CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 7/10/2006
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Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com

The summer is continuing with temperature was mostly above 90 degree and sometimes it reached to triple digits. This weather pattern is continuing for months ahead.
Fishing for striped bass was fair in most the Delta channels including Sherman Island, Decker Island, Sacramento River, Mokelumne River, Cache Slough, or Steamboat Slough. This year is the best year ever for striped bass fishing. Until now, fishing for striped bass was good up to Freeport area.
The big issue now for fishing striped bass now is too many small striped in the Delta channels that steals your bait very quick before the keeper striped bass have a change to take your bait. The proper way to have a good change for keeper striped bass is to use a big chunk of bait, or using grass shrimp, ghost shrimp to avoid small striped bass taking your bait. Grass shrimp is available at this time at most bait stores. Fresh shad is also very good bait for keeper striped bass. Until now, fresh shad is available in certain days in a week. We try to have fresh shad during the weekend if possible.
Sturgeon fishing is slow down and there was no report about sturgeon during the week.
Catfish fishing was very hot last week in Georgiana Slough, Mokelumne Rivers, Tree Miles Slough, and Isleton fishing pier, Isleton Bridge, Steamboat Slough, and Cache slough. The best bait for catfish could be clam, anchovy, crawdad tail meat, chicken liver, or sardine. Most catfish are active during the dark after 7:00 PM until mid-night.
At this time, black bass, small mouth, large mouth bass were very good. Isleton bridge, along the levees from Isleton Bridge to Vieira Resort are very place to try for small mouth bass. Extra large minnow is the best live bait for small mouth bass.
Best luck to you all and have a nice coming weekend.

The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Dan,Thursday, July 6, 2006...Arthur Bard and Dave Varshawsky went striper chasing with me today down in the Rio Vista area. 30 miles in the wind looking for stripers. Again, the big wind hampered our chasing, but the catching was there. We trolled Rebels up at Isleton for about 5 shaker stripers and 5 keeper stripers to 11 pounds. Arthur caught the biggest one at 11 pounds on a Rebel. We trolled Bombers down in the Rio Vista area for nothing. We found 2 more schools of stripers at Decker Island, but they wouldn't hit trolled lures. We pulled out the spoons, 1-1/2 oz. Hopkins and 2 oz. Crippled Herrings and spooned up over 100 stripers. Only 7 more keepers in the bunch and there were a lot of small ones in those schools of fish. But, it was non-stop action for a few hours. We kept keeper stripers at 11#, 7#, 5#, 4#, 19" and 19". Again, the wind was pretty bad and the only clear water we could find was on the Sacramento County side of the Sacramento River. Yes, Mt. Diablo was in sight all day. That's it. Good luck. Catch you later - Mark.

Mixed Bags and Success
Angels Camp- New Melones Lake is currently holding 2,046,000 acre-feet of water, and is at 84% capacity. The lake is full and beautiful. The lake elevation continues to rise, and is now at 1,056 ft. above sea level and only 32 ft. from full capacity. Surface water is approximately 68-74 degrees. Water is clear.

The sudden change in weather (from unusually cool to record-breaking heat), as well as heavy holiday boat traffic, seemed to slow the bite a little this week. Most anglers who got on the water early still reported easy limits of big (up to 2+-pounds, and 17 ½” long) kokanee. All successful anglers agree- the bite is best in the early a.m.- you must be on the water early. The kokes seem to be moving deeper, and most limits were caught 45-60 feet deep, near the spillway/dam area, near Rose Island, with a few taken upriver. Pink, chartreuse, or Kevorkian (purple ghost) Hootchies and Apex lures have provided the most action, as well as Glitterbugs Fat Fish and Spinner Hootchies and Uncle Larry’s Spinners. All should be trolled behind a nickel/chartreuse, nickel/silver prism, or watermelon dodger or Sling Blade. Ball troll flashers are another good choice. Don’t forget to tip your lure with shoepeg corn soaked in Pro-Cure Scent. Garlic or a combination of garlic and Kokanee Special or Carp Spit seems to be working best right now. It is important to troll slowly (1.2 m.p.h.) for kokanee.

As the season progresses, the kokanee get more and more aggressive, and making more commotion in the water will get more strikes. At this time last year, using larger dodgers/lures seemed to up the action. Try a Sep’s 3/0 dodger or a Kone Zone instead of a traditional dodger. A larger spoon such as an Excel or Needlefish in the traditional kokanee colors, ran close (12-15”) behind a dodger, will sometimes entice a bigger fish to bite. Another trick- many anglers remove the hooks from an Apex, and run a Hootchie through the holes so that it is right behind (nosed into) the Apex, making a bigger lure. Ashley Wolfe, Joe Hallett, and Richard Kowski all had good luck with pink or green Apex, while Guide Fish’n’ Dan Layne found limits for David Noble and Dick Niebour with pink Uncle Larry’s Spinners and Hootchies.

