Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3613 June 9-23 2017 | Page 23

MAP FEATURE Northrup Goethe Park Arden Bar rican Ame . r Dr Rive R an Americ La Riviera Dr. La Riviera r d. om ls Fo iver Blv Mayhew . Dr Rosemont Fair Oaks Blvd Filtration Plant D Rancho Cordova Sierra Blvd Pump e Ch Am Co La rdov ne a Mills Avenue Guy a West Bridge an ic er Hurley Way Palm Dr Stanley Ave 79 in 2015 to 313 in 2016, the highest number surveyed since 2012. The CDFW collected 249 shad at their index stations in the fall of 2016. The Central Valley Project Im- provement Act (CVPIA) of 1992 directed the Secretary of Interior to double the naturally spawning pop- ulations of all anadromous species, including salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, American shad and striped bass, by 2002. Of course like many laws pro- tecting fish in California, this law has been very poorly implemented. While they are most common in the spring, adult shad can be seen or caught in the American at times an- glers don’t target them. The peak time in the American is from early May to the July 4th weekend, but they can be found in the river both earlier and later in the year. This point became clear in early March of 1968, when a friend and I went steelhead fishing at Ancil Hoff- man Park. We saw the guy right next to catch three shad on three consecu- tive casts while he retrieved a spinner for steelhead. On another day many years later, former fishing guide Barry Watson observed a large school of shad in Nimbus Basin in January. The most recent shad-specific study I’m aware of was conducted by then CDFW fishery biologist Frank Fisher in 1979. He remarked that they trapped shad in different life stages moving through the Delta throughout the period of the study. r ve Rossmoor Bar Ri Landis Ave Fishing Information: Fisherman’s Warehouse, Sacramento, (916) 362-1200; Elkhorn Outdoor Sports, Rio Linda, (916) 991- 5298; Broadway Bait Rod & Gun, Sacramento, (916) 448-6338, Sacramento Pro Tackle, (916) 925-0529. Grant Ave Arden Way Motorized watercraft and trailer plus vehicle pass - $100.00. Park information: www.sacparks.net, Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks, Recreation and Open Space Administration, 3711 Branch Center Rod, Sacramento, CA. 95827. For General Parks, Golf and Rangers Information, call (916) 875-6961. Sutter Ave as Annual Fees: Vehicle (private or commercial - $50.00 Boat launching: Concrete boat ramps are available at Discovery Park, Howe Avenue, Watt Avenue and Sunrise. Unimproved gravel launching is available at Gristmill, Ancil Hoffman, Rossmoor and other areas on the river. The fee for non-motorized watercraft is $3 (plus vehicle fee)
 and the fee for motorized watercraft is $5 (plus vehicle fee).
 Fair Oaks Blvd Carmichael Day Use: The entrance fee for vehicles under 22 feet in length is $5.00, except on summer holiday weekends when the fee is $8.00. The fee for trailer or vehicle 22 or more feet in length is $10.00 except for summer holiday weekends when the fee is $13.00. Lincoln Ave The salmon fishing season is set at the Fish and Game Commission meeting every spring. In 2016, the salmon season ran from July 16 to December 31 except for the small section of river from the Jibboom Street Bridge to the mouth that closed on December 16. Review the California Fresh Water Sport Fishing Regulations Booklet for bag and possession limits, hook restrictions and additional restrictions: Fishing Notes • Steelhead offer year round fishing on the American, but the top fishing is in the winter and spring. Drift boaters back troll with plugs, side drift roe and nightcrawlers and fly fish with a variety of patterns. Shore anglers find success while drifting roe, nightcrawl- ers, Glo Bugs and Puffballs, as well as while tossing out Little Cleos and spinners. • Striped Bass provide the best action from mid-March through October. Casting Pencil Poppers and other top water lures can be very productive at dawn and dusk, while fishing with minnows, sardines and crayfish works throughout the day. This stretch of river kicks out stripers in the 30 to 40 pound range every year. • American Shad show in the river in early May and provide good action through the first two weeks in July. Fish jigs, darts and flies on light spinning gear and fly rods in the runs and holes. • King Salmon draw large numbe