CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 8/17/2005
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As reported in previous week, the water temperature is gradually dropped to 72 degree from high 75 degree. This trend is continuing through the incoming weeks. The ideal water temperature for salmon run at the highest rate is about 65 degree. This is normally occurred in late August through November month. In Isleton area where the peak season for salmon fishing is from late August to early November.

Last week, there was few salmon caught at the mouth of Sacramento River and Steam Boat slough and a couple salmon was also caught at Vieira Resort. The fish mostly weight about 15 lbs.
Late talk about the locations in the Delta channel where it can is used to be posted in most fishing reports. Starting from Bay Point up to either to San Joaquin River towards Sacramento River, the rivers were split into many different channels. These channels can be found in the Delta map. The good idea to fish in the Delta is familiar with the locations were described in most of the fishing reports. San Joaquin River runs from Pittsburgh to Stockton. There are many branches to the big Delta area where the biggest channels are Mokelumne Rivers. The Mokelumne Rivers are then split into North and South Mokelumne River. Just before Mukelumne Rivers split into South and North is B&W Resort where most salmon and striped bass were caught in this area.

Sacramento River split into three branches as Old Sacramento River, Steam Boat Slough, and Cache Slough just after North of Rio Vista Bridge about less than a mile long. Old Sacramento River is a famous river for salmon, striped bass, and catfish fishing where Vieira Resort, Isleton Boat Ramp, and Isleton Bridge are popular areas for most of Delta fishermen.

Striped bas fishing is improving last week with some good size striped bass from 7 lbs. up to 11 lbs. were reported along Decker Island up to Isleton Brdige by either trolling or bait fishing. On 08/13/05 Tom McPherson from Hayward got 7 lbs and 8 lbs. striped bass at the Dump Gate on pile worm. On 08/13/05 Som Serdar from Oakland got 4lbs and 8-12 lbs striped bass at Georgiana Slough on blood worm. On 08/14/05 Anthony Lee from Sacmento got 15 lbs striped bass and 10 catfish on shad at North Mokelume River.

Catfish fishing is still very good in most of the Delta channels including Seven Miles Slough, Three Miles Slough, Georgiana Slough, Old Sacramento riuver, Steam Boat Slough, Cache Slough, and Mokelume Rivers where channel catfish were found most in the Mokelumne Rivers.
Fishing is improving now for salmon, striped bass and catfish. Every year, the new trolling lures are introduced to improve the change to get more salmon. However, the most popular lures are used double blades spinners, Wiggle Wart, or Blue Fox spinner.

The autumn is approaching when the temperature is cooling down week after week. The hot fishing season will be much closer.
Best luck to you all.

The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Dan,

My old Department of Agriculture, Measurement Standards Division work gang went striper trolling with me today. Danny, Gary, and George put in a day with me. We had very good weather (no wind) and good semi clear water conditions at 73 degrees. We trolled Yo-Zuris and Bombers down by Decker Island and West Bank. We had numerous hits for 2 very ugly squawfish (Gary and George are squawfish queens for the day), 5 shaker stripers, and 9 keeper stripers, up to 18 pounds. The bite, again, was around the morning's low tide change, and again, at the afternoon's high tide change. It was pretty slow in between. We kept fish at 18#, 10#, 8#, 7#, 6#, 3#, 3#, and 3#. Here is a story: the big one hit two of our lures. It hit one and turned right onto another and hit it back to back. When we netted the fish, it had both lures and hooks in it's mouth. Sorry, didn't think to take a picture. Back at Vieira's early for pictures and fileting fish, and home during the rush hour traffic. That's it. Good luck. Catch you later - Mark

Kokanee Slows

Melanie Lewis reports “We are starting to see more rainbows taken by trollers- usually in mixed limits with kokanee. They are fat and full of shad- most are in the two-to-two-and-a-half pound range. Brightly colored Apex or spinners are what they are hitting, without flashers. Anglers who caught rainbows while trolling this week include John Darroch, Larry Gross, Lindsey George, Bill Cheney, and Richard Kowski. If you are fishing from the bank for trout, you will have the most luck in the local rivers and creeks. Night-fishing under submersible light is also producing limits. Some night-anglers use minnows, but a nightcrawler threaded up onto your line with new chartreuse Double-Glitter Power Bait or spring green Select Power Bait on your hook seems to be the best combo
Bass bite has been up and down, with fishing best at dawn, dusk and night. not many big fish but plenty of action for small keepers and almost-keepers. Fish are filled-to-the-gills with shad. Target main lake points and steep banks in the south side of the lake, and upriver. While there are lots of fish being caught relatively shallow, bigger fish may be deeper. Drag a Carolina-rigged 4” or 6” green weenie worm or Zoom Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin, 25-30 feet deep. Since the water is stained, you may want to add rattles or brass’n’glass to make a little noise. With all the baby bluegill and bass in the grass in the coves, throwing a crankbait or worm in those patterns should get some action. Night fishing for bass is fun, especially during a full moon. Use big black or June bug worms or Senkos, or black or black/red spinnerbaits.
Hang on to your poles! Big cats are spawning in the cove areas, and are aggressively biting. Tuttletown, Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, 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. Dave Rannis of LaHabra wins Glory Hole Sports’ Big Fish of the Week Contest with his 11.1 lb. cat caught, along with two others, on sardines. Don Sicka caught 5 nice cats weighing up to 8 pounds. Derek, Peter and Dylan Barrington caught 4 catfish, including a 7.5-pounder.

