Sacramento County Fishing Reports

Latest Delta report from Steve Cooper. Overall, largemouth numbers are good.... but quality is not. 12–16 inchers, with anything over 3.5 lbs hard to come by. Vegetation is healthy with 5–7 ft of visibility in the central Delta. A solid topwater bite runs roughly 90 minutes starting at first light, then it's all about punching small shallow mats, mini chatterbaits in green pumpkin/craw and bluegill colors, and worming.

Stripers are being caught on largemouth baits, while dedicated striper guys are drifting live bluegill in current for decent numbers but few big fish.

Striper fishing has been excellent on the lower American. Folks are finding action just about all over, but Discovery Park, Paradise Beach, and Sailor Bar have been notable spots. Swimbaits and jerkbaits are working best tossed in any deep pocket. Most fish are schoolies, but a few double digits are being caught.

Trout action has been good on the lower end of the Upper American. A CDFW trout plant went in last week on the South Fork. To note, anglers can use bait throughout the summer (until Sept. 30).

Folsom continues its hot spring into June. Shad and pond smelt are starting to school in large numbers, and they’re becoming the primary forage for everything from salmon to trout to bass.

The salmon bite has really been the standout, with guides reporting numbers and quality fish trolling hoochies at 40–60 feet. Trout anglers are running spoons and spinners in the 20-foot range and pulling limits as well.

Bass action remains excellent for both spotted bass and largemouth. Both are fully out of spawn, with largemouth now pushed under docks and thicker cover, while spots have moved off points and hard structure in 10–20 feet of water. Small swimbaits, drop shots, and Senkos are working best for both right now.