CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 6/1/2006
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Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com

Bob’s Bait Report
The first long weekend prior to the summer was the best weekend for outdoor activities since the weather was very good on three days including Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
The good weather contributed for the good fishing in the Delta overall especially on Sunday night when there was very calm, clear sky at night.
Fishing was so good in Mokelumne River on Tyler Island side where Louis and his friends got 2 good size sturgeon 53” and 49 “ on ghost shrimp on 05/28/06. His friend also got 28” striped bass on ghost shrimp. Eddie Garcia and Dave Gonzales got limit striped bass with average length about 25” on pile worm. Lynn White and her friend got 51” sturgeon on ghost shrimp at the mouth of Georgiana Slough and Mokelumne River.
There were also number of good size striped bass reported at the Dump Gate and along highway 160 from Brannan Island State Park up to Isleton Bridge.
Catfish fishing was also very good including Three Miles Slough, Miner Slough, Potato Slough, Georgiana Slough, Mokelumne River, and Old Sacramento River at Isleton Fishing pier.
I fish for American shad on both Saturday and Sunday. I got limit of shad on the two days. Fishing for shad is best this year in Feather river after almost worse three years due to low water released during shad spawning season. Salmon showed up at the outlet of Themalito after Bay Damp. It was not many salmon yet until end of June.
For more information on how to fish for shad, please write to me at themsterbaitter@lycos.com.
Best luck to you all and congratulation Louis and his friends for two good size sturgeon last weekend.

The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson here...Wed morning 5/18...This past week has brought down some muddy water on the Sacramento River side. The San Joaquin River is running pretty clear, except for the influence of Georgianna Slough coming from the Sac, through the Mokelumne and into the San Joaquin. Even with these dirty water changes, there are stripers around. I have been trolling both the Sac side and San Joaquin side, catching between 7 keepers to 18 keepers per trip. Smaller fish on the San Joaquin, bigger fish on the Sacramento. They are all scattered and you have to look for them. A fish here and there is the norm. By the end of the day the numbers add up. Rebels mostly on the San Joaquin and Bombers on the Sacramento. More releases are due soon which will cause the Sacramento to rise some more. Shasta Dam is letting out more water and Folsom Dam is letting out also. Oroville is not far behind. The last of the striper spring run might turn into a washout. But, I will keep on chasing the stripers, all year long. Talk to you next time - Mark.

Warm water fish start biting!

Angles Camp-We are hearing good reports from anglers who fish at night, such as John Nelson Hicks of San Andreas, who used crawlers to catch a big 8.9-pound catfish while bank-fishing off of the Tuttletown boat ramp. Tuttletown, Angels Cove, or under the 49 Stevenot Bridge are all good spots to try for big cats. Use mackerel, anchovies, or sardines, a sliding sinker, leave your bail open, and be sure your hooks are sharp. Night fishing is always best for catfish, but we see plenty caught during the day, too.

Crappie anglers tell us that the bite has been the best it’s been in the last few years. Try fishing live minnows or trying to entice them with jigs in red/white or purple/white. Best spots on the lake are the south side of the lake near Bear Cove, the back of Coyote Creek, Black Bart Cove, and especially cuts upriver near the Parrotts Ferry Bridge that have a lot of stand-up trees in them. As always, fish tight to structure.

Major coves and cuts with structure such as fall-down wood are holding big bass. Look for biggest fish to be deeper in the early morning, and to move as shallow as 5 feet during the day. Senkos, Spinnerbaits, 6” crawdad-colored worms, lizards and green pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hogs have been the best producers. Try top-water baits in the early morning and late evening hours. Brandon Alexander used a shad-pattern Rapala to land a 4.8-pounder while shore fishing near the marina. Please practice catch-and-release of largemouth bass.
Most trollers are targeting kokanee right now. Fish are moving deeper, and most have been caught 25-45 feet deep in the dam/spillway area. Nice brown trout continue to be caught, mostly by anglers targeting kokanee. Shad-patterned lures such as Apex, Rapala countdowns, or Excel spoons are usually the best brown trout lures, although it seems that most browns are being caught lately on brightly colored kokanee lures! Lisa Roche of Escalon wins our Glory Hole Sports’ Big Fish of the Week Contest and a free deli lunch with her catch- a big, beautiful 10-pound brown trout. She trolled a purple Hootchie behind a neon blue dodger 29 feet deep near the dam/spillway to catch her trophy. Dodgers, small flashers or ball trolls are great for the rainbows, and fish the lures naked for the browns. Bank anglers interested in catching trout should target the local creeks such as Angels Creek, where DFG will be planting again this week, or should head up to higher lakes, where regular plants are also scheduled.
New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,708,500 acre-feet of water, and is at 73% capacity. The lake is full and beautiful. With the warm weather, the lake elevation rose six feet this week, and is now at 1,031 ft. above sea level and 60 ft. from full capacity. Surface water is approximately 66-70 degrees. Water is fairly clear, with visibility to 10-15 feet.
Lake PardeeWater conditions: The water is no longer flowing over the spillway, so for now the amount of water released at the dam is keeping pace with the runoff from the Sierras. Water clarity improved quite a bit since last report and the Secchi device was clearly visible to 14 feet. The water temperature at surface is 66 degrees and 60 at the 20 foot mark.

