Salmon continue to trickle into the Sacramento River, and the recent trend of larger fish along the Marin coastline is contributing to a larger grade of fish traveling into the system. Anglers casting Mepp’s Flying C spinners abovee and below the Freeport Bridge have been taking choreme bright fish in the 20 to 40 category this past week. Trollers are also findingg suchss dragging Silvertron or similar spinners while others are jigging with P-line Laser Minnows or Slammer Minnows below the Freeport Bridge. Salmon also showing in the Old Sacramento River from Isleton to Walnut Grove. Note: The Nimbus fish hatchery on the on the American River opened the fish ladders on the facility on November 2 at 10:15 a.m. Now is the time to view this once-a-year event. Once again the San Joaquin River is off limits to salmon fishing. Salmon fishing is also closed from the mouth of the Mokelumne up to the south side of the Mokelumne River bridge on highway 12. Move over to the south Delta at Clifton Court Forebay there have been a number of fishermen targetting salmon within the past week, and it is illegal to keep a salmon out of the forebay. Anglers poaching salmon have been ticketed by Fish and Game Wardens and some have had their vehicles impounded along with their fishing gear. So beware.
Striped bass are spread throughout the Delta with most being taken at anchor tossing thread fin shad, mud suckers or live bluegills. The big fish of the week weighed in at 20 pounds at the Power Lines off Sherman Island on a mudsucker. Trolling expert Mark Wilson has been trolling the shallows in Montezuma Slough and near the Rio Vista Bridge where they boated 3 keepers to 22 inches along with 8 shakers. Striped bass showing at Liberty Island, the Sacramento Deep Water Channel, Steamboat Slough into the Port of Sacramento. Expect a good number of undersized bass before hooking into a legal 18 inches or better. Be sure to take plenty of bait with you on your next fishing adventure.