Small stripers, sturgeon biting in Napa River

By BILL RYAN
For the Register

• Napa River

Still small stripers going for cut and live baits off the bank. Sturgeon are taking ghost and grass shrimp “combos” in the south river.

• Lake Berryessa

The gang at Sweeney’s Sports (255-5544) reports that the kokanee bite is at 45 to 70 feet. Stop in to see their extensive line of “koke” lures.

Trout are in the 15- to 20-foot band. Drag your favorite lures behind a flasher.

• Clear Lake

Hot weather has turned on the top-water bass bite. Toss spooks, frogs, poppers and buzzers early in the morning or at sundown.

When the sun is high, drop-shotting Roboworms will work all summer long.

Bob Rider at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake (994-2474) likes mackerel for cat fishing. He says the crappie aren’t tightly schooled — but enough are around the good spots (like Boat Works, Four Poles, Garner) to provide a good meal.

Minnows and mini jigs are the lures of choice.

Stop in to see Bob and get the latest scoop.

• San Pablo Dam Reservoir

With trout plants on hold until cooler weather, the catfish bite is tops.

Use chicken livers and anchovies to fool some of the 2,500 pounds of cats planted recently.

Bass will take plastic worms and Powerbait, too. Two 8-pounders came in on worms; one of 7 pounds, 13 ounces was fooled by Powerbait.

• California Delta

Target black bass, panfish and catfish right now. Be especially careful in the main rivers; the summer wind can be treacherous.

Toss frogs, Senkos and spinnerbaits for bass. At high tide, fish inside the weed line. On an outgoing tide, fish the outside edge.

Find pan fish in brush or timber with a 11⁄2 -inch black, brown or red grub on a 1/32-ounce jig head. When the sun is high, fish tight to the structure.

Fish the perimeter in low light conditions.

Good cat fishing seems to be everywhere. Soak anchovy, clams, frozen ghost shrimp or crawdads for the best bite.

• Bodega Bay

Latest reports were rock cod limits on all charter boat trips out of Wil’s Bait & Tackle. Call them at 875-2323 to book a spot.

Ling cod action is slow — averaging only one per trip.

• Big Rivers

High water releases have slowed the spring salmon bite on the Trinity.

Most fish caught have been from the bank at Grays Falls and Burnt Ranch.

Reports from the Klamath tell of a below-average spring salmon run.

The 2008 king salmon quota for the Klamath is only 22,500, which begins in August. These two rivers plus the Smith are the only ones where you will be able to keep salmon this year.

There will be a small season on the Sac from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 — and only from the Red Bluff diversion dam down to Knight’s Landing.

Call pro guide Dave Jacobs (800-355-3113) to sort out the options and book a trip.

While you are on the phone, get a Sacramento River wild rainbow trout trip, too. The bite from Redding down to below Anderson has been real good.

Twenty or more hook-ups per day is a real possibility this time of year.

Napa Valley Register Copyright © 2009