Weather: Warm but not hot, low 90’s by the weekend. It’s been nothing but clear skies lately with gentle breezes in the late afternoon. Conditions are ideal.

Trolling: Most are doing best early morning and late afternoon in 20 to 40 feet of water. Trout and Kokanee are spread out and not congregating in any one spot. Try the face of the Dam, the barrel line, the River Mouth and then head up the arm. Hoochies along with small lures and beaded spinners tipped with anise or garlic scented corn or grubs behind cop car, silver/blue or watermelon dodgers or sidekicks are the most popular. Fire tiger, tire track and fluorescent reds and oranges appear to be the most productive colors.

Shore Anglers: 4,000 pounds of trout to 4 pounds planted since last report and lots of room anywhere along the bank now that the sell out Holiday crowd has left. Check out the “mud hole”, Blue Herron Point, Rainbow Point and Stoney Creek landing, you know lots of those recent planters are still holding in the Rec. Area. Juicy night crawlers and the ever popular finger licking good processed bait or eggs in white, rainbow and chartreuse with sparkles have all been on the menu.

Some recent success stories: Joe and Joey Semas of Stockton got a nice limit of trout each over the weekend. Sam and Annie (RV park residents) got five catfish weighing in at 40 lbs-(try the south end).Mikayla Noblet got a beautiful 5.5 pound German brown Sunday-great fish!

As of 05/30/06 a total of 30,000 lbs of trout has been planted by Lake Pardee and the California Department of Fish and Game.

Fred Dorman, staff writer. <*(((---< Good Luck—Tight Lines

For information or reservations call (209) 772-1472

Camanche still rising

Wallace- Trollers this week have had to deal with rising water temperatures and rising water levels, but sportswriter Ron Wilson reports that his guest, Martin Chin, caught his limit of beautiful trout in 30 minutes on Monday afternoon. He was fishing with blue/gold Ex-cel lures, between 20 and 45 feet deep. The fishing continues to be extremely good at Dike 3, to the left of the dam. Anglers anchoring in about 45 feet of water and dropping Powerbait right off the bottom are finding limits quite often. Local fisherwoman, the Amador Dangler, still swears that a combination of 1 white Poweregg, along with 2 or 3 chartreuse Powereggs is the key to fishing bliss. She fished with lights overnight on Thursday night, and had 2 limits in her boat in just a couple of hours. With the increased water flow coming into Camanche from Lake Pardee, reports of trout caught upriver have been common. The Narrows, as well as under the highway bridge are a couple of the first places to try.

This week's trout plant of 1200 pounds will be split between South Shore launch ramp, and South Shore Pond.

Bass fishing remains top notch, with lots of Bass found in the grass and weed covered shorelines; especially early and late in the day. Ron Wilson also reports that Zoom watermelon colored worms were catching tons of bass all over the lake. His guest, Quen Young, caught numerous bass on Tuesday, with 2 beautiful spotted bass in the 4-5 pound range. Ron mentioned crawdad colored baits were working very well upriver. Camanche Jack's worms and leeches continue to be proven baits too.

The catfish bite is hot now that the water is warming up. The marina cove has been very good, as well as Camper's Cove, and the Lancha Plana area. Catfish love smelly baits, like mackerel, sardines, and anchovies as well as liver or clams. One happy lady landed a 24 inch catfish using a minnow in the Causeway Cove. A lot of folks will use a plain old nightcrawler also, which will catch a catfish, trout, or bass; a true multi-tasker bait. Fishing early or late in murky waters, 5-15 feet deep is your best bet to start.

The crappie bite has slowed down a little this week, though the rough weather has not helped matters any. Mini-jigs in red/white, black/white, or chartreuse are some of the favorite lures. Minnows are always the favorite live bait for crappie fishermen. Overnighters using lights in Oregon Gulch, Camanche Arm, and the Causeway cove are reporting fish, as well as the Lancha Plana area.

Pennies on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more? You be the judge!