Updated October 18, 2021

DELTA, Sacramento Side — The waters around the Rio Vista Bridge and above were loaded with all varieties of grass during the week of large tides and cooling water temperatures, and the grass was a deterrent for salmon trollers from Rio Vista up through the Old Sacramento River towards the Isleton Bridge. Sturgeon fishing remains the top draw in the deep water around Pittsburg with lamprey eel or salmon roe, but the fresh water flow expected this week could finally get the diamondbacks to migrate. Many of the six-pack operators are encouraging a harvesting limit on their boats, only keeping two sturgeon and sharing the abundant meat instead of each angler keeping an individual sturgeon. This has been popular with many anglers. Striped bass trolling has slowed for some reason, and the linesides have been scattered. High winds at the start of the week hampered action, and the wind is expected to blow throughout the week with the first actual storm of the season arriving. Salmon fishing continues to improve from the shorelines from Benicia upriver to Freeport with Vee-Zee or Flying C spinners.

DELTA, San Joaquin side — Striped bass continue to move further into the south and east Delta as water temperatures are cooling, and the best months for striped bass are here until the beginning of December. Trollers are struggling with all of the grass in the water, but those drifting live bait are finding limits of school-sized linesides on a daily basis. Fresh shad is now one of the most effective baits for striped bass as the water temperatures are cooling. Striped bass are breaking the surface chasing shad in the Stockton Turning Basin, and ripbaits are working for the schoolies. With the cooling water temperatures, adding scent to your presentation for largemouth bass will increase success. Creature baits such as Berkley’s Pit Boss with Power Bait are becoming effective, particularly around current. Crappie are found off of Eight Mile Road with small to medium minnows or minijigs.