Striped bass continue to draw anglers into the Delta waterways! The secret is to locate them on your electronics. The hot spot recently has even the San Joaquin River east of the Antioch bridge off the drop off of flats near Eddo’s Harbor where trollers have been hooking and landing some larger fish lately. I had the pleasure of talking with Bob Simms who moderates the KFBK Outdoor Show out of Sacramento and during our conversation he informed me that some striped bass were being caught. For example, the large stripers caught and released by Lodi angler Gene Nies who was trolling the hot spot at the drop off where he landed a 24 pounder and 42 pounder dragging a Yo-Suri Crystal Minnow with a white worm trailer. Simms also reported to me that two master trollers by the name of Clyde Wands and Mark Wilson have also been trolling the same area where they have been hooking and releasing fish to 8 pounds. Mark Wilson has experienced some serious medical problems and it was great to see that he now is able to go out and enjoy his favorite outdoor activity once again.

I also informed Simms of the death G.Ray Arnett the former Director of the California Fish & Game Department who passed away under the care of Hospice in Stockton on June 20 at the age of 95. I had the pleasure of playing cribbage and spending the last day of his life with him. Our friendship had lasted since the early 1970’s. He will be missed by those who knew this fine gentleman. May he rest in peace.

Now getting back to the current fishing conditions. The sturgeon fishing is still off the charts over in Suisun Bay and Suisun Cut. Current reports state that the diamondbacks are still stacked up in the area. The best baits continue to be eel strips and salmon roe. Both incoming and outgoing tides have been productive.