The new boat projects are coming along...
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October 1, 2009

The bow cover is finally done and here's the finished look!

I didn't get out fishing this week, but I did get the finishing touch on the windlass project done. This canvas cover gives the bow a nice, finished look. Next: I have to anchor the boat with this fancy new system - and when I do I hope it will be to do some sturgeon fishing at my Suisun honey hole. I hope it's next week!

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September 9, 2009

The Windlass Install Is Done!!
(almost.)

Finally, the parts all come together and I got 'em put together today!

Here the rack is bolted in place...

Then the windlass is wired and mounted...

Next, the chain is in place...

And here's the finished product! It got too hot to climb into the cuddy behind the helm to connect the wires to the new windlass circuit, a simple job of a few minutes. But that's next. Then I can apply some power to the windlass and that should bring that self launching bow roller up to its proper position. If not, I may have to add an idler to raise the chain a bit. For now, I'm going to hit the road for some motorhome traveling. When I'm back home, I'll get that whole bow area covered in canvas and give it a nice, finished look!

September 5, 2009

The chain delay is finally over as it arrived Monday. Unfortunately, the chain will not drop properly into the little storage area below the point of the bow that I had hoped to use. So I will have to use the bait well as the chain locker. To do so, the windlass will have to sit above the bait well, and a rack is being made that will bolt into the open bow. Sometime next week the rack will be complete and this project will be near completion. I have some travel plans for the near future, so this project may not be done for a couple more weeks. So it goes, but when I'm done it will be done right!

August 19, 2009

The parts and pieces have arrived and I've been working during the cool hours of the morning to get the wiring done. I've got a hot and a ground 10 AWG wire to the helm from the batteries, and in the photo above the wheel has been removed to make work easier. The helm has two holes cut where the switch and the circuit breaker will be installed. Those wires poking through are from the batteries.

Here the switch (left) and the circuit breaker (right) are wired and installed. I also ran the wires from the helm to the bow of the boat. Next, I will begin the installation of the windlass.

August 9, 2009

A Windlass for FishWisher III !

The Lewmar Pro-Sport 550 windlass has arrived! It's a small, economically priced unit - just $490. Here it sits atop the point of the bow where I hope to install it. However, the small space below may not accommodate the 100' of chain. If not, a small platform will have to be built above the open bow and I'll use the un-plumbed bait well as the chain locker. It now is used as the anchor locker. It is visible in the photo below. The diamond plate door would have to be removed so the chain would drop into the locker. We'll see...

I was absolutely, positively going to install a windlass on my beautiful North River soon after I brought her home, but then decided manually anchoring and retrieving the anchor wasn't so bad. I was wrong. The more I hand over handed that anchor back to the boat, the more I wanted the windlass. I had a windlass on the C-Dory and know firsthand what a great work-saver it was. So I've begun the process as of today...

The Simpson Lawrence 9# Delta anchor. This is exactly the same as I had aboard the C-Dory; it holds very well.

And along with a windlass comes chain, a new anchor and an anchor roller. And wires and switch and... well, it's quite a job. I have all those items on order now, and will soon have the windlass installed aboard the boat.

The anchor roller which extends over the bow like a bowsprit, holding the anchor in place. It pivots to a down position when rode tension is released, dropping the anchor off the roller. The windlass is a free-fall design, a type I've never used before. I expect it will be an improvement of the time consuming power-down Horizon windlasses I've had on prior boats. 

As the parts and pieces arrive and work commences, I'll be posting photos and comments here...

Stay tuned!

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June 11, 2009

Transom-saver installed

I don't think I could damage the heavy transom on this tank of a boat by towing with the motor upright and with all the weight on the transom, but I decided to remove all doubt. So I ordered the transom saver from Cabela's and installed it this morning. It was under $70 delivered, and it's very stout as well as spring loaded to keep the ride smooth. On California roads, a Sherman tank could come apart!

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2nd try: The FishWisher lettering is done!

February 20, 2009

Whadayathink? I'm pleased with the finished look. I tried to match the style of the registration (CF) numbers on the bow, and I got it pretty close. I tried this some time ago, and completely ruined the decal as I didn't use the soapy water method. This time, I sprayed soapy water on the hull before applying the decal. With the slick surface, the decal can be moved around as needed to get it just right. At $20 each, I didn't want to waste another.

Here's the sign in progress. For a "how-to" video about vinyl lettering, check out this video.

This was my first try a month ago - before I learned the soapy water technique:

Ugh... a pretty lousy job! And it was promptly removed.

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How do I keep the new aluminum "tank" looking new?

I've had a couple of aluminum boats in the past, but never one that I'd worry about keeping shiny and bright as they were used when I bought them. But with my new North River, a brand new beauty, I really do want to keep that hull looking good. It was recommended by the boat dealer that I apply some Sharkhide - and so I did. It was $66 per quart and I used about half of the quart! But it will keep the boat looking new for a couple of years - or so I'm told by others who have used it. Here's an ad for Sharkhide:

About all I've got left to do is to mount the rod holders, gas up and go fishing! And that day is soon approaching!

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The downriggers are mounted:

The downriggers were wired and in place a few days ago and it's time I put up a photo, I suppose. They are mounted higher than on any boat I've owned in the past, but they are just right so far as easily reaching them while trolling. Note that there are two downrigger mounting brackets on each side - a North River option that was included on my boat. I'd never order the quad-mounts, but I got 'em anyway! The downriggers are easily removed for easy storage indoors. Things are coming along and soon I'll be wetting my new bottom! Next I'll apply Sharkhide to the hull, and then I'm about done with the rigging! I'm getting excited about the coming maiden voyage!

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The helm electronics are installed!

January 19, 2009

There they are!  From the speaker at the left rear to the XM radio at the far right of the photo, all the electronics are installed, wired, bolted down and ready to go fishing! I figure I've got something over 20 hours invested in the job - but I can't quite call it work as I am simply playing with my new toy. Next, I'll get the downrigger mounts and electrical connections installed. Then the FishWisher  decal which is ready to be placed on the hull. Then...  well, I may actually get this new baby's bottom wet one day soon! I'm more than ready for the maiden voyage - if the weather is right.

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Here are some details of the wiring jobs I'm plugging away on...

When adding so many circuits (fishfinder, am/fm radio, VHF radio, etc.), it makes the installation a lot safer and easier to have a subpanel near the helm where the electronics will be placed. To run a separate circuit for each device clear back to the battery near the transom would be a bit ridiculous. So I ran one hot and one ground to a subpanel near the helm. As goofy as this seems, wifey's little storage bowl makes a great little "electric vault" from which to run the several circuits:

Here's wifey's "Lock 'n Lock" refrigerator storage bowl, liberated for the good of my project.

The little bowl is about 6" by 5" and locks on all four sides to keep it dry. I placed a small block of wood at the bottom and screwed an inexpensive automotive fuse panel through the bottom to secure it. I ran the hot wire to the panel and the ground wire to a bolt through the bowl. I now can attach up to six circuits to the panel, each with the appropriate fuse.

I needed four circuits and here they are safely secured to the panel and the ground bolt (lower left).

When I get the wiring all wrapped and routed as I plan, I will mount the little "vault" near the helm for easy access. This system was first installed in the little Klamath 15 and worked just fine. I'm hoping for the same performance on the new North River.

The small VHF antenna and XM radio antenna are to the left. The AM/FM antenna is a plastic strip stuck to the top of the window. The AM/FM antenna is amplified and works very well. I have yet to check the VHF antenna but it worked fine on the little Klamath. It is a very short antenna designed for use atop a sailboat mast.

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Here the helm is taking shape. Note the XM radio at the far right.  The AM/FM radio is above the instrument panel. The VHF radio sits above the AM/FM and the GPS antenna is at the top. Note the Humminbird fishfinder/GPS/chartplotter to the right of the radio. And of course, wires running every which way as the jobs are not yet complete. All of the electronics are easily removed for safe keeping.

The transducer is mounted on the transom and wired to the fishfinder. This job is one of pretty exact tolerances, I'm glad it's done!

