Sacramento Delta and the bay

R

RogerJuntunen

New member
In Cahoots, Idaho is on the road soon for the delta, and can any C-Brats chime in on how the striper fishing has been in the delta? We will probably be hanging around Rio Vista, Vieria's, and even out in the bay,weather permitting. If anyone wants to give us some tips on favorite spots to see please chime in and we would like to see any C-Brats for a chat.
Roger and Cheryl
 
only thing i miss about the valley is the striper fishing. I lover trolling large broken back rapalas with a curly tail worn on the back hook behind the boat. around docks. wing dams and any rock covered levy.

The other way , better for big females, is to catch live squaw fish and live hook them thru the the nose and fish on a sliding on the bottom. its a waiting game and you have to fish with a open real and just the clicker. let the fish take the bait and run off aways, then when it stops to eat the bait( and the hook) you engage the reel and set the hook and hang on.

if you can find a school in the shallows, try cuts in the water ways from one area to another, then large flys will work and are a lot of fun. just retrieve fast.
 
Roger,

Sent you an email with my contact info. I'm not so much into fishing, but have always enjoyed meeting other Brats. I have a bit of knowledge about the bays(SF, San Pablo, Suisan), as well as some of the outlying rivers, but, most of that is touring information. Also, my boat is usually in the water and ready to go.

Please let me know what your schedule is like.

David
 
I did a little searching on C-Brats for Delta information and this thread looks about the closest and most recent.

I've been there in the past with a ski boat up around Rio Vista and exploring from there. I'm now planning to trailer up from San Diego in May and do some C-Dory cruising and fishing. Any thoughts on a good starting marina? I'd like to just wander around a bit and do some marina-hopping, fishing, whatever.

Unless I hear otherwise I might just pick Tiki Lagun outside Stockton and head out from there. Need a place that will let me park the truck and trailer for about a week. I suppose that's easy this time of year, before Memorial Day.

I'd like to order a good map, too. I think I have one around here somewhere, but it has to be 10 years old at least.

Thanks for any more recent information. Whatever I remember is probably way out of date.

-Jeff
 
Too bad you missed the sign up for the Delta Cruise May 11, from Rio Vista Delta Marina to San Fran. and back. A great 4 day cruise. I'd go in a second, but I don't have a boat. I've done it twice before when I had a C-Dory. :thup
 
Delta Marina is probably as good a place to start as any. There is also a state park on the other side of the river about 5 miles down stream--it seems secure. I left my RV and trailer there.

You can down load for free, all of the latest NOAA charts, or buy them printed thru Oceangraifx.

I used to use" Dawling on the Delta" by Hal Schell (out of print)--ask around someone may have one to loan out. I think mine is around somewhere.

I also believe that the Northern Calif. Cruising Guide has the Sacramento Delta in it--along with charts. Not sure how up to date. Also check internet. http://www.californiadelta.org/anchoring.htm

We have gone to the Delta with sailboats 38, 46 and 62 feet long--drawing 6 to 7 feet, and with caution no problems--the C Dory 25 is a breeze in comparison. There are some changes which may occur with flooding of tracts--so be up to date on that.

My favorite place--don't tell anyone--is Loche slough. (It is off Snodgrass Slough--where the old railroad bank is--and it is not on the Sacramento River System: Only small boats can get there thru the Cross delta canal--you have to come up the long way with bigger boats--I don't think that the C Dory can get thru the Cross Delta--but not sure. We have taken the dinghy thru the cross delta when the gates were open, but I don't remember the bridge opening.
 
Bob,
Is that favorite place of yours Loche Slough or Lost Slough? I remember Lost Slough as a great place to anchor and hide out in when I was living and boating in the SF Bay Area. The Delta is sure a terrific place for a C-Dory, I hope to tow ours back out that way one of these days.
Rich
 
Roger:

Striper fishing has just started due to all rain and high water this year. This time of the year the stripers are on the spawning run. I like to fish the mouth of miner slough and troll red/white ( 5" ) yo-zuis. Then run over to prospect slough and tie up to a island and over night. Another good spot would be the Mokelumne river, above New Hope Landing. New Hope is close to Giustis restaurant for lunch or dinner. Its just a short run from Giustis to the meadows, off snodgrass slough to over night.
 
Rich,
Your are correct it is also called "lost slough"--when we first went there, the folks referred to it as Locke slough--but it looks as if it is more "found" now--and called "lost"--

There used to be all sorts of signs--snags, danger, shoals, dead end etc--to keep folks out. The bow to the bank and stern anchor--tie up to an oak tree, just get the mast between two trees.

One link gives the place to turn in off Snodgrass at 38-16’04” N, 121-29’44” W. That looks about right. It is the first slough to the North West after the trans delta Canal.
 
Thanks for the tips. I ordered a new map from a Delta Chamber of Commerce website. I'll probably find my ancient one, too, eventually. My chart plotter has the chip for that area, but I like having paper, too.

I've heard that C-Brat cruise going down toward S.F. is fun, but I want to go the other direction - smaller sloughs instead of down river to the bay. To me, that seems like the Delta I'm after.

Also depends on seeing a break in the weather forecast at the right time.

-Jeff
 
Hi Jeff,

If you have specific questions about marinas and areas of the Delta I may be able to provide my experience. I have been boating in the area for many years. I have done some fishing but not enough to be a good source for that information.

One thing you might want to monitor is spring flooding. There have been a few years where the Delta was closed to recreational craft for a few days to a week or more because of high water and flooding. We have record snow in the mountains and if we get too much warm rain at a time with high tides there could be problems. I have not heard of any expected problems and they are working to be ready for any problems by controlling lake levels.

The Delta is an interesting area to boat. There are a number of marinas, restaurants, small towns, or even Old Town Sacramento you can visit by boat. Or you can nose into a group of Tule reeds, tie up and have lunch or spend a day or two. I hope you have a great trip. Let me know if I can help.

Steve
 
We have been trying to get back there during the fall- less wind. The Delta Cruise down to the Bay is fun, but like Jeff, I would like to spend some time in the upper Delta.
 
I've been watching the weather and wondering if I'm thinking about going too early in the year. Also, collecting information and thinking a little. Steve, from Sea Spray brought up a good point about spring water levels. I'll keep digging and perhaps I'll wait another month or so before going.

Thanks for the help.

-Jeff
 
Hi Jeff. I do not have a great deal of experience in the Delta. However, I have found the California State Park at Brannon Island to be a fun place from which to start. It is near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. This allows different adventures to the different drainages. The parking lot is well lit inside the State Park. There is a Camp Host who lives in an RV at the edge of the launch ramp and parking lot. You can stay in the campground if you have an RV or stay in a slip at the park if you want to stay on the boat. I am not sure of current costs or hook ups at the boat slips. I hope that this helps.


Hey Rich. I love your signature line. That one is a classic.
 
Just a few words about Brannan State Park. Check their website as last year you had to be out of the park by midnight Sunday due to closures. The boat slips do not have hookups. If you check my album you will see my boat in the slips during a Striper boat get together, I used to have a Striper so showed up. I have anchored in Franks tract, but watch the winds as it can be an interesting time if the anchor breaks loose, ask me how I know!

The delta has loads of nooks and cranies to explore for sure. I may bring my boat back down from Washington later this summer and play in the delta again.
 
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