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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Northern California <b>fishing</b> report

The weekly fishing report will highlight the best Bay Area angling opportunities. For a more comprehensive report, go to http://www.norcalfishingnews.com for reports from more than 100 waters from 12 regions.

LAKES

ANDERSON: Bass are in deeper water. Try Rat-l-Traps at launch ramp or corner of dam. Drag jigs slowly near rocky points. 408-463-0711.

BERRYESSA: Trout have moved a bit deeper and rainbows to 2.8 pounds are being caught. Some are catching kokanee at 45 feet. Catfish will get busy in the north end. Use shad or mackerel. Bass will scatter if shad move. 707-255-5544, 916-502-3474.

CALERO: Senkos will get bass. Back of dam has been productive with live minnows. 408-463-0711.

CHABOT: Double plant of trout went in last week but lake is getting muddy. This will need a few days and maybe a week. 510-247-2526.

CHESBRO: Catfish bite continues and rain shouldn't hurt. Fish near dam with cut baits. 408-358-3741, 408-463-0711.

CONTRA LOMA: Trout bite has been steady this week. Night crawlers get most fish. Limits are common near boat launch, Channel Point and east shore. Catfish bite has slowed. 510-544-3154.

COYOTE: Fishing is slow. A 4-pounder was caught last week with a shaky-head but that was exception rather than a common place occurrence. 408-463-0711.

DEL VALLE: Trout anglers are getting two to three

fish per outing fishing from bank. Bonus plant of trophy fish is paying results. Trout 8 to 12 pounds being caught near Marina and East Beach. Smallmouth bite and striper bite has slowed. Lake-record 100-pound sturgeon was caught and released Monday. 925-449-5201.

LAFAYETTE: Trout and catfish have been biting well. Chicken livers get cats. Night crawlers, Power Bait get trout from shore. Rapalas, Kastmasters get trout on the troll. Trout plant from DFG is scheduled this week. 925-284-9669.

LEXINGTON: Drop-shot with heavier sinkers (quarter- to half-ounce) to reach deeper water. RoboWorms a good choice. 408-463-0711.

LOS VAQUEROS: Plant of 1,000 pounds of trout went in Tuesday and shoreline anglers are catching them with Power Bait and night crawlers. Trollers get 18- to 21-inch striped bass. No big striper catches recently. Lake won't get cloudy but shorelines will be muddy. 925-371-2628.

MOUNT TAMALPAIS LAKES: Bon Tempe received 1,000 pounds of DFG trout last week and Lagunitas received 500 pounds of half-pound fish Tuesday. 415-945-1194.

QUARRY LAKES: Four trout larger than 8 pounds and limits are being caught, too. Best spot is backside of Horseshoe Lake. Power Bait or spoons take trout. Catfish will take shrimp. 510-544-3133.

SAN LUIS RESERVOIR: Basalt and Trash Racks are best spots to drift live jumbo minnows, pile worms or blood worms for stripers to 10 pounds. 408-463-0711.

SHADOW CLIFFS: Plant of 1,125 pounds of trout went in last week and another 1,000 pounds went in this week. Lake doesn't get muddy and is a good bet during breaks in rain. 510-544-3230, 925-426-0197.

UVAS: Fish points and coves near dam with shaky heads. Bass to 3 pounds are being caught. 408-463-0711.

DELTA

ANTIOCH: Collinsville is a hot spot for sturgeon and striped bass. One striper caught last weekend was 28 pounds. Broad Slough is also good for both. Sturgeon are being caught from River View Bridge. Handful of keeper sturgeon also have been caught from Antioch Pier. 925-706-7400.

BENICIA: Bouy 2 under Benicia Bridge kicked out stripers to 13 pounds last weekend. Few have been going out for sturgeon. 707-745-4921.

FRANK'S TRACT: Stripers will take anchovies or shad. Most are schoolies. 925-625-2441.

FREEPORT: Bite has gone quiet. No salmon, stripers or sturgeon over past few days. 916-665-1935.

PITTSBURG: Before the storm, striper bite for bass in 6-pound range was good. They were in shallow water near Broad Slough and Collinsville. Sturgeon bite is so-so. There are a lot of undersized fish. Pittsburg Marina and Dockside Bait & Tackle will hold a sturgeon and striped bass derby Dec. 14-16. Entry fee is $35 and includes lunch. All proceeds go to prizes. 925-252-0151.

RIO VISTA: Striped bass and sturgeon action is improving. Stripers are found from Sherman Island to Cache Slough. Some are caught daily from the Rio Vista Pier. Sizes range from 5 to 25 pounds. Best way to get stripers is drifting live mudsuckers or minnows. Bigger fish seem to prefer drifted minnows. Sturgeon like ghost or grass shrimp. Best action is in Cache Slough and Sherman Island. 707-374-2372, 916-777-6498.

TRACY: Striped bass continues to be steady for keeper fish 6 to 8 pounds. There is plenty of action for catch-and-release. Trolling with Rat-l-Traps gets action. Some jig, some use live bluegill. 209-835-3182.

RIVERS

NAPA: Night anglers are getting sturgeon. Freshwater should draw sturgeon farther upstream. Striper fishing will be tougher with muddy water. 707-255-5544.

RUSSIAN: River will be blown through weekend but should draw last of the king salmon run and bring more steelhead into system. 707-869-2156.

SALTWATER

BERKELEY: Trips are scheduled Saturday. If that fails, crab/cod trips will go out Wednesday and Friday. Happy Hooker on Saturday had 21 limits of ling cod, 21 limits of rock cod and limits of crab while fishing above Duxbury. 510-235-2032, 510-849-3333, 510-223-5388, 707-334-4827.

BODEGA BAY: If there is a chance to get out Saturday, New Sea Angler will go for crab and cod. Cod limits are regular. Ling cod action is hit-or-miss. Limits of crab and cod have been achieved every trip. 707-875-3344.

EMERYVILLE: New Huck Finn on Monday had 22 limits of rock fish, 14 lings to 12 pounds and limits of crab. Fishing took place at the island. Scores have been similar. Six weekend trips all limited. Call to see if weekend trips are a go. 510-654-6040.

MONTEREY: Caroline on Tuesday had 70 crab and near limits of rock cod. Next trips might be on weekend, but that could be a wash. Call first. 831-375-5951, 831-372-7440.

MOSS LANDING: Rock cod trips will resume next week when weather settles. 831-633-2564.

PACIFICA: Crabbing has been slow and much of recent catch has been pregnant females and juveniles. Commercial boats have been working close to the pier and that is impacting crabbing from shore. 650-355-8303, 650-359-9790.

PILLAR POINT: Weekend crab/cod and rock cod only trips are in limbo because of weather. Call first. 650-726-7133, 510-581-2628.

PORT SONOMA: Sturgeon fishing is expected to be much better during breaks in the storm. Additional freshwater coming from rivers will attract sturgeon looking for food washing down. 707-762-7818.

SAN FRANCISCO: No sturgeon being caught but conditions are improving. Pier anglers at Oyster Point get sharks and rays. 650-589-3474, 510-703-4148.

SAN PABLO BAY: Sturgeon fishing was good before rain, could be sensational after storms move through. Striper fishing has slowed. 415-456-0321.

SUISUN BAY: Keeper stripers are being caught near Glomar and Garnet Point. Sturgeon are being caught from deep water in front of Mothball Fleet. 925-229-9420, 916-777-6498.

-- Tim GoodE


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