(Stockton) Most Delta anglers are migrating to the Sacramento River with increased chances for sturgeon and striped bass success. The incoming flows should help in pushing out the dying water hyacinth, and a good flush is just what is required for the health of the San Joaquin River.
Dan Mathisen of Dan’s Delta Outdoors in Oakley said, “ In Discovery Bay, the bite is improving as water temperatures stabilize in the 50’s. Slow-rolling spinnerbaits or jigs along the ledges near flats or drop-shotting 6 or 7-inch worms in the clearer water are working for largemouth bass with a few stripers taken on Optima’s Bad Bubba Shad swimbaits.”
“In Frank’s Tract, Bobby D’s spinnerbaits, swim jigs, or Six Sense ripbaits are good options in the warming water. For sturgeon, there have been a few shaker sturgeon with the occasional keeper in the Antioch area around the Antioch Bridge, Broad Slough and New York Slough. A few stripers are taken on frozen shad, anchovies, or sardines in many areas with most bank fishermen working the Antioch Fishing Pier or along Sherman Island Road,” said Mathisen.
Steve Santucci of Santucci’s Fly Fishing Guide Service said, “Fishing was pretty nice when the weather cooperated this week. We found some nice chunky stripers today that were very aggressive as they were chasing the fly to the boat and hitting it on the drop. Fishing is going to be really good as the water temperatures were 52 degrees in the early morning and hit 55 degrees by the end of the day.”
Despite the reductions in pumping from the south Delta, the currents have not increased on the river.