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A new ride for ol' FishWisher
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I sold my little HHR which I had purchased just over a year ago for towing the Klamath. I also set it up for towing behind the motorhome,although I never actually towed it! But the little HHR could never tow the new North River boat. And for once, I actually sold the current vehicle before jumping into the new one and having an extra vehicle sitting around 'til I sold it. I just  won't trade in a car, it's against my religion, I guess, to give up that much money.

So there's my new ride posted up there, just as pretty as can be! During my twenty some business years - and even the years since, I bought many new vehicles for personal and business use. Now, however, in my old age I just can't justify spending that much money for  something that spends 80% of the time in the garage. Other than a day or two of fishing most weeks, my car just sits most of the time.

So I started shopping online for a late model used truck. I'm partial as can be to GM vehicles, and after a couple of weeks of online tire kicking, I found three Chevy 1/2 ton extended cab pickups to check out in person. I drove to one car lot in Modesto to see an '06 Chevy 4WD - and don't really need 4WD. It was $18K. Too much. Today I drove to Plummer Cadillac-GMC in Lodi to check out another '06 Chevy extended cab 2WD. Upon seeing the little beauty, I knew my shopping was over. With only 18K miles and only $14K, I had to jump on the deal. She was like new inside and out! I couldn't hope to buy a more perfect truck. And this was a GM Certified vehicle, meaning that a one-year bumper to bumper warranty was included along with a 5 year or 10K mile power train warranty! At this time I am feeling pretty smug having found such a great deal. This computer shopping for cars cannot be beat!

I was particularly pleased with Plummer's facility, built just four years ago. They had about 12K sq feet of service space including a full body and paint shop- and every service bay seemed to be occupied! They were very busy. I have never seen a larger shop area at a car dealership. If the slowdown in auto sales continues, I'm pretty sure Plummer will weather the storm because they do so much service work. And it's a good feeling to know I have a really service-oriented dealer to take my new baby for service or repair.

December 5, 2008

My brand new
North River BayHawk!

 
My new baby upon arrival at home!

I have admired those husky aluminum North River boats for quite awhile now, probably ever since I realized that my little Klamath, which is a fine lake boat for one or two people, just wasn't going to make it as a Delta fishing boat. (I haven't run downriver to my Suisun honey hole since I sold the C-Dory.)

Three weeks ago when a friend and I were on the same side of the little Klamath, measuring a sturgeon, we darn near capsized it.  I knew then that I needed something bigger and safer and capable of making it home through the rolling four foot waves of the Delta someday.

 
At North River Marine in Sacramento, Ca upon delivery on December 5, 2008. That motor is a 90 HP Suzuki.

My fishing buddy, John, who recently bought a 22' Hewescraft, looked at North River boats with me at their Sacramento showroom several months ago. He told me then that I should get one, but I just couldn't let myself pay a new boat price - certainly not one costing more money than I got for my beloved C-Dory. I should have listened to ol' John as I've had two 15 ft. boats in the past year; I sold one and now I have to sell the other!

My new ride is a 17' 6" BayHawk model, the smallest that North River sells. She is a huge seventeen footer! She has a beam of 88" and just her hull weighs 1500 pounds. She's powered with a Suzuki 90 HP engine, the same brand as I had on the C-Dory. A brand that I was very pleased with.

 
Detail photo of the helm on my new North River BayHawk.

 
Transom aluminum welding detail - there must be a mile of welding on this "tank" of a boat.

The days are getting longer!

Hurry Springtime!

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January 4, 2009

Even here in sunny California the world was covered in ice at sunrise today. We had about as cold a morning as we get in the Central Valley, just 27°. As I write this first entry of 2009, my mind is on warmer days and getting my new North River rigged for pleasure. It's been so cold and foggy lately that the boat projects continue to sit on the workbench in the garage. I have yet to install the am/fm radio, the xm radio, the vhf radio and their antennas. I do have the transducer mounted now, but still have to mount the fishfinder/chartplotter. I also have to get the wiring and plugs installed for the downriggers. As I've often said, one must enjoy the endless projects fishing and boating entail. And I do enjoy them - on warmer days.

I reached the ripe old age of 65 the day after Christmas. The family and a few friends joined with me yesterday for a belated birthday party. We pigged out on KFC since it was MY birthday - and I could name the main course. I love that stuff, but with my heart history and rotund figure, I just can't eat KFC very often.

Here my lovely wife presents a gift at the party, a paper weight that says "65 ain't old - if you are a rock!"
 Oh... and by the way, it's pretty obvious that I have got to go on a New Years diet!

This is a favorite comic, Pickles, and how life really is at 65:

I'm trying my best to get all the readers of the old site over here to the new site. I have placed links on most of the old pages, leading to this site. I had 115 or so hits on this site last week, a big drop in normal traffic. What I must do to get the traffic back up is to GO FISHING! But in this cold weather, I'm staying home by the fire. I suppose I'll have the boat ready for fishing and will get out on the water sometime in mid to late February.

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment below - or sign the guest book if you are so inclined. 'Til next time...

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December 29, 2008
Christmas is behind us, New Years will soon be a memory and the days are now getting longer. The change is imperceptible, but nonetheless we are inching toward springtime! Gosh, I can't wait! These cold days take all the pleasure out of "outdoors" for me. Even February will be an improvement as we get a few nice days then, and I'll likely be back out on the river during those nice days, trying for some more sturgeon!

Meanwhile, the new North River waits patiently in her boathouse for springtime, too. I have a lot of projects to get done - and have begun them already. The new transducer is now attached to the transom. I will install the fishfinder/GPS/chartplotter next, then the three radios: AM/FM, XM, and VHF - all of which are removable and stored indoors when the boat isn't in use. I also need new docklines, fenders, a coat of SharkHide for the aluminum hull to keep her shiney, and finally, a spare tire for the trailer. And I'm sure there are other things that will have to be done before my new baby gets her bottom wet.

Sometime during all the projects I'll have to break away for a winter-time run to the sunshine aboard my motorhome. Most years I get away for about two weeks to Arizona or SoCal - just to get a good thaw during these cold days of winter. I'll be posting about that trip on my "CoachPotato"site.

Hurry Springtime!

2005 Sturgeon #1... Barely!

Thanks to the good weather, I’ve been out on the Delta for two overnight adventures the past two weeks and I must report that it just doesn’t get any better than this. Not only is the weather near perfect, the fish are cooperating, too! That’s not to say I’ve been coming home with big sturgeon every trip, but I’ve been having a grand time reeling in some mighty feisty sturgeon.

I’m thinking that my good luck may be due to the finely aged lamprey I‘ve been offering. I’ve fished for four days with the same old lamprey carcass that spent the summer in my wife’s freezer, and I still have plenty left. Some of it was used last season! It’s just amazing how long that stuff lasts.

I began this week’s fishing at Light 25, planning to fish an incoming tide ‘til it slackened, then head down to Suisun Bay for some serious sturgeon fishing. But something funny happened while fishing that ebb tide: I had more sturgeon action in a few hours than I’m used to getting in a week or two! From a bit after noon to about 4:30 I reeled in three sturgeon from 28 inches to 45 inches. The bigger one was an absolute gas to fight to the boat. He ran what seemed like a hundred yards, jumping three times in the process. He was ballistic! I had to measure the rascal several times before I was sure that he was too small to keep. Lordy, I did try to grow an extra inch on him, but just couldn’t quite do it. All three shakers were released to fight another day. But I had a ball reeling ‘em in.

As shadows lengthened and daylight was waning, the flood tide slackened. I weighed anchor and headed down to fish near Decker Island. A long, deep ebb tide was predicted for the night and I wanted to fish it ‘til it bottomed sometime around midnight.

The evening was splendid as I fished near the shipping channel off Decker Island. I watched the sun set and the lights of Antioch and Pittsburg gradually brighten against the darkening sky. After cooking up a quick dinner I sat back in the cockpit with the heater on, waiting for that little sturgeon nibble that never came. Even so, to my way of thinking, there just isn‘t a better way to while away an evening in this life.

Try as I might, I could not stay awake to fish the end of the tide. About 9:30 or so I gave up. I reeled in, weighed anchor and chugged my tired old bones around to the leeward side of Decker Island for the night.

