THE FISHING REPORT: Christmas is almost here

I have gotten a little static about my last column where I was
essentially saying that the steelhead season on the Russian River
hadn’t started yet because we hadn’t received 10 inches of rain. So
I was corrected. Fishermen west of Steelhead Beach are running into
a few fish and they seem to be getting bigger. According to Scott
Heemstra at King Sporting goods, anglers are catching decent
numbers of adult hatchery fish to 10 pounds. It seems a tad early
to me without any appreciable rainfall but this could be a
precursor to a good season with ample fish on either side of the
main run to keep things interesting. The Warm Springs Hatchery
reports only one steelhead has returned at this time so I am still
not thinking I am missing much.
The low water is making targeting the fish fairly easy. The hard
part is going to be getting a presentation to them without spooking
them. Flies are going to be one method that is going to excel but I
wouldn’t count on swinging the fly to your target, rather a dead
drift presentation will work better. Another method is going to be
a float and eggs. Anything that gets your bait to the fish in the
most natural presentation possible is going to work. Back bouncing
bait or lures from a boat will also work. If you are fishing from
the shore try a side plainer to get your plug to where you need it.
Sometimes in low clear water, a spoon or spinner is a great way to
cover water and get a fish to hit. This is also the time to walk
the middle of the river and find out where the holes are going to
be when the river levels rise.
Crabbing and Rock fishing remain excellent out of Bodega Bay. The
great December weather we are having is allowing sport and private
boats alike to really take advantage of some of the best crabbing
we have had in quite some time. Yes it is getting a little slower
and if you insist on every crab you take home being a jumbo you
will have to work a little harder for them. Mark Opperman was out
with friends on Saturday and got limits of smaller to good sized
crabs while pulling pots by hand on a one day soak. He also
mentioned that one of his friends was a little careless and got bit
pretty hard by a crab claw. Be careful out there.
Christmas is coming and there are so many great gifts for the
angler in your life beginning with a fishing license. There is no
finer way to remind the one you love every time they go fishing
than to buy them a fishing license. You can simply go to the DFG
website and pay for a voucher which can be redeemed at a later
time. Stocking stuffers include lures and line and hooks of all
sizes. Go to Kings in Guerneville or the Outdoor Pro Shop in
Rohnert Park and ask any of the guys to help you out with some
ideas. Knowing what species your angler likes to target will help
immensely. Scott at Kings mentioned a great Christmas gift on sale
right now of Muck boats. I wish I had a pair. Maybe Santa will get
the message…
For more information and/ or reports, please contact Hunt
Conrad at Prospect Mortgage, 431-9715.