Sacramento County Fishing Reports

Steve Cooper’s latest In Deep on the Delta report highlights hot striper action between Ladds and Prisoners Point, especially during the first two hours of outgoing tide. Big glide baits like the S-Waver 200 are doing the damage... fished fast when it’s windy and slower when it’s calm. Multiple fish over 10 pounds are being caught, including a few pushing 20. Don’t wait for birds or surface activity... just keep casting and work those glides all the way to the boat.

Largemouth are in all stages of the spawn and the bite’s picking up fast. Tournament weights are rising, with multiple events seeing 20+ pound bags and some 9-pound kickers. Crankbaits, chatterbaits, Senkos, and punching setups are all putting fish in the boat.Target breaks, rock, and flats, especially in the afternoons as temps rise. Big rods and heavy line are a must...too many anglers are getting smoked by Delta giants on light gear.

Check out the video for more details.

Striper fishing in the California Delta has been good, especially around Sherman Island where fish up to 10 pounds are being caught. The bite is best on the incoming tide, tight to the tulies, as most of the mid-channel grass is gone. Though many fish have moved upriver to spawn, plenty remain in the area. Trolling deep-diving plugs near Eddos and Santa Clara Shoals has also been productive, while bait anglers are doing well near Hood, Clarksburg, and Garcia Bend using sardines in 12–15 feet of water.

Sturgeon are still being caught from Martinez to Rio Vista and into the Sacramento River, especially around Hood and Knights Landing (remember to release all sturgeon).

Bass fishing is turning on in the Delta as pre-spawn fish move shallow. Folks have been catching numbers on chatterbaits, Senkos, and flipping in just a few feet of water.

Folsom is about to shut down for all trailered and motorized boats from April 14 to May 13 due to golden mussel prevention efforts. Everything with a trailer is going to need a 30-day quarantine and inspection, with seals being issued at Beals Point starting the 14th. It’s a frustrating time for a closure, because the bite is heating up fast.

Bass have finally kicked into full gear. Warming temps are pushing fish up in the water column as they stage on the outside of coves, getting ready to spawn. A recent kayak tournament had an astounding winning limit of 97.50 inches... so there are plenty of big fish to be caught right now. Crankbaits, lipless, and jerkbaits are pulling fish in the staging zones, while dropshots, shakey heads, and jigs are doing work on the ones already moved into the shallows.

Trout action isn’t bad either, despite the last plant being back in mid-March. Shore anglers are still picking off decent numbers with PowerBait and inflated crawlers. Trollers are staying deep... 50 to 60 feet... finding quality holdover trout and the occasional king salmon on spoons.