Catfish can be found at 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. Ben Willis of Angels Camp wins our Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest with a 9-pound catfish that he caught on night crawlers while bank fishing off of Glory Hole Point. Jessie and Becky Lee caught a 3-pounder on crawlers in Black Bart Cove.

Lake Pardee

Water conditions: The Lake remains very full, near or at spill. Keep a sharp eye out for pencil buoys marking islands and outcroppings. Temperatures varied little from the last report, 74 degrees at surface and 65 degrees at the 20-foot mark. Water clarity good 17 to 20 feet and most debris has disappeared.

Trolling-Try right outside the Narrows, the two first coves on your east, the River Arm and the Mouth initially. If these areas don’t pan out head to the South End or the Face of the Dam. Typically the Kokes are 12 to 14 inches and the Trout 16 inches and larger. Limits the rule but anglers are having to work a bit harder and longer to get them. Lures-hoochies in florescent pink and green along with small beaded spinners in pink, red, blue and tire track are still the ticket. Tip your lures with scented shoe peg corn and drag it all behind a watermelon or silver/blue dodger or sidekick (some have begun using the large size dodgers recently). Trollers-start at 35 feet and be prepared to adjust. Schools and pods are scattered and depths vary with the temperature.

Bass-Try the rocky points and ledges on the southern end of the Woodpile heading toward the Dam and also the eastern shore area just before you turn into the River Mouth. Crawdads, spinner baits and loud colored plastic worms should do.

Catfish-No news this report but the extreme South End is usually catfish central. Chicken livers or anchovies usually do the job. Patience, an open bail and a large net are all you need…

Bank fishing-not much pressure since the Holiday. Stony Point landing still a good bet early. Still lots of future filets cruising around the Marina. The water level is at its highest in years, easy access to all the best spots, lots of shade and charming old guys working at the Marina. Cast out further and put your bait in the deeper channels 30 to 50 feet off shore, as fish will go deeper to find cooler water. As a rule the bite is early and the newly planted trout can’t resist silver/blue casting lures and black wooly flies. For the more experienced and smarter Trout use a sliding sinker rig with a night crawler or processed bait in rainbow or chartreuse with sparkles.

NEXT WEEKEND on Saturday July 16th; it’s the Kokanee Power Derby. For more information and entry forms access their website at www.kokaneepower.org

As of 07/08/05 a total of 39,400 lbs of trout has been planted by Lake Pardee and the Department of Fish and Game with more scheduled for the weekend!

Good Luck---Tight Lines.

Camanche Temp rising

Wallace- Lots of bass have been reported this week, with top water plugs fished early in the morning being especially productive. Camanche Arm, Causeway Cove, and the entry of Camper's cove all hold a lot of flooded trees and brush; and offer a great place to pitch top water baits in the morning and evening. Camanche Jack's worms and leeches have been doing well also; with green, purple, and smoke some of the favorite colors. Green tube baits were catching a lot of bass in the Lancha Plana, and green Rib Hogs were working around Dike 2.15-20 feet deep. Went out to Camanche over the weekend had a good time I picked up some nice fish in china gulch and by the dam also right out of the launch on the south side in the trees .All fish were on a shad colored crankbait and watermelon senko big fish 3.8 lbs fish on

The catfish bite is staying hot, with the warm temperatures and murky water in all the coves. The Marina Cove, East Cove, Camanche Arm, and Camper's Cove are all reported as very successful this week. Mackerel, anchovies, and liver are some of the favored baits, and a lot of people just love to use nightcrawlers. which are my favorite multi-tasking bait. You might catch a bass, trout, catfish, or crappie while using a worm. Fish for catfish in 5-15 feet of water. use 15 pound test line and be ready for some fun.

There are still plenty of bluegill in all the coves, especially near submerged trees and brush. These fish are generally small, but are a lot of fun for kids to catch. Rooster Tails, Matzuo Sickle Shockwave lures, or red worms work well here.; Camper's Cove, China Gulch, and Causeway Cove are all holding plenty of fish. A small lure and light line is all you need for lots of panfish action.

Lake Camanche's current elevation is 234.04 feet above sea level, a drop of .04 feet since last Sunday. The lake should rise slowly this week. Currently water is flowing into Camanche at a rate of 1316 c.f.s., and is flowing out of Camanche at a rate of 1255 c.f.s. Lake Camanche is about 97% full. Surface water temperature at the dam is 75 degrees. The water is clear, with a Secchi reading of 1p feet.

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