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Hot Spots for Fishing. and fishing techniques---Click Here for Details

Fish, Fishing locations, Baits, and Techniques

1. Sturgeon:

Looking at the Delta map and find out where the sand bars are. For example, at the light 36A on the Isleton side, the sand bar which runs from the light 36 to the light 1. This area is normally good for people catching the clams. At night, fishing along this sand bar with the depth is about from 10 to 12 feet is good for both sturgeon and striper. Also you can find the sand bar at the Dump gate, other side of the river from Vieira Resort. This is very good area for both striper and sturgeon. Another sand bar is at Tennesse spot, other side of Isleton boat launch. If you also looking at the Delta map, you can find the sand bar is about 2 miles from Isleton Bridge on the Isleton side. This area is also the best area where a lot sturgeons and stripers have been caught.

***North of Rio Vista Bridge at Light 36, Light 36A. Also North of Rio Vista Bridge just about 50 yards away from the bridge on Isleton site.

***Sherman Island at Light 11, Light 12.

***Cache Slough: The areas between Light 41 and Light 44. Fishing along the bank of the Ryer Island site.

***Liberty Island. Remember to check your fish finder right at the broken levee which connected to Liberty Island where you can see the telephone poles flooded under water. The deep is about 50 to 60 feet then suddenly curved up to 30 feet. You may find out a lot of sturgeons underneath by looking at you fish finder. Anchor here and fish and ghost shrimp is the best bait in this area. Due to very fast water current at this location, shorter leader should be used to avoid the bait sweeping around. The weight should be heavier from 7 ounces to 10 ounces.

***Isleton Bridge: Its 2 Miles North of Isleton Bridge on River roadside along sand bar.

****Tennesse spot---Cross Isleton boat ramp on the right.

****Long Island. Two open ends of the Long Island are good for sturgeon.

****Mokelumne River. Its about 200 to 300 yards from the mouth of Georgiana Slough and Mokelumne Revier on the East side. Easy way to locate this spot by looking at the bank where the water pump pipe is.

2. Striper Bass
:

****Mokelumne River at the mouth of Georgiana Slough and Mokelumne River. Light 41. Direction to Mokelumne River: From Bob's Bait Shop, driving along highway 160 towards Isleton Bridge, before you get to Isleton Bridge, turn right at Tyler Island Road, cross small swing birdge then turn right. Keep continue driving until you see the highway 12 bridge in your right hand side and the Mokolumne River in front of you. Park your car and fish.

****Three Miles Slough.

****Isleton Bridge.

****Steam Boat Slough

3. Catfish:

****Georgiana Slough. Clam is the best bait for catfish. Anchovy is an alternative one. When using live clam, the small size of hook should be used. Just one clamp is enough to cover the hook. Just wait for the bite and set the hook. Evening is the best time. You can get 10 to 20 lbs easily.

*****Note: For channel Catfish, Crawdad tail meat is the best bait. Using this bait, you will have more change to get very good size of channel catfish.

****Mokelumne River. Its right at the mouth of Georgiana Slough and Mokelumne River. The technique and bait is same as at Georgiana Slough.

4. American Shad: Starting from the end of March through the end of July, Armerican Shad run up stream to hatch. Fishermen can start fishing American Shad from the end of March now below Freeport Bridge and above New Hope Landing. In late June, shad can run up to Nimbus Damp, American River if you drive along highway 50 from Bay Area, just pass Sacramento about 12 to 15 miles. Shad may be found at Thermalito After Bay Damp in Oroville in late June or just below Red Bluff Damp on Sacramento River. In Red Bluff Damp and Thermalito After Bay Damp, shad dart, crappie jig with the round red hook and green rubber worm are working better. Fish bite throughout the day; but most productive time is normally early in the morning or late afternoon. If you prefer fly-fishing, Nimbus Damp on the other side of the river, you can walk far from the bank to fish. This is a paid fee park. Remember at Nimbus Damp, the set up is different due to very low and fast current water. The float is used to slow the jig down from fast current and it also helps to avoid snagged. From the float to the 3/4 ounces weight is about 3 feet, and from 3/4 ounces weighted to the jig is about 1-1/2 to 2 feet.

