Jay was inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame in January

My, where is the time going! Here we are moving into the month of February were sturgeon fishing seems to draw more attention these days. Field scouts have reported the sturgeon bite is still rewarding anglers fishing water as shallow as the 10 to 15 foot depths into the deeper sections of 55 to 60 feet of water. Reports indicate the good numbers of sturgeon are showing in the deep water off of Pittsburg, Suisun Cut, Montezuma Slough, Broad Slough  and Suisun Bay with best action on lamprey eel strips, salmon roe and grass shrimp.

Those in the know are reporting as many as 3 to 6 hook ups per outing with most in the legal 40 to 60 inch range. Also, in the mix there have been some on unusually larger striped bass showing for those dunking herring fillets. Captain Steve Talmage at Flash Sport Fishing Charters out of Martinez has been finding much better action for striped bass in the 10 to 33 pound range fishing east of the Benicia/Martinez Bridge and in 35 feet of water just above the Mothball Fleet. Trollers are finding stripers in the 7 pound category in Broad slough trolling and drifting life mud suckers. The sturgeon fishing should remain stable through the month of March and into April.

AMADOR LAKE

Amador lake rainbow trout are in the top few feet of water and close to the shoreline where anglers are getting into the best action tossing nightcrawlers, power bait and salmon eggs. As of this week Lake Amador has planted a total of 16,350 pounds of rainbow trout. Information: (209)274-4739.

FEATHER RIVER

 Feather River the California Department of Fish and wildlife will be stocking 140,000 to 150,000 Feather River steelhead into the Thermalito Afterbay this year. Good numbers of steelhead continue to return to the Feather River hatchery where the facility is retaining a total of 947 adults. Including 384 males and 563 females. The facility has taken 977,157 eggs to date. Presently the best fishing on the Feather River is taking place in the low flow area in Oroville down to Gridley where steelhead to 5 pounds are hitting nightcrawlers, salmon roe, Glo Bugs and an array of flies. Information: 530-674-1912

LAKE CAMANCHE

Lake Camanche Trout plants continue to take place at Camanche Reservoir with Mount Lassen rainbows placed in the South Shore pond and the main lake. Most of the trout being caught using trout dough bait or casting Kastmasters in the rainbow or chartreuse color patterns. Trollers continue to work the Narrows with white or orange 3 inch grubs with the best quality of rainbows coming out of Big Hat Island, Little Hat Island, and the dam with F-9 Rapalas in various colors along with Speedy Shiners at a fast troll.

SAN LUIS RESERVOIR

The striped bass fishing at San Luis reservoir remains one of the better locations to fish for stripers where anglers are using a variety of methods and techniques to catch fish. Most are casting jerk baits and top water lures for some quality fish weighing as much as 25 pounds. Most of the fish are being marked at 55 to 70 foot levels where they have been in the feeding mode. At San Luis reservoir the water temperatures remain warmer for this time of year where they are holding near the 60° range. Anglers are trolling, casting the shorelines or using bait for school size fish in the 20 to 26  inch category, but it is important that you realize that you have to hit the right bite window or it may be a long day. Some of the better lures also working are Ripbaits and Zoom Magnum Flukes and white or white ice on a half inch jig head for both boaters and Shoreliners while the Storm WildEye swim baits in white or shad color patterns are working along the main lake points in the mornings and evenings. The best action is taking place at low light in the evenings and mornings. The lake has risen to 84% of capacity due to the increased pumping out of the South Delta.

 Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. Until next time stay safe to finish another day.

Good fishing.

JAY’S BEST BETS

Suisun Bay - (sturgeon, striped bass)

Broad Slough - sturgeon, striped bass)

Montezuma Slough - (sturgeon) largemouth bass)

Feather River - (steelhead)

Camanche Reservoir - (trout)

 Amador lake - (trout, catfish)

San Pablo Bay - (sturgeon)

Ocean - (surf perch, sand dabs, Dungeness crab.

  QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

When one door of happiness closes, another door opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has open for us

..… Helen Keller

UPCOMING EVENTS

ORIGINAL STURGEON DERBY

February 3 through the 4th, 2018 the annual Original Sturgeon Derby sponsored by the Foundation Sportsmen’s Club out of McAvoy Harbor in Baypoint California. Information and registration at www.originalsturgeonderby.com

NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT AT SAN PABLO RESERVOIR

Saturday, February 3, 2018 the Norcal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament tour will kick off the season at San Pablo reservoir. If you love trout fishing you’ll want to sign up and participate in these low cost events. Boaters and bank anglers are welcome. At this event there will be cash

prizes, gear raffles and lots of family fun. For more information or to sign-up call 916-768-0938.

NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE AT LAKE PARDEE

Saturday, March 3, 2018 – the NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament takes place at Lake Pardee. For more information call 916-768-0938.

SACRAMENTO BOAT SHOW

March 8–11, 2018 – the Cal Expo Thursday and Friday 11 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM. For more information, contact Sacramento boat show.com or call 916-372-4239

SANTA ROSA FISHING TACKLE AND DUCK DECOY SHOW

 March 9th –10 2018 –

This is the place to go for antiques, collectibles, new and used fishing tackle and much more. The event will take place at 1351 Maple Ave. in Santa Rosa. For more information call 707-539-3662.

KOKANEE POWER 20TH

ANNIVERSARY

Kokanee Power 20th anniversary fundraising banquet March 3, 2018 – if you love Kokanee fishing you’ll all want to attend the annual Kokanee Power Banquet which will help fund kokanee and trout enhancement projects while having a great time and enjoying excellent food. The event is being held at 300 J St. in Sacramento. The doors open at 5 PM and dinner will be served at 7 PM for more information call 916-985-4943

HUGE SEWAGE SPILL CLOSES MONTEREY BEACHES

A huge raw sewage spill closed Monterey County beaches two weeks ago. Monterey One Water reported that as much as 4.9 million gallons of raw waste water spilled into Monterey Bay. The leak was caused by an equipment failure at their waste water treatment facility in Marina, California.

This has resulted in the beach coastline between Marina State Beach and Stillwater Cove, Monterey, being closed. The closest beaches include: Carmel beach at Ocean Avenue, Monterey municipal beach, Lovers Point, Monterey State Beach, San Carlos Beach, the beach at Sunset Drive at Asilomar, the beach in Spanish Bay and Stillwater Cove are closed. All other beaches are open without any restrictions. The aforementioned beaches will remain closed until samples indicate that the water is again safe for contact according to state guidelines.

The Monterey county health department warns that contact with contaminated water may cause gastroenteritis and other waterborne illnesses.

DELTA