Sacramento River cruising and fishing

Chris & Donna Bain

I will be hauling Mzkaye down to the Sacramento area in a couple of weeks to take my dad fishing and explore old haunts. In particular I want to cruise the delta area and further up the Sacramento river. It has been awhile since I've seen this area. I'm figuring Rio Vista for delta cruising, what is available upriver past Sac.? Are there still Stripers in the river or is the run over for the season?
thanks,
chris

starcrafttom · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

Not sure about the striper run but I have boated the river above Sac a bit. You can run the river all the way to the mouth of the feather in a C-dory. After that I have been about another two miles on the Sac but there can be a lot of bars, trees, shallows, etc etc. I have heard of folks running all the way to chico but only in sleds. Its all unmapped waters with moving sand bars etc.. I would not try it.. ok i would but would not tell my wife before hand.

The first three miles of the american is a 5mph zone and a nice place to anchor up in the summer. a lot of boats will raft up in there and party on the weekend. Its also the only good launch in the area.

Chris & Donna Bain · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject:

Starcrafttom, Thanks for the information. The reach above the Feather sounds interesting doesn't it?

chris

RJD Wannabe · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject:

That's been my haunt for 20+ years. yes, during the peak of summer the stripers tend to disappear. South of Rio Vista the Delta is great, Decker Island, 2.5 miles south is a great fishing area, and there are always sturgeon to be found. Going to the mothball fleet is always interesting and a great sturgeon hideout.

The comments about north are true, but the Verona area is beautiful, and very peaceful. Beware of a sand bar the extends across the opening of the Feather at Verona, we have watched many unknowing boaters get slammed when they hit 8" of water. The main channel is on the left side of the opening (north). The American River part is beautiful, but can be crowded on the weekends. The water on the American is much clearer and cooler, but after those 3 miles can get very shallow, but you can see the bottom, unlike the muddy Sacramento

cemiii · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject:

Should be the shad will be running full tilt about that time. Not an eating fish but can be really fun catch/release if you're using light gear 2-4#; 1/8-1/4oz chartreuse shad darts. You can either do it from shore (Nimbus area on the American) or from the boat anchored up about a 1/4 mi up the American from Discovery Park (it'll be where all the boats are anchored).

Sturgeon are always around and eel, ghost shrimp, and squid combos doing well (slot fish- keepers 46-66"only). A good bet would be near Decker Island about 4-5 down river from RV. Stripers (18"+) are still around the RV area for trollers or bait fisherman. Visit the site Fishsniffers.com for lots of detail by species for what's hot in the Sac area. And good luck.

Chris

Chris & Donna Bain · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks folks for all the tips. Sturgeon huh? Haven't tried that one. Although there is a great book titled "Sturgeon Tales" about this area. I highly recommend it!

chris

RJD Wannabe · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 12:37 am Post subject:

Below is the "definitive" book on Sturgeon in the Delta and SF/San Pablo Bays. Quite a few years old, but in valuable.

"Sturgeon by Abe and Angelo Cuanang"
http://www.fishingtrips.com/Gift%20Shop.html

And more info on Sturgeon fishing from these guys on Hi's website, classic techniques.

http://histacklebox.com/main/san-pablo-bay-shallow-water-sturgeon-fishing-techniques-by-abe-cuanang/