Well before sunup I was back at Light 25 where all the action had been this trip. I freshened my bait for the new day, tossed it out over the transom and continued to wait for my sturgeon.

After four hours of absolutely no interest in my offering, the reel suddenly began ticking off line in the fashion common to a sturgeon. I was in the cabin momentarily at the time, but rushed to the rod in a flash and set the hook into what I immediately knew was a sturgeon!

This hook up just had to be a keeper! If not because of his substantial feel at the end of the line, then simply because it wouldn’t be fair to catch five shakers in a row! But… when I first saw the little critter, I couldn’t convince myself he was a keeper. Rats.

Eventually I had him to the boat, belly up in submission and completely exhausted. I measured him about five times with my little floating green plastic tape that is marked at 46 inches and is 72 inches long. It’s a difficult task to measure a questionable sturgeon while still in the water. Several times, according to my tape, he measured exactly 46 inches.

I had to make a decision to take him or release him. I administered a proper whack, tied him to a line and bled him. When I brought him aboard, I laid him on the sole and measured him with a real tape measure. He was, in fact, exactly 46 inches and weighed 18 pounds. For me, this was a record sturgeon! He was the smallest sturgeon I’ve ever kept.

Counting last week’s 40 incher and this week’s three shakers, this sturgeon was my fifth catch in two weeks. For me, that’s a lot of sturgeon action. I don’t completely dismiss the catching and releasing of shaker sturgeon. They can weigh as much as 18 pounds and are a lot of fun to reel in because they are often good fighters and sometimes put up extraordinary battles. I’ll be out early Thanksgiving week to take advantage of this wonderful fishing weather that promises to continue for at least one more week. Maybe I’ll actually make it down to my favorite sturgeon hole on Suisun Bay.

Second Little Keeper In Two Weeks!

I began Thanksgiving week’s adventure a bit early; hoping to get ahead of what I figured might  be a busy fishing time on the delta. I launched at Rio Vista on Monday morning fully intending to head to Suisun Bay this trip - unless I could catch my sturgeon early in the day at Light 25.

I motored downriver and dropped anchor onto the clam bed near Light 25, just a bit below Rio Vista and the Coast Guard Station. After clanking and dragging a bit, the anchor dug into the clams and held. I arrived at slack tide, before an outgoing current developed that would run ‘til mid afternoon.

During the slack tide I dug out my Gibbs Minnow and jigged for stripers for about a half-hour. This jigging stuff is new to me, but it seems to be a fairly productive technique in slack water. I managed to attract a shaker striper and tossed him back. Sometimes larger stripers will hit, but not this time. Still, having even a shaker take that little jig is pretty entertaining.

As the tide finally began to ebb, I cut a couple of chunks off the old lamprey carcass that I’ve been carving on forever, threaded ’em onto a couple of hooks and tossed ‘em out over the transom. And waited.

Other than a few little striper nips, my stay over the clam bed was pretty unremarkable. When the tide was nearly bottomed out I reeled in and turned the boat toward Suisun Bay and my favorite sturgeon hole near Ryer Island.

After a river cruise of twenty miles or so, I arrived at my destination on Suisun Bay. I freshened my nasty bait by adding a couple of smaller pieces to what was already well soaked and tossed ‘em out again. And again I waited.

As predicted, the weather was absolutely perfect. The air was cold on Suisun but the water was mirror flat, the sun shinned brightly and the winds were calm. In late November you just can’t ask for more.

The sun set shortly after my arrival on Suisun Bay. I fired up the cockpit heater, bundled up real good and prepared to fish the outgoing current ‘til well after midnight. And, for a change, I managed to stay awake most of the time, nodding off occasionally - but with the rod in my hand. I had several nips as the evening wore on, but couldn’t seem to set the hook into anything.

My little corner of Suisun Bay is a lovely and lonely place after nightfall. The lights of Antioch and Pittsburg dot the distant shoreline like a golden bracelet, adding a brilliant sparkle in the blackness of night. There are no sounds save the train whistles off in the distance and the continual drone of airplanes overhead - even at night. Yes, Suisun is a wonderful anchorage.

Finally, near midnight, the slow, gentle bite of a sturgeon ticked a few inches of line from my reel. Wham! I set the hook at once and knew that I had a sturgeon on! I’ve been on to so many shakers lately that I couldn’t convince myself that I had a keeper, but I had a grand time with whatever it was.

After a very few minutes, a sturgeon of about 40 inches appeared at the boat. Rats. Well, the entertainment value of reeling in a shaker sturgeon is worth something, but not nearly as satisfying as reeling in a big ol’ keeper. I let him go.

I pressed on for another hour or so. Finally, as the outgoing current slowed to a trickle, I reeled in and carted my tired old bones to the V-berth. It was 1:00 a.m. and I was toast. For a guy that usually hits the sack about 9:00, it had been a big day.

I slept like a baby out there in the middle of nowhere and it was daylight by the time I resumed my fishing. An incoming tide was underway and a weak ebb tide was predicted to drop less than two feet later in the morning. I would fish ‘til about noon and hope for a keeper.

A breeze kicked up that morning and the cold air cut like a knife. The boat tended to swing at anchor and fishing was not all that pleasant. I was as bundled up as I could get and still wasn’t comfortable. I’m just not made for winter fishing. And winter isn’t even here yet!

Finally, after staying faithful to the cause for about three hours without so much as a nip, a sturgeon like nibble ticked off a few inches of line. Again I set the hook with a mighty heave! The fish felt a bit heftier than last night’s, but it certainly didn’t seem to be any big bruiser. I fought whatever it was for about ten minutes before it appeared near the boat. And again I had reeled in another sturgeon that was so close to the minimum that I just couldn’t be sure. I tired him completely then measured him a half dozen times with my floating plastic ribbon that is marked at 46 inches and is 72 inches long.

Just as last week, the dang thing measured what seemed to be exactly 46 inches. I whacked him a good one, tied him to a line and bled him. When I brought him aboard he measured exactly… 46 inches! That’s two absolutely minimum sized sturgeon in two weeks and I’ve never caught one that size in the years I’ve been fishing. Regardless, I had two keepers in two weeks. Who’s complaining? Not me! My two day effort had finally paid off! I stowed the gear, weighed anchor and headed upriver for home, passing many boats at anchor along the way, probably all of them fishing for stripers or sturgeon. It was Tuesday and there were so many fishing boats at anchor one could think it was a weekend. Sure enough, Thanksgiving time makes for a busy week of fishing. Our splendid Indian summer seems to be over. As I write this week’s report the wind is blowing and the rain is falling. During this winter I’ll be pretty picky about when I head out on sturgeon safaris. I’m too old and too smart to fish the lousy winter conditions that I once ignored. I can no longer resist the comfort of the fireplace and my easy chair during cold weather. But when the weather cooperates, I’ll be heading out for the season’s next sturgeon. I am, after all, way overdue for a knock down street fight with a really big, angry sturgeon!

I knew that it was going to be another windy adventure on my beloved California Delta. It's been windy, it is windy and it'll be windy. That's about as accurate a weather forecast as I need these days.

Lately, I couldn't ask for better fishing results. Perhaps I'm collecting past due fish from my unrewarded efforts during the cold and misery of January and February fishing. Whatever the case, I'm as optimistic about sturgeon fishing just now as I've ever been. This week I would try for my fifth sturgeon of the season. Perhaps to those reel experts that catch sturgeon regularly, my four catches to date don't add up to much. But for me, I consider myself to be having a pretty fair year. Finally. If I could hook into a fifth sturgeon, I'd consider this to be a pretty good year.

I launched into the rolling Sacramento River at Rio Vista Wednesday morning for sturgy #5. I headed for the area above the Rio Vista Bridge to fish an outgoing current. The current and wind worked against one another enough to keep the river rolling, most guys were smart enough to stay home. There were few fishermen out in the howling wind and waves. I dropped anchor about a half mile above the Rio Vista Bridge and took a few moments to see if the boat would settle down and be stable. I managed to stay in line with the flow well enough to sling my grass shrimp/pile worm combo out over the transom to the river bottom. The sun was wonderful, the wind was warm and I sat back to await my sturgeon's little bite. As I should have expected, I just thought I was sturgeon fishing, I was actually striper fishing. The little nippers kept me pretty busy freshening the bait and tossing them back. I hooked seven stripers to 19 inches during that time, releasing all but one that got off on his own. By 3:00 p.m. the current was incoming and it was time to seek some shelter from the wind and waves.

