Napa River

Slowing down, but there is still a striper bite worth targeting.

Probably live or cut bait would work best.

Call Sweeney’s Sports at 255-5544 for the right bait when you are ready to go.

An 8.5-foot sturgeon was reported hooked and released in the south river this week.

That early catch-and-release bodes well for this season — it builds up the gene pool.

I wish I could tell you what bait was used, but anglers smart enough to catch a moose like this aren’t about to tell me how.

Conn Dam/Lake Hennessey

The California Department of Fish & Game planted another truckload of rainbow trout here last week.

Try tossing small brown chunks that look like the hatchery food they were eating recently.

Or, small red worms or Powerbait.

Use light line (4-pound), a small weight and a bobber about four feet up. Fish slowly.

Putah Creek

This Saturday marks the Napa Valley Fly Fishers’ regular annual Putah Creek Clean-up Day. As the host club, we will provide lunch.

Other participating clubs will be the Davis club and Putah Creek Trout.

With good weather predicted, you can come early to start work, though probably the bulk of the action will start around 10 a.m. with lunch at noon.

Sweeney’s Sports will conduct a raffle for some nice equipment — and raffle tickets are free to all who actually pick up trash.

Bring your rig and wet a line after lunch. Meet at Fishing Access 1 unless roadwork blocks it off — then look for us at another of the fishing access points close by.

Clear Lake

John Nittolo and his son, J.P., joined me for a day of bass fishing on Clear Lake with pro guide Bob Myskey (349-4460).

The 20-foot depths seemed to do the trick. Look for that depth near a ridge, underwater hump or rockpile, and toss live jumbo minnows on a drop shot rig.

We tried using a bobber but that didn’t work.

We caught and released 16 legal size largemouth bass that totaled 54 pounds. J.P. caught the hog — it weighed 5.5 pounds.

The crappie bite improves daily.

Good success is coming from places like Kono Tyee, Shag Rock, Konocti, Jones and Jago Bays. Medium live minnows work best for crappie.

Target catfish in 12 to 30 feet of water with the biggest jumbo minnows you can find.

Sacramento River

You can fish for king salmon from Red Bluff down to Knight’s Landing until Dec. 31.

Over time, the biggest and strongest kings have come in this season.

Great idea for a stocking stuffer gift. Call pro guide Kirk Portocarrero (800-670-4448) for a booking or more information.