CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 9/7/2005
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Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com

The long weekend in the summer is just past with very nice weather and the water temperature was finally dropped to the border line between 60 and 70 degree. This water temperature would be good for salmon starting running up stream and the number of salmon was caught last weekend was improved.
It should be the good time to start fishing for salmon now since the water condition, including water temperature will cool off quicker and the water is very much clearer than before.
Trolling is very popular method to catch salmon in the Delta. Before double blades spinner lure was used in the last couple years, Wiggle Wart lure was very hot and was used number of years to troll for salmon. People switch to used double blades spinner since more fish was caught on this lure the other. This may be true but it’s may not since the word was spread really quick and more people used double blades spinner than Wiggle Wart before bring the percentage of fish was caught by double blades spinner higher than Wiggle Wart lure. It’s also not mean salmon move toward the double blades spinner than Wiggle Wart lure. Your belief about the lure you are used would contribute to the result of catching more fish than the lure itself. Some prefer to use Blue Fox lure than the home made style double blades spinner since it produce good result for him than other. Some get more fish on Wiggle Wart lure than spinner lure.
Trolling for salmon is not a simple since the salmon run up stream in different depth in any time of the day than striped bass. Also, salmon is not aggressively chasing to bite the lure like striped bass. Salmon mostly bites the things that made them mad and Wiggle Wart lure, Blue Fox, or double blades spinner are thing that made them mad when moving in front of them. From that, when trolling, lure should be dropped to the depth level where fish moving. This requires a lot of experiences and techniques to use to catch salmon. Speed of the boat when trolling for salmon should be around a mile an hour. Sinker size would be change when using spinner from light to heavier when fishing in early morning or during the day. Early morning, ½ or ¾ oz sinker should be used but during the day 1 to 2 oz sinker should be used since salmon run deeper during the day when more pressure from boat and warm weather made them diving deeper for cooler water. The ½ or ¾ oz sinker is normally used as rubble core snap sinker to snap directly to the line that’s about 4 to 5 feet away from lure. In Isleton area, where the deeper channel is close to the Isleton city side and it is about 10 to 20 feet away from the bank. Most salmon was caught along the deep channel from the mouth of Sacramento River up to Walnut Grove.
Striped bass fishing was improved and some good size striped bass were caught last weekend at Isleton fishing pier. Isleton fishing pier was built last couple years and opened for public just a couple month. This fishing pier and the boat dock is located just above Isleton boat ramp 100 feet and on the right hand side in the river of the Bob’s Bait Shop. This is the good fishing spot for striped bass, salmon, small mouth bass and catfish.
It’s very nice public boat dock where you can tie your boat to by some needed things or having lunch or dinner in the local restaurants.
Now we are back to normal working day and the holiday vacation in the summer is just over. Hope all enjoy last the Labor Day weekend.
Best luck to you all who are try to fish for salmon in the coming weeks.

The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Tuesday, September 6, 2005...Dr. Arthur Bard went striper trolling with me today, all in sight of Mt. Diablo. We trolled Rebels, Bombers, and Rattle Traps around Decker and Sherman Islands. Most fish came on Rattle Traps, a couple on Rebels, and a couple of Bombers. We landed 11 shaker stripers and 9 keeper stripers to 7 pounds. A lot of missed hits, some lost fish, one which broke off 100' of 30# test Power Pro, and a lot of fun. The water was off color and at 72 degrees, and the wind was just a 10 mph breeze today. Back at Vieira's to filet fish and home before midnight. 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!