I motored down to the area near Lite 25 where I can usually find some shelter from the wind. By now the wind was whipping as bad as I'd seen all day. I gave a sporting try at that location, but all I caught was a snag on the bottom of the river. It took me half an hour of trying to break it loose. I finally just cut my line. By sundown I'd had enough of the wind and waves and the rotten luck. I reeled in for the last time and called it a day.

I decided to spend the night at anchor just above Vieira's on the Old Sacramento River. I'd have the company of the egrets at that anchorage as well as pretty calm water. Also, I could easily pull up to Vieira's dock early in the morning for fresh bait. I spent a quiet night among the egrets and woke to another windy day. Rats.

As I readied the boat for fishing I had to choose between Cache Slough or heading back to Lite 25 for the day. Both locations are somewhat sheltered in the wind. I'd fished Cache several times this year with no sturgeon to show for it. I'd caught two sturgeon at Lite 25. Not a hard choice; I was back at Lite 25 at 7:00 a.m. for another day of sturgeon fishing.

I deployed my big underwater drogue once again to maintain some directional stability in the blowing wind. As I sat there in the cockpit, rocking and rolling on the windy river, I settled back and reflected on my sturgeon efforts this sturgeon season. Earlier this season I'd invested many days of fishing only to come home empty handed, week after week. I spent many a night in the fog and the wind and the cold for nothing. I didn't catch my first sturgeon until February, for crying out loud! December and January's miserable fishing conditions didn't produce a thing for me. Why was that? I think that the main cause was too much time spent in the cabin by the heater, watching my rod and reel. Sturgeon will usually drop the bait after a take down, they seldom swallow it or run with it. I believe they press the bait with their powerful crusher and then spit it; a fisherman usually has very little time to set the hook. Sitting in the cockpit, rod and reel in hand is a much more productive way to catch sturgeon.

I sat there near Lite 25 for two hours before a 19" striper took my bait. I reeled him in and released him and continued my wait. My higher self was arguing with my redneck self about the virtues of fishing in the endless wind. Yep, that sounds like a mental health issue! Few fishermen seem to put up with this, why me? I could be doing any number of other things and I could try this fishing another day. Ah, but this is sturgeon fishing. It takes days like this, patience like this, to actually catch a good keeper sturgeon. I chose to keep on trying, darn it.

Nearly two more hours crept by as I faithfully sat there holding the rod and reel, waiting, waiting. The ebb tide was well underway. My offerings continued to be pile worm/grass shrimp combos. It was nearly going on noon as -- finally -- I felt a nip-nip on the other end of my line; I guessed it was a catfish. Maybe not. Nip-nip again...SET! Nothing. I missed it. I continued to wait for another little nip. Soon enough I felt another bump or two and I pressed home another hard set. Humph! I hooked into something very, very solid! I set the hook again and again, then the huge something began to move. YES! I had #5 on my line and I knew she was a big one!

I fumbled with the rod as I retrieved the drogue, hand over hand. It would spell disaster if a sturgeon got near the boat with the drogue deployed! Finally I had it stowed in the motor well. I reeled in a bit of line, pulling her toward the boat. Off she sped, taking line with wild abandon; she was in charge for the moment, in time maybe I would be! I raised the outboard clear of the water as our battle of wills commenced. The fight was on!

This big fish made it very clear, very soon, that she was in charge of where this fight would take place. She continued to take line and I continued to let her -- I was prepared for this kind of fish. I had plenty of line, she'd never take it all! After a few minutes she was willing to take a break. I would not let her; I reeled in every time she tried to rest. There would be no rest for her 'til I had her to the boat. Such is the task of reeling in a big fish. Power isn't the issue; endurance is the issue!

Her might far outweighed her endurance. She fought for about twenty minutes with real gusto. Once she was to the boat, she was already belly-up exhausted. I was wide eyed in awe! This was some fish! I estimated her to be in the high 60 inch length, but I could only guess. She managed one more run as I tried to net her the first time, but it was a short run. She was back quickly, in submission and ready for the net. I tried capturing her a couple more times before I had her netted, the rod in one hand and the net in the other. It was time to decide if she was indeed under the 72" maximum. I decided that she was, though I couldn't be sure. I administered a couple of proper whacks and prepared to get her into the boat.

Now it was my turn to go belly-up tired! I'd just finished a 20 minute fight that wasn't too difficult at my end, but now I had to lift this monster the three feet from the water over my gunwale! I tried two or three times and couldn't manage the lift! After my failed tries, my net frame was at a right angle to the net hoop, bent beyond repair! I finally had to grab the netting and hand over hand work her up and over the gunwale! It was a slow and difficult job, but finally she was aboard!

She was huge! What was I to do with this monster?! I measured her three times before I was convinced that she was indeed legal. I had to lay her diagonally in my cockpit to get her fully stretched out. I measured her three times; once at 72", once at 67" and once at 71"! No doubt I was too excited to measure her with much precision, but I did convince myself that she was legal.

She wouldn't completely fit into my 124 quart ice chest, her huge tail had to hang out. I then cleaned up the boat, stowed my gear and headed to the ramp. What a heady experience this had been! At the ramp I was all alone, not a soul around to ask me how I'd done fishing. Darn. I'd do plenty of bragging later.

As I drove home I considered my options. First, I was just dog tired. I'm not used to manhandling a 100 pound fish. Secondly, the only reasonable way to unload this monster, it seemed to me, was to go to my store and use the forklift. Yes, the forklift! This was a huge fish and I'd handled her alone all I wanted to.

My friend Rich met me at my store. As I drove home I called him to ask for his help when I arrived. We managed to unload, wash down and photograph the monster with the help of the forklift. We laid her down for an official measure. She measured just a tad over 71 inches! She was legal. I had no scale to weigh her; I consulted an internet sturgeon chart to get some idea of her weight. The chart stated that she likely weighed 107 Lbs. She was very stout, I measured her girth at 30". I settled for claiming her weight at 100 Lbs. I sure wish I could have had the exact weight.

I was done handling this huge fish. I offered her to Rich for him to smoke and to return some meat to me. He agreed. I didn't have to clean her or wrestle her anymore! It was a great deal for me because I was toast. All I wanted was to head for home and a lounge chair and some cold beer.

Why do I put up with the cold and the wind and the waves and the frustration of sturgeon fishing? I have been righteously reminded! The great pleasure of catching a really big 'un makes it all worth while! I hope my redneck self always wins the arguments.

Keystone Kops and Sturgeon...

This time of the year many fishermen are trolling or baitfishing for stripers. Even so, I always choose the sturgeon when they're around, so off I set on another two day Delta sturgeon safari. Having caught just one keeper this year so far, and that with my fishing buddy Rich "FishTracker" along, I invited him along for another day of fishing.

We launched at Rio Vista and were fishing my favored sturgeon spot off Decker Island by 8:30 a.m. We found the outgoing current to be well underway there, and tossed out our fresh, large grass shrimp to entice a hungry sturgeon. Rich had a 17" striper on almost at once,  and dutifully tossed him back. Over the course of the few hours we fished off Decker Island, Rich caught and released several stripers, including a couple of 18 inchers. A nearby boat caught and netted what looked to be about a seven pounder during this time, as well. The stripers were, to me, more of a nuisance. To Rich, they were entertaining even though he was fishing for sturgeon.

I had given up using the twichy bait in favor of the same old eel I've been carving on for weeks. The stripers seemed to leave it alone, and last week's forty inch sturgeon was caught on the stuff. That experience had given me confidence in it, and I was fishing only with eel. Lamprey eel is now seemingly impossible to find in the bait stores anywhere, even out of state. I've got to find some soon, I've carved nearly the last of the eel carcass that I have.

