Hi! I was wondering if anyone has fished, Adobe, Lynch, Lichau or other small creeks in the sonoma or marin area. I am looking for an adventure and to see some fish. Catch and release. anyone know access or rules?
You cannot fish any tributary of a river. So basically if it runs into a river that meets the ocean its off limits. You can fish the Santa Rosa creek and Laguna de Santa Rosa when flows are high enough, but I think only in the main body's of water. I would stay away from any creek that feeds into any thing around here.
It is a HUGE ticket just to be in those creeks with fishing gear, in the thousands. I think with a bonus charge if you get seen catching or hooking a fish.
-- Edited by Boondockz on Wednesday 8th of February 2017 12:22:16 PM
As boondockz states, it is basically illegal to fish the feeder creeks and the fines are exceptionally high. I also have heard that they confiscate your fishing gear as well although that could be a rumor.
The best thing in Sonoma County in the spring is the shad run in the Russian River. The run has been terrible during the drought, however, with the big rains this year, I'm hoping that the shad return in normal numbers. When the shad come in, you can count on catching double digit numbers of hard fighting fish around 1-3 lbs with an occasional 4 pounder. The biggest one I've ever caught out there was around 6 lbs and measured over 25 inches! The nice thing is that the weather is usually warm and it's actually pleasant to be out fishing.
Most of us use steelhead equipment to fish for shad including the same shooting heads. I've found that the shad tend to be deeper in the water column than steelhead although I've caught them with an intermediate line at times. I generally use a type 3 or type 4 shooting head and always bring the intermediate just in case. The best sized rod would be 6-8 wt.
You can get geared up at Outdoor Pro Shop where I've heard Scott Carey is back working there. Another good option is King's Sporting Goods in Guerneville which is a little out of the way, but they have a good pulse on what fly is working and where to fish. Who knows you might turn into a shad fanatic!
I was getting some really good days skagit casting for em with my 8 wt switch rod but it was a bit much for the average. Biggest I heard tell of last year was ~3lb
