Fishing report

Oakland Tribune, Aug 27, 2008 by BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Lakes

CAMANCHE -- Catfish are easy pickings at night. Trout are being caught by trollers getting down 40 feet below the surface. Bass can be had by drop-shotting worms in 30 feet of water. 209-763-5914, 209- 763-5166.

CHABOT -- Catfish are plentiful in Honker Bay, Bass Cove and near the marina. Evening hours are most productive. Bass are taking swim baits and top water lures. 510-247-2526.

CLEAR -- Anglers catch bass to 4 pounds on drop-shots and a variety of offerings. Mid-lake south is the best stretch of water although there is a frog bite in the shallower north end. 707-279- 4739.

CONTRA LOMA -- The catfish bite remains consistently good at the boat ramp and along the eastern shore. Most of the fish are in the 1- to 2-pound class. 925-757-0404.

DEL VALLE -- Catfish and striped bass fishing has been worthwhile of late. Stripers in the 3- to 8-pound range are in the narrows. There are a lot of sub-legal bass, too. Catfish are all over the lake. Trout fishing is slow. 925-449-5201.

DON PEDRO -- Rainbow trout are active in the river channel near Moccasin Creek at depths from 40 to 60 feet. Small spoons, spinners and flasher/nightcrawler combos work. There are a few Kokanee biting in the Woods Creek arm at 80 feet below the surface. Salmon are in the same area but deeper and taking rolled shad. 209-586-2383.

LAFAYETTE -- There's still a fair trout bite in the evening but catfish offer the best opportunity. There are lots of small bass along the shoreline. 925-284-9669.

LOS VAQUEROS -- A plant of 5,000 pounds of trout will go in Monday. The South Cove has been the best spot and trout have made up most of the catches. 925-371-2628.

NEW MELONES -- Kokanee fishing is slowing but the river channel in the main lakes is still producing bigger fish at depths to 120 feet. The sand bar at the mouth of Coyote Creek is holding some mature fish at depths from 80 to 100 feet. Uncle Larry's glow spinners, U/V hootchies and silver Apex's were productive this past week. Rainbow trout are becoming more active at depths from 40 to 60 feet and hitting on small shad lures (Ex-Cel, Needlefish or Mepps). 209-586-2383.

PARDEE -- Kokanee are getting ready to spawn but some can be caught upriver and the rock wall. Trout take flasher/crawler combos 40 feet below the surface. Catfish are in the coves and bass are found along the rock wall, Copper Cove, Wanda Cove and any rock piles. 209-772-8108.

QUARRY LAKES -- Boat anglers are taking catfish and trout with bait. Shore anglers are having a tough time. A plant of 500 pounds of cats went in Tuesday. 510-795-4883.

SAN PABLO RESERVOIR -- Catfishing is good and bass prospects are decent. Cats take bait along the shoreline. Bass are taking swimbaits. 510-223-1661.

SHADOW CLIFFS -- Bait dunkers can expect a catfish or two. Bass fishing is decent. 925-426-0197.

TRINITY/LEWISTON -- Lewiston has been a consistent trout producer. Best is when water is being moved out of the dam and the fish are moving around. Nightcrawlers are best. 530-623-4999, 530- 623-4352.

Rivers

McCLOUD -- The lower McCloud has been discolored by glacial runoff. The upper McCloud is fishing well for smaller trout, both browns and rainbows. 530-222-3555.

SACRAMENTO (Lower) -- Lower than normal flows have turned on the trout bite. Afternoons and evenings are the best times to use nymphs. There's dry fly action just after sunset. 800-670-4448.

SACRAMENTO (Upper) -- Fish early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun isn't on the water. Caddis work well in the evening. 530-222-3555.

TRINITY -- Fishing has been slow for salmon and steelhead. Most of the fish are on the lower river. Very few fish in Junction City. There are a few in Douglas City and more in Lewiston. 530-623-4999.

Delta

FRANK'S TRACT -- Fishing has been consistent for the past week with fair numbers of black bass and striped bass, but not much size. Best approach is topwater lures or crankbaits. Stripers take bait and trolled plugs. 925-625-2441.

RIO VISTA -- Striped bass have returned to the lower Delta. Trolling or baitfishing with pile worms, blood worms and shad produce stripers. Fish are spread out but good numbers are found in Isleton and the west bank of the Sacramento near Sandy Beach. A few sturgeon are being caught but windy weather has made fishing somewhat difficult. 707-374-2372.

TRACY -- Black bass fishing has been very good near Grant Line. Stripers are beginning to show but there haven't been any of size. Catfish are plentiful. 209-835-3182.

Saltwater

BERKELEY/EMERYVILLE -- It was two weekends ago that a scout boat found tuna 100 miles offshore, 60 miles southwest of the Guide Seamount. The result was 100 tuna caught. Alas, the weather hasn't allowed another excursion but there may be a window of opportunity at the beginning of next week. Call first. Otherwise, trips to the Farallon Island bring back limits of cod. Inside-the-Bay potluck boats average better than a halibut per rod. 510-237-3474, 510-654- 6040, 510-223-5388.

PACIFICA -- The surf has been a bit rough and striper fishing has been spotty. There has been sporadic action from Ocean Beach south to Rockaway, Linda Mar and below the RV Park in Pacifica. Perch are biting blood worms from the pier. 650-355-8303.