

Stay in touch with Wil’s Bait & Tackle at 875-2323 for changing conditions.

• California Delta

The best news this week was that Can Nguyen of Bob’s Bait & Tackle (916-777-6666) got out to do a little fishing.

At the Isleton Bridge, he had a serious pull down and line melting off of his reel for a whole minute, then a five-minute struggle to land a 32-inch striper on a mud sucker.

• San Pablo Dam Reservoir

With the surface temperature down to 70 degrees, the trout bite will be picking up soon. The Department of Fish & Game has already started to plant trout with a 1,000-pound drop last week.

Soon the regular plant from the Lassen Trout Farm will be putting some brutes into the water here. Bass are biting, as well as catfish.

The top of the whopper board showed a 13-pound catfish on a chicken liver.

• Sacramento River

The salmon bite has yet to go wide open. However, guides are scoring two to four fish per day in the 16- to 24-pound range.

Dave Jacobs of the Professional Guide Service (800-355-3113) had a bonus for this far up river — a 21-pound striper on back-bounced roe.

Our regular Chico Salmon/Steak Team adventure comes up next week.

Stay tuned.



• BOW California

This excellent DFG women’s program is hosting a special three-day workshop on Wonder Valley Ranch in the Sierra Foothills, Oct. 20-22.

The workshop offers women hands-on instruction in fly fishing, fly tying, bait fishing, map and compass reading, outdoor dutch oven cooking, personal self defense, shotgun shooting, archery, knot tying, backpacking, kayaking and more.

Wonder Valley Ranch is in the foothills on 75 acres shaded by groves of mature oaks and sycamores.

The application deadline is Oct. 2 and the cost is $350, which covers a choice of four outdoor learning courses, two nights’ lodging, seven meals, evening programs, raffles and more.

Sign up online at www.bowcalifornia.org or call (530) 347-0027.