Oct
Fishing is good in the West Delta, but the weather has been challenging with hot temperatures and thick smoke at times. Trollers and bait anglers are nailing stripers, sturgeon anglers are finding success while working deep water.
Striper fishing is steady in the West Delta with both trollers and bait anglers scoring limits most days. Most anglers are hooking solid numbers of bass. Some of the bass being hooked are undersize, but most of them run 18 to 24 inches. On the big end bass to 22 pounds have been reported this week.
Overall trolling is out performing bait fishing simply because the water remains warm and the bass are willing to chase. Deep running Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows tipped with white or pink worms are the best offering for trollers, but shallow runners and large Rat-L-Traps are working well when you find fish in shallow water.
Bait anglers are using standard baits such as shad, sardines, bullheads, mudsuckers and live minnows.
Sturgeon action is steady for anglers in the know that are willing to invest some time and fight the wind. The diamond backs are holding in the deeper areas of Suisun Bay. Lamprey eel and fresh salmon roe are the top performing baits at this time.
For anglers looking for a more kicked back fishing experience, catfish action remains solid in the sloughs. Clams, anchovies and worms are the top tempters.
Salmon trolling has been slow, but productive. Anglers that put in their time pulling spinners have been hooking fish above Rio Vista and there have been some caught incidentally by striper trollers.