Lake Pardee

Water conditions: The Lake water level is still right at spill and holding. Temperatures varied a little since the last report, 82 degrees at surface and 76 degrees at the 20-foot mark. Water clarity remains unchanged at 17 to 20 feet. All measurements and readings were taken in the Recreation Area.

Trolling-Blistering temperatures have kept all but the hardiest anglers off the Lake this week. Spoke to a group of friends that got some nice Rainbows Thursday afternoon trolling in 30 feet of water in Mel’s cove and the Woodpile-go figure. No first hand reports to verify it but chances are the Kokanee are still keeping to the middle of the River Arm at 100 feet and below. The most popular lures remain the same, hoochies in florescent pink and green along with small beaded spinners in pink, red, blue and tire track. Tip your lures with scented shoe peg corn and drag it all behind a watermelon or large silver/blue dodger or sidekick.

Bank fishing-Century mark Temperatures have also discouraged bank fishing. No first hand info to report so its up to you to catch ‘em, get your picture taken and info recorded at the Marina. Stony Point landing still a good bet early but bring some shade and lots of cool drinks. 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.

Some success stories from July-William (last name missing) from Valley Springs landed a 13.8 lb catfish in the South end with chicken liver, I think. Bob Fisher, a local, got another nice cat, 15.1 lbs at the Logjam. Last but not least Leo Mc Carver landed an 8.7 lb largemouth off Rainbow Point using a worm, color not divulged.

As of 07/28/05 a total of 43,000 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.

For information or reservations call (209) 772-1472

Camanche Bass and Catfish Action Decent
Reports from those who have been visiting Camanche are encouraging for the Bass anglers. The bass bite continues to be red hot this week. Lots of 1-4 pound bass are being caught around the rock piles and cliffs in the Lancha Plana area. Camanche Jack's worms and leeches in smoke, green, or purple are the colors most often mentioned. The submerged island tops in the main part of the lake have been giving up plenty of bass this week. Fish 10-15 feet deep, near deeper water. Tube baits and deep running crank baits are the ticket here. The big bass for the week was caught by young Dillon Parrish, of Elk Grove. He caught an awesome 6.2 pound bass on a minnow, fishing from shore in the campgrounds at North ShoreI have been fishing topwater lures, such as Ricos or Lucky Craft Pointer minnows in Rainbow or orange are taking some good ones as well. Works areas with wind pushed current around brush and thick grass cover near the Causeway and dike #1.

Catfish action has slowed down just a little but still biting. Use Mackerel, liver or nightcrawlers from 8 to 20 deep after dark. The Camanche arm and Causeway cove are among the hottest areas to try. Don't overlook the Trout or Beaver ponds at Southshore for after-dark Catfish.

Trollers who are on the water very early, or late, report finding fish from Hat Island to the Dam, above the old river channel. Now that water temperatures have topped 81 degrees the fish are very deep during the day .between 45-65 feet. Needlefish in chartreuse color, and R-Lures and Ex-Cel lures in green/gold, and blue/gold are reported as the most successful colors this week. The bait fishing at Dike 3 continues to be great for overnighters using Power Bait, Power Eggs, or night crawlers, especially when using underwater lights at night. Anchor in about 50 feet of water, and drop your bait to the bottom. The Camanche Hypolimnetic Oxygenation System, trade named the "Speece Cone", has been in operation since the 13th of August. The H.O.S. distributes oxygen to the lower lake waters at the dam. The southern end of the dam will soon become the best place to try for Trout as the oxygen-laden water provides ideal conditions within 30 feet of the surface. The "cone" usually operates until mid-to-late October to improve the waters released into the Mokelumne river fish hatchery.

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