Fish Reports

This month’s Fish of the Month goes to Jack Naves, who wrestled a sleek 26-inch striped bass out of Sacramento’s urban stretch at dawn. Landing the linesider on chicken livers amid freeway hum and train horns proves top-tier action lies minutes from downtown, not miles up-river. If you have a couple of early hours, anchor on that inside bend and join the run before these hard-charging stripers bolt back to sea.

In this issue of The Fish Sniffer, we bring you the real state of spring fishing and waterway access in California. The Sacramento River striper run is wide open, with limits on minnows, swimbaits, and cut bait, while lakes like Shasta, New Melones, and Berryessa are producing fast trout, kokanee, and bass action for both trollers and bank anglers. Local derbies at Bullards Bar, Rancho Seco, and Shasta are delivering strong catches and proven tactics, with coverage of the latest PowerBait, Gulp, and specialty tackle from top regional shops. This issue also covers sleeper hot spots like Prosser, Pyramid, and the Truckee—plus new techniques as water temperatures rise and fish move deeper.

But access and conservation challenges define the season as much as the fishing. The arrival of golden mussels in the Delta has forced major boat launch closures and strict new inspection and quarantine rules at Folsom, Camanche, Pardee, and Berryessa—shifting many lakes to rental or hand-launched craft only. Meanwhile, California faces a third straight year of closed commercial salmon fishing, with only limited recreational days and a major economic hit for guides and communities. Tribal water-sharing agreements on the Trinity offer hope for river restoration, while the controversial Delta Tunnel project continues to draw sharp opposition from local anglers, tribes, and voters. Whether you’re planning a tournament, a family trip, or a solo hunt for trophies, this issue delivers the local tactics, regulatory alerts, and industry updates every serious angler needs for spring 2025.