Shortly after noon, the outgoing current slackened and the wind seemed to worsen. Once again the fishing became something less than enjoyable due to the wind and waves. Rich and I agreed that it was time to move on, so I weighed anchor and we eventually wound up fishing the area near lite 25. This area is known more for shelter from the wind than as a hot sturgeon spot, at least in my book. I tossed out the big "underwater parachute", known as a drogue, to better hold the boat in the current against the wind. We were by then fishing an incoming current.

Soon enough, my reel clicked off about a foot of line very slowly. This same click-click-click would be what sturgeon fishermen refer to as a "take down" when the rod sits on a balance beam. The rod was in my hand, however, so I thumbed the spool tightly and set the hook with a mighty heave! And I set it again, and again and again. This one would not come loose as last week's did! If it was a poor hookup I'd rather pop it loose while setting it deep rather that lose it later. And the fight was on! Rich pulled in the drogue as my sturgeon ran upriver, away from the boat, and breeched about forty yards away! Now, I love to see a sturgeon airborne, but as ol' Rich says, nothing good can happen when they jump. Fortunately, mine stayed hooked and I began the very exciting chore of reeling in my fish. I knew he was a keeper by his power and the size I saw when he breeched. I don't know how long it took to get him to the boat for the first time, but probably a good ten minutes. He had a couple more good runs in him, and I was careful to properly tire him out before bringing him to the boat, nearly belly up and in submission. Rich netted him and he was ours!

Rich handed me the fish knocker and I whacked him a good one -- at least I intended to. The knocker bounced out of my hand as I landed a good whack and landed in the water. I couldn't reach it and it began floating away on the current. Now, this was not just any old knocker. It was the same one I've been using for years and to me it had great sentimental value. What a crazy time to get sentimental! As Rich held the still wiggly sturgeon in the net outside the boat, I fired up the boat and  weighed anchor to retrieve my prized knocker. Oops! The engine was in the raised position and running! Dang! I shut the engine off and lowered it, meanwhile we were simply drifting with the current! Finally, I got my wits about me and we were underway, Rich leaning over the boat holding the big, netted fish and me in hot pursuit of my knocker! After a couple of passes Rich scooped the knocker out of the water, still hanging onto the net! I administered another whack to the big sturgeon, then motored back to the spot where we hooked this fish.

Finally, the Keystone Kops knocker rescue was over and the fish was weighed and measured. He was 57 inches and 44 pounds, an excellent keeper sturgeon! At last, my second keeper this year! Maybe the slump was over.

As I stated earlier this year, I am keeping track of the hours invested per sturgeon caught this year. This sturgeon required 42 hours of fishing over three trips. Well, four trips if I count the 3 hour aborted try awhile back. This year's first sturgeon required 63 hours of fishing.

Rich continued to fish for sturgeon on the same spot for several more hours. I, of course, was fishing just for stripers since I  had my limit of sturgeon. I caught none. The current was again on the outgo as Rich reeled in another sturgeon, this one not a keeper. We estimated him to be about 36 inches as he was released at the boat. Rich also caught a couple of other shaker sturgeon during this day's efforts, both smaller than this one and all released. Some days you just can't seem to hook the keepers.

As afternoon turned to evening the wind worsened and we decided we'd had enough. I probably would have dropped Rich off at the dock and kept fishing, but I had my limit of one sturgeon already in the box. I just wanted to take my sturgeon home. The Keystone Kops knocker incident notwithstanding, a day of fishing with an old buddy just doesn't get any better than we'd just had. If only one of us was destined to catch a keeper sturgeon, the right one got it! Yep, I'd put in the hours and I figured that I had it coming. We had a wonderful time fishing together, as usual, and as usual we did pretty well.

I had actually canceled this season’s final sturgeon adventure early Tuesday morning due to windy conditions on Suisun Bay. I then nagged myself the rest of the day about making such a stupid decision about such an important trip. After shuffling some scheduled stuff around (this retired old graybeard doesn’t have too much to shuffle), I headed out on Wednesday morning for this very important sturgeon hunt. I launched into the Sacramento River at the Rio Vista Muni Ramp with a couple of dozen ghost shrimp, a fair amount of optimism and good cheer.

Windy conditions were still in the forecast, but I planned to play this two-day adventure by ear. I monitored the NOAA broadcast carefully, and upon hearing of predicted wind to 30 or 35 MPH on Suisun Bay Wednesday night, chose to stay put near Rio Vista for at least the first day.

I anchored at my usual sturgeon hole near Light 25, a short cruise downriver from Rio Vista. While the day was a bit breezy, it was warm and clear and pleasant. I faithfully offered lively ghost shrimp on the clam bed below from mid morning ‘til dinnertime. For my efforts that first day I was rewarded with one 20-inch striper, which was released. As afternoon turned to evening, my thoughts turned to finding a safe haven for the night’s anchorage. As usual, when anchoring overnight around Rio Vista, I headed upriver toward Isleton and anchored on the calm waters near the egret roosting trees above Vieira’s Resort. I would rise early and head downriver to Suisun Bay if the morning was calm.

I was up and doing the usual morning boat rituals at 4:00 a.m. By 4:30 I was idling downriver, passing the lights of Vieira’s in the darkness. The wind was calm and the water was flat. I was finally on my way to Suisun Bay even though it was via radar and GPS.

By the time I passed Broad Slough, dawn was breaking and the wind was kicking up. When I passed Simmons Point the wind was really blowing and the waves were already three footers. I very seriously considered turning back; I did not want to spend the day rockin’ and rollin’ in the blowing wind on Suisun Bay. But this was no usual Delta Adventure. This was the last sturgeon hunt of the season, and it was time to quit wimping out every time the wind blows!

I continued on, hammering across Suisun through the waves and the wind and the spray. It was a slow, unpleasant trip and I encouraged my wimpy self by thinking about how great it would be to hook into this season’s third sturgeon. It would be especially rewarding after slamming across Suisun to catch it. I soldiered on.

Nearly 2 ½ hours after leaving the egrets near Vieira’s, I dropped anchor at my honey hole on Suisun Bay. The wind was blowing across the bay from the fleet as the current was flowing towards it. Waves continually rocked the boat as I rigged up for sturgeon. I was no longer full of good cheer and my optimism had been reduced to a spark of hope. But I was faithful to the cause; I told the fishing gods that I deserved a sturgeon for making such an effort. So far as praying goes, I probably could have done better.

Sturgeon fishing and choppy, windy conditions don’t mix well. Even in calm conditions I like to hold the rod in hand to feel confident I won’t miss the mighty sturgeon’s tender bite. With the boat rocking and rolling, it’s hard to keep the line taut while holding the rod. Placing the rod on the balance beam is out of the question when it’s windy. Under such conditions, fishing is as close to work as fishing gets.

Nevertheless, I kept at it. I was constantly taking in and letting out line as the boat swung and rocked at anchor. Within about 15 minutes I had a small shaker striper on and released him. That was a good omen; at least I felt his nibbles and was able to set the hook. Maybe I would be able to set the hook into a light biting sturgeon.

For three hours I faithfully tended the reel, keeping the line taut and righteously awaiting that little sturgeon nibble. Eventually I felt a light nip-nip, a bit softer than a striper peck, but figured that’s what it was. A moment later, a leisurely pull took about three or four inches of line off the reel. Click-click-click. That was the song I’d been waiting for! I set the hook fast and hard and I was hooked into something substantial! And I set the hook again, harder. I hooted and hollered like a school kid; all the effort of this crazy trip was paying off!

Well, the payoff wasn’t made quite yet. I still had to get the big fella into the boat. I let him run as he pleased, letting him tire as quickly as possible. He felt strong; I was guessing I had a fair sized sturgeon on, maybe something in the 50-inch range. He ran to and fro, wearing himself out pretty quickly. When I had him to the boat and got my first look at him, I was surprised to see how small and slender he was. Gee whiz, I wondered if the little guy was even big enough to be legal! I let him run longer than necessary, trying to get him good and tired so that I could measure him. As he lay beside the boat, I took my little measuring device, a small bamboo handle with a 46” and a 72” green gardening tape attached, and tried to get a good idea of his length. Try as I might, I could not convince myself that this little guy was legal. I finally netted him and measured him on the cockpit sole. He was 47 inches and just 27 pounds! He was the smallest keeper sturgeon I’d ever caught. Into the fish box he went!

