Warning, this article may cause nausea

"Hey, I think I caught a fish today that you lost." I was at home when I received the above text from a friend and fellow angler recently. "What makes you think that?" I asked. He replied with a photo of the palm of his hand and in it, a white and pink plastic lure we call a "hoochie". They look like a little squid, but when trolled underwater behind a flasher (which swings the hoochie back and forth) it looks a lot like an injured bait fish. This particular hoochie, white but glistening, appeared to have been soaking in some kind of brownish, gooey broth. Except, uh, it wasn't broth. He'd found it in the fish's stomach, and the reason he thought it was mine is because he knew the exact kind of hoochie I'd been using the week before when I had a fish break my leader. I did not ask for it back. Another time, a different angling friend texted me while we were both out on Folsom (in different boats; texting me while in the same boat would've been weird). "Hey did you lose a salmon this morning?" "Yes," I replied. "A couple hours ago." "Were you fishing a cut-plug herring?" He knew that I sometimes fished herring that way, which involves slicing the head off at an angle to give the bait an enticing spin as it's trolled behind the boat. Not many people do it on Folsom Lake, but it's a pretty standard method in the Puget Sound region, which is where I'm from. "I was." I replied again. "I've got your fish lol" he answered, going on to explain he'd found the headless herring fully intact in the fish's stomach. Again, I did not ask for it back. I bring this up partly because the joy and the fascination I get from fishing is about, at its most basic, surprise. I love the surprise of a rod suddenly being yanked towards the water by something unseen and unknown. I love the surprise that comes with the first glimpse of a fish, especially a big fish, flashing underwater or exploding from the surface like a missile. I love the surprise of actually completing the fight and getting it in the net - because nothing is ever guaranteed until the fish hits the deck. But those are the big, obvious things. There are more surprises if you know where to look and, with fish, that's in their bellies. By the way, and I should've said this earlier but, I'm sorry if you're squeamish. If you're still reading this, it isn't going to get better. See, I love checking a fish's stomach contents. A psychologist would, I think, trace this odd little obsession all the way back to my childhood and the movie Jaws. Specifically, remember the scene when Hooper slices open a tiger shark and finds a license plate? Yeah, there ya go. Bingo. Thanks, doc (By the way, it was a Louisiana plate, number 007 981. Google it if you don't believe me). BUT, in my defense, it does have practical applications, too: Checking the contents of a fish's stomach is a great way to zero in on catching more of them. Are they stuffed with baitfish like pond smelt or threadfin shad? Find a lure or bait that resembles. Are the baitfish big, or small? Try matching the size, too. Were there shells from clams or snails, or something like small rocks or sand? They may be feeding at the bottom. Drop your lines deeper. Are they stuffed with bugs? Fish the surface. Find your buddy's lure? Text him for a laugh. No remains of unfortunate swimmers found inside? YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG SHARK. And here's a good, not-to-gross example of all this. At Collins Lake last year, trout fishing was uncharacteristically tough and it was noticed that not many trout had baitfish or bugs in their bellies. What they did have, though, was globs of what sort of looked like apple sauce. An angler who is on Collins a lot hypothesized that instead of learning to chase bait fish, as hatchery fish usually do, these fish seemed to have adapted to feeding on plankton instead. Armed with that knowledge, on my next trip I very carefully rigged up some one-celled Dinoflagellates to size 57 hooks and - ok no, not really. But Collins boat anglers DID switch up, putting away trolling gear and going with a more "grab-and-go" approach by soaking Power Bait. To our collective surprise, it worked! And surprises, no matter where you find them or how (even if they come with a weird origin story) are a big part of what fishing is all about. FISHING REPORT Sacramento RiverWhat would you like to fish for? FishSniffer.com reports that the salmon bite from Colusa to Barge Hole is good for this time of year, with "fresh large salmon" holding in deep, colder water. But, striper fishing in the Yuba and Sutter county stretches of the river is "very good". And from Redding to Red Bluff, the wild rainbow trout and steelhead fishing is "excellent". California CoastSalmon fishing remains mostly strong in the salt with boats out of Emeryville and Bodega Bay reporting good to great success. The San Francisco and Monterey management areas is still open and will remain so through August 31st or when their respective quotas are reached. Before going, check the CDFW's latest info at CDFW Ocean Salmon Page. Lake BerryessaIf you know what to do or who to go with, fishing for trout, kokanee and landlocked salmon can still be good, but, according to Nathan Kelsch of Big Nate's Guide Service, lake levels are dropping, which can scatter fish and make the bite tough. However, there are some quality fish being caught, including bigger king salmon and some impressive kokanee Folsom LakeThe king salmon bite remains pretty danged consistent, with 5 + fish days not uncommon. And mixed in with a lot of 18-22" kings are a few beasts: a young client on my boat landed an 8 pounder a couple weeks ago and I know of other anglers getting fish that size or nearly so as well. Get out early, fish the south fork river channel and try to weave back and forth into and out of water as shallow as 60'. There's lots of bait at the mid-depths and if you find that, you'll find fish. The lake level is dropping steadily, so that could throw off the bite at any time. Reminder!If you'd like to brush up on your trolling skills for landlocked salmon and trout (or just want some confirmation that you're doing it right!), I am again teaching a class at Sierra College called "Basic Boat Angling For California Salmon And Trout". The course, which will include local experts as guest speakers, starts Sunday, August 30th, at the school, from 4-5:30 and runs the following 3 Sundays as well. Registration is $95. You can get more information and find a link on my website, GTNetFishing.com