Nor Cal - I Need Bigger Water, Bigger Fish: Hello ladies and gents, I post in here a bit. I live in Elk Grove. I normally fish the delta. A couple spots in Walnut Grove and Sac where I...

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Hello ladies and gents,

I post in here a bit. I live in Elk Grove. I normally fish the delta. A couple spots in Walnut Grove and Sac where I can fish the banks but recently the bite is tough.

I have the gear to fish anywhere, (almost anyway) and I am willing to get my happy behind up at 3AM to drive a couple hours so I can still get the early bite.

Any advice for Bigger/Deeper water? Benicia? Antioch? Rio Vista? I need to get on some big Stripers or Salmon, ASAP. Looking to get out this Saturday.

Tight Lines 🎣

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I don't think you're gonna find the really big stripers until spring - that's when they come up to spawn. The really big ones are hens and they hang out in the ocean til they get horny. But. The salmon run is about to begin, may have even begun over west of Sac. And there are some big catfish out there, right where you're already fishin I imagine. And don't forget the sturgeon. You want to tackle one of those from the bank? Grass shrimp and patience. Hold on tight.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

GillsDeep916 wrote:

Hello ladies and gents, br br I post in here a bi... (show quote)

Hey buddy. Both Rio Vista and Antioch are proven spots for catchin good fish.
I would call some of the bait and tackle shops.
One of the best for that is over in Oakley. Hook line and sinker.
Should be able to google it and get the PH# Good luck.

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Spiritof27 wrote:

I don't think you're gonna find the really big stripers until spring - that's when they come up to spawn. The really big ones are hens and they hang out in the ocean til they get horny. But. The salmon run is about to begin, may have even begun over west of Sac. And there are some big catfish out there, right where you're already fishin I imagine. And don't forget the sturgeon. You want to tackle one of those from the bank? Grass shrimp and patience. Hold on tight.

Thanks for the info. I like where I fish but its been rough. I'm gonna start targeting salmon more locally Got a bunch of different flying C's and assorted spinners. I do want to get out to some deeper water areas though.

What are cats biting on? I get an occasional cat on accident with my sardines. Should I use a short leader to target cats at night?

Tight Lines 🎣

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

GillsDeep916 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I like where I fish but its been rough. I'm gonna start targeting salmon more locally Got a bunch of different flying C's and assorted spinners. I do want to get out to some deeper water areas though.

What are cats biting on? I get an occasional cat on accident with my sardines. Should I use a short leader to target cats at night?

Tight Lines 🎣

Depends on how long the leader is now that you're using.
For cats, I wouldn't use any longer than 2 feet.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

GillsDeep916 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I like where I fish but its been rough. I'm gonna start targeting salmon more locally Got a bunch of different flying C's and assorted spinners. I do want to get out to some deeper water areas though.

What are cats biting on? I get an occasional cat on accident with my sardines. Should I use a short leader to target cats at night?

Tight Lines 🎣

If you're bait fishing for stripers you're gonna catch catfish and vice versa. As long as your not losing bait to current or getting your leader fouled, it shouldn't matter much how long it is. Catfish and stripers are not line shy. If you know where there's an oriental market go see if they can sell you some fresh mackerel - excellent catfish bait, very firm, very oily and bloody. And they love chicken liver. Get a pair of panty hose (cheapest way to go) or some gauze and make bags for the livers, put on hook and wrap with magic thread. 3/0 or so circle hook and go for it. Catfish love holes, so if you can find some deep water out there that's probably where they're gonna be.

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

saw1 wrote:

Hey buddy. Both Rio Vista and Antioch are proven spots for catchin good fish.
I would call some of the bait and tackle shops.
One of the best for that is over in Oakley. Hook line and sinker.
Should be able to google it and get the PH# Good luck.

Thanks! I'm gonna give that place a holler.

Tight Lines 🎣

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Hoss: Sounds like they have given you some good advise. So, post some pictures when you hang one, or more. Just sayin...RJS

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Good luck fishin.

captjim Loc: Antioch Ca

You did not say if you are in a boat. I live in Antioch and there are many places to fish. First I would like to know why you think bigger fish will be in deeper water? Most of the larger stripers I have caught came out of shallow water. I even saw a 40lb. striper caught in 2' of water. What I have found in the delta is that stripers will move from spot to spot through deeper water using the larger current to their advantage. Stripers tend to feed on the slopes up out of the deeper water. For stripers at this time of year I would concentrate on the Suisun marsh area. Montezuma slough, nurse slough. If you wanted to try for a sturgeon there is a deep hole at the western end of Montezuma that will hold sturgeon. But again work the slope not the deepest spot.

If you are bank fishing there are 3 piers from the Antioch bridge west to the Antioch marina. I have seen lot's of salmon caught from those piers. Hope this helped a little.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

captjim wrote:

You did not say if you are in a boat. I live in An... (show quote)

Great advice Jim. Gills fishes from the shore, he doesn't have a boat. Thanks for helpin him out with all your suggestions.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

captjim wrote:

You did not say if you are in a boat. I live in An... (show quote)

I’m sure that will help him out! You da man.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Gills.... I no longer fish with dines because I catch way more fish with chovies. You absolutely must put your bait on the hook so that it does not spin in the water. You will catch many more fish if your bait moves side to side like a real fish does.