The pure rush of gratification as I slogged back across the bay with a sturgeon in the box was just indescribable. Having coaxed myself through a miserable trip across Suisun Bay to my honey hole added great satisfaction to an already grand adventure.

I didn’t see a single fishing boat on Suisun Bay the entire trip. Most folks were smart enough to stay put and wait for another day. But my plans to be traveling the next three weeks aboard the motorhome created this week’s now or never situation. I am very pleased to know that I can still get this old carcass moving against its stubborn will when the chips are down.

This season’s sturgeon recap is surprising. While I caught just three keepers, I made only about half as many fishing trips as last year, which also totaled just three. I guess that means that my success rate has greatly improved.

The Rio Vista area is and always has been good sturgeon fishing grounds for me. Yet, in six trips to the Rio Vista area this season, I caught no keepers.

In contrast, I made five trips to Suisun Bay:

On three of those trips I came home with a keeper sturgeon.

On one of the trips I came home with a 17-pound striper limit.

And on my least productive trip, I settled for just a schoolie striper.

I didn’t have one skunk on Suisun Bay this season. And all those fish came from the exact same honey hole. Don’t ask!

The final trip of this season was such a heady and exciting affair that I may have to visit Suisun during the summer months. I haven’t been on Suisun Bay during the summer in years. Maybe it’s time to reassess my summertime fishing!

The California Delta

A place of quiet beauty.

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The photos I had collected over the years were lost in the transfer from MSN Groups to MSN Windows Live. I will be taking more photos of my beloved Delta for this page...

15 minute sturgeon!
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According to early reports by the weather folks, this week’s best Delta fishing would be Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was predicted to be breezy and I avoid breezy when I can. So I set out for this week’s Delta adventure a day early and launched into perfect conditions at the Rio Vista ramp on Monday morning. I had along a half pound of grass shrimp and a half dozen ghost shrimp, packed on ice, with which to fool some wily sturgeon. The plan for this week’s trip, under such perfect conditions, was to cruise down river to my favorite sturgeon hole on Suisun Bay.

The cruise downriver was the perfect boat ride. The day was already warm and predicted to be in the 90s. That’s my kind of weather and, to me, long overdue! The sun was shining brightly and the river was flat calm. I had two days of stores in the ice chest, including plenty of Pepsi and cheap beer and ice to keep me cool. I was going to have a good time whether I caught a sturgeon or not.

I arrived at my sturgeon hole at 10 O’clock. I was rigged up and sturgeon fishing fifteen minutes later. The occasional whisper of wind rippled the water now and then, it was just enough of a light breeze to keep things from getting too hot. It was, indeed, the perfect day to be fishing on Suisun Bay. I began what would likely be a long wait for some sturgeon action, but the chances for a sturgeon seemed better at this proven hole than anywhere else I know.

A few minutes after tossing a grass shrimp/ghost shrimp combo over the transom, I started getting a few quick, striper like nips. Rats. I did not want to be harassed by thieving, little fish. I put up with a couple such hits, and figured I’d have to be tending my bait more often than I like. But I was wrong.

Fifteen minutes after I started fishing, a classic, subtle sturgeon nibble clicked off a couple of inches of line. What? Already? Huumph! I set the hook instantly and I set it hard. I sunk that hook into something very, very substantial! Then I set it again and again. This couldn’t be happening, but, sure enough, I had a sturgeon on! In just fifteen minutes I was hooked into a big, and I mean big, sturgeon!

I raised the main engine out of the water, set the deck chair in the cabin and began what would be a long, tedious fight with this big fish.

My sturgeon didn’t get too excited about his dire predicament. She didn’t run and she didn’t jump; she simply swam away from the boat and stayed away. I’d reel in a bit; she’d reel out a bit. I’d reel some more back in; she’d take some more line off. We continued that seesaw game for the longest time. Twenty minutes into this street fight and I still hadn’t seen my fish. Finally, she came to the boat for the first time, and was belly down. I could not see the hook set and was concerned, after all this time, that the fight may have loosened the hook in her tough, leathery mouth. She finally tried to lie next to the boat, still belly down, then slowly headed back towards the bottom, still fighting, but nearly spent. A moment later she again surfaced and I scooped her into the net. She was as heavy set a sturgeon as I’ve ever seen. It had taken 30 minutes to get this big critter to the net. I was worn out, too, but I had my sturgeon! I cut her gills, tied her off to a line and let her float alongside the boat as I readied the fishbox for her.

When I brought the big fish aboard and into the fishbox, I tried to weigh and measure her. She was too heavy for me to lift with the scale. I estimated her to be something over sixty inches long, and she had a girth on her that was huge. I’d have to wait till I got home and had some help weighing her.

I never did get that big fish properly weighed, and it turned out that the she really was a she. Unfortunately, she was full of roe. She measured in at 65 inches long. Even with help getting her up on my scale, we couldn’t get an accurate weight. Perhaps she was too heavy for my scale. I checked the sturgeon weight chart, and at 65 inches, she should weigh 82 Lbs. But she was of massive girth; we measured her at 31 inches around. She had 17 Lbs of roe, we later discovered, when ol’ FishTracker Rich, who I gave her to, cleaned her. I’ll never know her real weight, so I’ll just claim the 82 Lbs. that the chart indicated. This week’s catch was my second big sturgeon for the season. It’s been an on and off sturgeon year for me this year due to my motorhome travels. But I plan to be out there weekly through May, and I trust that more mighty sturgeon are waiting for me!

My personal best salmon!
41 Lbs.!
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September 18 & 19, 2001

                                                

I was overdue.....I'd been singing that song for three weeks. I had spent two overnight fishing trips on the hot salmon spots of the Delta the past three weeks, trying my best for an early salmon. It just didn't happen.

I continued trolling upriver past Vieira's Resort, past Isleton, past the Isleton Bridge, and on up a couple of miles or so beyond the bridge. Zilch. I continued to troll and troll those areas until sundown. More zilch. Discouraged but optimistic, I anchored for the night near the Isleton Bridge. It turns out that this is a fine anchorage, well sheltered from the wind and very quiet. Tomorrow would be my big day, I told myself. Again.

Wednesday morning before first light I was idling downriver to meet FishTracker for a hot breakfast at Vieira's and another day of trolling. It's not often that I boat on a dark river, but on the occasion that I must, there is nothing so comforting as my radar and GPS chartplotter unit. I used them both and still kept my speed quite slow. This fall and winter they'll again be very handy to have in the fog.

At 6:45 a.m. we were on the troll. We headed upriver full of good cheer and ready for some action. I was trolling a blue Wiggle Wart, Rich was trolling a red one. About an hour later my tenacity was about to be rewarded. As we approached the boat ramp in Isleton, I headed the boat into the river, away from the bank to avoid the underwater hazards that are in that area. It appeared that Rich's lure was hitting the bottom and he raised his rod high to avoid any snag. But the action on the rod tip wasn't the bottom, it was a fearless little small mouth bass that took Rich's Wiggle Wart. He measured just nine inches or so, but his aggressive nature was incredible.

And then my moment came....at last! At about the time Rich was removing the little bass, my reel started singing and my rod bent to the weight of something substantial....and it was about time! I grabbed the rod at once as Rich took the boat controls. Whatever it was, for twenty minutes or more, me and that big fish had us a donnybrook! When it finally made its first appearance near the boat, we saw a mighty big salmon!

"It's a 20 pounder!" I announced.

Rich disagreed with the captain, "It's a thirty pounder....no, a thirty five pounder...maybe more!" he exclaimed.

