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Delta Fishing Part One of Two

© Louis Bignami

If you can catch it in California freshwater you can, save for perhaps pike and golden trout, catch it in the delta, the wonderland where Northern California rivers merge. Black and striped bass, perch, crappie and other panfish, a selection of catfish and seasonal shad and salmon combine with some of the best sturgeon fishing in California to offer solid, if often seasonal, action just a couple of hours from the Bay Area. Most years the best fishing runs from October through May to nicely match up with summer trout and bass action for a full fishing year just a couple of hours from Northern California population centers.

Years ago most delta anglers stuck with striped bass, shad and salmon. Today, because of changed conditions, the delta offers some of the best black bass, catfish anpanfishsh fishing action in the state. A growing number of anglers, imbued with today's "catch and release" ethic have realized that carp offer a slow motion version of bonefish runs and a chance to take large fish on light gear and, at times, at the surface. Sturgeon, protected with a complete closure for decades, now offer solid slot limits. So they attract specialists and offer the casual angler spool-clearing action.

Fly fishing is also relatively new. Stripers swirling in the river and in the protected watersShermanrman Island or Franks Tract are simply the largest targets. Largemouth bass readily ttopwaterater poppers and splashers spring through fall, panfishfish add more action. At the river mouths, there's spring shad and a chance at Kings and Coho - the latter completely protected. Add the smallmouthouth and several types of bullheads and catfish to fill the year and it's easy to see that the delta suits those who pay their dues by visiting often.

The trifectaifecta includes:

· The windy and tidal West Delta fCarquinezarquinez Strait over to juncture of the Sacramento Joaquin Joaquin Rivers aroAntioch Antioch Bridge and collects all of the above-mentioned species. Cool morning breezes turn to afternoon blasts throCarquinezarquinez Strait so "bay boats" are required in open waters.

· The South Delta runs to slow moving wateByrontween Byron, Stockton and Tracy with year round action on white and channel catfish and good seasonal striper, largpanfishand panfish opportunities. This is the best catfish area.

· The East Delta has the best weather, wonderful bass and catfish save for winter, ripest peaches and produce and best-protected wAntiochast oOakleyoch and Oakley, north nearly to the mouth of the American River and south to Stockton. Classic fishing Shermanuch as Sherman Lake and Franks Tract offer year-round striper action and a couple of dozen sloughs run to catfish and bass. Both the SacraJoaquinnd San Joaquin Rivers add seasonal shad, salmosteelhead odd steelhead and crayfish offer a gastronomic treat too.

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