Central Coast Fish Report

[Wahoo!]

THE RIVERS
SACRAMENTO RIVER, REDDING TO ANDERSON: Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures Sport
Fishing said fishing for rainbow trout is good with groups getting 15-25 hook ups a
day. Water level is good for drifting as April and May usually produces many nice
size rainbows. Working well for anglers are pheasant tail No. 16, prince nymphs No.
16 and caddis patterns and egg patterns.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, COLUSA: Portocarrero said striper action is picking up and will be
wide open over the next few weeks. April and May prime time as groups are catching
15-20 stripers a day using live minnows and some lures. Side-drifting, and back
trolling, best bet live bait.
THE DELTA
Ken Botelho at Gotcha Bait and Tackle in Antioch said Three Mile Slough is good for
striper anglers using Rebels or Rat-L-Traps. Power Lines and Decker Island also are
producing smallish stripers. Some keeper stripers are also being had about two miles
north of the Rio Vista Bridge.
Will Jimerson and Diane Valmadrid caught two black bass totaling 3.5 pounds on
Rooster Tails at Holland Tract and Art Young caught a 7.775-pound black bass on
nightcrawlers at Tracy. Frank Holquin caught two stripers totaling 12 pounds on a
Rebel at Three Mile Slough. Gerry Jones and Bill Cottier caught three stripers
totaling 40 pounds at Broad Slough on shad. A few days later at the same location,
Jones caught a 10.5 pounder and a 13 pounder on shad.
Ernie Abenoja caught a 11.5-pound striper on shad at Decker Island and Mike Pipkins
caught a 10 and a 12-pounder on shad at Sherman Lake. John Ghirardelli caught a
76-pound, 67-inch sturgeon on ghost shrimp at Decker Island.
Audie Urbano of Hap's Bait and Tackle striper fishing has picked up in the past week
with a lot of 17-19 pounders bring caught by the Old Dairy and the Sandy Beach area
of the Sacramento River. Some sturgeon also have been weighed in. Conditions should
be good for fishing this weekend with forecasted temperatures in the 80s.
THE LAKES
LAKE CHABOT, CASTRO VALLEY: It's been a mixed bag this week as far as trout are
concerned, with fishing doing well one day and nothing happening the next. A few
limits are being taken with not very many whoppers. PowerBait, rainbow being most
popular, followed by chartreuse, is still producing the most fish offered on the
bottom. A few trollers have had luck with Kastmasters (blue and silver and seem to
be the most popular colors). They've been trolling about 20-25 feet deep. Whether
with bait or lure, Coots Landing/Half Moon Bay and out toward the Dam/Bass Cove seem
to be the best areas. Just a bit of action reported around the island and nothing
recently from Raccoon Point. Shore anglers seem to be having just as much luck as
boaters.
A few small bass being caught out toward Bass Cove. A variety of lures are being
used, ranging from plastic lures to hard plastic crank baits and nightcrawlers also
have been used with some effect. A boat would be helpful. There's still not a lot of
catfish action and they'll be slow as long as there are clouds in the sky. They need
hot weather and warm water to become more active. Until then, you can try for cats
out in Honker Bay, which is always a good spot using mackerel.
SAN PABLO RESERVOIR, EL SOBRANTE: Bait fishing for trout has been good with several
hot spots reported in the past week. Try the shallows and add attractant. Trolling
for trout is also good with Rapalas working best for the whoppers. Try from the
surface to 15 feet. Bass action is good. Try the launch area with plastic worms.
Catfish and crappie action remains slow.
LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR, LAFAYETTE: Trout fishing continues to be good here. Anglers are
trolling with Needlefish, Kastmasters or Rainbow Runners and they seem to be
catching the most trout towards the south end. Emily and Jessica Ng of Martinez
caught five trout at the south end using PowerBait, Granite Swann caught two trout
totaling 5.6 pounds using a needlefish lure.
LOS VAQUEROS, BRENTWOOD: Over 800 trout have been caught in last few weeks. On shore
anglers are doing well in the South Cove, Oak Point and by the Rock Wall, most
popular baits are a worm and a marshmallow. Trolling has been good also trolling
depth no deeper than 20 feet. Largemouth bass are still being caught just beyond
Rock Wall, try using spinner baits, rubber worms or poppers. Catfish action is still
a little slow, but some are being pulled out on worms or try chicken livers.
FROM THE LIVEWELL
UPC is hosting its charity trout derby from April 16-May 16. One $3 ticket is good
for the entire length of the derby at the six participating lakes. All proceeds
benefit the American Cancer Society.
-- Curtis Pashelka