We've neither one ever caught a salmon much over twenty pounds - what did we know? After it's first appearance at the surface, it took several more minutes to get it back to the surface. I don't think I've ever fought a fish so intent on staying under the boat and near  the outboards. I told Rich that I thought this must be an experienced fish, he seemed to know just what to do to frustrate me. Finally, tired but still struggling, the beast came to the boat one last time, and Rich had it netted. As we raised it over the gunwale and onto the cockpit floor, we realized that we'd just boated a really, really big salmon. We'd never seen anything quite like it. I grabbed the scale and struggled to get the big fish up. Rich read the scale.....forty five..no forty....forty one pounds! Wow.....success at last - in spades! As often as I fish, and as hard as I seem to work for memorable catches, I knew right then that this is one of those rare, lifetime memory catches. I've really been working for my first salmon of the season. What a payoff! And this was just the first fish of the day.

Within an hour my reel lit up again, this time as we were trolling down river with a #6 florescent red Blue Fox spinner. We were approaching the mouth of the Old Sacramento, perhaps 200 yards away. "Grab it, Rich!" I hollered, "It's your turn!"

Ha! What goes around comes around, they say, and this situation was very interesting for Rich and I. Here we were once again facing the issue of "welfare fishing". Last year I wrote a report about one of our trips when Rich offered me his rig when the second salmon of the day had hit the same lure....his. I reported then on the philosophical questions that pop up in such a situation. Even though I had clearly stated the "FishWisher Rotation Method" of buddy fishing on my boat just a couple of hours before, Ol' FishTracker didn't much like reeling in a fish on my rig. I loved it! Now, it was my rig that had hooked two fish. It was pay back time! Now I had one in the box and another on my lure as his rig laid in the rodholder, silent. The exact opposite situation that we faced last year.

Rich considered the philosophical quandary for exactly one half second. He grabbed my rod and began reeling in his salmon. This one put up an admirable fight once it saw the boat, and Rich had a great time. Eventually it, too, was at the boat and in the net. It weighted in at 19 lbs. We'd caught two fine salmon for one day's fishing that totaled 60 pounds! This trip was worth every minute of the prior early trips that just didn't produce. The adventure that Rich and I shared will never be forgotten.

A great philosophical discussion took place as we continued fishing for salmon #3. We were feeling mighty smug with those two big salmon in the box, and we talked at length about what put them there. Was it the Blue Fox and the blue Wiggle Wart that did it? Was it the right trolling speed? Was it trolling upriver or downriver that mattered most? Was it the time of day?

We decided that it was two things. First, we were just flat out dumb lucky enough to have the lures wind up in the face of those two salmon. We've decided that that's the main ingredient required for catching salmon. Secondly, we had been at the right depth. While some very experienced salmon trollers may believe that the lure should be very near the bottom, that theory didn't work for us that day. Rich's lure was near the bottom most of the day, his lure hit the bottom often. My lure was somewhere between six to ten feet deep, I believe, and the water depth was usually twelve to fifteen feet.

We think that it is better to have the lure above the fish, not below it. Rich concurs, and he's done a lot more salmon fishing than I have. It seems to me that the fish can see above it's position in the water column because of the sunlight above, but cannot see well below due to the darkness.

Most of all, we were just mighty thankful for our good luck. Next week I'll be out there once again trying for the salmon. My faith has been restored!

Tackle Choices!
(The subtle seduction of all fishermen...)

Baitcasting Reels

The conventional baitcaster reels are best suited for my Delta fishing. They cast well, have plenty of room for lots of line and they usually have good drag (brake) systems to handle larger fish. Here are some of my reel choices:

 Shimano's Calcutta 700, my "Big Gun" sturgeon reel. With this reel I am set to handle anything the Delta will dish out. Its one fault: the clicker creates more resistance to the light pull of a sturgeon than the Penns.

 

This is my Shimano Charter Special, another "overkill" reel for the Delta. It is an  excellent combination of lever drag and level wind. Note that there is no "star" wheel to set the drag, drag is set by the lever. Most lever drag reels do not have the level wind feature which automatically reels the line in equally across the spool; this reel does. This reel also has the heavier clicker resistance that I have been avoiding when fishing for sturgeon.

I use Power Pro 50# test super braid for everything except lake trolling. This overkill approach is likely considered to be vulgar by hi-brow fly fishermen, but I'm just a baitslinger, so I don't know any better. Power Pro 50# is the same thickness as 12# mono line. So, even 20# mono is thicker than my 50# super braid, and therefore has more float and resistance to being cast or trolled. Also, more Power Pro can be spooled onto any given reel, by far, than mono of the same strength. The more line on the reel, the less likely an angler is going to be spooled by a large fish.

Terminal Tackle

Here's where a little extra money is well spent: buy first quality terminal tackle. The photo at left is of a stainless steel ball bearing snap swivel. The snap end squeezes together, opening up just enough to attach the leader. This particular snap is about the toughest type I've ever used, it is very, very strong. In the case of super braid line, the recommended knot is the very simple Palomar knot, which seems to be the only knot I can remember how to tie. With this snap swivel holding line to leader, the fisherman can be confident that the line and the leader will not part company while fighting a big fish. I hope.

My home made leader:

Note that the hooks are separated. I attach a crimp to keep the first hook from getting any closer to the bottom hook. I like to keep the hooks from tangling and, hopefully, make a succesful hook set more likely. I made this leader longer than usual for some reason.

The shorter the leader, the less there is to wave in the current which would allow the bait to be off the bottom. If the bait ain't on the bottom, you ain't sturgeon fishing! In addition, I often attach a small rubber core weight near the hooks in moving water to ensure that the bait stays on the bottom.

More 2004 Salmon
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A pretty good year...

October 27-28, 2004

It seemed as though salmon season was over as I pulled into the Rio Vista ramp parking lot this week. Only two other boat rigs were there.

Nevertheless, I launched for another two day Delta Adventure, still chasing those beautiful salmon.

Within one hour, I had this beautiful gal in the boat. She wasn't much of a fighter, but she sure was a looker.

I trolled the rest of the day and the next, up to Walnut Grove and back, but couldn't buy that second fish for a limit.

There were noticeably fewer fishermen trying for the salmon this week. Perhaps it was was the weather, perhaps just a fluke. The weather was much cooler, and so was the water.

The first salmon hit just a quarter mile above the mouth of the Old Sacramento River. He put up a great fight for his size; I had to give him plenty of time to tire and submit. He was as bright a salmon as I've ever caught, and very fresh and energetic. He weighed in at about eight pounds. He wound up in the fishbox.

An hour and a half later, about a quarter of a mile above the Isleton Bridge, the second salmon hit! I gave him the same cautious treatment, reeling him in carefully and allowing him plenty of time to run. Within fifteen minutes, he was also in the fishbox.

It was a very memorable day.

Life is good.

It took a lot of trolling, but during the fourth day of trolling this year, I finally reeled in a fine, 18 Lb. salmon!

I launched at Rio Vista's muni ramp and trolled upriver all day. The water temperature had dropped about six degrees due to the rain and cool weather that moved through during the past weekend. I didn't have so much as a bump that first day. I anchored at Locke a bit before sundown and spent a quiet, restful night at anchor. I was trolling again before sunrise, heading downriver.

A bit before 9 O'clock, a mile or two below Ryde, Ca., home of the famous Ryde Hotel, this beauty hit. After more than three days of trying this season, I considered myself overdue for the first salmon of the season. I wasn't disappointed. This fine salmon didn't put up a big fight, but she gave a decent accounting of herself. In about ten minutes she was to the boat and in the box. And it was about *&%#!! time!

I continued trolling downriver to the Rio Vista Bridge. I passed under the bridge at about 2 O'clock in the afternoon. If I hadn't had the beautiful 18 pounder in the box, I'd have kept trolling 'til dark. But I reeled in, stowed the tackle and headed to the dock.

It's been another great Delta adventure.

My Best Salmon Trip Ever!

October 14-15, 2004

I reckon that two days a week on the water would be enough for anyone. But no, I have somehow scheduled myself for a five day Delta adventure this past week and into this week. Now, I’m not complaining; this could hardly be construed as work.

As I began this week’s report at my C-Dory’s little galley table, FishWisher the boat was secured in a slip at the Benicia Marina while I attended a gathering of the C-Dory Owners Group (C-DOGs). Five boats and their owners showed up for this annual Oktoberfest. Four boats were out fishing as I jotted down this report and I was the only member at the dock. I chose to stay put that day, having fished the prior two days with plans to fish the next two days.

