One of my favorite times of year is May…Shad fishing, top
water bass fishing, smallmouth fishing, carp come off the spawn at the end of
the month…Trout fishing on the North Fork Feather is prime and the weather is
AMAZING. Warm days, cool evenings and nights…just perfect. All that said I have
been spending lots of time on the water guiding and with my kids fishing and
enjoying May…Good news is it is not even half over yet.
If you would like me to take you fishing, share knowledge about fishing/rivers/and how to catch them with fur and feather along with hearing my opinions on baseball and music here are my available dates…
Open Dates:
June: 10-12, 17, 18, 22, 29, 30
July: 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19-23
August: 5, 6, 8, 9, 22, 23
September: 5-7, 19, 26,
REPORTS
I have been spending all my time on the Lower Sacramento outside of Chico. This is prime Shad,
Largemouth, and Smallmouth time on the Lower Sac. Shad fishing has been good to
great some nights. It definitely has gotten going early this year by about a
week or two. Water temps are mid to high 60’s already and flows are around 5500cfs.
Best bit has been about 5pm to 7pm on most nights and on most nights by 730pm
it is nearly impossible to get a grab. Most of the shad are medium to larger
males. I have yet see what I would call a “big” female.
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| lots of shad around on the Lower Sac lately |
Most evenings with clients we have been fishing for shad
from about 5-7pm and then throwing top water for bass from about 7pm-8pm.
Topwater bass fishing has been exceptionally good with good numbers of fish in
the 1-5lbs range. The sloughs have a bit of color in them and weeds are not up
yet so fishing tight to the banks and timber has been best. As usual big frog
patterns striped aggressively is catching the most fish. Some just crush it and
some come up and inspect and count legs and then turn or sip…had a few monster
come and inspect and turn away already this year.
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| Even smaller bass eat frogs..s |
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| Nice Sac Slough bass on top |
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| Eat your meat TINA!!! |
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| This guy beat out a MONSTER for the frog...fun when two fish compete of your fly |
Stripers, Smallmouth, and Carp have been hard to come
by. I am having trouble finding the smallmouth…still might be a bit early but
not sure. Midmay is usually go time for smallie fishing. The Stripers I think
are fat and happy digesting small male shad so tough to get a grab on a
clouser. Carp are rolling in the sloughs and back waters which usually means
they are spawning and not interested in eating. Prime Striper Time is mid June - September
No Trout reports as I have not been on a piece of trout
water in a few weeks.
Music…
Still rocking the new, yet to be released, Chuck Ragan
Album, and the new Red City Radio CD…I did listen to a bit of the new Mumford
and Son Cd on You tube and I was totally bummed….no bueno. Seems like a
commercial sellout but who am I to judge.
Sports…
The giants are playing well. Yes they are in 3rd
place in the West, one game under .500, and 5 games back but they are playing
good baseball. Their starting pitching has improved, situational hitting has
been better – though the last week they have left A LOT of runs on the bases,
runs they needed to win games, and Pence should get back soon providing a shot
in the arm. The questions continue to rise about McGehee, how long is the leash
with a .187 average after 27 games that and Duffy is hitting .297 with 25 games
played and lately has been clutch.
The news of Everet Golson transferring came as a bit of
surprise but not really I guess after the bowl game against LSU last year and
Kelly not naming a starter yet. I am a bit bummed as he seemed to have
potential but I have to remind myself of sitting in the bleachers at last years
ASU game, watching the turn overs ALL season, and wanting kill him on many
Saturdays. Zaire is a good QB and with
Golson transferring now Zaire will get all the work from here on out. Plus he
will be with us for 2-3 more years. I respect Golson for graduating from ND and
coming back after the academic suspension…anyone that gets a degree from ND and
manages to play sports has my respect. He was a good player and helped turn ND
back into a national power so good luck to him.
