Pacifica Pier News

Gov. Pete Wilson last week signed a bill allowing fishermen to use two poles at inland lakes and reservoirs, but not until Jan. 1.

The action was hailed by legislators and some Fish & Game sources since using two poles will require a $7.50 stamp added to your license and will be available by Christmas.

Backers of the two-pole bill estimate about $2 million in new revenue from stamp sales, as about 20 percent of the state’s 1.4 million anglers are expected to buy the stamp.

At first glance, using two poles in good fishing seems to mean catching your limit twice as fast. But fishery sources say it allows halibut, striper and other bait fishermen to catch live bait with one pole while fishing for their target species with the other.

Tom Salerno of Rohnert Park said he will be able to prop one baited rod for bottom or bobber fishing while casting a lure or plug with the other to make the day more interesting when bait fishing is slow. The fun will be trying to handle two fish at the same time. Fish & Game said the new rule will let fishermen experiment with different baits and lures.

A Yountville fishery source said it was unclear if two poles will be allowed on creeks and rivers. Remember, two poles does not mean more fish for individual fishermen. Different species limits still will apply. Two-pole use will be monitored for a year and a report will be submitted to the state legislature by Jan. 1, 1997.

Fishing reports
Klamath River fishing for salmon and steelhead has been good, but kings over 22 inches must be released up to Coon Creek Falls and throughout the river and Trinity River starting Oct. 2, due to quotas reached. You can keep silver salmon, jack (king) salmon, and steelhead. Half-pounder steelhead action was fair for a group including Don Ling and John Downey Jr. of Santa Rosa who fished last week in the Weitchpec area. Ling used a No.6 Brindle Bug fly on a No.6 tippet to land the biggest steelie, a four-plus pounder. Others caught half-pounder steelhead. Downey said the Indian nets are gone.

Dwight Longuevan at King’s Western Angler in Santa Rosa seconded the Downey Klamath report and Brindle Bug use. He also recommended the Trinity River Gorge area. He also said Russian River smallmouth bass from Squaw Rock to Alexander Valley will take olive or black No.8 or 10 Wooly Bugger flies. He said reports of king and silver salmon in the Johnson’s area of Guerneville on the Russian are iffy even with shooting heads and Comet or Boss flies.

All coastal streams except the Russian and Klamath will close to fishing Oct. 1 until storm runoff raises flows sufficiently. Call 1-442-4502 in the north and 1-944-5533 in our area for open and closed streams.
Fishing slowed out of Fort Bragg due to a lot of bait fish in the area, according to Martin Scribner at the North Coast Angler.

Deck Hand Harold Walker of the party boat Challenger out of Bodega Bay, 875-2474, said near limits of rockfish were landed for 24 fishermen Sunday at Cordell Bank with big reds and chili peppers. A five-person charter Saturday got near limits at Cordell with 45-pound sacks.

Call Dillon Beach Sport Fishing Center for trips aboard the Tracer or Payback, 878-2374. Call Port Sonoma Bait, 763-9296, for Petaluma River striper fishing. And call 252-4361 for Rod & Reel Services for Napa River details.

Mike Eberhart at Loch Lomond Bait in San Rafael said halibut are caught in the Berkeley Flats area while striped bass come from the Marin shore, Marin Islands and the Pumphouse area. Weekend tides should improve fishing.

Nine party boats outside the Golden Gate had salmon limits by 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, mostly trolling anchovies from the Pacifica Pier to Pedro Point. Roger Thomas of the Salty Lady out of Caruso’s Dock in Sausalito said limits also were taken Monday and Tuesday by his boat. The Duxbury Buoy area also produced limits.

Other fishing
Guide Greg Squires reported good action on the Sacramento River for king salmon five consecutive days through Monday. Fishing should improve with the draining of Red Bluff Lake behind the diversion. Steelhead also were beginning to show. Call 1-800-551-3984.

Most lake fishing slowed. A report of trout limits for deep fishermen at Lake Berryessa continued a trend. Bass, catfish and crappie also were biting. Catfish were biting at Lake Sonoma and Clear Lake. Action slowed at Lake Pillsbury and all but ended at a dropping Lake Mendocino.

Trout will be planted next week at Upper Blue Lake in Lake County via Highway 20 east out of Calpella in Mendocino County.

Santa Rosa’s Lake Ralphine and Spring Lake will not be stocked with trout until waters cool in the fall or when the Fish & Game budget allows. Until then, fish for bass, catfish and bluegill.

Laura Van Vleet at The Lucky Angler in Ukiah said deer hunters took several bucks around Lake Mendocino since last weekend’s opening of deer season. Send your comments and suggestions to John Adams, The Press Democrat, P.O. Box 569, Santa Rosa, 95402.

NEW POLE RULING HAILED BY FISHERMEN, LEGISLATORS
Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
September 22, 1994
Author: John Adams
Staff Writer
Estimated printed pages: 3
Edition: FINAL
Section: SPORTS
Page: C5
Column: John Adams: The Fishing Line
Index Terms: FISH
Copyright (c) 1994 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA)
Record Number: 9409220123