I began this five day trip when I launched at Rio Vista on Thursday morning. I trolled upriver from the Rio Vista Bridge, planning to anchor for the night at Walnut Grove. I chose to continue pulling my green double bladed Silvertron, the splashy spinner that has done quite well for me this year. I’ve used the red Silvertron on sunny days, the green on overcast days. Maybe there’s something to that, maybe not. But it doesn’t seem to hurt any.

It didn’t take long for the salmon to do their part to make this trip   memorable. As I passed Vieira’s Resort, a seven pound salmon accepted my offering and set my reel singing. I reeled the little jack in amongst a crowd of entirely too many boats. But even in the crowd of other anglers, I got him into the box with no complications. For me, that was a very quick catch; I’d been at it for just over two hours.

An hour later, another salmon took the same Silvertron, the reel screamed and I jumped to the fray. I wound up with a bit larger salmon from that hit; I put a fourteen pound salmon along side the smaller fish. Wow! This must be some kind of record for me; I had two salmon in less than four hours!

Now, I don’t mean to complain, but there I was with a limit of salmon in less than four hours, and I had plans to be on the water for five days! What to do? I dug out a clown colored broken back Rebel, attached a matching orange tail and continued trolling toward Walnut Grove. I was then trolling for stripers.

I called another C-DOG member and made arrangements for him to meet me at the Walnut Grove docks for breakfast Friday morning. He would relieve me of the two salmon and the striper and I’d have a fresh start on salmon fishing. He’d take one salmon to the Oktoberfest and I’d have some bragging rights when I showed up. Good plan!

Meanwhile, I trolled upriver, towing the gaudy Rebel near the bank. After a couple of hours, my reel lit up again! I assumed that only a striper would likely take the Rebel, but the way that fish fought, I thought I might have yet another salmon on. After a well fought contest, I reeled in an unusually scrappy six pound striper. He wound up in the fish box with the salmon, making my fishbox as full as I can recall – not counting sturgeon. What a day I was having!

I continued my upriver troll, trying for that striper limit to add to my  salmon limit. But, although I tried ‘til nightfall, I had caught all the fish I was going to for the day. I dropped anchor near the bank across from the Boat House in Walnut Grove, popped the top of a can of beer and turned on some good ol’ country music from the satellite high above. With all that and a loaded fish box, how could it get any better?

I met my C-Dory buddy for breakfast in Walnut Grove at a riverside restaurant. We ate well and I unloaded the fish. He would do the cleaning and give the fish to folks who would really enjoy them. And I would have a fresh start with an empty fish box.

I began my downriver troll, still pulling that very productive, flashy green spinner. The day would end at Benicia Marina where I would meet the C-Dogs. I figured I could fish ‘til early afternoon and still make the Oktoberfest in plenty of time. I commenced the troll with great confidence, but hours later, as I passed under the Isleton Bridge, I was realizing that the hot bite of the prior day wasn’t necessarily still on.

I trolled through the Isleton area, through the mouth and on into the main channel, hugging the west bank in 10 to 20 feet of water all the way to the Rio Vista Bridge. That area has been pretty productive for me in the past, and with my fishing time running out, I had high hopes

of a last minute fish.

Within a couple of hundred yards of turning into the channel, my  reel screamed out again! I grabbed the rod and fought a fairly good battle with a feisty ten pound salmon. When I finally had him in the box, I figured I could fish the area for a couple more hours, trying for that second limit in two days. I gave it my best, but I was going to have to settle for just one salmon; my fishing time had run out. I reeled in, fired up the main engine and headed downriver to Benicia in the Carquinez Strait and the good times with fellow C-Dory owners.






October 17-18, 2004

In the report above, I began the story of my five day Delta adventure which included salmon fishing on the Old Sac from Rio Vista to Walnut Grove and back. I had a great time fishing, catching a limit of salmon and a nice striper on the first day and a single salmon the second day. I also reported that on Friday afternoon I cruised down to the Carquinez Strait for my C-Dory Owners Group (C-DOGs) weekend Oktoberfest in Benicia.

And the story continues…

Sunday morning, after breakfast with some of my C-Dory friends, I cruised back upriver to Rio Vista, hoping to continue the great salmon fishing for another day or two.

I arrived at the  Rio Vista Bridge a bit before noon Sunday, having cruised upriver on calm, flat waters. I began my troll at the bridge, again planning to anchor at Walnut Grove for the night. To my surprise, there were fewer boats fishing Sunday afternoon than I saw on Thursday and Friday. The wind was light, but the weather forecast was predicting rain and wind. I suppose that the forecast convinced many folks to stay off the river.

I trolled upriver and into the Old Sac, still pulling that flashy, green Silvertron with double blades. It was the same lure that had resulted in three salmon on Thursday and Friday, and I wasn’t about to change.

My Sunday troll was rewarded a bit below the new Isleton docks as my reel sang out the good news that my fourth salmon of the trip was on! I grabbed the rod and fought what I suspected wasn’t much of a fish. But for his size, he put up a pretty good fight. In a few minutes, I had a five pound jack to the boat and in the fish box.

I was back into the salmon bite!

It has been said that this year’s salmon have generally been smaller, brighter and scrappier than we see most years. I believe that’s true. I’ve caught eight salmon so far this year, the largest being just 18 pounds. Two years ago, an eight fish total would have likely included two or three salmon over 20 pounds. That was then; this is now. I’m not complaining!

Now I’ll admit, a five pounder isn’t much to brag about, but the little guy was half a limit as surely as a 40 pounder is half a limit. And I had the rest of the day and Monday to catch my limit. I was pumped by having that little guy in the box, and was prepared to give it my best for one more!

I continued my upriver troll, passed under the Isleton Bridge, and continued on towards Walnut Grove. I stayed faithful to the cause, but that second salmon wasn’t cooperating. As darkness closed in on the river, accompanied by rain and wind and cold, I dropped anchor near the shore in Walnut Grove. The rain and the wind continued on and off during the evening, but I was warm and dry in my little cabin. While I’d prefer to be sitting in the cockpit under a bright sun, the beer and the country music were just as satisfying while tucked in the cabin, out of the storm. All things considered, it had been a grand day which had begun long ago and far away at the docks in Benicia.

I was up well before daybreak, doing my morning chores and planning to catch that elusive limit. As the first rays of light broke through the clouds, I was again trolling that very effective green spinner.

Having weathered the overnight rains and wind in my little cabin, I was hankering for a hot meal. As I continued trolling, I turned on the auto-pilot, lit the little butane stove and got entirely too involved in the busy process of cooking up a good, hot breakfast. But I digress…

And I was soon reminded of this fishing Truth: If you really want to catch a fish, get involved in something else aboard the boat. Then, at the worst possible time, a fish will hit and screw up everything. And sure enough… as I was just settled in and enjoying that hot breakfast, my reel screamed out the good news once again! I had another salmon on!

I set aside my hot breakfast, grabbed the rod and began a fight with what seemed to be a darn good fish. She was a real scrapper and I was afraid that with her wild head shaking and general craziness, she could very well shake the hook loose if it wasn’t set solid. But luck was with me, and I was able to net her after about four trips to the boat. She wasn’t nearly as big as she fought, weighing in at just twelve pounds.

I finally had my second salmon limit for the trip! I had a total of five salmon for my efforts over four days of fishing. What an adventure this trip had been! I returned to my little table and my once warm breakfast and dined at a leisurely pace. My fishing was done; I’d be heading home.

After breakfast, I cleaned up the boat from that crazy fish and the cooking and the eating, stowed the tackle and fired up the main engine. And, after a wonderful five day Delta adventure, I was finally heading to the ramp and home.

I’ve never before been on my C-Dory for five days straight. Nor have I ever planned two separate fishing adventures in one trip. But for all the planning and the effort, I was rewarded with one of the most successful Delta fishing trips I’ve ever experienced. It had been a most memorable adventure! And as usual during the salmon run, I’m already looking forward to next week’s adventure…