Invite a neighbor to Free Fishing Day on Fourth of July

By BILL RYAN
For the Register

Here’s a look at the latest local angling action:

Free fishing on the Fourth

Saturday, July 4 is a Free Fishing Day. The California DFG will waive the license requirement for citizens 16 years and older.

Here’s your chance to call your neighbor and invite him/her to go fishing without a license.

If they like it, take them again on the other Free Fishing Day coming up on Sept. 7.

California Delta

Last week, I promised to post you on our results fishing for black bass here a week ago Wednesday. In a word, “fergedaboudit.”

The wind blew, my hat blew, my hair blew, the salt spray blew.

I was blue and soaked.

Final count — one little dink, caught by my partner.

That’s my third Delta skunking out of three — I quit trying for black bass there.

Meanwhile, a day earlier — with no wind — Captain Barry Canevaro on the “Fish ‘n’ Fool IV” had his way with the sturgeon.

His two clients caught and released six sturgeon.

The top three were 79 inches, 69 and 44.

Barry expects this bite to continue, so call him at (916) 777-6498 to try to book a calm day.

Yountville

The exclusive outdoor screening of “Rivers of a Lost Coast” at the Napa Valley Museum was a smash.

Kudos to the Napa Valley Museum, Napa County Resource Conservation District, Napa River Steelhead and all the sponsors.

Over 230 people enjoyed the reception and film and helped raise $3,200 for the museum, NCRCD and screening expenses.

Significantly, we took a big step forward in gaining many new supporters to help in restoring our Napa River.

Napa River

Stripers are getting bigger, and sturgeon are still biting in the south river.

Stop in at Sweeney’s (1537 Imola, 255-5544) before heading out for the scoop plus tips on the latest bait and gear needed.

San Pablo Dam Reservoir

Whopper Board Toppers:

Godwin Valdez landed the second-largest catfish of the season — a 16.6-pound brute — on a worm.

Look for more fatties as they start planting catfish for the rest of the summer.

Cindy Mindrup used pink Powerbait to land a 6.3-pound rainbow trout.

The last trout plant before fall was just made — 2,400 pounds of Mount Lassen rainbows.

Included were 10 percent trophy-sized fish from 3 to 8 pounds. Five of the biggest were tagged.

Score a tagged trout, take it directly to the Main Rec. Center with your permit, and win a free weekday half-day motor boat rental.

Call for details at (510) 223-1661.

Look for a whole lot of fishing left here in 2009.

They plan to plant a total of over 43,000 pounds of trout and catfish in 2009 — with trout the major portion.

Clear Lake

Pro guide Richard Pounds (272-8410) reports that the summer top water bite should improve with these hotter days ahead.

Meanwhile, he says that the blue-green algae mess in the south end and the heavy weed cover in the north end are pushing bassers to the middle of the lake.

Shoot top water lures early — then go to natural plastics at 15 to 25 feet when the sun is high.

The last time we fished the middle of the lake was at the Soda Bay rocks — we caught four nice bass there in about two sweeps.

Bodega Bay

Both private boaters and party boats reported limits of quality rockfish over the past weekend. Point Reyes was one of the top spots. Call Wil’s Bait & Tackle at 875-2323 for more information.

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