Shad jigs with white/red and white/green colors are most preferred. Fish can weight from one to four pounds.

Techniques:

From the bank: Slider egg sinker 1/2 to 3/4 ounces slides in the line. Tie the end with snap swivel. The leader is about 4 to 5 feet long with one end tie the jig and another end tie as a loop then cross it to snap swivel. Try to prepare two to three leaders with different colors of jig. From the bank, casting the lure up stream as far as you can and reeling it in slowly. When feeling snatching like, set your hook and start fighting. This is very good fighting fish.

From the boat. Set up is different. Weight at the bottom 1 to 1-1/2 ounces then two leaders with two jigs separated each other about 3 feet. The length of the leader is about 2 to 3 feet. Cast your jigs out and reeling slowly. Try a different deep until you cacth the fish. Remember to mark your fishing deep since you may spot a school of shad. You may catch one after another.

5. Crappie: Mostly found at the areas where dead trees are in the water. Seven Miles Slough, Three Miles Slough, and Georgiana Slough are the good area for crappie.

You can either use medium size minnow or jig head to catch crappie. Of course, night crawler is still work but it's not good as medium minnow.

6. Large/Small/Black Bass: TBD

7. Salmon: Salmons are running at peak level now. It's normally very good salmon run during the month of October and the second week of October is mostly very good. While trolling along the Old Sacramento river, four places that the salmons were caught most are Vieira Resort, Long Island, Isleton Boat Ramp, and Isleton Bridge.

Salmon Trolling Techniques

 

I.                  Wiggle Wart.

·        The best test line to use for trolling Wiggle Wart is from 15 lb. to 20 lb. Remember to check your reel drag all time.

·        Tie fishing line to Duolock Snap swivel and then snap the Wiggle Wart lure to it.

·        The Duolock snap helps to change to a different color of Wiggle Wart lure easier.

·        Boat speed should be from 0.8 to 1.2 mph.

·        Always check your lure when dropping it next to your boat and see how the lure diving before release your fishing line to the range from 80 to 120 feet away from your boat.

·        In the morning, try to release your fishing line about 70 to 80 feet away from your boat. Doing this would let your lure diving just about 5 to 8 feet from the top.

·        During the day, release the fishing line up to 120 feet to let the lure diving close to the bottom of the river (5 feet above the bottom of the river is best).

·        Try to troll along the edge of the deep channel of the river. Salmon tend to swim along that path.

·        Always carry the big landing net that big enough to hold the big fish. The hoop size 28”x30” with the handle is about 54” is good enough.

·        Be relax and confident to fight for the fish. Don’t hurry to land the fish when they are still strong to fight for their lives. And remember to keep your fishing line always tensed.

II.                Spinners-Silvertron, Blue Fox, Home made spinner either single or double blades.

·        Fishing test line can be from 17 lb. to 30 lb. Be sure to set your reel drag right.

·        Sinker should be used to bring the lure down to certain depth level depending on what’s time of the day. Sinker weight can be from 3/8 oz up to 3 oz.

·        For 3/8 oz and ½ oz sinker, the rubble split sinker can be used to clip it to the fishing line with a distance is about 4 to 5 feet from the spinner.

Spreader

1oz to 2oz sinker

 

Ball Bearing Swivel

4-5 feet 20 lb. leader

 

Double Blades Spinner

·        For 1 oz sinker or heavier, 3-way ring swivel, spreader, or banana sinker can be used.

. Speed of your boat is about 1 to 1.5 MPH(GPS).

. While your boat is running at the speed above, let your lure out until the sinker taps the river bottom then bring it back by reeling about 5 to 7 turns.

. In Isleton, starting from the mouth of Old Sacramento River up to Ryde Hotel along the deepest channel. Your deepfinder will be very helpful to find the deep channel.

 

 

 

Call 916-777-6806 or e-mail to themasterbaiter@lycos.com for details information

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