07/08/24
HOT HOT HOT... Not much you can do to get away from heat locally. Record temps over the last few weeks have made it tough to get out for more than a morning. That said, this angler made the short trip to Bodega Bay for limits of rock fish and with a few Lings thrown in the bag. At 7:00 am it was a glorious 55 degrees after leaving at 4:30 am and 80 deg. The north coast is producing great rock fish action and when the ocean cooperates Albacore are on tap too. Don't forget SF Bay to beat the heat with an amazing halibut and striper bite.
ROCKFISH: Better ocean conditions and a chance to beat the heat makes this a great option for those looking to fill a limit of these great eating rock fish. There are plenty of locations to try with the current regulations allowing fishing inside the 20 fathom line (that is 120 ft). Shallow fishing pinnacles and reefs with light tackle is a blast. There are chances for Lings as well. We fished with Brian Potter on the Sea Prowler, a 6-pack boat with a great captain and crew.
LANDLOCK KINGS: Oroville has been producing a good grade of landlock kings with several fish over 20" being landed. It's worth the trip if the weather cooperates. If you are in the fish, you may be able to get your limit and get off the lake before you bake. If not, get off the lake anyway. A few more LLKs are not worth experiencing heat related illness.
TROUT: The high elevation lakes like Silver and Caples are starting to turn on, might be high enough to get you a little relief from the heat. Jackson Meadows and French Meadows are my picks for trout fishing right now. The cutthroat in Jackson are starting to put some size on and are aggressive biters. Try small Rapalas in
gold and black with an improvised red stripe down both sides for the Rainbows and Cutthroats. An occasional big brown is on tap at both lakes as well.
HALIBUT: SF Bay fishing for halibut has really taken off. Live bait is the ticket with these hungry flatties. The stripers are making it interesting as well. Great place to beat the heat and fill your cooler. Like last report, Tomales Bay is producing halibut and stripers for those drifting live bait or popsicles. It is worth it if you get to Bodega and decide conditions are to your liking.
ALBACORE TUNA: Some Fort Bragg anglers loaded their boats with extra fuel and made the run to be rewarded with numerous Albacore. Trolling big spreads and a few meat lines brought the fish to the boat. If you are up to the challenge, the opportunities are out there.
KOKANEE: Well we finally have a catchable population of Kokanee at Union Valley this year. The 2022 plants are making a showing with some nice fish being landed. Some days they are easy to find. Others you have to hunt but it is encouraging after a few years of poor result from Union. Bullards continues to produce a lot of fish with a few approaching 14". Stampede is also producing a bunch of fish but the size has been a disappointment. If you can stand the heat and are willing to drag your downrigger weights on the bottom in over 100 ft of water, New Melones and Don Pedro are for you. If are willing to brave the oven that is Redding this time of year, Whiskeytown is putting out some hogs. Unfortunately the copepods are showing up too.
