Kelly Sprott bagged this late-season, 12-pound Canada goose hunting the Napa Marsh.
Lakes and rivers
Boats have been able to access Lake Berryessa in greater numbers, either through the red tag quarantine process or decontamination. King salmon, Eagle Lake-strain trout, and bass are all possibilities, and anglers are beginning to mooch for salmon with Gitzits.
The bait has been scattered, but shad-patterned spoons from the surface to 30 feet have been the best option. Covering plenty of water is a must. Bass can also be found by jigging spoons. Limits to 18 pounds are possible.
All boats need to be decontaminated prior to launching, and appointments can be made at app.acuityscheduling.com. Currently the cost is free. Another option is to receive a red quarantine seal, requiring a wait for 30 days prior to launching at either Sweeney's Sports in Napa or Gone Fishin' Marine in Dixon. Upon launching, all boats are issued a green seal attached by authorized staff.
Green decontamination tags are available at both the Markley Cove and Steele Canyon launch ramps. Hand-launched watercraft with electric motors, such as fishing kayaks, also require an inspection prior to launch. Non-motorized watercraft like kayaks and paddleboards are not subject to inspection, but owners are encouraged to take advantage of a free inspection at any watercraft inspection station.
There are several bass tournaments scheduled throughout the year. However due to the additional requirements for boaters, many of the tournament dates may be relocated to other bodies of water. With all the rain recently, the lake rose to 93%, reaching its full capacity.
Oceans and bays
The water is cleaner in the San Joaquin side of the Delta but the striped bass bite has been spotty, with action in the main channel around King Island. Normally at this time of year, the linesides would be heading south toward Discovery Bay to find warmer water when the shad piles into the south Delta. But with the water temperatures in the 49- to 52-degree range, a few degrees warmer than normal, the shad are not as abundant. Fog remains a concern in the early mornings and there is floating debris in the main channel, including large trees and logs.
Bass fishing has slowed with the colder water temperatures, and the bite windows are few and far between. The warmest water is found along the north-facing banks on sloughs running east and west. Reaction baits are a good option on a light fluorocarbon line along the outside edges of the weed lines where the bass are digging in to find slightly warmer temperatures. Umbrella rigs, underspins, or ripbaits also work well. Crappie continue to school up in the south Delta sloughs, and bank anglers along with boaters are picking off the palm-sized slabs. Finding clear water is the key to success.
Hunting Heritage banquet March 7
The Napa Valley Chapter of the Hunting Heritage Foundation will hold its 26th annual fundraising banquet on Friday, March 7, in the St. Helena Catholic School gymnasium, 1255 Oak Ave. Doors will open at 5 p.m. A seafood dinner catered by Menegon Catering & Local Q 707 follows at 7 p.m. The evening will include a live auction and raffle. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Paul Stoddard (707) 333-1009.
Spring turkey hunt applications
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering more than 100 special turkey hunting opportunities throughout the state this spring between Special Hunts and SHARE Program hunts. Applications for these special hunting opportunities must be made through CDFW's Automated License Data System.
California's 2024-25 general spring turkey hunting season opens statewide on March 29 and extends through May 4. The early Junior License season takes place the weekend of March 22-23, with post-season Junior License hunting opportunities available again from May 5-18. The archery-only hunting season is also May 5-18.
Trout rearing at Lake Berryessa
Big Nate's Guide Service teamed up with a group of volunteers and the California Inland Fisheries Foundation to transfer Eagle Lake-strain trout to their brand new pens at Lake Berryessa.
These fish will now acclimate in their new environment, be fed daily by Markley Cove staff, and well forage naturally before the pens are pulled out to the main lake sometime in May for release. The trout are already good-sized fish, and they will grow exponentially over the next three months. This will bolster the already excellent fishery and provide great fights, and table fare for anglers.
Major wetland restoration project in Klamath Basin
Ducks Unlimited, in partnership with the Klamath Tribes and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was pleased to announce recently an historic breach at the Agency Barnes restoration project in Chiloquin, Ore. The breach reconnected nearly 14,000 acres of wetlands with Upper Klamath Lake and will revitalize culturally important habitats for endangered fish.
On Dec. 20, BCI Contracting Inc. breached the levee surrounding the project site, allowing water to flow past the dikes for the first time in over 60 years and restoring the connection between wetlands and Upper Klamath Lake.
"This breach is tremendously important for fish, wildlife and people. Ducks Unlimited is proud to have helped make this day a reality for the Klamath Basin," said Jeff McCreary, director of operations in DU's Western Region. "Reconnecting and restoring wetlands is key to the watershed's health and a brighter future for the Basin."
In addition to helping endangered fish species, the project area is an important stopover for thousands of migrating waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway.
"As one of the largest wetland restoration efforts in the western United States, the reconnection of the 14,356-acre Agency Barnes wetland on Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge to Upper Klamath Lake is a pivotal milestone in restoring c'waam and koptu sucker habitat, improving water quality, and increasing water storage capacity in Upper Klamath Lake," said Paul Souza, Pacific Southwest Regio director with the USFWS.
"This effort is a unique win-win-win for the Klamath. It restores a massive wetland that is sacred to the Klamath Tribes. It improves the habitat of endangered fish and birds on our refuge and in Upper Klamath Lake. And it increases water storage by over 70,000 acre-feet, which will help farmers and other refuges. We care deeply about our Tribal Trust responsibilities, conserving endangered species, birds, and refuges and supporting thriving agriculture. We are grateful to be a partner in this work."
The breach concludes the first of three phases of the Agency Barnes project. The Department of the Interior and USFWS recently announced $46 million in new funding, a significant portion of which will be used to complete the second and third phases of this project.
"Agency Barnes is a key step for watershed partners, coming together to accomplish long-term, multi-beneficial solutions for the health of the Basin," said Amelia Raquel, DU's regional biologist overseeing this project. "The scale of this project represents meaningful change for the people and species at the heart of it."